GB1577500A

GB1577500A - Interior lights for motor vehicles

Info

Publication number: GB1577500A
Application number: GB25766/78A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Westfaelische Metall Industrie KG Hueck and Co
Current assignee: Westfaelische Metall Industrie KG Hueck and Co
Priority date: 1977-07-29
Filing date: 1978-05-31
Publication date: 1980-10-22
Also published as: ES472181A1; DE2734258B2; FR2398643B1; BR7803616A; DE2734258C3; FR2398643A1; DE2734258A1

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO INTERIOR LIGHTS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES (71) We, WESTFALISCHE METALL INDUSTRIE KG HUECK & CO. of 4780 Lippstadt, Federal Rupublic of Germany, a company organised according to the laws of The Federal Republic of Germany, 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 invention relates to an interior light for motor vehicles which has a built-in switch having an operating member mounted on the lens cover or lamp glass.

Such interior lights may have an operating member in the form of a lever pivotably attached to a projection on the lens cover or lamp glass and directed towards the interior of the light, in which there is a switch contact made of flat strip material, which lies in the path of movement of the operating lever and which is inserted selfsecuringly in a projection on the lens cover, one end of said strip forming the flat plug connection and its other end the actual switch contact.

In known interior lights of this kind the operating lever is made of electrically conductive material and is connected to the current source by its pivot, which is usually in the form of a tubular rivet. These metal operating levers are a potential source of injury and in addition require a complicated and expensive pivot connection on the lamp casing. For this reason the measure has already been adopted of making the operating lever of insulating material, preferably a plastics material, and mounting it pivotally and self-securingly on a pin formed on the lens cover or lamp glass. For the purpose of making contact with the lamp is switched on, switch levers of this kind are provided with a contact spring which at one end is connected by additional connection means to the current source, while its free end can be connected to fixed switch contacts.

Although in this arrangement the pivotal mounting of the operating lever can be achieved satisfactorily, nevertheless an additional contact spring is required and has to be separately fastened and provided with additional connection means.

According to the present invention, there is provided an interior light for a motor vehicle comprising a switch having an operating member displaceably mounted on a lens cover or lamp glass of the light, a switch contact also mounted on said lens cover having one end providing a plug connection and its other end providing a resiliently displaceable contact element so formed that it will be prestressed or biased against a contact of a lamp mounted in the light and can be lifted from said contact through the movement of the operating member.

In interior lights having alternative "on" positions of the switch, through one of which the light can be switched on direct and through the other of which it can be switched on by means of a door contact switch, it is convenient to provide alternative resilient contact elements, one of these elements being biased against the tubular cap contact of the lamp in each of the "on" positions, while at the same time the other is lifted off the cap contact of the lamp by the operating member. In an interior light according to the invention, the entire switching and contact device may comprise an operating lever, which can be mounted self-securingly and pivotally on a pin, a respective contact spring for one pole of the lamp for each "on" position of the operating lever, and an additional contact spring for the second pole of the lamp.

Two embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a longitudinal axial section of a vehicle interior light fitted with a festoon bulb; Figure 2 is a plan view of the light shown in Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a section on the line A-A in Figure 1; while Figure 4 is a view from below of an interior light provided with a spherical incandescent bulb; and Figure 5 is a longitudinal axial section of the light shown in Figure 4.

In the interior light of Figures 1 to 3, a lens cover or lamp glass 2 carrying a contact and switch device for the light has a projection 3 disposed on one of its sides and directed into the interior of the lamp, on which projection is mounted a holding spring 4 which together with lug 5 secures the lens cover 2 on the vehicle body 1. A contact spring 6 is at the same time inserted self-securingly in the lens cover projection 3 and one end 7 of the spring forms a flat plug pin connection, while its other end 8 receives one pole 9 of the festoon lamp 10 in such a manner as to make electrical contact therewith.

The other pole 11 of the festoon lamp 10 is inserted and electrically insulated in another narrow projection 12 of the cover provided with a receiving aperture. Electrical contact is made through the two contact springs 13, 14, of which the end 15 is in the form of a flat plug pin connection while the other end 16 forms a movable switch contact element. In one "on" position of an operating level 18 mounted pivotally on another projection 17 of the cover, this end 16 has a pre-stress or bias urging it against the contact 11 of the festoon lamp 10. The corresponding end of the other contact spring 14 is in this case lifted off the pole 11 of the festoon lamp by the switch lever 18, as shown in Figure 2.

