阅读说明：本技术 车辆外部部件 (Vehicle exterior part ) 是由 山田宽之 于 2021-05-24 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明提供一种车辆外部部件,该车辆外部部件包括：装饰体,其包括基体以及布置在基体的外侧的透明塑料层；加热器座,其包括座基和加热线；以及连接器引脚。加热器座包括：发热体,其布置在透明塑料层的外侧；以及延伸部,其从发热体的边缘延伸。加热线在延伸部中的一部分是电连接到连接器引脚的端子。连接器引脚的外部嵌入在基体的周部中。连接器引脚的内部从基体露出。延伸部在基体的周部中沿内外方向向内延伸。加热线的端子在基体的周部中接合到连接器引脚的外部。(The present invention provides a vehicle exterior part including: a decorative body including a base body and a transparent plastic layer disposed outside the base body; a heater base comprising a base and a heater wire; and a connector pin. The heater seat includes: a heating element disposed outside the transparent plastic layer; and an extension part extending from an edge of the heat-generating body. A portion of the heater wire in the extension is a terminal electrically connected to the connector pin. The outer portion of the connector pin is embedded in the peripheral portion of the base. The inner portion of the connector pin is exposed from the base. The extending portion extends inward in the inward-outward direction in the peripheral portion of the base. The terminals of the heater wire are joined to the exterior of the connector pins in the peripheral portion of the base.)

1. A vehicle exterior component comprising:

a garnish body configured to decorate a vehicle;

a heater socket including a socket base and a heater wire disposed on an inner surface of the socket base and generating heat when energized; and

a connector pin configured to be coupled to a device for supplying power, wherein,

the decorative body comprises a base body and a transparent plastic layer arranged on the outer side of the base body,

the heater seat comprises a heating body and an extension part, the heating body is arranged at the outer side of the transparent plastic layer, the extension part extends from the edge of the heating body,

the portion of the heater wire in the extension is a terminal electrically connected to the connector pin,

the outer portion of the connector pin is embedded in the peripheral portion of the base,

the interior of the connector pin is exposed from the base,

the extension portion extends inward in an inward-outward direction in the peripheral portion of the base body, and

the terminal of the heater wire is joined to the exterior of the connector pin in the peripheral portion of the base.

2. The vehicle exterior component of claim 1,

the outer portion of the connector pin extends in the inner-outer direction,

the extension portion overlaps with the outer portion of the connector pin in the peripheral portion of the base, and

the terminal of the heater wire is joined to the exterior of the connector pin at a portion of the extension that overlaps the exterior of the connector pin.

3. The vehicle exterior part according to claim 1 or 2,

the base body comprises a base body and an annular frame, the base body is a framework of the base body, the frame is embedded in the periphery of the base body,

the outer portion of the connector pin is embedded in the frame such that a portion of the outer portion of the connector pin is exposed from the frame,

the extension portion is arranged in the peripheral portion of the base body at a boundary between the frame and the base body, and

the terminal of the heater wire engages the portion of the exterior of the connector pin exposed from the frame.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a vehicle exterior part, such as a emblem, ornament, or mark, which decorates a vehicle.

Background

In a vehicle equipped with a millimeter wave radar apparatus, the millimeter wave radar apparatus emits millimeter waves to the outside of the vehicle. The millimeter wave radar device receives millimeter waves that have hit an object outside the vehicle, including a preceding vehicle, a pedestrian, and the like, and have been reflected by the object. The transmitted and received millimeter waves are used to identify the object and detect the distance and relative speed between the vehicle and the object.

The vehicle includes a vehicle exterior component, such as a front grille or a emblem, etc., in front of the millimeter-wave radar device in the propagation direction of the millimeter waves. Fig. 7A and 7B show the emblem 72, the emblem 72 being a vehicle exterior component. As shown in fig. 7A and 7B, the emblem 72 includes a garnish body 73. The garnish body 73 makes the millimeter wave radar device invisible and allows the millimeter waves to pass through. The decoration body 73 includes a base body 74 and a transparent plastic layer 75. The base 74 is a portion inside the garnish 73. The transparent plastic layer 75 is a portion outside the garnish body 73.

In the emblem 72, when ice and snow adhere to the decorative surface (outer surface) of the emblem, the millimeter waves are attenuated. This degrades the detection performance of the millimeter wave radar apparatus. To address this issue, the emblem 72 may additionally include a snow melting function.

