Interior Illumination lamp for Vehicle Technical Field

The present invention relates to an interior illumination lamp for a vehicle which is mounted on a partition panel (a ceiling board, a trimming panel of a door, and so on) for partitioning a vehicle room. Background Art

A switch structure for controlling ON and OFF of an interior illumination lamp for a vehicle has been known in Japanese Patent Publication No. JP 2008-4273A. According to this reference, ON and OFF of the switch is performed by pressing a pressing part of a switch knob which is rotatably mounted on a switch panel, and by pressing down a tact switch which is mounted on a wiring board.

The switch which is described in the interior illumination lamp for a vehicle disclosed in JP 2008-4273Ahas had such a drawback that the switch is not favorably combined with structures of other components such as a circuit board, and the number of the components cannot be reduced.

Citation List

Patent Literature

Patent Literature 1= JP 2008-4273A

Summary of Invention

Technical Problem

This invention has been made in view of the above described circumstances, and it is an object of the invention to provide an interior iUumination lamp for a vehicle which is excellent in cost performance, because one end of a circuit board equipped with a light source is utilized as a part of a switch component, and hence, respective components can be easily assembled, and the number of the components is reduced. Solution to Problem

In order to achieve the above described object, an interior illumination lamp for a vehicle according to the invention has those features (l) to (4) as described below.

(l) An interior iUumination lamp for a vehicle comprising:

a housing for housing a light source;

a lamp unit body which is engaged with the housing;

a lens which is engaged with the housing;

a circuit board which is engaged with the lamp unit body;

a connecting part which is provided in one side part of the circuit board,

a switch knob, and a terminal fixed to the switch knob,

wherein the switch knob is mounted on the housing so as to freely move, and by moving the switch knob, the terminal is electrically connected to the connecting part thereby to conduct ON and OFF of the light source. (2) In the interior illumination lamp for a vehicle having the structure as described above in (l), the terminal is provided with a plurality of contacts, and the connecting part is provided with a plurality of contacts, wherein by moving the switch knob, the contacts of the terminal are selectively contacted with the contacts of the connecting part.

(3) In the interior illumination lamp for a vehicle having the structure as described above in (2), the connecting part is integrally formed with the circuit board, the contacts provided in the connecting part are respectively curved inwardly toward the circuit board, and the contacts of the terminal are elastically urged toward substantially center parts of the contacts of the connecting part. (4) In the interior illumination lamp for a vehicle having the structure as described above in any one of (l) to (3), the circuit board is formed of one part which is obtained by cutting a sheet of a board along centerlines of holes which are formed in the board, and the holes which are cut into a semicircular shape are utilized as the connecting part.

According to the structure as described above in (l), with such a simple structure that the lens and the switch knob are assembled to the housing, and the circuit board is assembled to the lamp unit body, workability can be enhanced. Moreover, because electrical connection and switch over can be performed between the terminal which is fixed to the switch knob and the connecting part which is formed in the one side part of the circuit board, it is possible to provide the simple and reliable switch.

According to the structure as described above in (2), because a plurahty of the contacts of the terminal are selectively contacted with a plurahty of the contacts of the connecting part, it is possible to apply the invention to various purposes of the light source.

According to the structure as described above in (3), because the contacts of the terminal are elastically urged to the inwardly curved contacts of the connecting part, the electrical connection is further enhanced.

According to the structure as described above in (4), it is possible to produce the circuit board in a simple manner without a production loss.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

According to the invention, because the component for electrical connection of the switch can be provided in the side part of the circuit board, there is no necessity of using a switch available on the market, and it is possible to secure its own switch structure of the interior illumination lamp for a vehicle. Moreover, by arranging the switch in a side part of the interior illumination lamp for a vehicle, the light source which is equipped on the circuit board and the lens can be positioned close to each other, and the optimal interior illumination can be provided. Further, because the number of the components is reduced, and workability is enhanced because of easy assembling work, this interior illumination lamp for a vehicle is excellent in cost performance.

The invention has been briefly described herein above. Details of the invention will be further clarified, by reading through the best mode for carrying out the invention which will be described below, referring to the attached drawings.

Brief Description of Drawings

Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing an embodiment of an interior iUumination lamp for a vehicle according to the invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional perspective view of the same after assembled. Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the interior illumination lamp as shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4A is a perspective view of a front side, and Fig. 4B is a perspective view of a back side.

Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a switch in the interior illumination lamp for a vehicle as shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 6A is a sectional view of the same, and Fig. 6B is a perspective view of the same after assembled.

Fig. 7A is a sectional view of the switch in the interior illumination lamp for a vehicle as shown in Fig. 1, in a state where the switch is ON, Fig. 7B is a sectional view taken along a line VIIB-VIIB in Fig. 7A, and Fig. 7C is a perspective view of the same.

Fig. 8A is a sectional view of the switch in a state where the switch is OFF, Fig. 8B is a sectional view taken along a line VIIIB-VIIIB in Fig. 8 A, and Fig. 8C is a perspective view of the same.

Fig. 9 is a front view of a circuit board in the interior illumination lamp for a vehicle as shown in Fig. 1, for describing a method for producing the circuit board.

Fig. 10A is a front view of the circuit board before it is cut, showing steps in another method for producing the circuit board, Fig. 10B is a front view of the same after it has been cut, and Fig. IOC is a front view of the same after completed.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged view of a connecting part.

Description of Embodiments

Now, a preferred embodiment of the interior illumination lamp for a vehicle according to the invention will be described in detail, referring to the drawings.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, an interior illumination lamp 10 for a vehicle according to the invention will be described.

This interior illumination lamp 10 for a vehicle is mounted on a partition panel (such as a ceiling board, a trimming panel of a door: not shown) which partitions a vehicle room of a vehicle, and substantially composed of a housing 20 in a substantially rectangular shape, and a lamp unit body 30 in a substantially rectangular shape which is engaged with the housing 20 to be fixed thereto. A lens 21 and a switch knob 40 are assembled to the housing 20, and a circuit board 31 is assembled to the lamp unit body 30.

The lens 21 is engaged with an opening 22 which is formed in a center part of the housing 20 to be fixed thereto, and the switch knob 40 is assembled to an insertion opening 41 which is formed in a side part of the housing 20. A terminal 42 is fixed to a bottom part of the switch knob 40. The switch knob 40 is mounted to the housing 20 by engaging an engaging part 40S which is provided in a side part of the switch knob 40 with a support part 41S which is provided in a side part of the insertion opening 41 so as to freely move (hereinafter referred to "so as to freely swing"). Specifically, the switch knob 40 swings around the support part 41S as a pivot.

The circuit board 31 equipped with a plurality of light sources 32 (LED, EL, etc.) is fixed to a center part of the lamp unit body 30. A connecting part 43 is integrally provided in one side part of the circuit board 31, and a terminal 50 to be electrically connected to an exterior power supply is equipped in the other side part.

A switch SW in the embodiment according to the invention is substantially composed of the switch knob 40, the support part 41S, and further, the terminal 42 and the connecting part 43 which are components for electrical connection. Specifically, a substantially whole side part (a left side in the drawing) of the interior illumination lamp 10 for a vehicle constitutes the switch knob 40. The other part (a right side in the drawing) of the interior iUumination lamp 10 for a vehicle constitutes an illuminating part IL which is mainly composed of the light sources 32 and the lens 21.

The switch SW in the embodiment according to the invention is a switch of a type called as a seesaw switch or a rocker switch, and controls lights of the light sources 32, by pressing one end or the other end of a surface of the switch knob 40. For example, ON and OFF of the light sources 32, brightness, conversion of colors of emitted lights, etc. can be controlled. In describing the embodiment of the invention, only ON and OFF of the light sources 32 are mainly described, for enabling the description to be easily understood.

Fig. 2 is a sectional perspective view showing an assembled state of the housing 20 and the lamp unit body 30 after they have been assembled. The engaging part 40S of the switch knob 40 is engaged with the support part 41S, and swings to the right and left around the support part 41S as the pivot. Moreover, a center part of the lens 21 is concaved toward the circuit board 31, and positioned close to the light sources 32. Because the terminal 42 has only to be electrically connected with the connecting part 43 provided on the circuit board 31, it is possible to select the most favorable positional relation between the lens 21 and the hght sources 32, by adjusting a length of the terminal 42. Therefore, it is possible to arrange the Hght sources 32 in an optically excellent position with respect to the lens 21.

