Turn signal lamp for a vehicle

• US 20070076421A1
• Filed: 09/28/2006
• Published: 04/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Kogo, Satoshi, Ohashi, Hayato
• Granted Patent: US 7,401,959 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/540
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2696 Mounting of devices using LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/38 using immovably-mounted light sources, e.g. fixed flashing lamps
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 6/056 characterised by control means
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/14 Light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/0008 providing for indirect lighting
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

A turn signal lamp for a vehicle is provided having an improved appearance. In a front blinker including a lamp housing, an LED provided on the lamp housing, a reflector for reflecting light from the LED, and a lens fitted into an opening of the lamp housing, a reflector has a concave curved surface which functions as a reflecting surface and the LED is located in an area invisible from a direction in which light is reflected by the curved surface so that the LED is invisible through the lens from outside the front blinker.

Claims

1. A turn signal lamp for a vehicle, the turn signal lamp comprising:

a lamp housing;

plural LEDs provided on the lamp housing;

a reflector which reflects light from the LEDs; and

a lens fitted into an opening of the lamp housing,

wherein;

the reflector comprises a plurality of concave curved surfaces which function as reflecting surfaces, and

the LEDs are disposed on the lamp housing at a location that is invisible from a direction in which light is reflected by the plurality of concave curved surfaces.

2. The turn signal lamp for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein

the plurality of concave curved surfaces are arranged in a staircase pattern in a vehicle width direction as viewed from above,

one curved surface is provided for each of the plural LEDs, and

a surface of the lens extends both sideward of the vehicle and obliquely rearward.

3. The turn signal lamp for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the LEDs are located on the top of the lamp housing.

4. The turn signal lamp for a vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the LEDs are located on the top of the lamp housing.

5. The turn signal lamp for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the lamp housing comprises an LED holder for each LED, the LED holder configured to support an LED and direct light emitted from the LED in a vertical direction.

6. The turn signal lamp for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the lamp housing comprises an LED holder for each LED, the LED holder supporting an LED such that the light emitted from the LED is directed in a substantially vertical direction toward the reflector, and wherein the reflector in turn redirects the light emitted from the LED in a substantially horizontal direction.

7. The turn signal lamp for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the plural LEDs are supported in parallel on the lamp housing so as to direct light emitted from the LEDs in a direction substantially parallel to a plane.

8. The turn signal lamp for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein, in horizontal section, the lamp housing is tapered in shape so as to comprise a laterally inward end which is more narrow than the opposed laterally outward end.

9. The turn signal lamp for a vehicle according to claim 8, wherein an opening is provided in a forward facing end of the housing, and wherein the lens resides in said opening, the lens oriented so as to extend between the laterally inward end and the laterally outward end and so as to extend obliquely toward the rear of the vehicle.

10. The turn signal lamp for a vehicle according to claim 8, wherein the lamp housing comprises plural LED holders arranged along a rear surface of the lamp housing.

11. A turn signal lamp for a vehicle, the turn signal lamp comprising:

a lamp housing;

plural LEDs supported on the lamp housing;

a reflector which reflects light from the LEDs, the reflector comprising at least one curved reflecting surface; and

a lens fitted into an opening of the lamp housing,

wherein;

the LEDs are disposed on the lamp housing at a location that is invisible from a direction in which light is reflected by the at least one curved reflecting surface.

12. The turn signal lamp for a vehicle according to claim 11, wherein:

said at least one curved reflecting surface comprises a plurality of curved reflecting surfaces,

a curved reflecting surface is provided for each of the plural LEDs, and

the plurality of curved reflecting surfaces are arranged in a staircase pattern in a vehicle width direction as viewed from above.

13. The turn signal lamp for a vehicle according to claim 11, wherein a surface of the lens extends both sideward of the vehicle and obliquely rearward.

14. The turn signal lamp for a vehicle according to claim 11, wherein each curved reflecting surface is a concave inner surface.

15. The turn signal lamp for a vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the lamp housing comprises an LED holder for each LED, the LED holder supporting an LED such that the light emitted from the LED is directed in a substantially vertical direction toward the reflector, and wherein the reflector in turn redirects the light emitted from the LED in a substantially horizontal direction.

16. The turn signal lamp for a vehicle according to claim 15, wherein the light reflected from the reflector is directed through the lens, and wherein the lens is configured to further change the direction of the light, the further change of direction depending on the incidence location of the reflected light upon the lens.