[0001] The present disclosure generally relates to a lighting system on an interior component of a vehicle that serves as an attachment target on which the lighting device is to be installed.
[0002] The present disclosure in particular relates to a vehicle door with an ambient light structure. The ambient light structure is a mood lighting interior component of a vehicle.
BACKGROUND
[0003] There are different types of lamps in a vehicle and according to their use, they can be divided into functional lamps such as lighting lamps, reading lights, instrument panel lights and switch lights and non-functional lamps such as ambient light and mood lights.
[0004] In particular, in order to create a soft atmosphere in the interior of the vehicle at night, mood lights emitting various colors of light are installed in a door trim of the vehicle. That is, the conventional mood lighting has a structure in which a light source is installed inside a panel that forms the door trim.
[0005] Since the light source that emits light is installed inside the panel of the door trim, the light source is fixed on an attachment structure. The attachment structure is then screwed to engage in holes defined inside the panel of the door trim.
[0006] Such screwed connection of the attachment structure or the light source is not stable and may start loosening after a period of time, thereby resulting to an unwanted cabin noise and also a gap is formed between trim panels which degrades aesthetics of the vehicle interior.
[0007] Accordingly, there is a need to provide an improved structure to connect the ambient light within the panel of the door trim.
OBJECTS OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0008] Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfy, are listed hereinbelow.
[0009] It is a general or primary object of the present disclosure to provide an improved structure to connect the ambient light within the panel of the door trim.
[0010] It is another object of the present disclosure to provide a vehicle door with an ambient light structure.
[0011] It is another object of the present disclosure to provide a mood lighting interior component of a vehicle.
[0012] These and other objects and advantages will become more apparent when reference is made to the following description and accompanying drawings.
SUMMARY
[0013] This summary is provided to introduce concepts related to a vehicle door with an ambient light structure. The concepts are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.
[0014] The present disclosure relates to a vehicle door with an ambient light structure. The vehicle door includes a board; an ornament fitted on the board; a light carrier, along with a light guide, connected to the board through multiple snaps locked in holes provided in the ornament and the board; and a garnish fitted on the board through multiple snaps locked in holes formed in the board. The board, the light carrier and the garnish are also connected using multiple screws.
[0015] In an aspect, the ornament is fitted on the board through ultrasonic welding.
[0016] In an aspect, the light carrier along with the light guide is fixed between the garnish and the board of the door.
[0017] In an aspect, the light carrier has an integrated snap structure and is fixed with the board through the holes in the ornament.
[0018] In an aspect, the garnish has an integrated snap structure and is fixed with the board.
[0019] In an aspect, the multiple screws are used to fix the garnish with the light carrier and the board from vehicle outside direction.
[0020] In an aspect, the light guide is interference fit with the light carrier.
[0021] In an aspect, the garnish includes a snap to lock the garnish into the light carrier and to maintain zero touch between the lower edges of the garnish and the light carrier.
[0022] To further understand the characteristics and technical contents of the present subject matter, a description relating thereto will be made with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the drawings are illustrative only but not used to limit the scope of the present subject matter.
[0023] Various objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the inventive subject matter will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, along with the accompanying drawing figures in which like numerals represent like components.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0024] It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of the present subject matter and are therefore not to be considered for limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments. The detailed description is described with reference to the accompanying figures. The illustrated embodiments of the subject matter will be best understood by reference to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals throughout. The following description is intended only by way of example, and simply illustrates certain selected embodiments of devices, systems, and methods that are consistent with the subject matter as claimed herein, wherein:
[0025] FIG. 1 illustrates a cross-sectional view of an ambient light structure for vehicle doors in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0026] FIG. 2 illustrates an outside view of a vehicle door implemented with the ambient light structure of the present disclosure; and
[0027] FIGS. 3-5 illustrate multiple sectional views of the vehicle door with an ambient light structure in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0028] The figures depict embodiments of the present subject matter for the purposes of illustration only. A person skilled in the art will easily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the disclosure described herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0029] The detailed description of various exemplary embodiments of the disclosure is described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the embodiments are described herein in such details as to communicate the disclosure. However, the amount of details provided herein is not intended to limit the anticipated variations of embodiments; on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.
[0030] It is also to be understood that various arrangements may be devised that, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, all statements herein reciting principles, aspects, and embodiments of the present disclosure, as well as specific examples, are intended to encompass equivalents thereof.
[0031] The terminology used herein is to describe particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of example embodiments. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”, “comprising”, “includes” and/or “including,” when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components and/or groups thereof.
