Vehicular headlamp with integrated aiming bracket

Details Vehicular headlamp with integrated aiming bracket Vehicular headlamp with integrated aiming bracket

1999-11-17

2001-08-28

O'Shea, Sandra (Department: 2875)

Illumination

Supported by vehicle structure

Projection-type headlamp

C362S512000, C362S523000, C362S524000, C362S538000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06280071

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a vehicular headlamp and, more particularly, to a PES-type headlamp.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A so-called PES-type headlamp is known as one form of a vehicular headlamp.
As shown in
FIG. 6
, a PES-type headlamp has a reflector
104
which reflects light from a light source bulb
102
forward (toward a larger open end of the reflector) in a convergent manner, a condensing lens
106
positioned such that, of the light reflected from the reflector, at least a meridian light flux (the light flux shown in
FIG. 1
in vertical cross-section) is incident as divergent light, and which controls the direction of radiated light, and a shade
108
provided in proximity to a position of convergence of the meridian light flux and blocking the light reflected from a lower reflection area of the reflector so as to reduce the radiated light. In this PES-type headlamp, an aiming bracket
110
is secured to the reflector
104
, and an aiming member for tilting the reflector
104
is attached to the aiming bracket
110
.
However, the aforementioned conventional PES-type headlamp has a relatively large number of parts. In order to reduce the total cost of the lighting fixture, it is desired to reduce the number of parts of the headlamp.
The present invention has been made in light of such circumstances.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicular headlamp in which the number of parts of a PES-type headlamp are reduced so that the total cost of the lighting fixture is reduced.
The present invention achieves the above-stated object by forming a shade integrally with an aiming bracket and appropriately selecting the material of the shade.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a vehicular headlamp comprising a light source bulb, a reflector reflecting light from the light source bulb forwards in a convergent manner, a condensing lens positioned such that, of the light reflected from the reflector, at least a meridian light flux is incident as divergent light, a shade provided in proximity to the position of convergence of the meridian light flux and blocking part of the reflected light, and an aiming bracket to which an aiming member for tilting the reflector is attached, wherein the shade is composed of a metal plate member formed integrally with the aiming bracket and attached to the reflector.
The specific design, such as the shape, manner of attachment to the reflector and the like, of the aforementioned shade is not specifically limited.
As indicated by the aforementioned construction, a vehicular headlamp according to the present invention has the shade attached to the reflector, and the shade is formed integrally with the aiming bracket. Therefore, the number of parts of the lighting fixture is reduced, and the total cost of the lighting fixture can be correspondingly reduced. Additionally, because the shade is composed of a metal plate member, the cost of the shade itself can also be reduced.
Thus, according to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the number of parts of the PES-type headlamp and reduce the total cost of the lighting fixture.
In the aforementioned construction, a plurality of projecting portions that project forward may be formed in a front end opening of the reflector, and the shade may be attached to the reflector in such a manner that the shade abuts these projecting portions. In this construction, a predetermined gap is formed between the front end opening of the reflector and the shade. Therefore, the heat generated in the internal space of the reflector can be dissipated into the external space through the gap, whereby the risk of heat deformation of the reflector is reduced.
Further in the aforementioned construction, the shade may be designed to be secured to the reflector at at least two of the projecting portions. The respective projecting portions that are to be secured may also be formed radially outward of the condensing lens, thereby making it possible to tighten the screws (or similar fastener) through operation of a driver inserted from a position in front of the lighting fixture. Thus, the operability, for example, in exchanging component parts of the lighting fixture is enhanced.


REFERENCES:
patent: 4857794 (1989-08-01), Watanabe
patent: 5119276 (1992-06-01), Suzuki
patent: 5283352 (1994-02-01), Remus et al.
patent: 5283719 (1994-02-01), Sekiguchi
patent: 5448454 (1995-09-01), Nonaka
patent: 5567034 (1996-10-01), Dietewich et al.
patent: 5899559 (1999-05-01), Lachmayer et al.
patent: 2 753 148 (1998-12-01), None

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Vehicular headlamp with integrated aiming bracket does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Vehicular headlamp with integrated aiming bracket, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Vehicular headlamp with integrated aiming bracket will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2471424