JPH1024765A - Lighting fixture for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To assemble a universal bearing without reducing the assembling property of a lighting fixture body. SOLUTION: A universal bearing 11 fitted to a part of a lighting fixture body 1 is fitted via a fitting action from the back direction of the lighting fixture body 1. A fitting tube section 18 is provided toward the back face direction on the back face of the lighting fixture body 1, a main body section 13 where the spherical seat 14 of the universal bearing 11 is formed is inserted into the fitting tube section 18, and a lock section 17 is engaged with a engaging lug 21 to prevent its release. The universal bearing 11 can be fitted to the lighting fixture body 1 while the back face side of the lighting fixture body 1 is faced upward and the front side is faced downward, this fitting work can be matched with the fitting work of other components fitted from the same direction, and the assembling property of the whole lighting fixture can be increased.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a vehicular lamp.
In particular, the present invention relates to a vehicular lamp having a universal bearing used to mount a lamp, such as a headlight of an automobile, capable of adjusting the optical axis direction of the lamp to a vehicle body.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A headlight of an automobile needs to adjust an optical axis position of a lamp with respect to a vehicle body. For this purpose, a so-called aiming adjustment mechanism is provided. The aiming adjustment mechanism includes, for example, a lamp that is supported at one location so as to be tiltable in the vertical and horizontal directions with respect to the vehicle body, and a tip of an aiming screw that is supported on the vehicle body at a location different from the support point and a lamp. The universal bearing part of the lamp is moved forward and backward integrally by operating the aiming screw axially to move the tip of the lamp forward and backward, thereby moving the lamp vertically and horizontally. It is to tilt.

For this reason, in order to constitute this kind of aiming adjustment mechanism, it is necessary to integrally form a universal bearing on the body side of the lamp, and conventionally, a universal bearing formed separately from the lamp body is used. Is fixed to the lamp body with screws. However, this structure requires a screwing operation, and there is a problem that workability of assembling the lamp is poor. Therefore, as described in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 5-6414, the present applicant has proposed a structure in which a universal bearing is mounted on a lamp body by a sliding structure, thereby eliminating the need for screwing work, and The workability of assembling the bearing is improved.

[0004]

However, the technique proposed above is based on a hook which is provided with a universal bearing slidably mounted from the lateral direction of the lamp body, that is, from the direction intersecting the front-rear direction of the lamp body. Since the configuration is such that the portion is engaged with the lamp body, there is a problem that the alignment with the direction in assembling the lamp cannot be achieved. That is, when assembling a normal lamp, when mounting various components on the rear surface side of the lamp body, the various components are mounted from the rear side of the lamp with the front surface of the lamp body facing downward. For this reason, when mounting the above-mentioned universal bearing, it is necessary to perform mounting from a direction crossing the rear direction of the lamp.
Only at that time, the worker has to change the working direction, and the workability of assembling is reduced.

An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicular lamp capable of assembling a universal bearing without lowering the assemblability of a lamp body.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a vehicular lamp in which a universal bearing for forming a part of an aiming adjustment mechanism is mounted on a part of the lamp body. It is characterized by being attached by a fitting operation from the back side. For example, a fitting cylinder portion is provided in the lamp body toward the rear direction, and the universal bearing has a ball seat in which a ball portion of the aiming screw of the aiming adjusting mechanism is fitted in a part thereof, and the universal bearing has the fitting portion. The main body is inserted into the joint tube from the direction of the cylinder axis, and a locking portion for locking the main body to the lamp body when the main body is inserted into the fitting tube. In this case, the locking portion is configured as a locking piece protruding from the main body in the cylinder axis direction of the fitting cylindrical portion,
This locking piece is made elastically deformable in the plate thickness direction, and a part of the width dimension is enlarged to form a widened portion,
It is preferable that an engagement protrusion to be engaged with the widened portion in a plate thickness direction is provided on the fitting cylinder portion. Further, in this case, it is preferable that a slide protrusion and a slide groove which are engaged in the plate thickness direction of the locking portion are formed in the main body portion and the fitting cylinder portion in the cylinder axis direction of the fitting cylinder portion.

