GB2091864A

GB2091864A - Multi-chamber vehicle light

Info

Publication number: GB2091864A
Application number: GB8201027A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: SWF Spezialfabrik fuer Autozubehoer Gustav Rau GmbH
Current assignee: SWF Auto Electric GmbH
Priority date: 1981-01-17
Filing date: 1982-01-14
Publication date: 1982-08-04
Also published as: GB2091864B; IT8219117A0; IT1153404B; FR2498298A1; DE3101398A1

Abstract

A multi-chamber light fitting for a vehicle is of the kind comprising a cover plate (11) with lens (12), at least two chambers (27) which are separated from each other by at least one partition (25, 26) extending rearwards from the cover plate (11) and a lamp holder (32) for incandescent lamps which is part of the light fitting. In order to save material and cheaper production, the chambers (27) are open to at least one side, preferably the rear side opposite to the cover plate (11). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Multi-chamber vehicle light This invention refers to a multi-chamber light fitting for a vehicle of the kind comprising a cover plate with lens, at least two chambers, which are separated from each other by at least one partition extending rearwards from the cover plate and a lamp holder for incandescent lamps which is part of the light fitting.

The incandescent lamps of currently known light fittings are accommodated in a circumferentially closed housing having a front side, the greater part of whose area is occupied by the lens, through which the light of the incandescent lamps radiates, a rear side opposite to the front side, two longitudinal sides and two narrow sides. The interior of the housing is divided into separate chambers by partitions.

A multi-chamber light fitting of the above mentioned kind is, for example, shown in German specification AS 21 64776. In the embodiment described therein several box-shaped lens parts are combined to form a single larger housing having a front side, two longitudinal sides and two narrow sides. The rear side is closed by a lamp holder.

Starting from this prior art the invention is based on the problem of further developing a multichamber light fitting of the kind referred to in such a way that it can be produced economically, thus saving material and weight. Moreover, the tool, by means of which the light is preferably injectionmoulded from plastics material, is to be designed as simply as possible.

According to the invention in its broadest aspect, a multi-chamber light fitting for a vehicle of the kind referred to is characterised in that the chambers are open at least one side. Thus a light fitting according to the present invention in contrast to known light fittings has no outer walls at the rear side and/or at one or both longitudinal sides. The outer walls at the narrow sides can also be saved. By this extremely open design which, so-to-speak, does not include a housing, the material for the outer walls is saved.

The injection-moulding tools can also be made simpler, because they no longer have to include moulds for the missing outer walls. In comparison to known light fittings this results in considerable cost savings.

Advantageous further developments of a multichamber light fitting according to the invention will now be mentioned.

it is particularly of advantage, if at least the rear side opposite to the cover plate is open and the lamp holder is arranged on one longitudinal side of the light. This results in an extraordinarily small depth of the light fitting. Also the substantially selfsupporting partitions are only loaded to a small extent.

According to another feature it is possible to form the partition on the cover plate. This can be effected in a single injection-moulding operation. Then the light fitting substantially consists of the cover plate with formed-on partitions and of the lamp holder for the incandescent lamps.

It is particularly of advantage, if the multi-chamber light fitting is insertable in a hollow of the vehicle body. When the light fitting has been mounted on the vehicle in this way ail parts of the light fitting which are located behind the cover plate are excel lently protected against external influences in spite of the substantially missing outer walls.

The various chambers may be completely sepa rated in that the contour of each partition matches the corresponding cross-section of the hollow in the vehicle body.

In the advantageous further development the partition is formed on the lens. Of course, this will advantageously be effected in a single phase of operation by multi-colour injection-moulding.

In order to diminish the number of different colours it is possible to produce the partition from the same material as the lens and to cover the partition with a shade.

The cover plate may be provided with a circumferential sealing and at least one lug may be formed on this sealing, which lug extends beside the partition from one side to the opposite side, projects backwards and forms the shade. Thus a separate part is not necessary.

