JP2004231053A - Vehicular lamp - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vehicular lamp wherein the loose fitting or the like of a wedge bulb is prevented, and the insertion of the wedge bulb is facilitated. <P>SOLUTION: The vehicular lamp 20 is equipped with the wedge bulb 21 having a bulb body 21b and a plate-shape terminal 21c, a lens 24 covering the wedge bulb 21, hold parts 40, 41 holding the plate-shape terminal 21c from the thickness direction, and terminals 22, 23 having leg parts 22a, 22b, 23a, 23b supporting the holding parts 40, 41 and fixed to the lens 24. In the vehicular lamp, abutting support parts 42, 43 supporting the wedge bulb 21 by abutting on the outer peripheral surface of the bulb body 21b with a surface contact, are provided on the terminals 22, 23 so as to energize the bulb body 21b with the deflection of the leg parts 22a, 23a. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a vehicular lamp in which a terminal holding a bulb is fixed to an inner surface of a lens.
[0002]
[Prior art]
DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART Conventionally, a courtesy lamp attached to a lower part inside a door of a vehicle is known as a vehicular lamp (see Patent Document 1). As shown in FIG. 7, the courtesy lamp 1 includes a wedge valve 2, terminals 3 and 4 for holding the wedge valve 2, and a lens 5.
[0003]
The wedge valve 2 has a valve body 2a containing a filament and a flat terminal 2b for conducting to the filament. In the flat terminal 2b, terminal portions having different poles are disposed at one end and the other end of the flat surface, respectively, and the filament emits light when a current flows through the terminal portion.
[0004]
The lens 5 has a substantially rectangular shape, and a lens cut 6 for diffusing the illumination light of the wedge bulb 2 is formed on an inner surface thereof.
[0005]
A locking piece 7 for locking the lens 5 to a door (not shown) is provided through a base 7a at one longitudinal end on the inner surface side of the lens 5 and extends from a power source (not shown) at the other end. A connector section 8 connected to the socket is provided via a base section 8a. Both the base 7a and the base 8a have a wall shape extending in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the lens 5, and ribs 9 and 10 extending in the longitudinal direction are provided between the base 7a and the base 8a. On a surface of the rib 9 facing the rib 10, a leg fixing portion 11 for fixing a leg 3a of the terminal 3 described later is provided. On a surface of the rib 10 facing the rib 9, a leg fixing portion 12 for fixing a leg 4a of the terminal 4 described later is provided. The lens 5, the locking piece 7, the base 7a, the connector 8, the base 8a, the ribs 9, 10 and the leg fixing parts 11, 12 are integrally formed of a transparent resin.
[0006]
The terminals 3 and 4 are metal pieces having symmetrical shapes. The terminals 3 and 4 are provided with holding portions 3b and 4b for holding the flat terminal 2b of the wedge valve 2 from above and below the flat surface and in a conductive state. As shown in FIG. 8, the holding portions 3b and 4b have a U-shaped cross section in a side view, and upper end pieces 13a and 14a that come into contact with the upper surface of the flat plate surface at the ends thereof, and come into contact with the lower surface. Lower holding pieces 13b and 14b are formed.
[0007]
In order to prevent rattling of the valve body 2a, a fixing piece 15 having a U-shaped cross section in front view contacts the terminal 3 at three points: an upper portion 15a, a lower portion 15b, and a side portion 15c. Similarly, the terminal 4 is provided with a fixing piece 16 having a U-shaped cross section in front view so that the fixing piece 16 contacts the valve body 2a at three points: an upper portion 16a, a lower portion 16b, and a side portion 16c. Is provided. The holding portions 3b, 4b and the fixing pieces 15, 16 are supported by the legs 3a, 4a.
