U.S. patent application number 10/277469 was filed with the patent office on 2004-04-22 for lamp apparatus, lamp and optical lens assembly and lamp housing assembly.
Invention is credited to Smith, John L. JR..
Application Number | 20040076004 10/277469 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32069308 |
Filed Date | 2004-04-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040076004 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Smith, John L. JR. |
April 22, 2004 |
LAMP APPARATUS, LAMP AND OPTICAL LENS ASSEMBLY AND LAMP HOUSING
ASSEMBLY
Abstract
A lamp and optical lens assembly is provided having a carrier
with one or more lamp assemblies mounted thereto relative to a
carrier registration. An optical lens having at least one focal
point and at least one guide portion relative to the focal point is
also provided. The carrier is coupled to the optical lens with the
registration aligned with the location guide portion so as to
accurately position the lamp assembly relative to the focal point.
A lamp apparatus is provided by enclosing the lamp and optical lens
assembly within a housing and cover lens combination. A lamp
housing assembly is also provided.
Inventors: |
Smith, John L. JR.; (Deputy,
IN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
William E. Meyer
OSRAM SYLVANIA Inc.
100 Endicott Street
Danvers
MA
01923
US
|
Family ID: |
32069308 |
Appl. No.: |
10/277469 |
Filed: |
October 22, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
362/237 ;
362/240; 362/268 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F21S 43/51 20180101;
F21S 43/195 20180101; F21S 43/15 20180101; F21S 43/26 20180101;
B60Q 1/302 20130101; F21V 5/04 20130101; F21V 17/104 20130101; F21S
43/14 20180101; F21V 19/005 20130101; F21Y 2115/10 20160801; F21V
23/06 20130101; Y10S 362/80 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
362/237 ;
362/240; 362/268 |
International
Class: |
F21V 011/00 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A lamp apparatus comprising: at least one lamp assembly; a
molded optical lens having at least one focal point, the lamp
assembly being mounted to said optical lens relative to said focal
point; a molded housing having a formed recess structured and
arranged to mate with a molded portion of said optical lens, said
optical lens portion extending into said formed recess; and a cover
lens sealed to said housing trapping (a) said optical lens portion
in said formed recess and (b) said optical lens between said
housing and said cover lens.
2. The lamp apparatus in claim 1, wherein the optical lens portion
is an axially extending tab.
3. The lamp apparatus in claim 1, wherein the recess is a slot.
4. The lamp apparatus in claim 3, wherein the slot has an open end
and the cover lens closes the open end of the slot.
5. The lamp assembly in claim 1, wherein the lamp assembly is
mounted on a carrier and said carrier is mounted to said optical
lens.
6. The lamp assembly in claim 1, wherein the lamp assembly includes
an LED light source.
7. The lamp apparatus of claim 1, wherein said portion comprises at
least one rib, and said formed recess comprises at least one wall
surface, said portion engaging said one wall surface, and said
portion and said one wall surface being structured and arranged (a)
to provide frictional engagement between said housing and said
optical lens and (b) to accurately locate said optical lens in a
lamp apparatus fore direction and a lamp apparatus aft
direction.
8. The lamp apparatus of claim 7 wherein said portion comprises a
first base and said recess comprises a second base, said first base
engaging said second base and being structured and arranged to
accurately locate said optical lens in a lamp apparatus up
direction and a lamp apparatus down direction.
9. The lamp apparatus of claim 8, wherein said portion comprises at
least one bump and said formed recess comprises at least one other
wall surface, said one bump engages said other wall surface, and
said one bump and said other wall surface being structured and
arranged to accurately locate said optical lens in a lamp apparatus
widthwise direction.
10. A lamp apparatus comprising: an elongated metal carrier having
a plurality of registration holes; a plurality of LED assemblies
mounted along said carrier, each LED assembly positioned relative
to at least a respective two registration holes; a molded optical
lens having a plurality of segments, each segment having a
respective focal point, and at least two location guide pins
relative to each respective focal point, said carrier being coupled
to said optical lens with each location guide pin positioned in a
respective registration hole, thereby accurately positioning each
LED assembly relative to a respective segment of said plurality of
segments and a respective focal point; a housing having a formed
recess structured and arranged to mate with at least one tab of
said optical lens, said tab extending into said formed recess; and
a cover lens sealed to said housing trapping said tab in the formed
recess and between the housing and the cover lens.