[0007]

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 (a) and 1 (b) are front and rear views of an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a left headlight of an automobile, and FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway plan view. . In this headlamp, a lamp body 1 having a required opening shape according to the design of an automobile is formed by resin molding, and a lens 2 formed of a transparent resin is attached to a front opening of the lamp body. I have. A bulb insertion hole 1a is opened on the back of the lamp body 1, and a bulb socket 3 to which a bulb 4 as a light source is attached is fitted and attached to the bulb insertion hole 1a. Further, the lamp body 1
A reflective surface is formed by applying or vapor-depositing aluminum or the like on the inner surface of the device, and is configured as a reflector. A shade 5 for limiting light emitted from the light bulb 4 is supported inside the lamp body 1. Note that a rubber cover is attached to the bulb socket 3 to waterproof the bulb insertion hole 1a. Normally, the light bulb socket 3 and the rubber cover 6 are attached to the lamp body 1 from the back side of the lamp body after the lamp body 1 is turned down with its front face down.

On the other hand, one place on the back of the lamp body 1,
Here, the pivot receiving portion 7 is attached to the upper right portion of FIG. The pivot receiving portion 7 is formed by resin molding as a component separate from the lamp body 1 and is fixed to the lamp body 1 with screws. In this pivot receiving part 7,
As shown in FIG. 2, a pivot shaft 8 fixed to the vehicle body B is fitted, and the entire lamp including the lamp body 1 can be tilted in the vertical and horizontal directions with the pivot receiving portion 7 as a fulcrum by being supported by the pivot shaft 8. Supported by A horizontal aiming adjustment mechanism 10H and a vertical aiming adjustment mechanism 10 are provided on the back surface of the lamp body at positions facing the pivot receiving portion 7 in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction, respectively.
Each universal bearing 11 of V is attached.

Each of the aiming adjustment mechanisms 10H, 10V
Each of the universal bearings 11 has a different mounting orientation, but the same configuration. The universal joint 11 is provided with a spherical portion 12a integrally provided at a tip end of an aiming screw 12 rotatably supported on the vehicle body B. The structure is configured. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the aiming screw 12 and the universal bearing 11 of the horizontal aiming adjustment mechanism 10H and a part of the lamp body 1 to which the aiming screw 12 and the universal bearing 11 are attached. The main body 13 of the universal bearing 11 has sliding protrusions 15 on both side surfaces.
Are formed as a single block, the front shape is T-shaped, and the width is gradually reduced toward the back side. The main body 13 has a spherical portion 12a of an aiming screw. Is formed to form a spherical seat 14 into which is inserted. The ball seat 14 has a configuration in which a spherical concave portion corresponding to the ball portion 12a of the aiming screw is formed while moving from one end surface 13a of the main body portion 13 toward the other end side. Opening 14 opened in front of 13
The width of “a” is smaller than the diameter of the ball seat 14 and is larger than the diameter of the shaft portion 12 b of the aiming screw 12. Further, from the one end surface 13a of the main body portion 13, an engaging piece 16 formed of a plate-shaped cantilever bent and formed so that a vertical cross section protrudes in an L-shape toward the back side thereof. On both sides of the tip of the locking piece 16, locking portions 17 protruding in the width direction are formed. The L-shaped cross section of the locking piece 16 is bent at an angle slightly larger than a right angle so that the front end side is slightly away from the one end surface 13a of the main body 13.

