United States Patent
`Okano
`
`[19]
`
`[11] Patent Number:
`
`4,977,487
`
`[45] Date of Patent:
`
`Dec. 11, 1990
`
`362/32
`2/1979 Mizohata et al.
`4,141,058
`362/812 X
`4,234,907 11/1980 Daniel .......... ..
`362/80 X
`4,389,698
`6/1983 Cibie ............ ..
`362/80 X
`4,443,832 4/1984 Kanamori et al.
`362/812 X
`4,561,043 12/1985 Thompson
`. . . .. . .. 362/32
`4,745,525
`5/1988 Sheehy . . . . . . . . . .
`4,747,648 5/ 1988 Gilliland, III .................. .. 362/32 X
`
`
`
`.
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`2315220 10/1973 Fed. Rep. of Germany ...... .. 362/32
`2703525 8/ 1978 Fed. Rep. of Germany ...... .. 40/547
`
`Primary Examiner--Stephen F. Husar
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Larson and Taylor
`
`[57]
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A face brightening device for use with vehicles com-
`prising optical fibers and a light source wherein the
`light source is attached to one or both ends of the opti-
`cal fibers to brighten those notched faces of the optical
`fibers which form letters, patterns, brightening faces
`and the like needed inside and outside the vehicles. The
`
`face brightening device can be made smaller in size,
`simpler in construction, lighter in weight, more saving
`in space, and much more excellent in water-proofness,
`heat-resistance, weather- proofness and insulation.
`
`12 Claims, 19 Drawing Sheets
`
`[54] FACE BRIGHTENING DEVICE FOR USE
`WITH VEHICLES
`
`[75]
`
`Inventor:
`
`Susumu Okano, Aichi, Japan
`
`[73] Assignee:
`
`Sakae Riken Kogyo Co., Ltd., Aichi,
`Japan
`
`[21] Appl. No.: 254,819
`
`[22] Filed:
`
`Oct. 7, 1988
`
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`[30]
`Oct. 9, 1987 [JP]
`Japan .............................. .. 62-256085
`Nov. 9, 1987 [JP]
`Japan
`62-171144[U]
`
`Japan ......................... .. 62-l7ll45[U]
`Nov. 9, 1987 [JP]
`Nov. 10, 1987 [JP]
`Japan ......................... .. 62-171715[U]
`Nov. 10, 1987 [JP]
`Japan ........................... 62-171716[U]
`
`Int. Cl.5 .............................................. .. F21V 7/04
`[51]
`[52] U.S. c1. ...................................... .. 362/32; 362/80;
`362/812; 40/547; 40/591
`[58] Field of Search ................... .. 362/31, 32, 812, 61,
`362/80; 40/546, 547, 591
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`9/1973 Frey ...................................... 362/32
`3,761,706
`4,128,332 12/1978 Rowe ................................ 362/32 X
`
`
`
`Mercedes—Benz USA, LLC, Petitioner — EX. 1003
`1
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`1
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`US. Patent
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`Dec. 11,1990
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`Sheet 1 of 19
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`4,977,487
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`U.S. Patent
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`Dec.11,1990
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`3
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`Sheet 3 of 19
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`PRIOR ART
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`Dec. 11, 1990
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`Sheet 4 of 19
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`Sheet 5 of 19
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`US. Patent
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`Dec. 11, 1990
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`Sheet 6 of 19
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`Dec. 11, 1990
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`Sheet 7 of 19
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`Dec. 11,1990
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`9
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`U.S. Patent
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`Dec. 11,1990
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`Sheet 9 of 19
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`FIG. 80
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`Dec. 11, 1990
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`Sheet 10 of 19
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`11
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`Dec. 11,1990
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`Sheet 11 of 19
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`U.S. Patent
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`Dec. 11,1990
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`Sheet 12 of 19
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`Dec. 11, 1990
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`U.S. Patent
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`Dec. 11, 1990
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`Sheet 15 of 19
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`Dec. 11,1990
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`Sheet 16 of 19
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`U.S. Patent
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`Dec.11,1990
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`Sheet 19 of 19
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`20
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`

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`1
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`4,977,487
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`FACE BRIGHTENING DEVICE FOR USE WITH
`VEHICLES
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`Various kinds of brightening faces are arranged inside
`and outside a vehicle to achieve functional, safety and
`decorative objects.
`Head lamps, tail lamps, emblem and the like form
`brightening faces outside the vehicle while meters in
`front of the driver’s seat are brightened inside the vehi-
`cle.