11. The lamp apparatus in claim 10, wherein said cover lens
comprises a projection which extends from an inner surface of said
cover lens, said projection engaging a surface of said tab to trap
said tab in said forced recess.
12. The lamp apparatus in claim 11, wherein each tab comprises at
least one rib engaging a first surface of a respective recess.
13. The lamp apparatus in claim 12 wherein each tab comprises a tab
base and each formed recess comprises a recess base, said tab base
engaging said recess base.
14. The lamp apparatus of claim 13 wherein at least one tab
comprises a bump engaging a second surface of a respective
recess.
15. The lamp apparatus of claim 13 wherein: the carrier includes a
registration; at least one said lamp assembly is mounted on said
carrier relative to said registration; and said optical lens has at
least one focal point and at least one location guide relative to
said focal point, said carrier being coupled to said optical lens
with said registration aligned with said location guide, thereby
accurately positioning said lamp assembly relative to said focal
point.
16. The lamp and optical lens assembly in claim 15 wherein said
carrier comprises at least two registration holes, and further
wherein said optical lens comprises at least one focal point and at
least two location guide pins relative to said one focal point,
said carrier being coupled to said optical lens with said location
guide pins positioned in respective of said registration holes,
thereby positioning said lamp assembly relative to said focal
point.
17. The lamp apparatus of claim 13 wherein: said elongated metal
carrier has a plurality of registration holes; said lamp includes a
plurality of LED assemblies mounted along said carrier, with each
LED assembly positioned relative to at least a respective two
registration holes, and said molded optical lens has a plurality of
portions each with a respective focal point and at least two
location guide pins relative to each respective focal point, said
carrier being coupled to the said optical lens with said location
guide pins positioned in respective registration holes, thereby
accurately positioning each LED assembly relative to a respective
focal point.
18. A lamp housing assembly comprising: a housing having a formed
recess; an optical lens having at least one focal point and having
a portion structured and arranged to mate with said formed recess;
and a cover lens sealable to the housing and structured and
arranged to trap and hold in place said portion in said formed
recess and between said housing and said cover lens.
19. The lamp housing assembly in claim 18 wherein said optical lens
comprises at least one location guide relative to said focal point,
said location guide being structured and arranged to be coupled to
a carrier, having a registration, such that said registration is
aligned with said location guide to position a lamp assembly
mounted on said carrier relative to said focal point.
20. The lamp housing assembly in claim 19 wherein said cover lens
comprises a projection which extends from an inner surface of said
cover lens, said projection structured and arranged to engage said
portion to trap said portion in said formed recess.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to an electric lamp assembly
that includes an optical lens and LED carrier sub-assembly enclosed
within a lamp housing by a cover lens. A lamp and optical lens
assembly and lamp housing assembly are also provided.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] There are many applications for the use of electric lamps.
The particular use typically determines the structural
configuration of the lamp assembly and the operational
characteristics of the electric lamp. An objective of manufacturers
of electric lamps is to provide an economical product that operates
efficiently and has a long life. This is particularly true
regarding electric lamps for use with motor vehicles. Some lamps
include a number of components that must be assembled very
accurately in order to obtain the desired optical characteristics.
One such lamp includes a lamp housing having an optical lens
therein, the housing being enclosed by a cover in the form of an
outer lens. Positioning the lens within the housing requires that
it be properly aligned, and this can be a costly procedure.
Typically, the light source will also be contained within the lamp
housing and positioned in such a manner that the light emitted by
the light source is worked upon by the optical lens such as, for
example, being defused or being spread. One of the concerns
regarding such a lamp is the need for complicated slides, screws,
clips and the like to mount the inner optical lens and light source
within the lamp housing. The time and materials needed to perform
this operation during lamp fabrication as well as when the light
source needs to be replaced is undesirably costly.
