US3688103A - Vehicle headlight - Google Patents

Vehicle headlight Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US3688103A
US3688103A US92439A US3688103DA US3688103A US 3688103 A US3688103 A US 3688103A US 92439 A US92439 A US 92439A US 3688103D A US3688103D A US 3688103DA US 3688103 A US3688103 A US 3688103A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
housing
headlight
reflector
socket
actuating
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US92439A
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Hans Daumuller
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Robert Bosch GmbH
Original Assignee
Robert Bosch GmbH
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from DE19691962271 external-priority patent/DE1962271C3/de
Application filed by Robert Bosch GmbH filed Critical Robert Bosch GmbH
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3688103A publication Critical patent/US3688103A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q—ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q1/00—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor
    • B60Q1/0064—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor with provision for maintenance, e.g. changing the light bulb
    • B60Q1/007—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor with provision for maintenance, e.g. changing the light bulb via a removable cap
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
    • F21S41/00—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps
    • F21S41/10—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by the light source
    • F21S41/19—Attachment of light sources or lamp holders
    • F21S41/196—Wire spring attachments

Definitions

  • a replaceable lighting unit comprising a reflector having a light-emitting opening, a bulb-socket mounted on the reflector, a light bulb in the socket, and a protective lens extending across and closing the opening of the reflector.
  • Releasable securing means is provided for releasably securing the lighting unit to the housing and comprises abutment means fast with the reflector externally thereof and spring means on the housing movable between an inoperative position and an operative position in which latter it lockingly engages the abutment means, with actuating means being provided for moving the spring means to its operative position.
  • the present invention relates generally to a light, and more particularly to a searchlight or headlight for motor vehicles.
  • headlight as employed herein in the specification and in the appended claims be a reference to any type of vehicle light having the constituent components discussed in more detail herein, irrespective of whether it in fact is used as the head end or front end of a vehicle to provide forward illumination or not.
  • Such headlights as they will be called hereafter keeping the above comment in mind concerning the applicability and range of meaning of the term-are already known in a wide variety of constructions.
  • auxiliary headlights as are used for driving in fog conditions, are provided with an optical unit constituted by the reflector, the socket and bulb mounted in the reflector, and the lens closing the open side of the reflector.
  • This unit is then mounted via special mounting members on a mounting ring which is hooked at one part of its circumference to a projection provided for this purpose on a housing, whereas at an opposite location of the mounting ring the latter and thereby the unit is connected with the housing by means of screw.
  • a headlightfor motor vehicles and the like which, briefly stated, comprises a housing having an open side and an opposite closed side.
  • a replaceable lighting unit is insertable into the open side and comprises a reflector having a light-emitting opening, a bulb-socket mounted on the reflector, a light bulb in the socket, and a protective lens extending across and closing the opening of the reflector.
  • Releasable securing means for releasably securing the lighting unit to the housing and includes abutment means fast with the reflector externally thereof, spring means on the housing and movable between an inoperative position and an operative position in which latter it lockingly engages the abutment means, and actuating means cooperating with the spring means and turnably mounted on the housing accessible at the closed side thereof tumable to and from an actuating actuating position in which it urges the spring means to its operative position.
  • the actuating means will be in form of an element having a cylindrical portion which is provided with parallel flat facets at diametrally opposite sides and which is turnably mounted in an opening in the housing at the closed side thereof whose edge portions bounding the opening are configurated in the outline of two cylindrical portions which are skew with one another at a predetermined angle, so that the cylindrical portion of the actuating means can be turned only through an angle dictated by the cooperation between the edge portions and its side facets.
  • the spring element is advantageously connected to the cylindrical portion by riveting or the like, and includes a leaf spring which is at least substantially rectangular and has end portions projecting outwardly beyond the cylindrical portion and engages in abutment portions provided for this purpose in the region of the aperture in the reflector in which the socket is located.
  • These abutment portions may be parts of the socket itself, or they may be provided on the reflector.
  • the socket is of course fast in suitable manner with the reflector so that, accordingly, the abutment portions are in effect fast with the reflector also.
  • FIG. 1 is a vertical elevational section through a headlight according to the present invention
  • FIG. 2 is a front view of the housing in the embodiment of FIG. 1, showing the interior of the housing with the optical unit omitted for clarity;
  • FIG. 3 is a fragmentary section of FIG. 1 taken on line IIl-III of that Figure.
  • FIG. 4 is an horizontal section through FIG. 1.
  • the illustrated exemplary embodiment comprises a housing 4 having an open front side in which there is located a replaceable optical or lighting unit constituted by the reflector l, a bulb-socket 2 mounted in the reflector, a light bulb 5 mounted in the socket 2 and retained therein by a spring wire 6, and a protective lens 3 extending across the front opening of the reflector closing the same and protecting the light bulb.
  • the unit composed of the aforementioned components is releasably accommodated in the open side of the housing 4.
