GB1576881A

GB1576881A - Lamps espacially rear indicator lamps for road vehicles

Info

Publication number: GB1576881A
Application number: GB13876/77A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Cibie Projecteurs SA
Current assignee: Cibie Projecteurs SA
Priority date: 1976-04-06
Filing date: 1977-04-01
Publication date: 1980-10-15
Also published as: ES456616A1; BR7701757A; FR2347609A1; JPS5916681B2; DE2715508A1; YU91777A; IT1075084B; JPS52123194A; FR2347609B1; AR217420A1; DE2715508C3; DE2715508B2; YU39129B

Description

(54) LAMPS, ESPECIALLY REAR INDICATOR LAMPS FOR ROAD VEHICLES (71) We, CIBIE PROJECrEURS, a French Body Corporate, residing at 17 rue Henri Gautier, 93012 Bobigny, France, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: The present invention relates to lamps, and more particularly but not exclusively to indicator lamps of the kind with which the rear of a road vehicle is equipped on its right- and left-hand side.

Indicator lamps have heretofore been proposed of the type comprising an insulating support forming a plurality of parabolic reflectors, and having a corresponding plurality of openings, each of which leads out of the bottom of a corresponding one of the parabolic reflectors, and the support also having, on its exterior, around each opening, an upstanding flange to receive a lampholder.

According to this technique, the support, most often moulded from plastics material, receives on its rear face a printed circuit (flexible or rigid) on which may be fixed the lampholders intended for the electric indicator lamps.

According to the present invention, a lamp comprises an electrically insulating support within which are formed a plurality of parabolic reflectors, the support having a corresponding plurality of openings, each of which leads out of the bottom of a corresponding one of the parabolic reflectors, and the support also having on its exterior, around each opening, a plurality of coplanar electrically conductive connection areas each formed by an electrically conductive film on the edge of an upstanding flange of the support, and the support also having on its exterior a network of ribs whose edges are coplanar with the said electrically conductive area, and are coated with an electrically conductive film to provide conductors leading on the one hand to the electrically conductive areas around the various openings, and on the other hand to a connector including continuations of the electrically conductive coatings on the edges of the ribs, to provide connection areas.

According to a particular feature of the invention, the connector is formed by a tongue on the support, which tongue bears the said continuations of the electrically conductive coatings, in the form of parallel tracks.

The invention will be more readily understood on reading the following description given with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a view in isometric projection of the support for an indicator light according to the invention; Figures 2 and 3 are views in section and from the front, respectively, of a lamp socket adapted to be used with the support of Figure 1.

Referring now to the drawings, Figure 1 shows a support 10 moulded from plastics material, for an indicator light adapted to be fixed to the rear, right- or left-hand side of an automobile vehicle.

On its front face 12, the support 10 hermetically receives a lens 14 composed of adjacent surfaces 16a, 16b, 16c, which may or not be coloured, advantageously provided on their inner face with light-diffusing ribs or the like (not shown in Fig. 1).

In the embodiment shown, the support 10 i nternallv defines three reflectors or rathermore three parabolic reflecting surfaces 18a, 18b, 18c of parallel axes, which open towards the rear of the support 10 into openings 20 bordered by generally tubular flanges 22 for receiving electrical indicator lamps (not shown) via suitable lamp sockets (cf. Figs. 2 and 3).

In this way, three different indicator lights are made on the same support 10, such as a direction-indicator (flashing amber light), a stop or brake light (relatively intense red light) and a tail light (continuous red light).

The support 10 could contain other parabolic reflectors such as 18 to act for example as reversing light or a second stop light.

Each flange 22 comprises at its free, ant nular end, two complanar surfaces 24 and 26 in the form of an arc of circle, separated by two slight diametrically opposite hollows 28. Each flange 22 also comprises on its inner wall recesses 30, for example two in number, intended for the bayonet-like fixation in this flange of a lamp socket proyided to this end with ,two opposite, radially pro-" jecting tabs (cf. hereinbelow with reference to Figs. 2 and 3).

The support 10 further comprises, according to the invention, a plurality of ribs or like projections 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42 whose edges'ate coplanar with the surface 24 and 26 pf the different flanges 22 and a tongue 44 comprising four parallel surfaces 46a, 46b, 46C and 48 which are coplanar with the edges of the ribs 32-42 and separated from one another by slight hollows (not shown in Fig. 1).

