GB2093972A

GB2093972A - Indicator lamp for automobile vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB2093972A
Application number: GB8204209A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Frankani SA
Current assignee: Frankani SA
Priority date: 1981-03-03
Filing date: 1982-02-12
Publication date: 1982-09-08
Also published as: FR2501335B1; ES264017Y; ES264017U; IT8219869A0; GB2093972B; IT1149692B; FR2501335A1; DE3207367A1

Abstract

The invention relates to an indicator lamp for an automobile vehicle, of the type comprising a base fixed to the bodywork of the vehicle and carrying a plurality of electric bulbs separated by partitions fast with the said base, a transparent or translucent cover covering the said bulbs, each bulb being surrounded by a reflecting surface, the lamp further comprising means for coloration of the light emitted by each of the said bulbs. The lamp according to the invention is characterised in that the said reflecting surfaces (3) surrounding each bulb (2) are disposed in such manner as to reflect the radiation emitted by the bulb (2) in parallel beams substantially parallel to the said cover (4), an opaque network (5) substantially at right angles to the said cover (4) being disposed on the optical path (F) of the said reflected beams and an inclined plane reflecting surface (7) being disposed in such manner as to reflect, substantially at right angles to the said cover (4) the reflected beams which have passed through the said opaque network (5). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Indicator lamp for automobile vehicle The present invention relates to an indicator lamp for an automobile vehicle, of the type comprising a base fixed to the bodywork of the vehicle and carrying a plurality of electric bulbs separated by partitions fast with the said base, a transparent or translucent cover covering the said bulbs, each bulb being surrounded by a reflecting surface, the lamp further comprising means for colouring the light emitted by each of the said bulbs.

In French Patent No. 80.22752 in the name of the Applicants it was proposed to surround the bulbs with a coloured cap fixed to the base, utilising a reflecting surface adjacent to the bulb for the diffusion of the light. In order to impart to the lamp a uniform appearance when the bulbs are extinguished, it is necessary that the transparent cover should be coloured with a relatively dark uniform tint. This coloration of the cover produces a significant attenuation of the photometric values leading to the use of electric bulbs of greater power, thus more troublesome, which introduce significant problems of heat generation.

The present invention aims at remedying these drawbacks of the previously described lamps, by means of a new lamp which produces practically no attenuation of the photometric values, while preserving a uniform appearance of the lamp.

To this end, the lamp according to the invention is characterised in that the said reflecting surfaces surrounding each bulb are disposed in such manner as to reflect the radiation emitted by the bulb in parallel beams substantially parallel to the said cover, an opaque network substantially at right angles to the said cover being disposed on the optical path of the said reflected beams and an inclined plane reflecting surface being disposed in such manner as to reflect, substantially at right angles to the said cover, the reflected beams which have passed through the said opaque network.

The opaque network can be constituted by a grid our a textile or metallic screen, or by a honeycomb structure the walls of which are substantially parallel to the said cover.

The invention will be clearly understood on reading of the following description given with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view of a lamp according to one example of embodiment of the invention, and Figure 2 is analogous with Figure 1, for a variant.

The indicator lamp comprises a base 1 carrying electric bulbs 2 separated by partitions (not shown) fast with the base 1. Each bulb is surrounded by a reflecting surface 3 which reflects the light emitted by the bulb in a beam parallel to the direction F. In Figure 1 the direction F is parallel to the axis of the bulb 2 while in Figure 2 it is perpendicular thereto.

The lamp comprises a single cover 4 parallel to the direction F, which cover is transparent, colourless or slightly tinted. A honeycomb structure 5 is disposed in the vicinity of the bulbs 2 at right angles to the direction F. The walls 6 of the structure 5 are parallel to the direction F. A reflecting plane surface 7 inclined at 450 in relation to the structure 5 and to the cover 4 is fast with the base 1 and disposed in such manner as to reflect the beams parallel to the direction F as beams F' perpendicular to the cover 4 and issuing from the lamp through this cover. The bulbs 2 are surrounded by a coloured transparent cap 8 fixed to the base 1, the colour of the cap 8 corresponding to the visible function colour when this bulb is lit For bulbs which are to emit a white light (reverse function), the cap 8 is eliminated.

