FR2670271A1 - LAMP DEVICE FOR LIGHTS OF VEHICLES. - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a lamp holder device for vehicle headlights. This lamp holder device (12) intended to retain a lamp (6) of a headlight (1a) of a vehicle, which has an intermediate flange (9) comprising axial centering pins (11), has first and second tubular body (13,14) inserted one into the other and blocked by a bayonet connection device (22,23,45) so as to clamp between them the flange (9) of a lamp (6) with the interposition of an elastic element (43), the body (13) being integral with a reflector (1), while the body (14) comprises a hooking device (34) holding the lamp in a predetermined angular position . Application in particular to automobiles.

Description

The present invention relates to a device

  lamp holder for vehicle headlights.

  The present invention relates in particular to a

  positive lamp holder comprising a tubular body adapted to be mounted in a rear opening of a reflector of a headlight so as to maintain a conventional halogen lamp or lamp having an intermediate flange of generally circular shape and having a lateral bearing

  and axial reference pins arranged on the reflector

  tor, the tubular body having a transverse wall defining a support seat for the flange, a first opening for the passage of a lamp bulb and

  other reference openings for the nipples.

  The object of the present invention is to provide a lamp holder device of the type described above, which is adapted to facilitate the mounting of an associated lamp, in

  correct position, and in particular to facilitate the replacement

  placement of the lamp in the case where the associated lighthouse is

  disposed, as is often the case, in a

difficult access.

  The present invention provides a lamp holder device comprising a first tubular body adapted to be mounted in a rear opening of a reflector of a

  headlight in order to maintain a lamp having a flange

  intermediate means of circular general shape and having a lateral bearing and axial reference studs disposed on this reflector, the first tubular body having a transverse wall defining a bearing seat for the flange and having a first opening for the passage

  of a lamp bulb and, in addition, openings for

  ference for the nipples, characterized in that it comprises a second tubular body for fixing the lamp on the first tubular body and in contact with the support seat, and elastic thrust means interposed between the two tubular bodies and suitable to be compressed between the second tubular body and the flange, in that the

  second tubular body engages in the first tubular body

  and is locked relative to the latter by means of a bayonet connection device and comprises hooking means capable of hooking to the flange,

  reference means capable of cooperating with the

  to maintain the lamp in a predetermined angular position relative to the second tubular body, in that the elastic thrust means are adapted to maintain the flange in a first position of engagement with the attachment means and the reference means and are adapted to allow axial displacement of the

  flange relative to the second tubular body, by compres-

  these elastic means, in a second position of release relative to these reference means and in that the bayonet connection device comprises at least one radial projecting portion carried by one of the tubular bodies and an axial groove housing and a transverse groove for the projecting portion that the other tubular body carries, this projecting portion having been made to engage in the transverse groove under the effect

  compression of the elastic means.

  In the lamp holder described above, it is

  first tilts the lamp in the second tubular body, which acts as a device for mounting and

  fixing of this lamp on the first tubular body so-

  lidaire of the associated headlamp reflector, and facilitates all assembly operations and replacement of the lamp With the attachment means and the

  means of reference, the lamp can be mounted in a

  predetermined angular position on the second tubular body

  With the interposition of elastic pushing means it is then possible, even without having a direct view of the first tubular body, to mount the second tubular body on the first and the lamp in a predetermined angular position. which is fixed in a univocal way determined by the reciprocal positioning of the

  axial groove of housing and the projecting

  Finally, it is possible, with a simple compro-

  elastic means, to angularly release the lamp of the second tubular body and to block this lamp

  in position on the first tubular body.

  The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which represents a number of non-limiting embodiments and in which: FIG. 1 represents a perspective view

  exploded, in axial section, of a pre-existing embodiment

  lamp holder device according to the present invention.

  tion; FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing, in axial section, a first detail of FIG. 1 in a specific operating position; Figures 3 and 4 show, in axial section and on a larger scale, a detail of Figure 1 in two different positions of assembly; Figure 5 shows, in an axial section and on a larger scale, a first variant of the detail shown in Figure 3; and

  FIG. 6 represents, in a cross section,

  versale and on a larger scale, a second variant of

  detail shown in Figure 3.

