FR2790063A1 - MOTOR VEHICLE HEADLIGHT COMPRISING IMPROVED LAMP HOLDING MEANS - Google Patents

Abstract

A motor vehicle headlight includes a lamp (100) mounted in a lamp holder (200) integral with a mirror (200); the lamp holder has at least one support area (204a) for at least one support element (106b) of the lamp generally extending transversely to the direction of mounting of the lamp, so as to place it in a reference position, and at least one elastic locking member (301) capable of locally covering the or each support element to maintain the lamp in this position. According to the invention, a lamp connector (900) comprises in association with each elastic locking member (301), a biasing part capable, when the connector is put in place, of coming to oppose a movement of said locking member (301) tending to release it from said support element .The fixing of the lamp is safer, and its replacement is facilitated.

Description

The present invention relates generally to the fixing of lamps

  in motor vehicle headlamps. There are many techniques to immobilize a lamp in a reference position in the hole

  mirror lamp of such a projector.

  This reference position is generally given by the support of a flange of the lamp against an annular support surface either integrally formed at the rear of the part constituting the mirror, or formed

  on a separate lamp holder attached to the back of the mirror.

  One of these techniques consists in resorting to a series of elastic locking tabs, generally of metal, which cover locally, for example in three or four places distributed angularly, the edge of the flange of the lamp, by making on this flange a sufficiently firm support to avoid any instability of the lamp, in particular in the face of vibrations appearing when the vehicle is running. Documents DE-A-28 53 227 and EP-A-0 696 704

  give examples of this kind of device.

  In this case, the extraction of the lamp for its replacement is carried out, taking into account the aforementioned firmness, by forcing in a relatively large way on the latter in an extraction direction, and generally requires exert on the lamp a movement tending to offset it, which is inconvenient and which risks breaking its glass bulb if the movement is carried out too suddenly. In addition, it is generally necessary, at the same time as extracting the lamp, to manipulate an operating member of a locking tab to ensure that

the lamp is released.

  The present invention aims to overcome these limitations of the state of the art and to propose lamp retaining means which make it possible to ensure retaining at least as firm and as reliable a lamp, while facilitating the extraction of the lamp. for example with a view to verifying or replacing it, and more precisely by avoiding any manipulation other than

  simple pull on the lamp base along its axis.

  Thus, the present invention provides a motor vehicle headlamp, comprising a lamp mounted in a lamp holder secured to a mirror, the lamp holder having at least one support zone for at least one lamp support element. 'generally extending transversely to the direction of mounting of the lamp, so as to place the latter in a reference position, and at least one elastic locking member capable of locally covering the or each support element to hold the lamp in said position, characterized in that it further comprises a lamp connector comprising, in association with the elastic locking member or each elastic locking member, a biasing part suitable, when the connector is put in place, to come oppose movement of said locking member

  tending to release it from said support element.

  Preferred, but not limiting, aspects of the headlight according to the invention are as follows: - the or each locking member has at rest a position such that it is engaged on said support element, and the or each biasing part of the connector is capable of opposing the movement of

  release of each associated locking member.

  - The or each locking member has at rest a position such that it is released from said support element, and the or each biasing portion of the connector is capable, during the establishment of the connector, to move each member associated lock so that it covers the or each support element. - Each locking member is constituted by a flexible tab extending substantially parallel

to the axis of the lamp.

  each flexible locking tab has a locking boss projecting radially inwards at the or each support element of

the lamp.

  each connector biasing part associated with a flexible locking tab comprises a boss projecting radially inwards and capable of engaging, when the connector is in place, in a recess defined by the boss of said tab

  flexible locking outside of it.

  each flexible locking tab has a terminal locking portion extending substantially parallel to the associated support element of

the lamp.

  - each flexible locking tab is formed by cutting and folding in a support formed by a

  metal sleeve surrounding the lamp.

  - the sleeve is in one piece.

- the sleeve is in two parts.

