FR2844760A1 - Interior lighting of motor vehicle, uses tubular housing inside seat headrest for tubular lamp that is pulled from housing and has slit along side to provide controlled beam, which can be adjusted by rotating housing - Google Patents

Abstract

The interior lighting is provided by a horizontal tubular lamp (16) with a slit (18) along the side to emit a narrow beam of light. The tubular lamp is fitted in the headrest (12,14) of each seat (10), and can be retracted into the headrest when not in use. The lamp can be rotated about the horizontal axis to direct its beam.

Description

AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLE INTERIOR LIGHTING DEVICE

  The present invention relates to a device 5 for interior lighting of a motor vehicle and more particularly to a

  retractable and adjustable lighting device.

  "Reading light" type lighting devices must provide good lighting for the passengers in the vehicle and provide ease of use and adjustment. However, these 1o lighting devices must not hinder the driver or disturb his field of vision. In addition, they should not be

  bulky when not in use.

  We know from publication US-A1-2001 / 0002092 an interior lighting device for a motor vehicle arranged on is a seat back. The device comprises a cavity formed in the rear face of the seat back, and a lamp body provided with a light source capable of emitting a beam of light through a window of the lamp body which is mounted at

  rotation around an axis located inside the cavity.

  The lamp body is thus mounted movable between a

  rest position in which the window is closed by a face of the cavity opposite, and an extended position in which the window is outside the cavity. The light beam can be oriented by rotating the lamp body about its axis.

  This device has drawbacks. It only lights up a limited area of the vehicle interior, located downwards. It is also a bulky device because the cavity must be larger than the lamp body in order to allow it to tilt. In addition, its handling is not easy as is obtaining a precise adjustment of the orientation. In addition, depending on the angular position, the amount of light supplied is not the same. Finally, this device is unattractive, both in the rest position and in the use position

  in which the cavity is visible.

  In order to overcome these drawbacks, the invention relates to a retractable lighting device making it possible to orient the light beam towards numerous areas of the passenger compartment. The invention also relates to a lighting device

  retractable to adjust the size of the light beam.

  The invention also relates to a space-saving retractable lighting device since the cavity in which the lamp body is housed in the rest position has substantially the

same size as the lamp body.

  To address these problems, the invention provides an interior lighting device for a motor vehicle comprising a support i5, in which a housing is formed, and a lamp body provided with a light source capable of emitting a light beam through a window of the lamp body, the body being mounted movable, in a first direction, between: - a rest position in which the body is retracted at least partially inside the housing so that the window is closed; and - an extended position in which the window is located outside the housing and in which the beam is orientable, characterized in that, in the extended position, the light source is mounted mobile relative to the support, in a second direction different from the first direction, to occupy different lighting positions corresponding to

  different orientations of the beam.

  According to another characteristic of the invention, the first direction is rectilinear.

  According to another characteristic of the invention, the second

direction is circular.

  According to another characteristic of the invention, the light source is mounted to slide in the first direction and is mounted to rotate in the second direction, around its

general sliding axis.

  According to another characteristic of the invention, the body of

  lamp is cylindrical with circular sector.

  According to another characteristic of the invention, the lamp body comprises mobile means for concealing at least

part of the light beam.

  According to another characteristic of the invention, the means

  occultation mobiles are actuated by a ring rotatably mounted around the lamp body.

  According to another characteristic of the invention, the light source is mounted movable relative to the support with the lamp body so as to form an assembly mounted movable by

support.

  According to another characteristic of the invention, the body of

  lamp is mounted articulated on a ball joint to orient the beam.

  According to another characteristic of the invention, the source

  light is mounted movable relative to the lamp body.

  According to another characteristic of the invention, means are provided for locking the lamp body in one of the

  rest or exit positions, elastic means for returning the lamp body to the other of these positions, and in that the release of the locking means is activated by acting on the lamp body against the force exerted by the return means 25.

  According to another characteristic of the invention, means are provided for automatically switching off the light source in the rest position, and means for automatically switching on the light source in the extended position. Other features and advantages of the invention

  will appear on reading the description of exemplary embodiments of lighting devices with reference to the drawings

  annexed in which: FIG. 1 is a general perspective view of a motor vehicle seat, a headrest of which is fitted with the lighting device according to the invention illustrated diagrammatically

in silhouette in the extended position.

