GB1585409A

GB1585409A - Vehicle headlights using removable flanged electric light bulbs

Info

Publication number: GB1585409A
Application number: GB30272/77A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Cibie Projecteurs SA
Current assignee: Cibie Projecteurs SA
Priority date: 1976-07-20
Filing date: 1977-07-19
Publication date: 1981-03-04
Also published as: BR7704748A; ES460859A1; JPS5312187A; YU160577A; FR2359368A1; DE2732787B2; DE2732787C3; IT1084989B; JPS5914201B2; AR212654A1; DE2732787A1; FR2359368B1

Description

(54) VEHICLE HEADLIGHTS USING REMOVABLE FLANGED ELECTRIC LIGHT BULBS (71) We, CIBIE PROJECTEURS, a Societe Anonyme organised under the laws of France, of 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 state ment: The present invention relates to vehicle headlights using removable flanged electric light bulbs, such as a standard flanged bulb of the H 1 or H3 type (in accordance with EEC standards). The invention is particularly concerned with devices for fixing such bulbs in place in an opening in the reflector of the headlight.

Such fixing devices are known. However, the opening in the reflector must generally be die-stamped and then machined. Still according to a known technique, a ring is then fixed to the opening of the reflector, and assembly means, which may for example be constituted by a socket adapted to cooperate with said ring by a bayonet-type fixing, are provided to fix a bulb on the reflector.

One drawback of this prior technique lies in the considerable difficulty in mechanising the production and rendering it automatic, apart from the high cost price.

According to the present invention, a vehicle headlight has a generally bowlshaped reflector having an aperture receiving a flanged electric light bulb, with the flange of the light bulb lying outside the reflector and an elastic clip lying outside the reflector and acting on the flange of the light bulb to urge the flange towards the reflector to hold the light bulb in position in the aperture, the reaction to the force exerted by the clip on the flange being transmitted from the clip to a ring which is positioned within the reflector and encircling the light bulb, and then from the ring to the reflector. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the ring has at least two lugs which engage in corresponding openings in the reflector.

In order to avoid the disadvantage inherent in positioning an element on a machined surface of the reflector, the present invention proposes that the ring be positioned with respect to the reflector by the above-mentioned lugs and, axially, by the inner surface of the reflector, independently of any specific machining. The ring may be produced by stamping out and folding.

In a particular embodiment of the invention, one of the lugs of the ring may have a folded end within which part of the elastic clip is received, to form a hinged mounting for the clip.

It is particularly advantageous to produce one of the lugs of the ring in such a manner that it constitutes a male electrical connector of standardised dimensions and shape adapted to cooperate with a female earthing connector.

In one embodiment, the elastic clip comprises a shaped spring wire.

In another embodiment, the elastic clip may be formed by a flexible elastic plate. In either case, the flexible wire or plate may be articulated to a lug of the ring and one of its ends may then be adapted to engage in removable manner in a notch made in another lug of the ring.

To ensure secure positioning of the bulb on the reflector, the notch made in the said other lug on the ring and adapted to receive one end of the elastic clip is generally Lshaped, one limb of the L lying generally parallel to the plane of the front opening of the reflector, and the other limb of the L extending generally perpendicular to this plane, to form a catch for the elastic clip.

The invention will be more readily understood on reading the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows the fixing device according to the invention, the ring being mounted on the reflector, an elastic holding element being in place on said ring, in a view taken from the inside of the reflector; Figure 2 shows a section, through a plane passing through the axis of the headlight, of the fixing device according to the invention placed in position on a reflector and comprising an electric light bulb; Figure 3 shows a plan view of a lug fast with the ring of a fixing device according to the invention, said lug also serving as earthing plug.

Referring now to the drawings, a fixing device according to the invention, referenced 10, is intended to connect an electric light bulb 14 to a headlight reflector 12, particularly adapted to equip automobiles.

A flanged electric light bulb, particularly of the H 1 or H3 type, according to EEC standards, comprises an active part 16 adapted to be engaged in the reflector, a base 18, and a flange 20 adapted to abut against the edges of an opening made in the bottom of the reflector 12. Said opening in the reflector 12 is referenced 22. It is made in a cylindrical projection 24 which is integral with the reflector by deformation of the sheet metal thereof.

The actual fixing device 10 essentially comprises a ring 26 and an elastic holding element 28.