  - the sleeve has retaining arrangements for the

  connector in a fully engaged position.

  - each flexible locking tab is secured to a support comprising a fixed base

locally at the mirror.

  each locking tab extends substantially in the extension of its support, and the or each associated biasing part of the connector acts essentially in the region of a free end of

said leg.

  - Each locking tab is folded substantially over 180 relative to its support, and the or each associated biasing portion of the connector acts essentially in a region of said tab

  located near the folding area.

  - the stressing parts of the connector consist of an essentially continuous skirt provided

on said connector.

  Other aspects, aims and advantages of the present invention will appear better on reading the

  following detailed description of embodiments

  preferred thereof, given by way of nonlimiting example and made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a partial schematic view, in axial section, of the lamp mounting region of a vehicle headlamp automobile according to a first embodiment of the invention, in a position before locking the lamp, FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, in a position after locking the lamp, FIG. 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, of a variant of the first embodiment of Figures 1 and 2, Figures 4 and 5 are exploded perspective views, in two orientations, of a lamp mounting region of a projector according to a second embodiment of the invention, Figure 6 is a partial perspective view of this second embodiment, Figure 7 is an axial elevational view, and partial, of this second embodiment, Figures 8 and 9are schematic and partial views, in axial section along two angularly offset cutting planes, of this second embodiment, FIG. 10 is a perspective view, on an enlarged scale, of a part used in this second embodiment, Figure 11 is an elevational view of the part of Figure 10, Figure 12 is an exploded perspective view of a lamp mounting region of a projector according to a third embodiment of the invention, Figure 13 is a perspective view, according to another orientation, of a part of this third embodiment, FIG. 14 is a perspective view, on an enlarged scale, of a part used in this third embodiment, FIG. 15 is an exploded perspective view of a lamp mounting region of a projector according to a variant of the third embodiment of the invention, and FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a part

used in this variant.

  As a preliminary note, from one figure to another, identical or similar elements or parts will be designated as far as possible by the same

reference signs.

  Referring firstly to Figures 1 and 2, there is shown a part of a projector lamp 100, such as a standard lamp "H7", which comprises a bulb 102 housing a filament, a base 104 and a flange metallic 106 surrounding the base and suitable for defining, with a bearing surface and reciprocal keying arrangements (not detailed) integral with a mirror, a reference position of the lamp. The flange 106 here has an inner annular part 106a, an outer annular part 106b constituting the actual bearing zone and situated behind the inner part 106a, and an intermediate connecting part 106b at right angles. From the base 104 extend towards the rear of the pins

  108 lamp power supply.

  The mirror, generally designated by the reference, conventionally comprises, in the region of its

bottom, a lamp hole 202.

  Around the lamp hole is formed a flange 204 defining at its free end an annular bearing surface 204a on which, during the fitting of the lamp 100, the external part 106b of the flange thereof must come s '' press, the angular orientation of the lamp being given by the

the aforementioned polarizing means.

  A generally cylindrical metal ring or sleeve 300 ′ is mounted on the rear of the mirror, being retained for example by force engagement in a housing formed in the mirror 200 between the outside of the flange 204 and the inside of a retaining rib 205 formed immediately outside the flange 204. It is understood that the sleeve 300 'has an inside diameter substantially equal to the outside diameter of the

flange 204.

  This sleeve 300 'has a series of elastic tabs 301 obtained for example by cutting the material of the sleeve and by stamping, each tab comprising a boss 304 directed inward and separated by two parts 302 and 306 generally extending in the extension one from the other. At rest, each of these legs occupies a position such that the parts 302, 306 extend obliquely outward from the base of the leg located at

  the upper end of the part 302.

  Finally, there is provided a lamp connector 400 in the general shape of a plug, comprising a bottom part 402 and a generally cylindrical peripheral skirt 404 whose internal diameter is slightly greater than the external diameter of the sleeve 300 '. This connector also comprises, in a manner known per se and not detailed, connection arrangements for the pins

108 of the lamp.

