GB2097909A

GB2097909A - Monitor for a vehicle headlamp

Info

Publication number: GB2097909A
Application number: GB8212088A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Nissan Motor Co Ltd
Current assignee: Nissan Motor Co Ltd
Priority date: 1981-04-30
Filing date: 1982-04-27
Publication date: 1982-11-10
Also published as: JPS57178949A; DE3215685A1

Abstract

A monitor 7 for a headlamp 3 of a vehicle comprises an upper extension contiguous with a lens 4 for the headlamp which protrudes above the wing 5 of the vehicle to such an extent that the driver of the vehicle can see the extension in the light transmitted through the extension when the headlamp is lit. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Monitor for a headlamp of a vehicle The present invention relates to a headlamp of a vehicle, and especially to a monitor for such a vehicle headlamp, which protrudes above the wing of the vehicle to a height visible from the passenger compartment.

Several forms of such monitor have been proposed. These monitors normally include relatively many parts and so are relatively expensive.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a simple monitor for a headlamp of a vehicle which is made of relatively few parts, thereby reducing its cost.

The present invention provides a monitor for a vehicle headlamp which is contiguous with a head light lens and protrudes above the wing of the vehicle to a height visible from the passenger compartment via light refracted through the monitor. The monitor is transparent or transparent and tinted to any desired tint.

The monitor may include a cover which covers at least part of the outer surface of the protrusion.

The cover can be transparent or opaque to light from the headlamp.

The cover may be made of a material which reflects light from the headlamp.

Various forms of headlamp monitor will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of part of a vehicle with a headlamp and monitor according to the present invention; Fig. 2 is a view of a headlamp and one previously proposed form of monitor in fragmentary cross-section along the line Il-Il of Fig.l; Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 of another previously proposed monitor; Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 of one form of headlamp and monitor according to the present invention; Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of a second form of monitor according to the present invention; Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VI--VI of Fig. 5;; Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 of a third form of monitor according to the present invention; Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 6 of a fourth form of monitor according to the present invention; and Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 6 of a fifth form of monitor according to the present invention.

Referring to Fig.1 of the accompanying drawings, both front wings 5 of a vehicle 1 are provided with headlamp monitors 7 each of which produces light whenever a headlamp 3 in that wing is lit, in order to indicate whether or not the headlamp 3 is lit.

Referring to Fig. 2, the first previously proposed form of monitor 7 is an "edge light" monitor in which some of the light 3a emitted from the light source of the headlamp 3 is conducted via total internal reflection through an introduction passageway 41 of the monitor, which is fixed, for example, by screws 4b, to the tront wing b, and directed through a lens 42 towards the passenger compartment. A cover 44 fits over the lens 42 to form a housing. A sealing gasket 43 is arranged between the monitor 7 and the front wing 5. The headlamp 3 has a reflector 31. This monitor, as can now be seen, requires relatively many parts 41,42,43,44, and 45 so that it takes a relatively long time to assemble, and has a relatively high cost.

Referring to Fig. 3, the second previously proposed form of monitor 7 is an "optical fibre" monitor which has an optical fibre 61, one end of which passes through a gasket 63 in a hole 311 constituting part of the headlamp 3. The other, upper, end of the optical fibre 61 passes through a gasket 67 in the front wing 5 and is held in place by a clip 66 which has two legs 661 anchored in corresponding holes 51 in the wing. The upper end of the fibre 61 faces a reflector 64 held by a cover 65 to the clip 66 so that light transmitted from the headlamp 3 via the fibre 61 leaves the upper end of the fibre 61, bounces off the reflector 64, passes through a lens 62, and reaches the driver's eyes. For this monitor, the hole 311 for the gasket 63 and the holes 51 for the clip legs 661 must be formed, and the optical fibre 61, the gasket 63, the clip 66, and the clip cover 65 are needed.The number of components of the monitor is thus relatively large, and the time and labour required to assemble the components and form the holes are also relatively large. This brings about a relatively high cost.

