Illumination – Plural light sources – Diverse light generators
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-09
2001-10-02
O'Shea, Sandra (Department: 2875)
Illumination
Plural light sources
Diverse light generators
C362S548000, C362S263000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06296373
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an incandescent lamp for use in a reflector, and, more particularly, to an incandescent lamp suitable for being replaceable fixed in a focused position in a reflector of a vehicle.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The incandescent lamps used in automotive reflectors are fixed into the envelope of reflectors as replaceable lamp assemblies in such a way that the reflector and the lamp form a closed unit in which a sealing prevents humidity or dust from penetrating into the reflector. The incandescent lamp is equipped with locking elements constituting detachable joints with the elements formed in the wall of the reflector. The envelope of the incandescent lamp is set inside the reflector, while the terminals providing connection to the electrical circuit of the automobile are set outside of the reflector. The incandescent lamp must be fixed in the reflector so that the filament of the incandescent lamp takes a precisely defined position in the reflector-envelope, otherwise the beam of rays would deviate from the applicable standards. The incandescent lamp must keep this optical position during the operation, that is impacts and vibrations of the automobile must not dislocate the lamp from its position described above. At the same time, the fixing must be detachable so that the incandescent lamp can be replaced in the event of its defect. According to the effective IEC Standard No. 60061-2, the fixing is accomplished with a springy locking element pressing the incandescent lamp into the so-called V-supports shaped in the wall of the reflector by at least 10 N force. The locking element is simultaneously wedged in an indent shaped in the wall of the reflector.
An incandescent lamp applicable in automotive reflectors is described in PCT published patent application No. WO 97/25733. This lamp has a plastic base, a metal support portion and a metal support sleeve. The lower part of the metal support portion is attached to the metal support sleeve while its upper part is fixing the envelope of the incandescent lamp. The lower part of the metal support sleeve is embedded in the plastic base and the upper part of the sleeve is equipped with optical flanges. The filament of the lamp is connected through lead-out wires to terminals which can be connected to the electrical circuit of the automobile. The incandescent lamp is fixed in the reflector by placing the lamp in the opening at the rear end of the reflector, while the optical flanges penetrate into the grooves shaped in the opening of the reflector and designed to match these optical flanges. Then the lamp is twisted around its longitudinal axis while the incandescent lamp is fixed in the reflector. Fixing is provided for by a compression spring which, in one of the embodiments, is welded to the outer wall of the metal support sleeve with one end, while the other end is resting free on the outer wall of the metal support sleeve. The middle of the compression spring constitutes a flare resting on the rim of the opening of the reflector when the lamp is twisted in the reflector.
In an other embodiment, the compression spring is designed as a flaring leafspring, but its ends are placed into the apertures between the metal support sleeve and the plastic base. The flaring portion of the leaf-spring protrudes outside of the outer wall of the metal support sleeve. When the flaring portion of the leaf-spring is compressed in the course of fixing the incandescent lamp in the reflector, the ends of the leaf-spring slide deeper into the apertures, while the flaring part abuts along the opening of the reflector as described above.
In a further configuration, the flaring leaf-spring protrudes through a breach formed in the wall of the metal support sleeve under one of the three optical flanges. The ends of the leaf-spring rest on the bumpers designed on the metal support sleeve and the plastic base so that the leaf spring is compressed between these two bumpers also designed as supports.
In all the above three cases, the compression spring is made from spring steel as a separate component, which must be bent to provide the required shape, and it reaches the final position while rubbing on the glass wall of the opening of the reflector when the lamp is fixed in the reflector. Each of the presented characteristics has some kind of disadvantage. Managing the compression spring as a separate component requires separate assembling and separate storage of components. Bending the spring steel to provide the required shape is a further process increasing the manufacturing costs. The rubbing motion in the course of fixing results in the scratching of the reflector, dislocation of its reflecting surface and consequently in the decrease of the projected light.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In an exemplary the embodiment of the first aspect of the invention, an incandescent lamp for use in a reflector is provided. The lamp comprises an envelope having a longitudinal axis, at least one filament, and electrical leadout wires, a metal support portion receiving the envelop and a sleeved optical disc formed from metal and operatively associated with the metal support portion for positioning the filaments with respect to the reflector in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The sleeved optical disc has an opening in the mantle thereof The incandescent lamp has a plastic base anchoring the sleeved optical disc and including the electrical lead-out wires. A locking element is secured against fall-out and slipped at least partly through the opening. A spring forces the locking element to move along a path substantially perpendicular to the mantle of the sleeved optical disc in a direction away from the longitudinal axis.
There is also provided an incandescent lamp in combination with a reflector, which has a wall defining an opening. The locking element is engaged in an indent formed in the wall of the opening after the incandescent lamp is fixed in the reflector.
In an exemplary embodiment of the second aspect of the invention, an incandescent lamp for use in a reflector is provided. The incandescent lamp comprises an envelope having a longitudinal axis, at least one filament, and electrical lead-out wires. The incandescent lamp has a metal support portion receiving the envelop and a sleeved optical disc formed from metal and operatively associated with the metal support portion for positioning the filaments with respect to the reflector in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The incandescent lamp has a plastic base anchoring the sleeved optical disc and including the electrical lead-out wires. A tongue is cut out from the mantle of the sleeved optical disc and forms one piece continuously with the material of the mantle. The tongue is bent to form a leaf-spring clamped at one end and exerting force along a path substantially perpendicular to the mantle in a direction away from the longitudinal axis. The lamp includes a locking element too, formed on the leaf-spring.
There is also provided an incandescent lamp in combination with a reflector. The reflector has a wall defining an opening. The locking element formed on the leaf-spring is engaged in an indent defined by the wall of the opening after the incandescent lamp is fixed in the reflector.
The advantage of the present invention over the prior art is that the application of a separately formed leaf-spring bent for the required shape is avoided. Bending a separate leaf-spring requires additional manufacturing process steps which are complicated and expensive. A simple flat leaf-spring or a commercially available volute spring is suitable for the construction provided. Although the second aspect of the invention relates to a construction in which a bent leaf-spring is applied, however this leaf-spring is not a separate construction element. It is rather a tongue cut out from the mantle of the sleeved optical disc forming one piece continuously with the material of the mantle. Bending the leaf-spring in this case is a step integrated in the manufacturin
Gál Imre
Gonda Attila
Torma Tamás
Valovics Miklós
General Electric Company
O'Shea Sandra
Truong Bao
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