Title of Invention

REAR COMBINATION LAMP OF VEHICLE

Abstract

[Problem] To improve the visibility of a rear combination lamp as seen from backward or sideward of the vehicle. [Solution]In a vehicle having a rear combination lamp which uses LEDs 131 as light sources, a light guide 101 protruding from the front of a lamp housing 111 backward of the vehicle is provided in order to guide light from the LED 131 backward of the vehicle, and LEDs 131 are each located on the front of the light guide 101 and a rim 101a as a light-emitting surface directed backward of the vehicle and sideward of the vehicle is provided on the back of the light guide 101. [Selected Drawing] Fig.13

Full Text

[Document Name] Specification [Title of the Invention] Rear Combination Lamp for Vehicle [Technical Field] [0001] The present invention relates to a rear combination lamp for a vehicle. [Background Art] [0002] As conventional rear combination lamps for vehicles, those which use LEDs (light emitting diodes) as light sources have been known (for example, see Patent Document 1) [Patent Document 1] JP-A No. 2004-203370 [0003] As shown in Fig.l of Patent Document 1, a tail lamp 18 includes an upper lamplight section 20 and a lower lamplight section 21 and an LED24 as a position lamp is provided in the upper lamplight section 20 and a plurality of LEDs 211 as a stop lamp are provided in the lower lamplight section 21. [Disclosure of the Invention] [Problem to be Solved by the Invention] [0004] The LED 24 and LEDs 211 have strong directivity and are highly visible from backward of the vehicle, so its visibility from backward of the vehicle is high but its visibility from sideward of the vehicle may not be so high. An object of the present invention is to increase the visibility of a rear combination lamp as seen from backward of the vehicle and sideward of the vehicle. [Means for Solving the Problem] [0005] The invention according to Claim 1 is characterized in that a vehicle having a rear combination lamp which uses LEDs as light sources includes a light guide protruding from the front of a lamp housing backward of the vehicle to guide light from LEDs backward of the vehicle and the LEDs are each located on the front of the light guide and a light-emitting surface directed backward of the vehicle and sideward of the vehicle is provided on the back of the light guide. Functionally, light from the LED is guided backward of the vehicle by the light guide and the light-emitting surface on the back of the light guide emits light backward of the vehicle and sideward of the vehicle. [0006] The invention according to Claim 2 is characterized in that the light-emitting surface is a rim of the light guide which is treated for light diffusion. Functionally, light from the LED guided by the light-emitting surface of the rim of the light guide is diffused and goes in each direction backward or sideward of the vehicle. [0007] The invention according to Claim 3 is characterized in that the plurality of light guides are provided and some of them make up a tail lamp and a stop lamp and the others make up a winker, and the light guides for the tail lamp and stop lamp and the light guides for the winker emit light of different colors. [0008] Functionally, since the tail lamp, stop lamp and winker are provided in the same lamp housing, space required for lamps is smaller in the present invention than in a case that these lamps are separately provided. [0009] The invention according to Claim 4 is characterized in that the plurality of light guides are similar to each other in shape and their area increases from a side of the body toward the center of the vehicle. Functionally since the light-emitting surfaces of the rims of the plural light guides are each belt-like and the light-emitting surfaces on the body center side lie around the light-emitting surfaces on the body outer side, the plural light-emitting surfaces do not overlap. [0010] The invention according to Claim 5 is characterized in that the plurality of light guides are connected by a connector and ends of the connecting member are fitted to the lamp housing. Functionally, the plural light guides are connected by the connector and integrated and the connector is fitted to the lamp housing, so that the light guides and the lamp housing are integrated. [Effect of the Invention] [0011] In the invention according to Claim 1, since in order to guide light from the lEDs backward of the vehicle, a light guide protruding from the front of the