Patent Description:
Conventionally, there is known a vehicle lamp that is disposed over the vehicle body side and the back door side at the rear of a vehicle (for example, see <CIT>). Such a vehicle lamp includes a lamp unit on the vehicle body side and a lamp unit on the back door side.

A vehicle lamp described in <CIT> is disposed with a gap between a lamp unit on the vehicle body side and a lamp unit on the back door side. In the vehicle lamp disposed between the fixed side and the movable side of the vehicle in this manner, there is a demand for a configuration of enhancing the sense of connection between the lamp unit on the fixed side and the lamp unit on the movable side.

The present invention is made in view of the above, and an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle lamp capable of improving the sense of connection between a lamp unit on the fixed side and a lamp unit on the movable side.

<CIT> discloses a first lens cover of a first lamp unit that includes a first light control surface formed to be continuous with a first emission surface and that emits light from a first light source forward of the lamp. A second lens cover of a second lamp unit includes a second light control surface that is formed to be continuous with a second emission surface and that emits light from a second light source forward of the lamp. The first light control surface and the second light control surface are disposed continuous with each other with a gap G therebetween. The first light control surface extends farther than a first connection portion in a direction toward the second light control surface. The second light control surface extends farther than a second connection portion in a direction toward the first light control surface.

<CIT> discloses a vehicle lighting apparatus, in which an inside leg part of a first translucent cover in a first lighting appliance located outside a vehicle width direction, and an outside leg part of a second translucent cover in a second lighting appliance are formed so as to be inclined and extended to the inside of the vehicle width direction toward rear sides of the lighting appliances. By this constitution, the inside leg part of the first translucent cover is made to be seen in a clearance between both the lighting appliances in a lighting appliance front view. After that, a part of emission light from a first lighting appliance unit as the first lighting appliance is made incident to the inside leg part of the first translucent cover. As a result, the clearance between both the lighting appliances does not become a dark part, and is made to be seen brightly.

In particular, the light control surface may be provided in a part facing the second light guide body of the second leg part.

The light control surface may refract, inside the second leg part, the light that is emitted from the second light guide body and is incident on the light control surface.

The light control surface may internally reflect light that is emitted from the first light source, be incident inside the second leg part from the gap side, and be incident on the light control surface from inside of the second leg part.

The first leg part may have a refractive surface that refracts, inside the first leg part, light emitted from the first light guide body.

The light control surface may perform control such that light which reaches the light control surface is internally reflected on a surface on the gap side of the second leg part.

According to the present invention, it is possible to improve the sense of connection between a lamp unit on the fixed side and a lamp unit on the movable side.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of a vehicle lamp according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The present invention is not limited by this embodiment. Components in the following embodiment include those that can be easily replaced by those skilled in the art, or those that are substantially the same.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating an example of a vehicle lamp <NUM> as viewed from the rear side of a vehicle <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG>, the vehicle <NUM> includes a vehicle body <NUM> having a traveling device (not illustrated), and the vehicle lamp <NUM>. The vehicle body <NUM> has a driver's cab. This vehicle body <NUM> is supported on the traveling device. The traveling device has wheels on which tires are mounted, a steering device for changing the traveling direction of the vehicle <NUM>, and a braking device for slowing down or stopping the traveling device. The vehicle <NUM> includes a door for getting on and off that is provided on the side part of the vehicle body <NUM>, and a back door <NUM> that is provided on the rear part of the vehicle body <NUM>. The door for getting on and off, and the back door <NUM> are each movably supported on the vehicle body <NUM> via a hinge mechanism.

In the following description, assuming that the vehicle <NUM> is disposed on the ground parallel to a horizontal plane, and the positional relationship of each part will be described using terms, namely, front, rear, top, bottom, left, and right with a driver in a cab as a reference. The front-rear, up-down, and left-right directions are the directions when the vehicle lamp is mounted on the vehicle and the traveling direction of the vehicle is viewed from the driver's seat. In this embodiment, the up-down direction is parallel to the vertical direction, and the front-rear and left-right directions are parallel to the horizontal direction.

