Patent Description:
A vehicle decorative component is disclosed in <CIT>. A vehicle decorative component is disclosed in <CIT>, wherein the vehicle decorative component comprises a decorative main body adapted to be provided in a vehicle equipped with a device configured to transmit and receive electromagnetic waves to detect an object outside the vehicle, the decorative main body being adapted to be arranged in front of the device in a transmission direction of the electromagnetic waves, and a heating wire disposed behind in the transmission direction of a decorative layer of the decorative main body.

In a vehicle equipped with a millimeter wave radar device, the millimeter wave radar device transmits millimeter waves to the outside of the vehicle. The millimeter waves that hit and are reflected by an object outside the vehicle, such as a pedestrian and a leading vehicle, are received by the millimeter wave radar device. The transmitted and received millimeter waves allow for recognition of the object, detection of the distance between the vehicle and the object, and detection of the relative velocity between the vehicle and the object.

The above-described vehicle includes vehicle decorative components such as a front grille and an emblem, which are located forward of the millimeter wave radar device in the transmission direction of millimeter waves. A decorative main body of the vehicle decorative component includes a base made of a transparent plastic and a decorative layer provided on the rear surface in the transmission direction of the base. The base and the decorative layer are components with a millimeter wave transparency.

The above-described vehicle decorative component is unlikely to hinder passing of the millimeter waves transmitted by the millimeter wave radar device and the millimeter waves that have hit and been reflected by an object outside the vehicle. This allows the millimeter wave radar device to properly exert functions such as the detecting function described above. When the vehicle decorative component is irradiated with visible light from the front in the transmission direction, the visible light passes through the transparent base and is reflected by the decorative layer. Since the decorative layer is visible through the base from the front in the transmission direction of the vehicle decorative component, the decorative main body is decorated by the decorative layer. The reflection of visible light on the decorative layer occurs at a position forward of the millimeter wave radar device in the transmission direction. The millimeter wave radar device is thus concealed by the decorative layer and is difficult to see.

When snow and ice collect on the above-described vehicle decorative component, millimeter waves are attenuated, which reduces the detection performance of the millimeter wave radar device. As such, <CIT> discloses a vehicle decorative component that includes an electrical conductor passage, which generates heat when energized and is provided at a position forward of the decorative layer in the transmission direction. When ice and snow collect on the vehicle decorative component, the heat generated by the electrical conductor passage melts the ice and snow, limiting attenuation of millimeter waves due to collected ice and snow.

The electrical conductor passage may include a typical heating wire having a metal lead, which generates heat when energized, and a coating portion, which is made of colored, for example, black plastic and coats the lead. If such a heating wire is employed as the electrical conductor passage, the following problems may occur. That is, when the vehicle decorative component is seen from the front in the transmission direction, the coating portion is visually recognized, causing the heating wire to appear wide. This may spoil the appearance of the vehicle decorative component.

Such a problem can occur not only in a vehicle equipped with a millimeter wave radar device, but also in a vehicle equipped with a device that transmits and receives electromagnetic waves to detect an outside object. Specifically, the problem can occur in any type of vehicle decorative component that is arranged forward of the device in the transmission direction of electromagnetic waves and employs a heating wire as an electrical conductor passage.

An objective of the present disclosure is to provide a vehicle decorative component capable of limiting deterioration of the appearance by a heating wire, and to provide a vehicle wherein such a component is provided.

The above object is solved by a vehicle decorative component according to claim <NUM>.

This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter, which is defined solely by the claims.

A vehicle decorative component according to a first embodiment will now be described with reference to <FIG>. In the present embodiment, the vehicle decorative component is an emblem <NUM>.

In the following description, the direction in which the vehicle advances forward will be referred to as the front, and the reverse direction will be referred to as the rear. The vertical direction refers to the vertical direction of the vehicle, and the left-right direction refers to the vehicle width direction that matches the left-right direction when the vehicle is advancing forward. In some of the drawings, in order to make the size of each component of the emblem <NUM> recognizable, the scale of each component is altered as necessary.

