GB1578974A

GB1578974A - Securing lights on automobile vehicles

Info

Publication number: GB1578974A
Application number: GB13875/77A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Cibie Projecteurs SA
Current assignee: Cibie Projecteurs SA
Priority date: 1976-04-06
Filing date: 1977-04-01
Publication date: 1980-11-12
Also published as: ES227598U; DE2715273A1; JPS52123193A; FR2347611A1; DE2715273C2; IT1085123B; ES227598Y; FR2347611B1

Description

(54) SECURING LIGHTS ON AUTOMOBILE VEHICLES (71) We, CIBIE PROJECTEURS, a French Body Corporate, residing at 17 rue Henri Gautier, 93012 Bobigny, France, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: - The present invention relates to vehicle lights comprising a base supporting one or more bulbs, a cover, and means for holding the base and cover together and for fixing the base on the sheet metal bodywork of the vehicle.

According to the present invention, a vehicle light comprises a base supporting a bulb and adapted to abut against one side of a sheet metal component, around an opening in the sheet metal component, and a cover adapted to abut against the other side of the sheet metal component, around the opening, the base and the cover being held together by a single securing means which is manipulable from outside the light, with the sheet metal being gripped between the base and the cover.

In a preferred arrangement, the securing means comprises a locking member movably mounted on the base to cooperate with an abutment portion integral with the cover and inside the light. The abutment portion may be ccnstituted by the bottom wall of a housing formed within the cover, closure means being provided to close this housing and thus prevent manipulation of the securing means from outside the cover.

This arrangement has the advantage of simplifying the manufacture of the cover.

The invention may be carried into practice in various ways, but two specific embodiments will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a section through a first vehicle light embodying the present invention; and Figure 2 is a section, similar to Figure 1, illustrating another vehicle light embodying the invention.

Referring now to the drawings, the vehicle lights shown in Figures 1 and 2 are in many respects similar to one another, and the same reference numerals will be used for corresponding parts; in both cases, 10 indicates the light itself. The following description is applicable to both Figures 1 and 2, except where otherwise stated.

The light 10 is adapted to be mounted on the sheet metal bodywork 12 of an automobile vehicle (not shown) so as to constitute, for example, an indicator. For reasons which will be evident hereinafter, this sheet metal 12 presents a relatively wide opening 13, whose edge 14 is bent outwardly of the bodywork.

The light 10 includes a base 16 adapted to support one or more bulbs (not shown), a transparent or translucent cover 18 and securing means 20 adapted to hold the cover 18 against the base 16.

The base 16 may, as shown, be made by moulding a synthetic material such as an opaque plastics material having suitable mechanical properties and good qualities of electrical insulation. The base 16 defines a relatively flat bottom 21, on which the or each bulb with which the light 10 is to be equipped, is fixed by any suitable means (not shown).

The base 16 is bordered on its periphery by an annular raised edge 22 extending per pendicularly to the plane of the bottom 21 and by a flange 24 extending substantially parallel to the pane of the bottom. The peripheral raised edge 2 is of such a shape as to follow the shape of the opening 13 made in the sheet metal 12. The coopera tion of the flange 24 with the inside sur face of the sheet metal 12 and of the raised edge 22 with the edge 14 of the opening 13 locates the base 16 in the opening. It will be understood that the raised edge 22 could be replaced by a plurality of projections suitably arranged on the bottom 21 of the base 16 near the periphery of the base.

In its central part, the base 16 has a cavity 32, which opens towards the cover 18, and is encircled by a cylindrical wall 28 which is integral with the base 16. In the light shown in Figure 1, the cavity 32 is bounded by an integral bottom wall 30, which is displaced from the plane of the flat bottom 21, so that a recess 26 is formed by the walls 28 and 30 at the rear of the light. This recess accommodates part of the securing means 20, as will become apparent hereinafter.

The cover 18 is preferably made by moulding a transparent or translucent plastics material, which may be coloured.

It is composed of a generally flat optically active central part 34 and of a peripheral skirt 36 which terminates in a support flange 38. This flange 38, which follows the general shape of the opening 13, abuts on the outside of the sheet metal 12 near the raised edge 14 thereof, with the interposition of lipped seal 40 having a degree of elasticity. It will be observed that the proximity of the seal 40 to the raised edge 14 of the opening 13 of the sheet metal 12 ensures that the cover 18 is centred on the opening 13.

The flat part 34 of the cover 18 comprises at its centre a housing 42 of slightly tapered frusto-conical form, which extends inside the light 10 The shape of the curved wall 44 of the housing 42, which is preferably integral with the rest of the cover 18, correspor;ds substantially to that of the cavity 32 of the base 16, in which it is engaged. The housing 42 has a flat bottom wall 46; in the case of Figure 1, this wall 46 lies adjacent the bottom wall 30 of the recess 26. The curved wall 44 is joined to the flat portion 34 of the cover 18 by an annular shoulder 48, to which a closure member such as a reflector plate 50 is fixed, by adhesive, for example. With such a closure member 50, the inside of the housing 42 is not accessible from the outside of the bodywork 12.

