JP2004281314A - Vehicular lighting device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vehicular lighting device in which a socket can be inserted and removed from the rear side of a lamp body and can be also inserted from the inner side of the lamp body. <P>SOLUTION: The vehicular lighting device comprises a socket hole 11 provided in a lamp body 10 forming a lamp chamber S together with a front cover 14 and a socket 30 that is inserted in the socket hole and supports a bulb 20 protruded in the lamp chamber. The socket and the socket hole are constituted of a lining-up ellipse and a cylindrical socket holder 40 that holds the socket periphery is provided at the peripheral edge of the socket hole. And an elastic hook 42 that extends so as to shrink the socket insertion hole and prevents falling-off of the socket by engaging with and crimping the engagement groove 31 provided on the outer periphery of the socket, is provided at the socket holder, and can insertion fit the socket from either inside or outside of the lamp chamber. The side face 31a of the engagement groove on the socket front end part side is constituted of a slant face slanting toward the socket insertion direction, and the elastic hook is elastically deformed in the socket hole opening direction in accordance with the movement of the socket toward rear side of the socket hole, and can pull out the socket toward the back side of the lamp body. Fitting (insertion fitting of the socket) of the bulb can be carried out smoothly in a series of process of mounting the lamp component member on the inner side of the lamp body. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a vehicle lamp in which a socket for holding a light source body such as a bulb or an LED can be inserted into and removed from the socket insertion hole provided in the lamp body from the rear of the lamp body, and in particular, a socket for holding the light source body. The present invention relates to a vehicular lamp that can be inserted into a socket insertion hole from inside a lamp body (light room side).
[0002]
[Prior art]
As a conventional vehicle lamp of this type, a socket for holding a light bulb as a light source body is inserted into a socket insertion hole provided in the lamp body by bayonet engagement, and the socket is rotated from the rear of the lamp body. It can be inserted and removed by operating. That is, in the case of a vehicular lamp, when the filament of a light bulb breaks and does not turn on, the lamp is generally replaced with the socket 4 so that it can be removed integrally with the socket 4 from the rear of the lamp body without removing the front cover. It can be inserted and removed only from the back of the body.
[0003]
Although it is not a technology related to a vehicle lamp, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. H11-163873 discloses a method of inserting a socket 4 into an insertion hole 2 of a circuit board 1 as shown in FIGS. A bulb mounting device in which 4 is fixedly held is disclosed. That is, the outer shape of the socket 4 holding the light bulb 3 and the insertion hole 2 are formed in an oblong shape, and the socket 4 and the insertion hole 2 are positioned in the circumferential direction, and the second hole provided on the insertion end side of the socket 4. The distal end portion 5a of the first elastic hook 5 and the distal end portion 6a of the second elastic member 6 provided on the side of the socket 4 on which the light bulb is provided sandwich the periphery of the insertion hole 2 of the circuit board 1 from both sides. The circuit board 1 and the socket 4 (the light bulb 3) are fixed. Reference numeral 1a denotes a conductive path (pattern) formed on the circuit board 1.
[0004]
[Patent Document 1] JP-A-7-335348
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, according to the above-described conventional technology, the socket can be inserted into and removed from the insertion hole only from one side of the lamp body or the substrate. In particular, the vehicular lamp is configured such that the socket can be inserted and removed only from the rear of the lamp body.
[0005]
For this reason, in the process of assembling the lamp, after assembling the reflectors, extension reflectors, shades, and other lamp components as necessary from above the lamp body with the inside facing upward, the lamp body is inserted into the seal groove of the lamp body via a seal material. The seal leg of the front cover must be assembled, the lamp must be turned upside down, the socket insertion hole must be turned upward, and the socket supporting the light bulb must be inserted.
[0006]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-described problems of the related art, and has as its object to hold a light source body from the front side of the lamp body as well as to insert and remove a socket supporting the light source body from the rear of the lamp body. An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicular lamp into which a socket can be inserted.
[0007]
Means and action for solving the problem
In order to achieve the above object, a vehicle lamp according to claim 1 is assembled to a container-like lamp body and a front opening of the lamp body, and defines a lamp chamber in cooperation with the lamp body. A vehicle lamp including a front cover, a socket insertion hole provided in the lamp body, and a light source main body disposed in the lamp chamber supported by a socket inserted into the socket insertion hole.
The socket insertion hole is formed integrally with the lamp body, and comprises a cylindrical socket holder having an inner peripheral surface aligned with the outer peripheral surface of the socket,
The socket holder is provided with an elastic hook that extends so as to reduce the diameter of the socket insertion hole, engages with an engagement groove provided on an outer peripheral surface of the socket and presses the socket to prevent the socket from coming off. When inserting the socket into the socket insertion hole from either side of the lamp room or outside, the elastic hook pressed against the socket outer peripheral surface is elastically deformed in the socket insertion hole expanding direction and engages with the engagement groove, When the socket inserted into the socket insertion hole is pulled out to the rear of the lamp body, the elastic hook pressed against the outer peripheral surface of the socket is elastically deformed in the direction of expanding the socket insertion hole and engages with the engagement groove. Is configured to be canceled.