Referring now to Fig. 4 the lens 2 of the headlamp 3 incorporating the first form of monitor 21 according to the invention has an upward extension 21 , serving as the monitor, integral with the top of the lens 2. The extension 21 and the lens 2 may be made integrally from a synthetic resin such as a plastics material, which can be easily done using well-known moulding techniques, or may be made from glass. The extension 21 and the lens 2 may be completely transparent, or transparent and tinted to any desired colour. The upward extension 21 protrudes above the front wing 5 through a hole 51 provided in the wing. The headlamp 3 has a bottom member 31, the inside surface of which acts as a reflective surface 32 for light 3a produced by a bulb 33. Reference numeral 34 denotes a gasket.

In operation, when the headlight switch (not shown) is turned on, the bulb 33 is lit, producing light 3a. Part of light 3a is reflected by the reflective surface 32 and part of the reflected light enters the monitor 21 protruding from the top of the lens 2. Thus the whole monitor is lit so that the driver in the vehicle can confirm that the headlamp 3 is on.

Referring to Figs. 5 and 6, the second form of monitor according to the invention is the same as that shown in Fig. 4 except in that the monitor 21, apart from the surface 21 a of the monitor visible to the driver of the vehicle, is covered with a cap 211 made of, for example, a resin. The cap 211 can be bonded to the monitor 21 with an adhesive. The cap 211 prevents light from propagating from the monitor 21 except from the monitor surface 21 a, and thus increases the amount of light passing through the monitor surface 21 a so that the driver in the vehicle can view the monitor more easily. The internal surface of the cap 211 may be coated with a reflective material. The extension 21 may be tinted to any desired colour, except for the viewing surface 21 a.

The internal surtace owt the cap 211 can be coated with a reflective material 212 by plating techniques to improve reflection efficiency as in the third form of monitor according to the invention, shown in Fig. 7. The cap 211 may fully cover the outer surface of the extension 21, in which case the cap must be transparent and may be untinted or tinted to any desired colour so as to transmit light of the chosen colour, as in the fourth form of monitor according to the invention, shown in Fig. 8. The extension 21 may be separate from the lens 2 and securely engageable therewith. In this case, the extension can be connected to the lens using conventional techniques. For example, the extension can have a pair of teeth received in corresponding holes in the lens as in the fourth and fifth forms of monitor according to the invention, shown in Figs. 8 and 9, respectively.

Although the various forms of monitor described have been described with a bulb-type headlamp, the present invention is applicable to a sealed-beam headlamp.

Claims

1. A vehicle, including a headlamp in a front portion of the vehicle; the headlamp having a lens, wherein there is provided a monitor comprising an upper extension contiguous with the lens which protrudes above the said portion of the vehicle to such an extent that a driver in the vehicle can see the extension in light transmitted through the extension when the headlamp is lit.

2. A vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the headlamp includes a member which reflects light from the headlamp towards the said upper extension.

3. A vehicle as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the lens and the upper extension are made of a synthetic resin.

4. A vehicle as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the lens and the upper extension are made of glass.

5. A vehicle as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the upper extension is transparent.

6. A vehicle as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the upper extension is tinted.

7. A vehicle as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the upper extension and the lens are integrally formed.

8. A vehicle as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the upper extension and the lens are separately formed and securely engageable.

9. A vehicle as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the monitor includes a cap covering at least part of the outer surface of the upper extension.

10. A vehicle as claimed in claim 9, wherein the cap covers the upper extension except for a surface of the upper extension visible to the driven

11. A vehicle as claimed in claim 10, wherein the cap has a light reflective coating on its internal surface.

12. A vehicle as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the upper extension, except for a surface of the upper extension visible to the driver, is covered with a coating which reflects light

1 3. A vehicle as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the headlamp is of the bulb type.

14. A vehicle as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the headlamp is of the sealedbeam type.

1 5. A vehicle as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the said front portion is a front wing.

1 6. A vehicle as claimed in claim 15, which has said headlamps with such monitors in both front wings.

17. A vehicle as claimed in claim 1 and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, Fig. 4, or Figs. 5 and 6, or Fig. 7, or Fig. 8, or Fig. 9, of the accompanying drawings.

1 8. A headlamp having a lens and an upper extension contiguous with the lens, and suitable for use as the said headlamp of a vehicle as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 1 5, or in claim 17.

19. A lens for a headlamp, having an upward extension contiguous therewith and suitable for use as the said lens of a headlamp as claimed in claim 18.