[0008]
The terminals 3, 4 hold the wedge valve 2 by the holding portions 3 b, 4 b holding the flat terminal 2 b from above and below the flat surface, and the fixing portions 15, 16 contacting the valve body 2 a from above and below and from the side. Hold. The terminal 3 is fixed to the lens 5 by the distal end portion 3c of the leg portion 3a of the terminal 3 being fitted into a space facing the ribs 11a and 11b of the leg fixing portion 11 having a hook-like cross section. Similarly, the terminal 4 is fixed to the lens 5 by the distal end 4 c of the leg 4 a of the terminal 4 being fitted into a space facing the hook-shaped ribs 12 a and 12 b constituting the leg fixing portion 12. When the wedge valve 2 is installed on the terminals 3 and 4 fixed to the lens 5 as described above, the holding portions 3b and 4b come into contact with the terminals 17 provided on the connector portion 8 to be electrically connected, When the connector portion 8 is connected to the socket, the wedge valve 2 can be turned on.
[0009]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-071426, FIG.
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, since the fixing portions 15 and 16 have a U-shaped cross section as viewed from the front as shown in FIG. 9, when the wedge valve 2 is held by the fixing portions 15 and 16, the valve main body 2 a has six points. (Reference numerals 15a, 15b, 15c, 16a, 16b, 16c in FIG. 9). However, the valve body 2a has a dimensional error (tolerance) within an allowable range, and not all the valve bodies 2a are necessarily the same in size. Therefore, even when the valve main body 2a is held by the fixing portions 15 and 16, all six points do not always come into contact with the valve main body 2a, so that the wedge valve 2 may rattle. In particular, since the courtesy lamp 1 receives a large impact each time the door is opened and closed, the wedge valve 2 cannot be sufficiently supported by the structure in which the valve body 2a is held at each contact point. In addition to the rattling, there is a problem that the bulb light may flicker, and the wedge bulb 2 may fall off due to falling off.
[0011]
The fixing portions 15, 16 and the holding portions 3b, 4b are fixed to the lens 5 by the legs 3a, 4a of the terminals 3, 4, but the legs 3a, 4a are fixed to the fixing portions 15, 16 and the holding portion 3b. And 4b are provided only for fixing to the lens 5, and are not designed to adjust a dimensional error of the valve main body 2a or the like depending on the shape or installation angle of the legs 3a and 4a.
[0012]
Further, when replacing the wedge bulb 2 in the courtesy lamp 1, the old wedge bulb is pulled out obliquely forward and upward (in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 8) into the insertion opening 18 formed by the fixing portions 15, 16. Then, the new wedge valve 2 is inserted obliquely from the insertion opening 18. For this reason, in the structure of the courtesy lamp 1 as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, as shown in FIG. 10, when inserting the wedge bulb 2, the tip 2 c of the flat terminal 2 b is fixed to the fixing portions 15 and 16 and the lower portion. Since it easily enters between the holding pieces 13b and 14b, there is a possibility that an erroneous insertion may occur. In order to avoid this erroneous insertion, it is necessary to carefully mount and replace the wedge valve 2. However, if the assembly is performed carefully, there is a problem in that the assembly process takes a long time and productivity is reduced. Was. In addition, when the insertion angle of the wedge valve 2 is not appropriate, the distal end portion 2c of the flat terminal 2b may be caught on the lower holding pieces 13b and 14b. For this reason, an unnecessary force is applied to the lower holding pieces 13b, 14b to damage the lower holding pieces 13b, 14b, and the upper holding pieces 13a, 14a and the lower holding pieces 13b, 14b of the holding portions 3b, 4b are There was also a risk that the distance between the two would be increased.
[0013]
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to firstly provide a vehicular lamp in which wedge valves can be prevented from rattling and the like, and secondly, wedge valves can be easily inserted. .
[0014]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention according to claim 1 includes a wedge valve having a valve body and a flat terminal, a lens covering the wedge valve, and a clamping for clamping the flat terminal from a thickness direction. A lamp having a terminal and a terminal that carries the holding portion and is fixed to the lens, the terminal being in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the valve body by surface contact to support the wedge valve. The contact support portion is a vehicular lamp provided on the terminal so as to urge the valve body by bending of the leg portion.
[0015]
The invention according to claim 2 is the vehicle lamp according to claim 1, wherein the holding portion has a pair of holding pieces abutting on the flat terminal, and the holding portion is provided on the lens surface side of the pair of holding pieces. A guide portion for guiding the flat terminal to the holding portion is formed at an end of the holding piece.