The contact springs 13 and 14 are selfsecuringly inserted into two other projections 19, 20 on the lens cover 2. These are disposed laterally of the projection 17 which pivotally receives the switch lever 18.

The operating lever 18, which is mounted by its end 21 pivotally on pin 22 extending from the projection 17, has two symmetrically disposed laterally projecting fingers 23 whose front end lies between the end 21 of the operating lever 18 and the pivoting axis.

When the operating lever is pivoted out of the middle position, which corresponds to the "off" position of the interior light, to one lateral position, the free end 16 of one of the two contact springs 13, 14 is released, so that through the action of its prestress or bias it bears against the pole 11 of the festoon lamp 10. The same end of the other contact spring 14 is at the same time moved farther away from the pole 11. When the operating lever 18 is pivoted in the other direction to its opposite lateral position, the end 16 of the spring 13 is lifted off the cap 11 of the festoon lamp, while the corresponding end of the spring 14 is released to bear against the cap 11. Thus the construction provides alternative "on" positions, one of which will be employed as a direct switch for the light and the other of which will allow the light to be controlled by a door contact switch.

Figures 4 and 5 show another vehicle interior light similarly constructed in many respects but in which a spherical incandescent lamp is used. Accordingly a projection 12a of lens cover or lamp glass 2a is in the form of a socket to receive the cap of the spherical incandescent lamp 10a. Contact springs 13a, 14a forming the switch contacts are disposed and constructed similarly to the first-described embodiment. One or other of the two free ends 16a of the two contact springs bears in each case against the tubular cap contact 11a as soon as the interior light is switched to its alternative "on" positions. The centre pole 24 of the incandescent lamp 10a is electrically connected through a contact spring 25, which is inserted self-securingly in projection 17a mounting the pivotable operating lever 18a.

At the same time the contact spring 25 holds the incandescent lamp 10a in its mounting socket in the position shown in the drawing.

The lens cover 2a is attached to the vehicle body by a rigid lug Sa and a lug 26 formed resiliently on projection 3a at the opposite end of the cover.

In each embodiment illustrated the switch lever is secured by a projecting spring tongue 27, 27a respectively, which engages in a catch at the edge of the portion of the lens cover through which the operating lever projects.

It may be noted that in each of the embodiments, the switching and changeover contacts are so constructed that the connecting plugs form with the contact springs a unit that is not electrically disconnected during the switching operation.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. An interior light for a motor vehicle, comprising a switch having an operating member displaceably mounted on a lens cover or lamp glass of the light, a switch contact also mounted on said lens cover having one end providing a plug connection and its other end providing a resiliently displaceable contact element so formed that it will be pre-stressed or biased against a contact of a lamp mounted in the light and can be lifted from said contact through the movement of the operating member.

2. An interior light according to claim 1 and having alternative "on" positions such that through one "on" position of the switch the lamp can be arranged to be switched on direct and through another "on" position it

