JPH04233101A - Lamp assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a headlamp assembly, in which a bulb can be easily inserted, deterioration of fluidity of a resin in molding is prevented, and a precise reflection face is provided, for an automobile. CONSTITUTION: A lamp assembly is provided with a dish-type main body 10 serving as a reflecting body in which a rear bulb receiving hole 14 surrounded by an outside sleeve 16 is bored. A bulb holding compression molded body 34 fixed to the sleeve 16 is constructed of a ring 36 having a slot through which a mounting lug on a bulb flange can be passed. In this ring 36, a series of spring arms formed integrally press a mounting lug of the bulb to the face 20 so as to hold it. Arrangement of a slot in the sleeve wall back end is not required, and a hinge type or removable holding spring or other holding elements and the like are also dispensable.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

FIELD OF INDUSTRIAL APPLICATION The present invention relates to lamp assemblies, particularly
This invention relates, although not necessarily, to automotive headlamp assemblies that incorporate conventional quartz halogen H4 bulbs. The quartz halogen H4 ball has an annular mounting flange with three outwardly projecting ball locating lugs.

0002

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the case of automotive headlamp assemblies, there is usually a dish-shaped reflector having a front opening, an internal reflective surface, and a rear ball receiving hole surrounded by an outer sleeve, the outer sleeve comprising: Abutment surfaces are spaced circumferentially on the ball mounting flange for engagement with ball positioning lugs. When the dished body and outer sleeve are molded from a suitable heat resistant synthetic resin, it has been conventional practice to mold circumferentially spaced slots in the rear end of the sleeve wall. In this case, the dimensions and mutual arrangement of the slots are such that they each receive a ball positioning lug. However, such internal molding slots tend to impair the fluidity of the synthetic resin during molding, making it difficult to maintain constant molding quality. Here, it is particularly important to form the slot accurately. This is because the base of such a slot engages the ball positioning lug and serves to accurately position the filament of the ball relative to the optical reference of the reflective surface. Additionally, various previously proposed headlamp assemblies have included a removable or hinged spring that engages the sleeve and presses against the bulb;
or other retention devices are used to hold the lamp assembly in place and engage the lugs with each abutting surface. In the case of such removable or replaceable springs or other retaining devices, the sleeve must have additional properties to enable them to be secured to the sleeve, in either case the lamp assembly. It is not possible to automatically insert the ball easily. Providing these additional properties also results in poor fluidity, which leads to inaccurate reflective surfaces.

0003

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The aim of the invention is to obviate at least some of the above-mentioned disadvantages.

0004

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has a dish-shaped body having a front opening, an internally reflective surface, and a rear ball receiving hole surrounded by an outer sleeve, the outer sleeve containing a ball. A lamp assembly comprising abutment surfaces spaced circumferentially on a mounting flange to be engaged by respective ball positioning lugs, and a retaining device for engaging and retaining the lugs with respective abutment surfaces of the sleeve. In 3D,

The retaining device includes a ring having circumferentially spaced slots on its inner periphery, each slot being circumferentially offset relative to each of the abutment surfaces, and the lugs dimensioned to align with the slots and permit passage of each of the ball positioning lugs as the mounting flange passes through the ring, the retainer being further secured to the ring and biased towards each of the abutment surfaces; It is characterized in that it has an elastic member which serves to press the lug against each abutment surface during use.

The retention device used in the lamp assembly according to the invention eliminates the need for slots in the rear end of the sleeve wall and eliminates the need for hinged or removable retention springs or other retention elements. Therefore, when inserting the balls into the ball receiving holes, it is not necessary to completely remove them or remove them and insert them.

In a preferred embodiment, the resilient member is integrally molded with the ring. In another preferred embodiment, the ring includes a collar that surrounds the sleeve and includes a plurality of inward locking projections or plugs that engage the outer surface of the sleeve to prevent removal of the ring from the sleeve. . In a preferred embodiment, each abutment surface is between a ramp and a stop between it and each slot of the ring, and when the ramp and stop are engaged by the respective resilient members with the abutment surface. It serves to limit the circumferential movement of the cooperating lugs.

Preferably, the ring and the resilient members are formed of a suitable resilient sheet material, each resilient member being in the form of a spring arm secured to the ring at one end and extending from each slot toward a cooperating abutment surface. . In order to accurately position the ring relative to the sleeve, it is desirable to provide an interengaging portion therebetween. Preferably, each of the interengaging portions is provided with one or more interengaging ribs and recesses.

It is desirable to have twice as many abutment surfaces on the ball as there are ball retaining lugs. Thus, in the case of a standard quartz halogen H4 bulb with three lugs, it is desirable to have six abutting surfaces, consisting of two sets of three, one of which is used when driving on the left side of the road. the other set is oriented to hold the balls in a position suitable for driving on the right side of the road. Therefore, it is only necessary to provide one shaped reflector, which can be used independently of road regulations. Under such circumstances, 2
There are different types of retaining devices, and it is only necessary to attach the retaining device to the reflector that is suitable for the road regulations of the country concerned when using the headlamp.