lamp housing backward is provided and LEDs are each located on the front of the light guide and a light-emitting surface directed backward of the vehicle and sideward of the vehicle is provided on the back of the light guide, the visibility of the rear combination lamp as seen from both backward of the vehicle and sideward of the vehicle is improved when the light-emitting surface directed backward of the vehicle and sideward of the vehicle emits light. [0012] In the invention according to Claim 2, since the rim of the light guide is treated for light diffusion to make it a light-emitting surface, the visibility from each direction is improved. In addition, the LED is hardly visible through the light-emitting surface and the appearance is thus improved. [0013] In the invention according to Claim 3, since a plurality of light guides are provided and some of them make up a tail lamp and a stop lamp and the others make up a winker, and the light guides for the tail lamp and stop lamp and the light guides for the winker emit light of different colors, the tail lamp, stop lamp and winker are provided in the same lamp housing and thus the space in the Vehicle can be used efficiently. [0014] In the invention according to Claim 4, since the plurality of light guides are similar to each other in shape and their area increases from a side of the body toward the center of the vehicle, when the plural light guides are seen from sideward of the body, the light-emitting surfaces of the rims of the light guides do not overlap and do emit light in a pattern similar to each other, so the visibility from sideward of the vehicle is improved and a more novel appearance can be obtained -[0015] In the invention according to Claim 5, since the plural light guides are connected by the connector and the ends of the connecting member are fitted to the lamp housing, the plural light guides, connecting member and lamp housing are integrated and the light guides hardly vibrate. [Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention] [0016] Next, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described referring to the accompanying drawings. The drawings should be seen according to the orientations of the reference numerals. Fig.l is a side view of a vehicle with a rear combination lamp according to the present invention where a vehicle 10 is a scooter type motorcycle in which a pair of left and right headlamps 13, 14 (only numeral 13 on the nearer side is shown) and a pair of left and right front winkers 16, 17 (only numeral 16 on the nearer side is shown) are disposed on a front cover 12 constituting the front of a body cover 11 and a pair of left and right rear combination lamps 21, 22 (only numeral 21 on the nearer side is shown) are disposed on a rear cover member 18 constituting the back of the body cover 11, and the headlamps 13, 14, front winkers 16, 17 and rear combination lamps 21, 22 use LEDs (light emitting diodes) as light sources. [0017] In the figure, 31 represents a wind shield provided on the top of the front cover 12; 32 a handlebar; 33 a front fork to be steered by the handlebar 32; 34 a front wheel fitted to the bottom of the front fork 33; 36 a disc brake for the front wheel; 37 a floor step on which the rider rests his/her feet; 41 a tandem seat; 42, 42 (only numeral 42 on the nearer side is shown) a pair of left and right grab rails located inside the rear cover member 18; 43, 43 (only numeral 43 on the nearer side is shown) openings through which hands are inserted to reach the grab rails 42, 42; 44 a pivot shaft provided on a body frame (not shown); 45 a swing arm swingably fitted to the pivot shaft 44; 46 a rear wheel fitted to the rear end of the swing arm 45; 47 a drive shaft which transmits power from a power unit (not shown) to the rear wheel 46; 48 a disc brake for the rear wheel; 51 a rear fender which covers the top of the rear wheel 46; and 52 a stand. [0018] Fig.2 is a front view of a vehicle according to the present invention where the headlamps 13, 14 of the vehicle 10 are located on the left and right of an opening made in the front cover 12 and the front winkers 16, 17 are located on lateral protrusions 62, 63 on the left and right of the front cover 12, above the headlamps 13, 14. [0019] In the figure, 66 represents a front lower cover which is located below the front cover 12 and is a constituent of the body cover 11 and 67 represents an opening in the front of the front lower cover 66. The openings 61, 67 are intended to