Illumination – Supported by vehicle structure – Projection-type headlamp
Reexamination Certificate
1998-05-22
2001-07-10
Husar, Stephen (Department: 2875)
Illumination
Supported by vehicle structure
Projection-type headlamp
C362S240000, C362S263000, C362S543000, C362S544000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06257748
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a vehicle headlamp having a discharge bulb, and more particularly to the configuration of the lens of the vehicle headlamp.
2. Related Art
Recently, a discharge bulb has been employed as a light source for a vehicle headlamp because it irradiates with high luminance. The discharge bulb is much higher in power than a halogen lamp or the like. Therefore, it is desirable that a headlamp with a discharge bulb performs the function of a discharge bulb sufficiently—for instance, its irradiation angle is set large.
In general, a pair of headlamps are provided on the right and left of the front end of a vehicle, respectively. A front turn signal lamp or clearance lamp is provided on the outside of each of the headlamps as viewed in the direction of width of the vehicle body, and therefore the headlamps are shifted to wards the central axis of the vehicle body as much. Hence, the lens of the conventional headlamp suffers from the following drawbacks: That is, even if the surface configuration of the lens is curved along the front configuration of the front end portion of the vehicle body; more specifically, even if it is extended outwardly as viewed in the direction of width of the vehicle body and somewhat curved backwardly, their angles of inclination to the right and left are not so large. This may be said about a headlamp with a discharge bulb.
In the above-described headlamp, the straight lines connecting the light emitting section of the discharge bulb to the outermost ends (as viewed in the direction of width of the vehicle body) of the lens surface form sideward open angles with respect to the axial line (in the front-to-rear direction) of the vehicle body. Those sideward open angles are relatively small, and cannot be set to a large value.
Hence, heretofore, although the light beam reflected from the reflector irradiates forwardly of the vehicle, it is impossible to employ a method for effectively utilizing the great power of the discharge lamp to emit a light beam directly from the discharge bulb so as to irradiate sidwardly of the vehicle body thereby allowing the driver to see a shoulder of a road sufficiently.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing, an object of the invention is to provide a vehicle headlamp having a discharge bulb which effectively utilizes the great power of the discharge bulb.
The foregoing object of the invention can be accomplished by a provision of a vehicle headlamp which, according to the invention, comprises a discharge bulb, a reflector adapted to reflect a light beam forwardly which is emitted from the discharge bulb, and a lens provided in front of the reflector, and the surface configuration of the lens is a curved configuration which is curved outwardly as viewed in the direction of width of a vehicle body and backwardly, and the normal at the outermost end, as viewed in the direction of width of the vehicle body, of the lens is inclined more than 45° outwardly as viewed in the direction of width of the vehicle body with respect to the axial line which is extended in the front-to-rear direction of the vehicle body.
The lens has a curved configuration which is curved outwardly, as viewed in the direction of width of the vehicle body, and backwardly. The particular curved configuration is not limiting.
As was described above, the surface configuration of the lens is a curved configuration which is curved outwardly as viewed in the direction of width of a vehicle body and backwardly. More particularly, the normal at the outermost end, as viewed in the direction of width of the vehicle body, of the lens surface is inclined more than 45° outwardly with respect to the axial line which is extended in the front-to-rear direction of the vehicle body. Hence, the sideward open angle which the straight line connecting the light emitting section of the discharge bulb to the outermost end, as viewed in the direction of width of the vehicle body, of the lens forms with the axial line extended in the front-to-rear direction of the vehicle body, can be set to a relatively large value. Therefore, in addition to the original function of the headlamp that the light beam reflected from the reflector irradiates forwardly of the vehicle, the function can be effectively performed that the direct light beam from the discharge bulb irradiates sidewardly of the vehicle thereby allowing the driver to sufficiently see the shoulder of the road.
Hence, according to the invention, in the vehicle headlamp having the discharge bulb, the great power of the latter can be effectively utilized.
In the invention, the above-described headlamp can be provided at the corner of the front of the vehicle body with ease. Accordingly, not only the headlamp body but also the lighting circuit unit adapted to turn on the discharge bulb can be arranged at the aforementioned corner. This feature increases the spaces in the engine room.
In the case where, as was described above, the headlamp is provided at the corner of the front of the vehicle body, the region below the reflector is liable to become a dead space. Therefore, the light circuit unit is arranged below and near the reflector, so that the dead space in the engine room can be effectively utilized.
If, in this case, the lighting circuit unit is arranged below and near the reflector, then its concrete structure is not particularly limited. That is, for instance the structure that the lighting circuit unit is mounted on the outer surface of the lower wall of the reflector, may be employed. Alternatively, in the case where the headlamp has the lamp body accommodating the reflector, the structure that the lighting circuit unit is mounted on the outer surface of the lower wall of the lamp body, may be employed.
Furthermore, in the vehicle headlamp of the invention, the surface configuration of the lens is a curved configuration which is curved upwardly and backwardly, and at the uppermost end of the surface of the lens, the normal is upwardly inclined more than 45° with respect to the axial line which is extended in the front-to-rear direction of the vehicle body. Hence, in a roundish vehicle such as a sport car type vehicle, the headlamp can be mounted at the corner of the front of the vehicle body with ease.
In the case where the surface of the lens is backwardly curved not only outwardly (as viewed in the direction of width of the vehicle body) but also upwardly, in the engine room a region located below the reflector is liable to become a great dead space. Therefore, it is desirable to arrange the lighting circuit unit below and near the reflector. Furthermore, in this case, the reflector or the outer surface of the lower wall of the lamp body is relatively large in area. Hence, in the case where the lighting circuit unit is mounted on the outer surface of the lower wall, its mounting range is large; that is, the mounting of the lighting circuit unit is high in the degree of freedom.
As was described above, in the case where, at the outermost end (as viewed in the direction of width of the vehicle body) of the surface of the lens or at the uppermost end thereof, the normal is inclined more than 45° outwardly (as viewed in the direction of width of the vehicle body) or upwardly with respect to the axial line, in the front-to-rear direction, of the vehicle body, the above-described effects are obtained. However, if the angle of inclination is larger (for instance more than 60°), then the effects are more significant.
Moreover, in the vehicle headlamp of the invention, the shade is provided in front of the discharge bulb which intercepts a direct light beam which advances forwardly from the discharge bulb, and the sideward light passage space through which a direct light beam passes which advances sidewards from the discharge bulb is formed between the shade and the outermost end, as viewed in the direction of width of the vehicle body, of the reflector. In this case, the forward direct light beam is cut which is undesirable in the
Husar Stephen
Sughrue Mion Zinn Macpeak & Seas, PLLC
Ward John Anthony
LandOfFree
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