  FIG. 1 illustrates the situation in which the connector 400 has been partially disengaged from the sleeve 300 ′, in which case the tabs 301 occupy an oblique position towards the outside. In this position, the bosses of the legs are obliterated towards the outside with respect to the flange 106b of the lamp, so that the latter can be freely extracted and put in place (the connector

  400 being completely removed beforehand).

  During the positioning of the connector 400 on the rear of the lamp, by axial translation, to reach the position illustrated in FIG. 2, the skirt 404 of the connector progressively biases the tabs 301 of the sleeve 300 'inwards , so that their respective bosses 304 cover the edges of the flange 106b of the lamp, thus

lock it in place.

  Preferably, the shape of the bosses 304 is such that during this stress, they exert a slight pressure on the flange 106b of the lamp in the direction of the bearing surface 204a. In this respect, it is advantageous for the part of the boss 304 adjacent to the free end part 306 of each tab 301 to make with this free end part an angle close to a right angle, this so as to ensure contact satisfactory mechanics between the bosses 304 and the

collar 106b.

  Thus, once the connector 400 has been put in place, the skirt 404 of the latter prevents the tabs 301 of the sleeve 300 'from moving apart again towards the outside, in order to obtain an extremely reliable locking of the lamp, whereas when the connector 400 is removed,

  the extraction of the lamp is extremely easy.

  Referring now to Figure 3, there is shown an alternative embodiment of the invention, according to which the skirt 404 of the connector has, in angular positions homologous to the angular positions of the locking tabs 301, internal bosses 406 which, when the cap is fully in place, wedge inside the external faces

  convex bosses 304 of the locking tabs.

  Such bosses allow, thanks to such cooperation of shapes, on the one hand, to oppose still more effectively an accidental return of the locking tabs 301 towards the outside, and therefore an accidental unlocking of the lamp, and on the other hand to ensure, in possible cooperation with other conventional means, an improved retention of the connector. A second embodiment of the invention

  is illustrated in Figures 4 to 11.

  The mirror 200 has a bearing surface 204a for the lamp, which is located at the bottom of a generally cylindrical cavity defined inside an axial annular flange 206 extending rearward over a

  substantial distance from the bottom of the mirror.

  The locking tabs 301 are here four in number and defined by two elements 300 made of folded elastic metal sheet. Each element 300, illustrated in detail in FIGS. 10 and 11, comprises a central part 310 having at one end two lateral wings 308. From these wings are folded outwardly at about 180 two locking tabs 301 each comprising a connecting part 302 and a locking part 304 folded about 90 outward. As can be seen in FIG. 10, the connecting parts 302 are oriented slightly obliquely inward, and have at an intermediate level, close to the wings 308, a zone of

  stress 302a extending outwards.

  At its end opposite the wings 308, the central part 310 has a base 312 extending transversely and having at its edges

  lateral of the asperities of anchoring 314.

  The two elements 300 are able to be fixed, by their respective bases 312, in the cavity defined at the rear of the mirror, in housings formed between the axial flange 206 and the bearing surface 204a. These housings here consist of thin grooves 208 each defined between two axial walls 210 projecting inwardly from the flange

206.

  Each groove 208 associated with its two walls 210 thus defines a space in which the associated base 312 is forcibly engaged, by inducing both an elastic deformation of the base and a plastic deformation of the walls 310, with which the roughness

anchor cooperate.

  At rest and in the absence of the connector 400, the position of the locking tabs 301 is such that their locking terminal parts 304 leave a space between them free, the diameter of which is substantially equal to the outside diameter of the flange.

106 of the lamp.

  The lamp 100 can therefore be removed and put into operation.

  place by simple axial translation.

  When a lamp is in place, with its flange portion 106b in abutment against the homologous bearing surface 204a of the mirror, the connector 400 is put in place, its skirt 404 being inserted inside the flange 206 of the mirror and basically along

this one.