take air into the body cover 11 during a run and the trapped air is used, for example, to promote heat radiation of the power unit. [0020] Fig.3 is a back view of a vehicle according to the present invention showing that a display unit 73 composed of a meter 71 and an EL (Electro-Luminescence) indicator 72 is located behind the wind shield 31 and ahead of the handlebar 32 and the lateral protrusions 62, 63 cover the front of grips 74, 76 at the left and right ends of the handlebar 32 and the rear combination lamps 21, 22 are located on the left and right of the rear cover member 18. [0021] The rear combination lamps 21, 22 each have the functions as a tail lamp, a stop lamp, and a rear winker. In the figure, 81 represents a clutch lever; 82 a Front brake lever; and 83 an exhaust system muffler. [0022] The detailed structure of the vehicle 10 will be described next. Fig.4 is an external view of a vehicle according to the present invention where the body cover 11, partially covering the vehicle 10, also functions as a cowl member and is fitted to the body frame (not shown) and includes: a body cover member 202 covering the area from its front to its back; a leg path cover member 203 located below a leg path space through which the rider passes his/her leg when riding or dismounting; and a rear cover member 18 which is located behind and above the body cover member 202 and covers the bottom of a tandem seat 41. [0023] Since a surface 18a of the rear cover member 18 is smoothly continuous with a surface 202a of the back 202c of the body cover member 202 when viewed from side, the rear cover member 18 and the back 202c of the body cover member 202 look one united body when the tandem seat 41 is closed, and can be considered to constitute a seat cowl 206 for the vehicle as a whole. [0024] Therefore, the rear cover member 18 can be considered as an upper seat cowl 207 and the back 202c of the body cover member 202 can be considered as a lower seat cowl 208 Here, 211 represents a chipping guard covering a sliding part of the front fork 33; 212 a drive shaft cover covering the drive shaft 47 (see Fig.l); 213 the axle of a front wheel 34; 214 and 216 treadle parts at the front and rear edges of a change pedal; 217 the axle of the rear wheel 46; and 218 a drive case which connects the drive shaft 47 (see Fig.l) and the rear wheel 46. [0025] Fig.5 is a back side view of a vehicle according to the present invention where the tandem seat 41 is divided into a rider seat 221 and a pillion 222 and the pillion 222 can be opened or closed independently of the rider seat 221 The left and right rear combination lamps 21, 2 2 (only numeral 21 on the nearer side is shown) are located behind the openings 43, 43 (only numeral 43 on the nearer side is shown) provided between the upper seat cowl 207 and the lower seat cowl 208. [0026] Generally, a rear combination lamp is housed in a dent made in a rear cowl. For this reason, the rear cowl tends to be complicated in shape and expensive. In this respect, according to the present invention, since the rear combination lamps 21, 22 are located in the openings 43, there is no need to make a dent in the seat cowl 206; and even if a dent is made, a shallow dent may be enough. Consequently, the shape of the seat cowl 206 is simple and the manufacturing cost for the body cover 11 including the seat cowl 206 can be reduced. [0027] How the pillion 222 works will be described next. Fig. 6 is a functional view showing how a pillion according to the present invention works, where the pillion 222 is independent of the rider seat 221 and can be opened and closed by means of a hinge 224. If a tandem seat is a seat which integrates a rider seat and a pillion continuous with it, the tandem seat may be large and heavy. [0028] In this respect, the present invention uses the tandem seat 41 in which the rider seat 221 and the pillion 222 are separated. Consequently the pillion 222 is small and lightweight and thus can be opened and closed very easily. [0029] Fig.7 is a perspective back view of a vehicle according to the present invention (the pillion 222 is open) and the back of the vehicle 10 includes: a storage part 231 for housing articles which is located in the back of the body; a pillion 222 which covers the storage part 231 in a way to be able to be opened or closed; a lower seat cowl 208 which constitutes a part of a seat cowl covering the bottom of the pillion 222; and grab rails 42, 42 for a passenger to grab, provided on the back of the