EP0060016B1 - Lamp assembly - Google Patents

Lamp assembly Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0060016B1
EP0060016B1 EP82300326A EP82300326A EP0060016B1 EP 0060016 B1 EP0060016 B1 EP 0060016B1 EP 82300326 A EP82300326 A EP 82300326A EP 82300326 A EP82300326 A EP 82300326A EP 0060016 B1 EP0060016 B1 EP 0060016B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
blade
electrically conductive
contact
bulbholder
conductive element
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
EP82300326A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0060016A1 (en
Inventor
Peter John Inglis
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Koito Europe Ltd
Original Assignee
Britax Vega Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Britax Vega Ltd filed Critical Britax Vega Ltd
Publication of EP0060016A1 publication Critical patent/EP0060016A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0060016B1 publication Critical patent/EP0060016B1/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R33/00—Coupling devices specially adapted for supporting apparatus and having one part acting as a holder providing support and electrical connection via a counterpart which is structurally associated with the apparatus, e.g. lamp holders; Separate parts thereof
    • H01R33/05—Two-pole devices
    • H01R33/46—Two-pole devices for bayonet type base
    • H01R33/465—Two-pole devices for bayonet type base secured to structure or printed circuit board
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
    • F21S43/00—Signalling devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. brake lamps, direction indicator lights or reversing lights
    • F21S43/10—Signalling devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. brake lamps, direction indicator lights or reversing lights characterised by the light source
    • F21S43/19—Attachment of light sources or lamp holders
    • F21S43/195—Details of lamp holders, terminals or connectors

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a lamp assembly of the type comprising an electrically insulating hollow body, a plurality of bulbholders, at least one contact blade for each bulbholder and a plurality of spaced, electrically conductive elements, cut from an electrically conductive sheet and each extending between a location in the body at which an electric supply connector is attached to the assembly in use and a respective location in the body adjacent to a respective bulbholder, each contact blade having a blade portion within the bulbholder and a flat portion externally of the bulbholder extending parallel to and abutting one of said electrically conductive elements.
  • Patent Specification No. GB-A-2005001 discloses a lamp assembly of this type, in which each contact blade has a projecting part which is an interference fit in a recess in the insulating body and thus holds the contact blade in place.
  • the electrically conductive elements have apertures therein for receiving spigots which project from the insulating body and are heat deformed after assembly to hold the conductive elements in place.
  • the present invention provides a single attachment formation for each contact member which also serves to secure the associated conductive element to the insulating body.
  • the insulating body has a respective projection for securing each blade contact and its associated electrically conductive element thereto, with the formations on such blade contact and electrically conductive element each comprising an aperture through which the projection extends, the formation on the one of said blade contacts and said electrically conductive element further from the insulating body comprising barbs adapted to engage with said projection to resist withdrawal.
  • each contact blade and its respective electrically conductive element may be formed by a second blade portion which extends from the flat portion of the contact blade at an angle thereto and engages with a corresponding blade portion similarly extending from the electrically conductive element.
  • Recesses may be provided in the insulating body for accommodating each such second blade portion and corresponding blade portion, one of which is resiliently biased to press against the other blade portions which, in turn, is pressed against a wall of the recess.
  • the lamp assembly comprises an electrically insulating, hollow moulded plastics body 10 (only partially shown in the drawings) which is of generally dish form having a rectangular gase 12 and upstanding walls 14. Integrally moulded with the base 12 are five tubular elements each constituting the electrically insulating part of a respective bulbholder 16.
  • Extending over the otherwise open face of the base 12 are six electrically conductive elements 18 to 23 all formed from the same mild steel sheet. Briefly the sheet is pierced to define the electrically conductive elements 18 to 23 but leaving parts 24 of the sheet metal unpierced so that the electrically conductive elements are held in the required relative dispositions. After the pierced blank has been inserted in a die, the joining parts are removed and the plastics body 10 is offered up to the die so that the electrically conductive elements are retained in position thereon in a manner to be described hereinafter.
  • the electrically conductive element 18, which serves as a common return path for all five bulbs, has a respective opening 26 aligned with each of the bulbholders 16.
  • upturned portions 28 and 30 are disposed at diametrically opposite locations on the edge of each opening 26 and each contains a respective opening 32 for receiving the lateral pins 34 ( Figure 2) of the bayonet cap of a bulb 36.
  • each bulbholder 16 Associated with each bulbholder 16 is a respective spring contact blade 38 having a first blade portion 40 within the bulbholder 16 and engaging with the centre contact of the bulb 36.
  • Each contact blade also has a intermediate flat portion 42 and a second blade portion 44 which extends into a rectangular recess 46 disposed adjacent to the corresponding bulbholder 16.
  • a rectangular opening is formed in the flat portion 42 in order to accommodate a projection 48 which is moulded integrally with the plastics base 12.
  • the contact blades 38 are positioned on the plastics body 10 before it is offered up to the die containing the electrically conductive elements 18 to 23.
  • Each such element has at least one rectangular aperture, such as the aperture 50 in the element 22, provided with inwardly directed barbs 52 and 54 which engage with opposite sides of the projection 48.
  • Adjacent to the aperture 50 a tongue 56 is stamped out of the element 18 and bent downwards so as to be insertable into the recess 46 where it engages between one of the walls thereof and the second blade portion 44.
  • the engagement of the bars 52 and 54 with the projection 48 not only serve to retain the conductive element 22 in position but also enable it to hold the contact blade 38 in place as can be seen in Figure 3, a second projection 58 is formed on the base 12.
  • the projection 58 is engaged by barbed projections 60 and 62 formed on the edges of an opening 64 in the conductive element 18.

