US1602220A

US1602220A - Combination tail lamp

Info

Publication number: US1602220A
Application number: US719916A
Authority: US
Inventors: Charles E Godley
Original assignee: Edmunds & Jones Corp
Current assignee: Edmunds & Jones Corp
Priority date: 1924-06-13
Filing date: 1924-06-13
Publication date: 1926-10-05
Anticipated expiration: 1943-10-05

Description

Oct. 5, 1926( 9.1.1. GODLE Y COMBINATION TAIL LAMP Filed June 13, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. -5 1926.

w c. E. 'GODLEY COMBINATION T-AIL LAMP 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 13, 1924 Im/nww gar/ 1 524/6 IL C CL raieniea' car. a, was

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lL ATEN CHARLES E. GODLEY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO EDMUNDS JONES CORi- PORATION, OF DETROIT, MICI-IIGAN, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

cor/imitation TAIL LAMP.

Application filed June 13, 1924. Serial No. 719,916.

My invention relates to compartmental lamps in which a separately controlled source of light (such as an incandescent lamp) is employed for each compartment,

and in its general aspects aims to provide features of construction which will permit the use of unusually large lamp bulbs and lenses in proportion to the size of the compartments, which will lend itself to the use of easily manufactured partitioning means and socket constructions, and which will atford advantageous means for holding the translucent elements of the casing and the signal displaying stencil in secure and properly cushioned operative position.

Where lamps having separate sources of light in two compartments are employed for such purposes as the affording of a'tail light and a stop signal at the rear of an automobile, it is highly desirable to have the easing of a relatively small size, this being advantageous both to reduce the cost and to avoid clumsiness of appearance. However, adequate room must be provided for the ready insertion of the needed incandescent laaip bulbs, and the insertion or removal of each lamp bulb should desirably be permitted without detaching any portion of the lamp excepting the usual lens-carrying cover. On the other hand, a proportioning of the compartments with respect to the size of the lamps which are to be inserted in them may not have these compartments correspond to the desirable relative sizes and shapes of the lensv portions (or separate lenses) which are to be employed with them.

For example, in providing such an automobile lamp with'astop-signal portion disposed above the usual tail light indication, both of the lens portions can readily be displayed in an adequate size within a circular cover of relatively small diameter by making the lower. lens portion of an oval shape and the upper one of an arcuate shape, with its lower edge curved similarly to the contour of the upper portionof he oval lens portion. Such a relatively; long and narrow arcuate shape readily lends itself to displaying a legend such as the word Stop even when of less height than the oval lens portion employed for the tail signal which is continuously lighted at night. "However, the effective displaying of the stop signal in such Close association with the continuously illuminated tail indication demands a much more intense lighting of the stop signal lens in order to have the latter attract due and immediate attention. Consequently, a lamp bulb of larger size and candle power than the one employed for the tail light portion of the lamp is desirable tor the stop signal indication, but such a larger size of lamp bulb cannot readily be inserted in a-compartment corresponding in maximum height to the height of such an arcuate stop lens portion.

In one of itsimportant aspects, my inven tion a ms to overcome these di'tficulties by providing a partitioning arrangement for the lamp which will permit the socketing portion for the larger lampbulb to be disposed on the opposite side of the partition 'f1'om the filament of that bulb, which will permit the attaching of the incandescent lamp from the side of the partition on which the bulb is to be disposed, which will hold the lamp bulb in rigid position transversely of the. partition, and which will prevent an overstraining of the contact member asso ciated with the axial terminal of the lamp bulb. It also provides a partition construction which will enable the light from the lamp bulb at one side of the partition to reach all of the outwardly exposed portions of a lens extending beyond the general plane of the partition.

In another aspect, my invention provides a simple and effective cushioning and mounting for the lens portions of such a lamp, including simple and effective means for holding the signal indicating stencil plate in position and for pressing this plate firmly against the back of the corresponding lens portion without employing any screws other than those required for fastening the lens-carrying cover to the body of the lamp. Furthermore, my invention provides a novel and effective cushioning and supporting arrangement for the glass pane of a bottom WlIlClOW in the lamp through which light from the lamp bulb employed with the tail signal can also illuminate the usual license plate. My invention also provides a novel lens formation for the bottom or license plate illuminating window pane of the lamp and employs lens-forming portions of this window pane both for retaining the latter 1n its normal position, for p eventing the .will appear from the following specification and from the accompanying diawii'igs in wh1chv Fig. 1 1s a central, vertical and longitudin al section through a combined stop and tail lamp embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the same lamp taken from the mouth thereof with the cover detached, certain portions being. broken awayto show, the arrangement employed for supporting and cushioning the glass window through which light is directed towards the rear license plate as usually mounted below such a lamp. I

Fig. 3 is a central and vertical section throughthe cover as it appears when de tached from the lamp body.