[0008]
Here, the front cover is an optical member that transmits light on the lamp room side, and includes both a so-called front lens provided with a lens step and a transparent front cover without a lens step.
[0009]
(Operation) When replacing the light source body, if the rear end of the socket exposed at the rear of the lamp body is pulled with a force greater than the urging force of the elastic hook, the socket is pressed into the socket insertion hole rearward, Since the outer peripheral surface of the socket (the side surface of the engaging groove on the front end side of the socket) pushes and expands the elastic hook in the opening direction of the socket insertion hole, the engagement with the engaging groove of the elastic hook is released, and the light source body is supported. The socket to be inserted can be pulled out rearward from the socket insertion hole. In the case where the light source body can be inserted into and detached from the socket (socket separated type), in the case where a new light source body is inserted into the socket and the socket and the light source body are integrated and cannot be separated (socket integrated type), Prepare a new whole (a new socket integrating the light source body). When the rear end of the socket is grasped by hand and pushed into the socket insertion hole from the rear of the lamp body in the circumferential direction with respect to the socket insertion hole, the elastic hook pressed by the front end of the socket is inserted into the socket. The socket is elastically deformed in the opening direction and engages with the engagement groove, so that the socket is inserted into the socket insertion hole.
[0010]
Also, in the process of assembling the lamp (work), the lamp body is arranged so that the inside faces upward, and the lamp components such as the reflector and the front cover are assembled from above the lamp body. The lamp supporting the light source body can be inserted into the socket insertion hole from above the lamp body in a series of lamp assembly processes (operations) performed with the lamp facing upward. After that, the troublesome work of reversing the lamp so that the socket insertion hole faces upward and then inserting the socket supporting the light source body is eliminated.
[0011]
According to claim 2, in the vehicle lamp according to claim 1, between the inner peripheral surface of the socket holder and the outer peripheral surface of the socket, a detent means for positioning the socket in the peripheral direction of the socket insertion hole is provided, The outer shape of the socket and the socket insertion hole are formed in a substantially elliptical shape to constitute a detent means for the socket, and the elastic hook and the engaging groove are provided near both ends of the ellipse in the major diameter direction.
[0012]
(Effect) In order to prevent the light distribution from being blurred and to position the filament, which is the light emitting portion, in the circumferential direction with respect to the reflector, it is necessary to provide a detent means between the socket and the socket insertion hole. . The detent means of the socket may be constituted by a socket holder having a circular cross section and an axially extending groove and an engagement projection provided between the inner and outer peripheral surfaces of the socket. If the mounting hole (socket holder) is formed of a rectangle, an ellipse, or a polygon that can be engaged in the axial direction and fixed in the circumferential direction, it is not necessary to provide a special detent means. In particular, the ellipse is close to a circle, and it is ideal for reducing the gap between the inner and outer peripheral surfaces between the socket and the socket insertion hole (socket holder) to ensure smooth sliding of the socket in the axial direction of the socket insertion hole. It is.
[0013]
In addition, the vicinity of both ends in the direction of the major axis of the ellipse of the socket having a substantially elliptical cross section is sandwiched by elastic hooks, and the socket inserted into the socket insertion hole (socket boulder) does not play with the socket insertion hole (socket holder). Supported.
[0014]
According to Claim 3, in the vehicle lamp according to Claim 1 or 2, the side face of the engagement groove on the socket front end side side is formed with a gentle slope, and the socket is inserted into the socket insertion hole. The elastic hooks engaged with the engagement grooves are pressed by the gentle slopes of the engagement grooves and elastically deform in the socket insertion hole expanding direction with the press-fitting of the socket insertion holes to the rear side. It was configured as follows.
[0015]
If the inclination of the side surface (gently inclined surface) of the engagement groove with respect to the socket front end side with respect to the socket insertion direction is too small, the positioning of the socket (light source body) in the front-rear direction (axial direction) becomes insufficient, and conversely, it is too large. 30 to 50 degrees (approximately 40 degrees), which makes it possible to position the socket (light source body) in the front-rear direction (axial direction) sufficiently and to smoothly pull out the rear. Is desirable.
[0016]
(Function) When the socket is pulled out to the rear of the lamp body, the gentle slope on the front end side of the socket of the engaging groove smoothly pushes and expands the elastic hook in the direction of opening the socket insertion hole. Is easily released.
[0017]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle lighting device according to any one of the first to third aspects, the socket is provided with a handle extending through the socket insertion hole and extending rearward of the lamp body. .