`
`In the case of a rear panel garnish (a) arranged at the
`back of a car (C1) and shown in FIG. 1, light emitting
`members (d) and (d’) are attached to a transparent piece
`(c) whose thickness (t1) is substantially large and then
`fixed to the car frame by a plate (e), so that letters (b)
`can be brightened and displayed.
`Rear combination lamps (f) and (f’) of a car (C2)
`shown in FIG. 2a are relatively too large in thickness
`(t2) and the space in which the rear combination lamps
`are housed is also quite large in thickness (t3) relative to
`the size of the car body.
`The reason why the space in which these rear combi-
`nation lamps are housed becomes too large in thickness
`is that sufficient room is needed for the light emitting
`members such as electric light bulbs which serve as
`light sources, their wirings and a space in which these
`members and wirings are housed. When the tendency to
`make the cars smaller in size and lighter in weight is
`dominant, therefore, an improvement must be added to
`these combination lamps. The size and weight of other
`various parts which are brightened must also be im-
`proved.
`Each of the rear combination lamps (i) and (f) which
`must be brought under legal rules and brightened as
`decorations is made as a unit comprising a brake lamp
`(ml), tail lamp (mg), traffic indicator or blinker (m3) and
`emergency lamp (m4), as shown in FIG. 2b, and these
`components take up a large space, thereby reducing the
`size of trunk room at the back of the car.
`FIG. 2c is a sectional view showing the rear combina-
`tion lamp (1') or (f) in FIG. 2b and when the lamp be-
`comes complicated in construction,
`its thickness (t4)
`ranges even from 100 mm to 180 mm because a filament
`bulb (w) attached to a lamp body (D) must have a cer-
`tain distance relative to a lens (R) to uniformly brighten
`the lens (R). Even when the lamp is designed like this,
`however, the lens (R) cannot be brightened as a uni-
`formly light-emitting face.
`The inside space (5) of the rear combination lamp (f)
`or (f) must be sealed in view of electric insulation.
`These factors prevent complicated designs from
`being applied to the rear combination lamp (i) or (f’) and
`even when complicated designs could be applied to the
`lamp, it will become substantially expensive.
`As already well known from preliminarily-opened
`Japanese Patent Application Sho 58/110332 and Japa-
`nese Utility Model Application Sho 60/ 13052, EL
`(electroluminescence) or LED is used as a light source
`to brighten decorative matters, but when EL is used,
`voltage needed becomes high in proportion to the size
`of a face to be brightened. In addition, an inverter is
`needed to switch voltage from DC to AC. When LED
`is used, a large space is needed to house the LED lamp.
`In both cases, however, their wirings must be com-
`
`5
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`pa'cted in a space as small as possible, thereby compro-
`mising the safety of these decorative matters.
`The conventional front grille was made by sputter-
`ing, plating, or coating opaque synthetic resin with a
`design. As shown in FIG. 3, the front grille (F) plays
`the most important role in designing a car (C3) and it is
`desirable that the front grille is made integral to the
`body of the car. It is also desirable in view of aerody-
`namic design that the front grille be made integral with
`the headlights. Because the recent car body is made
`flush and provided with glass faces, a transparent crys-
`tal front grille is employed. However, the design merit
`of making the front grille of transparent material is only
`three-dimensional and too simple, as compared with the
`design merit of making the front grille by sputtering,
`plating or coating opaque synthetic resin. The front
`grille looks gloomy particularly at the twilight and in
`the night because it has no metal surface which reflects
`light.
`FIGS. 4a and 4b show an indicator (Y1) for the trans-
`mission change gear lever in the conventional automatic
`car wherein a filament bulb (w) is fixed to an indicator
`body (Y2) to light the underside of a display housing (H)
`so that letters P, R, N, D, 2 and L on a display (B) can
`be lit with same brightness and color tone. Symbol (S)
`represents a slider sliding in the longitudinal direction
`thereof and the change gear lever (not shown) is passed
`through a hole (g) in the center of the slider (S) and a slit
`(g’) in the display housing (H). When the transmission
`change gear lever is switched, one of the letters (b) is
`brightened red through a transparent mark (M), show-
`ing the position of the transmission change gear lever.