[0016]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0017]
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a courtesy lamp 20 as a vehicular lamp according to the present invention includes a wedge valve 21, terminals 22 and 23 for holding the wedge valve 21, and a lens 24.
[0018]
The wedge valve 21 has a valve body 21b containing a filament 21a and a flat terminal 21c for conducting to the filament 21a. The flat terminal 21c is provided with terminal portions having different poles at one end and the other end of the flat surface, and the filament 21a emits light when a current flows through the terminal portion.
[0019]
The lens 24 has a substantially rectangular shape, and a lens cut 25 for diffusing the illumination light of the wedge bulb 21 is formed on the inner surface thereof.
[0020]
A locking piece 26 for locking the lens 24 to a door (not shown) is provided at one longitudinal end on the inner surface side of the lens 24, and a connector connected to a socket extending from a power source (not shown) is provided at the other end. A part 27 is provided. At four corners of the lens 24, leg fixing portions 28 to 31 for fixing the legs 22a, 22b, 23a, 23b of the terminals 22, 23 are arranged. The leg fixing portions 28 and 29 are formed integrally with a base 26a that supports the locking piece 26, and the leg fixing portions 30 and 31 are formed integrally with a base 27a that supports the connector 27. The leg fixing portion 28 is provided with an opening 32 for fixing the leg portion 22a of the terminal 22, and the leg fixing portion 29 is provided with an opening 33 for fixing the leg portion 23a of the terminal 23. The leg fixing portion 30 is provided with an opening 34 for fixing the leg portion 22b of the terminal 22, and the leg fixing portion 31 is provided with an opening 35 for fixing the leg portion 23b of the terminal 23. I have. The lens 24, the locking piece 26, and the connector 27 are integrally formed of transparent resin together with the bases 26a, 27a and the leg fixing parts 28 to 31.
[0021]
As shown in FIG. 4, the terminals 22 and 23 are gold pieces having shapes substantially symmetric to each other. The terminals 22 and 23 are provided with holding portions 40 and 41 for holding the flat terminal 21c of the wedge valve 21 in the thickness direction and in a conductive state. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the holding portions 40 and 41 have a U-shape when viewed from the side, and holding portions 40a and 41a that contact the upper surface of the flat terminal 21c at their ends and a lower surface. The lower holding pieces 40b and 41b that are in contact with the (lens 24 side) are formed. The distal ends of the lower holding pieces 40b, 41b are longer than the distal ends of the upper holding pieces 40a, 41a, and the contact of the lens body 21 from the contact point S contacting the flat terminal 21c to the lens body 21 in the installation of the lens body 21b. The distal end extends to the vicinity of the outer peripheral surface of the lens 24 (lower side).
[0022]
The terminals 22 and 23 are provided with contact portions 42 and 43 that contact the outer peripheral surface of the valve body 21b in order to prevent rattling of the valve body 21b. The contact surfaces (inner curved surfaces) 42a and 43a of the contact portions 42 and 43 with the outer peripheral surface are formed in curved shapes corresponding to the outer surface shape of the valve body 21b. The side surfaces of the surfaces 42a and 43a are semicircular in front view. For this reason, the contact portions 42 and 43 can make contact with the outer surface of the valve body 21b on the entire contact surfaces 42a and 43a.
[0023]
The holding portion 40 and the contact portion 42 are formed integrally with the legs 22a and 22b that support them, and the holding portion 41 and the contact portion 43 are formed integrally with the legs 23a and 23b that support them. The leg portions 22a and 23a have open leg portions 22c and 23c extending forward from the front ends 42b and 43b of the contact portions 42 and 43 and extending in the width direction of the lens 24. Further, since the length of the legs 22a, 23a to the leg fixing portion is longer than that of the legs 22b, 23b, even if the distal ends of the legs 22a, 23a are fixed to the leg fixing portions 28, 29. The contact portions 42 and 43 have a structure that is easily bent in the width direction of the lens 24. For this reason, the leg portions 22a and 23a have a bending characteristic for urging the contact portions 42 and 43 toward the valve body 21b.
