US1359323A - Vehicle-lamp - Google Patents

Description

J. W. BROWN.

VEHICLE LAMP.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 27. 1919.

Patented Nov 16, 1920.

PATENT- GFFliZ 3F C-OLUMBUS, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE JOHN W. BESLQW'N CZBHPAEIY, 0E COLUMBUS, OHIO, A'COBPORATIGN' 0F DHIQ.

VEHICLE-LAMP.

Specifl'cati'bn of Letters Patent.

iuation filed September 27, 1919. Serial No. 326,788

To all wile/n it may concern:

Be it lmovrn t JOHN W. BRowN, a citizen of the United States, residing at C0- lumbus, in the county of Franklin and State Ohio, have ii vented certain new and useful lmjrovemenis in Vehicle Lamps, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relat s broadly to vehicle lamps, and has particular reference to lamps of the type employed as head lights for automobiles. I

The object of the present invention resides essentially in the provision of novel means for effecting the securing of the door of the lamp in firmly united relationship with the body or casing thereof and to perform this result in such manner that the reflector of V the lamp will be securely held within said chattering therein.

Another object of the invention resides in roviding novel interlocking devices between the door of the lamp and said casing, said devices permitting the door to be connected with the casing by mere longitudinal movement of said door and Without involving; the necessity of rotating "the latter to casing and prevented from vibrating or effect its fastening.

ither objects of the invention reside in a lamp which may be economically produced, of few and simple parts and wherein'the various elements of the lamp when assembled are firmly and securely held in theirrespective positions and in the provision ofpositi'rc and reliable means for retaining the elements their operative positions.

lVith these and other objects in view, as will appear as the description proceeds, the invention accordingly consists in the novel features of construction, combinations of elements. and arrangement of parts hereiner to be fully described and to have the L8 accompanying drawing, forming a T111711; of his specification, and inwhich similar'characters of reference denote like and corresponding parts: v

' is a vertical longitudinal sec- Figure 1 tional view talzen through a vehicle lamp of a lamp door and illustrating its loclrln beyond or outside of col e rhereol pointed out in the appended s i and then by rotating the same, the

constructed in accordance witnthe principles of the present invention,

F ig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view, a closing more particularly the intcrlocl elements between the the door thereof, 7

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view projection,

Fig. 2% is a fragmentary detail view, e" ing a portion of the casing and the actua n knob.

Referring more particularly to the details of the present invention, use is made of a vehicle lamp 1. form, consists of 2 preferably parabolical shaped cas formed from thin sheet met and having an outer and open end. in the present instance the rim of the casing is inwardly bent so as to provide an annular flange 8, the plane of which being located substantially at right angles to the loo tudinal axis of the casing. It is stated that the flange 3 is of annular formation, however, this formation is optional, as it will appear as the description proceeds that the flange 3 could be in the nature of a series of projections ext-ending inwardly from the casing instead of the annular contiguous formation shown and described. Therefore, by the term flange I mean any inwardly extending projection or formation either integral or otherwise upon the rim of the casing 2. Situated within thecas ng .1? is the usual parab'olical reflector 1-. in t' s in stance the reflector is formed to co..,,1ise a peripheral flange 5,, which is arranged to seat directly upon the flange 3. The flange. 5 is provided with a grooved portion 6 in which a circular gasket 7 is seated, The portion 6' is preferably located on a plane the flange 5, in order that the gasket 7 will be appreciably from the flange 5. If desired, said flange 5 may be provided with circumferential 'cesses8, which are of suflicient area to rc-- ceive a plurality of tongues 9 which are car-- ried upon the casing flange 3. l /ianifestly, by seating the reflector upon the flange 3 portions n. casing of the lamp and This lamp, in its preferred of the flange contiguous tothe recesses 8 nay be inserted bet-ween the outer ends of the tongues 9 and the flange 3. In this manner, the'tongucs 9 will consist in serving to retain the reflector in secured relationship with the casing. It will of course beunder-- body 11 which comprises an annular horiii ti Zontal wall 12 and a vertical annular wall 13, the wall 12 being disposed so as to overlie and surround the rim portion of the casing 2 and is provided with an inwardly directed head 14 on its rim. The vertical wall 13 is, in turn, provided with a circular opening over which is fitted a transparent panel or lens 15, which is retained in position by providing the inner face ofthe wall 13 with a plurality of resilient prongs 16, which contact and engage with the periphery of the lens so as to hold the latter in secured relationship with the door. When the parts of thevlamp are assembled it will be obvious that the inner face of the lens 15 will press upon the gasket 7 and in this manner a seat is provided for the door which will be of a resilient nature and also capable of sealing the interior of the lamp so as to prevent the ingress of dust or other extraneous material, thus serving to preserve the finely polished surface of the reflector.