  Figure 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the headrest of Figure 1, which shows the device

  according to the invention in the extended position.

  Figure 3 is a perspective view of the device

  lighting according to the invention in the retracted position.

  We will take in the description the notations

  following: the axis T is oriented along the transverse axis of the vehicle, the axis L will be oriented along the longitudinal axis of the vehicle and the axis V is oriented along the vertical axis of the vehicle, and this not only 15 limiting.

  As shown in Figure 1, a seat 10 includes a headrest 12 which a longitudinal side face 14 is equipped

a lighting device 16.

  The lighting device 1 6 comprises a lamp body 20 18 which is mounted movable between a position in which it is retracted inside the headrest 12, and an extended position in which it is located outside the headrest 12. The lamp body 18 can therefore slide from the inside of a complementary cavity 20 formed in the headrest 12, towards the outside 25 of the headrest 12 in the transverse direction and horizontal T. According to the invention, once the lamp body 18 is in the extended position, it is possible to carry out a

  adjustment to orient the light beam.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the lighting device 30 16 comprises the housing or cavity 20 which is formed inside the headrest 12, constituting here the support of the lighting device, and which opens transversely into the lateral face 14. The shape of the housing 20 is complementary to that of the lamp body 18. If, for example, the lamp body 18 is, as here, of cylindrical shape with circular section, the housing 20 is also of cylindrical shape with circular section

  slightly larger in diameter.

  An end section of the lamp body 18, which projects outside the headrest 12, in the extended position, has a side window 22 of transparent material or

  translucent such as glass or plastic.

  A light source 24, such as a bulb or a

  "LED" diode, capable of emitting a light beam through the 1o window 22, is arranged inside the lamp body 18.

  The lamp body 18 also includes an internal guide section which remains inside the cavity and which in particular comprises means for electrical connection of the light source. An adjustment allows to orient the emitted light beam

  by the light source 24. The light source 24 is mounted movable relative to the headrest 12. In order to modify the angular orientation of the light beam, the user rotates, according to the arrow F1, the light source 24 around of the X axis, which is also the sliding axis of the lamp body 18.

  In the illustrated embodiment, the lamp body 18 and the light source 24 form an assembly which is mounted so as to be able to rotate about the axis X. The lamp body 18 may also include means 25 for concealing 26 of part of the light beam emitted by the light source 24. As shown in FIG. 2, the concealment means 26 are carried by the lamp body 18 and can cover at least part of the window 22. They

  can also be carried by the light source 24.

  According to an alternative embodiment, not shown, the light source 24 is mounted angularly movable relative to the support 12 and is therefore no longer integral in rotation with the lamp body 18. In order to modify the orientation of the light beam, the user rotates, around the sliding axis x, a knob secured to the light source 24, thereby rotating the light source 24 without rotating the

lamp body 18.

  In order to modify the width of the light beam 5 emitted by the light source 24, means may be provided

  occulting mobiles, not shown, of part of the beam.

  These mobile means can be carried by the light source 24 or by the lamp body 18. The mobile concealment means are actuated for example by a ring, not shown, pivotally mounted on the lamp body 18, which is can rotate until the desired light intensity is obtained. As shown in FIG. 3, the lighting device 15 16 is in the retracted position inside the housing 20 so that only the axial free end 28 of the lamp body 18

is accessible to the user.

  To pass the lamp body 18 from one extreme position to the other, there is preferably provided a device, not shown, for opening and closing of known general design, comprising means for locking the lamp body. 18 as well as elastic means for recalling a

position towards each other.

  Thus, when the lamp body 18 is locked in the retracted position, the user exerts an axial pressure,

  as indicated by arrow F3, on the end 28 of the lamp body 18 against the elastic return means. The lamp body 18 is unlocked and then slides along the axis X from its retracted position to its extended position under the action of an ejection spring 30 which returns the body to this extended position.

