GB1568638A - Headlamp reflectors having arrangements for fixing a lamp in a rear opening of the reflector - Google Patents

Description

(54) HEADLAMP REFLECTORS HAVING ARRANGEMENTS FOR FIXING A LAMP IN A REAR OPENING OF THE REFLECTOR (71) We, CIBIE PROJECTEURS, a Societe Anonyme organised under the laws of France, residing at 17, rue Henri Gautier, 93012 Bobigny, France, do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: The present invention relates to headlamp reflectors having arrangements for fixing a lamp in a rear opening of the reflector, particularly for an automobile vehicle.

It relates more particularly to a fixing arrangement which is of simple design and easy to use for a standardised lamp of type H4, according to E.E.C. standards; such a lamp has a base having a centring ring provided with three angularly spaced positioning tongues adapted to be positioned precisely, in a determined angular position of the lamp, in the rear opening of the reflector.

According to the present invention, the opening of the reflector is bordered by a tubular flange comprising three grooves all of the same depth adapted to receive the tongues of the lamp, the fixing arrangement comprising at least two spring wires, each of which is pivotally mounted at its ends on the reflector, and has a loop in the central part of its length, and is so arranged that it is pivotable between a release position in which its loop is generally tangential to the flange, and a locking position in which its loop projects inwards through a notch in the flange to press against the ring of the lamp.

With such an arrangement, the loops can be folded down to their locking position only if the tongues are correctly engaged in the corresponding grooves of the flange. Furthermore, the stable character of the pivoting of the loop between its two positions ensures, once the loops are folded down, a firm hold of the lamp in the opening of the reflector despite the vibrations and shocks to which the latter may be subjected.

The tubular flange is preferably integral with the sheet metal reflector both being stamped from sheet metal.

The ends of each wire are preferably mounted to pivot on two parallel tabs made on a ring connected to the rear face of the reflector.

The invention will be more readily understood on reading the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an isometric projection of a headlamp reflector equipped with a lamp fixing arrangement embodying the invention; Figure 2 is a rear view of the fixing arrangement of Figure 1; and Figure 3 is an elevational view, on a larger scale, of the fixing arrangement, seen from III in Figure 2.

Referring now to the drawings, Figures 1 to 3 show a parabolic reflector 10 which forms part of an automobile vehicle headlamp. The reflector 10 which is, for example, produced by stamping from thin sheet metal, comprises a front opening 12 on which is usually fixed a grooved or ribbed glass (not shown), and a rear opening 14 for receiving a lamp 16.

The lamp 16 is a standardised lamp of type H4 (according to E.E.C. standards). This lamp is a twin filament lamp and comprises around its base 18 a centering ring 20 provided with three radial positioning tongues 22a, 22b and 22c angularly spaced apart from one another by specified angles. The tongue 22c is substantially wider than the other two and must be directed upwardly when the headlamp is mounted in the vehicle. The lamp 16 also has three contacts 24 for the electrical supply of the main beam and dipped-beam filaments of the lamp. The construction of the lamp 16 will not be described further in the present specification; for further details, reference may be made to the standards concerning H4 type lamps.

The opening 14 of the reflector 10 is bordered by a tubular flange 26 which, in the present embodiment, is integral with the reflector 10, having been stamped therefrom.

The inner diameter of the flange 26 is similar to the outer diameter of the ring 20. The flange 26 has three angularly spaced axial grooves 28a, 28b and 28c adapted to receive the three tongues 22 of the lamp 16. The grooves 28 all have the same depth so that the plane of the ring 20 is perpendicular to the axis of the reflector 10 when the tongues 22 abut on the bottom of the grooves 28; the flange 26 also ensures the centring of the ring 20 in the opening 14, so that the axis of the filaments of the lamp 16 coincides with the axis of the reflector.

The flange 26 also has two substantially diametrically opposite notches 30a and 30b which are each adapted to allow a loop 32 formed in the central part of a spring wire 34 to press on the rear surface of the ring 20.

It will be observed that the depth of the notches 30 is such that the bottom thereof is at the most located at the level of the rear face of the ring 20 when the tongues 22 are located completely in the grooves 28.