`As shown in FIG. 4a, the position of the change gear
`lever in the automatic car is usually displayed by the
`letters of P, R, N, D, 2 and L, and P, R, D, 2 and L of
`them are white in tone while N is green in tone. These
`letters are made so bright that the driver can see them,
`particularly in the night, and they must have the same
`brightness and color tone.
`As shown in FIG. 4b, however, those distances of the
`filament bulb (w) which are relative to the letters are
`different, so that the letters cannot be lit with same
`brightness and color tone. To overcome this problem,
`the letters must be silk-printed thicker and thicker as
`they come nearer to the filament bulb (w). However,
`these silk-printing and coating cause more and more
`errors and include more and more processes as they are
`repeated.
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention relates to a face-brightening
`device for use inside and outside the vehicles.
`The face-brightening device comprises optical fibers
`wherein the. optical fibers are notched at their intended
`portions and a light source is attached to their one or
`both ends to brighten their intended notched portions.
`An object of the present invention is to provide a
`face-brightening device
`comprising optical
`fibers
`wherein light introduced from a light source into the
`optical fibers is emitted through notched portions of the
`optical fibers to emerge as letters, patterns or the like,
`whereby light brightening faces are excellent in water-
`proofness, heat-resistance, weather-proofness and insu-
`lation can be formed with lighter weight and smaller
`space inside and outside the vehicles.
`Another object of the present invention is to provide
`illuminating lamps such as the rear combination lamp
`
`21
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`4,977,487
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`FIG. 7a shows how the optical fiber is notched.
`FIG. 7b shows a part of the optical fiber enlarged.
`FIG. 8a is a perspective view showing the face
`brightening device of the present invention used as a
`rear panel of the car.
`FIG. 8b is an enlarged sectional view taken along a
`line 8b-9b’ in FIG. 8a.
`FIG. 9 is a sectional view showing a light source
`attached to one ends of optical fibers.
`FIG. 10 shows to which parts of the car the face
`brightening device of the present invention is applied.
`FIG. 11a is a perspective view showing a rear combi-
`nation lamp to which the present invention is applied
`and which is dismantled.
`
`FIG. 11b is a perspective view showing how the rear
`combination lamp to which the present invention is
`applied is assembled.
`FIG. 11c is an enlarged sectional View taken along a
`line 11c—-11c’ in FIG. 11b.
`FIG. 11d shows a part of the rear combination lamp
`in FIG. 11c enlarged.
`FIG. 12 is a sectional view showing another light
`source connected to the optical fibers.
`FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a still further
`example of the face brightening device according to the
`present invention.
`FIG. 14 shows a hood ornament of the car.
`FIG. 15a is a front view showing a hood ornament to
`which the face brightening device of the present inven-
`tion is applied.
`FIG. 15b is a sectional view taken along a line
`15b—15b' in FIG. 150.
`
`UI
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`FIG. 16 is a front view showing the face brightening
`device of the present invention used as the hood orna-
`ment.
`
`35
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`3
`which can have uniformly brightening faces and which
`can be safely used in a smaller space.
`A further object of the present invention is to provide
`an emblem or top mark which can have uniformly
`brightening faces and which can be safely and spacesav-
`ingly used for vehicles.
`A still further object of the present invention is to
`provide a front grille and a rear panel for use with vehi-
`cles which can be excellent in design and which can be
`beautifully brightened, particularly in the night.
`A still further object of the present invention is to
`provide an indicator for the transmission change gear
`lever in vehicles capable of uniformly brightening let-
`ters on the display of the display housing by means of
`optical fibers.
`These and other objects of the present invention can
`be achieved by a face-brightening device for use with
`vehicles and some examples of the face brightening
`device will be described in detail with reference to the
`accompanying drawings.
`It should be understood that various changes and
`modifications be made without departing the spirit and
`scope of the present invention and will be included in
`claims appended hereto.
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the display
`section at the back of the conventional vehicle disman-
`tled.
`
`FIG. 2a is a perspective View showing the display
`section at the back of the conventional vehicle.
`
`FIG. 2b is a perspective view showing the conven-
`tional rear combination lamp.
`FIG. 2c is a sectional View taken along a line 2c 2c’ in
`FIG. 2b.
`
`FIG. 3 shows a front grille of the conventional car.
`FIG. 4a is a perspective view showing an indicator
`for the change gear lever in the conventional automatic
`car. FIG. 4a shows the indicator dismantled.
`FIG. 4b is a sectional view taken along a line 4b —4b’
`in FIG. 4a.
`
`FIG. 5a is a perspective View showing an optical
`fiber enlarged.