Other measures have the purpose of reliably holding the shade on the partition and of providing a reliable holding of the circumferential sealing.

The cover plate may include an outer rim surrounding the lens. Especially when this outer rim is made of an opaque material, it is of advantage to produce the partition or the partitions in one piece with the outer rim. An additional shade for the partition is not then necessary. The lens and outer rim including the partitions are preferably produced by multi-colour injection-moulding in a single phase of operation. It is appropriate also to provide the fastening means for the sealing on the outer rim, if there is one. Then the partition will advantageously be formed on the inner rib of the outer rim.

Due to the fact that the cross-section of the hollow in the body and the contour of the partitions will never match exactly because of unavoidable tolerances, a further development is of advantage, in which a rim is made of resilient material is put upon the partition which rim extends as far as the vehicle body. This rim, for example, can particularly simply be formed by the lug of the sealing serving as a shade, which lug projects beyond the partition.

There are further advantageous developments of a multi-chamber light fitting according to the invention, which refer to the arrangement of the lamp holder. Thus it is of advantage, when the lamp holder is held on the partitions. When the lamp holder is arranged on the longitudinal side of the light it thereby in particular improves the stability of the partitions.

When the lamp holder is produced separately, it may be mounted especially easily, if it is lockable on the partitions.

It can, however, also be of advantage to put the lamp holder directly on the cover plate, thus to connect it with the cover plate. This is advantageously effected in a single injection-moulding operation, so that the cover plate and the lamp holder are made in one piece. The lamp holder can also be made in one piece with the partitions or both with the cover plate and with the partitions. If it is made in one piece with the cover plate this may mean that the lamp holder is directly seated on the lens or on the outer rim.

When a reflector which is perhaps necessary for a signalling function, for example the fog light, is arranged on the lamp holder, it is no problem to exchange the incandescent lamp.

It can easily be avoided that the varnish of the body affects colour and intensity of the radiated light when a covering is inserted between the light fitting and the vehicle body. This will principally be neces sary for the chamber of the back-up light which is covered with a white glass.

Furthermore it is a particular advantage, if the connections to the electric circuit of the vehicle are made at the same time as the light is inserted in the body. For example this can be effected in that a plug or a plug receptacle is installed in the body so that, during the mounting operation, this part connects the electric contacts on the respective counterpart of the light fitting.

Further developments refer to ways in which a multi-chamber light fitting according to the invention, which practically has no housing can, in a simple manner, be fastened on the body.

For example, fastening means can be provided on the cover plate. The mounting is especially easy if the fastening means are locking springs. These locking springs can be produced separately and fixed on the cover plate. If, however, the material of the cover plate, in particular that ofthe outer rim, is sufficiently resilient, it is also possible to produce the locking springs in one piece with the cover plate.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure I is a longitudinal section taken on the line I-I of Figure 2 at half the level of a first embodiment according to the invention, Figure 2 is a cross-section taken on the line ll-ll of Figure 1 to an enlarged scale, Figure 3 is an enlarged cross-section taken on the line Ill-Ill of Figure 1, Figure 4 is an enlarged cross-section taken on the line IV-IV of Figure 1, Figure is a section corresponding to that of Figure 1, which refers, however. to a second embodiment of the invention, and Figure 6 is a cross-section through the second embodiment taken on the line VI-VI of Figure 5.