For example, the snow melting function of emblem 72 is increased by disposing heater seat 76 and connector pins 84 on garnish body 73. Heater socket 76 includes socket base 83 and heater wire 81. The heater wire 81 is disposed on the inner surface of the seat base 83. The heater wire 81 generates heat when energized. Connector pins 84 provide a location for coupling to a power supply device. The heater wire 81 is electrically connected to this position. The heater holder 76 includes a heat generating body 77 and an extension portion 78. The heating element 77 is disposed outside the transparent plastic layer 75. The extension 78 extends from the edge of the heat-generating body 77. The power supplied from the device is supplied to the heating wire 81 through the connector pin 84.

In the emblem 72, the heater wire 81 generates heat when energized. Therefore, even if ice and snow adhere to the decorative surface (outer surface) of the emblem 72, the heat generated by the heater wire 81 can melt the ice and snow. This prevents the millimeter waves from being attenuated by the adhesion of ice and snow.

The conventional emblem 72 has a problem in how to join the terminals 82, which are portions of the heater wire 81 in the extension 78, to the connector pins 84.

The structure of bonding the terminal to the connector pin includes a structure (not shown) of bonding on the outside of the transparent plastic layer 75 and a structure of bonding on the inside of the transparent plastic layer 75 (refer to fig. 7A and 7B). In the former structure, a part of the connector pin is exposed to the outside of the transparent plastic layer. The extension is arranged outside the transparent plastic layer. On the outside of the garnish body, the terminal is joined to the exposed portion of the connector pin.

In the latter configuration, as shown in fig. 7A and 7B, the connector pin 84 includes an inner portion 84B and an outer portion 84 a. The inner portion 84b extends in the inward-outward direction. The outer portion 84a extends from the inner portion 84b at an outer end in a direction orthogonal to the inward-outward direction. The extending portion 78 is bent by about 180 degrees with respect to the heating body 77 so that the extending portion 78 extends across, for example, the peripheral portion and the outer portion 84a of the transparent plastic layer 75 and is wired along the inside of the transparent plastic layer 75. The wiring portion of the terminal 82 is joined to the outer portion 84a of the connector pin 84 by a joint 85.

Japanese laid-open patent publication No.2020-5057 discloses an example of a technique of laminating a heater base on the outer side of a decorative body.

When the terminal is joined to the connector pin at the outside of the transparent plastic layer as described above, it is necessary to hide the joint portion by an additional member to avoid degrading the emblem beauty. Further, when the terminal 82 is joined to the connector pin 84 inside the transparent plastic layer 75, bending the terminal 82 of the heater wire 81 to a large extent may break the heater wire 81.

Such a problem occurs not only in the millimeter wave radar device but also in the following vehicle exterior parts: the vehicle exterior component is incorporated in a vehicle including a device that transmits and receives electromagnetic waves for detecting an object outside the vehicle, and the heater seat is disposed outside the garnish body. The same problem may occur in the following vehicle exterior parts: the vehicle exterior part is incorporated in a vehicle that does not include a device that transmits and receives electromagnetic waves, and the heater seat is disposed outside the garnish body.

Disclosure of Invention

An object of the present disclosure is to provide a vehicle exterior part capable of preventing a heater wire from being broken and improving the aesthetic sense of the vehicle exterior part without disposing an additional member at an outer side of a transparent plastic layer.

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that 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 as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

A vehicle exterior part that solves the above problems includes: a garnish body configured to decorate a vehicle; a heater socket including a socket base and a heater wire disposed on an inner surface of the socket base and generating heat when energized; and a connector pin configured to be coupled to a device for supplying power. The decorative body comprises a base body and a transparent plastic layer arranged on the outer side of the base body. The heater seat comprises a heating body and an extension part, wherein the heating body is arranged on the outer side of the transparent plastic layer, and the extension part extends from the edge of the heating body. The portion of the heater wire in the extension is a terminal electrically connected to the connector pin. The outer portion of the connector pin is embedded in the peripheral portion of the base. The interior of the connector pin is exposed from the base. The extension portion extends inward in an inward-outward direction in the peripheral portion of the base. The terminal of the heater wire is joined to the exterior of the connector pin in the peripheral portion of the base.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a front view showing a vehicle exterior part applied to a emblem (vehicle logo) according to an embodiment.