`FIG. 5b is an enlarged sectional view taken along a
`line Sb-Sb’ in FIG. 5a .
`FIG. 50 is an enlarged sectional view, similar to FIG.
`5b, showing a variation of the optical fiber shown in
`FIG. 5b.
`
`FIG. 6a is a front view showing a face brightening
`device of the present invention.
`FIG. 6b is a sectional view taken along a line 6!; —6b’
`in FIG. 60.
`
`FIG. 6c is a sectional view taken along a line 6c —6c'
`in FIG. 6a.
`
`45
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`50
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`FIG. 6d is a perspective view showing another exam-
`ple of the face brightening device according to the
`present invention.
`FIG. 6e is an enlarged sectional view taken along a
`line 6e—6e’ in FIG. 6d.
`FIG. 6fis a perspective View showing a further exam-
`ple of the face brightening device according to the
`present invention.
`V
`FIG. 6g is a perspective view showing a still further
`example of the face brightening device according to the
`present invention.
`FIG. 6/1 is a front view showing a still further exam-
`ple of the face brightening device according to the
`present invention.
`
`FIG. 17 is an enlarged sectional view taken along a
`line 17-17' in FIG. 16.
`FIG. 18 is an enlarged sectional view, similar to FIG.
`17, showing a variation of the hood ornament.
`FIG. 19a is a perspective view showing the backside
`of a front grille to which the face brightening device of
`the present invention is applied.
`FIG. 19b is a sectional view taken along a line
`19b—19b’ in FIG. 19a.
`FIG. 20a is a perspective view showing the backside
`of another front grille to which the face brightening
`device of the present invention is applied.
`FIG. 20]:
`is a sectional view taken along a line
`20b—20b’ in FIG. 200.
`
`to
`FIG. 21a is a front view showing a rear panel
`which the face brightening device of the present inven-
`tion is applied.
`FIG. 21b is a perspective view showing the backside
`of the rear panel enlarged.
`FIG. 21c is an enlarged sectional view taken along a
`line 21c—21c' in FIG. 21a.
`FIG. 22a is a plan showing an indicator for the trans-
`mission change gear lever to which the face brightening
`device of the present invention is applied.
`FIG. 22b is a sectional view taken along a line
`22b—22b’0 in FIG. 22a .
`
`65
`
`FIG. 23 is a perspective view showing the face
`brightening device of the present invention used as the
`indicator for the transmission change gear lever.
`FIG. 24a is a perspective view showing the backside
`of a display housing for the indicator.
`FIG. 24!) is a sectional view showing the indicator for
`the change gear lever.
`
`22
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`5
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`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
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`4,977,487
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`As shown in FIG. 5a, an optical fiber 1 having a
`diameter of 0.l—3.0¢ is usually used but its diameter
`may be larger according to its brightness which it is
`expected to be achieved and also according to its ar-
`rangement when it is used to assemble a face brighten-
`ing device. A light source for the optical fibers 1 is
`located at a position different from those of the filament
`bulbs for the rear combination lamps (f) and (F) and
`light emitted from the light source is introduced into the
`optical fibers 1 through another optical fiber or the like.
`As shown in FIG. 5b, the optical fiber 1 is made by
`coating a synthetic resin of the fluorine group around
`layers of a transparent synthetic resin so as to reduce
`light leakage as much as possible.
`The optical fiber 1 has a portion to be brightened and
`another portion extending to the light source. The por-
`tion of the optical fiber 1 which is to be brightened is
`notched at the backside thereof, as shown in FIG. 5c.
`When a fluorescent paint 5’ is coated on this notched
`portion of the optical fiber 1,
`the brightness of its
`notched portion can be made high.
`FIG. 6a shows a face brightening device (A) com-
`prising the optical fibers 1 wherein a plurality of the
`optical fibers 1 are fixed side by side on a base film 2
`made of synthetic resin to form a brightening section 3.
`The thickness of this brightening section 3 ranges from
`0.1 mm to 1.5 mm. The optical fibers 1 are notched at
`their brightening section 3 to draw letters (b) by their
`notched portions 5. Light sources (L) and (L’) are ar-
`ranged to 0 face terminals 6 and 6’, respectively, which
`bundle both ends of the optical fibers 1. When the light
`sources (L) and (L ’) are switched on, light emitted from
`the light sources passes through the terminals 6 and 6’
`and advances"through the optical fibers 1 while it is
`irregularly reflected by the notched portions 5 at the
`brightening section 3 of the optical fibers 1 to brighten
`the letters (b).