body frame. In this embodiment, the storage part 231 can house two helmets. [0030] Fig.8 is an external view of a vehicle according to The present invention as viewed from back where an open/close switch 241 for opening or closing the pillion 222 is provided on the rear end 206b of the seat cowl 206. Since the open/close switch 241 for opening or closing the pillion 222 is provided on the rear end 206b of the seat cowl 206, the pillion 222 can be opened or closed on both sides of the vehicle 10. This improves handling ease of the pillion 222 in opening or closing it. [0031] Fig.9 is a side view of a rear combination lamp according to the present invention (hereinafter, arrow "FRONT" in the figure indicates the forward direction of the vehicle) where a rear combination lamp 21 has a plurality of transparent plate light guides 101-105 as light-emitting portions, the rims of which form an almost horizontally V shaped striped pattern when viewed through a lens 106 sideways so that LEDs as light sources (detailed later) are invisible from outside. The rear combination lamp 22 (see Fig.3) is symmetrical to the rear combination lamp 21 and structurally the same as the rear combination lamp 21 and description thereof is omitted here. [0032] Fig.10 is a side view of a characteristic part of a rear combination lamp according to the present invention showing a light guide assembly 112 including a plurality of similar plate light guides 101-105 fitted to a lamp housing 111 with LEDs on its front. The cross-hatching in the figure represents rims 101a-105a of the light guides 101- 105, the surfaces of which are treated for light diffusion by finely making concaves and convexes or a similar process and the rims 101a-105a are illuminated with light emitted from the LEDs. [0033] Fig.11 is a perspective view of a light guide assembly according to the present invention showing that the lamp housing 111 includes a base 115, and an inner plate 116 and an outer plate 117 extending integrally from both ends of the base 115 almost in parallel, and the light guides 101-105 are attached to the base 115 at regular intervals and the light guides 101-105 are connected by a connecting member 118 and the connecting member 118 is fixed on the inner plate 116 and the outer plate 117 with screws 119, 119 (only numeral 119 on one side is shown). The cross-hatching in the figure represents the rims 101a-105a of the light guides 101-105. In the lamp housing 111, an almost V-curved lens 106 (see Fig.9) is fitted to the rims 116a and 117a of the inner plate 116 and outer plate 117 and the base 115 in a way to surround the light guides 101-105. [0034] Fig.12 is a top view of a light guide assembly according to the present invention showing that the light guides 101-105 extend backward of the base 115 of the light housing 111 and the rims 101a-105a of the light guides 101-105 are slanted in a way to be directed backward of the vehicle and sideward of the vehicle. The front of the lamp housing 111 is an area where LED holders 121-125 for fitting LEDs to supply light to the light guides 101-105 are formed. [0035] Fig.13 is a sectional view (partially side view) of a light guide according to the present invention showing that an LED 131 is fitted to the LED holder 121 (which has a plurality of holders 121a-121k and 121m) provided on the base 115 adjacent to the light guide 101. [0036] The holders 121a-121k and 121m each have a through hole 121p and light is supplied from the LED 131 through the through hole 121p to the light guide 101. The LED holders 122-125 (see Fig.12) provided on the base 115 adjacent to the other light guides 102-105 (see Fig.12) are the same as the LED holder 121 in the structure and the way of fitting the LED 131. [0037] Fig.14 is a back view of a rear combination lamp according to the present invention showing that the light guides 101-105 stand almost vertically and are arranged from inside to outside in the order of mention. Since the rims 101a-105a of the light guides 101-105 are treated for light diffusion, the LEDs 131 (see Fig.13) are invisible through the rims 101a-105a from outside. [0038] Out of the five light guides 101-105, the three inner light guides 101-103 function as a tail lamp and a stop Lamp while the two outer light guides 104, 105 function as a rear winker. [0039] Fig.15 is a top view of a rear combination lamp according to the present invention where the light guides 101-105 extend almost forward and backward of the vehicle and the rims 101a-105a