Modular vehicle light device

Abstract

A vehicle light device comprising an element made up of a plurality of portions each having a functional surface, at least two consecutive portions being linked together by an articulation. The main feature of a light device according to the invention is that each articulation allows the displacement of the two consecutive portions until their functional surfaces come into continuity with one another.

Claims

1. A vehicle light device comprising an element made up of a plurality of portions each having a functional surface, at least two consecutive portions being linked together by an articulation, wherein each articulation allows the displacement of said at least two consecutive portions until their functional surfaces come into continuity with one another; wherein said at least two consecutive portions of said element are held in a position for which their functional surfaces are in continuity with one another, via at least one mechanical locking member situated at the articulation; wherein each of said at least two consecutive portions of said element are formed by a Fresnel module; and wherein said vehicle light device is a centered high mounted stop lamp (CHMSL) which extends horizontally in a transverse axis of a vehicle along a length corresponding to more than half of a width of said vehicle.

2. The vehicle light device according to claim 1, wherein said at least two consecutive portions are mounted to rotate.

3. The vehicle light device according to claim 1, wherein said at least two consecutive portions are elongate and are arranged relative to one another in such a way that their longitudinal axes are parallel and in such a way that both of said at least two consecutive portions are in continuity with one another.

4. The vehicle light device according to claim 3, wherein each articulation is produced by means of the penetration of a pin belonging to one of said at least two consecutive portions, into a void of the other adjacent consecutive portion.

5. The vehicle light device according claim 4, wherein the penetration of said pin into said void can be produced only for a given relative position between said at least two consecutive portions, and for which said at least two consecutive portions form a predetermined angle between them.

6. The vehicle light device according to claim 4, wherein said pin is placed at one end of one of said at least two consecutive portions and said void is placed at one end of the other adjacent consecutive portion.

7. The vehicle light device according to claim 4, wherein said element is obtained by means of a first translational movement to allow the penetration of said pin into said void, then by a second rotational movement about said pin.

8. The vehicle light device according to claim 1, wherein said element is an optical element.

9. The vehicle light device according to claim 8, wherein the functional surface is a diopter suitable for being passed through by light rays.

10. The vehicle light device according claim 9, wherein said vehicle light device comprises a plurality of light sources distributed along said optical element and intended to light said functional surface.

11. The vehicle light device according to claim 1, wherein each of said at least two consecutive portions comprises a printed circuit board.

12. The vehicle light device according to claim 11, wherein said printed circuit boards are electrically connected together.

13. The vehicle light device according to claim 11, wherein said printed circuit boards comprise light sources.

14. The vehicle light device according to claim 10, wherein said plurality of light sources are light-emitting diodes.

15. The vehicle light device according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle light device comprises a support housing, and in that said at least two consecutive portions of said element are fixed in said support housing, when said at least two consecutive portions are linked together in a position for which their functional surfaces are in continuity.

16. A method for mounting a light device according to claim 1, wherein the method comprises the following steps: a step of translationally fitting a first portion into a second adjacent portion, each comprising a functional surface, said first portion and said second adjacent portion forming a predetermined angle between them to produce said fitting; and a step of rotating said first portion and said second adjacent portion so as to bring said functional surfaces into continuity.

17. A vehicle signaling light comprising a light device according to claim 1.

18. A vehicle interior lighting light comprising a light device according to claim 1.

19. The vehicle light device according to claim 2, wherein said at least two consecutive portions are elongate and are arranged relative to one another in such a way that their longitudinal axes are parallel and in such a way that both of said at least two consecutive portions are in continuity with one another.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a light device according to the invention;

(2) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one end of one of the portions of an element of a light device according to the invention, the end being provided with a pin;

(3) FIG. 3 is a perspective view of one end of one of the portions of an element of a light device according to the invention, the end being provided with a void intended to receive the pin of the portion illustrated in FIG. 2;