Description

  • This invention relates to a lamp assembly of the type comprising an electrically insulating hollow body, a plurality of bulbholders, at least one contact blade for each bulbholder and a plurality of spaced, electrically conductive elements, cut from an electrically conductive sheet and each extending between a location in the body at which an electric supply connector is attached to the assembly in use and a respective location in the body adjacent to a respective bulbholder, each contact blade having a blade portion within the bulbholder and a flat portion externally of the bulbholder extending parallel to and abutting one of said electrically conductive elements.
  • Patent Specification No. GB-A-2005001 discloses a lamp assembly of this type, in which each contact blade has a projecting part which is an interference fit in a recess in the insulating body and thus holds the contact blade in place. The electrically conductive elements have apertures therein for receiving spigots which project from the insulating body and are heat deformed after assembly to hold the conductive elements in place.
  • The present invention provides a single attachment formation for each contact member which also serves to secure the associated conductive element to the insulating body.
  • According to the invention, in a lamp assembly of the type described above, the insulating body has a respective projection for securing each blade contact and its associated electrically conductive element thereto, with the formations on such blade contact and electrically conductive element each comprising an aperture through which the projection extends, the formation on the one of said blade contacts and said electrically conductive element further from the insulating body comprising barbs adapted to engage with said projection to resist withdrawal.
  • The electrical connection between each contact blade and its respective electrically conductive element may be formed by a second blade portion which extends from the flat portion of the contact blade at an angle thereto and engages with a corresponding blade portion similarly extending from the electrically conductive element. Recesses may be provided in the insulating body for accommodating each such second blade portion and corresponding blade portion, one of which is resiliently biased to press against the other blade portions which, in turn, is pressed against a wall of the recess.
  • An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
    • Figure 1 is a plan view of electrically conductive elements in the relative dispositions which they occupy in a lamp assembly according to the invention;
    • Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of a part of a lamp assembly taken on the line 2-2 in Figure 1; and
    • Figure 3 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view illustrating the bulbholder shown in Figure 2.
  • Referring to the drawings, the lamp assembly comprises an electrically insulating, hollow moulded plastics body 10 (only partially shown in the drawings) which is of generally dish form having a rectangular gase 12 and upstanding walls 14. Integrally moulded with the base 12 are five tubular elements each constituting the electrically insulating part of a respective bulbholder 16.
  • Extending over the otherwise open face of the base 12 are six electrically conductive elements 18 to 23 all formed from the same mild steel sheet. Briefly the sheet is pierced to define the electrically conductive elements 18 to 23 but leaving parts 24 of the sheet metal unpierced so that the electrically conductive elements are held in the required relative dispositions. After the pierced blank has been inserted in a die, the joining parts are removed and the plastics body 10 is offered up to the die so that the electrically conductive elements are retained in position thereon in a manner to be described hereinafter.
  • The electrically conductive element 18, which serves as a common return path for all five bulbs, has a respective opening 26 aligned with each of the bulbholders 16. As can best be seen from Figure 3, upturned portions 28 and 30 are disposed at diametrically opposite locations on the edge of each opening 26 and each contains a respective opening 32 for receiving the lateral pins 34 (Figure 2) of the bayonet cap of a bulb 36.
  • Associated with each bulbholder 16 is a respective spring contact blade 38 having a first blade portion 40 within the bulbholder 16 and engaging with the centre contact of the bulb 36. Each contact blade also has a intermediate flat portion 42 and a second blade portion 44 which extends into a rectangular recess 46 disposed adjacent to the corresponding bulbholder 16. A rectangular opening is formed in the flat portion 42 in order to accommodate a projection 48 which is moulded integrally with the plastics base 12.
  • During assembly, the contact blades 38 are positioned on the plastics body 10 before it is offered up to the die containing the electrically conductive elements 18 to 23. Each such element has at least one rectangular aperture, such as the aperture 50 in the element 22, provided with inwardly directed barbs 52 and 54 which engage with opposite sides of the projection 48. Adjacent to the aperture 50, a tongue 56 is stamped out of the element 18 and bent downwards so as to be insertable into the recess 46 where it engages between one of the walls thereof and the second blade portion 44. The engagement of the bars 52 and 54 with the projection 48 not only serve to retain the conductive element 22 in position but also enable it to hold the contact blade 38 in place as can be seen in Figure 3, a second projection 58 is formed on the base 12. The projection 58 is engaged by barbed projections 60 and 62 formed on the edges of an opening 64 in the conductive element 18.
  • Similar arrangements of projections and barbed projections are provided at each of the other bulbholders, at the other ends of each of the conductive strips to which electrical connections are made and at such intermediate locations as are necessary to give the conductor strips the required rigidity.
  • It will be appreciated that the invention can be used in a lamp assembly having a different number of bulbholders from that described above.