[0018]
(Operation) With the socket inserted into the socket insertion hole (socket holder), the handle extends to the rear of the lamp body. By grasping the handle with a hand and pulling it backward, the socket holding the light source main body can be pulled out backward from the socket insertion hole (socket holder). The socket can be inserted into the socket insertion hole by grasping the handle with a hand and pushing the socket into the socket insertion hole from behind the lamp body.
[0019]
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle lighting device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the elastic hook is sandwiched between a pair of longitudinal slits provided on a peripheral wall of the socket holder on the light room side, and the light room side is formed. It is constituted by a part of the peripheral wall, which is configured to swing in the longitudinal direction of the socket insertion hole when inserting and removing the socket,
A power supply cord extending from the front end of the socket into the lamp chamber is connected to a power supply cord extending outside the lamp chamber through a connector inserted into a connector insertion hole provided in the lamp body.
An O-ring as waterproof means is interposed between the socket insertion hole and the socket and between the connector insertion hole and the connector.
[0020]
(Operation) In the lamp assembling step of assembling the lamp constituent member on the front side of the lamp body, the socket is inserted into the socket insertion hole from the rear end side, but the power supply cord is led out from the front end of the socket. The cord does not prevent insertion of the socket.
[0021]
Further, in a vehicle tool, it is desirable that the vicinity of the socket insertion hole on the back side of the lamp is previously opened so that the light source body can be easily replaced (insertion / removal of the socket). As a result, the surroundings of the socket insertion hole at the rear of the lamp body can be made to have a lamp structure in which it is opened in advance.
[0022]
The power supply cord derived from the socket passes through the lamp chamber and is led out of the lamp chamber through another hole (connector insertion hole) different from the socket insertion hole. Although it is necessary to take waterproofness, any of them can be dealt with by a simple waterproofing means called O-ring.
[0023]
7. The vehicle lamp according to claim 1, wherein the socket holder is formed integrally with the lamp body, and surrounds the socket holder in a vertical wall shape and extends rearward. On the inside of the part, while being spaced apart via a rib, constituted by a plurality of arc-shaped divided holders extending apart in the circumferential direction via a vertical slit,
The elastic hook is constituted by a circumferential end region of the arc-shaped divided holder opposed to each other with a vertical slit therebetween, and is configured to swing in a transverse direction of the socket insertion hole when the socket is inserted and detached. ,
A power supply cord led out from the rear end of the socket into the outer cylinder portion is led into the lamp chamber through a gap between the outer cylinder portion and the socket holder, and a connector inserted into a connector insertion hole provided in the lamp body. Via a power cord that extends outside the lamp room,
A waterproof cap is attached to the cylindrical portion, and an O-ring as waterproof means is interposed between the connector insertion hole and the connector.
[0024]
(Operation) In the lamp assembly process of assembling the lamp components on the front side of the lamp body, the socket is inserted into the socket insertion hole from the rear end side. The power supply cord derived from the end interferes with insertion. However, since the socket holder is constituted by a plurality of arc-shaped divided holders extending apart in the circumferential direction via the vertical slit, the power supply cord derived from the rear end of the socket is provided between adjacent divided holders. By traversing the socket holder through the vertical slit and guiding the socket holder through the opening (gap) between the outer cylinder and the socket holder, the power supply cord does not hinder the insertion of the socket.
[0025]
In addition, in the case of a vehicle tool, it is desirable that the periphery of the socket insertion hole on the back side of the lamp can be easily opened so that the light source body can be easily replaced (insertion / removal of the socket). By removing the waterproof cap attached to the outer cylinder surrounding the socket holder, the area around the socket insertion hole behind the lamp body can be easily opened.
[0026]
The power supply cord derived from the rear end of the socket passes through the lamp chamber through the opening (gap) between the outer cylinder and the socket holder, and exits the lamp chamber through another hole (connector insertion hole) different from the socket insertion hole. Since it is derived, it is necessary to take waterproofness in the outer cylinder part and the connector insertion hole, but both the waterproof cap inside the outer cylinder part and the O-ring for the connector insertion hole can be dealt with by simple waterproof means.
[0027]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described based on examples.
[0028]
1 to 8 show a vehicle lamp according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a horizontal sectional view of the lamp, and FIG. 2 is an enlarged horizontal view around a socket insertion hole which is a main part of the lamp. FIG. 3 is a front view of the vicinity of the socket insertion hole (a front view of the vicinity of the socket insertion hole viewed from the upper side in FIG. 2), and FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the socket holding the bulb from the inside of the lamp body. FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing the action of the elastic hook when the socket is pushed into the socket insertion hole from the inside of the lamp body, and FIG. 6 is a view in which the socket is pulled rearward of the lamp body. FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing the operation of the elastic hook when the socket is pushed into the socket insertion hole from the rear of the lamp body, and FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing the process of assembling the vehicular lamp. FIG.