  To return the lamp body 18 from its extended position to its retracted position, the user exerts an axial pressure on the end 28 according to arrow F3 so that the lamp body 18 slides along the axis X towards its retracted position against the force exerted by the ejection spring. When it reaches this position, the automatic locking means again immobilize the lamp body. We thus achieved a

  push-push type ejection device.

  There may also be provided means for automatically switching on the light source 24 when the lamp body is in the extended position, as well as means for automatically switching off the light source 24 when the lamp body

  lamp 18 is returned to the retracted position.

  The locking and ejection means as well as the ignition and extinction means preferably cooperate with

  the internal section of the lamp body 18.

  In a variant, not shown, of the occultation of the light beam, the lamp body 18 is mounted articulated i5 around a ball joint relative to the internal section. In position

  output, the user can then rotate the lamp body around the center of the ball until the desired orientation is obtained. Of course, the body must be brought back into a position aligned along the axis T with the internal section so as to be able to retract it again inside the cavity 20.

  In a variant for mounting on a ball joint, not shown, the light source can be located at the axial end 28 of the lamp body and thus form a "torch" lamp which can be used in the same way as for the other variants and which produces a light beam oriented generally along the axis of the section. In the example of embodiment described, the device

  lighting is arranged in a seat headrest but it can also be arranged in a side face of a seat, in an armrest or even in a quarter of the passenger compartment.

  The lighting device according to the invention has the advantage, when it is arranged in a headrest, for example, of being able to light, according to the orientation of the light beam, the

  rear seats or front seats.

  The lighting device according to the invention also has the advantage of an orientation which makes it possible not to dazzle the driver, whatever the orientation or to have a

maximum illumination, if desired.

  In addition, in the retracted position, the lighting device is very aesthetic, since the cavity 20 is small. This cavity can be covered by a part of the covering, for example. io In addition in the retracted position, the device has the advantage

  to be safe since no part protrudes.

  Finally, the use of the lighting device according to

  the invention is very easy since it only takes one finger to eject the device in the use position. A driver can therefore use it without danger.

Claims (12)

  1. Interior lighting device for a motor vehicle comprising a support (12), in which a housing 5 (20) is formed, and a lamp body (18) provided with a light source (24) capable of emitting a beam luminous through a window (22) of the lamp body (18), the body (18) being mounted movable, in a first direction, between: - a rest position in which the body (18) is io retracted at least in part inside the housing (20) so that the window (22) is closed; and - an extended position in which the window (22) is located outside the housing (20) and in which the beam is orientable, characterized in that, in the extended position, the light source 15 (24) is mounted movable relative to the support (12), in a second direction different from the first direction, for occupying different lighting positions corresponding to   different orientations of the beam.   2. Lighting device according to claim 1, characterized in that the first direction is rectilinear.   3. Lighting device according to one of claims 1 or 2,   characterized in that the second direction is circular.   4. Lighting device according to claim 3 taken in combination with claim 2, characterized in that the light source (24) is slidably mounted in the first direction and is rotatably mounted in the second direction,   around its general sliding axis.   5. Lighting device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the lamp body (18) is cylindrical with a circular sector.   6. Lighting device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lamp body (18) comprises movable means for concealing at least   minus part of the light beam.   7. Lighting device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the mobile concealment means are actuated by a ring mounted for rotation around the body of lamp (18).   8. Lighting device according to any one of   previous claims, characterized in that the light source (24) is mounted movable relative to the support (12) with the lamp body (18) so as to form an assembly   mounted movable relative to the support (12).   9. Lighting device according to any one of   previous claims, characterized in that the lamp body (18) is hingedly mounted on a ball joint to orient the beam.   10. Lighting device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the light source   (24) is mounted movable relative to the lamp body (18).   11. Lighting device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that means are provided for locking the lamp body (18) in one of the 20 rest or exit positions, elastic means for reminder of   lamp body towards the other of these positions, and in that the release of the locking means is activated by acting on the lamp body (18) against the force exerted by the means of recall.   12. Lighting device according to any one of   previous claims, characterized in that there are provided means for automatically switching off the light source (24) in the rest position, and means for automatically switching on the   light source in extended position.