`The notched pattern of the notched portions 5 is
`adjusted to brighten the letters (b) at the brightening
`section 3 to a desired extent. More specifically,
`the
`reflection (or reflection and refraction) factor of light at
`the notched portions 5 of the optical fibers 1 is made
`larger and larger as the notched portions 5 depart from
`the light source (L) or (L’) further and further. The
`brightness of the whole brightening section 3 can be
`freely adjusted by adjusting the light emitting capacity
`of the light sources (L) and (L’).
`FIG. 6b is a sectional view taken along a line 6b—6b’
`in FIG. 6a and FIG. 60 is also a sectional View taken
`along a line 6c—6c’
`in FIG. 6a, which show that the
`optical fibers 1 are positioned on the base film 2 and that
`those portions 5 of the optical fibers 1 which represent
`the letters (b) are notched. Those backsides of the opti-
`cal fibers 1 which correspond to the notched portions 5
`may be notched instead of the notched portions 5, as
`shown in FIG. 5c.
`
`In FIG. 6d, the optical fibers 1 are arranged side by
`side and fixed together to form a flat portion 10. The
`optical fibers 1 are bundled at both ends of the flat
`portion 10 to form two bundles 4 and 4’ of the optical
`fibers 1, which are connected to a coupler 6a. Those
`portions of the optical fibers 1 which are to be bright-
`ened are notched at the backside of the flat portion 10 to
`form notched portions 5.
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`10
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`FIG. 6e shows the section of the flat portion 10 in
`FIG. 6d and when the notched portions 5 are coated
`with a fluorescent paint 5’, their brightness can be en-
`hanced.
`FIG. 6fshows a face brightening device (A) provided
`with a coupler 60 only at one end thereof.
`FIG. 6g shows a variation of the face brightening
`device wherein the optical fibers 1 are arranged side by
`side and fixed together to form a flat portion 10 having
`an area (n1 by n3) enough to correspond to a brightening
`portion (n1 by ng) and a margin needed to attach the face
`brightening device to a certain place.
`FIG. 6h shows another variation of the face brighten-
`ing device wherein two couplers 6a and 6a’ are con-
`nected to both ends of bundled optical fibers 1, respec-
`tively.
`A notched portion 5 is formed on the front or back
`side of the flat portion 10, corresponding to the bright-
`ening portion (n1 by n2) in FIGS. 6g and 6h.
`The manner of notching the optical fiber 1 to form
`the notched portion 5 will be described with reference
`to FIGS. 71: and 7b. The fiat portion 10 including the
`area (n1 by n2) to be brightened in FIG. 6g is tilted by
`angles at and a’ along a center line extending in the
`longitudinal direction of the area (n1 by n2) and between
`an outermost point (V1) of the area and another outer-
`most point (V2) of the margin and recesses (r) each
`having a certain depth are formed on the optical fibers
`1 at the area (n1 by nz), adjusting their angle [3 and pitch
`(p). This manner of notching the optical fibers 1 is car-
`ried out in such a way that a press on which the recesses
`(r) are formed with such shape, angle [3 and depth as
`meet
`the brightness of the area to be brightened is
`pushed against the optical fibers 1 with heat and pres-
`sure.
`
`FIG. 8a shows the face brightening device used as a
`rear panel garnish (a) of the car wherein a layer of
`opaque ink 7 covers the optical fibers 1 except the
`notched portions thereof which represent the letters (b)
`and a transparent panel 8 is placed thereon, as shown in
`FIG. 8b. The notched portions 5 on the optical fibers 1
`may be formed on those backsides of the optical fibers 1
`which correspond to the letters (b).
`Letters, patterns or the like can be brightened at the
`brightening face and when the brightening face is
`notched all over it, it can be brightened as a face.
`Light can be introduced from the light source for the
`head lamps, rear back lamps or the like into the optical
`fibers 1 through the bundled portion of the optical fi-
`bers, as described above. Or a light emitting box (LB)
`may be used as the light source, as shown in FIG. 9 and
`when a color filter 9 is arranged between a light source
`(L) and the bundled portion 4 of the optical fibers 1, the
`color of light can be freely selected.