As shown more particularly in Figure 3, the ends of each wire 34 are pivoted in tabs 38 attached to the rear of the reflector. Each wire has, adjacent each of its ends, a cranked portion, so that the parts 36 of the wire between each of these cranked portions and the central loop 32 are shifted away from the straight line joining the two pivot points defined by the tabs 38. The direction of this shift is such that the parts 36, the loop 32, and the said straight line all lie in the same plane, but with the parts 36 on the side of the straight line away from the loop 32.

It will be observed that the straight line joining the pivot points defined by the tabs 38 slightly intersects the flange 26 so that said latter imposes a slight deformation on the wire 34, at least when it occupies the position shown in Figure 3, in which the plane of the loop 32 is tangential to the flange 26 at the level of notch 30.

In view of the arrangement of the tabs 38 with respect to the flange 26 and the particular shape of the wires 34, the loop 32 of each wire has two stable positions, viz.

1. A release position, that shown in Figure 3, in which the loop 32 is tangential to the flange 26; the wire 34 is slightly curved between parts 36 owing to the contact of the beginning of the 'oop 32 with the outer wall of the flange 26.

2. A locking position, shown in Figures 1 and 2, in which the loop 32 abuts on the ring 20 of the lamp 16 after the wire 34 has pivoted about its ends on the tabs 38. The ends of the wires 34 being located at a lower level (as seen in Figure 3) than the rear face of the ring 20, it is clear that the wire 24, is, in this locking position, slightly deformed in such a way as to exert a force tending to keep the ring 20 in place in the flange 26.

The pivoting of the loops 32 from their release position to their locking position can occur only if all the tongues 22 are correctly engaged in the grooves 28 and abutting the 'ttttD1n If this is not so, then for at least one of the wires 34, the level of the ring VO will be too high and will prevent the pivoting of the loop 32 towards the inside of the opening 14.

The particular shape of each of the wires 34 described hereinabove and shown more specifically in Figure 3 is only one embodiment, and others may be given to the wire 34 as long as its shape and its assembly on the reflector 10 allow the pivoting of the loop 32 between the two above-defined stable positions.

In the case of the flange 26 being integral with the reflector 10 by being stamped therefrom, the tabs 38 on which the ends of the wires 34 are pivoted may be obtained simply by folding four tongues pre-cut from a ring 40 connected to the rear face of the reflector 10.

In a variant embodiment (not shown), all the grooves 28 and notches 30 are made in this same ring 40, which in this case has a sleeve-like flange surrounding the flange 26; the ring 40 could in fact be attached to the flange 26. The bottom of the grooves 28 could still be defined by the flange 26, as shown in British Patent No. 1,396,792 filed by the Applicants on July 12, 1972.

The ring 40 may be fixed on the reflector 10 by any suitable means.

In the present example, this fixing is obtained by the cooperation of a plurality of small projections 42, made on the base of the flange 26, with the inner periphery of the ring 40.

This cooperation could be effected by simple engagement. However, in the illustrated embodiment, a bayonet type engagement of the ring 40 with the projections 42 is used. To this end, the ring 40 has notches 44 which result from the tongues 38 being cut out. When assembling the ring 40 to the reflector 10, the notches 44 allow the ring to pass over the projections 42; the ring 40 is then rotated, so that the projection 42 are engaged against he rear surface of the ring, to hold the ring in position. The ring 40 is immobilised in its final position by folding down a tab 46 inside the ring 40 into a notch 48 made in the flange 26.

The fixing arrangement described hereinabove is put into action as follows: After moving the loops 32 of the wires 34 to their release position, the lamp 16 is introduced into the opening 14 in the desired angular position so that the tongues 22 engage in the corresponding grooves 28. The loops 32 are then folded down through the notches 30 towards their locking position in abutment on the ring 20. This pivoting can occur only if the lamp 16 is correctly in position in the flange 26. The elastic deformation of the wires 34 in the locking position of the loops 32 ensures that the tongues 22 remain in abutment on the bottom of the grooves 28.