In the form of embodiment according to Figure 1 the reflecting surface 7 is in one piece with the reflecting surfaces 3 which surround the bulbs 2 and form part of the base 1. The surfaces 3 and 7 are obtained by metallisation of the corresponding faces of the base. The surface 7 is connected to the surfaces 3 by a plastic hinge 9 obtained by a diminution of thickness in moulding. The assembly can be moulded in one single piece, the hinge 9 being subsequently bent in the fitting of the cover 4 of the lamp.

In the variant according to Figure 2 the reflecting surface 7 is constituted by an attached mirror. It can equally be replaced by a surface (not shown) comprising a plurality of prisms effecting orthogonal refraction. A "cat's-eye" reflector 10 is further fixed between the base 1 and the cover 4.

When none of the bulbs 2 is lit, the incident light passing through the cover 4 falls obliquely upon the honeycomb 5 and practically does not reach the reflecting surfaces 3. Thus the cover appears of uniform coloration. On the contrary the lighting of a bulb 2 produces a light beam which may be coloured by the cap 8, parallel with the direction F. This beam is reflected with very little loss on the surface 7 in order to issue parallel with the direction F through the cover 4. The colouring can be obtained by any suitable means, for example by painting of the bulb.

Claims

1. Indicator lamp for automobile vehicle, of the type comprising a base fixed to the bodywork of the vehicle and carrying a plurality of electric bulbs separated by partitions fast with the said base, a transparent or translucent cover covering the said bulbs, each bulb being surrounded by a reflecting surface, the lamp further comprising means for coloration of the light emitted by each of the said bulbs, characterised in that the said reflecting surfaces (3) surrounding each bulb (2) are disposed in such manner as to reflect the radiation emitted by the bulb (2) in parallel beams substantially parallel to the said cover (4), an opaque network (5) substantially at right angles to the said cover (4) being disposed on the optical path (F) of the said reflected beams and an