Fig. 2 is a partial rear view showing the heater holder in the present embodiment.

Fig. 3 is a side view, partly in section, showing a part of the front grille and the lower part of the emblem in the present embodiment.

Fig. 4 is a partial side sectional view showing the intermediate formed body during the manufacture of the emblem in the present embodiment.

Fig. 5 is a side view, partly in section, showing another intermediate molded body in the present embodiment.

Fig. 6 is a partial side sectional view showing still another intermediate molded body of the present embodiment.

Fig. 7A is a partial side sectional view showing a lower portion of a conventional emblem.

Fig. 7B is a partially enlarged side sectional view showing a portion of fig. 7A.

Detailed Description

This specification provides a thorough understanding of the described methods, apparatus, and/or systems. Variations and equivalents of the described methods, apparatus, and/or systems will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. The order of operations is exemplary and can be varied, as will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, except for operations that must occur in a particular order. A description of functions and configurations well known to those skilled in the art may be omitted.

The exemplary embodiments may have different forms and are not limited to the described examples. The described examples, however, are thorough and complete, and will convey the full scope of the disclosure to those skilled in the art.

A vehicle exterior part applied to a emblem 15 of a vehicle 10 according to an embodiment will now be described with reference to fig. 1 to 6.

In the following description, the direction in which the vehicle 10 travels forward will be referred to as forward, and the reverse direction will be referred to as rearward. The up-down direction refers to the up-down direction of the vehicle 10, and the left-right direction refers to the width direction of the vehicle 10 that coincides with the left-right direction when the vehicle 10 moves forward. In each figure, the dimensions of the parts of the emblem are changed so that the parts are identifiable.

As shown in fig. 3, the vehicle 10 includes a front monitoring millimeter wave radar device 13. The millimeter wave radar device 13 is located behind the front grille 11 at the center of the front portion of the vehicle 10 in the width direction. The millimeter wave radar device 13 is configured to emit millimeter waves in the form of electromagnetic waves forward and receive millimeter waves that have hit objects outside the vehicle 10 and have been reflected by the objects. The millimeter wave is a radio wave having a wavelength of 1mm to 10mm and a frequency of 30GHz to 300 GHz.

The thickness of the front grill 11 is not fixed, as in the general front grill. In the front grill 11, a metal plating layer may be formed on the outer surface of the plastic base. Therefore, the front grill 11 interferes with the millimeter waves that have been transmitted or reflected. Therefore, the front grille 11 includes a window 12 at the front of the millimeter wave radar device 13 in the propagation direction of the millimeter wave. Fig. 3 shows the lower part of the window 12.

The emblem 15 of the present embodiment is disposed at the window 12. For the description of the emblem 15, a side of the decorative surface (right side in fig. 3) is referred to as an outer side, and a side opposite to the decorative surface (left side in fig. 3) is referred to as an inner side.

The emblem 15 is arranged upright with its outer surface facing the front of the vehicle 10 and its inner surface facing the rear of the vehicle 10. In this arrangement, the outer side of the emblem 15 corresponds to the front side of the vehicle 10, and the inner side of the emblem 15 corresponds to the rear side of the vehicle 10.

Therefore, in the description of the single emblem 15, the terms "outside" and "inside" are used to designate a direction corresponding to the front-rear direction of the vehicle. This also applies to the description of the emblem 15 attached to the vehicle 10.

The emblem 15 includes a decorative body 21 and a heater seat 51. Each component of the emblem 15 will now be described.

Decoration body 21

As shown in fig. 1 and 3, a garnish body 21 is attached to the front side of the vehicle 10 in the direction in which the millimeter wave radar device 13 emits millimeter waves to decorate the vehicle 10. The main part of the decoration body 21 has the form of a transversely elongated and substantially oval plate. The main portion of the garnish body 21 allows millimeter waves to pass therethrough.

The decoration body 21 includes a base 22, a transparent plastic layer 35, and a decoration layer 41. The base 22 is a part of the inner side of the garnish body 21. The base 22 includes a base body 23 and a frame 31. The base body 23 is a framework (framework) of the base 22. The frame 31 is fitted to the periphery of the base body 23.

