Supports – Mirror or picture type – Bracket
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-22
2001-03-13
Ramirez, Ramon O (Department: 3632)
Supports
Mirror or picture type
Bracket
C280S728200, C362S459000, C362S507000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06199817
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a device for mounting a light or lighting unit on a vehicle component or part.
2. Prior Art
A mounting device of this general type is described in German Patent Document DE 195 19 651 A1. This device has a holding element arranged on a vehicle part. A locking element movable between an unlocked position and a locked position is arranged in the lighting unit. The lighting unit is inserted in a mounting direction on the vehicle part with the locking element in its unlocked position. Subsequently the locking element is moved into its locked position, whereby it locks in the holding element of the vehicle part, so that the lighting unit is held on the vehicle part. In this known device it is disadvantageous that the locking element itself must be directly accessible in order to lock or unlock it from the holding element of the vehicle part. This is not always possible due to the stringent installation conditions for the lighting unit, so that the arrangement of the holding element is difficult.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved device for mounting a light or lighting unit on a vehicle component or part of the above-described type, which does not have the above-described disadvantage.
This object, and others which will be made more apparent hereinafter, are attained in a device for mounting a lighting unit on a vehicle part comprising a holding element arranged on the vehicle part, a locking element arranged on the lighting unit and means for mounting the locking element between the lighting unit and the vehicle part so that the locking element is movable between a locked position and an unlocked position, whereby the lighting unit can be put on the holding element by moving the lighting unit in a mounting or insertion direction when the locking element is in the unlocked position, and wherein the locking element is movable transversely to the mounting direction into the locked position to secure the lighting unit on the vehicle part and lock the lighting unit on the holding element of the vehicle part.
According to the invention an operating element is rotatably mounted on the lighting unit and pivoting means for rotatably coupling the operating element with the locking element are provided, whereby a rotational motion of the operating element is converted into a translational or sliding motion of the locking element between the unlocked position and locked position.
The apparatus for attaching or mounting a lighting unit on a vehicle part or component according to the invention has the advantage that the locking element need not be directly accessible in order to move it from its unlocked to locked position and vice versa, since its motion between its unlocked and its locked positions can occur by means of an operating element. The structure of the operating element can be selected so that it is sufficiently accessible considering the respective installation conditions. Only a comparatively small amount of space is required for its rotational motion.
Various features of the preferred embodiments are set forth in the description and claims appended hereinbelow.
A particularly simple means for rotatably coupling the operating element for converting the rotational motion into a translational motion of the locking element is provided in an embodiment in which the pivoting means includes a finger arranged on the operating element eccentric to a rotational axis of the operating element and means for coupling this finger with the locking element, when the locking element moves in a longitudinal motion direction thereof. A balancing of motion perpendicular to the longitudinal motion direction of the locking element that occurs during rotational motion of the operating element can be obtained when the locking element is provided with a receptacle in which the finger of the operating element is freely slidable perpendicular to the longitudinal motion direction of the locking element.
The locking element is reliably guided in its motion when it is guided slidably on the lighting unit in the longitudinal motion direction between the unlocked position and the locked position.
In preferred embodiments of the invention the holding element is shaped like a pin or peg so as to provide a simple structure or device for locking the locking element on the holding element.
A reliable, easy assembly is guaranteed in preferred embodiments in which the lighting unit is provided with an opening in which the holding element is insertable when the lighting unit is mounted by a motion in the mounting direction and in which the holding element is received with slight play transverse to the mounting direction.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4747023 (1988-05-01), Ball et al.
patent: 5735591 (1998-04-01), Ruckwied
patent: 5975729 (1999-11-01), Dobler et al.
patent: 5975733 (1999-11-01), Gonzalez Gallegos et al.
patent: 6129448 (2000-10-01), Takasaki et al.
patent: 3305 169 C1 (1984-07-01), None
patent: 195 19 651 A1 (1996-12-01), None
patent: 3442 042 A1 (2000-11-01), None
patent: 58-183327 (1983-10-01), None
Schmickl Klaus
Schoenettin Dietmar
Landry Walter
Ramirez Ramon O
Robert & Bosch GmbH
Striker Michael J.
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