EP0596427B1 - Lamp-holder for vehicle headlights - Google Patents

Lamp-holder for vehicle headlights Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0596427B1
EP0596427B1 EP93117596A EP93117596A EP0596427B1 EP 0596427 B1 EP0596427 B1 EP 0596427B1 EP 93117596 A EP93117596 A EP 93117596A EP 93117596 A EP93117596 A EP 93117596A EP 0596427 B1 EP0596427 B1 EP 0596427B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
lamp
plate
frame element
holder
cup
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 - Lifetime
Application number
EP93117596A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0596427A1 (en
Inventor
Franco Valente
Maurizio Mantello
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.)
Marelli Europe SpA
Original Assignee
Magneti Marelli SpA
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 Magneti Marelli SpA filed Critical Magneti Marelli SpA
Publication of EP0596427A1 publication Critical patent/EP0596427A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0596427B1 publication Critical patent/EP0596427B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
    • F21S41/00—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps
    • F21S41/10—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by the light source
    • F21S41/19—Attachment of light sources or lamp holders
    • F21S41/194—Bayonet attachments

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a lamp-holder for vehicle headlights.
  • the present invention relates to a lamp-holder capable of being fitted through a rear aperture in a reflector of a headlight to keep in position, on the said reflector, a conventional halogen lamp, in other words a lamp comprising a bulb, a socket and an intermediate flange interposed between them, of generally circular shape and provided with a lateral cut-out and axial centring pins, designed to be received in and bear on a supporting seat of the lamp-holder provided with reference holes for the centring pins.
  • Known lamp-holders of the type mentioned above are for example known from FR-A-2670271 and have the disvantage of generally having projections in the form of springs or of orientating teeth or pins, which form part of the lamp-holder or the lamp, and which easily catch, when replacing the lamp, on other projections of the headlight or of the lamp-holder elements designed to be fixed securely to the headlight reflector. This situation may cause incorrect positioning of the lamp and, ultimately, possible distortion of the projecting elements (which are usually formed from thin sheet) with consequent difficulties in the insertion and removal of the lamp.
  • the object of the invention is to provide a lamp-holder of the type described above, which is capable of facilitating the fitting of a corresponding lamp in its correct position, and, in particular, the replacement of the said lamp in cases where the headlight is disposed, as is frequently the case, in a position where access is difficult, while simultaneously reducing to a minimum the risks of catching on any projecting elements of the lamp-holder and/or of the lamp.
  • a lamp-holder for vehicle headlight lamps comprising a bulb, a socket and a flange disposed between the bulb and the socket and provided with axial centring pins, as defined in Claim 1.
  • 1 indicates a reflector of a headlight 1a (illustrated only in part, for simplicity's sake) of a vehicle, in particular of a motor vehicle which is not illustrated.
  • the reflector 1 comprises a reflecting body 2 provided, at its rear end, with a collar 3 forming a passage 4 for a lamp 5.
  • the lamp 5 is a halogen lamp consisting of a socket 6, a bulb 7 and an intermediate flange 8 disposed between the bulb 7 and the socket 6; the flange 8 is of generally circular shape and is provided with a straight lateral cut-out 9 and two cylindrical axial centring pins 10 extending towards the bulb 7.
  • a connector 6a carried by the socket 6 enables it to be connected electrically to a power supply cable 6b of the vehicle when in use ( Figure 11).
  • the lamp 5 is connected to the collar 3 of the reflector 1 through a lamp-holder indicated as a whole by 12, comprising a cup 13 which may be joined securely to the collar 3, a frame element 14 supporting the lamp 5, a bayonet connection 15 by means of which the frame element 14 is joined to the cup 13 in such a way that it may be released, being inserted and connected inside the cup, and an elastic pressure element 16 carried by the frame element 14 to secure the lamp 5 against the frame element in such a way that it may be released.