[0029]
In these figures, reference numeral 10 denotes a container-shaped synthetic resin lamp body that opens forward, and a synthetic resin front cover 14 is assembled to the front opening of the lamp body 10 to define a lamp chamber S. Reference numeral 12 denotes a seal groove provided on the periphery of the front opening of the lamp body 10, and a seal material 13 is loaded between the seal groove 12 and the seal leg 15 of the front cover to engage the front cover 12 with the lamp body 10. Part is sealed.
[0030]
In the lamp room S, there are disposed a reflector 18 having a reflection surface 18a subjected to a surface aluminum evaporation treatment, and a wedge base bulb 20 as a light source body. That is, the socket 30 made of synthetic resin holding the wedge base bulb 20 is inserted into the socket insertion hole 11 provided on the rear wall of the lamp body 10, and the wedge base bulb extending forward of the socket 30. Reference numeral 20 projects forward through a circular hole 19 formed at the rear top of the reflector 18.
[0031]
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the socket insertion hole 11 and the socket 30 are formed in a horizontally long elliptical shape that matches each other. The engagement groove 31 with which the elastic hook 42 on the holder 40 can engage is provided. As shown in FIG. 2, a side of the socket 30 opposite to the side where the valve 20 is inserted (hereinafter, referred to as a socket rear end side) is formed in a cylindrical shape, and a groove provided on the outer peripheral surface thereof. An O-ring 32 is mounted on 32a. A flat handle 38 is formed at the rear end side of the socket 30 so as to extend rearward. When the socket 30 is inserted into the socket insertion hole 11, the handle 38 is positioned rearward of the lamp body 10. It protrudes. Therefore, as will be described later in detail, the handle 38 can be grasped by hand, and the socket 30 can be inserted into and removed from the socket insertion hole 11 from behind the lamp body 10.
[0032]
A contact terminal 35 to which the power supply cord C1 is connected is accommodated in a terminal accommodating chamber 33 provided on a side of the socket 30 where the bulb 20 is inserted (hereinafter, referred to as a socket front end side). I have. The contact holding pieces 35 a of the contact terminals 35 disposed opposite to each other are disposed so as to face each other in the valve storage chamber 34, and come into contact with the base end 21 of the wedge base valve 20 inserted into the valve storage chamber 34. The holding pieces 35a are configured to be pressed against each other. The power supply cord C1 extends from the front end of the socket 30.
[0033]
On the surface of the base end portion 21 of the wedge base valve 20, an electrode 23a is provided in which a part of a lead support 23 for supporting the filament 22 in the glass bulb is exposed, and a contact holding piece 35a is pressed against the electrode 23a. By being held, the power supply cord C1 and the wedge base valve 20 are electrically connected. The base end 21 of the wedge base valve 20 is retained by a hook 34a provided opposite to the valve storage chamber 34, and is held by pulling the valve 20 with a force greater than the urging force of the hook 34a. The wedge base valve 20 can be removed from the chamber 34, and can be easily inserted into and removed from the socket 30.
[0034]
The socket insertion hole 11 is formed of a cylindrical socket holder 40 integrally formed with the lamp body 10 and having an inner peripheral surface that matches the outer peripheral surface of the socket 30. Since the outer peripheral surfaces of the socket 30 and the socket 30 are formed in an elliptical shape that is aligned with each other, the socket 30 is prevented from rotating in the circumferential direction of the socket insertion hole 11 and is positioned in the circumferential direction.
The socket holder 40 extends both inside (outside of the lamp chamber S) and outside of the lamp body 10. Both ends of the peripheral wall 40 a of the socket holder 40 on the side of the lamp chamber S in the elliptical major axis direction (as shown in FIG. 3). At the left and right positions of the socket holder 40 when viewed from the front, elastic hooks 42, which are formed by a part of the peripheral wall 40a and extend toward the lamp room S while being sandwiched by the pair of longitudinal slits 41, 41, are provided facing each other. ing. The distal end of the elastic hook 42 extends so as to reduce the diameter of the socket insertion hole 11 (projects inward of the socket insertion hole 11), and has a right-angled triangular cross section provided on the outer peripheral surface of the socket 30. A claw 43 that engages with the engagement groove 31 to prevent the socket 30 from coming off is provided. That is, when the socket 30 is inserted into the socket insertion hole 11 from either side inside or outside the lamp chamber S, the elastic hook 42 pressed against the rear end or the front end of the socket 30 as shown in FIGS. The socket insertion hole 11 is configured to be elastically deformed (oscillated in the longitudinal direction of the socket insertion hole 11) in the expanding direction and to be in pressure contact with the engagement groove 31.