The base body 23 is made of plastic, such as acrylonitrile-ethylene-styrene (AES) copolymer plastic, or the like, so as to be colored. The exterior of the base body 23 includes a general portion 24 and a protrusion 25. The general portion 24 intersects obliquely with respect to the inward-outward direction and is substantially flat. The projection 25 projects outwardly from the general portion 24. The general portion 24 corresponds to the background area 16 of the emblem 15 in fig. 1, and the protrusions 25 correspond to the pattern area 17 of the emblem 15. The pattern region 17 includes a character portion 18 and a ring portion 19. The character section 18 includes the character "a". The annular portion 19 surrounds the character portion 18.

As shown in fig. 3, the peripheral portion of the base body 23 includes an annular recess 26. An annular recess 26 is open in the outer surface of the peripheral portion and is recessed inwardly. The annular recess 26 is annular and substantially elliptical in correspondence with the edge of the base body 23.

The lower portion of the base body 23 includes an inwardly projecting socket 27. The plug B of the device a for supplying power is removed from the jack 27 and inserted into the jack 27. The exterior of the socket 27 comprises a recess 28 extending in the inward-outward direction. The recess 28 is continuous with the annular recess 26. In addition, the socket 27 includes a recess 29, the recess 29 being open in an inner surface of the socket 27 and being recessed outward.

In addition to AES plastic, the base body 23 may also be made of, for example, acrylonitrile-styrene-acrylate (ASA) copolymer plastic, Polycarbonate (PC) plastic, or a polymer alloy of PC plastic and acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) copolymer plastic.

The frame 31 is arranged along the periphery of the base body 23 such that the frame 31 has an annular and substantially elliptical shape (refer to fig. 1). The frame 31 is mostly disposed (embedded) in the annular recess 26 to fill the annular recess 26. The lower portion of the frame 31 is partially disposed (embedded) in the recess 28 of the socket 27 to fill the recess 28. The frame 31 is made of a composite material of PC plastic and carbon black so that the frame 31 has a black color.

The base 22 includes a peripheral portion 22 a. A connector pin 32 extending in the inward-outward direction is provided at a lower portion of the peripheral portion 22a of the base 22. The connector pin 32 includes an outer portion 32 a. The outer portion 32a is embedded in the frame 31 such that a part of the outer portion 32a is exposed from a peripheral surface of the frame 31. The connector pin 32 includes an inner portion 32 b. In the same manner as the outer portion 32a, the inner portion 32b extends in the inward-outward direction. A part of the inner portion 32b is exposed from the base 22 in the recess 29.

Attachment portions (not shown) are arranged at a plurality of positions of the edge of the inner surface of the base 22 (base body 23) to attach the emblem 15 to the front grille 11 or the vehicle body. The attachment portion includes, for example, a clip, a screw, and an engaging piece.

The transparent plastic layer 35 is a part of the outer side of the garnish body 21. The transparent plastic layer 35 is made of PC plastic so as to be transparent. The term "transparent" in the present specification includes not only a colorless transparent state but also a colored transparent state. The same applies to the seat base 55, which will be described later. The shape of the interior of the transparent plastic layer 35 corresponds to the shape of the exterior of the base body 23. That is, the interior of the transparent plastic layer 35 includes a general portion 36 at a position outside the general portion 24 of the base body 23. The general portion 36 is substantially flat and intersects obliquely with respect to the medial-lateral direction. The interior of the transparent plastic layer 35 further includes a recess 37 at a position outside the protrusion 25 of the base body 23. The recess 37 is recessed outward from the general portion 36. As an alternative to the PC plastic described above, the transparent plastic layer 35 may be formed of a transparent plastic such as polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) plastic.

Decorative layer 41 is located between substrate 22 and transparent plastic layer 35 in the area enclosed by frame 31. Decorative layer 41 allows millimeter waves to pass through. The decoration layer 41 includes a colored decoration layer 42 and a bright decoration layer 43, and the colored decoration layer 42 has a dark color such as black or blue. A colored decorative layer 42 is disposed on the inner surface of the general portion 36.

The bright decorative layer 43 is made of a metal material such as indium (In). The bright decorative layer 43 is provided on the wall surface of the recessed portion 37 of the transparent plastic layer 35, on a part of the frame 31, and on the entire inner surface of the colored decorative layer 42, so that the bright decorative layer 43 has an island-like structure. In the island-like structure, the metal coating is not continuous over the entire surface, but a large number of fine metal coatings are densely arranged such that they are slightly spaced apart from each other like islands, or they are partially in contact with each other like islands. In this structure, the bright decorative layer 43 has a discontinuous structure, and thus has high resistance and allows millimeter waves to pass through. The bright decorative layer 43 may be made of a metallic material other than indium.