  • a recess or cut-out 7 in the closed side of the housing 4 (also compare FIG. 2) into which there is inserted an actuating means or element 8.
  • It comprises an outer portion 9 configurated so as to accommodate itself to the exterior contour of the housing 4 at the closed side of the latter, and a cylindrical pin portion 10 which extends into the recess or cut-out 7 and in the illustrated embodiment is provided with parallel flat facets at two diametrally opposite sides.
  • the edge bounding the cut-out 7 is so configurated (compare FIG.
  • the construction according to the present invention further comprises spring means, in the illustrated embodiment a leaf spring 11 which is suitably secured to the pin portion 10, for instance by riveting so as to turn therewith. It is of substantially rectangular configuration and its end portions 12 and 13 project outwardly beyond the pin portion 10. As the drawing shows (see also FIG. 3) the end portions 12 and 13 of the leaf spring 11 are curved or bent transversely of their elongation in order to more readily engage with cooperating abutment means provided on the reflector, as will be discussed. In addition they are curved away from the inner side of the housing 4 to avoid frictional contact therewith, as particularly clearly shown in FIG. 1.
  • spring means in the illustrated embodiment a leaf spring 11 which is suitably secured to the pin portion 10, for instance by riveting so as to turn therewith. It is of substantially rectangular configuration and its end portions 12 and 13 project outwardly beyond the pin portion 10.
  • the end portions 12 and 13 of the leaf spring 11 are curved or bent transversely of their elongation in order to more readily engage with cooperating abutment
  • the abutment means may be provided in various different ways; in the illustrated embodiment they are in form of angle members 14 and 15 projecting at right angles to the abutment surface with which the socket 2 engages the marginal zone surrounding the opening in the reflector in which the socket is mounted. This is clearly shown in FIG. 4, for instance.
  • the portions 14 and 15 are provided with cut-outs so that they each have an inclined section 16 over which the end portions 12 and 13, respectively, move when the spring 11 is turned with the pin portion 10, and a subsequent recess 17 into which the respective spring end portions can snap.
  • An angular member 20 is provided, one arm 19 of which is secured-as by riveting-to the housing wall; preferably as a counterpart to the mounting foot 18 provided at the outer side of the housing 4.
  • the other arm 21 of the member 20 extends through a correspondingly configurated aperture 22 in the reflector 1, so that the member 20 together with the aperture 22 provides for an aligning arrangement or keying arrangement which makes it impossible to connect the lighting unit with the housing 4 in any but the precisely preselected and pre-defined relative position desired for them.
  • the optical axis of the reflector 1 will be properly oriented with reference to the road surface on which the vehicle is to travel, such orientation being provided by the fact that the housing 4 itself is fixedly mounted on the vehicle so that an enforced positioning of the lighting unit with reference to the housing 4 will always locate the lighting unit in the same relative position with respect to the road.
  • the lighting insert or lighting unit can be mounted in the housing 4 in a second position relative to the latter, namely in a position in which it is turned through 180 with reference to the first-mentioned position.
  • This makes it possible to mount the housingwhich has only the single mounting foot 18-both in upright position or if desired in a suspended position on a part of the vehicle. Depending upon in which manner the housing is mounted, the lightening unit is then simply turned through if necessary.
  • the mounting of the headlight according to the present invention is very simple and requires neither skill nor, in most instances, any tools. It is merely necessary to insert the requisite bulb into the socket 2 and to thereupon insert the lighting unit from the front into the open end or open side of the housing 4, taking care that the arm 21 enters into the single-or the desired one of the two-aperture 22. Before the unit contacts the inner wall of the housingand there may be a sealing ring provided in well known manner to provide a seal between the two--the spring 11 must be turned to the position shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 in broken lines.
  • the element 8 is turned in counterclockwise direction with the result that the end portions of the spring 11 first move over the respective inclines 16 of the associated members 14 and 15, and subsequently snap in the associated recesses 17.
  • This provides for a reliable mounting of the unit in the housing 4, from where it cannot be inadvertently loosened and in which it will not vibrate with reference to the housing.
  • the unit 4 can be very readily disconnected from the housing when necessary.
  • the pressure exerted by the spring 11 must of course be very significant. In that case it may not be possible to turn the element 8 manually and it is then advantageous to provide the portion 9 of the element 8 with suitable engaging means-such as projections, recesses, facets or the likeor in form of a slot 23, bores or similar possibilities, with which a tool can cooperate for effecting the necessary turning.
  • suitable engaging means such as projections, recesses, facets or the likeor in form of a slot 23, bores or similar possibilities, with which a tool can cooperate for effecting the necessary turning.
  • the connection to mass can be omitted because of the electrically conductive connection between housing 4 and socket 2.
  • the element 8 for various reasons including expenses of manufacture it is preferred at this time to make the element 8 of synthetic plastic material, for instance by injection molding.
  • the spring 11 with two sliding contacts 24 and 25 which are so configurated that their ends engage the inner side of the housing wall 4 under spring pressure.
  • the contacts 24 and 25 serve in effect as braking means for the element 8, meaning that before the unit is inserted into the housing 4 and connected with the same, they tend to hold the spring 11 in the position illustrated in broken lines in FIGS. 2 and 3.
  • the embodiment illustrated in the drawing is not only exemplary but also rather simple in nature. Modifications are clearly possible and will offer themselves readily to those skilled in the art.