The multi-chamber light fittings according to the invention shown in the drawings are mounted in a hollow 10 of a motor vehicle body. On their front side they have a cover plate 11, which consists of a lens 12 and an outer rim 13. Staggered backwards from its outer edge, a first rib 14 extending in a rearward direction is formed on the outer rim 13. A second rib 15 extends further to the interior from the front wall 16 ofthe outer rim 13 in a rearward direction and forms a circumferential channel with the first rib 14. In this channel and in the area outside of the rib 14 is inserted a sealing 17 which completely covers the rib 14 and receives it in a groove 18. By this design a reliable holding ofthe sealing on the outer rim is achieved, even if the light fitting has not yet been mounted on the vehicle.When the light fitting is mounted on the vehicle the sealing rests against the sheet metal 19 of the body. Because there are only small openings in the vehicle body, if there are any at all, which openings have the purpose of fastening the light, the sealing 17 serves mainly for sealing the area located behind the cover plate 11 of the light to the outside. Due to the only small openings in the sheet metal 19 of the body the luggage compartment is also reliably sealed to the outside.

The space behind the lens 12 is divided into separate chambers 27 which are located one beside the other. One of the two outer chambers 27 is covered by a yellow glass 28, the other by a white glass 29 ofthe lens 12. All chambers in between are covered by a red glass 30 of the lens 12. In all chambers but one there is an incandescent lamp 31.

All incandescent lamps are arranged on a single lamp holder 32.

The multi-chamber light fitting according to Figures 1 to 4 has a total of five chambers which, from the inside to the outside, are provided for the functions of flasher light, stop and brake light, tail light, fog light and back-up light Thus the outermost chamber is that which is covered by the glass 28 of the lens 12. In the front section of their upper and lower edge the parititons 25 of this light are formed on the second rib 15 of the outer rim 13. They are made of the same opaque material as the outer rim. There is no other connection between the partitions 25 and the cover plate 11.

As can be seen in particular from Figures 3 and 4 the lamp holder 32 is designed as a plane plate with which the lamp sockets 33 are made in one piece. On the outside of the lamp.holder 32 are projecting ribs 34 between which the metal conductors 35 are located. The ribs 34 are caulked in some places, so that some material is pressed over the metal conductors 35 and these are firmly held on the lamp holder 32. All metal conductors 35 lead to the various incandescent lamps 31 from a central place within the chamber 27 for the tail light. In this central place all metal conductors are rectangularly bent, and through an opening 41 in the lamp holder 32 they project rectangularly from the inner side of the lamp holder 32 as plug connections 42. Figure 1 shows that the plug connections 42 are arranged one beside the other in a row. As can be seen from Figure 2, contact springs 43 connect the various metal conductors 35 with the socket 44 and the central contact 45 or with the two central contacts 45 of the incandescent lamps 31.

The lamp holder 32 of the multi-chamber light fitting according to Figures 1 to 4 is injectionmoulded separately and locked at the lower longitudinal side of the light on the partitions 25. This results in a small depth of the light fitting. Moreover, when the lamp holder is arranged in this way the arrangement is stabler than an arrangement on the rearside of the partitions 25. Figure 3 shows that for locking the lamp holder 32 on the partition 25 two locking springs 47 are formed by means of slots on the partitions from their lower edge. Each locking spring 47 extends through an opening 48 in the lamp holder 32 and engages behind it with a hook 49.

In order to achieve the light values required for the fog light a reflector 55 is necessary. This reflector is made of sheet metal and mounted on the lamp holder 32. Thus it is no problem to exchange the incandescent lamp of the fog light.

The elements for fastening the light on the body 19 are provided on the outer rim 13 which is part of the cover plate 11. The fastening elements are locking springs 56 which are separately made from spring steel, which locking springs, through a recess 57 in the sealing 17 are put upon the rib 14 of the outer rim 13 like a safety pin and captively held on the rib by means of a locking hook 58. The locking springs 56 extend through small openings 59 in the sheet metal 19 of the body and engage behind it. In the case of a demounting the lights can be detached from the inside.

In order to make it absolutely impossible for the varnish of the body sheet metal 19 to affect the colour and intensity of the radiated light in any way a covering 60 is inserted between the light and the body sheet metal 19.

The lens 12 of the light fitting according to Figures 1 to 4 has transparent, coloured glasses 28, 29 and 30, which are produced in one phase of operation by four-colour injection-moulding together with the opaque, coloured outer rim 13 and the partitions 25.