In the garnish body 21, the frame 31 is welded to the base body 23 and the transparent plastic layer 35 so that the base body 23 and the transparent plastic layer 35 are coupled to each other.

In the garnish body 21, a region through which the millimeter waves pass has a fixed thickness.

Heater base 51

As shown in fig. 2 and 3, the heater holder 51 includes a holder base 55 and a heating wire 56. The seat base 55 is made of a transparent plastic material such as PC plastic. The heater wire 56 is disposed on the inner surface of the socket base 55. The heater wire 56 is made of a metal material that generates heat when energized.

The heater base 51 includes a heating element 52 and an extension 53. The extension portion 53 extends from the lower edge of the heat-generating body 52, which is a part of the edge of the heat-generating body 52. In the same manner as the decorative body 21, the heat-generating body 52 has a substantially elliptical shape elongated in the lateral direction. The heating element 52 is laminated on the outer side of the decorative body 21 (transparent plastic layer 35). In the heating element 52, the heating wire 56 is repeatedly bent in a wave shape. This arrangement avoids the situation where the passage of the millimeter waves is obstructed by the heater wire 56.

The heater holder 51 is bent at the boundary between the heating body 52 and the extension portion 53 such that the angle formed by the heating body 52 and the extension portion 53 is an obtuse angle. The heating wire 56 is also arranged on the extension 53. This portion of the heater wire 56 defines a terminal 57.

The extending portion 53 extends inward in the inward-outward direction in the peripheral portion 22a of the base 22. More specifically, the extension 53 is disposed between the peripheral surface of the frame 31 and the inner wall surfaces of the annular recess 26 and the recess 28 in the base body 23. In other words, the extending portion 53 is arranged in the peripheral portion 22a of the base 22, and is located at the boundary between the frame 31 and the base body 23. In the present embodiment, the extension 53 is arranged in the peripheral portion 22a of the base 22, and is substantially parallel to the edge of the peripheral portion 22 a.

As described above, a part of the outer portion 32a of the connector pin 32 is exposed from the peripheral surface of the frame 31. A part of the extension 53 overlaps a part of the outer portion 32a exposed from the peripheral portion side. The portion of the extension 53 that overlaps the exposed portion of the outer portion 32a has a hole 54. The terminals 57 of the heater wire 56 are joined to the exposed portions of the exterior 32a of the connector pins 32 by tabs 58. The tab 58 is disposed in the hole 54 and is made of a solder alloy. This engagement causes the terminal 57 to be electrically connected to the outside 32a in the peripheral portion 22a of the base 22.

The terminal 57 is not necessarily bonded (soldered) to the outside 32a using a solder alloy. Alternatively, the terminal 57 may be bonded to the outer portion 32a using a conductive adhesive, soldered to the outer portion 32a, or pressed into contact with the outer portion 32a (e.g., crimped to the outer portion 32 a).

The emblem 15 is arranged upright in the window 12 and attached to the front grille 11 or the vehicle body at the attachment portion.

When the plug B of the device A is inserted into the socket 27 in the lower portion of the base 22 from the inside of the emblem 15, the heater wire 56 is electrically connected to the device A.

A method for manufacturing the emblem 15 will now be briefly described with reference to fig. 4 to 6.

First, insert-molding (insert-molding) is performed using a plastic mold, thereby forming an intermediate molded body 61 as shown in fig. 4. That is, the heater holder 51 is disposed as an insert in the plastic mold. Next, a plastic material (PC plastic) in a molten state is injected into the cavity of the plastic mold so that the cavity is filled with the plastic material. When the molten resin is hardened, a transparent plastic layer 35 including a general portion 36 and a concave portion 37 is formed inside the heater base 51. As shown in fig. 4, this forms an intermediate shaped body 61 comprising the transparent plastic layer 35 and the heater base 51.