On the other hand, a slide tube 19 is formed on both sides of a part of the lamp body 1 so that the main body 13 of the universal bearing 11 can be fitted therein. The portion 18 is formed so as to protrude toward the rear side of the lamp body 1. The inside of the fitting cylindrical portion 18 has a shape in which the width on the back side is gradually reduced corresponding to the main body portion 13 and a wall portion 18a corresponding to one end surface of the main body portion.
Is provided with a notch 20 having a width slightly larger than the width of the locking piece 16. The wall portion 18a in which the notch 20 is formed is formed such that the wall portion 18a is opposed to the wall portion 18a at a position on the back side of the fitting tube portion 18 and at a position along both side edges of the notch 20. A pair of engagement protrusions 21 are formed in which the thickness of the portion is partially increased. An inclined guide portion 22 whose height is gradually reduced toward the front side of the fitting tube portion 18 is formed integrally with these engagement protrusions 21. In addition, by forming the cylinder axis direction of the fitting cylinder portion 18 along the back direction of the lamp body 1 in this manner, the cylinder axis direction is set in the direction in which the molding die is removed when the lamp body 1 is resin-molded. It is possible to make them coincide with each other, and it is not necessary to form the fitting cylinder 18 using a slide or the like.

In the aiming adjustment mechanism having this configuration, when attaching the universal bearing 11 to the lamp body 1, the main body 13 may be inserted into the fitting tube portion 18 from the rear side of the lamp body. FIGS. 4A and 4B are a perspective view and a plan view showing the attached state. The slide projection 15 of the main body 13 of the universal bearing is fitted to the fitting cylindrical portion 18.
When the main body 13 is inserted into the fitting cylindrical portion 18 while being opposed to the slide groove 19, the locking piece 16 is inserted into the space between the notches 20 and the locking portion of the locking piece 16 is inserted. 17 comes into contact with the engagement protrusion 21. At this time, the locking piece 16 has its tip directed in a direction away from the one end face 13a and comes into contact with the tapered guide portion 22 of the engagement projection 21. When the locking portion 17 is strongly inserted into the portion 18, the locking portion 17 is elastically deformed in the thickness direction along the guide portion 22 and climbs over the engagement protrusion 21. You. Therefore, in this state, the main body portion 13 is housed inside the fitting tube portion 18, and is prevented from falling off by the engagement between the locking portion 17 and the engagement protrusion 21. In particular, the main body 13 and the fitting cylinder 1
8 is provided with a slide projection 15 and a slide groove 19 and is formed in a T-shape when viewed from the front. This prevents movement in the direction perpendicular to the one end surface 13a, that is, in the thickness direction of the locking piece 16, so that the engagement between the locking portion 17 and the engaging projection 21 is not released. Thus, it is possible to reliably prevent the main body 13 from falling off.

Then, as shown by a chain line in FIG. 4, the ball portion 12a of the aiming screw 12 is inserted into the ball seat 14 of the main body portion 13 of the universal bearing through the notch 20 of the fitting tube portion 18. At this time, the ball portion 12a is inserted into the ball seat 14 from the opening side of the one end surface 13a of the main body portion, and the ball portion 12a is moved to the bottom position of the ball seat 14 so that the ball portion 12a is positioned at the bottom of the ball seat 14. Of the ball seat 14
And the universal joint structure is formed. Therefore, the aiming screw 12 is rotated around the axis, and the aiming screw 12 is rotated.
Is moved forward and backward in the axial direction with respect to the vehicle body B, and the ball portion 12a is moved forward and backward in the front-rear direction of the lamp.
The universal bearing 11 and the lamp body 1 fitted to the ball portion 12a are tilted in the horizontal direction with the pivot receiving portion 7 as a fulcrum, and horizontal aiming adjustment is realized. Even with this aiming adjustment, the engagement of the locking portion 17 with the engagement protrusion 21 allows the main body 13 to
Needless to say, they will not be dropped from the 8. Although the description is omitted, the vertical aiming adjustment mechanism 10V
And the aiming adjustment allows the lamp body to be tilted in the vertical direction with the pivot receiving portion as a fulcrum. In addition, even in each of the tilting operations in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction, the universal joint operation does not hinder each operation in each universal bearing.