In this embodiment, the vehicle lamps <NUM> are provided on the left and right sides of the rear part of the vehicle body <NUM>. In this embodiment, each vehicle lamp <NUM> is provided on the rear part of the vehicle body <NUM>. Therefore, the rear side in the front-rear direction is the front surface side of the vehicle lamp <NUM>, and the front side in the front-rear direction is the back surface side of the vehicle lamp <NUM>.

The vehicle lamp <NUM> includes a function lamp. Examples of the function lamp include a tail lamp that is provided in the rear part of the vehicle body <NUM> and lights up in conjunction with the lighting of a headlamp, a stop lamp that is provided in the rear part of the vehicle body <NUM> and lights up in conjunction with operation of a brake device, and a rear turn signal lamp that is provided in the rear part of the vehicle body <NUM> and lights up to indicate the traveling direction of the vehicle <NUM> to the surroundings.

The vehicle lamps <NUM> are each disposed over the vehicle body <NUM> side and the back door <NUM> side. In this embodiment, the vehicle body <NUM> is a fixing part. The back door <NUM> is a movable part. A structure of the vehicle lamp <NUM> provided on the left side of the rear part of the vehicle body <NUM> and a structure of the vehicle lamp <NUM> provided on the right side of the rear part of the vehicle body <NUM> are symmetrical in the left-right direction and are substantially the same. Hereinafter, the vehicle lamp <NUM> provided on the right side of the rear part of the vehicle body <NUM> will be mainly described, and the description of the vehicle lamp <NUM> provided on the left side of the rear part of the vehicle body <NUM> will be simplified or omitted.

<FIG> are diagrams each schematically illustrating an example of the vehicle lamp <NUM> according to this embodiment. <FIG> is a diagram illustrating a configuration taken along the A-A section in <FIG>. <FIG> is a diagram illustrating a configuration taken along the B-B section in <FIG>. <FIG> is a diagram illustrating a configuration taken along the C-C section in <FIG>.

The vehicle lamp <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> includes a fixed-side unit <NUM> disposed on the vehicle body <NUM> side, which is a fixing part, and a movable-side unit <NUM> disposed on the back door <NUM> side, which is a movable part. The fixed-side unit <NUM> and the movable-side unit <NUM> are separated by a gap <NUM>.

The fixed-side unit <NUM> includes a light source (first light source) <NUM>, a light guide body (first light guide body) <NUM>, an inner housing <NUM>, an inner lens <NUM>, an outer lens (first outer lens) <NUM>, and a lamp housing <NUM>.

The light source <NUM> is a semiconductor type light source, for example, an LED or the like. The light source <NUM> supplies light to the fixed-side unit <NUM>.

The light guide body <NUM> emits light from the light source <NUM> toward the front surface side (rearward). The light guide body <NUM> has an end surface 12a at an end on the back door <NUM> side (movable side, left). In the light guide body <NUM>, one part of the light from the light source <NUM> is emitted to the left from the end surface 12a. The end surface 12a is, for example, planar. The end surface 12a is provided at an end on the left of the light guide body <NUM>, so that the one part of the light from the light source <NUM> can be efficiently emitted to the left.

The inner housing <NUM> holds the light guide body <NUM>. The inner housing <NUM> is disposed on the back surface side of the light guide body <NUM>. The inner housing <NUM> may have a reflective member on a surface 13a on the front surface side. In this case, light emitted from the light guide body <NUM> to the back surface side can be reflected on the front surface side.

The inner lens <NUM> transmits the light emitted from the light guide body <NUM>. The inner lens <NUM> is disposed so as to cover the front surface side of the light guide body <NUM>.