As shown in <FIG>, a vehicle <NUM> is equipped with a front monitoring millimeter wave radar device <NUM> arranged at the front. The millimeter wave radar device <NUM> is located at the center in the vehicle width direction and behind a front grille <NUM>. The millimeter wave radar device <NUM> has a sensor function of transmitting millimeter waves <NUM>, which are included in electromagnetic waves, to the outside of the vehicle <NUM>, specifically, toward the front, and receiving the millimeter waves <NUM> that have struck and been reflected by an object outside the vehicle <NUM>. The millimeter waves <NUM> are radio waves with wavelengths of <NUM> to <NUM> and frequencies of <NUM> to <NUM>.

Like a typical front grille, the thickness (the dimension in the front-rear direction) of the front grille <NUM> is uneven. The front grille <NUM> may include a plastic base with plating on the surface. The front grille <NUM> thus interferes with the transmitted or reflected millimeter waves <NUM>. As such, the front grille <NUM> has a window <NUM>, which is located forward of the millimeter wave radar device <NUM> in the transmission direction of the millimeter waves <NUM>. The emblem <NUM>, which includes a decorative main body <NUM> and a heating sheet <NUM>, is disposed on the window <NUM>. The components constituting the emblem <NUM> will now be described.

As shown in <FIG>, the decorative main body <NUM> includes a front base <NUM>, a rear base <NUM>, a coupling portion <NUM>, and a decorative layer <NUM>. The decorative main body <NUM> substantially has the shape of an oval plate as a whole and is gently curved to bulge forward.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the front base <NUM> is a component that constitutes the front part of the decorative main body <NUM>. The front base <NUM> is made of a transparent plastic such as polycarbonate (PC) plastic, which has a low dielectric loss tangent (an index value of loss-rate of electric energy in a dielectric body). The dielectric loss tangent of PC plastic is <NUM>. If the dielectric loss tangent is low, the millimeter waves <NUM> are unlikely to be converted into thermal energy, limiting the attenuation of the millimeter waves <NUM>.

The rear part of the front base <NUM> includes a general portion <NUM>, which is substantially orthogonal to the front-rear direction, and a recess <NUM>, which is recessed forward with respect to the general portion <NUM>. The general portion <NUM> corresponds to a background area 15a of the emblem <NUM> in <FIG>, and the recess <NUM> corresponds to a pattern area 15b of the emblem <NUM>. In the present embodiment, the pattern area 15b is constituted by a letter A and an annular portion surrounding the letter A. The front base <NUM> is made of polymethacrylic acid methyl (PMMA) plastic, which has a low dielectric loss tangent like the above-described PC plastic.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the rear base <NUM> is a component that constitutes the rear part of the decorative main body <NUM>. The rear base <NUM> is made of a colored plastic such as acrylonitrile-ethylene-styrene copolymer (AES) plastic, which has a low dielectric loss tangent. The dielectric loss tangent of AES plastic is <NUM>, and the relative permittivity of AES plastic is substantially equal to that of PC plastic. The front part of the rear base <NUM> is formed to have a shape corresponding to the shape of the rear part of the front base <NUM>. That is, the rear base <NUM> has a general portion <NUM>, which is substantially orthogonal to the front-rear direction, at the front part in a section behind the general portion <NUM> of the front base <NUM>. The rear base <NUM> also has a protrusion <NUM>, which protrudes with respect to the general portion <NUM>, in a section behind the recess <NUM> of the front base <NUM>.

In place of AES plastic, the rear base <NUM> may be made of a plastic of which the relative permittivity is close to that of the front base <NUM>, for example, acrylonitrile styrene acrylate (ASA) plastic, PC plastic, and polycarbonate/acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (PC/ABS) plastic.

The coupling portion <NUM> is provided along the outer circumference of the decorative main body <NUM> and has the shape of an oval loop. The coupling portion <NUM> is made of black plastic that is a mixture of PC plastic and carbon black. The coupling portion <NUM> is welded to the front base <NUM> and the rear base <NUM> to couple the front base <NUM> and the rear base <NUM> to each other.

The decorative layer <NUM> is provided in an area between the front base <NUM> and the rear base <NUM> surrounded by the coupling portion <NUM> and has a millimeter wave transparency. The decorative layer <NUM> is composed by combining a colored decorative layer <NUM>, which is, for example, black or blue, and a luster decorative layer <NUM>, which has a metallic luster. The colored decorative layer <NUM> is provided on the rear surface of the general portion <NUM>, for example, through printing such as screen printing or hot stamping.

