IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,539,808
Granted Patent B2
US 12,539,808 · App. 19/001,815 · Granted Feb 3, 2026

Vehicle exterior component and exterior structure of vehicle

Inventors: Koji Okumura (Kiyosu, JP); Shintaro Okawa (Kiyosu, JP); Hirotaka Fukui (Kiyosu, JP); Hiroaki Ando (Kiyosu, JP)
Assignee: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.
B60Q1/5035B60Q1/28B60Q1/2696
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,539,808
App. No.
19/001,815
Granted
Feb 3, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A vehicle exterior component includes a light source and a cover panel that covers the light source. The cover panel includes a substrate layer, a light-blocking layer and a non-light-blocking layer arranged side by side in a planar direction, and a colored layer located outward from the light-blocking and non-light-blocking layers. A region of the cover panel that overlaps the non-light-blocking layer and is located outward from the non-light-blocking layer forms a light-transmitting portion through which visible light emitted from the light source passes. A region of the cover panel that overlaps the light-blocking layer and is located outward from the light-blocking layer forms a non-light-transmitting portion through which the visible light emitted from the light source does not pass. When the light source is off, a color difference ΔE in an external appearance between the light-transmitting portion and the non-light-transmitting portion is less than or equal to 5.

Claims (29)

1 . A vehicle exterior component, comprising:

a light source configured to emit visible light; and

a cover panel that covers the light source, wherein

the cover panel includes:

a substrate layer that transmits the visible light;

a light-blocking layer and a non-light-blocking layer that are located outward or inward from the substrate layer, the light-blocking layer and the non-light-blocking layer being arranged side by side in a planar direction; and

a colored layer located outward from the light-blocking layer and the non-light-blocking layer,

a region of the cover panel that overlaps the non-light-blocking layer and is located outward from the non-light-blocking layer forms a light-transmitting portion through which the visible light emitted from the light source passes,

a region of the cover panel that overlaps the light-blocking layer and is located outward from the light-blocking layer forms a non-light-transmitting portion through which the visible light emitted from the light source does not pass,

when the light source is off, a color difference ΔE in an external appearance between the light-transmitting portion and the non-light-transmitting portion is less than or equal to 5, and

the colored layer has a two-layer structure including a colored clear layer and a colored pearl layer laminated on a rear surface of the colored clear layer.

2 . The vehicle exterior component according to claim 1 , wherein

the light source emits the visible light in white, and

a transmittance of the visible light in a region of the cover panel that includes the non-light-blocking layer and overlaps the non-light-blocking layer ranges between 5% and 70%, inclusive.

3 . The vehicle exterior component according to claim 1 , wherein

the colored layer is formed from a same coating material in the light-transmitting portion and the non-light-transmitting portion.

4 . The vehicle exterior component according to claim 1 , wherein

part of the light-transmitting portion includes a non-colored portion where the colored layer is not arranged.

5 . The vehicle exterior component according to claim 4 , wherein

the non-light-blocking layer includes apertures extending through the light-blocking layer in a front-rear direction, and

the non-colored portion is provided corresponding to the apertures.

6 . The vehicle exterior component according to claim 1 , wherein

the cover panel includes an electromagnetic wave transmission portion that allows electromagnetic waves to pass through.

7 . An exterior structure of a vehicle, the exterior structure comprising:

a first exterior component; and

a second exterior component that is located around the first exterior component, wherein

the first exterior component is the vehicle exterior component according to claim 1 ,

the second exterior component includes a colored layer, and

the colored layer of the second exterior component and the colored layer of the first exterior component are formed from a same coating material.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 26, 2024
From: OKUMURA, KOJI; OKAWA, SHINTARO; FUKUI, HIROTAKA; ANDO, HIROAKI
To: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 069680/0556 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2024-005170 · Jan 17, 2024 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20250229703A1 · Jul 17, 2025
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