[0035]
The claw 43 includes an inclined surface (slowly inclined surface) 43a whose diameter increases toward the hook tip side and a right-angled surface 43b perpendicular to the base end of the elastic hook 42. The front end and the rear end of the socket 30 have a socket When the socket 30 is inserted into the socket insertion hole 11 from either side inside or outside the lamp chamber S, the taper surface 30a, 30b inclined with respect to the insertion / removal direction of the socket 30 is provided. The elastic hooks 42 are smoothly inserted, and the elastic hooks 42 are also smoothly expanded (elastically deformed) in the opening direction of the socket insertion holes 11.
[0036]
A side surface 31a of the engaging groove 31 provided in the socket 30 on the front end side of the socket is formed with a gentle slope matching the inclined face (gently slope) 43a of the claw 43 of the elastic hook 42, and the socket insertion hole is formed. It is easy to extract the socket 30 inserted into the socket 11 to the rear side of the socket insertion hole 11. That is, as shown in FIG. 6, when the handle 38 protruding to the rear of the lamp body 10 is pulled with a force greater than the urging force of the elastic hook 42, the socket 30 is pressed into the socket insertion hole 11 rearward, and the socket 30 is pressed. Since the side surface (gently inclined surface) 31a of the engagement groove 31 of the socket at the front end side of the socket smoothly pushes and expands the elastic hook 42 (claw 43) in the socket insertion hole expanding direction, the socket 30 supporting the wedge base valve 20 is provided. Can be pulled out backward from the socket insertion hole 11.
[0037]
If the inclination of the side surface (gently inclined surface) 31a of the engagement groove 31 on the front end side of the socket with respect to the socket insertion direction is too small, the positioning of the socket 30 (valve 20) in the front-rear direction (axial direction) becomes insufficient. If it is too large, it will be difficult to pull out the socket rearward, so that the socket 30 (valve 20) can be sufficiently positioned in the front-rear direction (axial direction), and moreover, can be smoothly pulled out rearward at 30 to 50 degrees ( (Approximately 40 degrees) is desirable.
[0038]
The side surface 31b of the engagement groove 31 on the socket rear end side and the side surface 43b of the claw 43 of the elastic hook 42 corresponding to this side surface are formed as right-angled surfaces perpendicular to the socket insertion direction. Is inserted into the socket insertion hole 11 so that the socket 30 is not inserted more than necessary.
[0039]
The waterproofness of the socket insertion hole 11 is ensured by the O-ring 33 attached to the outer peripheral surface of the socket 30 being pressed against the inner peripheral surface of the rear extension (peripheral wall) 40 b of the socket holder 40. The power supply cord C1 led into the lamp chamber S from the front end of the socket 30 is passed through the male / female connectors 51 and 52 inserted into the connector insertion holes 11a provided at the side positions of the lamp body 10. A waterproof means (not shown) using an O-ring is provided between the connector insertion hole 11a and the connectors 51 and 52, and the connector insertion hole 11a is connected to the power supply cord C2 extending outside the lamp room. Waterproofing is also ensured.
[0040]
At the time of assembling the lamp, as shown in FIG. 8, the lamp body 10 was arranged so that the front side thereof was facing upward, and the bulb 20 was first inserted and integrated from above the lamp body 10. The connector 30 is inserted into the connector insertion hole 11a. Next, the reflector 18 is fixed to the lamp body 10 by a predetermined fixing means. Subsequently, the seal material 13 is loaded into the seal groove 12 and the front cover 14 is assembled, thereby completing the assembly.
[0041]
When the bulb 20 has reached the end of its life, if it is desired to replace it with a new one, the handle 38 protruding rearward of the lamp body 10 is grasped by hand and strongly pulled rearward, as shown in FIG. The side surface (gently inclined surface) 31a of the engagement groove 31 of the socket at the front end side of the socket pushes the elastic hook 42 in the opening direction of the socket insertion hole 11 so that the socket 30 supporting the valve 20 is removed from the socket insertion hole 11. It can be easily pulled backwards. Then, the bulb 20 inserted in the socket 30 is replaced with a new one, and as shown in FIG. When the socket 30 is pushed into the socket 30, the elastic hook 42 pressed by (the inclined surface of) the front end portion 31 a of the socket is elastically deformed in the opening direction of the socket insertion hole 11 and engages with the engaging groove 31, so that the socket 30 is engaged. Is inserted into the socket insertion hole 11 (see FIG. 2).
[0042]
9 to 12 show a vehicle lamp according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a horizontal sectional view around a socket insertion hole, which is a main part of the lamp, and FIG. 9 is a front view (a front view around the socket insertion hole as viewed from above in FIG. 9), and FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a state where the socket holding the bulb is inserted into the socket insertion hole from inside the lamp body. FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing how the socket holding the bulb is inserted and removed from the rear of the lamp body.