As described above, according to the present invention, the universal bearing 11 can be attached to the lamp body from the back side of the lamp body 1, so that the universal bearing can be attached to other parts at a time. For example, similarly to the work of attaching a light bulb socket or a rubber cover, the lamp body 1 can be attached with the front side thereof placed face down, and the workability of attaching universal bearings can be improved. Even if the lamp body can be mounted from the rear side in this way, since the universal bearing 11 does not fall off in the rear direction of the lamp body 1, there is no hindrance in mounting the lamp on the vehicle body or aiming adjustment operation. Does not occur. It is also possible to remove the universal bearing 11 from the lamp body 1, in which case the locking portion 1 of the locking piece 16
The body 13 can be pulled out of the fitting tube 18 by forcibly bending and deforming the member 7 in the plate thickness direction with a jig or the like so as to get over the engagement protrusion 21.

Here, in the above-described embodiment, the front shape of the main body and the fitting cylinder is T-shaped, but the main body is not moved in the thickness direction of the locking portion in the fitting cylinder. If possible, the shapes of the slide protrusion and the slide groove can be arbitrarily designed, and are not limited to such shapes. Further, as a configuration of the engagement piece, an engagement hole may be opened in a part of the engagement piece, and the engagement hole may be engaged with the engagement protrusion. Alternatively, an engagement protrusion may be provided on the locking piece, and an engagement recess or an engagement hole may be opened in the fitting cylinder to engage the two.

[0015]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the universal bearing mounted on a part of the lamp body is mounted by a fitting operation from the back side of the lamp body, for example, the lamp body can be mounted on the rear side. The universal bearing can be mounted on the lamp body with the side facing upwards, and it can be consistent with the mounting work of other components that are mounted in the same direction, and the entire lamp is assembled. There is an effect that can enhance the property. Moreover, the mounted universal bearing is not easily detached, and a highly reliable aiming adjustment mechanism can be configured. Furthermore, the fitting cylinder for holding the universal bearing can be die-cut from the same direction as the lamp body, and there is no need to form using a slide or the like, which facilitates molding.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view of an embodiment in which a headlamp to which the present invention is applied is viewed from a front direction and a rear direction.

FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway plan view showing a state where the headlight of FIG. 1 is assembled to a vehicle body.

FIG. 3 is a partially exploded perspective view of a horizontal aiming adjustment mechanism.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view and a plan view of the aiming adjustment mechanism of FIG. 3 in an assembled state.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Lamp body 2 Lens 4 Light bulb 7 Pivot receiver 8 Pivot shaft 10H Horizontal aiming adjustment mechanism 10V Vertical aiming adjustment mechanism 11 Universal bearing 12 Aiming screw 12a Ball part 13 Body part 14 Ball seat 17 Locking part 18 Fitting cylinder part 21 Engagement Projection 22 Guide part B Body

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A vehicular lamp in which a universal bearing for forming a part of an aiming adjustment mechanism is attached to a part of the lamp body, the universal bearing is fitted by a fitting operation from the rear side of the lamp body. A vehicle lighting device which is attached. 2. The lamp body is provided with a fitting cylindrical portion facing in the rear direction, and the universal bearing has a ball seat formed on a part thereof, into which a ball portion of an aiming screw of an aiming adjusting mechanism is fitted. A main body portion inserted into the fitting cylinder portion from the cylinder axis direction, and a locking portion for locking the main body portion to the lamp body when the main body portion is inserted into the fitting cylinder portion. Item 4. The vehicle lighting device according to Item 1. 3. The locking portion is formed as a locking piece protruding from the main body in the direction of the cylinder axis of the fitting cylindrical portion. 3. The vehicular lamp according to claim 2, wherein a part of the width dimension is enlarged to form a widened portion, and the fitting tubular portion is provided with an engaging projection which is engaged with the widened portion in a thickness direction. 4. A slide projection and a slide groove, which are engaged with each other in a thickness direction of the locking portion, are formed in the main body portion and the fitting cylinder portion in the cylinder axis direction of the fitting cylinder portion. Item 4. A vehicle lighting device according to item 3.