Illumination – Supported by vehicle structure – Automobile
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-29
2001-04-03
Cariaso, Alan (Department: 2875)
Illumination
Supported by vehicle structure
Automobile
C362S375000, C362S282000, C362S364000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06210026
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention concerns a light housing for installation into an installation opening, in particular for a light in a motor vehicle.
In order to install a light or a light housing into an installation section (installation opening) in the ceiling of a motor vehicle, an additional metal frame is conventionally mounted in the ceiling in the vicinity of the installation opening. The light housing can e.g. then be mounted to this metal frame by means of a clipping connection. Release of this mounting, e.g. in order to exchange a light bulb, is not always as easy as desirable.
It is therefore the purpose of the present invention to create a light housing which can be installed into an installation opening without additional components (metal frames) in a simple, easy fashion.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This purpose is achieved in accordance with the invention in a manner which is surprisingly straight forward as it is effective in a light housing having an installation frame with a frame opening which can be inserted from the front into the installation opening and with an insert member which can be moved from a forward direction at least partially into the frame opening, and with at least one pivot element borne on the installation frame which, in an outer pivot position, engages, with a seating surface, behind the wall of the installation opening and, in an inner pivot position, engages into the path of motion of the insert member with an abutment surface disposed at an angle with respect to the seating surface.
The invention has the advantage, that the at least one pivot element can be pivoted via the insert member out of an inner pivot position initially penetrating into the frame opening in which it does not interfere with insertion of the installation frame into the installation opening, into its outer engaging pivot position while simultaneously being secured against pivoting back.
The firm clamping of the ceiling in the light housing between the pivot element and the installation frame serves for secure mounting of the light housing in the installation opening of the ceiling. The light housing in accordance with the invention can thereby also be mounted in a weak ceiling structure and utilized in a motor vehicle e.g. as an inner compartment illumination, a motor compartment illumination or a luggage compartment illumination.
The insert member is, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, borne for pivoting on the installation frame so that it can be pivoted into the frame opening. The insert member can, however, also be a separate component which can be inserted from the front into the frame opening.
It is particularly advantageous when the installation frame and the insert member are connected to each other via a film hinge. This facilitates a particularly economical manufacture of the installation frame and insert member from a single extruded component.
In accordance with an additional embodiment of the invention, the installation frame and the at least one pivot element are also connected to each other by means of a film hinge. This likewise facilitates the economical manufacture of the installation frame and the pivot element or elements from a single extruded component.
An additional advantageous embodiment provides that two pivot elements are disposed on the installation frame at opposite sides of the frame opening. In order for both of these pivot elements to simultaneously pivot via the e.g. pivoted-in insert member, the pivot axis of the at least one pivot element and the pivot axis of the insert member are preferentially at right angles with respect to each other.
In order to fix the insert member, e.g. pivoted into the frame opening, in that position at which it secures the pivot elements against pivoting back out of their engaging position, the pivoted-in insert member can be latched to the installation frame. After the latched connection has been released, the insert member can been pivoted-out. The light bulb, which is advantageously disposed in the installation frame, can then be replaced or the light housing can be removed from the installation opening.
In an improved embodiment of the invention, the at least one pivot element is an angle, one leg of which forms the seating surface and the other leg of which forms the abutment surface. Clearly, should the pivot element or pivot elements, already assume, after insertion of the installation frame into the installation opening, their engaging pivot position, they are no longer pivoted by introduction of the insert member.
Embodiments of the light housing are particularly advantageous with which the insert member is disposed on an illumination plate. This illumination plate covers at least the frame opening and also preferentially the installation frame.
In highly preferred embodiments of the invention, the entire light housing is made from one extruded component. This facilitates the extremely economical manufacture of the installation frame, insert member, and pivot element or elements as a single-piece extruded plastic component. The tool costs are particularly low, since a slide mechanism is not needed for manufacturing the light housing.
Further advantages of the invention can be extracted from the description and the drawing. The above features and those to be further described below can be utilized in accordance with the invention individually or collectively in arbitrary combination. The embodiments shown and described are not to be considered exhaustive enumerations, rather have exemplary character only for illustration of the invention.
The invention is represented in the drawing and described more closely in relation to an embodiment.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4255781 (1981-03-01), Plemmons et al.
patent: 5172976 (1992-12-01), Bogdanovs
patent: 5713659 (1998-02-01), Hillstrom et al.
patent: 41 14 509 A1 (1992-11-01), None
patent: 0 524 830 A2 (1993-01-01), None
Hornung Heinz
Logel Valère
Cariaso Alan
DelGizzi Ronald E.
Sidler GmbH & Co.
Vincent Paul
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