`FIG. 10 shows to which parts of a car (C4) the face
`brightening device of the present invention can be ap-
`plied, except the rear panel garnish (a). When the face
`brightening device is applied to the quarter window
`garnish (h), center pillar garnish (j), side protector mold
`(k), step plate, bumper mold, inside of the trunk room
`and the like, letters, patterns or the like can be bright-
`ened at these parts.
`_
`FIG. 11a shows face brightening devices (A), (A1)
`and (A2) combined with one another to form a rear
`combination lamp (f) or (f'). The face brightening de-
`vice (A) is fixed to a reflector plate 12 along the curved
`front face thereof which has such a shape as can be
`along the front face of a lamp body 11 and which is
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`made, 0.5 mm thick, by vacuum-molding white syn-
`thetic resin, and the face brightening devices (A1) and
`(A2) are further fixed to the face brightening device (A).
`These reflector plate and face brightening devices may
`be fixed to one another by means of transparent adhe-
`sive or transparent two sided adhesive tape. The face
`brightening devices (A), (A1) and (A2) thus assembled
`with the reflector plate 12 are fixed to the lamp body 11
`and couplers 6a and 6a’ for connecting the face bright-
`ening devices to their light sources are extended outside
`the lamp body through coupler holes. A transparent
`colored lens 13 is then attached to the lamp body 11 to
`form the rear combination lamp (0 or (f). The transpar-
`ent colored lens 13 in FIG. 11a comprises a red lens 13a
`and an orange-colored lens 13b.
`When the light source for the face brightening device
`(A) is switched on, a tail lamp (m1) is turned on. When
`the light source for the face brightening device (A1) is
`switched on, associating with the brake pedal, a brake
`lamp (mg) is lit. When the light source for the face
`brightening device (A2) is switched on, a traffic indica-
`tor or blinker (m3) is turned on. When the light source
`for the face brightening device (A2) is used for emer-
`gency flashing display and switched on at the time of
`emergency, an emergency lamp (m4) flashes.
`FIG. 11b shows the rear combination lamp (1) or (f)
`assembled as described above, FIG. He is a sectional
`view taken along a line 11c—11c’ in FIG. 11b and FIG.
`lld shows on an enlarged scale a part of the lamp en-
`closed by a two-dot and dash line in FIG. 11c. The face
`brightening device (A) fixed to the front face of the
`reflector plate 12 is placed on the front face of the lamp
`body 11 and the face brightening device (A1) is further
`placed on the front face of the face brightening device
`(A).
`When the light source for the face brightening device
`(A) is switched on, light which brightens the notched
`flat portion of the optical fibers in the face brightening
`device (A) is reflected toward the red lens 13a through
`the notched flat portion of the optical fibers in the face
`brightening device (A1) by means of the reflector plate
`12. When the face brightening device (A1) is further
`switched on,
`light which brightens the notched flat
`portion of the optical fibers in the face brightening
`device (A1) is also reflected toward the red lens 13a, so
`that the brightness of the red lens 13a can be a sum of
`those of the notched flat portions of the optical fibers in
`the face brightening devices (A) and (A1). When the
`optical fibers in the one face brightening device are
`arranged side by side in the vertical direction in the case
`where the notched flat portions of the optical fibers in
`both face brightening devices (A) and (A1) are bright-
`ened, the optical fibers in the other face brightening
`device may be arranged side by side in the traverse
`direction.
`FIG. 12 shows an example of the light emitting box
`(LB) wherein light emitted from a halogen lamp (w') is
`reflected toward a coupler 60 by a reflector plate 12’.
`The depth of the recesses (r) on the flat portion of the
`optical fibers in the face brightening device (A) is made
`large at a zone (:11) in FIG. 13 which must be strongly
`brightened as the brake lamp and their angle [3 is also
`adjusted accordingly. Their depth, however,
`is made
`small at a zone (az) which may be less strongly bright-
`ened as the lamp for showing the car width and their
`angle [3 is adjusted accordingly. A zone (a3) is bright-
`ened as the back lamp. The brightness of the lamps can
`be adjusted in this manner, using the same light source
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`and the same flat portion of the optical fibers in the face
`brightening device (A). This enables the rear combina-
`tion lamp to be made extremely thin to save space. In
`addition, the light source can be positioned remote from
`the rear combination lamp and this enables the flat por-
`tion of the optical fibers in the face brightening device
`to be kept free from heat created by the light source and
`any of the light sources in the car to be used as the one
`for the rear combination lamp.
