Reflector lamp

Details Reflector lamp Reflector lamp

1999-08-23

2001-04-03

O'Shea, Sandra (Department: 2875)

Illumination

Supported by vehicle structure

Specific lamp mounting or retaining

C313S113000, C313S318010

Reexamination Certificate

active

06210029

ABSTRACT:

TECHNICAL FIELD
The invention proceeds from a reflector lamp in accordance with the preamble of claim
1
. It relates, in particular, to reflector lamps, in particular for line voltage, fitted with a luminous element and with a halogen-containing filling.
BACKGROUND ART
Already known from document EP-A 780 884 is a reflector lamp with two-pin base, in the case of which a resilient lamp support fitted on the bulb is fitted transverse to the reflector axis and rests on an annularly circumferential step in the reflector neck. The lamp support is fastened in the reflector under biasing. U.S. Pat. No. 5,466,981 discloses a reflector lamp with a screw base and with a resilient lamp support. Fitted in the reflector neck are a plurality of circumferential steps, with the result that the same spherical cap can be used for bulbs and lamp supports of different size.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is the object of the present invention to provide a reflector lamp in accordance with the preamble of claim
1
which permits the lamp support to be fastened reliably and in a clear-cut fashion in the reflector neck.
This object is achieved by means of the characterizing features of claim
1
. Particularly advantageous refinements are to be found in the dependent claims.
The present invention relates to reflector lamps with bulbs pinched at one or two ends. A conventional screw base, or else a two-pin base can be used, for example, as the base. The lamp can be designed either for operating at low voltage (below 60 V) or at medium and high voltage, respectively, (approximately 120 V and 240 V respectively).
The bulb is permanently connected to a lamp support whose preferred shape is a disk. The disk can be slightly bent. Located in the reflector neck is a step on which the lamp support disk rests, possibly under biasing. The orientated, clear-cut fastening of the lamp support disk in the reflector is performed by up to four orientation means on the lamp support which cooperate with webs on the reflector neck. In the case of a plurality of orientation means (two to four), these are preferably distributed symmetrically about the reflector neck. For example, the orientation means is a semicircular cutout (or two mutually opposite cutouts) on the edge of the lamp support, which cutout is matched to the cross section of a web.
The orientation means is preferably constructed as a clamping device which is connected in a clamping fashion to the web, in particular by wedging the clamping device on the web in the reflector neck. It is preferred to use two mutually opposite spring tongues as clamping device.
In particular, the webs are axially parallel strips in the reflector neck which are assigned to the spring tongues or cutouts of the lamp support disk.
The assembly runs as follows in principle: for two-pin bases preparations are firstly made at the reflector. In the reflector bottom, two cylindrical contact parts or sleeves, which are at least partially hollow inside and whose function is the mechanical and/or electrical connection to the outer supply leads of the bulb, are riveted into corresponding openings.
This work operation can be eliminated when the reflector lamp has a screw base. In this case, the openings in the reflector bottom frequently taper conically, as a result of which threading in the supply leads is facilitated.
The lamp support disk is advantageously punched from a metal strip (for example spring steel). In principle, it is circular and has in the center an I-shaped cutout for holding the pinch of the bulb. Two pairs of inwardly pointing lugs are provided in the cutout for fixing the lamp in the disk. They are bent obliquely downward and latch tight in holding knobs on the pinch when the bulb is inserted into the disk from above. The lugs and assigned knobs can be arranged either on the narrow sides or broad sides of the I-shaped cutout or pinch. Inserting the lamp into the lamp support disk is expediently performed before the latter is separated from the carrier strip. In this process, the pinch is inserted into the provided opening with an I-shaped profile until the lugs of the lamp support disk latch tight over the, in particular four, holding knobs fitted on the broad side of the pinch, preserving a small biasing in the process. The lamp is therefore permanently connected to the disk. The lugs effect a permanent contact with the pinch. Together with the biased supporting surface of the disk on the bulb, this promotes dissipation of heat by the lamp.
According to the invention, at least one, preferably two or more clamping devices in the shape of radial spring tongues are provided on the periphery of the lamp support. They serve to fix the disk in the reflector. Two mutually opposite spring tongues are advantageously used. They are preferably bent slightly upward. They cooperate with webs, arranged in an axially parallel fashion, in the shape of strips in the reflector neck by bearing in a clamping fashion against them. In this case, the strip comes to be situated in the gap between the two spring tongues.
The assembly of the bulb and of the lamp support disk in the reflector is performed as follows: the subassembly of lamp and disk is held on the bulb and then inserted into the reflector from above until the lamp support disk touches the webs in the reflector neck. In this process, the lamp support disk and the spherical cap of the reflector are orientated relative to one another such that the gap between the two mutually opposite clamping springs comes to be situated exactly over the webs in the reflector neck.
Each web advantageously tapers conically upward, that is to say the cross section is reduced while the shape is maintained, with the result that a particularly reliable clamping action is achieved when the disk is pressed downward. The strips are advantageously made with a V-shaped or hemispherical cross section.
The lamp support disk is subsequently pushed downward as far as the step in the reflector neck with the aid of a tool (for example a hollow cylinder), acting on the outer edge of the disk. In this process, the two advantageously beveled ends of the clamping springs are bent further upward. The mechanical retention is performed in this case by “wedging” with the webs in the reflector neck.
In a second embodiment, the latching tight of the lamp support disk on an appropriately shaped web is implemented via a radial rotary movement in conjunction with a slight pressure on the bulb. The webs are then designed as bosses on which the spring tongues slide along radially in a clamping fashion.
Advantages of this fastening technique are:
The force with which the disk is pressed downward produces biasing mechanically in the disk, thus avoiding rattling of the lamp and ensuring the bulb is seated firmly in the reflector.
Given appropriate dimensioning, when the lamp support disk is pressed down, the outer supply leads (for example pins or wires) are guided through openings in the reflector bottom. Threading into the openings is not a problem. It proceeds largely automatically, since the disk is preadjusted by the webs.
Supply leads, guided through the contact parts, of a two-pin base are subsequently connected to the contact parts by crimping, welding or the like.
In the case of a screw base, the two outer supply leads (wires) initially project from the two openings in the reflector bottom. One wire is bent away laterally in a way known per se in order to provide the lateral contact. If desired, a fuse is welded onto the wire provided for the bottom contact. The screw base is subsequently pushed over. It is crimped with the reflector neck, the electric connection to the lateral contact being produced simultaneously. The electric connection with the bottom contact is expediently performed by welding or else soldering.
The design according to the invention yields the following advantages by comparison with existing techniques of assembly:
The design permits better optical screening of the reflector neck from the light emitted by the filament. Light is thereby prevented from e

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