In order to firmly and positively retain the door 10 in secured relationship in connection with the casing .2'and at the same time to lock the reflector 4 therein, said door 10 in this instance is provided with an inwardly directed and rigidly mounted stud or projection 17, which extends from the horizontal wall 12 of the door and occupies a position substantially parallel with the flanges 3 and 5. To receive the projection 17. the casing 2 has its rim provided witha slot 18 which extends parallel with the longitudinal axis of the lamp. This slot is provided with a widened entrance portion and a restricted inner portion, the widened portion serving to facilitate registration between the projection and theslot. he observed that the projection may be inserted into said slot by merely pressing the door inwardly and longitudinally ofthe casing 2, and that the door will be prevented from rotating axially about the casing 2 by the fact that the stud 17 is positioned within the slot 18.

To effect the registration of the projection and slot that portion of the casing 2 diametrically opposite to the slot 1.8 is provided with a rectangular opening 19,

It will movable latching device 25.

of the opening 19. Therefore, in assembling the lamp, the beaded rim l-ll ot the horizontal wall 12 ot the door is initially placed in contact with that portion oi the hooked end. 20 of saidiastening member which projects exteriorly of the casing 2. By this association of parts a. fulcrum is provided for the lower portion of the door. and then by oscillating said door with the end 20 as a pivot, the stud 17 may be caused to enter the slot 18. it will be observed; however. that the engagement of the panel or lens 1.5 upon the gasket 7 will cause said door to move outwardly thus placing the spring 2i under tension and serving to insure a close contact between said lens and the gasket to insure the sealing of the reflector.

To look the stud 17 within the slot 18 and to resiliently draw the door toward the casing 2. the interior of said casing, opposite to the fastening member 21, is provided with In this instance, the device 25 is in the form of a thin metallic plate and has its outer end equipped with a hook 27, which is movable toward or I away from the slot 18 so as-to efl'ect the opening or closing; of the latter as regards the stud 17. The inner end ot the device 25 is connected with an element 28 which is slidably mounted within a fixed bearing 29 protruding inwardly from the casing" 2. The inner end of the element 28 is provided with a' pin 30 and between the bearing 29 and the pin 30 there is interposed a coil spring 31 which normally; tends to draw the latch device inwardly. The movements of the device are controlled by providing the same with a manipulating knoo and located exteriorly of the casing 2. said knob being'formed with a threaded extension 33 which operates in a bayonet slot 3 formed in the casing 2 and is threadedly received within an opening" provided in the device When the extension oi the knob is sitnatcd within the lateral branch 35 of the bayonet slot the hook shaped end 27 of the latch device will be clear of the slot 18 so that the projection 17 may readily enter said slot." When this is accomplished the knob 32 is rotated laterally so that the extension 33 will be alined with the longitudinally tending branch of the bayonet slot 3%. When this alinement of partsv is etlected it will be observed that the hooked ends 27 of.