[0003] Another concern is that in assembling an electric lamp
having an inner optical lens and light source, it is necessary to
accurately aim the light source relative to the optical lens. This
procedure also undesirably increases the cost of the product.
[0004] In some applications, it is desired to use LEDs; such lamps
being efficient and very long lived light sources. LEDs are
particularly useful in motor vehicles. However, they generally do
not generate the number of lumens necessary for many tasks. As a
result, they are frequently ganged together, and this complicates
the manufacturing process particularly since the plurality of LEDs
still need to be accurately aimed. All of the foregoing
requirements can lead to difficult assembly methods that increase
the final cost of the lamp assembly.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide an improved
electric lamp assembly having an optical lens and light source
contained within a lamp housing.
[0006] Another object of the present invention is to provide such
an electric lamp assembly that obviates the disadvantages of the
prior art.
[0007] A further object of the present invention is to provide an
economical, efficient and high quality electric lamp assembly
having an inner optical lens and light source.
[0008] It is another object of the present invention to provide an
electric lamp assembly having an inner optical lens and a light
source accurately yet simply mounted within the lamp housing.
[0009] A further object of the present invention is to provide an
electric lamp assembly wherein an optical lens having a light
source readily and accurately mounted thereto may be readily and
accurately mounted within a lamp housing during the manufacture
thereof and also during replacement of the light source.
[0010] Another object of the present invention is to provide an
improved lamp and optical lens assembly.
[0011] Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide
such a lamp and optical lens assembly that obviates the
disadvantages of the prior art.
[0012] Another object of the present invention is to provide an
economical, efficient and high quality lamp and optical lens
assembly.
[0013] A further object of the present invention is to provide an
improved lamp housing assembly.
[0014] Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide
such a lamp housing assembly that obviates the disadvantages of the
prior art.
[0015] Another object of the present invention is to provide such a
lamp housing assembly having an inner optical lens accurately yet
simply mounted therein.
[0016] Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide
a lamp and optical lens assembly which may be accurately and simply
mounted within and held in place relative to a lamp housing
enclosed by an outer cover lens.
[0017] A lamp housing assembly is provided comprising a housing, an
optical lens and a cover lens. The housing includes a formed
recess. The optical lens includes at least one focal point and a
portion structured and arranged to mate with the formed recess. The
cover lens is sealable to the housing and is structured and
arranged to trap and hold in place the portion in the formed recess
and between the housing and the cover lens.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] This invention may be clearly understood by reference to the
attached drawings in which like reference numerals designate like
parts and in which:
[0019] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of one embodiment of a lamp
apparatus of the present invention, partially cut away;
[0020] FIG. 2 is a front view of the carrier with lamp assemblies
mounted thereto illustrated in the embodiment of FIG. 1;
[0021] FIG. 3 is a rear view of FIG. 2;
[0022] FIG. 4 is a view of the inner optical lens of the embodiment
illustrated in FIG. 1;
[0023] FIG. 5 is a partial view of one embodiment of a lamp and
optical lens assembly of the present invention;
[0024] FIG. 6 is a sectional view of FIG. 1 taken along lines
6-6;
[0025] FIG. 7 is a sectional view of FIG. 1 taken along lines 7-7;
and
[0026] FIG. 8 is an exploded view of one embodiment of a housing
assembly of the present invention, partially cut away.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0027] For a better understanding of the present invention,
together with other and further objects, advantages and
capabilities thereof, reference is made to the following disclosure
and appended claims taken in conjunction with the above-described
drawings.
[0028] FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of the present invention.
In the present invention, a lamp apparatus is provided which
includes a carrier having a registration. Without limitation, a
carrier may be provided having a registration in the form of at
least two registration holes. For example, in FIG. 1, the lamp
apparatus 10 of the present invention comprises an elongated metal
carrier 12 having a plurality of registration holes, in this
embodiment eight registration holes 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26 and
28 being provided. With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the elongated
metal carrier 12 is in the form of a metal channel member 30 having
legs 32 and 34 extending between base segments 36 and 38 at
opposite ends 40 and 42 of the carrier. Intermediate base segments
44, 46, 48 and 50 are ganged together between base segments 36 and
38, the base segments supporting respective lamp assemblies, as
described hereinafter.