(4) FIG. 4A is a perspective view of two portions of an element of a light device according to the invention, in a first phase of a method of joining the portions;

(5) FIG. 4B is a perspective view of the two portions of FIG. 4A, in a second phase of joining the portions;

(6) FIG. 4C is a perspective view of the two portions of FIGS. 4A and 4B, in a final phase of joining the portions;

(7) FIG. 5 is a perspective view from a first angle of a link area between two portions of an element of a light device according to the invention, the element being mounted; and

(8) FIG. 6 is a perspective view from a second angle of a link area between two portions of an element of a light device according to the invention, the element being mounted.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(9) Referring to FIG. 1, a light device 1 according to the invention can, for example, consist of a signaling light of raised stoplight type, placed at the rear of the interior of a vehicle. Such a stoplight 1 has the structural peculiarity of being extended along a transverse axis of the vehicle, over a length that can correspond to more than half of the width of the vehicle. Such a stoplight 1 is also known by the acronym CHMSL (Centered High Mounted Stop Lamp).

(10) A stoplight 1 according to the invention has an optical element 20 produced in two portions 2, 3 each comprising a functional surface 4, 5, the portions 2, 3 being linked to one another so that the functional surfaces 4, 5 are perfectly aligned with one another, without leaving the slightest play between them. Each of the portions 2, 3 consists of a Fresnel module, and each functional surface 4, 5 is a diopter suitable for being passed through by light rays. The term surface should be interpreted as wall. Each diopter 4, 5 therefore consists of a substantially planar wall, having a multiplicity of domed individual reliefs, so as to produce light spots when this diopter 4, 5 is lit by a light source. Each portion 2, 3 is elongate and is of tapered form.

(11) A diopter 4, 5 is extended at one of its elongate edges by a planar secondary wall 6, 7, the length of which is substantially equivalent to that of the diopter 4, 5. This secondary wall 6, 7 is at right angles to the diopter 4, 5 and is itself extended by a rear surface 8, 9, which is substantially parallel to the diopter 4, 5. Thus, each portion 2, 3 comprises a front surface consisting of the diopter 4, 5, a rear surface 8, 9 which is parallel to the diopter 4, 5, the surfaces 4, 5, 8, 9 being linked by a secondary wall 6, 7 which is at right angles to them.

(12) Referring to FIG. 5, each portion 2, 3 is equipped with a printed circuit board 31, 32, placed on the rear face 8, 9. Each board 31, 32 is rectangular, and extends substantially over the entire length of a portion 2, 3, such that the longitudinal axis of the board 31, 32 is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the portion 2, 3 to which it is fixed. Each board 31, 32 comprises a plurality of light sources 33 in the form of light-emitting diodes, evenly distributed along its longitudinal axis. The light-emitting diodes 33 placed on the rear face of each portion 2, 3 thus light the diopters 4, 5 placed on the front face of each of the portions 2, 3.

(13) Referring to FIG. 2, one portion 2 of the two portions 2, 3 comprises a pin 10 starting from the secondary wall 6 and extending inside the portion 2, parallel to the front 4 and rear 8 faces. In this way, the pin 10 is located in the space delimited by the front 4 and rear 8 walls, and by the secondary wall 6. This pin 10 has a base 11 from which emerges an elongate body 12 having at least one protruding rib 13 extending along a longitudinal axis of the pin 10. A collar 14 is inserted between the base 11 and the body 12, the collar 14 being planar and of small thickness. This collar 14 extends partially around the body 12 of the pin 10, over a limited angular segment, less than 90. This collar 14 is placed at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the pin 10, and emerges from the base 11 of the pin 10.

(14) Referring to FIG. 3, the other portion 3, the one not comprising the pin 10, has, at one of its ends, considered relative to its longitudinal axis, a void 15 intended to receive the pin 10. The penetration of the pin 10 into the void 15 makes it possible to ensure that the portions 2, 3 are fitted together, in order to obtain the final optical element 20 of the stoplight 1. This void 15 is delimited by a partial cylindrical wall 16, of substantially constant length. This wall 16 extends over an angular segment slightly greater than 180, and therefore leaves an opening 17 showing. In the extension of this opening 17, the secondary wall 7 of this portion 3 comprises notches 18, 19.

