Vehicle signal lighting unit

Details Vehicle signal lighting unit Vehicle signal lighting unit

1999-03-10

2001-05-29

Husar, Stephen (Department: 2875)

Illumination

Supported by vehicle structure

Plural light sources

C362S236000, C362S241000, C362S545000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06238073

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a vehicle signal lighting unit for a stop lamp, tail lamp, turn signal lamps, or the like, and more particularly to a signal lighting unit in which a sufficient depth effect and improved design can be attained by providing desired light distribution characteristics with a reflecting mirror and forming an outer lens to be almost plain.
2. Background Art
FIG. 7
shows a configuration of a similar vehicle signal lighting unit
90
based on the prior art. The vehicle signal lighting unit
90
is provided with a single light source
91
such as a filament lamp and a composite reflecting mirror
92
in which each reflecting unit
92
a
reflects incident light from the light source
91
horizontally and vertically to provide a proper diffusion angle. The vehicle signal lighting unit
90
is formed so that the composite reflecting mirror
92
itself provides the desired light distribution characteristics.
Accordingly, an outer lens
93
can be almost plain without any lens cut and needs not have any means for providing required light distribution characteristics. Therefore, the inside of the vehicle signal lighting unit
90
is visible through the outer lens
93
independently of whether the vehicle signal lighting unit is turned on or off. Because of this, a depth effect increases and a high-quality design is available.
When observers look into the above-mentioned vehicle signal lighting unit
90
through said outer lens
93
, however, there arises such a problem that said light source
91
and a socket
91
a
therefor are almost directly exposed to observers, degrading aesthetics. Especially when the vehicle signal lighting unit is turned on, direct light from a high-luminance filament reaches observer's eyes. Accordingly, there is also a problem that a large contrast between light and shade on a luminescent surface decreases the visibility.
To solve the aforementioned problems, there is provided another configuration, as shown in
FIG. 7
, having a hood
94
provided with a lens cut
94
a
to diffuse the direct light. When the vehicle signal lighting unit is viewed obliquely, however, the socket
91
a
and other components are still exposed to observers. While the filament shape becomes unidentifiable when the light is turned on, however, there still remains a problem that the front of the hood
94
becomes too bright, causing a greater contrast between light and shade than the other locations.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle signal lighting unit which allows uniform brightness on a luminescent surface by use of only light reflected on a composite reflecting mirror in which direct light from the light source is excluded when the vehicle signal lighting unit is turned on.
It is further object of the present invention to provide a vehicle signal lighting unit which prevents observers from directly viewing internal components such as a light source when the vehicle signal lighting unit is turned off and allows a simplified design, thereby improving aesthetics of similar vehicle signal lighting units.
The present invention, to attain said objects, provides a vehicle signal lighting unit comprising a light source, a plain outer lens, and a composite reflecting mirror including unit reflecting surfaces which reflect light having desired light distribution characteristics from said light source, in which the light source emits no direct light in the illuminating direction of the vehicle signal lighting unit and is positioned to allow incident light from at least two directions against said composite reflecting mirror and to prevent direct observation of the light source itself through the outer lens, and in which each unit reflecting surface of the composite reflecting mirror comprises reflecting surfaces to reflect light from the light source in said two directions.
The present invention also provides a vehicle signal lighting unit characterized in that the above-mentioned light source is provided outside an effective luminescent surface of the vehicle signal lighting unit.
Further, the present invention provides a vehicle signal lighting unit characterized in that the light source is provided on both ends of the vehicle signal lighting unit.
Moreover, the present invention provides a vehicle signal lighting unit equipped with a hood member on the outer lens side of said light source for preventing observation of the light source itself.
Furthermore, the present invention provides a vehicle signal lighting unit in which a reflex reflector is provided in the vicinity of said outer lens and said light source is provided on the rear thereof.


REFERENCES:
patent: 1950083 (1934-03-01), Gramt
patent: 5136483 (1992-08-01), Schuniger et al.
patent: 5924785 (1999-07-01), Zhang et al.

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