Recently, an incandescent lamp which has been a general Hght source has become unable to be used in view of energy saving, and there occurs a necessity of using an LED or the Hke, as the Hght source. This necessity is prominent with respect to an iUumination lamp for a vehicle, and the LED is used as the Hght source 32 also in the interior iUumination lamp 10 for a vehicle according to the invention. The LED is a flat Hght source, and it is necessary to position a lens face (for example, a convex lens) close to the Hght source in optical design using the LED. In this respect, positioning the lens 21 close to the Hght source 32 in the embodiment of the invention makes it favorable to illuminate an interior of the vehicle room from the interior illumination lamp 10 for a vehicle.

Moreover, because the one end of the circuit board 31 is utiHzed as a part of constituent components of the switch SW, the number of the components is further reduced, and assembHng faciHty is enhanced. As the results, the interior iUumination lamp 10 for a vehicle which is exceUent in cost performance is provided.

Figs. 3, 4A and 4B are perspective views for describing a state where the lamp unit body 30 is assembled to the housing 20 for easy understanding. After the lens 21 and the switch knob 40 have been assembled to the housing 20, and the circuit board 31 has been assembled to the lamp unit body 30, the lamp unit body 30 is engaged with the housing 20 to be fixed thereto thereby to constitute the interior iUumination lamp 10 for a vehicle. Then, the side part of the interior iUumination lamp 10 for a vehicle constitutes the switch SW, and the other part constitutes the iUuminating part IL (See Figs. 4A and 4B). Referring to Figs. 5, 6A and 6B, the switch SW according to this invention will be described in detail.

The terminal 42 is bifurcated toward its distal end, and provided with a first contact 42S and a second contact 42T. The circuit board 31 is integrally provided with the connecting part 43 at a side where the terminal 42 is to be arranged. In the embodiment of the invention, the connecting part 43 includes three contacts which are respectively curved inwardly toward the circuit board 31, namely, a first contact 43S, a second contact 43T, and a third contact 43V.

By using the side face of the board, and by changing a shape of the side face, it is possible to easily design or modify a clicking feeling of the contacts.

When the housing 20 and the lamp unit body 30 are assembled to each other, the contacts 42S, 42T of the terminal 42 come into contact with the contacts 43S, 43T, 43V of the connecting part 43 thereby to complete the structure of the switch SW according to the invention (See Fig. 6A). On this occasion, the contacts 42S, 42T which are elastically urged toward respective centers of the curved contacts 43S, 43T, 43V are selectively contacted with the contacts 43S, 43T, 43V, and thus, the terminal 42 can be electrically connected to the connecting part 43.

The switch knob 40 swings to the right and left around the support part 41S of the housing 20 as the pivot (See curved arrow marks, a solid line, and a broken Hne). According to this movement, selective electrical connection between the contacts 42S, 42T of the terminal 42 and the contacts 43S, 43T, 43V of the connecting part 43 is performed.

Referring to Figs. 7A to 8C, ON and OFF of the switch SW will be described.

Figs. 7A to 7C show a state where the switch SW is ON, specifically, the state where the light source 32 is lit. The switch knob 40 is inclined to the left (in the drawings). The first contact 42S provided on the terminal 42 is electrically connected to the first contact 43S, while the second contact 42T is electrically connected to the second contact 43T.

Figs. 8A to 8C show a state where the switch SW is OFF, specifically, the state where the light source 32 is not lit. The switch knob 40 is inclined to the right (in the drawings). The first contact 42S provided on the terminal 42 is electrically connected to the second contact 43T, while the second contact 42T is electrically connected to the third contact 43V.

In this embodiment of the invention, Figs. 7A to 7C are described as the ON state, and Figs. 8A to 8C are described as the OFF state. However, the case may be contrary, and moreover, the case is not limited to the ON and OFF motions.

Referring to Figs. 9, lOA to IOC and 11, two examples of the method for producing the circuit board will be described in detail.

Fig. 9 shows one of the examples. As the one example of the method for producing the circuit board 31, there is a method of cutting an end part A of a board D which is original material of the circuit board 31. On this occasion, the connecting part 43 in a curved shape is formed at the same time.

Figs. 10A to IOC show the other example. A plurality of holes 60 are formed in the board D which is the original material of the circuit board 31. Then, the board D is cut along center lines of the holes 60 (See one dot chain line in Fig. 10A) in a lateral direction (a lateral direction in the drawing). One part of the board D which has been cut will make the circuit board 31. By curving insides of the holes 60 in a semicircular shape which have been cut and trimming their shapes, and by applying metal plating or solder, the connecting part 43 is completed. According to this second method, it is possible to eliminate a loss of the end part A as shown in Fig. 9, and to achieve cost reduction.