[0024]
In the terminal 22, the leg 22a of the terminal 22 is extended to the leg fixing portion 28, the tip of the leg 22a is fitted into the opening 32, and the leg 22b is extended to the leg fixing portion 30 to extend the leg 22b. The distal end is fixed to the lens 24 by being fitted into the opening 34. Similarly, in the terminal 23, the leg 23 a of the terminal 23 is extended to the leg fixing portion 29, the tip of the leg 23 a is fitted into the opening 33, and the leg 23 b is extended to the leg fixing portion 31. The distal end of the portion 23b is fixed to the lens 24 by being fitted into the opening 35.
[0025]
Next, a procedure for installing the wedge valve 21 on the terminals 22 and 23 fixed to the lens 24 will be described. First, the flat terminal side 21c of the wedge valve 21 is inserted into an insertion opening 44 in which a pair of abutting portions 42 and 43 face each other. When the flat terminal 21c passes through the inside of the contact portions 42 and 43, the flat terminal 21c is guided between the upper holding pieces 40a and 41a and the lower holding pieces 40b and 41b of the holding sections 40 and 41 (sandwich section). I will At this time, it is difficult to insert the wedge valve 21 horizontally with respect to the insertion opening, since the wedge valve 21 has the locking piece 26 in front of the insertion opening, and the wedge valve 21 is inserted obliquely as shown by the arrow C in FIG. Often. Even when the wedge valve 21 is inserted obliquely as described above, since the lower holding pieces 40b and 41b are extended, the lower holding pieces 40b and 41b serve as a guide member for the holding portion. The portion 21d is guided to the holding portion along the lower holding pieces 40b and 41b. Thereafter, the flat terminal 21c is pushed into the holding portions 40, 41 from the holding portion, the valve body 21b moves between the pair of contact portions 42, 43, and the flat terminal 21c moves in the vertical direction of the flat surface. The valve body 21b abuts on the abutting surfaces 42a and 43a while being urged from the left and right sides by the bending of the legs 22a and 23a, and the wedge valve 21 is fixed. You.
[0026]
When the wedge valve 21 is installed with respect to the terminals 22 and 23 fixed to the lens 24 in this manner, the holding portions 40 and 41 come into contact with the terminals provided on the connector portion 27 to be electrically connected, When the connector portion 27 is connected to the socket, the wedge valve 21 can be turned on.
[0027]
As described above, in the courtesy lamp 20 according to the present invention, the shape of the contact surfaces 42a and 43a of the contact portions 42 and 43 is a curved surface shape corresponding to the facing shape of the valve body 21b. The portions 42 and 43 can be brought into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the valve body 21b by surface contact with the entire contact surfaces 42a and 43a, and the valve can be compared with the conventional case where the valve body 21b contacts the valve body 21b at six points. The main body 21b can be held more firmly. Furthermore, since the contact portions 42 and 43 are urged in the direction of the valve body 21b by the bending of the leg portions 22a and 23a, even when the valve body 21b has an error due to tolerance, the outer peripheral surface of the valve body 21b can be used. The abutment surfaces 42a and 43a are in contact with the wedge valve 21, and the wedge valve 21 can be held more firmly. For this reason, it is possible to prevent the wedge valve 21 from rattling, and to prevent the wedge valve 21 from falling off, causing a contact failure and flickering, and preventing the wedge valve 21 from being detached and attached to cause no light. Become.
[0028]
Further, in the courtesy lamp 20 according to the present invention, since the distal ends of the lower holding pieces 40b and 41b are extended, even when the wedge valve 21 is inserted diagonally, the end of the flat terminal 21c is oblique. 21d can be prevented from entering between the contact portions 42, 43 and the holding portions 40, 41. Further, since the lower holding pieces 40b and 41b are extended and serve as a guide member, even when the wedge valve 21 is inserted obliquely, the end 21d of the flat terminal 21c is held at the lower holding piece. It is guided to the holding portions of the holding portions 40 and 41 along the holding portions 40b and 41b, so that the end portion 21d of the flat terminal 21c is less likely to be caught by the lower holding pieces 40b and 41b, thereby preventing the holding portion from being opened. It becomes possible. Further, since the lower holding pieces 40b and 41b are extended to the vicinity of the lower outer peripheral surface of the valve body 21b, even when a large force is applied to the wedge valve 21 in the direction of the lens 24, the lower holding pieces 40b and 41b are held. The portions 40b and 41b can suppress the force, and can reduce the rattling of the wedge valve 21.