In Figure 1, the securing means 20 maaintains the bottom wall 46 of the housing 42 close to the bottom wall 30 of the recess 26. This securing means 20 is composed of a locking member, which will hereinafter be referred to by the reference 20.

The locking member 20 comprises a lower oblong portion or key 52 (oblong as seen in a direction at right angles to the base 16), a central cylindrical shaft 54, a support disc 56 coaxial with the shaft 54, and an upper part 58 by which the locking member can be manipulated.

The bottom walls 30 and 46 each have an oblong opening 60 and 62 respectively. fnr the passage of the oblong key 52 of the locking member 20. The disc 56 is adapted to abut on the bottom wall 30 of the recess 26 once the key 52 is introduced through the openings 60 and 62. It will be observed that the upner surface 64 of the key 52.

which cooperates with the bottom wall 46 of the housing 42, is convex in form, both lengthwise and breadthwise of its oblong shape. This convexity means that, when the locking member 20 is rotated, the walls 30 and 46 are gradually drawn together, slightly compressing the seal 40.

The upper part 58 is advantageously in the form of an oblong knob so as to be manoeuvrable by hand. In a variant embodiment (not shown) the part 58 has a transverse slot for turning with a coin.

With the arrangement as shown in Figure 1, in which the locking member 20 is a separate component from the base 16 and the cover 18, it is readily appreciated that these two latter elements may be joined together very simply by introducing the locking member 20 so that its key part 52 comes into alignment with the oblong openings 60 and 62 and by then rotating the locking member 20 through 90" with respect to the base 16 so that the upper surface 64 of the key 52 comes into engagement with the bottom wall 46. This is done after the base 16 and the cover 18 have been positioned one on each side of the opening 13, so that the sheet metal 12 is gripped between the flanges 24 and 38.

Since the housing 42 is closed by the deflector plate 50, the key 52 of the locking member 20 cannot be manoeuvred from the outside of the bodywork. This gives some protection against the cover 18 being stolen, once the light 10 is mounted in the opening 13 of the sheet metal 12.

The elasticity of the different parts and particularly of the seal 40 ensures that the cover 18 is held under compression by the member 20 on the base 16 with interposition of the sheet metal 12.

It is possible to provide bosses adapted to hinder or brake the rotation of the member 20, once this member is brought into its locking position (shown in broken lines in Figure 1) so as to prevent rotation of this member, for example under the effect of vibrations.

It will be noted that the cooperation of the frusto-conical wall 44 with the wall 28 of the cavity 32 of the base 16 facilitates the assembly of the light 10 on the sheet metal bodywork 12 by initially guiding the cover 18 with respect to the base 16, which is introduced from the inside of the bodywork into the opening 13 of the sheet metal 12.

It should be understood that the surface 46 with which the active part 52 of the locking member 20 cooperates could take other forms than that described above.

The main requirements are that this surface 46 is provided inside the cover 18, with which it is preferably integral, and is preferably inaccessible from the outside of the cover so as to prevent manipulation of the locking member 20 from the outside of the bodvwork.

It will also be readily aporeciated that the locking member 20 could take other forms. In particular, for this member 20 there may be envisaged a screw with a coarse thread whose head would come into abutment on the bottom 30 of the recess 26 and whose threads would engage in a tapped hole made in the bottom 46 of the housing 42, non-return means advantageously being provided to brake the displacement of the screw in the direction of loosening, particularly under the effect of shocks or vibrations to which the light 10 may be subjected.

In the embodiment of Figure 2, the securing means 20 is constituted by a catch 66 which is integrally connected with the base 16 by a flexible tongue 68. The catch 66 cooperates with the edge of an opening 62 formed in the bottom wall 46. Movement of the catch to a disengaged position is possible by flexing of the tongue 68, although the flexibility of the tongue 68 is restricted by a reinforcing rib 70. This flexing can almost be regarded as the equivalent of a pivoting movement.

The bottom 21 of the base 16 has an opening 72 which allows manipulation of the catch 66 from the side of the base 16 away from the cover 18. To assist this manipulation, a finger 74 extends the tongue 68 to the outside of the light 10. The locking of the catch 66 on the bottom wall 46 of the housing 42 is obtained by the elasticity of the different parts which constitute the light 10, and particularly the seal 40.

As in the preceding embodiment, the locking member 20 can be manipulated onlv from the inside of the bodywork, the reflector plate 50 effectively preventing the catch 66 from being disengaged from the opening 62 made in the bottom wall 46.

In all the embodiments described or shown hereinabove, it will be noted that the locking member 20 ensures both that the cover 18 is held on the base 16, and that the light 10 is held in the opening 13 in the sheet metal bodywork 12. This sheet metal is in fact gripped at its bent edge 14 between the flange 24 of the base 16 and the flange 38 of the cover 18 provided with the seal 40.

