Illumination – Supported by vehicle structure – Plural light sources
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-23
2001-08-07
Cariaso, Alan (Department: 2875)
Illumination
Supported by vehicle structure
Plural light sources
C362S507000, C362S517000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06270241
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates in general terms to headlights for motor vehicles, and more particularly to headlights associated with front indicator lights, such as flashing direction indicator lights or position lights.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A unit consisting of a headlight or headlights and an indicator light conventionally includes at least one headlight having a reflector, together with an indicator light which, in particular in order to satisfy industry regulations, includes a flux recuperating reflector which is situated in line with the light output zone of the indicator light, and in which a lamp is received.
Such a headlight/indicator light unit has the drawback that the axial dimension of the indicator light is large, and sometimes comparable with that of the headlight or headlights where these have a smaller lamp and reflector.
Another disadvantage of these known units lies in the fact that the lamp which is present in line with the light output window in the base of the cavity of the indicator light is in general visible from outside, and this makes it difficult to obtain a homogeneous appearance for the unit, which may be formed as a single block or in two parts corresponding to the headlight or headlights and to the indicator light.
DISCUSSION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention aims to overcome these drawbacks in the state of the art.
A further object of the present invention is to propose a unit comprising at least one headlight and an indicator light, which can more easily and more flexibly be integrated into the front space of the vehicle, with, if necessary, easier access and simplified electric wiring for the lamp of the indicator light.
Finally, other objects of the present invention are, especially, to reduce the number of cover pieces for giving access to the lamps, and to generate more easily a part of the indicating light beam which is directed sideways.
Accordingly, the present invention proposes a unit comprising at least one headlight and an indicator light for a motor vehicle, the headlight comprising a lamp mounted within a reflector, and the indicator light, situated adjacent to the headlight, comprising a lamp and reflective means for flux recuperation, the headlight and the indicator light including adjacent lenses, characterised in that the reflective means include a first reflector cooperating with the lamp of the indicator light, and a second reflector, in that the lamp and the first reflector of the indicator light are disposed behind the reflector of the headlight, and in that the second reflector of the indicator light is disposed in line with the lens of the indicator light.
Preferred, but not limiting, aspects of the unit comprising a headlight or headlights and an indicator light in accordance with the invention are as follows:
the headlight and the indicator light are mounted in a common housing and share a common lens.
the housing has a common aperture closed by a removable cover piece, for giving access both to the lamp of the headlight and to the lamp of the indicator light.
the indicator light is disposed between two headlights of the unit.
the indicator light includes at least one optical plate mounted in an aperture of an embellisher of the headlights.
the headlight and the indicator light are mounted in two distinct housings attached to each other.
the indicator light is disposed outboard of the headlight, in a wing return region of the vehicle.
the lens of the indicator light covers a front region and a side region of the said indicator light, and the lamp and the first reflector of the indicator light are adapted to generate by themselves a portion of the indicating light beam which is directed laterally towards the outside.
the first reflector of the indicator light is of the ellipsoidal kind, with a first focus in the vicinity of which a filament of the lamp is situated, and a second focus which is disposed generally laterally with respect to the first focus, and the second reflector of the indicator light is of the parabolic kind, with its focus being situated close to the second focus of the first reflector.
the unit further includes an opaque mask having a window arranged close to the said second focus.
Further aspects, objects and advantages of the present invention will appear more clearly on a reading of the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the latter, given by way of example and made with reference to the attached drawings.
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patent: 1300202 (1919-04-01), Stubblefield
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patent: 4912606 (1990-03-01), Yamamoto
patent: 5124891 (1992-06-01), Blusseau
patent: 5172972 (1992-12-01), Terao
patent: 5546284 (1996-08-01), Harada
patent: 5605392 (1997-02-01), Daumueller
patent: 5833345 (1998-11-01), Ito
patent: 1 101 984 (1961-03-01), None
patent: 195 41 509 (1995-05-01), None
Collot Patrice
Godbillon Vincent
Ordonez Jose
Rit Jean
Cariaso Alan
Morgan & Finnegan , LLP
Sawhney Hargobind S.
Valeo Vision
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