  FIG. 1 represents a reflector 1 for a

  the headlight of a vehicle, in particular of a vehicle

  The reflector 1 comprises a body 2 which has at its rear end a collar 4 defining an opening for the passage of a lamp 6. The lamp 6 is a halogen lamp constituted by a base 7, a bulb 8 and an intermediate flange 9 which has a generally circular shape and has a flat lateral bearing 10 and two axial cylindrical nipples

  11 extending towards the bulb 8.

  The lamp 6 is connected to the collar 4 of the body 2

  of the reflector by a lamp holder designated globally

  12 and has a longitudinal axis

  nal 3 which coincides with the axis of the lamp 6 and includes

  two tubular cylindrical bodies 13 and 14, the tubular body

  13 being made of a metal and being integral with the collar 4 by a plurality of projections 15 which extend outwardly of the body 13 and are fixed by self-tapping screws 16 to corresponding parts

  17 of increased cross section of the collar 4.

  The body 13 comprises a front portion 18 which applies

  as against the collar 4 and the opening 5 and a part ar-

  19 which has an outer diameter greater than the diameter of the portion 18 and is connected to this portion 18 by an annular shoulder 20 disposed in contact with a surface of the rear end 21 of the collar 4. The portion 19 is also shaped defining a plurality of inner grooves 22 each of which extends axially over all of this portion 19 and communicates, on the

  front side, with a transverse peripheral groove

  23 having a substantially

  tiligne 24 and an end portion constituting a seat

retainer 25.

  Part 18 includes a cylindrical cap 26

  which is disposed within and coaxially to the

  and has an outer radius of not more than

  distance between the span 10 and the axis of the flange 9.

  As shown in FIG. 1 and in particular

  3 and 4, the cap 26 comprises a base wall 27 substantially perpendicular to the axis 3 and disposed in a substantially central axial position of the portion 18, and a side wall 28 ending at

  the front by an outer flange 29, whose outer circumference

  is secured to the free end of the part 18.

  The base wall 27 forms a support housing for the flange 9 and has a coaxial opening 30 to

  axis 3 and having a rectangular shape which is suitable for

  to allow the insertion of the bulb 8 in the body 2 of the reflector, and two other openings 31 symmetrical with respect to the opening 30 in which engage, in

  operation, the nipples 11 of the lamp 6.

  With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the tubular body

  wire 14 is formed of a stamped plastic material and comprises a cylindrical front wall 32, which has an outside diameter at most equal to the inside diameter of the portion 18, and a rear tubular portion 33 for handling and connected to the front side, at the wall

cylindrical 32.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the cylindrical wall

  At its end opposite to that connected to the portion 33, the jig 32 comprises an elastic device 34 serving to hang the flange 9 of the lamp 6. The device 34 is constituted by a plurality of elastic projections 35, each of which is integral with each other. of the wall 32 and is parallel to the axis 3 and comprises a first portion, which is disposed facing and in superposition with a respective recess 36 formed in the outer surface of the wall 32, a second part which makes protruding forwardly beyond a leading edge 32a of the wall 32 and terminating in an inner tooth 37 forming a surface

hooking 37 a for the flange 9.

  The device 34 further comprises another part

  protruding axial portion 38, which protrudes beyond the edge 32a and ends on the front by a tooth 39 which extends

  radially towards the axis 3 of the inner surface

  the protruding part 38 and is separated from the inner edge

  lower 32a by a distance less than the distance

  both between this edge 32 a and each hooking surface 37 a.

  At its free end, the tooth 39 is limited by a flat surface 40 parallel to the axis 3 and is separated from this axis 3 by a distance equivalent to the distance

  between the span 10 and the axis of the flange 9.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 in particular

  In this embodiment, the wall 32 has, at its front end, an inner annular flange 41 which cooperates with the tooth 39 to form, on the inner surface of the projecting portion 38, an intermediate transverse groove 42, the base surface of which is separated from the axis 3 by a

  distance at least equal to the radius of the flange 9.

