Illumination – Supported by vehicle structure – Housing
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-24
2001-10-16
O'Shea, Sandra (Department: 2875)
Illumination
Supported by vehicle structure
Housing
C362S365000, C362S374000, C362S375000, C362S396000, C439S135000, C439S345000, C439S350000, C439S911000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06302568
ABSTRACT:
This application claims the benefit of Japanese Application No. P. Hei. 10-179405 filed Jun. 25, 1998, which is hereby incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a head lamp for a vehicle, and more particularly, to a head lamp for a vehicle having a discharge bulb. Although the present invention is suitable for a wide scope of applications, it is particularly suitable for preventing a user from replacing a discharge bulb while battery power is supplied to a starting circuit.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, a discharge bulb has been increasingly employed as a light source of a head lamp for a vehicle because of its high luminance irradiation capability. In order to light up the discharge bulb, a high voltage has to be applied to the discharge bulb. A power supply voltage may be as high as 20 kV in supplying the voltage to the discharge bulb through a high voltage cord. A starting circuit is provided between the discharge bulb and a battery power supply for the head lamp having the discharge bulb.
Generally, an opening portion for replacing a discharge bulb is formed in a lamp body which accommodates the discharge bulb such that the bulb is taken out from or inserted into the lamp body through the opening portion for the bulb replacement. Except when the bulb is replaced, the opening portion is covered with a back cover for preventing dust or the like from entering into the lamp body.
In the head lamp for a vehicle having the discharge bulb as described above, a user inserts his/her fingers into the lamp body through the opening portion for replacing the bulb. In this occasion, the user's fingers may touch a high voltage cord, and a socket for connecting the discharge bulb. Assuming that power is continuously supplied to the discharge bulb during the bulb replacement, the user would be in danger of being exposed to the high voltage in the case where the high voltage cord is broken or the user touches a terminal portion of the socket with his/her the fingers. Therefore, there is a need for a safe device to prevent the user from replacing the bulb while the battery power is supplied to the starting circuit.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a head lamp for a vehicle that substantially obviates one or more of problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.
An object of the present invention is to provide a head lamp for vehicle having a discharge bulb, which is capable of preventing bulb replacement doing supply of power to the starting circuit.
Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.
To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described, a head lamp for a vehicle having a power supply includes a discharge bulb, a reflector for holding the discharge bulb, a lamp body for accommodating the reflector, the lamp body having an opening in the reflector for replacing the discharge bulb, a back cover attached to the lamp body to close the opening, a starting circuit coupled to the discharge bulb for lighting the discharge bulb, a first connector coupled to the starting circuit, a second connector coupled to the power supply, and a detachable lock member fastening the back cover to the first and second connectors, wherein the lock member is covered with the first and second connectors when the connectors are coupled with each other, so that the back cover cannot be opened before disengaging the lock member.
In another aspect of the present invention, a head lamp for a vehicle having a power supply and a starting circuit in includes a discharge bulb, a lamp body for holding the discharge lamp, the lamp body having an extending portion, a back cover coupled to the lamp body, the back cover having a lock member receiving portion and a connector engaging portion, first and second connectors coupled to the starting circuit and the power supply, respectively, and a lock member fastening the back cover to the first and second connectors through the extending portion, the lock member receiving portion, and the connector engaging portion, wherein the lock member is covered by the first and second connectors when the connectors are coupled with each other, so that the back cover cannot be opened before disengaging the locking members and the connectors.
In a further aspect of the present invention, a head lamp for a vehicle having a power supply and a starting circuit includes a discharge bulb, a lamp body for holding the discharge lamp, the lamp body having an extending portion, a back cover coupled to the lamp body, the back cover having a lock member receiving portion and a first connector coupled to the starting circuit, a second connector coupled to the power supply, and a lock member fastening the back cover to the first and second connectors, wherein the lock member is covered by the first and second connectors when the connectors are coupled with each other, so that the back cover cannot be opened before disengaging the locking members and the connectors.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.
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Safety Plug, C. Sutton, Nov. 1976, IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, vol. 19, No. 6.
Hobden David V.
Koito Manufacturing Co. Ltd.
O'Shea Sandra
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