US2318311A - Headlight - Google Patents

Description

y 1943- L. E. HICKS 318,311

HEADLIGHT Filed April 26, 1941 //7 v6)? for 7 A e was E. fife/41s Patented May 4, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HEADLIGHT Milwaukee, Oreg.

Application April 26, 1941, Serial No. 390,565

1 Claim.

This invention relates to improvements in headlights. and more particularly, to the type of headlight wherein the lens, reflector, and light bulb are handled as a unit, and wherein heretofore. the burning out of the lamp or the destruction of any part of the unit rendered it necessary to purchase an entire new unit. Thus, the replacement of a lamp, or a lens, or a reflector was expensive.

With my new and improved form of construction of this type of headlight, I am able to quickly and conveniently replace any one of the parts broken for the cost of the part itself, and not at the expense of the entire unit.

Accordingly, it is one of the principal objects of the invention to provide a lens and reflector hermetically sealed together, and to provide a light bulb properly positioned at the focal point of the reflector and detachable therefrom without disturbing the relation of the reflector to the lens.

A further object is to provide a substantial rigid mounting for the socket and light bulb which will also provide a solid mounting for the lens and reflector unit which may be quickly and conveniently attached to or removed from the mounting.

A further object is the provision of a unit of this character made within precision limits and so arranged that when assembled, the light bulb will be permanently located at the proper focal point with respect to the reflector.

The foregoing and other objects will appear as a my invention is more fully hereinafter described in the following specification illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and finally pointed out in the appended claim.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my new and improved headlight with a fragment broken away and partly in section for convenience of illustration.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional side view of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional front elevation taken on the line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a reduced rear elevation of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view similar to Figure 1, with the lamp and socket removed.

Figure 6 is a reduced detail view of the lamp and socket therefor, as illustrated in Figure 2.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing:

In Figure 1, reference numeral l indicates a refiector formed of any suitable material and having a lens 2 hermetically sealed to its outermost rim in any approved manner. The rear portion of the reflector l is formed with an integral cylindrical projection 3 molded or otherwise secured to a cylindrical support 4, flanged as at 4A, and formed with a plurality of annular ribs 5. Molded integral with the reflector l and projecting forwardly with respect thereto is a cylindrical projection 6 having a hemispherical end portion 1 to form a space for locating the lamp 8 at the proper focal point of the reflector without penetrating or extending through the Wall of the reflector, as is now common practice. By this arrangement, a, vacuum may be retained between the lens and housing and, at the same time, render the light bulb accessible and removable from a position interior of the reflector; and whereby also the lens and reflector may remain sealed together and handled as a unit independent of the light bulb and its socket. In the sealed headlights now known in the art, this is not possible, since the light bulb is permanently attached and sealed within the reflector and thus makes it necessary to replace an entire unit in the case of bulb failure.

The reflector I, through the medium of the cylindrical support 4, is mounted to a circular plate 9 by means of bolts II), or the like. The plate 9 is securely mounted in any approved manner to any suitable support for carrying the light, such as the fender or other part or portion of a vehicle.

The plate 9 is formed into an outwardly extending lamp socket H, flanged, as at I2, at its outer end, and shouldered, as at 1-3, at its inner end to carry the cylindrical support 4 in spaced relation, as at I3A to the socket. The flange I2 may be apertured, as at M; and the plate 9 is apertured as at 15, to provide ventilation through the space 13A and into the cylindrical projection or lamp housing 6. The interior of the socket I I is provided with the usual block I5A of dielectric material carrying two contact points l6 connected in any suitable manner with a source of electrical energy and adapted to register with contacts ll carried by the base of the light bulb. The base of the light bulb is provided with the usual projections I8 for engagement with a bayonet lock l9 formed in the socket in the conventional manner.

Between the flange 4A of the cylindrical support 4 and the plate 9, I provide a sealing gasket 20 of any suitable material to protect the space "A, as well as the interior oi the lamp housing. against dust, moisture, or the like. I

Although I have shown a particular form of the lamp socket and mounting for the reflector, it is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited to the particular details of construction thereof, since various forms could be used for removably supporting my new and novel combividing a rearwardly extending boss portion having a cylindrical passage open at its rear end, a

hollow lamp-receiving projection formed integral with the reflector and extending inwardly therefrom as a continuation of said boss passage, a lamp socket receiving bushing secured in said boss passage and having a. laterally extending attaching flange at its outer end disposed against the end of said boss and extending beyond the sides thereof, a lamp socket diametrically smaller than the interior of said bushing and having a laterally extending bushing engaging guide flange at its forward end, a plate secured to the rear end of said socket and adapted to be attached to a support, means detachably securing said plate to said bushing flange, said plate having an annular socket-centering shoulder engageable in the outer end of said bushing, and the socket flange and socket plate having vent openings opening into the space between the socket and wall of the bushing opening.

LEWIS E. HICKS.

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