of the light guides 101-105 are slanted with respect to the vehicle width direction so that when the rims lOla-lOSa of the light guides 101-105 emit light, they are visible from both backward of the vehicle and sideward of the vehicle. [0040] How the rear combination lamps 21, 2 2 work will be described next. Fig.16 is a first functional view of a rear combination lamp according to the present invention. As the plurality of LEDs 131 on the front of the rear combination lamp emit light, light emitted from the LEDs 131 enters into the transparent light guide 101 through the through holes 121p as indicated by the arrows and goes inside the light guide 101 and reaches the rim 101a of the light guide 101. Since the rim 101a is treated for light diffusion, the light is diffused and the rim 101a emits lights. The rim 101a appears almost V-shaped as seen from side and in combination with light emitted from the rims of the other light guides, looks striped. [0041] Figs.l7A to 17C are second functional views showing How a rear combination lamp according to the present invention works. Fig.l7A shows that LEDs are lit and the rims 101a-103a of the light guides 101-103 emit red light, functioning as a tail lamp. Here, the light guides 104, 105 do not emit light. [0042] Fig.l7B shows that LEDs are lit and the rims 101a-103a of the light guides 101-103 emit red light brighter than in the case of Fig.l7A, functioning as a stop lamp. Here, the light guides 104, 105 do not emit light. [0043] Fig. 17C shows that LEDs are lit and the rims 101a-103a of the light guides 101-103 emit red light as a tail lamp as shown in Fig.17A and also other LEDS blink to make the rimss 104a, 105a of the light guides 104, 105 emit orange light intermittently, functioning as a rear winker. [0044] The red and orange light emissions as shown in Figs.l7A to 17C are due to the lens color of the LEDs 131 and the difference in the brightness of red between the tail lamp and the stop lamp is due to the difference in the number of LEDs 131 which emit light. [0045] Since one rear combination lamp 21 (or rear combination lamp 22) has the functions as a tail lamp, a stop lamp and a rear winker, it requires smaller space than in a case that a tail lamp, a stop lamp and a rear winker Are separately provided. [0046] As shown in Figs.12 to 14, firstly the present invention is characterized in that in a vehicle 10 (see Fig.3) having rear combination lamps 21, 2 2 (numeral 2 2 on one side is not shown) which use LEDs 131 as light sources, in order to guide light from the lEDs 131 backward of the vehicle, light guides 101-105 protruding from the front of the lamp housing 111 backward of the vehicle are provided and LEDs 131 are each located on the front of the light guides 101-105 and rims 101a-105a are provided on the back of the light guides 101-105, as light-emitting surfaces directed backward of the vehicle and sideward of the vehicle. [0047] Since the rims 101a-105a directed backward of the vehicle and sideward of the vehicle emit light, th-e visibility of the rear combination lamps 21, 22 as seen from both backward' of the vehicle and sideward of the vehicle is improved. [0048] Secondly the present invention is characterized in that the light-emitting surfaces are the rims 101a-105a of the light guides 101-105 which are treated for light diffusion. Since the light-emitting surfaces treated for light diffusion diffuse light, the visibility from each direction is improved. In addition, the LEDs 131 are hardly visible And the appearance is thus improved. [0049] Thirdly, the present invention is characterized in that a plurality of light guides 101-105 are provided and some of them (light guides 101-103) make up a tail lamp and a stop lamp and the others (light guides 104, 105) make up a winker, and the light guides 101-103 for the tail lamp and stop lamp and the light guides 104, 105 for the winker emit light of different colors (for example, red for the tail lamp and stop lamp and orange for the winker). Since the tail lamp, stop lamp and winker are provided in the same lamp housing 111, the space in the vehicle 10 can be used efficiently. [0050] Fourthly the present invention is characterized in that the plurality of light guides 101-105 are similar to each other in shape and their area increases from a side of the body toward the center of the vehicle. When the plural light guides 101-105 are seen from sideward of the body, the light-emitting surfaces of the rims 101a-105a of the light guides 101-105 