The sealing 17 is directly foamed in the outer rim 13.

However, it is also possible to use a separately produced sealing. Furthermore it is possible to produce the outer rim 13 with the partitions 25 separately and to heat-seal the glasses 28, 29 and 30 separately or the lens 12 as a whole with the outer rim 13. The lamp holder 32 could also be made in one piece with the outer rim and the paritions 25.

The embodiment shown in Figures 5 and 6 has partitions 26 consisting of the material of the lens which at their front edges remade in one piece with the lens 12. In order to prevent light from penetrating from one chamber to the neighbouring chamber 27 each partition 26 is covered by a shade 70 which rests on one side of the partition 26. The shades 70 are part of the sealing 17 and are designed as lugs extending fron one side to the opposite side of the sealing. On its rim adjacent to the body sheet metal 19 each shade widens to form a cap 71. In this cap there is a groove 72 which receives the backward edge of the partition 26. The middle of the groove is interrupted by a cam 73 which engages in a recess 74 of the partition 26. By this design the shade 70 is reliably held on the partition 26.Because of the resilient material which is used for the production of the sealing, the cap 71 fits closely on the body metal sheet 19. Therefore it is to be regarded as a rim put on the partition 26 which rim extends as far as to the body of the vehicle.

The upper longitudinal side of the rib 15 of the outer rim 13 is formed in such a way that it can simultaneously be used as a lamp holder. The inner side of the rib is designed in step-fashion, whereby the steps extend in the longitudinal direction of the light. On all steps but the uppermost there is located a metal conductor 35 which is smaller than the respective step. The metal conductors 35 are secured in their positions by caulking of the steps in various places. On the side of the rib 14 facing the lamp holder 32 there are recessions into which a sheet metal part 76 is pushed which projects below the lamp holder 32 in the places where the incandescent lamps 31 are located, which sheet metal part extends diagonally upwards and there forms a lamp socket 77 for the respective incandescent lamp 31.

The middle contacts 45 of the incandescent lamps 31 are also connected to the metal conductors via contact springs 43.

The light fitting shown in Figures 5 and 6 is also mounted on the body 19 by means of locking springs. It is therefore provided with locking springs 78 which, in contrast to the embodiment according to Figures 1 to 4, are formed in one piece on the outer rim 13. These locking springs are formed by elongations of the rib 14 which extend through the sealing 17, through the body sheet metal 19 and engage behind it with a locking hook 58.

Again, various metal conductors 35 are connected to the network of the vehicle in a central place. In this central place the metal conductors are bent rectangularly backwards from their longitudinal direction and may be used as plug connections 42. A plug 79 is secured to the body sheet metal 19. The leads of the receptacles of this plug are combined into a wiring harness 80. When the light is mounted the electric connections are made simultaneously.

In Figure 5 and 6 the lamp holder 32 is made of the same material as the outer rim 13 and made in one piece with it. It is, however, also conceivable to produce the lamp holder of the material of the lens. It would also be possible to produce the lamp holder of a different material as the lens or the outer rim, and produce it in one operating phase by multicolour injection-moulding. The embodiment of a multi-chamber light fitting according to Figures 5 and 6 is especially suitable for a production of lens 12, outer rim 13 and lamp holder 32 in a single operating phase. It is possible to foam in the sealing 17 at the same time.

Claims

1. A multi-chamber light fitting for a vehicle of the kind comprising a cover plate (11) with lens (12) at least two chambers (27), which are separated from each other by at least one partition (25,26) extending rearwards from the cover plate (11) and a lamp holder (32) for incandescent lamps which is part of the light fitting, characterised in that the chambers (27) are open to at least one side.

2. A multi-chamber light fitting according to claim 1, characterised in that at least the rearside opposite to the cover plate (11) is open and the lamp holder (32) is arranged on one longitudinal side of the light.