The ring 26 comprises at least two folded lugs such as 32 and 34, which are adapted to pass through the reflector in openings made therein, referenced 36 and 38. The positioning of the ring 26 along its axis, merged with the axis of the headlight when the ring is mounted, is ensured by contact of a folded edge 40 of the ring 26 against the circular edge establishing the connection between the parabolic surface of the reflector 12 and the cylindrical projection 24. Furthermore, the positioning of the ring in rotation about its axis is ensured by the openings 36 and 38 of the reflector 12.

In an advantageous embodiment, a lug in the ring 26, e.g. lug 32, may be folded to form a hook 42. Furthermore, another lug in ring 26, e.g. lug 34, may be elongated, of standardised dimensions adapted to form an earthing plug. Such a lug 34 is shown in Fig. 3.

Two zones may be distinguished: a functional zone 44 according to the general description of a lug of type 34 seen hereinabove and an elongated terminal zone 46 having cut corners suitable for forming an earthing plug.

The elastic holding element 28 may, in a preferred embodiment, be a folded metal spring wire of suitable section so that it is considerably flexible. Such an elastic holding element may for example comprise one or more zones of abutment of the type 48 and 50, a zone of articulation 52, and a locking zone 54. The zone of articulation 52 may be adapted to cooperate with a catch adopted for the fold 42 of the lug 32. The zones of abutment 48 and 50 are adapted to cooperate with the flange 20 of the electric light bulb 14. Finally, the locking zone 54 is adapted to cooperate with a catch which may advantageously be made in the lug 34.

When a device according to the invention for fixing an electric light bulb on a reflector is assembled, the ring 26 is placed in position, its lugs being engaged in the openings 36, 38 of the reflector 12; the electric light bulb 14 is engaged in the opening 22 of the reflector.

An elastic holding element such as element 28 is positioned in the fold 42 of the lug 32 of the ring 26. Ajoint is thus made between said elastic holding element and the ring 26. The application of the zones of abutment 48 and 50 of the elastic holding element on the flange 20 of the electric light bulb 14 is effected before the locking element 54 can cooperate with a catch made in the lug 34.

The engagement of the locking element 54 in such a catch consequently necessitates an effort taken up by an elastic flexion of the element 28 and which constitutes the effort of application of the bulb 14 on the reflector 12, the cooperation between these two elements being ensured by means of the flange 20 on the stamped base of the cylindrical projection 24 of the reflector 12.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, a catch 56 is provided in the lug 34 of the ring 26 for locking purposes, by cooperation with the locking zone 54 of the elastic holding element 28. This catch may be made at a right angle, one segment passing along a plane perpendicular to the axis of the headlight, and a locking segment, acting by a bayonet effect, along the axis of the headlight.

According to another embodiment, (not shown), the elastic holding element 28 is not constituted by a spring wire but by a highly elastic metallic strip fulfilling the same functions as wire 28.

Other embodiments, both concerning the elastic element 28 and the ring 26 and the different possibilities of locking and positioning the elements with respect to one another, may be envisaged without departing from the scope of the present invention. The embodiments described hereinabove have, of course, been given solely by way of nonlimiting example.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A vehicle headlight having a generally bowl-shaped reflector having an aperture receiving a flanged electric light bulb, with the flange of the light bulb lying outside the reflector and an elastic clip lying outside the reflector and acting on the flange of the light bulb to urge the flange towards the reflector to hold the light bulb in position in the aperture, the reaction to the force exerted by the clip on the flange being transmitted from the clip to a ring which is positioned within the reflector and encircling the light bulb, and then from the ring to the reflector.