`The rear combination lamp should preferably uni-
`formly brighten its front face. It is therefore a more
`remarkable improvement of the present invention, as
`compared with the conventional combination lamp
`whose brightness is not uniform depending upon how
`the filament bulb (w) is positioned relative to the lens of
`the lamp, that the lamp of the present invention can be
`uniformly brightened and that its brightness can be
`freely adjusted according to what purpose it is used for.
`The face brightening device of the present invention
`can be extremely thin, light in weight and freely flexible
`and used as functional, decorative and on safety parts
`inside and outside the car. It can thus save space for the
`car and make the car light in weight and it is excellent
`in water-proofness, heatresistance and weather—proof-
`ness. Further, it can use any of the light sources in the
`car.
`
`The light source for the face brightening device of
`the present invention can be located remote from the
`device. When the device is used as pieces for decorating
`the outside of the car, therefore, they can be safe with-
`out keeping them waterproof. Further,
`they can be
`protected from fire caused by a short circuit.
`It
`is a long-range necessity that space in the car
`should be saved to make the driver freer in the car. The
`face brightening device of the present invention can be
`used in an extremely small space and this enables the
`space in the car to be effectively used.
`The above-mentioned merits of the present invention
`contribute to making reasonable and economical cars.
`The rear combination lamp is legally desired to pay
`attention to safety and have a certain and uniform
`brightness on all of its front lens. When the face bright-
`ening device of the present invention, which is flexible
`enough to easily meet any complicated curves, is used
`as the rear combination lamp, the distance between the
`lens and the notched portions of the optical fibers can be
`kept certain. In addition, the diameter of the optical
`fibers, design of patterns formed by the notched portion
`of the optical fibers, angle and depth of the notches (or
`recesses) on the optical fibers, light source, means for
`connecting the coupler and the optical fibers, and fluo-
`rescent (or reflective) paint coated on the notched por-
`tion of the optical fibers can be freely selected accord-
`ing to the brightness which the rear combination lamp is
`asked to have. This enables the rear combination lamp
`to be uniformly brightened and to be a space-saving and
`economical car lamp.
`Symbol (E) in FIG. 14 represents a hood ornament or
`emblem of a car (C5). FIG. 15a shows the emblem (E)
`in detail and FIG. 15b is a sectional view taken along a
`line 15b-15b’ in FIG. 15:1.
`
`A frame 15 is fixed to a mount 14 by means of a spring
`(sp) and a holding wire 17 and transparent emblem
`plates 16 and 16' are fitted into the frame 15. The flat
`portion 10 of the optical fibers 1 in the face brightening
`device (A) is located between the emblem plates 16 and
`16’ by means of a adhesive medium such as transparent
`adhesive or two sided adhesive tape and the optical
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`fibers 1 are bundled at one end thereof and lead to a
`light source (L) which is not shown.
`The transparent emblem plates 16 and 16’ are made
`opaque by silk printing or thin metal film, for example,
`except those portions thereof which correspond to a
`letter or pattern (b). In other words,
`their portions
`which correspond to the letter or pattern (b) are left
`transparent to allow light to pass therethrough while
`their remaining portions are made opaque not to allow
`light to pass therethrough.
`As shown in FIG. 16, a plurality of the optical fibers
`1 are arranged side by side in a certain width and fixed
`together by transparent adhesive to form a flat portion
`10. The optical fibers 1 are bundled at one end of their
`flat portion and the bundled optical fibers are extended
`and connected to a coupler 64 which is fixed to a light
`source (L). The optical fibers 1 may be bundled at both
`ends of their flat portion and connected to couplers 6a
`and 6a’ (see FIG. 6/: ) or a coupler 60 (see FIG. 6d ).
`The head lamp, for example, can be used as the light
`source introduced into the flat portion 10 of the optical
`fibers 1. When the head lamp is used like this, the face
`brightening device which is used as the emblem does
`not need its own light source and it makes it easy to
`check the burn-out of the head lamp.
`As shown in FIG. 17, both sides of the optical fibers
`1 may be notched to emit light through both sides
`thereof. Or as shown in FIG. 18, the optical fibers 1 may
`be fixed to both sides of a reflector plate 12 (mirror or
`white plate) by means of transparent adhesive. Needless
`to say, the optical fibers 1 are previously notched on
`their one side in this case to form notched portions 5.
`As apparent from the above,
`the face brightening
`device of the present invention make it possible to pro-
`vide a space-saving, safe and low-cost emblem. This
`emblem is space-saving