Next, insert molding is performed using another plastic mold, thereby forming an intermediate molded body 62 as shown in fig. 5. That is, the intermediate molded body 61 and the connector pins 32 of fig. 4 are arranged as an insert in a plastic mold. Next, a material in a molten state (a composite material of PC plastic and carbon black) is injected into the cavity of the plastic mold so that the cavity is filled with the plastic material. When the molten composite material is hardened, the frame 31 is formed in close contact with the heater socket 51 and the transparent plastic layer 35 in a state where the outer portions 32a of the connector pins 32 are embedded. As shown in fig. 5, this forms an intermediate molded body 62 comprising the transparent plastic layer 35, the heater base 51, the frame 31 and the connector pins 32. In the intermediate molded body 62, a part of the outer portion 32a of the connector pin 32 is exposed from the peripheral surface of the frame 31. The extension 53 of the heater holder 51 overlaps the exposed portion of the outer portion 32a of the connector pin 32 from the peripheral portion side, and a part of the terminal 57 of the heater wire 56 contacts the exposed portion.

The intermediate shaped body 62 of fig. 5 is then removed from the plastic mold. Referring to fig. 6, welding is performed to join the terminal 57 to the outer portion 32a through the hole 54 of the extension portion 53. The aperture 54 includes a tab 58 made of a solder alloy. The tabs 58 electrically connect the heater wire 56 to the exposed portions of the exterior 32a of the connector pins 32 at the terminals 57.

Printing (such as screen printing), hot stamping, etc. is performed to form a colored decorative layer 42 on the general portion 36 of the transparent plastic layer 35. Next, a metal material such as indium is sputtered or evaporated on the wall surface of the recess 37 of the transparent plastic layer 35, a part of the frame 31, and the entire inner surface of the colored decorative layer 42, thereby forming a bright decorative layer 43. Thereby, the decoration layer 41 including the colored decoration layer 42 and the bright decoration layer 43 is formed on the inner surface of the transparent plastic layer 35 and a part of the frame 31. This forms an intermediate shaped body 63 as shown in fig. 6.

Next, insert molding is performed using another plastic mold, thereby forming the base body 23. That is, the intermediate molded body 63 of fig. 6 is disposed as an insert in the plastic mold. Then, a plastic material (AES plastic) in a molten state is injected into the cavity of the plastic mold so that the cavity is filled with the plastic material. When the molten resin is hardened, as shown in fig. 3, the base body 23 is formed in close contact with a part of the frame 31, the decoration layer 41, the extension 53 of the heater seat 51, and a part of the connector pin 32. This forms the desired emblem 15.

The operation of the present embodiment described above will now be described. The advantages resulting from this operation will also be described.

In the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 3, the outer portion 32a of the connector pin 32 and the terminal 57 of the extension portion 53 in the heater holder 51 are joined to each other at the peripheral portion 22a of the base body 22. The junction of the outer portion 32a and the terminal 57 is covered with the peripheral portion 22 a. This avoids the joint portion causing the emblem 15 to be unsightly, unlike the case where the joint is made on the outside of the transparent plastic layer 35, and therefore does not require the use of an additional part to conceal the joint portion.

The extending portion 53 extends inward in the inner-outer direction in the peripheral portion 22a, and is bent to a smaller extent than when joining is performed inside the transparent plastic layer 75 (see fig. 7A and 7B). In order to extend the extension 53 inward, the extension 53 is bent only at an angle smaller than 90 degrees so that the angle formed with respect to the heat-generating body 52 is an obtuse angle. Therefore, the heater line 56 is less likely to be broken than when it is bonded to the inside of the transparent plastic layer 75 (see fig. 7A and 7B).

As shown in fig. 7B, when the terminal 82 is engaged with the connector pin 84 at the inner side of the transparent plastic layer 75, the outer portion 84a of the connector pin 84 extends from the inner portion 84B in a direction orthogonal to the inside-outside direction, and thus the emblem 72 becomes large in the orthogonal direction.

In the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 3, the outer portion 32a of the connector pin 32 extends in the inward-outward direction in the same manner as the inner portion 32 b. As described above, the extension 53 extends inward in the inward-outward direction and overlaps the outer portion 32 a. At the overlapping portion, the terminal 57 of the heater wire 56 is joined to the outer portion 32 a. The connector pins 32 and the terminals 57 do not include portions extending in a direction orthogonal to the inside-outside direction. This prevents the portion extending in the above-described orthogonal direction from making the width (radial dimension) of the frame 31 large, and prevents the emblem 15 from becoming large in the orthogonal direction.