  • the abutment means need not themselves be directly a part or unitary with the reflector, but can be provided on the bulb socket, or vice versa. They can for instance be provided as separate elements secured to the reflector at the exterior thereof, in the region of the marginal zone bounding the open end in which the socket 2 is itself mounted.
  • abutment means has been shown as essentially corresponding to the operation of a bayonet-type closure, it is clear that the locking cooperation may be different and that the abutment means may for instance be simply in form of strip-like portions stamped from and bent outwardly of the material of the reflector 1 itself.
  • the portion 9 of the element 8 is so configurated that it conforms to the outer contour of the housing 4.
  • the housing 4 will be flattened at the closed side in the region where the opening for the element 8 is provided and then the portion 9 will at least substantially complete the original housing form which the housing would have were it not for the flattening.
  • headlights or searchlights are frequently mounted in such a manner that not only their front but also their rear side can be seen so that aesthetic considerations make this type of construction desirable.
  • the color of the portion 9 will advantageously also be made to correspond or harmonize with the color of the housing.
  • a headlight for motor vehicles and the like comprising a housing having an open side and an opposite closed side; a replaceable lighting unit insertable into said open side and comprising a reflector having a lightemitting opening, a bulb-socket mounted on said reflector, a light bulb in said socket, and a protective lens extending across and closing said opening; and releasable securing means for releasably securing said lighting unit to said housing, said securing means including abutment means fast with said reflector externally thereof, spring means provided on said housing and being movable between an inoperative position in which it is disengaged from and an operative position in which it is lockingly engaged with said abutment means, and actuating means cooperating with said spring means and turnably mounted on said housing accessible at said closed side and turnable to and from an actuating position in which it urges said spring means to said operative position.
  • said actuating means comprising a first portion located exteriorly of said housing and aperture, and a substantially cylindrical second portion rigid with said first portion and having a pair of diametrally opposite flat facets constituting said abutment faces on said actuating means.
  • said spring means comprising at least one spring element within said housing rigid and turnable with said second portron.
  • said spring element comprising at least one elongated leaf spring having opposite end portions which project outwardly beyond the periphery of said second portion.
  • said abutment means comprising a plurality of lugs projecting from said socket and each provided with a cut-out including a first portion bounded by an inclined elongated edge and a second portion communicating with said first portion; and wherein said spring means comprises a corresponding plurality of projecting end portions each slidable over as associated elongated edge, and receivable with a snap action in the respective second portion, upon turning of said actuating means to said actuating position.
  • said keying means comprising an angle member having one arm fast with said housing and an other arm projecting within said housing toward said open side thereof, and at least one recess in said reflector arranged to at least in part receive said other arm when said reflector and housing are in predetermined position relative to one another.
  • a headlight as defined in claim 16 said housing having at said closed side an external flat facet deviating from said external contour, and wherein said actuating means comprises an outer body portion overlying said flat facet and having an outline which at least approximately follows said external contour.
  • a headlight for motor vehicles and the like comprising a housing having an open side and an opposite closed side; a replaceable lighting unit insertable into said open side and comprising a reflector having a lightemittin o nin a bulb socket mounted on s id reflecto r, a lightqaulb in said socket, and a protective lens extending across and closing said opening; and releasable securing means for releasably securing said lighting unit to said housing, said securing means including abutment means fast with said reflector externally thereof, spring means including at least one leaf spring on said housing and movable between an inoperative position and an operative position lockingly engaging said abutment means, and actuating means cooperating with said spring means and turnably mounted on said housing accessible at said closed side and turnable to and from an actuating position in which it urges said spring means to said operative position.
  • a headlight for motor vehicles and the like comprising a housing having an open side and an opposite closed side; a replaceable lighting unit insertable into said open side and comprising a reflector having a lightemitting opening, a bulb-socket mounted on said reflector, a light bulb in said socket, and a protective lens extending across and closing said opening; and releasable securing means for releasably securing said lighting unit to said housing, said securing means including abutment means fast with said reflector externally thereof, spring means on said housing and movable between an inoperative position and an operative position lockingly engaging said abutment means, and actuating means fast with and carrying said spring means and being turnably mounted on said housing accessible at said closed side and turnable to and from an actuating position in which it urges said spring means to said operative position.
  • said actuating means comprising a main portion of electrically insulating material, and at least one contact of electrically conductive material carried by said main portion in biased sliding engagement with said housing and adapted for electrically conductive contact with said socket.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Non-Portable Lighting Devices Or Systems Thereof (AREA)
  • Lighting Device Outwards From Vehicle And Optical Signal (AREA)
US92439A 1969-12-12 1970-11-24 Vehicle headlight Expired - Lifetime US3688103A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE19691962271 DE1962271C3 (de) 1969-12-12 Scheinwerfer für Kraftfahrzeuge

