Automotive Driving Light

Abstract

A combination weatherproof and pressure relief cover for an automotive lighting fixture is herein described. The cover or boot, as it is called, covers the lamp receiving end of the fixture. An internal molded O-ring is formed on the inner surface of the boot which seats within a dovetail-shaped groove on the fixture canister, thereby locking the cover to the canister. Due to the resilient material of the cover, excessive pressures built up within the fixture can escape by way of the pliable locking O-ring of the boot. When the internal pressure is relieved sufficiently, the locking O-ring reseats itself in the groove. This arrangement assures a weathertight seal and prevents contaminants such as dust and moisture from entering the fixture.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to lighting fixtures but more particularly to automotive fixtures that are exposed to the rigors of extreme weather and to road conditions.

The normal sealed-beam headlamp used by the automotive field has been recently supplemented with high intensity lighting fixtures that have controlled lighting beam spreads. These fixtures have been used successfully in conjunction with the low beams of a standard automotive lamp, to provide additional controlled light spread and deeper penetration of the road.

In recent years highway improvements implemented faster rate of travel of the automobile. With increased speeds, especially during the evening hours, it has become necessary to use the high beams of the vehicle more frequently than necessary which in turn increases the safety hazard to the oncoming drivers. With the use of the added supplemental lighting device such as described above, a more controlled and more penetrating beam is attained without sacrificing safety.

PRIOR ART

Normally, supplemental lighting fixtures were made in the form of a single canister, the front end being provided with a lens and the rear lamp receiving end having a removable cover. The cover was usually made from material similar to the canister, that is, in the form of a cast or spun metal that was attached to the canister by suitable fastening means.

During the normal cycling operation of this type of fixture, pressure was built up within the canister during light-up and a lower pressure or vacuum was experienced if the fixture was subjected to rain or other cooling elements while in operation. To overcome this fluctuation of pressures within the canister, a vent system was required. This was accomplished by putting a hole through the canister in the lower portion of the fixture. This vent hole relieved the fluctuations of pressures but added a decided disadvantage to the fixture. When the pressure became lower than the outside pressure, the hole allowed contaminants to be drawn into the fixture. These contaminants were in the form of dust, dirt and various other harmful ingredients, that in time built up on the lamp and reflector. This dirt buildup clouded the optical system and drastically curtailed the efficiency of the fixture.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In our invention we have designed a supplemental automobile lighting fixture that overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages. Our fixture comprises a main canister having a suitable lens affixed to the front end and a pliable or resilient cover boot attached to the other end of the fixture. One of the features of the boot is that with the provision of a pliable O-ring it can be snapped over the end of the fixture to provide a weatherproof cover for the lamp. Not only does the boot provide a weathertight cover but because of its pliable nature it will flex to relieve any internal buildup of pressure within the fixture.

The boot is also provided with power supply wires that are molded into suitable wireways that allow a power supply to enter the lamp. This also provides a weathertight fit at the point of entry.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary elevational cross section view of the fixture.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a typical fixture of our design showing in particular the relationship of the boot and canister.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 2, a complete supplemental lighting fixture is shown. The three major components that make up the fixture are the housing canister 10, the lens system 12 and the cover boot 14. The canister 10 can be made from a variety of materials but in this particular instance we show a canister made from a metal cast as a single unit, tapering from the front to the rear. The lens system 12 includes a conventional lens not shown, held in place by a bezel rim 16. The pliable boot 14, preferably formed of rubber, is disposed at the rear of the canister and encloses a lamp holder. Wireways 15 extend through the boot and are molded thereabout so as to provide a vapor-tight seal.

In FIG. 1, a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the rear end of the fixture is shown, showing in particular the boot and its relationship to the canister.

The canister 10 has an internal cavity 18, with the optical system fixed therein. One part of the system is shown, that is, the lamp 20 and reflector 22 which are held in place by flange 24.

As shown in the drawing, the lamp 20 is held in a fixed optical relationship with the reflector by a lamp holder 26 that is attached to the back end of the canister 10. The lamp holder 26 has its outer edges 28 bent to form one half of a dovetail slot 20. The other half of the slot is formed by a recess in the perimeter of the canister 10.

This dovetail slot 30 is utilized to secure the resilient boot 14 to the canister by the use of a molded O-ring 34 that can be snapped into the slot 30 to firmly hold the boot securely on the canister.

As seen in FIGS. 1 and 2 the boot 14 is provided with a pair of wireways 15 having suitable power wires 38 molded and sealed therethrough. As mentioned above, some of the problems encountered in a fixture of this type are the excessive heat and pressure buildup within the canister 10. Normally, a vent hole was provided to equalize the pressures, but by doing so dirt and contaminants could enter and cloud the optical system.

The boot we have shown and described overcomes these disadvantages by allowing excessive pressures to be relieved by way of the lamp slot 40 in the canister to the chamber formed by the boot 14. Thereafter due to the resilient characteristics of the boot and its O-ring pressures can be relieved. This O-ring will be rolled back out of the slot by the increased internal pressure, until the resiliency of the boot counteracts it. The complete ring does not roll out, but only a small section, in this case the part that is more pliable. After the pressure is equalized in the canister and due to the resiliency of the boot material, the ring 34 would seat itself back into the slot 30. With the above described arrangement, internal pressures can be relieved without allowing contaminants such as dust, etc. from entering the optical system.

It is apparent that changes and modifications may be made within the spirit and scope of the instant invention. It is our intent, however, to be limited only the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

We claim:

1. An automotive headlight comprising:

a canister;

a lens attached at one end of said canister;

a removable pliable boot fitted about the other end of said canister;

a reflector disposed within said canister, said reflector being directed toward said lens;

a lamp holder disposed at said other end of said canister and within said boot, the edge of said other end of said canister being recessed to define one half of a dovetail slot, the other half of said slot being formed by bent edges of said lamp holder;

a lamp disposed within said reflector; and

a pair of power wires electrically associated with said lamp, extending through said boot.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said pliable boot is provided with an integral O-ring encircling the inner circumference, said pliable boot being held in position on said canister by the cooperative action of said lamp holder and said canister.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said boot is formed of rubber wherein gases and vapors held within said canister are vented by temporarily deforming said O-ring.