When ice and snow adhere to the decorative surface (outer surface) of the emblem 15, power is supplied to the heater wire 56 through the plug B of the device a, the connector pin 32 of the jack 27, and the terminal 57. The heater wire 56 generates heat when energized. A part of the heat generated by the heater wire 56 is transferred to the decorative surface (outer surface) of the emblem 15. This melts the ice and snow adhering to the decorative surface (outer surface) and prevents the millimeter waves from being attenuated by the ice and snow.

In particular, in the present embodiment, the heater base 51 is disposed at the outermost portion of the emblem 15. This allows the heat generated by the heater wire 56 to be easily transferred to the decorative surface (outer surface) of the emblem 15, so that ice and snow can be effectively melted.

When the millimeter waves are emitted from the millimeter wave radar device 13, the millimeter waves pass through the base body 22 of the decorative body 21, the decorative layer 41, and the transparent plastic layer 35 in the emblem 15 in this order, and then pass through the heat-generating body 52 of the heater base 51. The passing millimeter waves strike and are reflected by an object including a preceding vehicle and a pedestrian in front of the vehicle, and then pass through the heat-generating body 52 of the heater base 51, and pass through the transparent plastic layer 35 of the decorative body 21, the decorative layer 41, and the base body 22 in order. The millimeter wave radar device 13 receives the millimeter waves passing through the garnish body 21. The millimeter wave radar device 13 recognizes an object from the transmitted and received millimeter waves and detects the distance and the relative speed between the vehicle 10 and the object.

When visible light is irradiated to the emblem 15 from the front of the vehicle 10, the visible light is transmitted through the heating body 52 of the heater base 51 and the transparent plastic layer 35 of the decorative body 21, and is then reflected on the decorative layer 41. When the emblem 15 is viewed from the front of the vehicle 10, the decoration layer 41 is seen to be positioned inside (rear surface side) the heating element 52 and the transparent plastic layer 35 through the heating element 52 and the transparent plastic layer 35. In the colored decorative layer 42 of the decorative layer 41, the color of the colored decorative layer 42 is seen. The bright decorative layer 43 of the decorative layer 41 looks shiny like metal. In this way, the decorative layer 41 decorates the emblem 15. This improves the appearance of the emblem 15 and its surroundings.

The reflection of the visible light on the decoration layer 41 described above is performed on the front side of the millimeter wave radar device 13. The decoration layer 41 serves to cover and hide the millimeter wave radar device 13. Therefore, it is difficult to see the millimeter wave radar device 13 from the front side of the emblem 15. This improves the appearance of the emblem 15, compared to when the millimeter wave radar device 13 is seen through the emblem 15.

The above-described embodiment may be modified as follows. The present embodiment described above and the following modifications may be combined as long as the combined modifications remain technically consistent with each other.

The extension 53 may extend from a different portion of the edge of the heat-generating body 52 from the lower edge.

The emblem 15 may have a non-elliptical plate shape.

The heating wire 56 in the heating body 52 of the heater holder 51 may be arranged in a manner different from the above-described embodiment.

The above-described vehicle exterior part is applicable as long as the vehicle exterior part is incorporated in the vehicle 10 including a device that transmits and receives electromagnetic waves for detecting an object outside the vehicle 10, and the heater seat is disposed outside the garnish body. In this case, examples of the electromagnetic wave transmitted and received by the apparatus include a millimeter wave and infrared light.

The device that transmits and receives electromagnetic waves for detecting an object outside the vehicle is not necessarily a front monitoring device. Alternatively, the device may be a rear monitoring device, a side monitoring device for the front portion, or a side monitoring device for the rear portion. In this case, the vehicle exterior part is arranged in front of the apparatus in the direction in which the electromagnetic wave is transmitted.

The above-described vehicle exterior component may be incorporated in a vehicle that does not include a device that transmits and receives electromagnetic waves for detecting an object outside the vehicle.

The vehicle exterior described above is applicable not only to a vehicle emblem, but also to a vehicle exterior part such as a decoration or a sign for decorating a vehicle.

Various changes in form and details may be made to the above-described examples without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims and their equivalents. These examples are for the purpose of description only and not for the purpose of limitation. The description of features in each example will be considered applicable to similar features or aspects in other examples. Suitable results may be achieved if the sequences are performed in a different order and/or if components in the described systems, architectures, devices, or circuits are combined differently and/or replaced or supplemented by other components or their equivalents. The scope of the present disclosure is defined not by the detailed description but by the claims and their equivalents. All changes that come within the scope of the claims and their equivalents are intended to be embraced therein.