Decorative article and vehicular lamp

• US 7,175,293 B2
• Filed: 11/01/2002
• Issued: 02/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Nitta, Hirofumi, Muraoka, Motoaki, Egashira, Ken
• Primary Examiner(s): Luebke; Renee
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee; Gunyoung T.
• Application Number:
  US10/492,662
• Publication Number:
  US 20050068783A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,565 Days
• Field of Search: 362/84, 362/351, 362/507, 362/510, 362/538, 362/539, 362/293
• US Class Current: 362/84
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0017 Devices integrating an element dedicated to another function
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/28 Cover glass
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/255 Filters
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/26 Refractors, transparent cover plates, light guides or filters not provided in groups F21S43/235 - F21S43/255
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 13/14 the elements being filters or photoluminescent elements, reflectors and refractors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/04 characterised by materials, surface treatments or coatings
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 9/06 for filtering out ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 9/32 characterised by the arrangement of the photoluminescent material
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 9/38 Combination of two or more photoluminescent elements of different materials

Abstract

A decorative article (10) capable of being used in combination with an article having a light source (21) and of remarkably improving the decorative effect together with the light source. The decorative article (10) is attached to an article having a light source (21), and comprises, at least, an appearance-providing layer (15) defining an appearance of the decorative article, and a light-storage layer (16) which is disposed under the appearance-providing layer (15) and is able to store the light from the light source (21) and generate afterglow.

Claims

1. A vehicular lamp comprising:

a light source of visible light, a housing accommodating said light source and defining a lamp room, a light-emitting opening provided at the front of said housing, and a light-transmittive lamp cover attached to the light-emitting opening;

wherein said lamp cover comprises a first area that substantially allows the emission of visible light from said light source and a second area that does not allow the emission of visible light directly from said light source; and

wherein only the second area of said lamp cover is provided with a decorative article comprising, at least, an appearance-providing layer defining an appearance of the decorative article, and a light-storage layer which is disposed under the appearance-providing layer and is able to store visible light from said light source and generate afterglow into said lamp room.

2. The vehicular lamp according to claim 1, wherein said appearance-providing layer of said decorative article is a printed layer, a coated layer, a colored resin layer, a metal-plated layer, a metal-evaporated layer, a metal foil layer, or a colored layer or colored member.

3. The vehicular lamp according to claim 2, wherein said light-storage layer of said decorative article is a layer or member containing visible light-storing pigment.

4. The vehicular lamp according to claim 2, wherein said decorative article is a multilayered film comprising at least said appearance-providing layer and said light-storage layer.

5. The vehicular lamp according to claim 1, wherein said light-storage layer of said decorative article is a layer or member containing visible light-storing pigment.

6. The vehicular lamp according to claim 5, wherein said decorative article is a multilayered film comprising at least said appearance-providing layer and said light-storage layer.

7. The vehicular lamp according to claim 1, wherein said decorative article is a multilayered film comprising at least said appearance-providing layer and said light-storage layer.

8. The vehicular lamp according to claim 1, wherein said decorative article further comprises an adhesive layer consisting of a pressure-sensitive adhesive or a heat-sensitive adhesive.

9. The vehicular lamp according to claim 1, wherein said decorative article further comprises a clear layer as an outermost layer when said decorative article is attached to the outer surface of said lamp cover.

10. The vehicular lamp according to claim 1, wherein said decorative article is a lamp garnish or a finisher.

11. The vehicular lamp according to claim 1, wherein said lamp cover includes an area having a lighting function and an area having a decorative function.

12. The lamp according to claim 11, wherein the area having a lighting function is the first area of said lamp cover and wherein the area having a decorative function is the second area of said lamp cover.