[0029] In the present invention, at least one lamp assembly is
mounted on the carrier relative to the registration. In FIGS. 1 to
3, the lamp apparatus 10 comprises a plurality of lamp assemblies
in the form of LED assemblies 52, 54, 56 and 58 mounted along
carrier 12, each LED assembly being positioned relative to at least
a respective two registration holes. In particular LED assemblies
52, 54, 56 and 58 are mounted along carrier 12, each being
positioned between a respective pair of registration holes 14, 16
and 18, 20 and 22, 24 and 26, 28. With reference to FIG. 3,
conductors 60 and 62 are electrically and mechanically connected to
a connector 64, which is electrically and mechanically connected to
a mating connector 66. Connector 66 is electrically and
mechanically connected to the LED assemblies 52, 54, 56 and 58, in
a conventional manner. To this end, LED assemblies 52, 54, 56 and
58 are electrically and mechanically connected between respective
pairs of base segments 36, 44 and 44 and 46 and 46 and 48 and 50
and 38. The connector 66 is electrically and mechanically connected
between base segments 48 and 50 to provide the electricity to the
LED assemblies 52, 54, 56 and 58 in a conventional manner.
[0030] In the present invention, an inner optical lens is provided
having at least one focal point and at least one location guide
relative to the focal point. The carrier is coupled to the optical
lens with the registration aligned with the location guide, thereby
accurately positioning the lamp assembly relative to the focal
point. Without limitation, an optical lens may be provided having
at least one focal point and at least one location guide in the
form of at least two location guide pins located relative to the
focal point. In such an embodiment, the registration will be in the
form of two registration holes in the carrier, and the carrier will
be coupled to the optical lens by positioning the location guide
pins in respective registration holes, thereby positioning the lamp
assembly relative to the focal point. For example, in FIG. 1, the
lamp apparatus 10 comprises a molded optical lens 68, details of
which are illustrated in FIG. 4. Optical lens 68 includes a
plurality of portions 70, 72, 74 and 76, each having a respective
focal point 78, 80, 82 and 84. Each portion 70, 72, 74 and 76 has
at least two respective guide pins 86, 88 and 90, 92 and 94, 96 and
98, 100 relative to a respective focal point 78, 80, 82 and 84. The
carrier 12 is coupled to the optical lens 68, to provide a lamp and
optical lens assembly as illustrated in FIG. 5, by inserting guide
pins 86, 88, 90, 92, 94, 96, 98 and 100 into respective
registration holes 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26 and 28, thereby
positioning the LED assemblies 52, 54, 56 and 58, mounted to the
carrier 12, relative to respective portions 70, 72, 74 and 76 and
respective focal points 78, 80, 82 and 84 of the optical lens 68.
The guide pins may be force fit into the registration holes or
otherwise held in place therein by an adhesive or any other manner,
thereby enabling accurate location of the LED assemblies with
respect to the lens optics provided by the optical lens 68 and
providing the lamp and optical lens assembly illustrated in FIG. 5
which may be easily insertable and removable relative to a lamp
housing as described hereinafter.
[0031] In the present invention, a housing and an outer cover lens
are provided which enclose the lamp and optical lens assembly
formed by the carrier and inner optical lens. In one embodiment,
the housing may have a formed recess that is structured and
arranged to mate with a portion of the inner optical lens, and a
cover lens sealed to the housing thereby trapping the portion of
the inner optical lens in the formed recess and between the housing
and the cover lens. For example, in the embodiment illustrated in
FIG. 1, a housing 102 is provided having a formed recess 104 at end
segment 106 of the housing and a formed recess 108 at an opposite
end segment 110 of the housing. Recesses 104 and 108 are wedge
shaped as best illustrated in FIG. 6 that illustrates recess 104.