[0032] It should also be noted that in some alternative implementations, the functions/acts noted may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two figures shown in succession may be executed concurrently or may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality/acts involved.
[0033] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which example embodiments belong. It will be further understood that terms, e.g., those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.
[0034] In the following detailed description of the embodiments of the disclosure, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the disclosure may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the disclosure, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The following description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.
[0035] Hereinafter, a description of an embodiment with several components in communication with each other does not imply that all such components are required. On the contrary, a variety of optional components are described to illustrate the wide variety of possible embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0036] FIG. 1 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a vehicle door 100 with an ambient light structure in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The vehicle door 100 includes a board 102, an ornament 104, and a garnish 110. In an aspect, the ornament 104 is fitted on the board 102 through ultrasonic welding.
[0037] Further, the vehicle door 100 includes a light carrier 106, along with a light guide 108, and is fixed between the garnish 110 and the board 102. Yet further, as shown in FIG. 3, the light carrier 106 has an integrated snap structure 202 which is fixed with the board 102 through holes in the ornament 104 and the board 102. In an aspect, the light guide 108 is interference fit with the light carrier 106.
[0038] Yet further, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 4, a garnish 110 is fitted on the board 102. The garnish 110 has an integrated snap structure 204 that is fixed with holes formed in the board 102. In an aspect as shown in FIG. 4, the snap structure 204 is used to fit the garnish 110 directly with the board 102 while ensuring that no light carrier 106 or ornament 104 comes in between.
[0039] In an aspect, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, the garnish 110 includes a snap 205 that locks the garnish into the light carrier 106. In this aspect, the length of the snap 205 is so selected that the lower edges of the garnish 110 and the light carrier 106 always maintain zero touch between them, thereby improving the aesthetics and touch feeling.
[0040] Also, by having the snap 205 added to maintain a relation between the garnish 110 and the light carrier 110, a cantilever profile of the garnish 110 is compensated to improve the rigidity of the ambient light structure.
[0041] Once the garnish 110 is fitted with the board 102, the board 102, the light carrier 106 and the garnish 110 are connected using multiple screws 206 from outer side of the vehicle as shown in FIG. 5. However, while fitting the board 102, the light carrier 106 and the garnish 110 using the screws 206, no ornament 104 comes in between.
[0042] During operation, light rays from the light guide 108 falls on the ornament 104 and improve aesthetics of the vehicle interior.
TECHNICAL ADVANTAGES
[0043] The present disclosure thus provides a vehicle door 100 with an ambient light structure , which has the following advantages:
• Less number of separate fastening members (screws) used.
• Better fitment of light guide 108 and light carrier 106 within the garnish 110 and the board 102.
• Integrated fastening member provided in the light carrier 106.
• Minimal light dispersion.
• Vibration resistant design.
• Minimal chance of loosening of light guide 108 due to interference fit with the light carrier 106.
• No gap is formed between door trims due to proper fitment of parts.
Equivalents
[0044] While the foregoing describes various embodiments of the present disclosure, other and further embodiments of the present disclosure may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof. The scope of the invention is determined by the claims that follow. The present disclosure is not limited to the described embodiments, versions or examples, which are included to enable a person having ordinary skill in the art to make and use the present disclosure when combined with information and knowledge available to the person having ordinary skill in the art.

Claims:1. A vehicle door (100) with an ambient light structure, the vehicle door (100) comprising:
a board (102);
an ornament (104) fitted on the board (102);
a light carrier (106), along with a light guide (108), connected to the board (102) through multiple snaps locked in holes provided in the ornament (104) and the board (102); and
a garnish (110) fitted on the board (102) through multiple snaps locked in holes formed in the board (102),
wherein the board (102), the light carrier (106) and the garnish (110) are connected using multiple screws (206).
2. The vehicle door (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ornament (104) is fitted on the board (102) through ultrasonic welding.
3. The vehicle door (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light carrier (106) along with the light guide (108) is fixed between the garnish (110) and the board (102) of the vehicle door (100).
4. The vehicle door (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light carrier (106) has an integrated snap structure (202) that is fixed with the board (102) through holes in the ornament (104).
5. The vehicle door (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the garnish (110) has an integrated snap structure (204) that is fixed with holes formed in the board (102).
6. The vehicle door (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the multiple screws (206) are used to fix the garnish (110) with the light carrier (106) and the board (102) from vehicle outside direction.
7. The vehicle door (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light guide (108) is interference fit with the light carrier (106).
8. The vehicle door (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the garnish (110) includes a snap (205) to lock the garnish (110) into the light carrier (106) and to maintain zero touch between the lower edges of the garnish (110) and the light carrier (106).