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3688103A true US3688103A (en) 1972-08-29

Family

ID=5753621

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US92439A Expired - Lifetime US3688103A (en) 1969-12-12 1970-11-24 Vehicle headlight

Country Status (8)

Country Link
US (1) US3688103A (fr)
AT (1) AT319769B (fr)
BE (1) BE760249A (fr)
CH (1) CH513737A (fr)
DK (1) DK135337B (fr)
FR (1) FR2073653A5 (fr)
GB (1) GB1271168A (fr)
NL (1) NL7018123A (fr)

Cited By (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3852583A (en) * 1971-06-18 1974-12-03 Cibie Projecteurs Headlamp
US3917939A (en) * 1972-07-05 1975-11-04 Bosch Gmbh Robert Sealed-beam headlight employing a halogen lamp
US4390931A (en) * 1980-07-11 1983-06-28 Joel C. Gorick Lamp assembly
US4528619A (en) * 1983-06-24 1985-07-09 Gte Products Corporation Replaceable lamp unit providing hermetic seal and fixed alignment for electric lamp contained therein and automobile headlight utilizing same
US4564891A (en) * 1984-06-01 1986-01-14 Robert Bosch Gmbh Vehicle headlight
US4569006A (en) * 1985-01-15 1986-02-04 Gte Products Corporation Replaceable lamp unit and automobile headlight utilizing same
US4569005A (en) * 1985-01-15 1986-02-04 Gte Products Corporation Replaceable lamp unit and automobile headlight utilizing same
US4623958A (en) 1985-01-15 1986-11-18 Gte Products Corporation Replaceable automobile headlight lamp unit
WO2010053458A1 (fr) * 2008-11-04 2010-05-14 Hella Saturnus Slovenija, Proizvodnja Svetlobne Opreme Za Motorna In Druga Vozila, D.O.O. Protège-phare de véhicule à moteur
US20150307017A1 (en) * 2012-07-12 2015-10-29 Trw Automotive Electronics & Components Gmbh Closure System for Closing an Opening of a Vehicle Light and Vehicle Light
US20190063706A1 (en) * 2017-08-22 2019-02-28 Osram Gmbh Socket with moveably mounted optical unit
US11028989B2 (en) 2019-11-13 2021-06-08 James M. Aparo Vehicle headlight device having an ejectable and replaceable lightbulb assembly
US11046235B2 (en) 2019-11-13 2021-06-29 James M. Aparo Vehicle headlight assembly having an ejectable and replaceable lightbulb

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE8905535U1 (de) * 1989-05-02 1989-06-29 Torringen, Hans, 5060 Bergisch-Gladbach Halbkugelförmige Reflektorschale aus Metall für Halogenlampen

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1704028A (en) * 1924-01-28 1929-03-05 Monogram Lens Corp Head-lamp replacement unit
US2265446A (en) * 1940-05-18 1941-12-09 Mckee Glass Company Automobile headlight structure
FR80834E (fr) * 1961-12-20 1963-06-21 Machal Projecteurs Perfectionnement aux projecteurs pour véhicules automobiles