Fig. 4C is a rear elevation of this cover as it appears when detached from the lamp body.

Pg. 5 is a perspective view of the partitioning member of the lamp, showin' this with the shell of the lower socket alieady attached to it.

Fig. 6 is a front view of the metal cover portion alone.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged section taken transversely of the lamp through a lower portion thereof to show the method of cushioning the lower glass window pane and the clamping of this pane by means of clips. I

Fig. 8 is an elevation of the packing member of the lamp front.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged central andvertical section through the lower socket, showing the circuit connections.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken along the line 101O of Fig. 0 and showing the means for securing the lamp front to the partitioning member.

Fig. 11' is'a sect-ion similar to Fig. 3 but showing the use of two separate lenses.

In one of its immediate commercial aspects, the lamp of my invention is 'partic 'ularly adapted for use with rear lights for automobiles. I am therefore illustrating and describing it'in such an embodiment, al-

though I do not wish to be limited to this particular employment of the novel features here disclosed. In the illustrated embodi ment, the lamp body has a cylindrical wall 1 extending forwardly of the lamp (or to.- wards the mouth of the lamp body) from a fiat back2, which back carries rearwardly projecting bolts 3 for attaching the lamp to any suitable sup ort. The cylindrical wall 1 has its forwar end enlarged to affordan v direct the lamp front elements body is a parin th s embodiment on each side tance towards has c p is l v as a "oerforalon 4.8 diameter slightl l than that of e ual ise 8 of the incandescent m' b which iS tobe used .i 30 for lightingthe up er projecting light through the signal lens por tion 9 infrontof this compartment. The lower partition-portion 7 also has a pair of downwardly directed wings 6 formed from pp. p st ne hiailgc) duct cm 1.10 et: 8.5-

5 extending in compartment and for" at diametrio v ppo of the perforations 48., ea wi gs is pro-' adapted to en vided with a barons gage one of the 1-. ing pins 11 on the base 8 of the r lamp-bulb. Both of these bayonet s 5( have entrance openings at the top or VQr'Cl partition por tion 7 as shown in bi 5, but are closed downwardly so as to limit the downward movement of the l mp when this is being in- I serted, thereby preventing the resilient contact arm 23 from being overstrained.

The partitioning member also includes a pair of lugs 1:2 havin perforations for receiving screws 13 by means of which the partitioning member is secured to he back of the lamp body, and hasat its forward edge a pair h ugs 1's provided with threaded perforations for receiving the screws 38 by means of which the lamp front is secured to the partition and thereby held in place with respect to the lamp body after the manner shown in Fig. 10.

As illustrated, the partitioning member also includes a downwardly directed web 15- through the inner flange 19 is the metal shell 21 of a lamp socket which is equipped at its rear end with bayonet slots 22 for receiving a double pole connector plug which has'its' T two poles respectively connected to circuit wires for the tail lamp 18 and the'stop signal lamp 39. This socket is here shown as.

iso

constructed after the general manner shown in application No. 653,106, of Edward S- Preston as interconnected lamp sockets as filed July 23, 192-3, namely with one connector plug terminal connected through a compressible conductin member 13 with the axial contact of the lower lamp bulb 18, while the other plug terminal ll is connected through a compressible conducting member 19 with the lower end of a contact member 23 which has a resilient upper end portion disposed for engaging the axial contact ofthe upper lamp bulb, 39, the latter having the anchoring pins 11 on its base interlocked with the bayonet slots in the said lower wings 10 on the partitioning member. For the lamp front member I desirably provide a metal cover 50 having a flange 24 adapted to be sleeved over the rim of the radial flange 4 at the mouth ofthe lamp body, this cover having an upper arcuate perforation, a lower oval perforation and a pair of screw holes 25 adapted to aline with the perforations in the front attaching wings 1 1 ofthe partitioning member. Seated within this cover is a lens member. When both lens members are to be of the same color, they may be formed of a single piece of suitably colored glass having a lower oval lens portion 10 convexed forwardly and projecting" through the lower oval perforation beyond the metal portion of the lamp front. and having an upper flat glass portion disposedbehind the said arcuate perforation.