[0043]
In the above-described embodiment, since the power supply cord C1 is derived from the front end side of the socket 30, only the waterproofing in the socket insertion hole 11 is considered, and the waterproofing in the peripheral area of the socket insertion hole 11 is not considered. In the second embodiment, the power supply cord C1 is led out from the rear end side of the socket 30A, and the cord C1 is returned to the lamp room S through the openings 144c and 144d outside the socket holder 140. With such a configuration, the structure in consideration of waterproofing in a region around the socket insertion hole 11 is also taken into consideration.
[0044]
That is, the power supply cord C1 is connected to the rear protruding end of the contact terminal 35 accommodated in the terminal accommodating chamber 33, and is led out from the rear end 30b of the socket 30A. In addition, the socket holder 140 formed in an elliptical shape that approximately matches the horizontally long elliptical shape of the socket 30A has a pair of left and right circles extending apart from each other in the circumferential direction via a vertical slit 141 provided to face the elliptical major axis direction. It is composed of arc-shaped divided holders 142, 142. Around the socket holder 140 (split holder 142), there is provided a cylindrical outer tube portion 150 formed integrally with the lamp body 10 and surrounding the socket holder 140 in a vertical wall shape and extending rearward. The socket holder 140 is arranged so as to be separated from the outer cylinder 150 by four ribs 152 radially extending inside the cylinder 150.
[0045]
Therefore, four openings 144a to 144d are provided around the socket holder 140 in the outer cylindrical portion 150 as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, and the left and right openings 144c and 144d in the front view are formed by the vertical slits 141. Are connected to the socket insertion holes 11 respectively.
[0046]
An elastic hook that swings in the transverse direction of the socket insertion hole 11 when the socket 30A is inserted or removed is constituted by the circumferential end regions 142a of the arc-shaped divided holders 142 facing each other with the vertical slit 141 interposed therebetween. .
[0047]
On the other hand, on the outer peripheral surface on the long axis side of the ellipse of the socket 30A, there is provided an engaging groove 131 which can be engaged with the elastic hook 142a having a rectangular cross section and extends in the circumferential direction. That is, even when the socket 30A is inserted into the socket insertion hole 11 from either side inside or outside the lamp chamber S, the elastic hook 142a pressed by the rear end portion 30b or the front end portion 30a of the socket 30A causes the socket insertion hole 11 to expand. The engagement groove 131 is configured to be elastically deformed (oscillate in the transverse direction of the socket insertion hole 11) and to be engaged and pressed against the engagement groove 131.
[0048]
In the lamp assembly process of assembling the lamp components on the front side of the lamp body 10, the socket 30A is inserted into the socket insertion hole 11 from the rear end 30b side. For example, the power supply cord C1 derived from the rear end of the socket hinders insertion. However, since the socket holder 140 is constituted by the two arc-shaped divided holders 142, 142 extending apart in the circumferential direction via the vertical slit 141, the power supply cord C1 derived from the socket rear end portion is The power supply cord C1 is protruded outside the socket holder 140 through the vertical slit 141 between the adjacent divided holders 142 and 142 and passes through the openings 144c and 144d between the outer cylinder 150 and the socket holder 140. Does not hinder the insertion of the socket 30.
[0049]
The side surface 131a of the engagement groove 131 provided in the socket 30A on the front end side of the socket is formed as a gentle slope inclined with respect to the socket insertion direction, and the socket 30A of the socket 30A inserted in the socket insertion hole 11 is formed. Withdrawal to the rear side of the socket insertion hole 11 is facilitated.
[0050]
In addition, the power supply cord C1 derived from the rear end of the socket 30A into the outer cylinder 150 is guided into the lamp chamber S through the openings 144c and 140d between the outer cylinder 150 and the socket holder 140, and is supplied to the lamp body 10. It is connected to a power supply cord C2 extending outside the lamp chamber S via connectors 51 and 52 inserted into the provided connector insertion holes 11a (see FIG. 1).
[0051]
In addition, a waterproof cap 152 made of rubber is attached to the outer cylindrical portion 150 to ensure waterproofness of the socket insertion hole 11 and the openings 44a to 44d. Since the waterproof cap 152 can be attached and detached, when the valve 20 is to be replaced, it can be easily removed.
[0052]
The rest is the same as the first embodiment described above, and the same reference numerals are used to omit the description.
[0053]
FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view of a light source body and a socket, which are main parts of an automotive lamp according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
[0054]
In the first and second embodiments, the wedge base bulb 20 has a structure supported by the socket 30 (30A). In the third embodiment, the LED assembly has a structure in which the LED assembly is supported by the socket. Has become.