(15) Referring to FIGS. 4A and 4B, the particular forms of the pin 10 and of the void 15 allow a penetration of the pin 10 into the void 15 only for a particular relative position between the two portions 2, 3 forming the optical element 20 of the stoplight 1. In effect, the portions 2, 3 have to form, between them, a very precise angle, as indicated by the arrow 21 of FIG. 4B, for the pin 10 to be able to penetrate into the void 15. This angle preferentially lies between 90 and 160. The angular opening between the portions 2, 3, to perform the penetration of the pin 10 into the void 15, is dictated by the particular geometries of the pin 10 and of the void 15. In effect, the two portions 2, 3 must be positioned relative to one another, in such a way that the pin 10, provided with its rib 13 and its collar 14, is perfectly registered with the void 15 provided with its opening 17 and the two notches 18, 19.

(16) Thus, referring to FIGS. 4A, 4B and 4C, a method for mounting an optical element 20 of a stoplight 1 according to the invention involves the following main steps: a step of relative positioning between the two portions 2, 3 as illustrated by FIG. 4A, so as to place the pin 10 and the void 15 in the extension of one another, a step of a first translational movement between the two portions 2, 3 in the direction indicated by the arrow 22 of FIG. 4A, so as to make the pin 10 of one portion 2 penetrate into the void 15 of the other portion 3, a step of a second rotational movement between the two portions 2, 3, once the pin 10 is housed in the void 15. This rotation is performed in the direction indicated by the two arrows 23, 24 of FIG. 4B, and its aim is to align the longitudinal axis of one portion 2, 3 with the longitudinal axis of the other portion 2, 3, as illustrated by FIG. 4C. By thus aligning the longitudinal axes of the two portions 2, 3, the diopters 4, 5 of the portions 2, 3 are in perfect continuity with one another, without introducing the slightest play between them, a step of locking together the portions 2, 3 in their aligned positions for which the diopters 4, 5 are in continuity. This step is illustrated in FIG. 6, and is performed at the end of travel, at the end of the rotation between the two portions 2, 3, by means of a snap-fitting involving the collar 14 of the pin 10 and a rectilinear edge 25 of the wall 16 delimiting the void 15. The object of this locking is to hold the two portions 2, 3 in an aligned position, without the possibility of reverse rotation. According to a variant embodiment, this locking can also be ensured by a link hook mounted to rotate on one of the two portions 2, 3, and which, through pivoting, clamps a receiving element of the other part 2, 3, provided for this purpose, a step of electrical connection between the two printed circuit boards 31, 32 by means of an electrical connection member 34 linking a terminal 35, 36 of each of the boards 31, 32, a step of mounting the aligned and locked portions 2, 3 in a support housing 26, consisting of a planar wall that is substantially rectangular and of small thickness. The assembly of the two portions 2, 3 is thus fixed to the housing 26 by snap-fitting, in two end areas 27, 28 and one central area 29 corresponding to the link area between the two portions 2, 3. This particular distribution of the points of anchoring of the two portions 2, 3 on the housing 26 makes it possible to ensure a robust and uniform fixing of the portions 2, 3, notably by balancing the forces produced in the fixing. This housing 26 comprises four fixing tabs 30 that are planar and of small thickness, evenly distributed along its longitudinal axis, the tabs 30 making it possible to moor the stoplight 1 at the rear of the interior of a motor vehicle. Said light 1 is thus located at height in the vehicle interior, in a position for which it extends horizontally, in a direction transversal to the vehicle.

(17) While the system, apparatus, process and method herein described constitute preferred embodiments of this invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to this precise system, apparatus, process and method, and that changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention which is defined in the appended claims.