The luster decorative layer <NUM> is formed by subjecting the entire wall surface of the recess <NUM> of the front base <NUM> and the entire rear surface of the colored decorative layer <NUM> to sputtering or vapor-deposition with a metal material such as indium (In), such that the luster decorative layer <NUM> has an island structure. The island structure refers to a structure in which no single film covering the entire surface is provided, and a great number of slightly separated or partly contacting island-like metal films are spread over the surface. Due to the island structure, the luster decorative layer <NUM> has a discontinuous structure and thus has a high electrical resistance and a millimeter wave transparency.

The area in the decorative main body <NUM> through which millimeter waves pass has a uniform thickness in the front-rear direction.

The decorative main body <NUM> has attachment portions (not shown) for attaching the decorative main body <NUM> disposed in the window <NUM> to the front grille <NUM> at several positions in the rear peripheral portion. The attachment portions are constituted, for example, by clips, screws, or engaging hooks.

As shown in <FIG>, a circuit board (printed circuit board) <NUM> is provided behind the lower part of the decorative main body <NUM>. The circuit board <NUM> is connected to the power source (not shown) of the vehicle <NUM>. The circuit board <NUM> has power wires (not shown). The power wires constitute part of an electricity supplying path for supplying electricity to a heating wire <NUM> via a connection portions <NUM> (see <FIG>) in the heating sheet <NUM>, which will be discussed below.

As shown in <FIG>, the heating sheet <NUM> includes a sheet <NUM>, the heating wire <NUM>, and a pair of connection portions <NUM>. The sheet <NUM> is made of a transparent plastic having a millimeter wave transparency, such as PC plastic. The heating wire <NUM> and the two connection portions <NUM> are routed in the sheet <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the heating wire <NUM> is constituted by a lead <NUM> and a plastic coating portion C1. The lead <NUM> is made of a metal material that generates heat when energized. The plastic coating portion C1 coats and protects the lead <NUM>. The lead <NUM> is a solid wire. At least the outer circumferential portion of the coating portion C1 is constituted by a transparent coating portion <NUM>, which is made of colorless transparent plastic. In the first embodiment, the entire coating portion C1 is constituted by the transparent coating portion <NUM>.

The lead <NUM> preferably has a lead diameter D1 less than or equal to <NUM>. There is no limit to the minimum value of the lead diameter D1. That is, the smallest diameter that can be formed corresponds to the minimum value. The value obtained by subtracting the lead diameter D1 of the lead <NUM> from the diameter D2 of the coating portion C1 is referred to as a coating diameter D3 of the coating portion C1. The coating diameter D3 is preferably set to <NUM> or greater. There is no limit to the maximum value of the coating diameter D3. Since the coating portion C1 is transparent, the appearance is not particularly degraded even if the coating diameter D3 is great. In <FIG>, half the coating diameter D3 (D3/<NUM>) is shown on either side of the lead <NUM> in the radial direction of the heating wire <NUM>.

In the first embodiment, the lead <NUM> is made of copper. The lead diameter D1 of the lead <NUM> is set to <NUM>, the coating diameter D3 of the coating portion C1 is set to <NUM>. Therefore, the diameter of the whole heating wire <NUM>, in this case, the diameter D2 of the coating portion C1 is <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the connection portions <NUM> are made of a conductive metal material and connected to the opposite ends of the heating wire <NUM>.

The heating sheet <NUM> includes a heating main body <NUM> and an extending portion <NUM>. The heating main body <NUM> substantially has the shape of a horizontally elongated oval plate that has the same shape as the decorative main body <NUM>. The heating wire <NUM> is routed in the heating main body <NUM> by being repeatedly bent in a wavy manner. Although not illustrated, the sheet <NUM> of the heating main body <NUM> may be constituted by a pair of front and rear sheet members 36a, and the heating wire <NUM> may be routed between the sheet members 36a. In this case, the heating wire <NUM> is routed on the rear surface of the front sheet member 36a. Also, although not illustrated, the sheet <NUM> of the heating main body <NUM> may be constituted by a single sheet member 36a, and the heating wire <NUM> may be routed on the rear surface of the sheet member 36a. In either case, a part of or the entirety of the sheet member 36a is located forward of the heating wire <NUM> in the heating main body <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the heating main body <NUM> is arranged in front of the decorative main body <NUM>. The heating main body <NUM> is fixed to the decorative main body <NUM> by being bonded to the front surface of the front base <NUM>. The front surface of the heating main body <NUM> constitutes a design surface 15c of the emblem <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the extending portion <NUM> extends downward from the lower end of the heating main body <NUM>. The connection portions <NUM> are routed in the extending portion <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the extending portion <NUM> is bent along the lower surface and the rear surface of the decorative main body <NUM> so as to wrap around the back of the decorative main body <NUM> via the lower end. The connection portions <NUM> in the bent extending portion <NUM> are electrically connected to the power wires of the circuit board <NUM> behind the decorative main body <NUM>. <FIG> illustrates only part of the extending portion <NUM> before being bent.

