US2104437A

US2104437A - Headlamp construction

Info

Publication number: US2104437A
Application number: US59715A
Authority: US
Inventors: William H Peters
Original assignee: Ford Motor Co
Current assignee: Ford Motor Co
Priority date: 1936-01-18
Filing date: 1936-01-18
Publication date: 1938-01-04
Anticipated expiration: 1955-01-04

Description

HEADLAMP CONS TRUCTION Filed Jan. 18, 1936 5M1: -IIITI ATTORNEY.

Patented Jan. 4, 1938 HEADLAMP CONSTRUCTION William H. Peters, Flat Rock, Mich, assignor to Ford Motor Company, Dearborn, Mich, a corporation of Delaware Application January 18, 1936, Serial No. 59,715

3 Claims.

The object of my invention is to provide a headlamp especially adapted for use on automotive vehicles.

Specifically, the object of my invention is to provide a headlight wherein the reflector is supported therein in an improved manner. My improved method of supporting the reflectors is believed to secure a better seal with the lens thereby preventing dust and water from tarnishing the reflecting surface of the reflector.

A further object of my invention is to provide a method of supporting the reflector whereby the reflector is resiliently held within the headlamp housing after the lens has been removed therefrom so that the lamp bulbs may be conveniently replaced in the reflector and at the same time easy removal of the reflector from the housing is assured.

Still a further object of my invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive means for urging the reflector at a plurality of points around its rim into contact with the lens to thereby prevent distortion of the reflector.

With these objects in view,-my'invention consists in the arrangement, construction and combination of the various parts of my improved device, as described in the specification, claimed in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical central sectional view through a headlight incorporating my improve ment.

Figure 2 is a sectional view, taken on the line 22 of Figure 1, and

Figure 3 is a sectional view, taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, I have used the reference numeral ID to indicate a lamp housing formed in the shape of a paraboloid, the open end of which is formed with a cylindrical lens ring seat H therearound. An annular flange l2 extends still further inwardly from the outer end of the seat I I and a lamp door I3 is formed in a ring shape, the inner end of which is adapted to bear against the seat II and. to be detachably secured in position by means of a pair of resilient holders. These holders comprise a spring clip I4 which is secured inside of the housing I and which is provided with an ear I5 which extends upwardly through a suitable slot in the upper portion of the seat ll so as to coact with the door l3 to thereby resiliently retain the upper edge of the lamp door upon this seat. A quickly detachable clamp l6 secures the bottom portion of the door I3 to the housing. A

spherical lens I? is fitted into the door I3, the periphery of the lens having a flat annular face 20 formed therearound which face is adapted to bear against a reflector gasket !9 to thus make a comparatively dust-tight joint therebetween. A reflector I8 is formed in the shape of a paraboloid with an annular channel 26 extending around its periphery, in which channel the annular cork gasket I9 is disposed, the gasket I9 bearing against the face 20 to form the joint between 10 the lens and reflector.

The portion of the device so far described is quite conventional; however, the means for resiliently urging the reflector against the lens, and resiliently retaining the reflector in the housing It] is believed to be novel.

It will be noted from Figures 2 and 3 that I have provided three spring clips 2|, the center portion 22 of each of which is formed in the shape of an inverted U with the arm portions 23 extending outwardly and downwardly. Each arm 23 is provided with an opening in its outer end which is adapted to receive a tongue 24 which is pressed from the rear face of the channel 26. The clips 2i are so formed that when they are pushed downwardly against the rear face of the reflector the outer ends of the arms spread out so that the tongues 24 may be inserted into the openings therein. When the clips are allowed to resume their normal shape, they are secured to the reflector by means of these tongues.

Three clips 2| are equally spaced around the periphery of the reflector so that the arms thereof bear against the back of the channel 26 at six points around the periphery of the reflector. The flange I2 is provided with three rectangularshaped slots 25 in its inner edge, these slots being equally spaced therearound. The slots 25 are of a width slightly less than the width of the U-shaped portions 22 of the clips 2|, and are so disposed that the portions 22 of the three clips may with a reasonable pressure enter the three slots 25. However, the U-shaped portions 22 are so proportioned that they retain the reflector in the housing under the normal pull required to remove a bulb from the reflector, but will not retain the reflector in the housing against a substantial pull.

In order to assemble the lamp the clips 2| are assembled to the tongues 24, then the reflector 5 with the clips is inserted into the housing, the portion 22 of the clips entering the slots 25. The lamp door and lens is then hooked over the ear l5 and drawn in position upon the seat II by means of the clamp H5, at which time the face 20 of the lens coacts with the gasket l9 to thereby compress the clips 21. Due to the arms 23 extending in opposite directions, the back of the channel 26 is resiliently urged at six different points against the face 20. Distortion of the reflector is thereby minimized.

Among the many advantages arising from the use of my improved device, it may be well to mention that the reflector is resiliently urged into contact with the lens at all times, thereby securing a dust-tight joint therebetween. Furthermore, the reflector is retained in the housing against a pull required to remove the lamp bulbs. Still further, the reflector is retained in the housing without the use of screws or other devices which might cause distortion of the reflector if not installed with the right tension.

Some changes may be made in the arrangement, construction and combination of the various parts of my improved device without departing from the spirit of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims such changes as may reasonably be included within the scope thereof.

I claim as my invention:

.1. .A headlamp construction comprising, an open ended housing having an annular seat formed around its open end, an annular flange extending inwardly from the outer end of said seat, a lamp door detachably secured on said annular seat, said door having a lens therein and said lens having a flat annular face formed around its periphery, a reflector disposed within said housing, said reflector having an annular gasket retaining channel formed around its periphery, a gasket disposed in said channel in position to coact with the flat face on said lens, a plurality of spring clips each of which has a U-shaped center portion with circumferentially extending arms, the outer end of each of said arms being detachably secured to said channel, while the U-shaped center portions of said clips are resiliently secured in suitable slots formed in said inwardly extending flange, said clips being so proportioned that said arms resiliently urge said gasket against said lens and the U-shaped portion resiliently prevents the withdrawal of the reflector from said housing.

2. A head lamp construction comprising, an open-ended housing, a reflector and lamp bulb assembly disposed in said housing, a lens secured over said reflector, and a plurality of flat spring clips disposed around the periphery of said reflector, each of which is formed with a U-shaped center portion and with resilient arms formed integrally therewith extending circumferentially from said center portion, the outer ends of said arms being secured to the rear side of said reflector with the U-shaped center portion inserted into suitable apertures in said housing, there being sulflcient friction between the housing and said center portion that an axial force on the reflector caused by the removal of the lamp bulb therefrom will not draw said reflector from the housing, and said circumferentially extending arms resiliently urging said reflector against the lens when the lamp is in its assembled condition.

3. A head lamp construction comprising, an open-ended housing, a flange extending inwardly from said open end, a door secured over the said open end, said door having a lens therein, a reflector and lamp bulb assembly disposed within said housing between said flange and lens, a gasket secured around the periphery of said reflector in position to coact with said lens, a plurality of pairs of ears extending from the rear face of the periphery of said reflector aligned with said gasket, and a plurality of flat spring clips having their center portions formed with a U-shape, with arms extending circumferentially around the reflector rim in each direction from the center portion, the outer ends of said arms being apertured to receive said ears, and said ears coacting with said arms, said clips being positively secured to the reflector and the center portion of each clip being frictionally secured in suitable apertures in said flange to resist an axial pull on said reflector necessary for the removal of the lamp bulb therefrom.

WILLIAM H. PETERS.