The outer lens <NUM> emits the light emitted from the inner lens <NUM> to the outside of the vehicle lamp <NUM>. The outer lens <NUM> has a plate-like shape, and a part facing the gap <NUM> is bent in an L-shape in a cross-sectional view. The outer lens <NUM> houses each part of the vehicle lamp <NUM> together with the lamp housing <NUM>. The outer lens <NUM> is formed, for example, using a resin material that is transparent or similar in color to lighting color.

The outer lens <NUM> has a front surface part (first front surface part) <NUM> and a leg part (first leg part) <NUM>. The front surface part <NUM> is disposed on the front surface side of the inner lens <NUM>. The leg part <NUM> is disposed on the lateral side (left side) on the back door <NUM> side of the light guide body <NUM>. The leg part <NUM> is a part that extends from the end on the gap side of the front surface part <NUM> toward the back surface side. The leg part <NUM> has a connecting part <NUM> connected to the front surface part <NUM>. The connecting part <NUM> has a rounded shape in cross section.

The leg part <NUM> has a refractive surface 18a. The refractive surface 18a refracts, inside the leg part <NUM>, the light that is emitted from the light guide body <NUM> and reaches the leg part <NUM>. The light refracted inside the leg part <NUM> from the refractive surface 18a passes through the leg part <NUM> and is emitted to the gap <NUM> side. The light emitted to the gap <NUM> side is incident on a leg part <NUM>, which will be described later. The refractive surface 18a is formed from the back surface side to the front surface side, for example, in a range from a position corresponding to a front surface side end of the light guide body <NUM> to a back surface side end of the connecting part <NUM>. The position of the end on the back surface side of the refractive surface 18a can be appropriately set in accordance with the position of a light control surface 28a, which will be described later. That is, the position of the end on the back surface side of the refractive surface 18a can be appropriately set to, for example, a position where the light from the light guide body <NUM> can be incident on the light control surface 28a, which will be described later.

The refractive surface 18a has, for example, a serrate cross-sectional shape. The cross-sectional shape of the light control surface 28a is not limited to the serrate shape, and may be any other shape as long as light can be refracted as described above. Of the surface on the light guide body <NUM> side of the leg part <NUM>, a portion other than the portion on which the refractive surface 18a is provided may have an emboss-finished shape, for example.

The movable-side unit <NUM> includes a light source (second light source) <NUM>, a light guide body (second light guide body) <NUM>, an inner housing <NUM>, an inner lens <NUM>, an outer lens (second outer lens) <NUM>, and a lamp housing <NUM>.

The light source <NUM> is a semiconductor type light source, for example, an LED or the like. The light source <NUM> supplies light to the movable-side unit <NUM>. The light guide body <NUM> emits light from the light source <NUM> toward the front surface side (rearward). The inner housing <NUM> holds the light guide body <NUM>. The inner lens <NUM> transmits the light emitted from the light guide body <NUM>.

The outer lens <NUM> has a front surface part (second front surface part) <NUM>, and a leg part (second leg part) <NUM>. The front surface part <NUM> is disposed on the front surface side of the inner lens <NUM>. The leg part <NUM> is disposed on the lateral side (left side) on the back door <NUM> side of the light guide body <NUM>. The leg part <NUM> is a part that extends from the end on the gap <NUM> side of the front surface part <NUM> toward the back surface side. The leg part <NUM> has a connecting part <NUM> connected to the front surface part <NUM>. The connecting part <NUM> has a rounded shape in cross section.

The leg part <NUM> has the light control surface 28a. The light control surface 28a is provided on a surface on the light guide body <NUM> side in the leg part <NUM>. The light control surface 28a refracts, inside the leg part <NUM>, the light that is emitted from the light guide body <NUM> and incident on the light control surface 28a. The light control surface 28a internally reflects the light that is emitted from the light source <NUM>, is incident inside the leg part <NUM> from the gap <NUM> side, and is incident on the light control surface 28a from the inside of the leg part <NUM>. The light control surface 28a is formed from the back surface side to the front surface side, for example, in a range from a position corresponding to a front surface side end of the light guide body <NUM> to a back surface side end of the connecting part <NUM>.