As shown in <FIG>, in the emblem <NUM> having the above descried configuration, the sheet <NUM> of the heating main body <NUM> is located in the area from the design surface 15c to a position behind and separated from the design surface 15c. The sheet member 36a that is located forward of the heating wire <NUM> in the sheet <NUM> corresponds to the "transparent member" in the section of "WHAT IS CLAIMED IS.

The emblem <NUM> is disposed in the window <NUM> while being upright and attached to the front grille <NUM> at the attachment portions.

Operation of the first embodiment, which is configured as described above, will now be described. Advantages that accompany the operation will also be described.

When the millimeter wave radar device <NUM> transmits millimeter waves <NUM>, the millimeter waves <NUM> pass through the rear base <NUM>, the decorative layer <NUM>, and the front base <NUM> of the decorative main body <NUM>, and the heating main body <NUM> of the heating sheet <NUM> in order as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>. After passing through the components, the millimeter waves <NUM> hit and are reflected by an object in front of the vehicle, such as a leading vehicle or a pedestrian, and then pass through the heating main body <NUM>, the front base <NUM>, the decorative layer <NUM>, and the rear base <NUM> in order. The millimeter waves <NUM> are received by the millimeter wave radar device <NUM>. Based on the transmitted and received millimeter waves <NUM>, the millimeter wave radar device <NUM> recognizes the object and detects the distance between the vehicle <NUM> and the object and the relative velocity.

The emblem <NUM>, which is constituted by the decorative main body <NUM> and the heating sheet <NUM>, each having a millimeter wave transparency, is unlikely to hinder passing of the transmitted and reflected millimeter waves <NUM>. The amount of a part of the millimeter waves <NUM> that is attenuated by the emblem <NUM> is limited to a permissible range. This allows the millimeter wave radar device <NUM> to properly exert functions such as the detecting function described above.

When ice and snow collect on the design surface 15c of the emblem <NUM>, electricity from the power source is supplied to the heating wire <NUM> via the power wires of the circuit board <NUM> and the connection portions <NUM>. The heating wire <NUM> is thus energized to generate heat. Some of the heat generated by the heating wire <NUM> is transferred to the design surface 15c of the emblem <NUM>. The transferred heat melts the ice and snow collected on the design surface 15c of the emblem <NUM>, thereby limiting the attenuation of the millimeter waves <NUM> due to ice and snow. Particularly, in the first embodiment, the heating main body <NUM> is disposed in front of the decorative main body <NUM>. In other words, the heating wire <NUM> is disposed at the foremost part of the emblem <NUM> and close to the design surface 15c. This allows the heat generated by the heating wire <NUM> to be readily transferred to the design surface 15c of the emblem <NUM>, so that ice and snow are melt efficiently.

<FIG> and <FIG> illustrate a case in which the emblem <NUM> is irradiated with visible light L1 from the front. In this case, in sections where the heating wire <NUM> is absent, some of the visible light L1 passes through the sheet <NUM> of the heating main body <NUM> and the front base <NUM> in order before being reflected by the decorative layer <NUM>.

In the sections where the heating wire <NUM> is routed, some of the visible light L1, with which the emblem <NUM> is irradiated from the front, passes through the sheet <NUM>, the transparent coating portion <NUM>, and the front base <NUM> in order before being reflected by the decorative layer <NUM>.