By disposing the upper or signal lens portic-n in an arcuate formation above a lower oval lens portion, I can readily provide two such lens portions of adequate size in a cover of relatively small diameter, and by lowering the medial socket carrying part of the partition I' canemploy an upper lamp bulb of considerably greater length than the distance from the top of the oval lens portion 10'to the top of the lamp body. However, such an arrangement disposes the lowered partition portion 7 in a plane intersecting the oval lens portion and hence would,

prevent light rays of the lower lamp bulb from reaching the upperportion of this lens. To avoid this, I bow the partition portion 7 upwardly at its forward end to form a forwardly and upwardly flaring reflector portion 26, thereby permitting light from the filament of the lamp 18 to reach the full effective height of the lower lens portion 10. Then'I also desirably shape the upper edge of this inclined reflector portion 26 so that it corresponds substantially to the contour of the upper exposed portion of the oval lens 10, thereby causing this reflector portion to redirect some of the light from the lamp 18 in a substantially horizontal direction through the said lens, so as to increase the and to compensate for the difference in the distance from the lamp to the upper and lower parts of this lens.

To hold the lower curved glass pane 17 effectively in position and to seal this window opening, I desirably provide a frame 27 of packing material between the lower edge portions of this glass and the, adjacent wall of the casing. Then I bevel the two ends of this glass and hold both the glass and the packing in effective position by means of a pair of metal clips 28, each of which is hold in position by a screw 29 extending through the -cylindrical wall portion of the casing. Each of these clips has a main portion 28 extendin in the same general direction with the adjacent portion of the easing, a holding finger 31 disposed at one end of this main portion andinclined to conform substantially to the bevel of the adjacent pane end, anda foot 30 at the other end of the clip for spacing the said main portion from the adjacent casing wall. Owing to the corresponding inclination of the end bevels and the finger engaging these,

each finger exerts a cam action to draw the pane towards the adjacent casing wall when the screw 29 is tightened, thereby firmly clamping the packing 27 between the casing and the glass pane By providing little lost play in the casing wall perforation through which each screw 29 extends, I can readily cause the corresponding clip to ad I just itself to any variation in the precise length of the glass window, thereby holding the latter firmly in its closure position without overstraining it, and by keeping the clip clear of thepacking I clamp the latter inproper cushioning and sealing disposition between the glass pane and the casing.

The'bottom pane 17 preferably has its central portion thickened and extending downwardly through the opening in the packing frame, and the lower face of this pane desirably .has a convexed cylindrical surface of smaller radius than the upper surface of this pane, thereby providing a lens formation for concentrating the downward light from the lower lamp bulb upon a license plate which is disposed below the lamp after the usual custom. This thickened central portion of the pane desirably corresponds in width to the opening in the packing frame, so as to afford two walls engag ing the inner edges of the packing frame wvhich extend transversely of the lamp and hence preventing even a thin packing frame from being squeezed down into or through the said bottom opening when the lower window pane is clamped in position.

So also, the front edge of the thickened pane portion is disposed for engaging the front edge of the bottom opening in the casing to prevent the pane from being slid luminous efiect of the upper part of the lens forwardly. Consequently, since the down wardly extending part 15 of the partitioning member has a flange 16 disposed. for engaging the rear edge of the said pane, a forward thrust on this part 15 (such as may occur when a wire terminal plug is being inserted in the socket shell 22) cannot tick this part 15 out of its normal position. Hence I am able to use thin metal for the partitioning member without requiring auxiliary means for securing this lower part 15 to the back of the lamp casing.

To display the desired legend by means of the upper lamp portion I desirably employ a metal stencil plate '32 having perforations '33 formed therein to display the desired lettering. Then I fasten this stencil plate to the front portion of the lamp this front is visible.

front 24 by a air of eyelets 35 which e'xtend successive y through the said metal front, the glass lens plate, the frontal packing member 35, and the stencil plate 32. With this in mind I provide a packing member 34 in theform of a disk of cork or the like, having a pair of perforations corre-' sponding to the perforations 'in the lamp frontthrough which the glass member of The portion of the stencil plate 32 in which the letters 33 are punched is embossed forwardly of the lamp so as to compensate for the thickness of the packing, thereby permitting this portion to bear fiatwise against the back of the corresponding lens portion 9 so as to insure a sharp definition of the outlines of the letters.