The member 20 can be manoeuvred only from the inside of the bodywork in view of the fact that the active part of the locking member 20 is enclosed inside the volume defined by the cover 18 and the base 16.

It should be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments which have been described hereinabove, and that numerous modifications may be made thereto, particularly concerning the shape of the upper and lower parts 58 and 52 of the member 20, the general constitution and mode of functioning of this member, the arrangement and fixing of the part 46 on the cover 18, the mode of holding the base 16 in abutment on the bent edge 14 of the sheet metal 12, and the mode of guiding the cover 18 on the base 16, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A vehicle light comprising a base supporting a bulb and adapted to abut against one side of a sheet metal component, around an opening in the sheet metal component, and a cover adapted to abut against the other side of the sheet metal component, around the opening, the base and the cover being held together by a single securing means which is manipulable from outside the light, with the sheet metal being gripped between the base and the cover.

2. A vehicle light as claimed in Claim 1, in which the base has an opening giving access to the securing means from the side of the base away from the cover.

3. A vehicle light as claimed in Claim 2, in which the securing means is mounted to move on the base to cooperate with an abutment portion integral with the cover and inside the light.

4. A vehicle light as claimed in Claim 3, in which the securing means is constituted by a locking key mounted to rotate on the base to cooperate with the abutment portion.

5. A vehicle light as claimed in Claim 4, in which the abutment portion is in the form of a flat wall provided with an oblong opening for the passage of the key.

6. A vehicle light as claimed in Claim 3, in which the locking member is constituted by a catch mounted to pivot on the base to cooperate with the abutment portion.

7. A vehicle light as claimed in Claim 6, in which the catch is integral with the base, and is able to pivot by flexing of the material of the base and the catch.

8. A vehicle light as claimed in Claim 7, in which the base and the catch are made of a resilient plastics material.

9. A vehicle light as claimed in any of Claims 3 to 8, in which the abutment portion is constitued by the bottom wall of a housing formed within the cover, closure means being provided to close this housing and thus prevent manipulation of the securing means from outside the cover.

10. A vehicle light as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which a lipped seal is disposed on the periphery of the cover, and is compressed by the action of the securing means.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. forms. In particular, for this member 20 there may be envisaged a screw with a coarse thread whose head would come into abutment on the bottom 30 of the recess 26 and whose threads would engage in a tapped hole made in the bottom 46 of the housing 42, non-return means advantageously being provided to brake the displacement of the screw in the direction of loosening, particularly under the effect of shocks or vibrations to which the light 10 may be subjected. In the embodiment of Figure 2, the securing means 20 is constituted by a catch 66 which is integrally connected with the base 16 by a flexible tongue 68. The catch 66 cooperates with the edge of an opening 62 formed in the bottom wall 46. Movement of the catch to a disengaged position is possible by flexing of the tongue 68, although the flexibility of the tongue 68 is restricted by a reinforcing rib 70. This flexing can almost be regarded as the equivalent of a pivoting movement. The bottom 21 of the base 16 has an opening 72 which allows manipulation of the catch 66 from the side of the base 16 away from the cover 18. To assist this manipulation, a finger 74 extends the tongue 68 to the outside of the light 10. The locking of the catch 66 on the bottom wall 46 of the housing 42 is obtained by the elasticity of the different parts which constitute the light 10, and particularly the seal 40. As in the preceding embodiment, the locking member 20 can be manipulated onlv from the inside of the bodywork, the reflector plate 50 effectively preventing the catch 66 from being disengaged from the opening 62 made in the bottom wall 46. In all the embodiments described or shown hereinabove, it will be noted that the locking member 20 ensures both that the cover 18 is held on the base 16, and that the light 10 is held in the opening 13 in the sheet metal bodywork 12. This sheet metal is in fact gripped at its bent edge 14 between the flange 24 of the base 16 and the flange 38 of the cover 18 provided with the seal 40. The member 20 can be manoeuvred only from the inside of the bodywork in view of the fact that the active part of the locking member 20 is enclosed inside the volume defined by the cover 18 and the base 16. It should be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments which have been described hereinabove, and that numerous modifications may be made thereto, particularly concerning the shape of the upper and lower parts 58 and 52 of the member 20, the general constitution and mode of functioning of this member, the arrangement and fixing of the part 46 on the cover 18, the mode of holding the base 16 in abutment on the bent edge 14 of the sheet metal 12, and the mode of guiding the cover 18 on the base 16, without departing from the scope of the present invention. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A vehicle light comprising a base supporting a bulb and adapted to abut against one side of a sheet metal component, around an opening in the sheet metal component, and a cover adapted to abut against the other side of the sheet metal component, around the opening, the base and the cover being held together by a single securing means which is manipulable from outside the light, with the sheet metal being gripped between the base and the cover.

11. A vehicle light substantially as de

scribed hereinabove and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.