The light control surface 28a performs control such that light which reaches the light control surface 28a, that is, light which is emitted from the light guide body <NUM> and reaches the light control surface 28a, and light which is emitted from the fixed-side unit <NUM> toward the gap <NUM> and reaches the light control surface 28a from the inside of the leg part <NUM> is internally reflected by a surface 28b on the gap <NUM> side of the leg part <NUM>. The light control surface 28a has a serrate cross-sectional shape. Of the surface on the light guide body <NUM> side of the leg part <NUM>, a portion other than the portion on which the light control surface 28a is provided may have an emboss-finished shape, for example.

In this embodiment, the diameter of the connecting part <NUM> is smaller than the diameter of the connecting part <NUM> in the outer lens <NUM> of the fixed-side unit <NUM>. According to this configuration, it is possible to prevent a curved portion from extending to the front side (back surface side) of the leg part <NUM>. In a case where the connecting part <NUM> has such a shape as to extend forward from the leg part <NUM>, the light controlled by the light control surface 28a is more likely to be internally reflected by the connecting part <NUM>. When the light controlled by the light control surface 28a is reflected by the connecting part <NUM>, the reflected light goes around to the front surface part <NUM> side and is emitted from the front surface side <NUM>. In this embodiment, the diameter of the connecting part <NUM> of the outer lens <NUM> is suppressed, and therefore the light controlled by the light control surface 28a is prevented from going around to the front surface part <NUM> side, and can be reliably emitted from the front surface side of the leg part <NUM>.

Now, an example of operation of the vehicle lamp <NUM> configured as described above will be described. When a driver performs predetermined operation such as operation of a direction indicator on the vehicle side or operation of a hazard switch, the vehicle lamp <NUM> emits light from each of the light source <NUM> of the fixed-side unit <NUM> and the light source <NUM> of the movable-side unit <NUM> in accordance with the above operation.

<FIG> and <FIG> are diagrams each schematically illustrating an example of a path of light in a case where the vehicle lamp <NUM> is turned on. As illustrated in <FIG>, light emitted from the light source <NUM> of the fixed-side unit <NUM> is incident on the light guide body <NUM> and is guided by the light guide body <NUM>. A part of this light is emitted from the light guide body <NUM> to the front surface side, passes through an inner front surface part 14a of the inner lens <NUM>, and is emitted from an outer front surface part 15a of the outer lens <NUM> to the front. Consequently, a lighting area AR1 (see <FIG>) on the outer front surface part 15a is illuminated.

As illustrated in <FIG>, light emitted from the light source <NUM> of the movable-side unit <NUM> is incident on the light guide body <NUM>, and guided by the light guide body <NUM>. This light is emitted from the light guide body <NUM>, passes through the inner lens <NUM>, and is emitted from the outer lens <NUM> to the front. Consequently, a lighting area AR2 (see <FIG>) on the outer lens <NUM> is illuminated.

On the other hand, as illustrated in <FIG>, light L1a, which is part of light L1 guided by the light guide body <NUM>, is emitted from, for example, the light guide body <NUM>, reaches the leg part <NUM> of the outer lens <NUM>, and is incident on the leg part <NUM> by the refractive surface 18a provided on the leg part <NUM>. This light L1a passes through the inside of the leg part <NUM>, is emitted toward the gap <NUM>, is incident inside the leg part <NUM> of the outer lens <NUM> of the movable-side unit <NUM>, and reaches the light control surface 28a from the inside of the leg part <NUM>. The light L1a is internally reflected to the front surface side by the light control surface 28a. This light L1a travels inside the leg part <NUM>, is further internally reflected by the surface on the gap <NUM> side of the leg part <NUM>, and is emitted from the front surface side of the leg part <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, light L2a, which is part of light L2 guided by the light guide body <NUM>, is emitted from, for example, the light guide body <NUM>, and reaches the light control surface 28a of the outer lens <NUM> from the outside. The light L2a that reaches the light control surface 28a is refracted to the front surface side inside the leg part <NUM> by the light control surface 28a. This light L2a travels inside the leg part <NUM>, is further internally reflected by the surface on the gap <NUM> side of the leg part <NUM>, and is emitted from the front surface side of the leg part <NUM>.