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

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. bulb; Figure 2 is a plan view of the light shown in Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a section on the line A-A in Figure 1; while Figure 4 is a view from below of an interior light provided with a spherical incandescent bulb; and Figure 5 is a longitudinal axial section of the light shown in Figure 4. In the interior light of Figures 1 to 3, a lens cover or lamp glass 2 carrying a contact and switch device for the light has a projection 3 disposed on one of its sides and directed into the interior of the lamp, on which projection is mounted a holding spring 4 which together with lug 5 secures the lens cover 2 on the vehicle body 1. A contact spring 6 is at the same time inserted self-securingly in the lens cover projection 3 and one end 7 of the spring forms a flat plug pin connection, while its other end 8 receives one pole 9 of the festoon lamp 10 in such a manner as to make electrical contact therewith. The other pole 11 of the festoon lamp 10 is inserted and electrically insulated in another narrow projection 12 of the cover provided with a receiving aperture. Electrical contact is made through the two contact springs 13, 14, of which the end 15 is in the form of a flat plug pin connection while the other end 16 forms a movable switch contact element. In one "on" position of an operating level 18 mounted pivotally on another projection 17 of the cover, this end 16 has a pre-stress or bias urging it against the contact 11 of the festoon lamp 10. The corresponding end of the other contact spring 14 is in this case lifted off the pole 11 of the festoon lamp by the switch lever 18, as shown in Figure 2. The contact springs 13 and 14 are selfsecuringly inserted into two other projections 19, 20 on the lens cover 2. These are disposed laterally of the projection 17 which pivotally receives the switch lever 18. The operating lever 18, which is mounted by its end 21 pivotally on pin 22 extending from the projection 17, has two symmetrically disposed laterally projecting fingers 23 whose front end lies between the end 21 of the operating lever 18 and the pivoting axis. When the operating lever is pivoted out of the middle position, which corresponds to the "off" position of the interior light, to one lateral position, the free end 16 of one of the two contact springs 13, 14 is released, so that through the action of its prestress or bias it bears against the pole 11 of the festoon lamp 10. The same end of the other contact spring 14 is at the same time moved farther away from the pole 11. When the operating lever 18 is pivoted in the other direction to its opposite lateral position, the end 16 of the spring 13 is lifted off the cap 11 of the festoon lamp, while the corresponding end of the spring 14 is released to bear against the cap 11. Thus the construction provides alternative "on" positions, one of which will be employed as a direct switch for the light and the other of which will allow the light to be controlled by a door contact switch. Figures 4 and 5 show another vehicle interior light similarly constructed in many respects but in which a spherical incandescent lamp is used. Accordingly a projection 12a of lens cover or lamp glass 2a is in the form of a socket to receive the cap of the spherical incandescent lamp 10a. Contact springs 13a, 14a forming the switch contacts are disposed and constructed similarly to the first-described embodiment. One or other of the two free ends 16a of the two contact springs bears in each case against the tubular cap contact 11a as soon as the interior light is switched to its alternative "on" positions. The centre pole 24 of the incandescent lamp 10a is electrically connected through a contact spring 25, which is inserted self-securingly in projection 17a mounting the pivotable operating lever 18a. At the same time the contact spring 25 holds the incandescent lamp 10a in its mounting socket in the position shown in the drawing. The lens cover 2a is attached to the vehicle body by a rigid lug Sa and a lug 26 formed resiliently on projection 3a at the opposite end of the cover. In each embodiment illustrated the switch lever is secured by a projecting spring tongue 27, 27a respectively, which engages in a catch at the edge of the portion of the lens cover through which the operating lever projects. It may be noted that in each of the embodiments, the switching and changeover contacts are so constructed that the connecting plugs form with the contact springs a unit that is not electrically disconnected during the switching operation. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. An interior light for a motor vehicle, comprising a switch having an operating member displaceably mounted on a lens cover or lamp glass of the light, a switch contact also mounted on said lens cover having one end providing a plug connection and its other end providing a resiliently displaceable contact element so formed that it will be pre-stressed or biased against a contact of a lamp mounted in the light and can be lifted from said contact through the movement of the operating member.

can be arranged to be switched on by means of a door contact switch, the light having respective switch contacts for the alternative "on" positions, the contact element of one of said contacts being pre-stressed or biased against the contact of the lamp in each of the "on" positions, while at the same time the other contact element is lifted from said contact by the operating member.

3. An interior light for a motor vehicle comprising a switch having an operating lever pivotably mounted on a lens cover or lamp glass of the light, a switch contact also mounted on said lens cover being disposed in the path of movement of the lever and being made of a flat strip material, one end of said contact providing a plug connection and its other end providing a displaceable contact element and being made of a resilient strip material so formed that it will be pre-stressed or biased against a cap contact of a lamp mounted in the light and can be lifted from said contact through the pivoting of the operating lever.

4. An interior light according to claim 3, and having alternative "on" positions such that through one "on" position of the switch the lamp can be arranged to be switched on direct and through another "on" position it can be arranged to be switched on by means of a door contact switch, on opposite longer sides of the operating lever there being respective contact elements of a resilient strip material inserted into projections on the lens cover or lamp glass, one of said contact elements being pre-stressed or biased against the contact of the lamp in each of the "on" positions, while at the same time the other contact element is lifted from said contact by the operating member.

5. An interior light for a motor vehicle constructed and arranged for use and operation substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1 to 3 or Figures 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings.