FR2787554A1 - INTERMEDIATE FIXING ELEMENT OF A REFLECTOR ON A SUPPORT PART OF A MOTOR VEHICLE PROJECTOR, AND PROJECTOR COMPRISING SUCH AN ELEMENT - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a motor vehicle headlamp comprising a reflector mounted on a bearing part by means of an intermediate fixing element (10) having a first end part (11) able to cooperate with said part d. 'support and a second end part (12) adapted to cooperate with a mounting part of the reflector. According to the invention, said first and second end parts being pre-fitted over only a part of their length. during the manufacture of the intermediate fixing element, are suitable, during the assembly of the intermediate fixing element with the mounting part, to be fully fitted so as to secure said intermediate fixing element with said mounting part. The invention also relates to an intermediate fixing element as mentioned above.

Description

The present invention relates generally to the mounting of a

  reflector on a bearing part of a motor vehicle headlamp.

  More particularly, it relates to a motor vehicle headlamp comprising a reflector mounted on a support part by means of an intermediate fixing element having a first end part able to cooperate with said support part and a second end part adapted to cooperate by friction with a smooth surface of a mounting part of the reflector

  for retaining said intermediate fixing element on the mounting part.

  The invention also relates to an intermediate fixing element for

such an arrangement.

  Document FR 2 752 040 belonging to the Applicant already discloses a projector of the aforementioned type, in which the intermediate fixing element is formed in one piece by molding a thermoplastic material. In addition, document EP 0 596 448 discloses a motor vehicle lighting device which comprises a reflector provided on its rear part with a mounting part capable of cooperating with an intermediate fixing element, one end of which is mounted on a support part of the projector, and a second

  end cooperates with a mounting part of the reflector.

  This second end comprises on the one hand a first element which engages inside the mounting part and whose external surface cooperates by friction with the internal smooth wall of the mounting part of the reflector, and on the other hand a second tubular element capable of covering the external surface of the part of

  mounting of the reflector and to be snap-fitted to the first element.

  During the manufacture by molding of the intermediate fixing element, the first element and the second element of the second end of this intermediate fixing element form a single piece and have at their junction a

thin part of necking.

  The mounting of such an intermediate fixing element on the mounting part of the reflector is carried out by engaging the second tubular element on the external surface of the mounting part until the second tubular element is constricted with the first the second end of said intermediate fixing element, so that said first element can be engaged inside the mounting part, cooperating by friction with the internal surface of said mounting part, and snap into place with the second

  tubular element which covers the external surface of this mounting part.

  I Hi I&M I__ The above-mentioned intermediate fastening element is of complex shape, which involves more complex reflector production steps and finally a

  additional manufacturing cost of the projector thus produced.

  In addition, the aforementioned intermediate fastening element has the drawback of having a necking zone between the two elements forming an end part, this necking zone with a thin wall being able to yield prematurely when the mold is ejected. , storage or handling

  intermediate of said intermediate fastener.

  This premature break in the necking zone of the two elements constituting the second end of the intermediate fixing element makes this

  element unusable for mounting on a reflector.

  In order to overcome the drawbacks of the aforementioned state of the art, the present invention provides a new arrangement of a motor vehicle headlight of the type defined in the introduction in which the mounting of the reflector on

  a support part of the projector is particularly simple and economical.

  According to an essential characteristic of the headlamp according to the invention, said first and second end parts being pre-fitted over only part of their length, during the manufacture of the intermediate fastening element, are suitable, during mounting of the 'intermediate fixing element on the mounting part, to be fitted over the entire length of said second end part, so as to secure said fixing element

  intermediate with the mounting part of the reflector.

  According to other advantageous and non-limiting characteristics of the headlight according to the invention: - the pre-fitting of the first and second parts of the intermediate fixing element is carried out during molding, - the first and second end parts of the intermediate fixing element have complementary arrangements intended to cooperate together at the end of fitting of said parts in order to oppose a relative rotation of one part with respect to the other, these complementary arrangements can be a finger provided on the first part, able to engage in a groove provided in a peripheral end flange of the second part, - the first and second end part of the fastening element comprise complementary arrangements capable of being axially secured so

  non-removable said end portions at the end of fitting of said parts.

  In particular, the first part may comprise two diametrically opposite aki uTw - I non-return tabs intended to come into abutment against a flange of the second end part during the fitting of said parts, in order to secure said parts axially and in a non-removable manner. 'in one another, - the second end part of the intermediate fastening element comprises a cylindrical body provided with fins generally extending substantially transversely to the direction of assembly X of said second part of end with the mounting part of the reflector, and being able to engage with the smooth surface of said mounting part of the reflector, being deformed to retain by friction said intermediate fixing element on said mounting part of the reflector, - the second end part of the intermediate fastening element comprises a cylindrical body provided with a coating of the lastomer capable of coming into engagement with the smooth surface of said reflector mounting part for frictionally retaining said intermediate fixing element on said reflector mounting part, - the cylindrical body of the second end part is provided with two notches diametrically opposite longitudinal ones, giving it a certain flexibility, - the cylindrical body of the second end part of the intermediate fastening element is capable of being engaged in the direction of assembly X inside a blind hole in smooth wall of said reflector mounting part, and the first end part of the intermediate fixing element comprises a head portion provided with an external peripheral rim, for its cooperation with said bearing part, and a body cylindrical pre-fitted into the cylindrical body of the second end portion and intended to be pressed into said cylindrical body e of said second end part during its assembly with said mounting part in said direction X, until the outer peripheral rim of said head portion abuts against a peripheral end flange of the second part end so as to clamp the outer surface of the cylindrical body of the second end portion

  against the smooth wall of the blind hole.

  In addition, the invention also proposes an intermediate fixing element intended for mounting a reflector on a support part of a headlight of a motor vehicle, having a first end part able to cooperate with said support part. , and a second end support part able to cooperate by friction with a smooth surface of a mounting part of the reflector for retaining said intermediate fixing element on the part of the mounting, said first and second parts d end being pre-fitted over only part of their length, during the manufacture of the intermediate fastening element, are capable, during the mounting of said intermediate fastening element on the mounting part, to be fitted over the entire length approximately of said second end portion so as to secure said element of

  intermediate fixing with the mounting part of the reflector.

  The following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, given as

  non-limiting examples, will make it clear what the invention consists of, and

how it can be achieved.

  In the accompanying drawings: - Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a first embodiment of an intermediate fastening element according to the invention, - Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of a second embodiment embodiment of the intermediate fixing element according to the invention, and - Figures 3 and 4 show in two orthogonal planes BB and AA, the intermediate fixing element of Figure 1, mounted in a

  mounting part of the reflector and on a support part of the projector.

  In Figures 1 and 2, there is shown an intermediate fastening element intended in particular for mounting a reflector (not shown) on a support part 30 (see Figures 3 and 4) of a motor vehicle headlight (not represented). This intermediate fixing element extends in a general direction X which is the mounting direction of said intermediate fixing element on a

  mounting part 20 of the reflector.

  It comprises a first end portion 11 able to cooperate with the

support part 30 of the projector.

  As shown more particularly in FIGS. 3 and 4, the term “support part” means, for example an adjustment rod 30 mounted in translation on a fixed part (not shown) of the projector such as a projector housing or a part of the body, or for example a mounting rod 30 fixed on a part

fixed of a projector.

  The first end portion 11 of said intermediate fastening element 10 has a generally cylindrical shape of axis X and comprises a head portion

  1 provided with an internal housing 3 open in the upper part.

  The cylindrical internal wall of the housing 3 comprises cutouts forming two diametrically opposite elastic tongues 1 for the blistering of the If l I the housing 3 on the end sphere 31 of an adjustment or mounting rod 30 of the

projector (see figures 3 and 4).

  In addition, the intermediate fixing element 10 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 comprises a second end part 12 able to cooperate by friction with a smooth surface 21 of a mounting part 20 of the reflector to retain said fixing element. intermediate 10 on said mounting part 20 (see Figures 3 and 4). This second end part of the intermediate fastening element 10 comprises a cylindrical body extending along the axis X of diameter slightly

  greater than that of the first end portion 11.

  The body of the second end portion 12 is open at both ends. According to an advantageous characteristic of the intermediate fastening element 10 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the first end part 11 and the second end part 12 are pre-fitted one into the other on only one part. their length during the manufacture of the intermediate fastening element. More particularly, according to the embodiment shown in the

  Figures 1 and 2, the cylindrical body 11c of the first end portion 11 is pre-

  fitted into the cylindrical body of the second end portion 12 on a

length of approximately 2 mm.

  This pre-fitting is carried out during the molding of the fixing element

intermediate 10.

  To achieve this pre-fitting during molding of the intermediate fastening element, the first and second end portions of the intermediate fastening element are molded so that they are linked to one of their ends by necking zones, then by a combination of advancement and retraction of parts of the mold, these zones are caused to be constricted to effect the pre-fitting of the first end part 11 into the second part

  end 12 of the intermediate fastening element.

  When the mold is opened to release the intermediate fixing element,

  the two end parts 11, 12 are then pre-fitted one into the other.

  The cylindrical body of the second end part 12 of the intermediate fastening element 10 is intended to be engaged in the direction X inside the mounting part 20, and here inside a blind hole 22 with smooth walls 21

  of said mounting part 20 of the reflector (see FIGS. 3 and 4).

  ids1v 1 T I The body of the second intermediate end part 12 is able to cooperate by friction with the smooth surface 21 of the blind hole 22 of the part of

mounting 20.

  According to Figure 1, it comprises for this purpose, a plurality of elastically deformable fins 18 which are distributed regularly over the length of said

  body and carried by the external surface 12a of the latter.

  The fins 18 generally extend substantially transversely to the direction X and are capable of engaging with the smooth surface 21 of the mounting part 20 of the reflector by deforming to retain by friction

  The intermediate fixing element on the mounting part.

  Each fin 18 is in the form of a ring surrounding the

  body of the second end portion 12.

  This ring is delimited by an upper surface facing the part

  support and a lower surface facing the reflector.

  According to one embodiment, the upper surface of each ring 18 can extend transversely to the direction X and the lower surface can extend in a direction oblique to the direction X in a direction opposite to the mounting direction F1 (see figure 4) of the intermediate fastening element 10 on the

  mounting part 20 of the reflector, in the direction of said smooth surface 21.

  According to another embodiment shown in FIG. 2, provision may be made for the body of the second end portion 12 of the intermediate fastening element to be provided with an elastomer coating 19 capable of engaging with the smooth surface 21 of said mounting part 20 of the reflector to retain by

  friction said intermediate fixing element on said mounting part 20.

  This elastomer coating 19, here smooth, can be, according to embodiments not shown, axially or annularly tarred, formed by direct overmolding on the cylindrical body of said second end portion 12 or introduced onto this body separately like this. is shown more particularly in Figure 2. It is then wrapped around the cylindrical body of the

second end portion 12.

  In addition, the cylindrical body of the second end part 12 is provided with two diametrically opposite longitudinal notches 12b and giving it a certain elasticity, during the mounting of the intermediate fixing element 10 in the mounting part 20 of the reflector, the first and second end portions 11, 12 are able to be completely fitted into one another. Here, the cylindrical body rFFiE î i f 1 11c of the first end 11 is pressed into the cylindrical body of the

  second end portion 12 over practically its entire length.

  The first and second end parts 11, 12 of the intermediate fastening element 10 have complementary arrangements intended to cooperate together at the end of fitting of said first and second parts 11 and 12 to oppose the relative rotation of one part in relation to the other. More particularly, the head portion 11la of the first end portion 11 carries, at the level of the upper opening of the internal housing 3, a peripheral edge 1 1b which comprises two diametrically opposite fingers 13 (only one is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2), projecting outwardly, capable of engaging at the end of fitting, in two grooves 14 extending over the same diameter in a peripheral flange 15 positioned at one end of the

  cylindrical body of the second end portion 12.

  The first and second end parts 11, 12 of the intermediate fastening element 10 also comprise complementary arrangements capable of being axially secured in an undisturbable manner, said end parts relative to each other at the end of fitting of said parts. In particular, the first end portion 11 has in its head portion 1 just below the peripheral rim 1 1b two non-return tabs 16 which project outwards and which are diametrically opposite, intended to come into abutment against an internal rim 17 provided just below the flange of the second end part, during the fitting of the two parts one into the other to secure said axially and in a non-removable manner

parts one in the other.

  The body 11c of the first end portion 11 of the intermediate fastening element here advantageously comprises a series of studs 2 extending longitudinally along generatrices of the cylindrical body, which have a conical shape so as to cause a jamming of the two end parts into each other as the body 11c of the first end part is pressed into the cylindrical body of the second part

  end engaged in the mounting part 20 of the reflector.

  The intermediate fastening element is made of thermoplastic material

  with slight elasticity.

  Referring to Figures 3 and 4, we will describe the mounting of the intermediate fastening element shown in Figure 1 in a blind hole 22

  of the mounting part 20 of the reflector.

  The second end part 12 of the intermediate fastening element 10, in which the first end part 11 is pre-fitted over only part of the length of the second part, is introduced into the blind hole 22 with wall smooth internal 21 so that its fins 18 come into contact with said

smooth wall 21.

  The introduction of the second end portion 12 of the intermediate fastening element is carried out until the external peripheral flange 15

  comes to bear against the peripheral upper edge of the blind hole 22.

  Then, the first end part 11 of the intermediate fastening element 12 is fully pushed into the second end part 12 of the intermediate part so as to clamp the external surface carrying the fins of the second end part 12 against the smooth surface 21 of the blind hole 22 of the part of

mounting 20.

  This driving in or fitting is carried out until the non-return tabs 16 carried by the head portion 11a of the first end part 11 get caught under the internal rim 17 of the second end part 12,

  which makes the fitting of the two parts non-removable.

  In this state, the longitudinal studs 2 of the first end part 11 cause a strong wedging of the parts into one another and a strong tightening of the external surface of the second end part 12 against the surface

  rail 21 of the blind hole 22 of the mounting part 20.

  In addition, in this fully fitted state, the fingers 13 carried by the peripheral rim 11b of the first end portion 11 are engaged in the corresponding grooves 14 of the second end portion 12 to avoid

  relative rotation of said parts relative to each other.

  The adjustment or mounting rod 30 is then closed in the portion of

  head 1 1a of the first end portion 11 of the intermediate fastening element.

  If an attempt is made to disassemble the intermediate fixing element 10 from the mounting part 20 by pulling it outwards in the opposite direction to the arrow F1, the fins 18 are deformed by bracing so that the ends of said fins are fixed in the smooth wall of the blind hole opposing the movement

  of extraction towards the outside of said intermediate fixing element.

  I-Fa- i I The assembly of the reflector and of said intermediate fixing element cannot be dismantled, as does the assembly of the two end parts of the element

intermediate fixing.

  Disassembly of the intermediate fixing element cannot occur without causing the rupture of said fins and the deterioration of said element

intermediate fixing.

  The present invention is in no way limited to the embodiments described and shown, but a person skilled in the art can envisage any variant.

conforms to his spirit.

Claims (14)

  Motor vehicle projector comprising a reflector mounted on a support part (30) by means of an intermediate fixing element (10) having a first end part (11) capable of cooperating with said support part (30) and a second end part (12) able to cooperate by friction with a smooth surface (21) of a mounting part (20) of the reflector to retain said intermediate fixing element (10) on the part of mounting (20), characterized in that said first and second end parts being pre-fitted over only part of their length, during the manufacture of the intermediate fastening element, are suitable, during mounting of the intermediate fixing element (10) on the mounting part (20), to be fitted over the entire length of said second end part (12) so as to join   said intermediate fastener (10) with said mounting portion (20).   2.Projector according to claim 1, characterized in that the pre-   fitting of the first and second parts (11, 12) of the fixing element   intermediate (10) is produced during molding.   3. Projector according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that   the first and second end parts (11, 12) of the intermediate fixing element (10) have complementary arrangements (13, 14) intended to cooperate together at the end of fitting of said parts (11, 12)   to oppose a relative rotation of one part with respect to the other.   4. Projector according to claim 3, characterized in that said complementary arrangements comprise a finger (13) provided on the first end portion (11), capable of engaging in a groove (14) provided in a   peripheral end flange (15) of the second end part (12).   5. Projector according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that   the first and second end parts (11, 12) of the intermediate fastening element (10) comprise complementary arrangements (16, 17) capable of axially releasably securing said end parts (11, 12)   at the end of fitting of said parts (11, 12).   6. Projector according to claim 5, characterized in that the first end part (11) comprises two non-return tabs (16) diametrically opposite, intended to come into abutment against a flange (17) of the second part Ir [ V ili 1 end (12) during the fitting of said parts, to secure   axially and in a non-removable manner, said parts one inside the other.   7. Projector according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the   second end part (12) of the intermediate fastening element (10) comprises a cylindrical body provided with fins (18) generally extending substantially transversely to the direction of assembly X of said second part end (12) with the mounting part (20) of the reflector, and being capable of engaging with the smooth surface (21) of said mounting part (20) of the reflector, being deformed to frictionally retain said element fixation   intermediate (10) on said mounting part (20) of the reflector.   8. Projector according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the   second end part (12) of the intermediate fastening element (10) comprises a cylindrical body provided with an elastomer coating (19) capable of coming into engagement with the smooth surface (21) of said mounting part (20) of the reflector for frictionally retaining said intermediate fixing element (10) on   said mounting part (20) of the reflector.   9. Projector according to one of claims 7 or 8, characterized in that   this cylindrical body of the second end part (12) is provided with two diametrically opposite longitudinal notches (12b), giving it a certain flexibility.   10. Projector according to one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that   the body of the second end part (12) of the intermediate fastening element (10) is capable of being engaged in the direction of assembly X inside a blind hole (22) with a smooth wall ( 21) of said mounting part (20) of the reflector, and the first end part (11) of the intermediate fixing element (10) comprises a head portion (11a) provided with an external peripheral rim (11b ), for his   cooperation with said support part (30), and a cylindrical body (11c) pre-   fitted into the cylindrical body of the second end part (12) and intended to be pressed into said cylindrical body of said second end part (12) during its assembly with said mounting part (20) in said direction X , until the external peripheral rim (11b) of said head portion (11a) abuts against a peripheral peripheral flange (15) of the second end part (12), so as to tighten the outer surface (12a) of the cylindrical body of the second end portion (12) against the   smooth wall (21) of the blind hole (22).   11. Projector according to any one of claims 1 to 10,   characterized in that the first end part (11) of said intermediate fixing element (10) is arranged so that it can be clicked onto the end sphere (31) of an adjustment rod (30) mounted in translation on a fixed part of the projector.   12. Projector according to any one of claims 1 to 10,   characterized in that the first end portion (11) of said intermediate fastening element (10) is arranged so that it can be clicked onto the sphere   end (31) of a mounting rod (31) fixed to a fixed part of the projector.   13. Projector according to any one of claims 1 to 12,   characterized in that the intermediate fixing element (10) is produced in a   thermoplastic material having a slight elasticity.   14. Intermediate fixing element (10) intended for mounting a reflector on a support part of a headlight of a motor vehicle, having a first end part (11) capable of cooperating with said support part, and a second end support part (12) able to cooperate by friction with a smooth surface (21) of a mounting part (20) of the reflector for retaining said intermediate fixing element (10) on the part of assembly, characterized in   that said first and second end portions (11, 12) being pre-   fitted over only part of their length, during the manufacture of the intermediate fastening element, are capable, during the mounting of said intermediate fastening element on the mounting part (20), to be fitted over the entire length of approximately said second end portion (12) so as to   securing said intermediate fixing element (10) with said mounting part. iT [- TUT IW