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(11) | EP 0 999 616 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Lighting device, in particular for vehicles |
| (57) Lighting device, e.g. a third brake light for vehicles, including a supporting body,
a plurality of lamps connected by a supply circuit and a closure element provided
with an external lens. The supply circuit in turn includes two identical semi-blanked
plates. The plates have opposing symmetrical ends, each provided with fins folded
to form flexible extension pieces adapted to slidably receive the contacts of a connector
in order to connect the supply circuit to an external supply line. |
[0002] As is known, devices of this kind have a plurality of lamps housed in the interior of a supporting body and connected to an external supply line by means of a supply circuit.
[0003] Circuits of this kind generally consist of two semi-blanked plates which are inserted into respective seats formed in the supporting body.
[0004] The plates are provided with a set of extension pieces the function of which is to establish an electrical connection between the lamps and the supply line and to hold the said lamps in seats.
[0005] In order to obtain safe and reliable blocking of the lamps, two semi-circuits take different forms, as a result of which two distinct procedures are required for the production thereof.
[0006] Moreover, in the assembly phase, they cannot be mounted indiscriminately into one seat or the other, but there are distinct directions of insertion which must be respected.
[0007] The need to produce and assemble different components constitutes a disadvantage from an economical point of view since the production process is complicated and not very suitable for automation.
[0008] The aim of this invention is to provide a lighting device which does not have the disadvantages described and, in particular, which is simple and economical to produce.
[0009] This invention therefore provides a lighting device, in particular a third brake light for vehicles, comprising a supporting body, a plurality of lamps, a supply circuit and a closure element provided with an external lens, the said lamps and the said supply circuit being carried by the said supporting body, characterised in that the said supply circuit comprises first and a second semi-blanked plates housed opposite one another in first and second seats of the said supporting body, the said first and second plates being identical to one another and being provided with respective symmetrical longitudinal ends, wherein each of the said first and second plates can be inserted indiscriminately alternately into the said first and second seats.
[0011] First of all, it will be clear that a first economical advantage results from the fact that the supply circuit is made up of two identical parts.
[0012] In this manner, it is in fact possible to limit production to one single type of plate which can be used indiscriminately for the two semi-circuits.
[0013] The plates are moreover provided with symmetrical ends and the assembly of the device is also simplified for these reasons.
[0014] In particular, the said uniformity of the plates and the symmetry of the ends thereof means that the longitudinal orientation of the supporting body with respect to the plate becomes irrelevant.
[0015] This invention will be more readily understood from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof given purely by way of a non-limiting example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a front elevation in longitudinal section of first and second details of a lighting device produced according to the instructions of this invention;
Figure 2 is a front elevation in longitudinal section of a portion of the first detail of Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a front elevation of a first portion of the second detail of Figure 1;
Figure 4 is a top view of the detail of Figure 3;
Figure 5 is a front elevation of a second portion of the detail of Figure 3;
Figure 6 is a lateral elevation in section along a plane VI-VI of the detail of Figure 3;
Figure 7 is a lateral elevation in section along a plane VII-VII of the detail of Figure 3;
Figure 8 is a lateral elevation in section along a plane VIII-VIII of the detail of Figure 5;
Figure 9 is a lateral elevation in section along a plane IX-IX of the detail of Figure 3;
Figure 10 is a top view of a portion of the first detail of Figure 1;
Figure 11 is a top view of a portion of the detail of Figure 1 in the assembled state;
Figure 12 is a lateral elevation in section along the plane XII-XII of the detail of Figure 11;
Figure 13 is a lateral elevation in cross section of a device according to this invention shown in its entirety;
Figure 14 is a lateral elevation in section along a plane XIV-XIV of the detail of Figure 2;
Figure 15 is a lateral elevation in section along a plane XV-XV of the detail of Figure 2;
Figure 16 is a lateral elevation in longitudinal section of the detail of Figure 1 in the assembled state, and
Figure 17 is a part front elevation in section along a plane XVII-XVII of the device of Figure 13.
[0016] Referring to Figures 1, 13 and 17, in which identical components are designated by the same reference numerals, the reference numeral 1 designates in its entirety a lighting device, e.g. a third brake light for vehicles, comprising a supporting body 2, a supply circuit 3, a plurality of lamps 4 and a closure element 5 provided with an external lens 6.
[0017] The supply circuit 3 comprises first and second semi-blanked plates 7 housed opposite one another in first and second seats 9 and 10 of the supporting body 2 (Figures 1, 11, 12 and 13).
[0018] These seats 9 and 10 are formed by respective longitudinal openings formed in the said supporting body 2.
[0019] The plates 7 are identical to one another and are moreover provided with respective symmetrical longitudinal ends 11, as shown in particular in Figure 1.