  The flange 41 forms a rear support for an element

  An axially deformable annular resilient elastic member 43 having a generally circular shape and which is interposed between the tubular bodies 13 and 14. A plurality of elastic tabs 44, which protrude forwardly with respect to the flange 41 and are resiliently squeezed between the flanges 9 and 41, is provided on the element 43, preferably

  by subsequent cutting and folding.

  The tubular body 14 is also provided with

  level of its front end (Figures 1 and 2), of several

  radial external projections 45, of which

  each applies with sliding in a groove

  22 before engaging, following a rotation of the tubular body 14 relative to the tubular body 13, in a respective transverse groove 23 and form, with this groove 23, a bayonet connection system 22, 23, 45. In use, the lamp 6 is first mounted on the tubular body 14, which acts as a device for mounting and fixing this lamp 6 on the tubular body 13 and facilitates, as has been previously mentioned, all assembly operations and

replacing the lamp 6.

  The mounting of the lamp 6 on the tubular body 14 is performed by means of a locking latch

  of the flange 9 on the teeth 37 and by means of the positioning

  of this flange 9 so that the bearing 10 comes into

  contact with the surface 40 of the tooth 39 of the portion

  The flange 9 is held in this position by means of a slight thrust applied to this flange 9 by the elastic element 43, which is arranged between the flanges 9.

  and 41, in a substantially undeformed configuration.

  It is possible, even without having a

  direct view of the tubular body 13, to assemble the tubular body

  14 on this tubular body 13, together with the lamp 6, in a given angular position which is uniquely fixed by the mutual positioning of

  axial grooves 22 and associated projections 45.

  In particular, the tubular body 14 is inserted into the tubular body 13 by passing the bulb 8 into the hole 30 and sliding the projecting portions 45 along the grooves 22 until these projecting portions 45 reach the grooves At this moment, it is possible, by applying a displacement

  axial axis to the tubular body 14, which is

  held by means of a compression of the elastic element 43, and then rotating the tubular body 14 by

  tubular body 13, to bring each part

  lante 45 to slide along the entry portion 24 of the

  associated with it, and to provoke

  snap in the associated housing 25.

  As a result of the aforementioned axial displacement

  of the tubular body 14 with respect to the tubular body

  13 against the action of the elastic element

  43, the nipples 11 penetrate axially into the holes

  31, which blocks the lamp 6 angularly relative to

  to the tubular body 13 and bring the bearing 10 into a position

  in which it faces the groove 42, so as to eliminate the existing angular stress between the flange 9 and the tooth 39 and allowing the aforementioned subsequent rotation of the tubular body 14 relative to the tubular body 13 and also relative to the lamp 6 which is now angularly locked on the tubular body 13 via the pins 11 and is not locked with respect to the tubular body 14. At this time, the tubular body 14 is blocked on the tubular body 13 by the bayonet connection system 22, 23, 45 and locks in position the lamp 6 on the tubular body 13 and therefore on the body 2 of the

reflector.

  The variants shown in Figures 5 and 6 relate to two different embodiments of the tubular body 14 and the attachment device 34 arranged to prevent damage to the teeth 37 of the projecting portions 35 of the tubular body 14 under the effect of

  the heat produced by the lamp 6 during operation

is lying.

  In the variant of FIG. 5, the tubular body

  14 is made for this purpose from a metal and the protrusions 35 are replaced by rigid projections 46 which are shortened with respect to the projections 35 due to the removal of the teeth 37 The teeth 37 are each replaced by a metal band 47 which comprises a base 48 forcibly inserted into the associated recess 36, an end portion 49 projecting from the front of the front end of the associated projecting portion 46 and is folded towards the axis 3 The bends 50 are arranged in the same positions as the teeth 37 and are adapted to be snap-fastened by means of the flange 9 in order to maintain this flange 9 so that its span 10 is

in contact with the surface 40.

  In the variant shown in FIG.

  bands 47 are not independent and, on the contrary, each

  this has a U-shaped base portion 51 which

  pledge in an associated recess 36 and is integral on the one hand with the respective end portion 49 and on the other hand with a point on the outer periphery of

the elastic element 43.

