# US 8,770,812 B2 · Scuff plate > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,770,812 B2 - Document ID: US8770812B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/385,137 - Filed: 2009-03-31 - Published: 2009-10-08 - Granted: 2014-07-08 - Earliest claimed: 2008-04-02 - Assignees: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Norihito Kino; Satoshi Inagaki - Inventors: Norihito Kino; Satoshi Inagaki - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8770812B2 ## CPC - B60R 13/04: {External} Ornamental or guard strips; Ornamental inscriptive devices {thereon (fastening strips or bars to sheets or plates by means of clips F16B5/12)} - B60Q 1/325: {on or for running boards or steps} - G02B 6/005: {provided by one optical element, or plurality thereof, placed on the light output side of the light guide} - G09F 13/18: Edge-illuminated signs - B60R 2013/046: {Foot boards} - G02B 6/0021: {for housing at least a part of the light source, e.g. by forming holes or recesses} - G02B 6/0086: {Positioning aspects} - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - B60Q: ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS - G09F: DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS ## Abstract A scuff plate has a first light guide element having a groove of predetermined shape formed in an underside of the element when viewed from below, a first light source that guides light to the first light guide element, light emission unit that is disposed below the first light guide element and that upwardly emits light differing in color from the first light source, and a half mirror layer interposed between the first light guide element and the light emission unit. Light from the first light source is guided to the first light guide element, and the guided light undergoes reflective diffusion at the groove (a character section). As a consequence, a desired character, or the like, is luminously displayed. In the meantime, light generated by the light emission unit exits through the first light guide element, whereupon an area (a background area) other than the groove (the character section) is illuminated in color that differs from the color of light from the first light source. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A scuff plate, comprising: a first light guide element having a groove of a predetermined shape formed in an underside of the first light guide element when viewed from below; a first light source that emits light to the first light guide element; a surface-shaped light emission element that is disposed below the first light guide element and that upwardly emits light differing in color from that of the first light source, the surface-shaped light emission element illuminating a background section that surrounds the groove; and a half mirror layer interposed between the first light guide element and the surface-shaped light emission element, said half mirror layer being disposed on an upper surface of a transparent sheet that comprises a color-printed layer disposed on an undersurface thereof, wherein the first light source is mounted on an upper surface of a circuit board that laterally extends in a direction of an extension of the half mirror layer, wherein the surface-shaped light emission element comprises a light control layer that controls at least one of a color and an amount of light exited from the surface-shaped light emission element, wherein the surface-shaped light emission element comprises a second light guide element and a second light source that guides light into the second light guide element, wherein the first light source and the second light source each comprises a side-view type LED lamp, and wherein the circuit board comprises a double-sided printed circuit board, and the second light source is mounted on a bottom surface of the double-sided printed circuit board, thereby making up a single light source unit. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The scuff plate according to claim 1, wherein crimps are formed in a surface of the groove. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The scuff plate according to claim 1, wherein the light control layer blocks light traveling toward the groove in the light exited from the surface-shaped light emission element. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The scuff plate according to claim 1, wherein the light control layer adjusts the amount of light exited from the surface-shaped light emission element such that light radiated on an area distant from the groove becomes greater in quantity than light radiated on an area close to the groove. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The scuff plate according to claim 1, wherein the light control layer adjusts the color of light exited from the surface-shaped light emission element in such a way that the color of light continually or stepwise changes in a direction departing from the groove. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The scuff plate according to claim 1, wherein the surface-shaped light emission element comprises a light control layer, in said light control layer, a light transparency of an area close to the groove being smaller than a light transparency of an area spaced apart from the groove. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The scuff plate according to claim 1, wherein in the color-printed layer, a light transmittance becomes greater from a center to an end of the color-printed layer. ### Claim 8 A scuff plate, comprising: a first light guide element having a groove of a predetermined shape formed in an underside of the first light guide element when viewed from below; a first light source that emits light to the first light guide element; a surface-shaped light emission element that is disposed below the first light guide element and that upwardly emits light differing in color from that of the first light source, the surface-shaped light emission element illuminating a background section that surrounds the groove; and a half mirror layer interposed between the first light guide element and the surface-shaped light emission element, said half mirror layer being disposed on an upper surface of a transparent sheet that comprises a color-printed layer disposed on an undersurface thereof, wherein the first light source is mounted on an upper surface of a circuit board that laterally extends in a direction of an extension of the half mirror layer, wherein the surface-shaped light emission element comprises a second light guide element and a second light source that guides light into the second light guide element, and wherein the circuit board comprises a double-sided printed circuit board, and the second light source is mounted on a bottom surface of the double-sided printed circuit board to form a single light source unit. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The scuff plate according to claim 8, wherein the surface-shaped light emission element further comprises: a light control layer that controls at least one of a color and an amount of light exited from the surface-shaped light emission element. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The scuff plate according to claim 8, wherein the first light source and the second light source comprise a side-view type LED lamp. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The scuff plate according to claim 8, wherein the first light source is mounted at a position that slightly deviates from a center of the double-sided printed circuit board, and the second light source is mounted at substantially the center of the double-sided printed circuit board. ### Claim 12 A scuff plate, comprising: a first light guide element having a groove formed in an underside of the first light guide element; a first light source that emits light toward the first light guide element; a light emission unit that is disposed below the first light guide element and that upwardly emits light differing in color from that of the first light source said light emission unit comprising a second light guide element and a second light source that guides light into the second light guide element; and a half mirror layer interposed between the first light guide element and the light emission unit, wherein the first light source is mounted on an upper surface of a circuit board that laterally extends in a direction of an extension of the half mirror layer, and wherein the circuit board comprises a double-sided printed circuit board, and the second light source is mounted on a bottom surface of the double-sided printed circuit board to form a single light source unit. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The scuff plate according to claim 12, wherein the light emission unit further comprises: a surface-shaped light emission element comprising the second light guide element and the second light source; and a light control layer that controls at least one of a color and an amount of light exited from the surface-shaped light emission element. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The scuff plate according to claim 12, further comprising an optical sheet comprising: said half mirror layer; a transparent sheet on an upper surface of which said half mirror layer is disposed; and a color-printed layer disposed on an undersurface of the transparent sheet.