Reference will be made to Figure 1 for the particular design of the ribs, although of course this design is only one example out of other possible ones. It is simply important that the edges of the different ribs continuously connect, in the same plane, one of the surfaces 24 or 26 of each flange 22 to one of surfaces 46a, 46h or 46c of tongue 44 and the other surface 26 or 24 of this same flange 22 either to surface 48 of the tongue 44 or to that of the two surfaces of the adjacent flange 22 which has not already been connected to one of the surfaces 46 of this tongue.

Should the support 10 comprise four re reflectors or more, the network of the ribs should of course be calculated to comply with the above-defined imperatives, the tongue 44 comprising, in this case, at least four surfaces such as 46 and one surface such as 48.

All the edges of the ribs 32 to 42 and surfaces 24, 25, 46 and 48 are coated with a conducting film such as a metal-coated polyester film suitably held on the support 10, for' example by adhesion.

According to an advantageous method, a conducting film may be applied on the edges and surfaces mentioned above by hot marking a metal foil directly on the base (use of a heat-fusible adhesive and a heating roller according to a conventional technique).

However, any other known method of coating the edges of the ribs 3242 and surfaces 24, 26, 46 and 48 with metal could be used, taking into account the coplanar character of these edges and surfaces and the hollows which separate them.

Figs. 2 and 3 shows a lamp socket 50 adapted to be used with a support such as support 10 described hereinabove.

The socket 50 is essentially composed of a body' "52 moulded from insulating material and of two elastic conducting plates 54 and 56 suitably fixed by any known means in the body 52.

The body 52 comprises a central passage 58 in which may be engaged and fixed, in bayonet fashion, the base of a suitable indicator lamp (not shown). The body 52 also presents on the one hand two radial tabs 60 adapted to cooperate with the recesses 30 of the flange 22 receiving said socket (cf.

Fig. 1) 'and on the other hand a skirt 62 intended for placing and holding the socket in position in its flange.

The conducting plate 54 is intended to press, by its rear end, on the central stud (not shown) of the lamp whilst the plate 56 comprises a finger 64 intended to press on the conducting part of the base of said lamp; the front ends of the two plates, orientated radially towards the outside, define the supply terminals 66 and 68 of the socket 50.

When this socket 50 is correctly placed in position on its flange 22, the terminals 66 and 68 abut on the conducting surfaces 24 and 26 thereof, thus ensuring the electrical supply of the different lamps from the surfaces 46 and 48 of the tongue 44. This tongue is designed to receive in conventional manner a female connector member (not shown) suitably connected to the electrical circuit of the automobile vehicle for which the indicator light is intended.

The invention is, of course, not limited to the embodiment which has been described hereinabove, and numerous modifications may be made thereto, concerning in particular the number of reflectors, the shape of the network of ribs as well as manufacture thereof, the type of socket used, without departing from the scope of the invention.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:- 1. A lamp comprising an electrically insulating support within which are formed a plurality of parabolic reflectors, the support having a corresponding plurality of openings, each of which leads out of the bottom of a corresponding one of the parabolic reflectors, and the support also having on its exterior, around each opening, a plurality of coplanar electrically conductive connection areas each formed by an electrically conductive film on the edge of an upstanding flange of the support, and the support also having on its exterior a network of ribs whose edges are coplanar with the said electrically conductive area, and are coated with an electrically conductive film to provide conductors leading on the one hand to the electrically conductive areas around the vaious openings, and on the other hand to a connector including continuations of the electrically conductive coatings on the edges of the ribs, to provide connection areas.