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1704028A (en) * 1924-01-28 1929-03-05 Monogram Lens Corp Head-lamp replacement unit
US2265446A (en) * 1940-05-18 1941-12-09 Mckee Glass Company Automobile headlight structure
FR80834E (fr) * 1961-12-20 1963-06-21 Machal Projecteurs Perfectionnement aux projecteurs pour véhicules automobiles

Cited By (15)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3852583A (en) * 1971-06-18 1974-12-03 Cibie Projecteurs Headlamp
US3917939A (en) * 1972-07-05 1975-11-04 Bosch Gmbh Robert Sealed-beam headlight employing a halogen lamp
US4390931A (en) * 1980-07-11 1983-06-28 Joel C. Gorick Lamp assembly
US4528619A (en) * 1983-06-24 1985-07-09 Gte Products Corporation Replaceable lamp unit providing hermetic seal and fixed alignment for electric lamp contained therein and automobile headlight utilizing same
US4564891A (en) * 1984-06-01 1986-01-14 Robert Bosch Gmbh Vehicle headlight
US4569005A (en) * 1985-01-15 1986-02-04 Gte Products Corporation Replaceable lamp unit and automobile headlight utilizing same
US4569006A (en) * 1985-01-15 1986-02-04 Gte Products Corporation Replaceable lamp unit and automobile headlight utilizing same
US4623958A (en) 1985-01-15 1986-11-18 Gte Products Corporation Replaceable automobile headlight lamp unit
WO2010053458A1 (fr) * 2008-11-04 2010-05-14 Hella Saturnus Slovenija, Proizvodnja Svetlobne Opreme Za Motorna In Druga Vozila, D.O.O. Protège-phare de véhicule à moteur
US20150307017A1 (en) * 2012-07-12 2015-10-29 Trw Automotive Electronics & Components Gmbh Closure System for Closing an Opening of a Vehicle Light and Vehicle Light
US10486585B2 (en) * 2012-07-12 2019-11-26 Hella Kgaa Hueck & Co. Closure system for closing an opening of a vehicle light and vehicle light
US20190063706A1 (en) * 2017-08-22 2019-02-28 Osram Gmbh Socket with moveably mounted optical unit
US10563833B2 (en) * 2017-08-22 2020-02-18 Osram Beteiligungsverwaltung Gmbh Socket with moveably mounted optical unit
US11028989B2 (en) 2019-11-13 2021-06-08 James M. Aparo Vehicle headlight device having an ejectable and replaceable lightbulb assembly
US11046235B2 (en) 2019-11-13 2021-06-29 James M. Aparo Vehicle headlight assembly having an ejectable and replaceable lightbulb

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DK135337C (fr) 1977-09-26
AT319769B (de) 1975-01-10
DK135337B (da) 1977-04-12
BE760249A (fr) 1971-05-17
DE1962271B2 (de) 1977-03-03
FR2073653A5 (fr) 1971-10-01
DE1962271A1 (de) 1971-06-16
GB1271168A (en) 1972-04-19
NL7018123A (fr) 1971-06-15
CH513737A (de) 1971-10-15

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US3688103A (en) Vehicle headlight
US3991905A (en) Hinged cover for outdoor lamp case
US20200056767A1 (en) Modular, easy to install and remove, track light
US3748458A (en) Disposable wedge-type bulb lamp
US2423664A (en) Headlight lens
US2229962A (en) Lamp base and socket
US3196266A (en) Truck clearance light
US2294883A (en) Traffic signal lamp
JPH0685281B2 (ja) ランプ一体型フロントグリル
US7517124B2 (en) System for fixing a lamp to a headlight lamp holder for an automobile
US3226537A (en) Vehicle lamp
US2700098A (en) Electric lighting fitting
US2730611A (en) Suspended lens construction for vehicular lights
US2230853A (en) Light signal
US2292060A (en) Operating mechanism for fluorescent lamps
US2011868A (en) Head lamp
US2032595A (en) Mounting for reflector buttons
GB2027187A (en) Headlamp for motor vehicles
US1561415A (en) Glare eliminator
US1687347A (en) Lamp
US1197237A (en) Automobile-lamp.
US1313716A (en) Salvatobe mazzeo
US1148650A (en) Glare-guard for headlights.
US1713157A (en) Automobile headlight
US2043567A (en) Head lamp