AU2423899A

AU2423899A - Light for vehicles, in particular rear light for vehicles

Info

Publication number: AU2423899A
Application number: AU24238/99A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Martin Reinbach
Original assignee: Hella KGaA Huek and Co
Current assignee: Hella GmbH and Co KGaA
Priority date: 1998-01-27
Filing date: 1999-01-21
Publication date: 1999-08-09
Anticipated expiration: 2019-01-21
Also published as: ES2181390T3; WO1999037502A1; DE19802923A1; DE59902322D1; AU737270B2; EP0969985A1; EP0969985B1

Description

Light for vehicles, in particular rear light for vehicles The invention concerns a light for vehicles, in particular a rear light for vehicles, with a housing, in which at least one light source is provided and which has a rear base and a front cover and with at least one opening for the fastening, which is provided in the base for a bolt-like fastening means, by means of which the base can be fastened on the vehicle. Such a light for vehicles is known from DE 34 31 647 C2. The light, viewed from its front, has a rectangular shape and has several signalling functions. The housing of the light, having a plurality of light chambers, is made up from a rear base and a front cover. The cover is a light-permeable light lens which, with its external continuous edge abuts tightly against the front edge of the base. The cover can be joined in a detachable manner with the base by means of fastening screws. There are openings for fastening in the base for bolt-like fastening means. As bolt-like fastening means screws are used, the heads of which abut inside the housing against a mounting surface of the base. After fastening the light on an external surface of the vehicle the rear of the base rests against the vehicle. The base of the light can be very firmly connected to the vehicle. If the bolt-like fastening means can be accessed during the fastening of the light on the vehicle only from the front of the base, then the cover must be detached from the base. On this occasion internal components of the light may get damaged and a tight assembling of the base and the base is no longer assured. In the case of the light for vehicles known from DE 39 16 875 Al the base is flat and rectangular. On the base there is a plate-shaped carrier plate provided for light sources. The light sources are light-emitting diodes. A shell-shaped cover, which is a light lens, is placed on the base. Between the light sources and the cover lens an intermediate lens fitted with optical elements is provided. The optical elements of the 74ptermediate lens combine the light, whereas the optical elements of the light lens of the cover disperse the light. Lights, the light sources of which are formed by light-emitting diodes, often have a sealed housing, the base and the cover being joined undetachably with each other. Such a light cannot be fastened on the vehicle from the front. The light for vehicles known from EP 0 340 080 B2 has bolt-like fastening means, which are firmly joined with the base. This light can be fastened on the vehicle only if its bolt-like fastening means on the vehicle are accessable from the rear of the light. From DE 33 00 383 Al a light for vehicles is known, wherein the base and the cover are joined undetachably with each other. To enable the fastening of the light on the vehicle also from its front, a fastening opening passes through both the cover and the base. A screw serves as a bolt-like fastening means, which screw, with its head countersunk, is provided in the fastening opening of the cover with its shaft passing through the fastening opening of the cover and of the base. Since the cover is a light lens and light lenses are often made from a brittle material, during the fastening of the light on the vehicle stress cracks may occur in the light lens. The object of the invention is to construct the light for vehicles described in the generic part of claim 1 in such a manner that a fastening of the light on the vehicle is feasible from its front when a) the cover does not have to be removed from the base, b) the fastening forces of the fastening means do not act on the cover, c) there is sufficient space on the front of the light to install the fastening means, and (N/i 2 V T O d) after the installation of the light the fastening means is covered and the cap is retained on the housing as safely as possible. According to the invention this objective is achieved by that the cover has at least one open region, the edge section of which extends at a distance from the mounting surface of the base for the fastening means and rests against the base, and that the open region of the cover is closed by a cap, with a detachable retaining device existing between the cap and the housing. The bolt-like fastening means can fix the base on the vehicle with a great holding force, since the fastening means act only against the base of the light. The accessability to the fastening opening and to the fastening means is very good, since the open region of the cover provides an adequately large area for the installation. The cap is retained on the cover even in the case of an impact load, as it is provided in the open region of the cover. The fastening opening provided in the base is particularly easily accessible when the open region of the cover is formed by a niche, which