  This skirt 404 acts on the locking tabs 301 at their respective stressing zone 302a, so as to move each of these locking tabs, by elastic deformation, inwards, each tab pivoting around its region of connection with the 'respective wing 308 of element 300. It follows that the terminal locking part 304 of each tab moves radially inwardly, to cover the external part 106b of the lamp flange (see in particular FIG. 8 ), and remember

thus said lamp in place.

  Preferably, the geometry of the legs 301 is such that during this movement, the locking parts 304 exert on the flange of the lamp a bias towards the bearing surface

  204a, so as to stabilize the lamp well.

  Figures 12 to 14 illustrate a third embodiment of the invention, which is similar to that of Figures 1 and 2 in that the lugs 301 for locking the lamp are formed in a ring or

  metal sleeve 300 'attached to the rear of the mirror.

  This sleeve 300 'is shown in more detail in FIG. 14, and in particular we observe the locking tabs 301, formed by cutting the material.

  of the sleeve, similar to those described above.

  The sleeve also has a series of arrangements for anchoring it on the projector mirror. It will be observed here in this regard that the arrangements for receiving the lamp 100 on the mirror are defined here not by the mirror itself, but by a part 200 'forming a lamp holder attached to the rear of the mirror and shown on Figures 12 and 13. This part comprises a base in the general shape of a disc 201 ', a lamp hole 202' formed in its center and surrounded by a flange 204 'defining an annular bearing surface 204a' for the flange of the lamp, and projecting walls 205 ′ located outside the flange 204 ′ to define therewith groove-shaped interstices 208 ′ suitable for receiving, with a

  anchoring cooperation, the base of the sleeve 300 '.

  To this end, the sleeve has in the region of its axial end facing the lamp holder 200 'a series of anchoring arrangements constituted on the one hand by cut tabs 320 provided at the base of the sleeve, oriented tangentially and slightly apart towards the outside, from their single zone of connection to the sleeve relative to the circumference thereof, and on the other hand by lugs 322 also cut and oriented tangentially, these lugs however being connected to the sleeve with their two ends and forming a

outward bossing.

  These tabs allow, by elastic and / or plastic deformation during the forced engagement of the sleeve 300 'in its interstices 208', to firmly fix the

lamp holder sleeve 200 '.

  - The sleeve finally comprises cut tabs 324 located in its region opposite its base, these tabs 324

  each having a boss 326 directed outwards.

  These tabs make it possible, in cooperation with not shown recesses formed in the interior surface of the skirt 404 of the connector, to lock

  of it when it is placed around the sleeve.

  In this embodiment, the lamp is locked as in the case of FIGS. 1 and 2: when the connector is put in place, its skirt 404 is placed immediately outside the locking tabs 301, to prevent them from deviating radially outwards, so that the bosses 304 of said legs, pressing on the lamp flange

  106, hold the latter in place.

  We also observe in this embodiment the particular structure of the connector 400, with a cover 410 attached to a cavity formed outside of its part 402 and housing the terminals 408

  for the electrical connection of the lamp.

  Figures 15 and 16 illustrate a variant of the embodiment described above, according to which the sleeve 300 'is made in two parts 300 ", 300" each extending over a little less than 180, which can

facilitate their manufacture.

  This sleeve, like the lamp holder 200 ′, is further distinguished from those of FIGS. 12 to 14 by the

following features.