  • a lamp-holder indicated as a whole by 12 comprising a cup 13 which may be joined securely to the collar 3, a frame element 14 supporting the lamp 5, a bayonet connection 15 by means of which the frame element 14 is joined to the cup 13 in such a way that it may be released, being inserted and connected inside the cup, and an elastic pressure element 16 carried by the frame element 14 to secure the lamp 5 against the frame element in such a way that it may be released.
  • the frame element 14 ( Figures 2, 3 and 4) is preferably formed by pressing in one piece from a metal alloy and comprises a rectilinear grip bar 17, a pair of longitudinal arms or side members 18, 19 extending asymmetrically from the bar 17, and a transverse plate 20 which joins the side members 18, 19 together at their ends opposite the bar 17; the side members extend substantially parallel to the bar 17, but are shaped with a non-rectilinear form when seen from above ( Figure 2), so that the distance between them at the position of the plate 20 is greater than in the proximity of the bar 17, where the side members 18, 19 are joined.
  • the plate 20 is disposed to face the cup 13 and is provided with an aperture 21 (Figure 4) through which the bulb 7 of the lamp 5 is made to pass when in use (Figure 12);
  • the aperture 21, of generally rectangular shape has, at its edge nearer the outside of the plate 20, a flared V-shaped portion 22 delimited by opposite radial oblique edges 23 and extending to form a gap which interrupts a perimetric edge 24 of the plate 20, substantially in a position opposite a prominence or projection 25 shaped so that it can interact with the cut-out 9 of the flange 8 of the lamp 5 by bearing on it, in a way which is known and which, for simplicity, is not illustrated.
  • the plate 20 has a first face 26 which faces the cup 13 and is completely flat and free of projections, and a second face 27, opposite the face 26, which is capable of receiving the flange 8 of the lamp 5 so that it bears on it, and which is provided with the said projection 25 towards the inside of the frame element 14, the projection being made to project from the face 27 from the edge 24 towards the aperture 21.
  • the face 27 is also provided with appropriate recesses to receive the pins 10, the recesses consisting of a pair of reference through holes 28 formed to pass completely through the plate 20 and capable of receiving the pins 10, and corresponding guide channels 29 to facilitate the insertion of the pins 10 into the holes 28, the channels forming, on the face 27, shallow grooves which extend from the edges 23, interrupting the edge 24, to the positions of the holes 28.
  • the cup 13 comprises an end wall 30 facing the reflector 1, this wall being provided with a through aperture 31 for the passage of the bulb 7 of the lamp 5, and a substantially cylindrical lateral wall 32, which extends orthogonally to the end wall 30 and is connected to the internal lateral wall of the collar 3; the cup 13 is preferably formed in one piece from pressed sheet and is fixed securely to the body 2 of the headlight 1 inside the collar 3 by means of self-tapping screws 33 (or other suitable fixing means) inserted through corresponding holes 34 formed so that they pass through corresponding terminal lugs 35, bent at 90°, of the lateral wall 32.
  • a hole for the earth connection 36 is also formed on one lug.
  • An internal face 37 of the wall 30, facing the frame element 14, is provided with appropriate retaining bosses 38 for the transverse plate 20 of the element 14, which can thus interact with the wall 30 by bearing on it, by having its flat face 26, which is free of projections, bearing on the bosses 38.
  • the lateral wall 32 is also provided with a longitudinal semi-cylindrical reference boss 40 (Figure 4), disposed radially on the inside along the whole axial extension of the wall from the end wall 30 in a predetermined angular position, this boss being capable of interacting with one of the radial edges 23 of the flared portion 22 of the aperture 21 (the left-hand edge in Figure 12 in the present case) to guide the insertion of the element 14, and particularly its plate 20, into the cup 13 and, simultaneously, to guide the bulb 7 of the lamp 5 so that it is correctly inserted into the aperture 31 of the cup 13.
  • a longitudinal semi-cylindrical reference boss 40 Figure 4
  • the end wall 30 of the cup 13 is also provided with apertures 41, of a known type, for the attachment of a coloured filter, for example a yellow filter, which is known and which, for simplicity, is not illustrated.