A lighting area AR3 on the outer lens <NUM> is illuminated by the above light L1a and light L2a.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating an example of a state in which the vehicle lamp <NUM> is turned on. As illustrated in <FIG>, in the vehicle lamp <NUM>, the light control surface 28a is provided, so that the lighting area AR3 is formed on the front surface side of the leg part <NUM>. In this case, in the vehicle lamp <NUM>, the lighting area AR1 is formed in the front surface part <NUM> of the outer lens <NUM> of the fixed-side unit <NUM>, the lighting area AR2 is formed in the front surface part <NUM> of the outer lens <NUM> of the movable-side unit <NUM>, the lighting area AR3 is formed on the front surface side of the leg part <NUM> of the outer lens <NUM>. Therefore, the impression that the lighting area AR1 and the lighting area AR2 are connected by the lighting area AR3 can be given to a viewer.

As described above, the vehicle lamp <NUM> according to this embodiment includes: the fixed-side unit <NUM> that is disposed in the fixing part (vehicle body <NUM>) of the vehicle having the fixing part and the movable part (back door <NUM>), and emits light; and the movable-side unit <NUM> that is disposed in the movable part with the gap <NUM> between the fixed-side unit <NUM> and the movable-side unit <NUM>, and emits light, the fixed-side unit <NUM> has: the light source <NUM>; the light guide body <NUM> that guides light of first light source <NUM>; and the outer lens <NUM> that has the front surface part <NUM> covering the front surface side of the light guide body <NUM> when the vehicle lamp is mounted on the vehicle; and the leg part <NUM> covering the side surface on the gap <NUM> side of the light guide body <NUM>, the movable-side unit <NUM> has: the light source <NUM>; and the light guide body <NUM> that guides light of the light source <NUM>; and the outer lens <NUM> having the front surface part <NUM> covering the front surface side of the light guide body <NUM> when the vehicle lamp is mounted on the vehicle, and the leg part <NUM> covering the side surface on the gap <NUM> side of the light guide body <NUM>, the leg part <NUM> has the light control surface 28a in the part facing the light guide body <NUM>, and the light control surface 28a performs control such that light emitted from the light source <NUM> and the light source <NUM> and incident on the light control surface 28a passes through inside of the leg part <NUM> and is emitted from the front surface side.

According to this configuration, the light emitted from the light source <NUM> and the light source <NUM> and incident on the light control surface 28a passes through the inside of the leg part <NUM> and is emitted from the front surface side, and therefore the lighting area AR3 is formed on the front surface side of the leg part <NUM>. That is, the lighting area AR1 is formed in the front surface part <NUM> of the outer lens <NUM> of the fixed-side unit <NUM>, the lighting area AR2 is formed in the front surface part <NUM> of the outer lens <NUM> of the movable-side unit <NUM>, and the lighting area AR3 is formed on the front surface side of the leg part <NUM>. Therefore, the impression that the lighting area AR1 and the lighting area AR2 are connected by the lighting area AR3 can be given to a viewer. Consequently, it is possible to improve the sense of connection between the fixed-side unit <NUM> and the movable-side unit <NUM>.

In the vehicle lamp <NUM> according to this embodiment, the light control surface 28a may be provided in the part facing the light guide body <NUM> of the leg part <NUM>. Consequently, the light control surface 28a is not disposed at such a position as not to be able to be seen directly from the outside, and therefore it is possible to avoid deterioration in appearance.