[0029]
Although the vehicle lamp according to the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments. For example, the description has been given using the courtesy lamp 20 as the vehicle lamp according to the present invention. However, the present invention is not limited to the courtesy lamp, and the present invention is applied to a vehicle room lamp (interior lamp), a trunk room lamp, and the like. It does not matter.
[0030]
【The invention's effect】
In the vehicle lighting device according to the present invention, since the contact support portion that comes into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the valve body by surface contact is provided, the valve body can be supported by the entire contact surface of the contact portion. For this reason, it becomes possible to hold the valve body more firmly as compared to the case where a fixing portion that contacts the valve body at six points is used as in the related art.
[0031]
Further, since the contact support portion is fixed to the terminal so as to urge the valve body by bending of the leg portion, even if an error occurs in the product dimensions of the wedge valve due to tolerance of the valve body, Regardless of the error, the contact surface can be brought into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the valve body, preventing rattling of the wedge valve, flickering due to poor contact of the wedge valve, and non-lighting due to falling off of the wedge valve. Etc. can be prevented.
[0032]
Furthermore, in the vehicular lamp according to the present invention, since the guide portion is formed at the end of the holding piece located on the lens side, the gap between the holding portion and the contact support portion is narrowed, and the gap is reduced. For this reason, even when the wedge valve is inserted obliquely, it is possible to prevent the distal end of the flat terminal from entering between the contact support portion and the holding portion. Furthermore, since the guide member is formed, even when the wedge valve is obliquely inserted, the leading end of the flat terminal is guided to the holding portion along the guide portion. Becomes less likely to be caught on the holding pieces, and it is possible to prevent the gap between the pair of holding pieces from being widened.
[0033]
Also, since the guide portion is formed on the holding piece on the lens side, even if a large force is applied to the wedge valve in the lens direction (downward direction), the wedge valve is supported by the holding portion. The force can be suppressed and absorbed, and the wobble of the wedge valve can be reduced.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a vehicular lamp according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a vehicular lamp according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a side view showing a vehicle lamp according to the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a pair of terminals according to the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a terminal according to the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a side view showing a terminal according to the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a conventional vehicular lamp.
FIG. 8 is a side view showing a conventional vehicle lamp.
FIG. 9 is a sectional view showing a BB section shown in FIG. 8;
FIG. 10 is a side view showing a terminal relating to a conventional vehicle lamp.
[Explanation of symbols]
1,20 courtesy lamp 2,21 wedge valve 2a, 21b valve body 2b, 21c flat terminal 3,4,22,23 terminal 22c, 23c open leg 5,24 lens 7,26 locking piece 8,27 connector 40, 41 Holding parts 40a, 41a Upper holding pieces 40b, 41b Lower holding pieces (guide parts)
42, 43 Contact part (contact support part)
42a, 43a contact surface

Claims (2)

A wedge valve having a valve body and a flat terminal,
A lens covering the wedge valve;
A vehicle lighting device comprising: a terminal having a holding portion that holds the flat terminal from a thickness direction and a leg that holds the holding portion and is fixed to the lens.
A contact support portion that contacts the outer peripheral surface of the valve body by surface contact to support the wedge valve is provided at the terminal so as to bias the valve body by bending of the leg portion. The vehicular lamp according to claim 1, wherein: The holding portion has a pair of holding pieces that contact the flat terminal,
The guide part for leading the said flat terminal to the said holding part is formed in the edge part of the holding | maintenance piece located in the said lens surface side among this pair of holding | maintenance pieces, The Claim 1 characterized by the above-mentioned. Vehicle lighting fixtures.

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