Illumination – Supported by vehicle structure – Plural light sources
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-01
2001-09-18
Quach, Y. (Department: 2875)
Illumination
Supported by vehicle structure
Plural light sources
C362S241000, C362S247000, C362S267000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06290380
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a vehicle lamp unit, and more specifically, to a vehicle lamp unit having a lighting conductor for bulb sockets disposed on or buried under a reflection surface formed on a frame.
2. Description of the Related Art
In
FIG. 11
, a vehicle lamp unit
1
comprises a frame
2
, a lens
3
attached to the front surface of the frame
2
, and a plurality of bulb sockets
4
(three bulb sockets are shown in
FIG. 11
) attached to the rear surface of the frame
2
.
Bulb attachment holes
5
for accommodating the bulb sockets
4
are formed on the frame
2
, and a reflection surface is formed on the surface to be the inner surface of the frame
2
.
Branch lines
8
branched from joint portions
7
of a wire harness
6
are connected to the respective bulb sockets
4
, and as shown in
FIG. 12
, terminals
10
and
11
provided to each edge of the branch lines
8
are in contact with electrodes
9
a
and
9
b
of a bulb
9
attached to each of the bulb sockets
4
. Reference numeral
12
indicates a rubber stopper for waterproofing and securing each branch line.
In the prior art, the branch lines
8
arranged on the rear surface of the frame
2
become hindrance to the exchange of the bulbs
9
, resulting in poor workability in maintenance.
Also, there has been a problem that water enters from the joint portions
7
provided to the wire harness
6
.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle lamp unit having improved waterproof ability and reliability, and excellent workability in terms of maintenance.
The vehicle lamp unit in accordance with a first aspect of the present invention comprises: a plurality of bulb sockets each provided with a bulb; a frame having bulb attachment holes for accommodating the plurality of bulb sockets; a reflection surface formed on a surface to be an inner surface of the frame; and a lighting conductor connected to the bulbs via the respective bulb sockets and communicating with an electrical conductor of the vehicle, the lighting conductor being disposed on or buried under the reflection surface.
In the above structure, the joint portion for each of the bulb sockets provided to the lighting conductor in the same manner as in the prior art is disposed on or buried under the reflection surface formed on the frame, so that water entrance can be prevented in the joint portion and high reliability can be obtained. Also, in this structure, the lighting conductor is not arranged on the surface to be the outer surface of the frame. Thus, workability in exchanging bulbs can be made easier, and the lamp unit can be maintained in a better condition. This structure can also be applied to other types of lamp unit.
In accordance with a second aspect of the vehicle lamp unit of the present invention, the lighting conductor is formed from a belt-like flat arranging material, and a reflection surface corresponding to the reflection surface formed on the frame is formed on at least one side surface of the flat arranging material.
By employing the above flat arranging material as the lighting conductor, workability in arrangement can be improved. Also, the reflection surface corresponding to the reflection surface formed on the frame can prevent defects in the function of the lamp unit.
In accordance with a third aspect of the present invention, the flat arranging material is arranged by caving the reflection surface formed on the frame by the thickness of the flat arranging material.
By employing the flat arranging material, the reflection surface formed on the frame and the reflection surface of the flat arranging material can be made one surface.
In accordance with a fourth aspect of the vehicle lamp unit of the present invention, the lighting conductor is made of wires which are enameled wires or metal wires; a concave groove for accommodating wires are formed by caving the reflection surface formed on the frame; a cover for the concave groove is attached to the reflection surface formed on the frame; and a reflection surface corresponding to the reflection surface formed on the frame is formed on at least one side surface of the cover.
By forming the lighting conductor from the wires and forming the concave groove on the reflection surface formed on the frame, the wires can be easily arranged. Also, the reflection surface corresponding to the reflection surface formed on the frame can prevent defects in the function of the lamp unit.
In accordance with a fifth aspect of the vehicle lamp unit of the present invention, clips or fixing grooves are formed in the concave groove.
By forming the clips or the fixing grooves in the concave groove, high stability can be obtained in arrangement so as not to displace the wires. Also, the clips or the fixing grooves can be formed at the same time as forming the frame, so that the number of components can be restricted.
In accordance with a sixth aspect of the vehicle lamp unit of the present invention, each of the bulb sockets comprises: a cylindrical bulb receiving portion for the respective bulbs; a flange protruding from an outer periphery of the bulb receiving portion; a sealing material one of whose side surfaces is in contact with the flange, and the other of whose side surfaces is in contact with a surface to be an outer surface of the frame; and a stopper flange for stopping the frame by rotating each of the bulb sockets inserted into the respective bulb attachment holes. Also, electrical connecting portions to be connected to an electrode of each of the bulb at one end of each of the electrical connecting portions are provided to the outer periphery of the bulb receiving portions.
With the above structure, the bulb sockets can be easily maintained in a good condition, while showing excellent waterproof ability and workability.
In accordance with a seventh aspect of the vehicle lamp unit of the present invention, the other end of each of the electrical connecting portions is integrally disposed along the stopper flange, so as to form a contact portion to be electrically connected to the other end of each of the electrical connecting portions formed in the vicinity of each of the bulb attachment holes on the surface to be the inner surface of the frame.
By employing such a connecting structure between the bulb sockets and the lighting conductor, the bulb sockets can be connected to the lighting conductor as they are engaged with the frame. Thus, the connecting between the bulb sockets and the lighting conductor can be made simpler.
In accordance with an eighth aspect of the vehicle lamp unit of the present invention, the other end of each of the electrical connecting portions is integrally disposed along the outer periphery of corresponding one of the bulb receiving portions, and a contact portion to be electrically connected to the other end of each of the electrical connecting portions is formed on a side surface of corresponding one of the bulb attachment holes.
With the connecting structure between the bulb sockets and the lighting conductor, the bulb sockets can be connected to the lighting conductor as they are engaged with the frame. Thus, the connecting of the bulb sockets and the lighting conductor can be made simpler. Also, excellent waterproofing can be expected, because the contact portion is not exposed on the surface to be the outer side of the frame.
In accordance with a ninth aspect of the vehicle lamp unit of the present invention, a cylindrical member is formed in the vicinity of each of the bulb attachment holes on a surface to be an outer surface of the frame.
By employing such a cylindrical member, the bulb sockets can be protected from water. Thus, excellent waterproofing can be expected, and high reliability can be obtained.
The above and other objects and features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4569006 (1986-02-01), Bergin et al.
patent: 5519588 (1996-
Suzuki Takahiko
Watanabe Hiroshi
Armstrong Westerman Hattori McLeland & Naughton LLP
Quach Y.
Yazaki -Corporation
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