0010

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Examples of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The illustrated headlamp assembly is now intended to produce a passing beam with an asymmetric beam pattern that meets appropriate ECE regulations. The headlamp assembly includes a dish-shaped reflector (only partially shown) 10 having a conventional front opening (not shown), an internal reflective surface 12, and a rear bulb receiving aperture 14. Furthermore, the headlamp assembly is
It has a housing in which the body 10 is placed in a manner known per se, the housing being provided with a transparent front cover in front of the front opening provided in the dish-shaped body 10.

The dish-shaped body 10 is injection molded from a suitable heat resistant synthetic resin and has an outer sleeve 16 integrally molded with the body 10 and surrounding the ball receiving hole 14. The rear end (the upper end in FIGS. 1 and 2) of the sleeve 16 has a stepped configuration with a continuous annular rim 18 and an annular rearwardly facing surface 20 inside the rim. The surface 20 lies in a plane substantially perpendicular to the optical axis X of the dish-shaped reflector 10 (see FIG. 1).

Surface 20 is shaped to have a series of functions. That is, the first set of three abutting surfaces 22
It has a second set of abutting surfaces 23 consisting of three pieces similarly to the above. The first set of abutment surfaces 22 are connected to the ball locating lugs 24 (shown in FIG. 4) on the annular mounting flange of a conventional quartz halogen H4 ball.
sleeve 1 by a distance corresponding to the mutual spacing of
They are spaced apart in the circumferential direction around the axis of No. 6 (coinciding with the optical axis X). The dimensions of the circumferential abutment surface 22 are such that they can accommodate a suitable lug 24, and in the case of a conventional H4 ball,
One of the lugs is wider than the other two lugs, and the lugs are not equiangularly spaced around the mounting flange. This asymmetrical arrangement of the lugs allows the sphere to fit into the sphere holder with a unique orientation that allows precise positioning of the filament and the filament shield (which also forms an integral part of the sphere) with respect to the optical axis of the reflector. It can be installed securely. The second set of abutting surfaces 23 is the abutting surface 22 described above.
Similar to the description above, although mutually disposed, these sets of abutting surfaces 23 are arranged at an angle of 15° to the circumference of the surfaces 20 relative to the sets of abutting surfaces 22. The purpose of this is to enable the same reflector 10 to be used in accordance with different road rules. Thus, depending on the road rules, the lugs 24 of the standard H4 ball engage either the first set of abutment surfaces 22 or the second set of abutment surfaces 23. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the headlamp includes a first set of abutment surfaces 22
It is adapted for use with lugs 24 that engage with the lugs 24.

Each abutting surface 22 and its adjacent abutting surface 2
3 are separated by a rearwardly extending protrusion 26 having a recess 28 (shown only in FIG. 4) at the rear end. The protrusion 26 does not extend as far rearward as the rim 18. Butt surface 22
and 23, the surface 20 is formed with inclined portions 30 and 32, which face each other in the circumferential direction thereof, respectively. The ramp is only illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4.

The lamp assembly further includes a retaining device in the form of a compression molding 34 of a suitable resilient sheet material. Compression molded body 34 has a ring 36 with an integrally molded outer annular collar 38 sized to surround sleeve 16 . The collar 38 is provided with a plurality of locking projections 40 (only one shown, see FIG. 2) extending inwardly and facing towards the ring 36. The dimensions of the collar 38 and the locking protrusion 40 relative to the outer periphery of the sleeve 16 are such that the compression molded body 34 is firmly held so that the locking protrusion 40 bites into the material of the sleeve 16 and does not come off once fitted at one end. The collar 38 is such that it can be pressed against the sleeve 16. When fully seated, ring 36 abuts the rear surface of rim 18 and is thereby held clear of surface 20. Ring 36 has a series of three spring arms 42 that are integrally formed with the material of ring 36 by cutting and bending operations. Each spring arm has a ring 3 in each direction of the adjacent surface 22.
Protrudes in front of 6. Similarly, each ring 36 is formed with three radially extending ribs 44 (only one shown, see FIG. 4) that engage each of the recesses 28 of the projection 26. The engagement of the ribs 44 and the recesses 28 causes the compression molded portion 34 to be fixed at a desired position so as not to rotate relative to the sleeve 16 once the compression molded portion 34 is fitted at one end. Each spring arm 42 has a convex free end 46 that engages each lug 24 to urge it against the surface 22. Furthermore, ring 3
6 includes a series of three slots 48 opening at the inner periphery.
(only one is shown). The slots 48 are sized and spaced circumferentially from each other to permit passage of the lugs 24 during fitting of the bulb into the lamp assembly. However, each slot 48
2, it is located on the opposite side of the inclined surface 30.