3. A multi-chamber light fitting according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that, on the rearside and substantially on at least one longitudinal side, the partition (25,26) has no connection with other light fitting parts.

4. A multi-chamber light fitting according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the partition (25,26) is formed on the cover plate (11).

5. A multi-chamber light fitting according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that it is insertable in a hollow (10) of the vehicle body.

6. A multi-chamber light fitting according to claim 5, characterised in that the contour of each partition (26) matches the corresponding crosssection of the hollow (10) in the vehicle body.

7. A multi-chamber light fitting according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the partition (26) is formed on the lens (12).

8. A multi-chamber light fitting according to claim 7, characterised in that the partition (26) is made ofthe same material as the lens (12) and covered by a shade (70).

9. A multi-chamber light fitting according to claim 8, characterised in that the cover plate (11) is provided with circumferential sealing (17) and that at least one lug (70) is formed on this sealing, which lug extends beside the partition (26) from one side to the opposite side, projects backwards and forms the shade.

10. A multi-chamber light fitting according to claim 9, characterised in that the shade (70) overlaps the partition (26).

11. A multi-chamber light fitting according to claim 9 or 10, characterised in that the partition (26) has at least one recess (74) into which the shade (70) engages with a stud (73).

12. A multi-chamber light fitting according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the cover plate (11) is provided with a rib (14) staggered backwards from its outer edge directed backwards, which rib is located in a groove (18) ofthe sealing (17).

13. A multi-chamber light fitting according to claim 12, characterised in that a second rib (15) is arranged at a greater spacing from the edge of the cover plate (11).

14. A multi-chamber light fitting according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the cover plate (11) includes an outer rim (13) surrounding the lens (12), with which outer rim the partition (25) is made in one piece.

15. A multi-chamber light fitting according to claim 14, characterised in that the ribs (14, 15) are provided on the outer rim (13).

16. A multi-chamber light fitting according to claim 14 or 15, characterised in that the partition (25) is formed on the inner rib (15) of the outer rim (13).

17. A multi-chamber light fitting according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that on the partition (26) a rim (71) made of a resilient material is put, which rim extends as far as to the body (19) of the vehicle.

18. A multi-chamber light fitting according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the lamp holder (32) is held on the partitions (25).

19. A multi-chamber light fitting according to claim 18, characterised in that the lamp holder (32) is lockable on the partitions (25).

20. A multi-chamber light fitting according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the lamp holder (32) is directly put on the cover plate (11).

21. A multi-chamber light fitting according to claim 18 or 20, characterised in that the lamp holder is formed in one piece with the partitions.

22. A multi-chamber light fitting according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a reflector (55) for an incandescent lamp (31) is arranged on the lamp holder (32).

23. A multi-chamber light fitting according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a covering (60) is arranged between the light fitting and the body (19) of the vehicle.

24. A multi-chamber light fitting according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that when the light is inserted in the body, the connections to the electrical circuit of the vehicle are simultaneously effected.

25. A multi-chamber light fitting according to claim 24, characterised in that the electric connections (42) may be pushed into a plug housing (79) which is firmly held in the body (19).

26. A multi-chamber light fitting according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it has fastening means (56,78) which are provided on the cover plate (11).

27. A multi-chamber light fitting according to claim 26, characterised in that the fastening means are locking springs (56,78)

28. A multi-chamber light fitting according to claim 27, characterised in that the locking springs (56) are separately produced and fixed on the cover plate (11).

29. A multi-chamber light fitting according to claim 28, characterised in that the separate locking springs (56) are put onto the outer rib (14) through a recess (57) in the sealing (17).

30. A multi-chamber light fitting according to any one of claims 26 to 29, characterised in that the fastening means (56,78) are provided on the outer rim (13).

31. A multi-chamber light fitting according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the locking springs (78) are produced in one piece with the outer rim (13).

32. A multi-chamber light fitting for a vehicle substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.