Optical lens 68 includes opposite end portions each of which mate
with a respective recess 104 and 108. In particular, in the
embodiment of FIGS. 1, 4 and 6, the end portions are in the form of
mating wedge shaped end tabs 112 and 114 extending from opposite
ends of the body portion of the optical lens 68. Each recess 104
and 108 is in the form of a wedge shaped slot provided within the
body portion of the housing 102. Referring to FIG. 6, each slot
includes a base 116 from which extends legs 118 and 120 having
opposing surfaces 122 and 124. The base 116 and surfaces 122, 124
provide housing locating surfaces for the optical lens 68 to engage
as described herein. Each tab 112, 114 is inserted into a
respective recess 104, 108 until each base 126 of tabs 112, 114
engages a base 116 of a respective recess. In this manner, each of
tabs 112, 114 securely mates with a respective recess 104, 108 to
hold the optical lens 68 in place relative to the housing 102.
Frictional engagement between the optical lens 68 and housing 102
is facilitated by providing the tabs 112, 114 with compressible
pads that engage adjacent surfaces of the recesses 104, 108. For
example, at least one pad may be provided in the form of a thin rib
molded into each tab and extending outward from a tab surface. In
the embodiment of FIGS. 1, 4 and 6, a plurality of tabs 128 extend
outwardly from surfaces 130 and 132. The ribs 128 provide
frictional engagement with respective surfaces 122 and 124 as each
tab 112, 114 is pressed into a respective recess 104, 108, and the
ribs engage and are thereby caused to deform by respective surfaces
122 and 124. As a result no screws or similar hardware, and
similarly no cosmetically difficult glue is needed to secure the
optical lens 68 in place.
[0032] In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 6, a cover lens
134 is provided which is sealed to the housing 102 in a
conventional manner. The axial ends of cover lens 134 have been cut
away. The preferred embodiment of cover lens 134 includes rounded
ends to circumferentially close cover housing 102 with cover lens
134. The cover lens 134 includes one or more protrusion 136 that
extends around a peripheral portion of an inner surface 138 of the
cover lens. The housing 102 includes a channel 140, which extends
around a peripheral portion of an inner surface 142 of the housing.
The protrusion 136 and channel 140 are structured and arranged such
that the protrusion may be inserted into the channel to attach and
seal the cover lens 134 to the housing 102, when assembling the
lamp apparatus 10, in a conventional manner. When assembled in this
manner, the tabs 112 are frictionally trapped in the slots, and the
cover lens 134 further holds the optical lens 68 in position
relative to the housing 102 by blocking the tabs 112 and 114 in
respective recesses 104 and 108 and between the housing 102 and the
cover lens 134. To this end, as illustrated in FIG. 6, the cover
lens 134 may contact a portion of the optical lens 68, for example
with at least one projection 144 which extends from the inner
surface 138 of the cover lens. In a more preferred embodiment, an
unseen (during normal use) edge portion 200 of the cover lens
contacts a similarly unseen shoulder portion 202 of the optical
lens, for example the end wall supporting tab 112, which then also
blocks tab 112 in the recess 104. FIG. 7 is a sectional view of
FIG. 1 taken along lines 7-7 showing the contact between edge
portion 200 and shoulder portion 202. The optical lens 68, the
housing 102 and the cover lens 134 are structured and arranged in
such a manner that when the tabs 112, 114 are fully inserted into
respective recesses 104, 108, and the protrusion 136 is fully
inserted into the channel 140, each projection 144 will engage an
end surface 146, which is opposite the base 126, of a respective
tab 112 and 114 to urge each base 126 against a base 116 of a
respective recess 104, 108. Or alternatively, the optical lens 68,
the housing 102 and the cover lens 134 are structured and arranged
in such a manner that when the tabs 112, 114 are fully inserted
into respective recesses 104, 108, and the protrusion 136 is fully
inserted into the channel 140, shoulder edge portion 200 will
engage a shoulder portion 202 to urge each base 126 against a base
116 of a respective recess 104, 108. No molded projection 144 is
necessary in this second embodiment. .