In the vehicle lamp <NUM> according to this embodiment, the light control surface 28a may refract, inside the leg part <NUM>, the light that is emitted from the light guide body <NUM> and is incident on the light control surface 28a. Consequently, the light that is emitted from the light guide body <NUM> and reaches the leg part <NUM> can be used without waste.

In the vehicle lamp <NUM> according to this embodiment, the light control surface 28a may internally reflect light that is emitted from the light source <NUM>, be incident inside the leg part <NUM> from the gap <NUM> side, and be incident on the light control surface 28a from inside of the leg part <NUM>. The light emitted from the fixed-side unit <NUM> can also be used for the lighting area AR3, and therefore it is possible to ensure sufficient brightness for the lighting area AR3.

In the vehicle lamp <NUM> according to this embodiment, the leg part <NUM> may have the refractive surface 18a that refracts, inside the first leg part <NUM>, light emitted from the first light guide body <NUM>. Consequently, the light that is emitted from the light guide body <NUM> and reaches the leg part <NUM> can be efficiently supplied to the light control surface 28a side.

In the vehicle lamp <NUM> according to this embodiment, the light control surface 28a may perform control such that light which reaches the light control surface 28a is internally reflected on a surface on the gap <NUM> side of the leg part <NUM>. Consequently, the light controlled by the light control surface 28a can reliably reach the front surface side from the inside of the leg part <NUM>.

In the vehicle lamp <NUM> according to the invention, the light control surface 28a has a serrate cross-sectional shape in a case where the leg part <NUM> is cut by a plane parallel to a horizontal plane when the vehicle lamp is mounted on the vehicle. Consequently, a controllable configuration can be easily formed such that the light incident on the light control surface 28a passes through the inside of the leg part <NUM> and is emitted from the front surface side.

According to the invention, the light control surface 28a performs control such that both the light L1a and the light L2a are supplied to the front surface side of the leg part <NUM>.

In the above embodiment, the refractive surface 18a is formed in the leg part <NUM>. However, for example, the refractive surface 18a may not be provided.

Claim 1:
A vehicle lamp comprising:
a fixed-side unit (<NUM>) that is adapted to be disposed in a fixing part of a vehicle having the fixing part and a movable part, and emits light; and
a movable-side unit (<NUM>) that is adapted to be disposed in the movable part with a gap provided between the fixed-side unit (<NUM>) and the movable-side unit (<NUM>) when the vehicle lamp is mounted on the vehicle, and emits light, wherein
the fixed-side unit (<NUM>) has:
a first light source (<NUM>);
a first light guide body (<NUM>) that guides light of the first light source (<NUM>); and
a first outer lens (<NUM>) having a first front surface part (<NUM>) covering a front surface side of the first light guide body (<NUM>) when the vehicle lamp is mounted on the vehicle and viewed from a front of the vehicle lamp, and a first leg part (<NUM>) covering a side surface, on the gap side, of the first light guide body (<NUM>),
the movable-side unit (<NUM>) has:
a second light source (<NUM>); and
a second light guide body (<NUM>) that guides light of the second light source (<NUM>); and
a second outer lens (<NUM>) having a second front surface part covering a front surface side of the second light guide body (<NUM>) when the vehicle lamp is mounted on the vehicle and viewed from a front of the vehicle lamp, and a second leg part (<NUM>) covering a side surface, on the gap side, of the second light guide body (<NUM>),
characterized in that
the second leg part (<NUM>) has a light control surface (28a) in a part of the second leg part (<NUM>), and
the light control surface (28a) has a serrate cross-sectional shape in a case where the second leg part (<NUM>) is cut by a plane parallel to a horizontal plane when the vehicle lamp is mounted on the vehicle so as to perform control such that light emitted from the first light source (<NUM>) and the second light source (<NUM>) and incident on the light control surface (28a) travels inside of the second leg part (<NUM>) to be emitted from a front surface of the second leg part (<NUM>).