Thus, when the emblem <NUM> is seen from the front, the decorative layer <NUM> appears to be located behind (on the far side of) either the sheet <NUM> and the front base <NUM> or the sheet <NUM>, the transparent coating portion <NUM>, and the front base <NUM> through these components. The color of the colored decorative layer <NUM> of the decorative layer <NUM> is visible. The luster decorative layer <NUM> of the decorative layer <NUM> appears to be glittering like metal. The decorative layer <NUM> thus decorates the decorative main body <NUM>, improving the appearance of the emblem <NUM> and the surrounding portion.

Particularly, the decorative layer <NUM> is provided between the front base <NUM> and the rear base <NUM> and is uneven. Thus, from the front of the emblem <NUM>, the luster decorative layer <NUM> appears to be located forward of (on the near side of) the colored decorative layer <NUM>. This further improves the appearance of the emblem <NUM> and the surrounding portion.

The front grille <NUM> may include a plastic base with a plating layer on the surface. In this case, the color that is reflected by the luster decorative layer <NUM> and has metallic luster is matched with the color of the plating layer. The emblem <NUM> and the front grille <NUM> thus have a consistency. This improves the design of the front part of the vehicle <NUM>.

The reflection of the visible light L1 on the decorative layer <NUM> shown in <FIG> and <FIG> occurs at a position forward of the millimeter wave radar device <NUM>. The decorative layer <NUM> exerts the function of concealing the millimeter wave radar device <NUM>. Accordingly, the millimeter wave radar device <NUM> cannot be seen easily from the front of the emblem <NUM>. The appearance is thus improved as compared with a case in which the millimeter wave radar device <NUM> can be seen through the emblem <NUM>.

In the sections where the heating wire <NUM> is routed, some of the visible light L1, with which the emblem <NUM> is irradiated from the front, passes through a part of the sheet <NUM> of the heating main body <NUM>, more specifically, through the sheet member 36a, which is located forward of the heating wire <NUM>.

At this time, if at least the outer peripheral portion of the coating portion C1 in the heating wire <NUM> is constituted by a colored coating, the visible light L1 is reflected by the outer circumferential portion of the coating portion C1. When the emblem <NUM> is seen from the front, the entire heating wire <NUM>, in this case, the coating portion C1, is visually recognized.

In contrast, the coating portion C1 is constituted solely by the transparent coating portion <NUM> in the first embodiment, and the lead <NUM> is inside and adjacent to the transparent coating portion <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the visible light L1 passes through a part of the transparent coating portion <NUM> (a part forward of the lead <NUM>) before being reflected by the lead <NUM>.

Thus, the part of the heating wire <NUM> except the transparent coating portion <NUM>, in this case, the lead <NUM> is visually recognized. The size of the part of the heating wire <NUM> that is visually recognized is reduced by the size of the coating portion C1. The heating wire <NUM> is thus difficult to see as compared with a case in which at least the outer circumferential portion of the coating portion C1 is constituted by a colored coating portion.

If only the outer circumferential portion of the coating portion C1 is constituted by the transparent coating portion <NUM>, the member that is inside and adjacent to the transparent coating portion <NUM> is visually recognized. However, the lead <NUM>, which is visually recognized in the first embodiment, has a smaller diameter than that of the member that is located inside and adjacent to the transparent coating portion <NUM> in a case in which only the outer circumferential portion of the coating portion C1 is constituted by the transparent coating portion <NUM>. Thus, as compared to such a case, the heating wire <NUM> is difficult to see. This configuration limits deterioration of the appearance of the emblem <NUM> due to the heating wire <NUM> being visible.

In addition, the lead <NUM>, which has the lead diameter D1 less than or equal to <NUM>, is generally difficult to see. Thus, coupled with the fact that the coating portion C1 is constituted solely by the transparent coating portion <NUM>, the heating wire <NUM> is further difficult to see. This configuration further effectively limits deterioration of the appearance of the emblem <NUM>.

Further, since the lead <NUM> is coated with the coating portion C1, which has the coating diameter D3 larger than or equal to <NUM>, the lead <NUM> is properly protected by the coating portion C1. Thus, the lead <NUM> is unlikely to be broken when the heating wire <NUM> is routed. Specifically, when manufacturing the heating sheet <NUM> by routing the heating wire <NUM> in the sheet <NUM>, a processing machine <NUM>, a part of which is shown in <FIG>, is used. The processing machine <NUM> has a feeder hole <NUM> in the distal end, through which the heating wire <NUM> is fed to the sheet <NUM> of the heating sheet <NUM>. During the feeding process, if the coating diameter D3 of the coating portion C1 and the diameter D2 are small, the heating wire <NUM> shifts in the radial direction inside the feeder hole <NUM>, which may break the lead <NUM>. Also, since the heating wire <NUM> is fed while moving in the radial direction in the feeder hole <NUM>, the routing accuracy of the heating wire <NUM> may be reduced.

In this regard, if the coating diameter D3 of the coating portion C1 is larger than or equal to <NUM>, the diameter D2 is large, and the heating wire <NUM> is fed while being restricted from moving in the radial direction in the feeder hole <NUM>. The lead <NUM> is thus unlikely to be broken. This limits reduction in the routing accuracy due to the lead <NUM> moving in the radial direction in the feeder hole <NUM>.

A vehicle decorative component according to a second embodiment will now be described with reference to <FIG>, in addition to <FIG> and <FIG>.

The second embodiment is the same as the first embodiment in that, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the decorative main body <NUM> includes the front base <NUM>, which is made of a transparent plastic, and the decorative layer <NUM>, which is formed on the rear surface of the base <NUM>, and that the heating wire <NUM> is located forward of the decorative layer <NUM>. Also, the second embodiment is the same as the first embodiment in that the heating sheet <NUM> is arranged forward of the decorative main body <NUM> and that a part of or the entirely of the sheet member 36a is located forward of the heating wire <NUM>.

In the first embodiment (refer to <FIG>), the entire coating portion C1 is constituted by the transparent coating portion <NUM>. The second embodiment is different from the thus configured first embodiment in that the coating portion C1 has a colored coating portion <NUM> made of plastic on the inner circumference of the transparent coating portion <NUM>. The transparent coating portion <NUM> constitutes the outer circumferential portion of the coating portion C1, and the colored coating portion <NUM> constitutes the inner circumferential portion of the coating portion C1. The colored coating portion <NUM> coats the lead <NUM>, and the transparent coating portion <NUM> coats the colored coating portion <NUM>. The lead diameter D1 of the lead <NUM> and the diameter D2 and the coating diameter D3 of the coating portion C1 are the same as those in the first embodiment. Further, the colored coating portion <NUM> has a color that is closer to the color of the decorative layer <NUM> (the color of the colored decorative layer <NUM> or the color of the luster decorative layer <NUM>) than to the color of the lead <NUM>.

The configuration other than the above is similar to the first embodiment. Thus, the same components as those in the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and detailed explanations are omitted.

The second embodiment thus achieves the same operations and advantages as the first embodiment. The second embodiment further achieves the following operations and advantages.

<FIG> and <FIG> illustrate a case in which the emblem <NUM> is irradiated with visible light L1 from the front. In this case, in sections where the heating wire <NUM> is absent, some of the visible light L1 passes through the sheet <NUM> of the heating main body <NUM> and the front base <NUM> of the decorative main body <NUM> in order before being reflected by the decorative layer <NUM>.

Thus, when the emblem <NUM> is seen from the front, the decorative layer <NUM> appears to be located behind (on the far side of) either the sheet <NUM> and the front base <NUM> or the sheet <NUM>, the transparent coating portion <NUM>, and the front base <NUM> through these components.

If the coating portion C1 is constituted only by the transparent coating portion <NUM>, the lead <NUM> is visually recognized. Depending on the relationship between the color of the lead <NUM> and the color of the decorative layer <NUM>, the lead <NUM> may be conspicuous. Specifically, if the lead <NUM> and the decorative layer <NUM> have significantly different colors, the lead <NUM> may be conspicuous.

In this regard, according to the second embodiment, in the sections where the heating wire <NUM> is routed, some of the visible light L1, with which the emblem <NUM> is irradiated from the front, passes through the sheet member 36a, which is forward of the heating wire <NUM>, and the part of the transparent coating portion <NUM> that is forward of the colored coating portion <NUM> before being reflected by the colored coating portion <NUM> (<FIG>).

Thus, the part of the coating portion C1 except the transparent coating portion <NUM>, that is, the colored coating portion <NUM>, which is located inside and adjacent to the transparent coating portion <NUM>, is visually recognized. The size of the part of the heating wire <NUM> that is visually recognized is reduced by the size of the transparent coating portion <NUM>. Thus, in this case also, the heating wire <NUM> is difficult to see as compared with a case in which at least the outer circumferential portion of the coating portion C1 is constituted by a colored coating portion.

Further, in the second embodiment, the colored coating portion <NUM> has a color that is closer to the color of the decorative layer <NUM> than to the color of the lead <NUM>. Thus, the heating wire <NUM> is difficult to see as compared with a case in which the coating portion C1 is entirely constituted by the transparent coating portion <NUM>, and the lead <NUM> is visually recognized.

The above-described embodiments may be modified as follows. The above-described embodiments and the following modifications can be combined as long as the combined modifications remain technically consistent with each other.

The emblem <NUM> may be a plate having a shape other than an oval shape.

The emblem <NUM>, which is disposed in the window <NUM>, may be attached to the vehicle body instead of the front grille <NUM>.

As long as the position of the heating main body <NUM> in the front-rear direction in the emblem <NUM> is forward of the decorative layer <NUM>, the position of the heating main body <NUM> may be changed to a position different from the position forward of the decorative main body <NUM>. That is, the heating main body <NUM> may be changed to a position in the middle of the decorative main body <NUM> in the front-rear direction.

For example, if the front base <NUM> is constituted by two members separated from each other in the front-rear direction, the heating main body <NUM> may be arranged between those members. In this case, the member of the front base <NUM> that is located forward of the heating wire <NUM> and the sheet member 36a that is located forward of the heating wire <NUM> in the sheet <NUM> correspond to the above-described transparent members.

The lead <NUM> may be made of any metal other than copper as long as it generates heat when energized.

The heating wire <NUM> may be routed as a component of the heating sheet <NUM> as in the first and second embodiments. However, the heating wire <NUM> may be routed in the decorative main body <NUM> without using the sheet <NUM>.

Transparent components of the emblem <NUM> other than the transparent coating portion <NUM> of the heating wire <NUM> may be either a colorless transparent component or a colored transparent component.

The above-described vehicle decorative components may be employed as a component that is disposed at a position different from the emblem and decorates a vehicle.

The device that transmits and receives electromagnetic waves to detect an outside object is not limited to a front monitoring device, but may be a rear monitoring device, a side monitoring device for the front part, or a side monitoring device for the rear part. In these cases, the vehicle decorative component is located forward of the device in the transmission direction of millimeter waves.

Claim 1:
A vehicle decorative component comprising:
a decorative main body (<NUM>) adapted to be provided in a vehicle (<NUM>) equipped with a device (<NUM>) configured to transmit and receive electromagnetic waves to detect an object outside the vehicle (<NUM>), the decorative main body (<NUM>) being adapted to be arranged in front of the device (<NUM>) in a transmission direction of the electromagnetic waves to decorate the vehicle (<NUM>) and having a transparency to the electromagnetic waves;
a heating wire (<NUM>); and
a design surface (15c) of the vehicle decorative component on a front surface in the transmission direction,
wherein an area from the design surface (15c) to a position behind and separated from the design surface (15c) in the transmission direction is constituted by a transparent member transparent to the electromagnetic waves, and the heating wire (<NUM>) is disposed on a rear surface of the transparent member in the transmission direction,
the decorative main body (<NUM>) includes
a transparent base (<NUM>), and
a decorative layer (<NUM>) provided on a rear surface in the transmission direction of the base (<NUM>),
the heating wire (<NUM>) includes a metal lead (<NUM>), which generates heat when energized,
the vehicle decorative component being characterized in that
the heating wire (<NUM>) is disposed forward in the transmission direction of the decorative layer (<NUM>),
the heating wire (<NUM>) further includes a coating portion (C1) made of plastic, the coating portion (C1) coating the lead (<NUM>), and
at least an outer circumferential portion of the coating portion (C1) is constituted by a transparent coating portion (<NUM>), which is made of a transparent plastic, such that some of the visible light (L1), with which the vehicle decorative component is irradiated from the front, passes through the transparent coating portion (<NUM>) and the transparent base (<NUM>) in order to be reflected by the decorative layer (<NUM>).