In practice, a firm fastening of the tubular rivets 25 which are disposed near the two lower corners of the stencil plate will tend to tilt the upper end of the stencil plate -rearwa'rdly or inwardly of the lamp and hence would bring the perforated part of this plate away from the adjacent lens portion. To overcome this I provide the upper; portion of the stencil plate with a finger 36 projecting upwards sufficiently so that it will be interposed between the cork packing 34 and the flange 4 when the door is in position. With the stencil plate thus constructed, the securing of the lamp front to the body of the lamp'by means of the cover lioldi-ngscrews 38 will cause the stencil plate to be pressed forwardly into tight engagement with the corresponding portion 9 of the glass front of the lamp, and the resiliency of the stencil plate in resisting this forward flexing affords .a spring tension which prevents any jarring from loosening the cover holdin screws 38.

However, wlii e I have illustrated and de- I scribed the lamp of my invention in an embodiment including various highly desirable features of construction and arrangement, I do not wish to be limited to these. Obviously, many changes might be made withoutdeparting either from the spirit of my reoaaao invention or from the appended claims, and

some of the novel features of my invention mightloe employed independent of others.-

1. In a lamp, a forwardly open casing, a front havlng a pa r of lens portions, a pair of lamp bulbs, means for supporting the lamp bulbs within the casing respectively portion might be as shown.

back of the two lens portions, and a partition extending longitudinally of the casing between the lamp. bulbs and having its main portion in a-p'la'ne intersecting oneof the said lens portions, the partition having a forward portion bowed out of. the said plane to conform substantially to the adjacent peripheral part of the said intersected lens portion so as to enlarge the casing compartment opposite the last named lens portion.

2. In a lamp, a forwardly open casing, a

front having a pair of lens portions, a pair of lamp bulbs, means for supporting the lamp bulbs within the casing respectively back of the two lens portions, and a partition extending longitudinally of-the casing between the lamp bulbs and having its main portion in a plane intersecting one of the said lens portions, the partition having a forward portion bowed out of the said plane to conform substantially to the adjacent peripheral part of the said intersected lens portion so as .to enlarge the casing compartment opposite the last named lens portion, the

said bowed portion of the partition being inclined forwardly of the lamp so as to defleet rays of light from the lamp bulb opposite the said intersected lens portion through this lens portion.

3. In alamp, a forwardly front having a lower lens portion of upwardly convexed upper contour and an upper lensportion above the aforesaid lens portion, and a partition having the major part of its longitudinal medial portion in a 'SjllIfflCG intersecting-the said upper contour of the lower lens, the partition having the forward part of its said medial portion arched upwardly to correspond substantially to the intersected lens contour portion.

l open casing, a

4. In a lamp, a forwardly open casing, a front having a lower-lens portion of up wardly convexed upper contour and an upper lens portion above the aforesaid lens portion, and a partition having the major,

. gitudinal of the lamp.

5. In a lamp, a forwardly open casing, a lamp front having upper and lower lens portions, a partition extending longitudinally of the lamp to divide thelatter into two compartments respectivel opposite-the two lens portions, a lamp bu b mounted in the lower compartment, and a second lamp bulb having its base supported by the partition and its-filament disposed in the upper compartment,-the lamp-base-supporting part of the partition being depressed below the top of the lower lens to permit the insertion of a relatively tall lamp bulb into the upper compartment, the partition having the part forwardly of its said lamp-base supporting portion bowed upwardly to present the entire height of the lower lens opposite the lower compartment.

6. In a lamp having a forwardly open casing divided by a partition into upper and lower compartments, a substantially central depression in the partition, a lamp-socket having its shell projecting downwardly from the central depressed part of the partition and providedwith means for receiving the base of a lamp bulb inserted into the upper compartment of the lamp, thesaid depression of the partition and the down ward disposition of the socket cooperating to permit the use of a relatively tall lamp bulb in the upper compartment.

7 In a lamp having a forwardly open cast ing divided by a partition into upper and lower compartments, a substantially central depression in the partition, a lamp-socket.

having its shell projecting. downwardl from the central depressed part of the part1- tion and provided with means for receiving the base of a lamp bulb inserted into the upper compartment of the lamp, the said depression of the partition and the downward disposition of the socket cooperating to per .mit the use of a relatively tall lamp bulb in the upper compartment, the artition having the forward part of its epressed -portion inclined upwardly toward the front of thelamp to increase the effective height of the lower compartment forwardly of the said socket.

CHARLES E. GODLEY.

Signed at Detroit, Michigan, June 12,