'US008733991B2 2) United States Patent (10 Patent No: US 8,733,991 B2 Fukasawa et al. 4s) Date of Patent: May 27, 2014 (4) VEHICLE LAMP (58) Fleld of Ctassifeation Search use S621858, 494, 562,267, 511 (75) taventors: Yosuke Fukasawa, Kina (JP); Hos See application i or eomplete sarc history. ‘Kurtbara, Kivu (iD) Akifum Sucuk Toyota (IB) Atsabl Obata, Toyota UP) (86) References Cited (73) Assignee: Mitsuba Corporation JP) US. PATENT DOCUMENTS (©) Notice: Subject to any diteluimer, the term of this 6,139.71 A + 102000 Waldmann pleat is extended or adjusted under 35 62093¢ BL* 102001 Schwanz tal BIS. I3ib) by 253 days S31SA87 BL? L12001 Kateet a 837917 B2* 10003 Schwanet a fy ete ae see ee eal (22) PCT Filed: Oct. 19, 2009 (Continued) (Continve) (87) PCT Pub, Nos WO2010050137 « » Primary Examiner — Joog-Suk (James) Lee Ee cane Assistant Examiner — Bryon T Gyllstrom ny Prior Publication Data (14) Anornes, Agen, or Fem — Gera E. Hespos: Michael 5. Poreo: Mathes. Hespos US 201110235353 A1 Sep. 29,2011 0) Foreign Application Provity Data ay permet A vehicle lamp is formed using ight guide body Thus ight 021.31,2008 GP) 2008-281142 with an excellent aesthetic quality can be emitted without Jncreasing the numberof components The stvctre has GD Ime light guide part (6o) formes on alight guide member (6) The Bong 126 (2006.01) Tigh guide part (6a) ens Tight in an elongated shape by Fv 9m (2006.01) irradiating fist ight emiting diode ® provided ononeend rv 7m (2006.01) ofthe ight guide pa (6a) isthe longitudinal direction. Pav iio (200601) projecting part (62) projects reward onthe rea face ofthe anne sm (2006.01) Tig aide par (60, which isthe lghtemiting fae. light F21V 3300 (2006.01) emission suppressing part (6h) is provided on the projection Fv 300 (2006.01) end face ofthe projecting part (6g) and has a metal il (6) (22) S.C. formed by vapor deposition usr 621494; 362/511; 362/558; 360/562 3621267 3 Claims, 9 Drawing SheetsUS 8,733,991 B2 Page 2 66) References Cited FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS. USS. PATENT DOCUMENTS BP 2oos-13e817 62005 w 2006-256008 9.2006 2007 Yagi seouoy 3oor-2s0090 93007 532008 Sexuchi jeodoa OP dos 221068 92008 7387542 B27 42008 Waldmann serdoa doos226788 92008 735749 B27 4.2008 Gumher 302551 2oogii210%6 Al* 9.3006 Waltman awSaT 20070084383 AI? 32007 Gunther 392404 *eitod by examinerU.S. Patent May 27, 2014 Sheet 1 of 9 US 8,733,991 B2U.S. Patent May 27, 2014 Sheet 2 of 9 US 8,733,991 B2 FIG. 2A FIG. 2B \ a 22S 4G AwU.S. Patent May 27, 2014 Sheet 3 of 9 US 8,733,991 B2U.S. Patent May 27, 2014 Sheet 4 of 9 US 8,733,991 B2 FIG. 4CUS 8,733,991 B2 Sheet 5 of 9 May 27, 2014 U.S, Patent Os “OIAU.S. Patent May 27, 2014 Sheet 6 of 9 US 8,733,991 B2U.S. Patent May 27, 2014 Sheet 7 of 9 US 8,733,991 B2U.S. Patent May 27, 2014 Sheet 8 of 9 US 8,733,991 B2U.S. Patent May 27, 2014 Sheet 9 of 9 US 8,733,991 B2 FIG. 9AUS 8,733,991 B2 1 VEHICLE LAMP BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field ofthe Invention ‘The present invention relates toa vehicle lamp mounted to a vehicle such as an automobile. 2. Description ofthe Related Art Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Appl. No, 2007= 0290 discloses. vehicle lamp formed by using. long solid ight puide. long light is radiated from the light guide when the light guide is iradiated by alight source disposed to an ‘en portion ina longer length direction the light guide. The Vehicle lamp ean be used as a direction indicator lamp ‘mounted into a door mirtor. Indeed, the direction indicator amp has boen frequently used because legal requirements are satisfied by the emitted Tong light and the direction indicator lamp is excellent in design propectes, Inorder to improve design properties ofthe direction ing ‘calor lamp withthe igh guide, a plurality of light sources are disposed fo an end portion of the light guide so that the direction indicator lamp (the light guide) emits a plraity of Jong light However, the conventional direction indicator lamp needs more components and configurations are complicated because the plurality of Tight sourees are mounted. A lange number of eomponents need tobe installed into small space, ‘witha resultant exacting installation and increased cost. The present invention intends to solve the problems. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view ofthe eireumstances discussed above, the present Jnvention has been made in order to solve the problems, and a first exemplary aspect of the present invention provides 3 ‘vehicle lamp using a Tong solid light guide, wherein the ight ide forms a long light radiation by radiation froma ight source provided at an end portion ina longer-engts direction ‘of the light guide, anda light radiation suppressing portion is, provided om a light radiating surface ofthe light guide "According tothe firs exemplary aspect, the vehicle lamp is ‘excellent in visibility and design properties because of the Tight radiation appearing asi plurality ofits are divided when the light guide is iradited by one Hight source ‘A second exemplary aspect of the present invention pro> vides the vehicle amp according the first exemplary aspect, ‘wherein the light radiation suppressing portion is a vapor. deposited portion formed on the light radiating surface ofthe Fight guide, “According tothe second exemplary asp, tion suppressing portion is excellent in durability ‘Athind exemplary aspect ofthe present invention provides the vehile lamp according to the first or second exemplary aspect, wherein the Hight radiation suppressing portion is provided on projetion formed onthe light guide A fourth exemplary aspect of the present invention pro- vides the vehicle lamp according to the firstor second exem- ply aspect, wherein the light radiation suppressing port Js provided on a recess formed on the light guide ‘A.fifth exemplary aspect ofthe present invention provides the vehicle lamp according to the first exemplary aspect, ‘wherein the Tight radiation suppressing portion is a vapor: deposited portion formed ina interior ofthe light guide ‘A sixth exemplar aspect ofthe present invention provides the vehicle lamp according to the first exemplary aspect, wherein an outer lens i provided in the lit radiating diree- 0 o 2 ‘ion of the Hight guide, and the light radiation suppressing portion is provided on the outer lens. “According othe third t sixth exemplary aspects the light radiation suppressing portion is easy to fora and a light shading i clee at a lower illuminant portion where de light ration is reduced in suppression. A seventh exemplary aspect ofthe prevent invention pro vides the vehicle amp according to any one ofthe isto sixth exemplary aspeets, wherein the Fight rodition suppressing portion is positioned ata intermediate postion in a shorter Jength direction ofthe light guide and formed in the longer- Tength direction. According othe seventh exemplary aspect 2 design prop- ceny is achieved a if the light is emite from two light guides {in appearance when ane light guide is iadiated by one light ‘A eighth exemplary aspect ofthe present invention pro- vides the vehicle amp according to any one of the first 10 seventh exemplary aspects, wherein the Hight radiation sup- pressing portion is formed of a metal film. According to the eighth exemplary aspect, the Tight rai. tion suppressing portion is further improved in durability ‘Annith exemplary aspect ofthe present invention provides the vehicle lamp according to any of the frst to eighth exem- plary aspects, which is «direction indicator lamp installed ;nto a door minor. According 10 the ninth exemplary aspect, the direction {indicator lamp is excellent in visibility and design properties. _Atenth exemplary aspect of the present invention provides the vehicle lamp according to the ninth exemplary aspect, wherein the light radiation suppressing portion formed by a body of the door mirror “According to the tenth exemplary aspect, the door mirtor body doubles as the light radiation suppressing. portion, achieving a simplified sioctue, BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS. FIG. 1A is an entire perspective view ofa door mirorand PIG. 1Btis aback view ofa turn lamp. FIG. 2A and FIG. 22 are respectively a sectional view slong X-X and a sectional view along Y-Y of FIG. 1B. FIG. 3A, FIG. 3B, and FIG. 3C are respectively & plan view, back view: anda sie view of a base housing, FIG. 4A, FIG. 43, FIG. AC, and FIG. 4D are respectively plan view, a back view, front view, and a side View of aa inner assembly. FIG. SA, FIG. $B, FIG. SC, and FIG. $D are respectively plan view, back view, a sectional view along X-X of FIG. SSA, and. side view of an inner member. FIG. 6A, FIG. 68, and FIG. 6C are respectively a plan view back view, and a sectional view along X-X of FIG- 6B ofa light guide member. FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view illustrating an installation state ofthe base housing and the inner assembly. FIG. 8A isa sectional view of light uide member accord ing oa second embodiment, FIG. 8B isa sectional view of a light guide member according toe thin embodiments, FIG. 8C isa longitudinal sectional view ofa tur lamp according to 1 fonith embodiment, FIG. 8D is sectional view ofa ight auice member according ta fith embodiment, FIG. 8E isa Jongitudinal soctional view of atur lamp according ia sixth embodiment, and FIG. 8F is longitudinal sectional view of according toa seventh embodiment.