  • the bayonet connection 15 comprises, according to the invention, a pair of L-shaped flanges 43 ( Figures 8 and 12-14) formed by partial cuts in the lateral wall 32 and coplanar with it, each of the flanges being provided with a corresponding indentation 44 on a side facing the end wall 30 of the cup 13, and a pair of corresponding wings 45 capable of being inserted with a bayonet fitting into the indentations 44 of the flanges 43 and extending laterally on opposite sides from the frame element 14, parallel to the transverse plate 20 and in a position to its rear; the wings 45 ( Figures 5 and 6) are formed by corresponding rounded extensions 46 of corresponding metal springs 47 carried by and secured to the frame element 14, being clamped to the side members 18, 19 on opposite sides.
  • the springs 47 are made in the form of rectangular metal plates, each carrying at one end an extension 46, disposed substantially at a right angle and on the outside of the frame 14 with respect to the side members 18, 19, and rounded so that it is convex on the side opposite the plate 20; the springs 47 are also provided on their longitudinal edges with two pairs of opposing wings bent at right angles, and indicated by 48 and 49 respectively, the first being formed in intermediate positions and the second at the ends opposite the wings 45.
  • the elastic pressure element 16 designed to retain the lamp 5 securely on the frame 14 consists of a fork-shaped element ( Figures 9 and 10) carried on the frame element 14 so that it is free to swing ( Figure 1), being hinged to the frame element about an axis parallel to the plate 20 and shaped, as is the frame 14, in such a way that, when the lamp 5 is secured, the socket 6 of the lamp 5 is disposed inside the frame element 14, between corresponding prongs 56 of the fork-shaped element 16.
  • the fork-shaped element 16 is formed in one piece from pressed sheet and has its prongs 56 shaped, in its terminal portion 57, to form arcs of a circumference having an axis of symmetry parallel to and eccentric with respect to the axis of hinging of the element 16.
  • This is defined by a pair of opposing holes 58 (only one of which is visible in Figure 10) formed through corresponding opposing lug-shaped lateral extensions 59 of the element 16; transverse pins 60 ( Figures 2 and 3) carried on opposite sides of the side members 18, 19, and formed in one piece on the side members on the inside of the frame element 14, pass freely through the holes 58.
  • the fork-shaped element 16 may be moved selectively between a first operating position ( Figure 12) in which the prongs 56 secure the flange 8 of the lamp 5 elastically under pressure (as a result of their elasticity and the eccentricity of their curvature with respect to the axis of rotation defined by the pins 60) against the face 27 of the plate 20, and a second operating position ( Figure 11) in which the prongs 56 are disposed virtually parallel to the plate 20 as a result of a rotation of the element 16 in the direction of the arrow A, so that (because of the cam effect due to the eccentricity of their curvature with respect to the axis of rotation) it does not interact with the flange 8.
  • the fork-shaped element 16 has an actuating arm 62 disposed parallel to and below the bar 17 and provided below, on the side opposite the prongs 56, with a strip 63 partially cut to form a Faston connector for a known earth wire 64 ( Figure 12); at the free end, opposite the prongs 56, the element 16 has an extension 66 forming a grip element for the fingers of a user's hand (not illustrated) and/or for a tool.
  • the grip element 66 is formed so that it is disposed next to a concavity 68 ( Figures 1 and 3) of the bar 40, formed in the lower edge of the said bar, in a position below a suitably shaped milled end grip 70.
  • the frame 14 is provided with a channel 72 at the base of the bar 17 ( Figures 2 and 3).
  • the operation of the lamp-holder 12 is as follows.
  • the lamp 5 is connected to the power supply cable 6b and then, with the fork-shaped element 16 held in the said second operating position ( Figure 11), the lamp 5 is inserted into the aperture 21 and, by following the channels 29, the pins 10 of the flange 8 are inserted into the holes 28 in the plate 20, thus correctly positioning the lamp 5, whose cut-out 9 will bear on the prominence 25.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Non-Portable Lighting Devices Or Systems Thereof (AREA)
  • Fastening Of Light Sources Or Lamp Holders (AREA)
EP93117596A 1992-11-03 1993-10-29 Lamp-holder for vehicle headlights Expired - Lifetime EP0596427B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ITTO920896 1992-11-03
ITTO920896A IT1257140B (it) 1992-11-03 1992-11-03 Dispositivo portalampada per proiettori di veicoli.