[0033] When the lamp is fully assembled, the engagement of each rib
128 with a respective opposing surfaces 122 and 124 accurately
locates the optical lens 68 in a fore and an aft direction relative
to the lamp apparatus 10. Further, the engagement of each base 126
of tabs 112, 114 with a base 116 of a respective recess 104, 108
serves to accurately locate the optical lens 68 in an up and down
direction relative to the lamp apparatus 10. In order to assure
that the optical lens is accurately located in a lateral or
widthwise direction relative to the lamp apparatus, one or both
tabs 112, 114 may be provided with a protrusion in the form of a
bump which is structured and arranged to engage a side wall of a
respective recess 104, 108. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS.
1 and 4, a single bump 148 is provided at an end surface 150 of tab
114 for engagement with a side wall 152 of recess 108. In view of
all of the foregoing, when the lamp apparatus is fully assembled,
the lamp and optical lens assembly of FIG. 5 formed by the inner
optical lens with lamp assembly attached thereto is accurately
positioned within the lamp housing without the use of screws or
other secondary mounting hardware.
[0034] Without limitation, the present invention is useful with a
tail lamp, a center high mounted stop light (CHMSL) and the like.
The function, and therefore specific characteristics of, the
optical lens will be determined by the nature of the lamp assembly
with which it is associated. For example, the lamp assembly
illustrated in FIG. 1 is a CHMSL that incorporates the present
invention. The optical lens may include a first wall and a second
wall spaced apart from the first wall thereby defining at least one
cavity between the first and second walls. Each wall may provide a
specific optical function, as desired. For example, in the
embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 5, the optical lens 68
includes a first wall 154 and a second wall 156 having a plurality
of cavities 158, 160, 162 and 164 therebetween separated by walls
166. Each LED assembly 52, 54, 56 and 58 is associated with a
respective cavity 158, 160, 162 and 164. In the CHMSL embodiment
illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 5, the optical function which the first
wall 154 performs is to spread the light from each LED assembly 52,
54, 56 and 58 in a conventional manner. In particular, each segment
of wall 154 is associated with a respective cavity 158, 160, 162
and 164 and serves to spread the light from a respective adjacent
LED assembly 52, 54, 56 and 58. The optical function, which the
wall 156 performs, is to diffuse the light emitted through the wall
154 in a conventional manner. Without limitation, in the CHMSL
embodiment, the optical lens 68 is fabricated from a clear plastic
material, although in other embodiments it could be molded from
colored plastic such as, for example, red plastic.
[0035] The present invention provides a lamp housing assembly
formed by an inner lens, a housing and an outer lens. Such lamp
housing assembly is useful with any lamp apparatus where it is
desired to attach an inner optical lens within a lamp housing and
secure the inner optical lens in place by an outer optical lens
attached to the inner optical lens. For example, FIG. 8 illustrates
a lamp housing assembly 168 formed by the optical lens 68, the
housing 102 and the outer lens 134.
[0036] The particular materials used in the fabrication of the
components of the present invention may vary as desired. In the
embodiment illustrated in the drawings, the optical lens, cover
lens and lamp housing may be molded in a conventional manner from a
plastic material. Polycarbonate is an example of a plastic material
useful in fabricating the cover lens, inner optical lens and
housing, although other plastic materials may be used. Without
limitation, in the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, the
inner lens is clear, and the cover lens and LEDs are red. The
carrier may be stamped from sheet metal such as, for example,
tinned copper. If desired, the carrier could be formed from a
printed circuit board. The LEDs illustrated in the drawings are
conventional LEDs clinched to the carrier in a conventional manner
and may be wave soldered thereto.
[0037] The embodiments, which have been described herein, are but
some of several which utilize this invention and are set forth here
by way of illustration but not of limitation. It is apparent that
many other embodiments, which will be readily apparent to those
skilled in the art, may be made without departing materially from
the spirit and scope of this invention.
* * * * *