the latch device will be brought into sucli position as to close the slot 18 so as to pro vent Withdrawal of the projection 17. Heavever, the spring 31 is then free to act upon the device -25 so that the latter will be retracted by drawing the extension 33 longitudinally of the slot 34. This results in the engagement of the hook 2-7 with the stud 17 under the influence of the spring so that the resilient pressure'of the spring 31 will serve to draw the door 10 toward the casing 2 thus insuring a firm resilient engagement between the lens 15 and the gasket 7. To" release the door from locked engagement with the casing 2, the above operation is simply reversed and this is brought about by simply. forcing the knob- 32 int-0' the lateral branch of the bayonet slot. The latch member may be securely retained in any or" its adjusted positions by simply tightening the knob 32 down upon the easing 2 as it will be observed that the extension 33 of said knob has a threaded connecion with the latch device 25. Also, the rear face of the book 27 is provided with a curved depression 37, by means of which a close engagement between the hook 27 and the stud 17 is maintained. Theslot 18 is o'f sufiicient depth. to prevent the stud or pro jectioncl'i from contacting with its end well. By being thus proportioned the full resilient action of thesprings 24 and 31 upon the door is brought about. i From the foregoing it will be gathere that the present invention comprehends a lamp wherein the door thereof may be quickly and positively connected in secured relationship with the casing 2 by a mere longitudinal insertion of the door upon-said casing and that through the medium of the interlocking devicedescribed, it will not be necessary to rotate the door axially to effect its fastening, as is the case in the majority of lamps of the present construct-ion. Through the provision of the manipulating knob 32 and its associated structure,- convenient means are provided for locking the door in place, and the means are of such character as toperinit these looking or unlocking operations to be performed with but a minimum of labor or exertion. Through the provisionvof the fastening member Al, the door is conveniently retained in position during the manipulations of the latch device 25 so that if necessary both of the operators hands may be employed in the operation or" said latch devices. Ordinarily, the latter is formed of such material as to preclude corrosion and thus the possibilit of the device 25 rusting in engagement with the projection 17 is eliminated and the operation of the device thus rendered reliable even after long periods of disuse. Also,

the Wall 12 ofthe door is extended so as to fully overlie the slot 18 and in this manner I moisture is prevented from gaining access of the positions which said latch device may assume. This construction also has a tendency to eliminate moisture ironi the lamp. in view of the above it will be apparent that there is provided :1 structure whereby the Ward said casing,

objects of the invention have been achieved and that all of the advantageous features of construction and operation above pointed out are, among others, present. Essentially,

the present invention provides means Where- 7 by the door may be connected with the cas- 511 with but a minimum of labor andefiort, one Which may be conveniently operated at all times and finally, in the provision of means :vvhereby a firm sealing contact is maintained between the lens and the reflector gasket.

.What I claim is:

1.:Ztn a vehicle lamp, a casing, an inwardly directed annular flange formed upon the rim of the casing, a reflector coiiperative with the source of light carried by said casing, a flange formed upon the periphery of said reflector and arranged to seat direotly upon said casing flange, a lens carrying door/arranged to incase said casing and formed to include a ring shaped body having a beaded edge, means for holding said reflector and casing in locked relationship with said door, comprising a fixed projection carried by said door body and extending inwardly thereof in substantially parallel relation with said flanges, said casing being provided With a longitudinal slot to receive said projection upon inward longitudinal movement of said door, a latch member movably mounted Within said casing and capable of blocking the entrance to said slot and to retain said projection therein, resilient means cooperative'with said latch member and serving to exert a longiludinalpressure on said projection and to thereby draw said door into firm contact with said reflector and easing, a resilient hook member carried by said casing and disposed to engage with the beaded edge of said door to assist in drawing that portion of said door opposite to said projection toand a manipulating element cooperative with said latch member ann mounted exteriorly' of said casing for permittin of the actuation of the. latch member.

2. In a vehicle lamp, a casing, a reflector positioned Within said casing, a door arranged to inclose said reflector and to hold the latter in secured relationship with said casing, av rig-id projection carried by said (1001' and arranged to be slidahly received Within a slot formed in said casing, a latch device HHHZJJIY mounted Within said cilsing' and arranged to be projected across the mouth of said slot and, into engagement with said projection so as to prevent the withdrawal of the hitter from said slot, and resiiient means cobperative with said device an c'i serving when the latter is} in locked relationship With. said projectidn to exercise a pressure upon the letter :50 age to effect the retention of the door in resilient relationship with. said reflector.

In testimony whereof I niv si nature;

JQHN W. Been/N.

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