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0596427A1 EP0596427A1 (en) 1994-05-11
EP0596427B1 true EP0596427B1 (en) 1998-05-06

Family

ID=11410834

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP93117596A Expired - Lifetime EP0596427B1 (en) 1992-11-03 1993-10-29 Lamp-holder for vehicle headlights

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0596427B1 (it)
DE (1) DE69318374T2 (it)
ES (1) ES2114995T3 (it)
IT (1) IT1257140B (it)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102005031004A1 (de) * 2005-07-02 2007-01-04 Hella Kgaa Hueck & Co. Vorrichtung und Verfahren zur Halterung einer Lampe
CN1644981B (zh) * 2004-01-19 2010-05-26 电灯专利信托有限公司 汽车前照灯的装配工具

Families Citing this family (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0766036B1 (de) * 1995-09-29 2004-08-04 Robert Bosch Gmbh Lampenfassung für Kraftfahrzeugscheinwerfer und Kraftfahrzeugscheinwerfer, in den die Lampenfassung eingesetzt ist
FR2769972B1 (fr) * 1997-10-09 2000-03-10 Const Electromecaniques Thome Porte-lampe, en particulier pour une lampe aux halogenes pour projecteur d'eclairage de route de vehicules automobile
DE19860588C2 (de) * 1998-12-29 2001-03-01 Schnippering Hugo Gmbh Co Kg Lampenfassung aus Isolierstoff für H 7-Lampen
DE19914150A1 (de) * 1999-03-29 2000-10-12 Hella Kg Hueck & Co Lampenfassung für einen Fahrzeugscheinwerfer
CZ296817B6 (cs) * 2002-06-10 2006-06-14 Autopal, S.R.O. Systém uchycení svetelného zdroje do svetlometu pro vozidla
FR2861508B1 (fr) * 2003-10-23 2006-02-17 Const Electromecaniques Thome Douille de lampe et contact de masse pour projecteur de vehicule automobile.
JP2010238578A (ja) * 2009-03-31 2010-10-21 Toyota Industries Corp 車両ランプ用工具

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2050587A5 (it) * 1969-06-18 1971-04-02 Sev Marchal
DE2122103C3 (de) * 1971-05-05 1980-07-10 Robert Bosch Gmbh, 7000 Stuttgart Anordnung zum Befestigen der Glühlampe eines Kraftfahrzeug-Scheinwerfers im Reflektor
IT1241013B (it) * 1990-12-07 1993-12-27 Carello Spa Dispositivo portalampada per proiettori di veicoli

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN1644981B (zh) * 2004-01-19 2010-05-26 电灯专利信托有限公司 汽车前照灯的装配工具
DE102005031004A1 (de) * 2005-07-02 2007-01-04 Hella Kgaa Hueck & Co. Vorrichtung und Verfahren zur Halterung einer Lampe
DE102005031004B4 (de) * 2005-07-02 2009-10-01 Hella Kgaa Hueck & Co. Vorrichtung und Verfahren zur Halterung einer Lampe

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ITTO920896A0 (it) 1992-11-03
ES2114995T3 (es) 1998-06-16
ITTO920896A1 (it) 1994-05-03
EP0596427A1 (en) 1994-05-11
DE69318374D1 (de) 1998-06-10
IT1257140B (it) 1996-01-05
DE69318374T2 (de) 1998-09-10

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
JP4194949B2 (ja) ランプおよびヘッドライト
US4682274A (en) Automotive headlight
EP0596427B1 (en) Lamp-holder for vehicle headlights
EP3974707A1 (en) Lamp
EP0207306B1 (en) Tab redundant terminal
EP0718933B1 (en) Bulb socket
US4428034A (en) Light bulb mounting unit
US4385257A (en) Lamp base
US5618097A (en) Electric lamp with a variably keyed based
JP2005505902A (ja) ヘッドライトランプ
GB2251484A (en) Lamp-holder device for vehicle headlamps
EP0207309B1 (en) Folded redundant terminal
EP1544962B1 (en) Bracket assembly
US6352443B1 (en) Lamp socket
EP0207311B1 (en) Cantilevered redundant terminal
JP4205011B2 (ja) 片口金ランプソケットおよび照明器具
EP0207305B1 (en) Base redundant terminal
US2436266A (en) Lamp holder for tubular lamps
US7703962B2 (en) Lighting device for a vehicle with a reflector compatible with several models of lamp
KR200236556Y1 (ko) 조명기구의 반사갓 결합구조
JP3138233B2 (ja) 車輌用前照灯
GB1585409A (en) Vehicle headlights using removable flanged electric light bulbs
US4329007A (en) Mounting of filament assemblies in lamp units
US1975353A (en) Lamp assembly means
JPH0542562Y2 (it)

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): DE ES FR GB

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 19940504

RAP1 Party data changed (applicant data changed or rights of an application transferred)

Owner name: MAGNETI MARELLI S.P.A.

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 19970321

GRAG Despatch of communication of intention to grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS AGRA

GRAG Despatch of communication of intention to grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS AGRA

GRAH Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS IGRA

GRAH Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS IGRA

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): DE ES FR GB

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 69318374

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 19980610

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: ES

Ref legal event code: FG2A

Ref document number: 2114995

Country of ref document: ES

Kind code of ref document: T3

ET Fr: translation filed
PLBE No opposition filed within time limit

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT

26N No opposition filed
PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Payment date: 20011017

Year of fee payment: 9

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: ES

Payment date: 20011022

Year of fee payment: 9

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 20011212

Year of fee payment: 9

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: IF02

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20021029

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: ES

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20021030

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20030501

GBPC Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee
REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: ES

Ref legal event code: FD2A

Effective date: 20031112

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Payment date: 20111118

Year of fee payment: 19

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: ST

Effective date: 20130628

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20121031