Claims (3)

1. A lamp assembly comprising an electrically insulating hollow body (10), a plurality of bulbholders (16), at least one contact blade (38) for each bulbholder, and a plurality of spaced, electrically conductive elements (19-23), cut from an electrically conductive sheet and each extending between a location in the body (10) at which an electric supply connector is attached to the assembly in use and a respective location in the body adjacent to a respective bulbholder (16), each contact blade (38) having a blade portion (40) within the bulbholder (16) and a flat portion (42) externally of the bulbholder (16) extending parallel to and abutting one of said electrically conductive elements (22), characterised in that the insulating body (10) has a respective projection (48) for securing each blade contact (38) and its associated electrically conductive element (22) thereto, with the formations on such blade contact (38) and electrically conductive element (22) each comprising an aperture (50) through which the projection (48) extends, the formation on the one of said blade contacts (38) and said electrically conductive element (22) further from the insulating body (10) comprising barbs (52, 54) adapted to engage with said projection (48) to resist withdrawal.
2. A lamp assembly according to claim 1, characterised in that the electrical connection between each contact blade (38) and its respective electrically conductive element (22) is formed by a second blade portion (44) which extends from the flat portion (42) of the contact blade (38) at an angle thereto and engages with a corresponding blade portion (56) similarly extending from the electrically conductive element (22).
3. A lamp assembly according to claim 2, characterised in that recesses (46) are provided in the insulating body (10) for accommodating each second blade portion (44) and corresponding blade portion (56), one of which is resiliently biased to press against the other blade portion which, in turn, is pressed against a wall of the recess (46).
EP82300326A 1981-02-07 1982-01-22 Lamp assembly Expired EP0060016B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB8103824 1981-02-07
GB8103824 1981-02-07

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0060016A1 EP0060016A1 (en) 1982-09-15
EP0060016B1 true EP0060016B1 (en) 1984-10-17

Family

ID=10519533

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP82300326A Expired EP0060016B1 (en) 1981-02-07 1982-01-22 Lamp assembly

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0060016B1 (en)
DE (1) DE3260972D1 (en)

Families Citing this family (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2556513B1 (en) * 1983-12-07 1986-09-19 Peugeot Aciers Et Outillage MODULAR CIRCUIT FOR SUPPLYING LIGHTING AND SIGNALING LAMPS, PARTICULARLY FOR MOTOR VEHICLE REAR LIGHTS
FR2600022B1 (en) * 1986-06-16 1988-09-16 Axo Equip Automobile OPTICAL BLOCK FOR VEHICLE
ES2061349B1 (en) * 1991-12-20 1997-02-16 Senalizacion Y Accesorios Del IMPROVEMENTS INTRODUCED IN SIGNALING PILOTS FOR VEHICLES.
GB9703711D0 (en) * 1997-02-22 1997-04-09 Britax Vega Ltd Bulb holder for a lamp assembly
DE29710461U1 (en) * 1997-06-14 1997-08-28 Hella Kg Hueck & Co Patente Ma Light for vehicles
DE19821837A1 (en) * 1998-05-15 1999-11-18 Hella Kg Hueck & Co Vehicle light
FR2785036B1 (en) * 1998-10-21 2001-01-19 Valeo Vision SIGNAL LIGHT FOR VEHICLE WITH LAMP HOLDER INTEGRATED WITH BASE
FR2872622B1 (en) * 2004-07-02 2006-09-29 Valeo Securite Habitacle Sas METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING AN ELECTRICAL DEVICE COMPRISING CROSS CONDUCTIVE TRACKS
ITTV20120229A1 (en) * 2012-12-07 2014-06-08 Automotive Lighting Italia Spa LAMPHOLDERS AND AUTOMOTIVE HEADLAMP PROVIDED WITH THIS LAMPHOLDER

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2441330B2 (en) * 1974-08-29 1977-05-12 Westfälische Metall IndustrieKG, Hueck & Co, 4780 Lippstadt VEHICLE LAMP WITH SEVERAL BULBS IN A LAMP HOLDER, USING GROUND
DE2602237C3 (en) * 1976-01-22 1979-01-04 Westfaelische Metall Industrie Kg, Hueck & Co, 4780 Lippstadt Multi-chamber light for vehicles
GB2005001B (en) * 1977-09-21 1982-01-20 Lucas Industries Ltd Lamp assembly and method of manufacture thereof

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0060016A1 (en) 1982-09-15
DE3260972D1 (en) 1984-11-22

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