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

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Indicator lamp for automobile vehicle The present invention relates to an indicator lamp for an automobile vehicle, of the type comprising a base fixed to the bodywork of the vehicle and carrying a plurality of electric bulbs separated by partitions fast with the said base, a transparent or translucent cover covering the said bulbs, each bulb being surrounded by a reflecting surface, the lamp further comprising means for colouring the light emitted by each of the said bulbs. In French Patent No. 80.22752 in the name of the Applicants it was proposed to surround the bulbs with a coloured cap fixed to the base, utilising a reflecting surface adjacent to the bulb for the diffusion of the light. In order to impart to the lamp a uniform appearance when the bulbs are extinguished, it is necessary that the transparent cover should be coloured with a relatively dark uniform tint. This coloration of the cover produces a significant attenuation of the photometric values leading to the use of electric bulbs of greater power, thus more troublesome, which introduce significant problems of heat generation. The present invention aims at remedying these drawbacks of the previously described lamps, by means of a new lamp which produces practically no attenuation of the photometric values, while preserving a uniform appearance of the lamp. To this end, the lamp according to the invention is characterised in that the said reflecting surfaces surrounding each bulb are disposed in such manner as to reflect the radiation emitted by the bulb in parallel beams substantially parallel to the said cover, an opaque network substantially at right angles to the said cover being disposed on the optical path of the said reflected beams and an inclined plane reflecting surface being disposed in such manner as to reflect, substantially at right angles to the said cover, the reflected beams which have passed through the said opaque network. The opaque network can be constituted by a grid our a textile or metallic screen, or by a honeycomb structure the walls of which are substantially parallel to the said cover. The invention will be clearly understood on reading of the following description given with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view of a lamp according to one example of embodiment of the invention, and Figure 2 is analogous with Figure 1, for a variant. The indicator lamp comprises a base 1 carrying electric bulbs 2 separated by partitions (not shown) fast with the base 1. Each bulb is surrounded by a reflecting surface 3 which reflects the light emitted by the bulb in a beam parallel to the direction F. In Figure 1 the direction F is parallel to the axis of the bulb 2 while in Figure 2 it is perpendicular thereto. The lamp comprises a single cover 4 parallel to the direction F, which cover is transparent, colourless or slightly tinted. A honeycomb structure 5 is disposed in the vicinity of the bulbs 2 at right angles to the direction F. The walls 6 of the structure 5 are parallel to the direction F. A reflecting plane surface 7 inclined at 450 in relation to the structure 5 and to the cover 4 is fast with the base 1 and disposed in such manner as to reflect the beams parallel to the direction F as beams F' perpendicular to the cover 4 and issuing from the lamp through this cover. The bulbs 2 are surrounded by a coloured transparent cap 8 fixed to the base 1, the colour of the cap 8 corresponding to the visible function colour when this bulb is lit For bulbs which are to emit a white light (reverse function), the cap 8 is eliminated. In the form of embodiment according to Figure 1 the reflecting surface 7 is in one piece with the reflecting surfaces 3 which surround the bulbs 2 and form part of the base 1. The surfaces 3 and 7 are obtained by metallisation of the corresponding faces of the base. The surface 7 is connected to the surfaces 3 by a plastic hinge 9 obtained by a diminution of thickness in moulding. The assembly can be moulded in one single piece, the hinge 9 being subsequently bent in the fitting of the cover 4 of the lamp. In the variant according to Figure 2 the reflecting surface 7 is constituted by an attached mirror. It can equally be replaced by a surface (not shown) comprising a plurality of prisms effecting orthogonal refraction. A "cat's-eye" reflector 10 is further fixed between the base 1 and the cover 4. When none of the bulbs 2 is lit, the incident light passing through the cover 4 falls obliquely upon the honeycomb 5 and practically does not reach the reflecting surfaces 3. Thus the cover appears of uniform coloration. On the contrary the lighting of a bulb 2 produces a light beam which may be coloured by the cap 8, parallel with the direction F. This beam is reflected with very little loss on the surface 7 in order to issue parallel with the direction F through the cover 4. The colouring can be obtained by any suitable means, for example by painting of the bulb. Claims

1. Indicator lamp for automobile vehicle, of the type comprising a base fixed to the bodywork of the vehicle and carrying a plurality of electric bulbs separated by partitions fast with the said base, a transparent or translucent cover covering the said bulbs, each bulb being surrounded by a reflecting surface, the lamp further comprising means for coloration of the light emitted by each of the said bulbs, characterised in that the said reflecting surfaces (3) surrounding each bulb (2) are disposed in such manner as to reflect the radiation emitted by the bulb (2) in parallel beams substantially parallel to the said cover (4), an opaque network (5) substantially at right angles to the said cover (4) being disposed on the optical path (F) of the said reflected beams and an inclined plane reflecting surface (7) being disposed in such manner as to reflect, substantially at right angles to the said cover (4), the reflected beams which have passed through the said opaque network (5).

2. Lamp according to Claim 1, wherein the said opaque network is constituted by a honeycomb structure (5) the walls (6) of which are substantially parallel to the said cover (4).

3. Lamp according to one of Claims 1 and 2, wherein the said inclined plane reflecting surface (7) is in one piece with the reflecting surfaces (3) surrounding the bulbs (2).

4. Lamp according to Claim 3, wherein the said inclined plane reflecting surface (7) is connected to the said reflecting surfaces (3) surrounding the bulbs (2) by a plastic hinge (9) moulded integrally with the said base (1).

5. Lamp according to one of Claims 1 and 2, wherein the said inclined plane reflecting surface (7) is constituted by a mirror attached to the said base (1).

6. Lamp according to one of Claims 1 and 2, wherein the said inclined plane reflecting surface (7) is constituted by a surface comprising a plurality of prisms effecting substantially orthogonal refraction.

7. Indicator lamp for automobile vehicle substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.