The invention is of course not limited to the embodiments which have been described hereinabove. Numerous modifications may be made, particularly regarding the shape and arrangement of the wires 34, the mode of fixing the ring 40 on the reflector 10 and the arrangement of the different grooves and notches in the flange 26, irrespective of whether the flange is integral with the reflector.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A headlamp reflector having an arrangement for fixing, in a rear opening of the reflector, a lamp of H4 type in accordance with E.E.C. standards, which lamp has a base comprising a centring ring provided with three radial, angularly spaced positioning tongues, the opening of the reflector being bordered by a tubular flange comprising three grooves all of the same depth adapted to receive the tongues of the lamp, the fixing arrangement comprising at least two spring wires, each of which is pivotally mounted at its ends on the reflector, and has a loop in the central part of its length, and is so arranged that it is pivotable between a release position in which its loop is generally tangential to the flange, and a locking position in which its loop projects inwards through a notch in the flange to press against the ring of the lamp.

2. A headlamp reflector as claimed in Claim 1, wherein each spring wire has, between each of its ends and the loop, a portion disposed in the same plane as the loop and adapted to assist the pivoting of the loop on the ring.

3. A headlamp reflector as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the tubular flange is integral with the reflector, both being stamped from sheet metal.

4. A headlamp reflector as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 or Claim 3, wherein the ends of each wire are mounted to pivot on two parallel tabs made on a ring connected to the rear face of the reflector.

5. A headlamp reflector as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the ring is fixed to the reflector by the cooperation of a plurality of small projections made in the base of the flange with the inner periphery of the ring.

6. A headlamp reflector as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the ring is provided on its inside on the one hand with notches enabling it to be fixed in bayonet fashion on the flange of the reflector and on the other hand with a tab adapted to be folded down in a notch formed in this flange to immobilise the ring in rotation thereon.

7. A headlamp reflector as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein each wire has a form similar to that shown in Figure 3.

8. A headlamp reflector as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the ends of the spring wire are mounted substantially at the level of the bottom of the grooves.

9. A headlamp reflector having an arrangement for fixing a lamp in a rear opening of the reflector, the fixing arrangement being substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (9)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. hereinabove. Numerous modifications may be made, particularly regarding the shape and arrangement of the wires 34, the mode of fixing the ring 40 on the reflector 10 and the arrangement of the different grooves and notches in the flange 26, irrespective of whether the flange is integral with the reflector. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A headlamp reflector having an arrangement for fixing, in a rear opening of the reflector, a lamp of H4 type in accordance with E.E.C. standards, which lamp has a base comprising a centring ring provided with three radial, angularly spaced positioning tongues, the opening of the reflector being bordered by a tubular flange comprising three grooves all of the same depth adapted to receive the tongues of the lamp, the fixing arrangement comprising at least two spring wires, each of which is pivotally mounted at its ends on the reflector, and has a loop in the central part of its length, and is so arranged that it is pivotable between a release position in which its loop is generally tangential to the flange, and a locking position in which its loop projects inwards through a notch in the flange to press against the ring of the lamp.

2. A headlamp reflector as claimed in Claim 1, wherein each spring wire has, between each of its ends and the loop, a portion disposed in the same plane as the loop and adapted to assist the pivoting of the loop on the ring.

3. A headlamp reflector as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the tubular flange is integral with the reflector, both being stamped from sheet metal.

4. A headlamp reflector as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 or Claim 3, wherein the ends of each wire are mounted to pivot on two parallel tabs made on a ring connected to the rear face of the reflector.

5. A headlamp reflector as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the ring is fixed to the reflector by the cooperation of a plurality of small projections made in the base of the flange with the inner periphery of the ring.

6. A headlamp reflector as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the ring is provided on its inside on the one hand with notches enabling it to be fixed in bayonet fashion on the flange of the reflector and on the other hand with a tab adapted to be folded down in a notch formed in this flange to immobilise the ring in rotation thereon.

7. A headlamp reflector as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein each wire has a form similar to that shown in Figure 3.

8. A headlamp reflector as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the ends of the spring wire are mounted substantially at the level of the bottom of the grooves.

9. A headlamp reflector having an arrangement for fixing a lamp in a rear opening of the reflector, the fixing arrangement being substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.