Thus, upon fitting the bulb into the lamp assembly, the bulb is first angled and moved so that the lug 24 passes through each slot 48 until the lug 24 engages the surface 20. The ball is then rotated clockwise so that the lug 24 passes along the surface 20 and rides up onto the ramp 30, as shown in FIG. By further rotating the ball,
Each spring arm 42 contacts a lug 24 and is biased upward until the lug 24 is on the opposite side of each abutment surface 22, and then the spring arm 42 is free to flex rearward to bring the lug 24 into position in FIG. Press it against each abutment surface 22 as shown.

When replacing a defective ball, applying an axial rearward force to the ball deflects the spring arm 42 and rotates the ball in a direction opposite to the direction of installation to disengage the lug 24 from the ramp 30. The ball can then be removed by manipulating the ball to align the lugs with each slot 48.

When using the headlamp assembly of the present invention in a country where road regulations differ within the country, a compression molded body slightly different from the compression molded body 34 described in the preamble is used, and a compression molded body as shown in FIG. 3 is used. After the ball is rotated counterclockwise onto ramp 32, spring arms 42 and slots 48 are respectively positioned to engage lugs 24 with respective abutting surfaces 23.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an axial cross-sectional view of a portion of a headlamp assembly of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view showing a part of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a portion of the lamp assembly.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged side view of a portion of the lamp assembly.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Main body 12 Internal reflective surface 14 Ball receiving hole 16 Sleeve 22, 23 Butt surface 24 Rug 34 Holding device 36 ring 42 Elastic member 48 slots

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A dish-shaped body (10) having a front opening, an internally reflective surface (12), and a rear ball-receiving hole (14) surrounded by an outer sleeve (16), the sleeve ( 16) are circumferentially spaced apart abutment surfaces (22, 23) to be engaged by each ball positioning lug (24) on the mounting flange of the ball, and abutment surfaces (22, 23) that are engaged by each ball positioning lug (24) on the mounting flange of the ball; A lamp assembly comprising a retaining device (34) for engaging and retaining each abutment surface (22, 23) of the sleeve, wherein: (a) the retaining device (34) is connected to the sleeve (16);
), the ring (36) having slots (48) circumferentially spaced on its inner periphery; (b) each slot (48) has an abutment surface (22, 23), and when the lugs (24) align with the slots (48) and the mounting flange passes through the ring (36), the ball positioning lugs (
24), and (c
) The holding device (34) further includes an elastic member (42) fixed to the ring (36) and biased in each direction of the abutment surfaces (22, 23), and the elastic member (42) is used. A lamp assembly characterized in that it serves to press a lug (24) against each abutting surface (22, 23). 2. The elastic member (42) has a ring (36
2. The lamp assembly of claim 1, wherein the lamp assembly is integrally formed with a lamp assembly. 3. The ring (36) is connected to the sleeve (16).
), the collar (38) surrounding the collar (38);
is engaged with the outer surface of the sleeve (16) so that the sleeve (16)
3. A lamp assembly as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of inwardly directed locking projections or plugs (40) to prevent dislodgement of the ring (36) from the ring (36). 4. Each abutment surface (22, 23) is between a stop (26) and an inclined surface (30, 32) between it and each slot (48) of the ring (36), The inclined surfaces (30, 32) and the stop (26) serve to limit the circumferential movement of the cooperating lugs (24) when engaged by the respective elastic members (42) with the abutment surfaces (22, 23). A lamp assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it performs the following functions. 5. The ring (36) and the elastic member (42)
5. A lamp assembly according to claim 1, wherein the lamp assembly is made of a suitable resilient sheet material. 6. Each elastic member (42) includes a spring arm fixed at one end to the ring (36) and extending from each slot (48) towards a cooperating abutment surface (22, 23). A lamp assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: [Claim 7] The ring (3
6) In order to accurately position the two parts (
7. A lamp assembly as claimed in claim 1, further comprising interengaging moldings in the lamps (36 and 16). 8. The interengaging molded portions include a ring (3
8. A lamp assembly according to claim 7, characterized in that it takes the form of one or more interengaging ribs (28) and recesses (44) provided on the sleeve (16) and the sleeve (16), respectively. 9. There are abutment surfaces on the ball that are twice as many as the ball holding lugs (24), and two sets (22, 23) of the abutment surfaces are provided, one of which (22) is attached to the left side of the road. Claim characterized in that it is oriented to hold the balls in a position suitable for driving, and the other set (23) is adapted to hold the balls in a position suitable for driving on the right side of the road. 9. The lamp assembly according to any one of 1 to 8.