Moreover, as shown in Fig. 11, in case where the contacts 43S, 43T, 43V of the connecting part 43 are shaped as inclined planes 43A and circular planes 43B, the contacts 42S, 42T of the terminal 42 can smoothly move along the contacts 43S, 43T, 43V. Moreover, the contacts 42S, 42T are reliably brought into contact with the contacts 43S, 43T, 43V, by being elastically urged by the circular planes 43B. In this manner, excellent electrical connection between the contacts 42S, 42T and the contacts 43S, 43T, 43V can be achieved.

In the interior illumination lamp 10 for a vehicle as described above, the lens 21 is engaged with the housing 20 to be fixed thereto, the circuit board 31 is engaged with the lamp unit body 30 to be fixed thereto, the connecting part 43 is provided in the side part of the circuit board 31, and the switch knob 40 to which the terminal 42 is fixed is mounted on the housing 20 so as to freely move. Therefore, the number of the components to be assembled is reduced, and the workability can be enhanced with the extremely simple structure. Moreover, because switch over of the switch SW can be simply performed by selective electrical connection between the terminal 42 and the connecting part 43, there is no necessity of using a switch available on the market. Further, because the switch knob 40, the terminal 42, and the connecting part 43 are provided in the side part of the interior illumination lamp 10 for a vehicle, the light source 32 equipped on the circuit board 31 and the lens 21 are appropriately arranged in optical design, and hence, it is possible to provide an excellent interior illumination lamp.

Moreover, the terminal 42 is provided with a plurality of the contacts, namely, the first contact 42S and the second contact 42T, while the connecting part 43 is provided with a plurality of the contacts, namely, the first contact 43S, the second contact 43T, and the third contact 43V. By selectively contacting these contacts 42S, 42T with the contacts 43S, 43T, 43V according to the movements of the switch knob 40, various applications of the light source 32, for example, ON and OFF, brightness, conversion of colors of the emitted lights, and so on can be achieved. Further, the connecting part 43 is integrally formed with the circuit board 31, the contacts 43S, 43T, 43V provided in the connecting part 43 are inwardly curved toward the circuit board 31, and the contacts 42S, 42T of the terminal 42 are elastically urged toward the substantially center parts of the contacts 43S, 43T, 43V of the connecting part 43. In this manner, electrical connection between the contacts 42S, 42T and the contacts 43S, 43T, 43V can be enhanced.

Moreover, the invention can be applied to a seesaw switch or the like, because the movement of the switch knob 40 is so designed as to freely swing. In case where a sheet of the board D is cut along the centerlines of the holes 60 which are formed therein, and the one part is utilized as the circuit board 31, it is possible to produce the circuit board 31 without a loss.

As the switch SW in the embod ment according to the invention, the seesaw switch of such a type that the switch knob 40 swings has been described. However, the invention can be applied to various switches such as a slide switch, etc.

Although the two contacts 42S, 42T, and the three contacts 43S, 43T, 43V have been described, the number of the components for the electrical connection, and their arrangements are not limited, provided that substantially the same advantages and objects as the invention can be attained.

It is to be noted that the invention is not limited to the above described embodiment, but various modifications, improvements, etc. can be appropriately made. Besides, the materials, shapes, sizes, numerical values, modes, numbers, arranging positions, etc. of the constituent elements in the above described embodiment are optional, but not limited, provided that the invention can be achieved.

Industrial Apphcability

According to the invention, one end of a circuit board equipped with a light source is utilized as a part of a switch component. As are result, respective components can be easily assembled and the number of the components is reduced. Therefore, it is possible to provide an interior illumination lamp for a vehicle which is excellent in cost performance.

The present application is based on Japanese Patent Application No.

2011-038587, filed on February 24, 2011, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Reference Signs List

10 Interior illumination lamp for vehicle

20 Housing

21 Lens

30 Lamp unit body

31 Circuit board

32 Light source

40 Switch knob

40S Engaging part

41 Insertion opening

41S Support part

42 Terminal

42S First contact

42T Second contact

43 Connecting part

43S First contact

43T Second contact

43V Third contact

60 Hole

D Board

SW Switch

IL Illuminating part