  Firstly, the lamp holder 200 "has for the reception of the two half-sleeves 300", 300 "a continuous annular groove 208" defined between the flange 204 "and a continuous peripheral wall 210". Then, each half-sleeve 300 "has at its two axial ends substantially continuous bosses 330, 332, and the locking tabs 320, 322 of the embodiment of FIGS. 12 to 14 are replaced by hooking teeth 334 constituted by sheet metal parts folded outwards at an angle for example of the order of 150 around a tangential bending axis. The firm and stable anchoring of the half-sleeves 300 ", 300" in the groove 208 "is produced on the one hand by the attachment of the teeth 334 in the inner face of the peripheral wall 210", and on the other hand by the fact that the two half-sleeves 300 "are slightly compressed, at the level of their boss continuous 332 giving them a controlled allowance, between the flange 204 "and the wall 210". It is further observed that the groove 208 "is separated

  in two parts, suitable for each receiving a half

  sleeve, thanks to 212 "separation walls

diametrically opposite.

  The opposite continuous boss 330 is intended to confirm the locking of the connector 300 on

the lamp and the lamp holder.

Claims (15)

  1. Motor vehicle headlamp, comprising a lamp (100) mounted in a lamp holder (200; 200 ', 200 ") secured to a mirror (200), the lamp holder having at least one support zone ( 204a; 204a '; 204a ") for at least one lamp support element (106b) generally extending transversely to the lamp mounting direction, so as to place the latter in a reference position, and at least one elastic locking member (301) capable of locally covering the or each support element to maintain the lamp in said position, characterized in that it further comprises a lamp connector (400) comprising in association with the elastic locking member or each elastic locking member (301) a biasing part (404) capable, when the connector is put in place, of coming to oppose a movement of said locking member (301) tending to release it from said element support.   2. Projector according to claim 1, characterized in that the or each locking member (301) has at rest a position such that it is engaged on said support element (106b), and in that the or each part of biasing (404) of the connector is capable of opposing the release movement of each associated locking member.   3. Projector according to claim 1, characterized in that the or each locking member (301) has at rest a position such that it is released from said support element (106b), and in that the or each part of biasing (404) of the connector is capable, during the fitting of the connector (400), of moving each associated locking member so that it comes to cover the or each support element.   4. Projector according to one of claims 1 to   3, characterized in that each locking member is constituted by a flexible tab (301) extending   substantially parallel to the axis of the lamp (100).   5. Projector according to claim 4, characterized in that each flexible locking tab (301) has a locking boss (304) projecting radially inwards at   or each support element (106b) of the lamp.   6. Projector according to claim 5, characterized in that each biasing part (404) of the connector associated with a flexible locking tab (301) comprises a boss (406) projecting radially inwardly and capable of engaging , when the connector is in place, in a recess defined by the boss (304) of said locking tab at outside of it.   7. Projector according to claim 4, characterized in that each flexible locking tab (301) has a terminal locking portion (304) extending substantially parallel to   the associated support element (106b) of the lamp (100).   8. Projector according to one of claims 4 to   7, characterized in that each flexible tab (301) is formed by cutting and folding in a support (300 '; 300 ", 300") formed by a metal sleeve surrounding the lamp. 9. Projector according to claim 8, characterized in that the sleeve (300 ') is in one piece. 10. Projector according to claim 8, characterized in that the sleeve (300 ", 300") is in two parts.   11. Projector according to one of claims 8 to   , characterized in that the sleeve (300 '; 300 ", 300") has arrangements (324, 326; 330) for retaining the   connector (400) in a fully engaged position.   12. Projector according to one of claims 4 to   7, characterized in that each flexible locking tab (301) is integral with a support (300)   comprising a base (312) fixed locally to the mirror.   13. Projector according to one of claims 4 to   12, characterized in that each locking tab (301) extends substantially in the extension of its support (300; 300 '; 300 "), and in that the or each associated biasing part (404) of the connector acts basically in the region of a free end of said leg.   14. Projector according to one of claims 4 to   12, characterized in that each locking tab (301) is folded substantially over 180 relative to its support (308), and in that the or each associated biasing part of the connector acts essentially in a region (302a) of said nearby leg of the folding area.   15. Projector according to one of claims 1 to   14, characterized in that the biasing parts of the connector (400) consist of a skirt (404)   essentially continuous provided on said connector.