2. A headlight as claimed in Claim 1, in which the elastic clip comprises a shaped spring wire.

3. A headlight as claimed in Claim 1, in

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

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. with the ring of a fixing device according to the invention, said lug also serving as earthing plug. Referring now to the drawings, a fixing device according to the invention, referenced 10, is intended to connect an electric light bulb 14 to a headlight reflector 12, particularly adapted to equip automobiles. A flanged electric light bulb, particularly of the H 1 or H3 type, according to EEC standards, comprises an active part 16 adapted to be engaged in the reflector, a base 18, and a flange 20 adapted to abut against the edges of an opening made in the bottom of the reflector 12. Said opening in the reflector 12 is referenced 22. It is made in a cylindrical projection 24 which is integral with the reflector by deformation of the sheet metal thereof. The actual fixing device 10 essentially comprises a ring 26 and an elastic holding element 28. The ring 26 comprises at least two folded lugs such as 32 and 34, which are adapted to pass through the reflector in openings made therein, referenced 36 and 38. The positioning of the ring 26 along its axis, merged with the axis of the headlight when the ring is mounted, is ensured by contact of a folded edge 40 of the ring 26 against the circular edge establishing the connection between the parabolic surface of the reflector 12 and the cylindrical projection 24. Furthermore, the positioning of the ring in rotation about its axis is ensured by the openings 36 and 38 of the reflector 12. In an advantageous embodiment, a lug in the ring 26, e.g. lug 32, may be folded to form a hook 42. Furthermore, another lug in ring 26, e.g. lug 34, may be elongated, of standardised dimensions adapted to form an earthing plug. Such a lug 34 is shown in Fig. 3. Two zones may be distinguished: a functional zone 44 according to the general description of a lug of type 34 seen hereinabove and an elongated terminal zone 46 having cut corners suitable for forming an earthing plug. The elastic holding element 28 may, in a preferred embodiment, be a folded metal spring wire of suitable section so that it is considerably flexible. Such an elastic holding element may for example comprise one or more zones of abutment of the type 48 and 50, a zone of articulation 52, and a locking zone 54. The zone of articulation 52 may be adapted to cooperate with a catch adopted for the fold 42 of the lug 32. The zones of abutment 48 and 50 are adapted to cooperate with the flange 20 of the electric light bulb 14. Finally, the locking zone 54 is adapted to cooperate with a catch which may advantageously be made in the lug 34. When a device according to the invention for fixing an electric light bulb on a reflector is assembled, the ring 26 is placed in position, its lugs being engaged in the openings 36, 38 of the reflector 12; the electric light bulb 14 is engaged in the opening 22 of the reflector. An elastic holding element such as element 28 is positioned in the fold 42 of the lug 32 of the ring 26. Ajoint is thus made between said elastic holding element and the ring 26. The application of the zones of abutment 48 and 50 of the elastic holding element on the flange 20 of the electric light bulb 14 is effected before the locking element 54 can cooperate with a catch made in the lug 34. The engagement of the locking element 54 in such a catch consequently necessitates an effort taken up by an elastic flexion of the element 28 and which constitutes the effort of application of the bulb 14 on the reflector 12, the cooperation between these two elements being ensured by means of the flange 20 on the stamped base of the cylindrical projection 24 of the reflector 12. In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, a catch 56 is provided in the lug 34 of the ring 26 for locking purposes, by cooperation with the locking zone 54 of the elastic holding element 28. This catch may be made at a right angle, one segment passing along a plane perpendicular to the axis of the headlight, and a locking segment, acting by a bayonet effect, along the axis of the headlight. According to another embodiment, (not shown), the elastic holding element 28 is not constituted by a spring wire but by a highly elastic metallic strip fulfilling the same functions as wire 28. Other embodiments, both concerning the elastic element 28 and the ring 26 and the different possibilities of locking and positioning the elements with respect to one another, may be envisaged without departing from the scope of the present invention. The embodiments described hereinabove have, of course, been given solely by way of nonlimiting example. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A vehicle headlight having a generally bowl-shaped reflector having an aperture receiving a flanged electric light bulb, with the flange of the light bulb lying outside the reflector and an elastic clip lying outside the reflector and acting on the flange of the light bulb to urge the flange towards the reflector to hold the light bulb in position in the aperture, the reaction to the force exerted by the clip on the flange being transmitted from the clip to a ring which is positioned within the reflector and encircling the light bulb, and then from the ring to the reflector.

3. A headlight as claimed in Claim 1, in

which the elastic clip is a flexible elastic plate.

4. A headlight as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 or Claim 3, in which the ring has at least two lugs which engage in corresponding openings in the reflector.

5. A headlight as claimed in Claim 4, in which one of the lugs of the ring has a folded end within which part of the elastic clip is received, to form a hinged mounting for the clip.

6. A headlight as claimed in Claim 4 or Claim 5, in which one of the lugs of the ring forms a male electrical connector which may cooperate with a female earthing connector.

7. A headlight as claimed in any one of Claims 4, 5 and 6, in which the elastic clip is articulated to a lug of the ring and one end of the clip is adapted to engage in removable manner in a notch made in another lug of the ring.

8. A headlight as claimed in Claim 7, in which the notch made in the said other lug on the ring and adapted to receive one end of the elastic clip is generally L-shaped, one limb of the L lying generally parallel to the plane of the front opening of the reflector, and the other limb of the L extending generally perpendicular to this plane, to form a catch for the elastic clip.

9. A vehicle headlight, substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.