do not overlap and do emit light similar to each other, so that the visibility from sideward of the vehicle is improved and a more novel appearance can be obtained. [0051] Fifthly the present invention is characterized in that the plural light guides 101-105 are connected by a connecting member 118 as a connector and the ends of the Connecting member 118 are fixed on the lamp housing 111. The plural light guides 101-105, connecting member 118 and lamp housing 111 are integrated so that the light guides 101-105 hardly vibrate. [0052] The number of light guides, the number of light guides used for the tail lamp, stop lamp and winker, the number of LEDs, and the colors of light are not limited to those shown in this embodiment. [Industrial Applicability] [0053] Rear combination lamps according to the present invention are suitable for motorcycles. [Brief Description of the Drawings] [0054] [Fig.l] is a side view of a vehicle with a rear combination lamp according to the present invention. [Fig.2] is a front view of a vehicle according to the present invention. [Fig.3] is a back view of a vehicle according to the present invention. [Fig.4] is an external view of a vehicle according to the present invention. [Fig.5] is a back side view of a vehicle according to the present invention. [Fig.6] is a functional view showing how a pillion according to the present invention works. [Fig.7] is a perspective back view of a vehicle According to the present invention. [Fig.8] is an external view of a vehicle according to the present invention as seen from back. [Fig.9] is a side view of a rear combination lamp according to the present invention. [Fig.10] is a side view of a characteristic part of a rear combination lamp according to the present invention. [Fig.11] is a perspective view of a light guide assembly according to the present invention. [Fig.12] is a top view of a light guide assembly according to the present invention. [Fig.13] is a sectional view of a light guide according to the present invention. [Fig.14] is a back view of a rear combination lamp according to the present invention. [Fig.15] is a top view of a rear combination lamp according to the present invention. [Fig.16] is a first functional view of a rear combination lamp according to the present invention. [Figs.17] are second functional views showing how a rear combination lamp according to the present invention works. [Description of Reference Numerals] [0055] 10...Vehicle 21, 22...Rear combination lamp 101-105. . .Light guide 101a-105a...Light-emitting surface (rim) 111 ... Lamp housing 118...Connector (connecting member) 131...LED [Document Name] Scope of Claims [Claim 1] A rear combination lamp for a vehicle having a rear combination lamp which uses LEDs as light sources, comprising: A light guide protruding from the front of a lamp housing backward of the vehicle to guide light from the LEDs backward of the vehicle, wherein : The LEDs are each located on the front of the light guide and a light-emitting surface directed backward of the vehicle and sideward of the vehicle is provided on the back of the light guide. [Claim 2] The rear combination lamp for a vehicle according to Claim 1, wherein the light-emitting surface is a rim of the light guide which is treated for light diffusion. [Claim 3] The rear combination lamp for a vehicle according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the plurality of light guides are provided and some of them make up a tail lamp and a stop lamp and the others make up a winker, and the light guides for the tail lamp and stop lamp and the light guides for the winker emit light of different colors. [Claim 4] The rear combination lamp for a vehicle according to Claim 3, wherein the plurality of light guides are similar to each other in shape and their.area increases from a side Of the body toward the center of the vehicle. [Claim 5] The rear combination lamp for a vehicle according to any of Claims 1 or 4, wherein the plurality of light guides are connected by a connector and ends of the connector are fitted to the lamp housing.

Documents:

1843-che-2006 complete specification as granted.pdf

1843-che-2006-abstract.pdf

1843-che-2006-claims.pdf

1843-che-2006-correspondnece-others.pdf

1843-che-2006-description(complete).pdf

1843-che-2006-drawings.pdf

1843-che-2006-form 1.pdf

1843-che-2006-form 26.pdf

1843-che-2006-form 3.pdf

1843-che-2006-form 5.pdf

1843-che-2006-form18.pdf

1843-che-2006-prioritydocument.pdf

EXAMINATION REPORT REPLY.PDF