[0055]
That is, the LED assembly 60 is connected to a rectangular block-shaped resin base 61, a discrete LED 64 fixed and integrated at the base end, and a pair of leads (65 a, 65 b) extending from the back surface of the LED 64. , A pair of electrodes 66, 66 which are thin metal plates laid on the surface of the base end portion 62. The base base end 62 is formed in a shape corresponding to the base end 21 of the wedge base bulb 20, and the light emitting portion of the LED 64 is configured to match the center position of the filament 22 of the wedge base bulb 20. I have. When the base proximal end 62 is inserted into the valve (base) accommodating chamber 34 of the socket 30, the base proximal end 62 is prevented from falling off and held by a hook (not shown) provided in the valve accommodating chamber 34. The contact holding pieces of a pair of contact terminals (not shown) accommodated in the bulb accommodating chamber 34 are pressed and held by the electrodes 66, 66 on the surface of the base end portion 62, respectively. Are electrically connected.
[0056]
The rest is the same as the first embodiment described above, and the same reference numerals are used to omit the description.
[0057]
In the above-described first to third embodiments, the wedge base bulb 20 and the LED assembly 60 as the light source main body have a structure that can be inserted into and detached from the socket 30 (30A). The present invention can also be applied to a light source body having a structure in which a light bulb serving as a light source body is previously integrated into a socket and cannot be separated.
[0058]
【The invention's effect】
As apparent from the above description, according to the vehicular lamp according to the first aspect, when the light source body needs to be replaced, the rear end of the socket exposed at the rear of the lamp body is manually moved to the rear of the lamp body. The light source body can be easily replaced by pulling out the socket from the socket insertion hole and pushing the socket supporting the new light source body into the socket insertion hole from the rear of the lamp body. .
[0059]
Also, since the socket for supporting the light source body can be inserted into the socket insertion hole from the inside of the lamp body, the mounting of the light source body (the mounting of the socket) is performed during a series of lamp assembly operations performed from the inside of the lamp body. By performing (insertion), the assembling work of the lamp can be smoothly performed.
[0060]
According to the second aspect, the socket can be positioned in the circumferential direction of the socket insertion hole without providing a special detent means between the inner peripheral surface of the socket holder and the outer peripheral surface of the socket. The structure becomes concise.
[0061]
In addition, the smooth slidability of the socket can be ensured, and the socket (light source body) inserted into the socket insertion hole is supported by the socket holder without play, so that the light distribution does not shake due to vibration or the like. .
[0062]
According to the third aspect, since the socket can be smoothly pulled out to the rear of the lamp body, the replacement work of the light source body is further simplified.
[0063]
According to the fourth aspect, the socket can be inserted into and removed from the socket insertion hole by grasping the handle provided at the rear end of the socket, so that the socket can be easily inserted and removed from the rear of the lamp body.
[0064]
According to the fifth aspect, since the periphery of the socket insertion hole at the rear of the lamp body is opened in advance, it is convenient for replacement of the light source body (insertion / removal of the socket).
[0065]
Further, since the power supply cord is connected to the socket through the lamp chamber through a connector insertion hole different from the socket insertion hole, a sufficient space behind the lamp can be secured, and the light source body can be easily replaced.
[0066]
Further, since waterproofing in both the socket insertion hole and the connector insertion hole can be handled by a simple waterproofing means such as an O-ring, the structure of the lamp does not become complicated.
[0067]
According to the sixth aspect, by removing the waterproof cap, the periphery of the socket insertion hole at the rear of the lamp body can be easily opened, which is convenient for replacement of the light source body (insertion / removal of the socket).
[0068]
Further, since the power supply cord is connected to the socket through the lamp chamber through a connector insertion hole different from the socket insertion hole, a sufficient space behind the lamp can be secured, and the light source body can be easily replaced.
[0069]
Further, waterproofing around the socket insertion hole and the connector insertion hole can be handled by simple waterproofing means such as a waterproof cap and an O-ring, so that the structure of the lamp is not complicated.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a horizontal sectional view of a vehicle lighting device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view around a socket insertion hole, which is a main part of the lamp.
3 is a front view around the socket insertion hole (a front view around the socket insertion hole as viewed from above in FIG. 2).
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a state in which the socket holding the bulb is inserted into the socket insertion hole from the inside of the lamp body.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the action of the elastic hook when the socket is pushed into the socket insertion hole from inside the lamp body.
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing an operation of an elastic hook when the socket is pulled rearward of the lamp body.
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing an operation of an elastic hook when the socket is pushed into the socket insertion hole from behind the lamp body.
FIG. 8 is a view showing an assembling process of the vehicular lamp.
FIG. 9 is a horizontal sectional view around a socket insertion hole, which is a main part of an automotive lamp according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
10 is a front view of the vicinity of the socket insertion hole (a front view of the vicinity of the socket insertion hole as viewed from above in FIG. 9).
FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a state in which the socket holding the bulb is inserted into the socket insertion hole from the inside of the lamp body.
FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a manner in which a socket holding a bulb is inserted and detached from the rear of a lamp body.
FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view of a light source body and a socket of an automotive lamp according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 14A is a perspective view of a light bulb mounting device shown in the related art (Patent Document 1).
(B), (c) It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the same apparatus.
FIG. 15 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the device.
[Explanation of symbols]
S Lighthouse
10 Lamp body
12 Front cover
11 Socket insertion hole
11a Connector insertion hole
20 Wedge base bulb as light source body
30, 30A socket
30a Tapered surface at front end of socket
30b Tapered surface at rear end of socket
31, 131 engagement groove
31a, 131a Inclined side surface of engagement groove at front end of socket
32 O-ring as a waterproofing means
38 Handle
40,140 socket holder
41 vertical slit
42 elastic hook
43 Elastic hook claw
Power supply cord derived from C1 socket
C2 Power supply cord extending outside the light room
51, 52 connector
141 vertical slit
142 arc-shaped split holder
142a circumferential end of split holder constituting elastic hook
150 outer cylinder
144a to 144d opening

Claims (6)

A container-shaped lamp body, a front cover assembled to the front opening of the lamp body, and defining a lamp chamber in cooperation with the lamp body; a socket insertion hole provided in the lamp body; A vehicular lamp comprising: a light source body supported by a socket inserted into the insertion hole and arranged in the lamp chamber;
The socket insertion hole is formed of a cylindrical socket holder having an inner peripheral surface that is formed integrally with the lamp body and that matches the outer peripheral surface of the socket.
The socket holder is provided with an elastic hook that extends so as to reduce the diameter of the socket insertion hole, engages with an engagement groove provided on an outer peripheral surface of the socket and presses the socket to prevent the socket from coming off. When the socket is inserted into the socket insertion hole from either side of the lamp room or outside, the elastic hook pressed against the outer peripheral surface of the socket is elastically deformed in the socket insertion hole expanding direction to engage with the engagement groove. When the socket inserted into the socket insertion hole is pulled out to the rear of the lamp body, the elastic hook pressed against the outer peripheral surface of the socket is elastically deformed in the direction of expanding the socket insertion hole and the engagement groove is formed. The vehicle lighting device is configured to be disengaged. Between the inner peripheral surface of the socket holder and the outer peripheral surface of the socket, detent means for positioning the socket in the circumferential direction of the socket insertion hole is provided, and the outer shape and the socket insertion hole of the socket have a substantially elliptical shape. The vehicular lamp according to claim 1, wherein the elastic hook and the engagement groove are formed near the both ends in the major diameter direction of the ellipse, being formed to form a detent means for the socket. A side surface of the engagement groove on the socket front end side is formed with a gentle slope, and the socket inserted into the socket insertion hole is pressed into the socket insertion hole rear side, so that the engagement groove is 3. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the engaging elastic hook is configured to be elastically deformed in a direction of expanding the socket insertion hole by being pressed against the gentle slope of the engaging groove. Lighting fixtures. The vehicular lamp according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the socket has a handle extending through the socket insertion hole and extending rearward of the lamp body. The elastic hook is constituted by a partial area of the peripheral wall, which is sandwiched by a pair of vertical slits provided on the peripheral wall of the socket holder on the lamp room side and extends to the lamp room side, when the socket is inserted and removed. Is configured to swing in the longitudinal direction of the socket insertion hole,
A power supply cord led out from the front end of the socket into the lamp chamber has a structure connected to a power supply cord extending outside the lamp chamber through a connector inserted into a connector insertion hole provided in the lamp body.
The vehicular lamp according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein an O-ring serving as a waterproof means is interposed between the socket insertion hole and the socket and between the connector insertion hole and the connector. . The socket holder is formed integrally with the lamp body, is spaced apart through a rib, and is circumferentially separated through a vertical slit inside an outer cylinder portion extending rearward surrounding the socket holder in a vertical wall shape and extending rearward. It is composed of a plurality of arc-shaped divided holders extending
The elastic hook is configured by a circumferential end region of the arc-shaped divided holder opposed to each other with a vertical slit interposed therebetween, and is configured to swing in a transverse direction of the socket insertion hole when the socket is inserted and removed. And
The power supply cord derived from the rear end of the socket into the outer cylinder portion was guided into the lamp chamber through a gap between the outer cylinder portion and the socket holder, and was inserted into a connector insertion hole provided in the lamp body. With a structure that is connected to a power supply cord that extends outside the light room via a connector,
The waterproof cap is attached to the cylindrical portion, and an O-ring serving as a waterproof means is interposed between the connector insertion hole and the connector. The dual-use lamp described in the above.

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