US3397307A

US3397307A - Headlamp units

Info

Publication number: US3397307A
Application number: US436889A
Authority: US
Inventors: Cibie Pierre
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1964-03-23
Filing date: 1965-03-03
Publication date: 1968-08-13
Anticipated expiration: 1985-08-13
Also published as: ES309082A1; GB1102981A; BR6567887D0; DE1472488A1; NL6503295A; FR1405235A

Description

Aug. 13, 1968 P. clBlE 3,397,307

HEADLAMP UN I T S Filed March 5, 1965 INVENTOR PIERRE CIBIE RTTORNET United States Patent O 3,397,307 HEADLAMP UNITS Pierre Cibie, 17 Rue Valentine, Bobigny, Seine-St.-Denis, France Filed Mar. 3, 1965, Ser. No. 436,889 Ciaims priority, application France, Mar. 23, 1964,

z c1aims.(ci.240-41.3)

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A motor vehicle headlamp unit comprising a headlamp lens, a metallie reflector and a light source support. The outer peripheral edge of the reflector is formed as an annular strip engaged in a corresponding annular groove in the lens and imbedded in a suitable jointing material in the groove so as to be protected against corrosion. The inner periphery of the reflector also forms an annular strip engaged in a corresponding annular groove formed in the light source support, and imbedded in a jointing material in the groove in the light source support so as to be protected against corrosion.

Background of the invention This invention relates to motor vehicle headlamp units comprising a headlamp lens, for example of glass, a reflector generally of metal, and a light source support.

The lens and the reflector, together making up the headlamp unit, are usually non-detachably stuck together with the reflector extending around the periphery of the lens, or else connected by a rim of the lens being crimped in a receiving edge of the reflector. The disadvantage of such systems is that the reflector end face section or edge is then exposed to atmosphere and undergoes corrosion because of defective local protection and prolonged exposure to corrosive agents.

A similar disadvantage occurs at the end of the reflector which is connected -to the light source support.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a headlamp unit wherein the reflector end adjacent the lens is covered by a rim of such lens, a jointing material being provided between the end and the rim so that the front of the reflector is protected from atmosphere.

Thus in one very simple embodiment, the end of the reflector forms an annular strip housed in a corresponding groove in the lens and embedded in a suitable jointing material, for example a strip of araldite introduced into the groove.

According to another embodiment, the reflector end may be formed as a frusto-conical band which bears against an annular surface of the lens and co-operates with an outer rim of the lens to define an annular'recess of substantially triangular section which is filled with jointing material.

It is a further object of the present invention to apply these advantageous features to the other end of the reflector, i.e., the reflector end adjacent the headlamp source support.

It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a lamp base formed with a circular rim against which bears the associated end of the reflector, which is then in the form of a ring, the reflector porton adjacent such end co-operating with the outer surface of the rim of the lamp base to define an annular zone of triangular section which is filled Iwith jointing material.

In another embodiment, the ring forming the reflector end is situated in a groove formed in the lamp base and inside a strip of araldite or any other similar glue.

3,397,30i7 Patented Aug. 13, 1968 ICC The result of these systems according to the inventior is that the end section of the reflector at the lens side and/or the light source side is protected by its end being isolated inside the jointing material or by said end being disposed inside the headlamp unit, unlike the previous units in which the said end was exposed to atmosphere All of the above and additional objects of the invention will become clear upon consideration of the following descriptions, given solely by way of example, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a partial side view in section along a diameter of an embodiment of a lens and reflector unit according to the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a detail of a view similar to FIGURE 1 of another embodiment of lens and reflector unit, according to the invention;

FIGURE 3 is a partial side view in section along a diameter of another embodiment of lens and reflector unit, in which the reflector is fitted to the base of a lamp, according to the invention; and

FIGURE 4 is a detail of a view similar to FIGURE 3 of another embodiment in which a reflector is fitted to the base of a lamp, according to the invention.

Referring to FIGURE l, a headlamp unit comprises a lens 1, of glass or any suitable material, and a reflector 2, for example of metal. The wide opening end of the reflector 2 terminates in an annular flange porton 2b, which, according to the invention, is accommodated in an annular groove formed in the end 1b of the lens 1 and is secured therein by a jointing material 3 formed by a strip of araldite composition or other suitable material.