2. A lamp as claimed in Claim 1 which also includes a plurality of lampholders, one

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. nular end, two complanar surfaces 24 and 26 in the form of an arc of circle, separated by two slight diametrically opposite hollows 28. Each flange 22 also comprises on its inner wall recesses 30, for example two in number, intended for the bayonet-like fixation in this flange of a lamp socket proyided to this end with ,two opposite, radially pro-" jecting tabs (cf. hereinbelow with reference to Figs. 2 and 3). The support 10 further comprises, according to the invention, a plurality of ribs or like projections 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42 whose edges'ate coplanar with the surface 24 and 26 pf the different flanges 22 and a tongue 44 comprising four parallel surfaces 46a, 46b, 46C and 48 which are coplanar with the edges of the ribs 32-42 and separated from one another by slight hollows (not shown in Fig. 1). Reference will be made to Figure 1 for the particular design of the ribs, although of course this design is only one example out of other possible ones. It is simply important that the edges of the different ribs continuously connect, in the same plane, one of the surfaces 24 or 26 of each flange 22 to one of surfaces 46a, 46h or 46c of tongue 44 and the other surface 26 or 24 of this same flange 22 either to surface 48 of the tongue 44 or to that of the two surfaces of the adjacent flange 22 which has not already been connected to one of the surfaces 46 of this tongue. Should the support 10 comprise four re reflectors or more, the network of the ribs should of course be calculated to comply with the above-defined imperatives, the tongue 44 comprising, in this case, at least four surfaces such as 46 and one surface such as 48. All the edges of the ribs 32 to 42 and surfaces 24, 25, 46 and 48 are coated with a conducting film such as a metal-coated polyester film suitably held on the support 10, for' example by adhesion. According to an advantageous method, a conducting film may be applied on the edges and surfaces mentioned above by hot marking a metal foil directly on the base (use of a heat-fusible adhesive and a heating roller according to a conventional technique). However, any other known method of coating the edges of the ribs 3242 and surfaces 24, 26, 46 and 48 with metal could be used, taking into account the coplanar character of these edges and surfaces and the hollows which separate them. Figs. 2 and 3 shows a lamp socket 50 adapted to be used with a support such as support 10 described hereinabove. The socket 50 is essentially composed of a body' "52 moulded from insulating material and of two elastic conducting plates 54 and 56 suitably fixed by any known means in the body 52. The body 52 comprises a central passage 58 in which may be engaged and fixed, in bayonet fashion, the base of a suitable indicator lamp (not shown). The body 52 also presents on the one hand two radial tabs 60 adapted to cooperate with the recesses 30 of the flange 22 receiving said socket (cf. Fig. 1) 'and on the other hand a skirt 62 intended for placing and holding the socket in position in its flange. The conducting plate 54 is intended to press, by its rear end, on the central stud (not shown) of the lamp whilst the plate 56 comprises a finger 64 intended to press on the conducting part of the base of said lamp; the front ends of the two plates, orientated radially towards the outside, define the supply terminals 66 and 68 of the socket 50. When this socket 50 is correctly placed in position on its flange 22, the terminals 66 and 68 abut on the conducting surfaces 24 and 26 thereof, thus ensuring the electrical supply of the different lamps from the surfaces 46 and 48 of the tongue 44. This tongue is designed to receive in conventional manner a female connector member (not shown) suitably connected to the electrical circuit of the automobile vehicle for which the indicator light is intended. The invention is, of course, not limited to the embodiment which has been described hereinabove, and numerous modifications may be made thereto, concerning in particular the number of reflectors, the shape of the network of ribs as well as manufacture thereof, the type of socket used, without departing from the scope of the invention. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:-

1. A lamp comprising an electrically insulating support within which are formed a plurality of parabolic reflectors, the support having a corresponding plurality of openings, each of which leads out of the bottom of a corresponding one of the parabolic reflectors, and the support also having on its exterior, around each opening, a plurality of coplanar electrically conductive connection areas each formed by an electrically conductive film on the edge of an upstanding flange of the support, and the support also having on its exterior a network of ribs whose edges are coplanar with the said electrically conductive area, and are coated with an electrically conductive film to provide conductors leading on the one hand to the electrically conductive areas around the vaious openings, and on the other hand to a connector including continuations of the electrically conductive coatings on the edges of the ribs, to provide connection areas.

for each opening in the support, each lampholder having a plurality of electrical contacts, and being received within the associated opening in the support, with its contacts in engagement with the connection areas around the opening.

3. A lamp as claimed in Claim 2, in which each flange has recesses within which are received radial retaining projections on the associated lampholder.

4. A lamp as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 or Claim 3 in which each flange has two coplanar electrically conductive connection areas.

5. A lamp as claimed in any of the preceding claims, in which the connector is formed by a tongue on the support, which tongue bears the said continuations of the electrically conductive coatings, in the form of parallel tracks.

6. A lamp as claimed in any of the preceding claims, in which the electrically conductive film is applied to the support by hot marking.

7. An indicator lamp for a road vehicle, the lamp being substantially as herein described, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

8. A method of manufacturing an indicator lamp for a road vehicle, the method being substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to the accompanying drawings.