Claims (10)

  Lamp holder device (12) comprising a first   tubular body (13) adapted to be mounted in an opening   rearward portion (5) of a reflector (1) of a headlamp (1a) for holding a lamp (6) having an intermediate flange of generally circular shape (9) and having a lateral bearing (10) and axial reference nipples (11) arranged on this reflector (1) ', the first tubular body (13) having a transverse wall (27) defining a bearing seat for the flange (9) and having a first opening (30) for the passage of a bulb (8) of the lamp (6) and further reference openings (31) for the nipples (11), characterized in that it comprises a second tubular body (14) for fixing the lamp (6) on the first tubular body (13) and in contact with the seat   bearing means, and resilient biasing means (43)   between the two tubular bodies (13, 14) and able to be compressed between the second tubular body (14) and the flange (9), in that the second tubular body (14) engages in the first tubular body ( 13) and is locked with respect to the latter by means of a bayonet connection device (22, 23, 45) and comprises hooking means (34) capable of hooking onto the flange (9), and means of   38,39,40) able to cooperate with the lateral   (10) for holding the lamp (6) in an   predetermined length relative to the second tubular body (14), in that the elastic thrust means (43) are   adapted to hold the flange (9) in a first position.   commitment with the means of attachment (34) and the   means of reference (38,39,40) and are adapted to   axial displacement of the flange (9) relative to the second tubular body (14), by compression of these elastic means (43), in a second position of disengagement with respect to these reference means (38,39,40) and in that the bayonet connection device (22, 23, 45) comprises at least one radial projection (45) carried by one of the tubular bodies (13, 14) and an axial housing groove (22). and a transverse groove (23) for the projecting portion (45) carried by the other tubular body (13, 14), this projecting portion (45) being made to engage in the transverse groove (23) under the effect of   compressing the elastic means (43).   2 Device according to claim 1, characterized   in that the elastic thrust means comprise an axially deformable annular elastic element (43) constituted by a plurality of elastic tabs (44) which   protrude towards the first tubular body (13).   3 Device according to claim 1 or 2,   characterized in that the attachment means (34) comprise   a plurality of resilient protrusions (35,47)   each of which is rigidly connected to the second tubular body   (14) and in that at least one element of each   protruding (35,47) protrudes from the second body tu-   bead (14) towards the first tubular body (13) and has an end tooth (37) holding the flange (9) in a predetermined axial position against   the action of the elastic means (43).   4 Device according to claim 3, characterized   in that the teeth (37) form an annular surface   (37 a) perpendicular to an axis (3) of the second tubular body   (14) and that the flange (9) is arranged in this predetermined position so as to be supported on this annular surface (37 a).   Device according to one of claims 3 or   4, characterized in that the second tubular body (14) is   molded plastic material, the parts   lantes (35) and the teeth (37) being integral with the second tubular body (14) and being integrally stamped with this last.   6 Device according to one of claims 3 or   4, characterized in that the second tubular body (14) is   made of a metal, the projections (47) being formed   mated by respective metal tabs (47) associated with the second tubular body (14) and fixed axially on the body.   Device according to claim 6, characterized   in that the resilient tabs (47) are independent tabs each coupled to the second tubular body (14).   8 Device according to claim 6, characterized   in that the elastic tabs (47) are integral with one another and are located in the elastic means (43).   Apparatus according to any of the claims   3 to 8, characterized in that the reference means   38,39,40) have a surface (40) adapted to cooperate laterally with the bearing surface (10) of the flange (9).   when the latter is in the predetermined axial position completed.   Apparatus according to claim 9, characterized   in that the reference means (38, 39, 40) comprise   a projecting axial portion (38) projecting from   from the second tubular body (14) towards the first   first tubular body (13), the reference surface being   disposed laterally on the projecting portion (38).   11 Apparatus according to claim 10, characterized   characterized in that the projecting portion (38) has a tooth   end plate (39) with the reference surface   (40) and forms, along this projecting portion, a recess (42), and that a base surface thereof   recess (42) and the reference surface (40) are   fitted with an axis (3) of the second tubular body (14) by distances at least equal to the radius of the flange (9) and the distance between the bearing surface (10) and the axis respectively. (3).