In this embodiment of headlamp unit, the respective positions of the reflector 2 and of the lens 1 are advantageously located by an annular face 2c of the reflector 2 abutting against a corresponding surface lc of the lens 1.

Referring to FIGURE 2, there is shown another embodiment of headlamp unit in which a reflector 2' terminates in a frusto-conical porton 2'b which bears against a surface l'c of the lens 1' and co-operates with a surface 1'b of the projecting end of the lens to define an annular wedge-shaped or trapezoidal-section space which is filled with jointing material 3'.

Referring again to FIGURE 1, there is shown an eX- ample of a conventional system in which the end 2a of the reflector 2 is mounted on a cylindrical shoulder 5a on the base 5 of the headlampbulb 4 of the unit. However, referring to FIGURES 3 and 4, on the other hand, there are shown two embodiments, according to the invention, in which the edge of the inner end of the reflector is protected by disposing the same inside the headlamp unit (FIGURE 3) or in a strip of araldite composition or other suitable material (FIGURE 4).

In the embodiment shown in FIGURE 3, reflector 20 terminates an an annular portion 20a which bears against a corresponding shoulder 50a on the base 50 of a headlamp bulb 40, the other surface 50b of the shoulder co- Operating with a frusto-conical inclined porton 20d of the reflector to define an annular Wedge-shaped zone filled with jointing material 60.

In the embodiment shown in FIGURE 4, reflector 20' is fitted to the base 50' of the headlamp bulb 40' in a manner substantially similar to the fitting of the reflector to the lens shown in FIGURE 1, i.e. the reflector terminates in an annular cylindrical porton 20'a embedded in jointing material 60' inside an annular groove of the lamp base 50'.

Of course; the arrangement according to the invention may be embodied at both ends of the reflector simultaneously. Thus, FIGURE 3 shows a reflector 20 whose wide aperture end 2012 is protected by a covering of jointing material in a groove in end 10=b of the lens 10 while :he smaller aperture end 20a is protected by being dis- Josed inside the headlamp unit.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various :hanges may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof and, therefore, the nvention is not limited by that which is illustrated in the irawings and described in the specification, but only as ndicated in the accompanying claims.

I claim:

1. In a headlamp unit comprising a metallic refiector Javing an outer pe-ripheral edge and an inner peripheral zdge, a light source support engaging said inner periph- :ral edge, and a headlamp lens cooperable With said outer peripheral edge; the improvement in which said .ens is formed, adjacent its periphery, with concentric irst and second annular cylindrical Shoulders, said second ihoulder being spaced radially inwardly of said first ;houlder; a first radially inwardly directed 'face formed Jn said first shoulder and a second outwardly directed face formed on said second shoulder; said first and second Eaces defining between them a rectangular cross-section annular groove; said outer peripheral edge of said reflector being formed as a cylindrical flange engaged in said annular groove; a jointing composition filling said groove whereby said reflector outer peripheral edge is 25 simultaneously sealed to said lens and protected against :orrosion by said jointing composition; and a rea-rwardly Eacing radially extending bearing surface on said second shoulder; said reflector having, adjacent its outer periphery, a forwardly facing radially extending portion juxtaposed against said rearwardly facing radially extending bearing portion.

2. A headlamp unit, as claimed in claim 1, including means mounting the light source support on said inner peripheral edge; said mounting means comprising a third annular cylindrical shoulder on the light source support and a fourth annular cylindrical shoulder on the light source support spaced radially inwardly of the third annular shoulder and concentric therewith; a third radially inwardly directed cylindrical face on said third shoulder and a fourth radially outwardly directed cylindrical face on said second shoulder; said third and fourth faces defining between them rectangular cross-section annular slot; the inner peripheral edge of said reflector being formed as a cylindrical flange enga'ged in said last-named annular slot; and a further jointing composition filling said last-named annular slot and engaging said inner peripheral edge and said third and fourth faces to hold said inner peripheral edge in said last-named slot.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,750,491 6/ 1956 Anderson 210-415 3,010,045 11/1961 Plagge et al. 313-113 FOREIGN PATENTS 502,027 3/ 1939 Great Britain. 545,891 7/1956 Italy.

0 NORTON ANSI-IER, Primary Examiner.

R. M. SHEER, Assistant Examiner.