extends inwardly from the external edge of the base. In addition, by virtue of the niche the cover is very rigid when the cover has a shell-shaped design and the external lateral wall bounds the open region with an edge section. At the same time the cover with the external lateral wall and with the edge section bounding the niche has a continuous external edge, which can be joined tightly with the base. The edge may engage a continuous mounting groove of the base and be glued tightly to the base in the mounting groove. The light can be fastened particularly securely on the vehicle when the cover has an open region on the two opposite situated edge regions. In the case of a particularly advantageous refinement of the invention a passing-through opening for an electric lead is provided in that region of the base which is left free by the open region of the cover, which electric lead passes through the entry opening of the housing into the interior of the 3 housing through a space formed by the base, the cover and the cap. The entry opening in the housing is protected against dirt and splashing water, since it is provided in the space formed by the base, cover and cap. Furthermore, prior to mounting the light on the vehicle the position, where a hole is to be made for the electric lead in the vehicle, can be easily marked. It is simple and easy to assemble the base and the cover if the entry opening is formed by the adjacent edges of the base and the open region of the cover. On this occasion it is not necessary to thread the electric lead through the entry opening before assembling the base and the cover. The housing can be tightly assembled in a simple manner also in the region of the entry opening for the electric lead, if the cover with the base and the edges of the entry opening of the base with the electric lead are tightly glued together, whereby in the entry opening a tension reliever, surrounding the lead, is held firmly in the entry opening. Due to this the housing is not only tight in the region of the entry opening, but the electric lead is securely held in the housing even under tension. On its front, in the region of the cover, the light does not have any sharp corners and edges, which could lead to injuries when the cap with its external surface is snug with the bordering external surface of the cover. It is further appropriate if the retaining device, situated between the cap and the housing, is formed at least by clip-in elements between the cap and the cover. By virtue of the retaining device, having the clip-in elements, the cap can be fastened automatically on the housing and detached by means of an auxiliary tool. The cap can be easily and simply detached from its locked connection with the housing by means of an auxiliary tool. On this occasion the auxiliary tool is to be introduced between the cap and the cover. So that the region of the base left free by the open region of the cover could not be visible through the cap or the cover, it is advantageous if both the cover, at least in one edge region 4 having an open region, and the cap are made non-transparent, while the cover bordering the non-transparent edge region has a light lens with an optical effect. The cap and the edge region of the cover having the open region can be an injection moulded opaque plastic material or have an opaque coating on the inside with. In the case of a light with a plate-shaped base and with a carrier plate for miniature light sources it is a further advantage if the carrier plate extends with a section up to below a non-transparent edge region of the cover and is arranged laterally to an open region of the cover, while the section of the carrier plate carries electronic components to supply current to the light sources. By virtue of this the electronic components are not visible from the front of the light, and the electronic components do not require any special space which would increase the dimensions of the light. In the interior of the housing only short electric leads are required between the incoming lead and the electronic components if the electronic components are positioned adjacent to the region of the base left free, which region has a fastening opening for a fastening means and a passing-through opening for the incoming electric lead. It is a further advantage if separating walls are fitted to the cover, which extend between the non-transparent edge regions having an open region and the light-permeable light lens and which border a space to accommodate an intermediate lens fitted with optical elements and hold the carrier plate of the light sources on the base. The separating walls separate the space having an open region of the cover lens and the space accommodating the light sources. The separating walls may be non-permeable for light, so that the spaces of the cover forming the open regions would not be undesirably illuminated by the light sources. In the drawing two embodiments are illustrated, and they show in: 5 Fig.1 - a perspective view of several components of a light for vehicles prior to their assembly; Fig.2 - a cover and a base prior to their assembly, sectioned according to line A-A in Fig.1; Fig.3 - another light for vehicles, in a top view. Figs.1 and 2 show a light which can be mounted on the rear of the vehicle. The light has a plate-shaped base (2) made from plastic material, on the inside of which protrusions (26) are moulded on. The plate-shaped carrier plate (19) of the light sources (1) rests against the free end of the protrusions (26). The carrier plate (19) is a printed circuit board and the light sources (1) are light-emitting diodes. On the inside of the base (2) further fixing protrusions (27) are moulded on, which engage the correspondingly large fixing openings (28) of the carrier plate (19). The carrier plate (19) has a laterally projecting section (20), which carries electronic components (21) for the controlled voltage supply of the light sources (1). Furthermore, on the inside of the base (2) a protrusion (24) for mounting is moulded on, which passes through an opening of the carrier plate (19) and holds with its free end an intermediate lens (23) on the inside of a cover (3). The intermediate lens (23) is fitted with optical elements (29) which combine the light of the light sources (1). The intermediate lens (23) rests against a region of the cover (3), which is a light permeable light lens (18). On its inside the light lens (18) is fitted with light dispersing optical elements (not illustrated). The cover (3) has a rectangular design and on both short sides of the rectangle has an open region (5). The region (5) is bound by a lateral edge section (6) of the cover (3). The edge sections (6) of both open regions (5) form together with the lateral walls (13) of the long sides of the rectangle a continuous edge of the shell shaped cover (3). The continuous edge of the cover (3) can be inserted into a continuous mounting groove (30) of the base . The purpose of the mounting groove (30) is to accommodate 6 a sealing compound, like, for example, glue. By virtue of this the cover (3) can be joined tightly and undetachably with the base (2). The regions (14) of the base (2) left free by the open regions (5) have an opening (4) for fastening for a bolt-like fastening means (8), which may be a screw. on the forward facing side the fastening opening (8)[sic] is surrounded by a mounting surface (7) for the bolt-like fastening means (8). In one of the two regions (14) of the base (2) left free, an opening (15) for an electric lead (16) is provided. Furthermore, in the space formed by the region (14) of the base (2) left free, the edge section (6) of the cover (3) and a cap (9) placed into the open region (5), there is an entry opening (17) in the housing (2 and 3) to the interior of the light. The entry opening (17) is bound by the adjacent edges (25) of the mounting groove (30), of the base (2) and of the edge section (6) of the cover (3). After placing the cover (3) on the base (2), the edges (25) engage firmly a tension reliever (31) which surrounds the electric lead (16). The edges (25) which form the entry opening (17) are tightly bonded with the tension reliever (31) and the electric lead (16). In Fig.1 the tension reliever (31) is illustrated prior its insertion into the entry opening (17). The light can be fastened on commercial vehicles, for example, from the front only on the commercial vehicle. At the same time the niche of the cover (3) formed by the open region (5) forms a sufficiently large space for the installation. After fastening the light on the commercial vehicle, the open regions (5) of the cover (3) are to be closed by a cap (9) each. The caps (9) are made of opaque plastic material and can be automatically fastened by means of clip-in elements of a retaining device (10) both on the edge section (6) of the cover (3) and on the free edge of the region (14) left free. The caps (9) can be easily detached by means of an auxiliary tool from their clipped-in position with the housing (2, 3). The external surfaces of the caps (9) are bordering the edge section (6) of the cover (3) and the external edge (11) of the region (14) of 7 the base (2) left free. At the same time it is of advantage if the external surfaces of the caps (9) are snug with the bordering external surface of the cover (3) and of the external surfaces of the external edge (11) of the region (14) of the base (2) left free. The open regions (5) of the cover (3) are positioned in the opposite situated lateral edge regions (12) of the rectangular base (2). The edge regions (12) and the lateral walls (13) of the cover (3) joining them are rendered non-transparent by an opaque coating on the inside of the cover (3). Below one of the two non-transparent lateral edge regions (12) of the cover (3) extends laterally next to an open region (5) the carrier plate (19) with the section (20) carrying the electronic components (21). On the inside of the cover (3) two separating walls (22) are moulded on, which extend between the edge regions (12) and the light lens (18). The separating walls (22), just like the lateral walls (13) and the lateral edge regions (12) can also be made non-transparent. In contrast to the light according to Figs.1 and 2, the light according to Fig.3 exhibits the following differences: the open regions (5) situated in the non-transparent edge regions (12) of the base (3) are constructed as passing-through holes. The edge sections (6) of the open regions (5), with their continuous free edge, abut tightly against the base (2). The caps (9) border with their continuous edge exclusively against the edge of the open region (5). 8

Claims

1. A light for vehicles, in particular a rear light for vehicles, with a housing, in which at least one light source (1) is provided and which has a rear base (2) and a front cover (3) and with at least one opening (4) for the fastening, which is provided in the base (2) for a bolt-like fastening means (8), by means of which the base (2) can be fastened on the vehicle, characterised in that the cover (3) has at least one open region (5), the edge section (6) of which extends at a distance from the mounting surface (7) of the base (2) for the fastening means (8) and rests against the base (2), and that the open region (5) of the cover (3) is closed by a cap (9), with a detachable retaining device (10) existing between the cap and the housing (2, 3).

2. A light according to claim 1, characterised in that the open region (5) of the cover (3) is formed by a niche, which extends inwardly from the external edge (11) of the base (2).

3. A light according to claim 1, characterised in that the open region (5) of the cover (3) is formed by a passing-through opening in a lateral edge region (12) of the cover (3).

4. A light according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the cover (3) has an open region (5) on the opposite situated edge regions (12).

5. A light according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that a passing-through opening (15) for an electric lead (16) is provided in that region (14) of the base (2) which is left free by the open region (5) of the cover (3), which electric lead passes through the entry opening (17) of the housing (2, 3) into the interior of the housing (2, 3) through a space formed by the base (2), the cover (3) and the cap (9). 2 W 9

6. A light according to claim 5, characterised in that the entry opening (17) is formed by the adjacent edges (25) of the base (2) and the open region (5) of the cover (3).

7. A light according to claim 6, characterised in that the cover (3) with the base (2) and the edges of the entry opening (17) of the base (2) and of the cover (3) with the electric lead (16) are tightly glued together, whereby in the entry opening (17) a tension reliever (31), surrounding the lead (16), is held firmly in the entry opening (17).

8. A light according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the cap (9) with its external surface is snug with the bordering external surface of the cover (3).

9. A light according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the retaining device (10), situated between the cap (9) and the housing (2, 3), is formed at least by clip-in elements between the cap (9) and the cover (3).

10. A light according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that both the cover (3), at least in one edge region (12) having an open region (5), and the cap (9) are made non-transparent, while the cover (3) bordering the non-transparent edge region (12) has a light lens (18) with an optical effect.

11. A light with a plate-shaped base (2) and with a carrier plate (19) for miniature light sources (1) according to any one of the claims 1 to 10, characterised in that the carrier plate (19) extends with a section (20) up to below a non-transparent edge region (12) of the cover (3) and is arranged laterally to an open region (5) of the cover, while the section (20) of the carrier plate (19) carries electronic components (21) to supply current to the light sources (1). 10

12. A light according to claim 11, characterised in that the electronic components (21) are positioned adjacent to the region (14) of the base (12)[sic] left free, which region has a fastening opening (4) for a fastening means (8) and a passing-through opening (15) for the electric lead (16).

13. A light according to claim 11 or 12, characterised in that separating walls (22) are fitted to the inside of the cover (3), which extend between the non-transparent edge region (12) having an open region (5) and the light-permeable light lens (18) and which border a space to accommodate an intermediate lens (23) fitted with optical elements (29) and hold the carrier plate (19) of the light sources (1) on the base (2). 7)11