[0020] For these reasons, each of the plates 7 can be inserted indiscriminately either into the first seat 9 or into the second seat 10.
[0021] The ends 11 of the plates 7 comprise respective connecting fins 15 (Figures 1, 5 and 8) symmetrical with one another and adapted to establish an electrical connection between the supply circuit 3 and an external supply line which is known and is not shown for the sake of convenience.
[0022] The connecting fins 15 are produced as extensions formed in one piece with the plates 7 and are folded transversely to form flexible spacer elements 16.
[0023] As shown in Figure 13, in use, the fins 15 occupy respective seats 17 and 18 defined between internal walls 19 and 20 of the supporting body 2 and a projection 21 projecting in one piece from a base wall 22 of the said supporting body 2.
[0024] The flexible spacer elements 16 are disposed so that they bear against the projection 21 and cooperate slidably with the contacts of a connector 22 (known and not described) when the latter is inserted so as to connect the circuit 3 to the external supply line.
[0025] As shown in Figures 4 and 9, each of the plates 7 is formed by a metal strap folded into an "L" shape and provided with at least one pair of bars 23 and 24 projecting from a shorter flange 25 of the "L" for each lamp 4.
[0026] The first bar 23 is subsequently folded to form a tooth 26 by means of which it is adapted to hold a respective lamp 4 snapped in position.
[0028] It is moreover provided with a bearing edge 27 folded at a right angle and adapted to hold the respective plate 7 in its position of use, as described hereinafter.
[0029] The plates 7 are provided with a plurality of spacer elements 28 formed directly in one piece therewith.
[0030] In particular, the spacer elements 28 comprise a plurality of recesses 29 defined on the flange 25 of the "L" between respective extension pieces 30 of the plates 7.
[0031] The plates 7 are moreover provided with semi-blanked flexible spacer elements 31 projecting from respective surfaces 32 of the plates opposite the bars 23 and 24.
[0032] In use, the spacer elements 31 bear against internal walls 19 and 20 of the supporting body 2 which define laterally the seats 9 and 10 in order to hold the plates 7 in respective positions of use together with the spacer elements 28.
[0033] Referring to Figures 2, 10, 14, 15, 16 and 17, the supporting body 2 comprises for each lamp 4 a pair of transverse ribs 35 disposed with play between the internal walls 19 and 20 of the seats 9 and 10 and a pair of longitudinal ribs 36.
[0034] The ribs 35 and 36 are formed in one piece with the supporting body 2 and project from a base wall 37 of the latter parallel to the direction of insertion of the lamps 4.
[0035] In use, the plates 7 are inserted into the space defined between the transverse ribs 35 and, respectively, the internal walls 19 and 20 of the seats 9 and 10.
[0036] Edges 38 of the plates 7 in correspondence with the recesses 29 bear against the transverse ribs 35 in order to hold the plates 7 in respective transverse positions of use.
[0037] The longitudinal ribs 36 receive the respective bearing edges 27 of the second bars 24 in order to hold the plates 7 in respective longitudinal positions of use.
[0038] The supporting body 2 moreover carries for each lamp 4 respective groups of bearing elements 39 formed in one piece with and projecting from the base wall 37.
[0039] The bearing elements 39 cooperate with respective ends 40 of the second bars 24 in order to keep the plates 7 at a predetermined distance from the base wall 37 of the supporting body 2.
[0040] The plates 7 are therefore held in the transverse direction by the action of the spacer elements 31 against the internal walls 19 and 20 of the seats 9 and 10 and by the action of the spacer elements 29 against the transverse ribs 35, in the longitudinal direction by the action of the bearing edges 27 of the second bars 24 against the longitudinal ribs 36 and in the orthogonal direction to the base wall 37 by the action of the ends 40 of the second bars 24 against the bearing elements 39.
1. Lighting device, in particular a third brake light for vehicles, comprising a supporting
body, a plurality of lamps, a supply circuit and a closure element provided with an
external lens, the said lamps and the said supply circuit being carried by the said
supporting body, characterised in that the said supply circuit comprises first and
second semi-blanked plates housed opposite one another in first and second seats of
the said supporting body, the said first and second plates being identical to one
another and being provided with respective symmetrical longitudinal ends, wherein
each of the said first and second plates can be inserted indiscriminately alternately
into the said first and second seats.
2. Lighting device according to claim 1, characterised in that the said symmetrical ends
of the said plates comprise respective symmetrical connecting fins formed in one piece
with the said plates and adapted to establish an electrical connection with an external
supply line.
3. Lighting device according to claim 2, characterised in that the said connecting fins
are formed as extensions of the said plates folded transversely to form flexible spacer
elements.
4. Lighting device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that
each of the said plates is formed by a metal strap folded into an "L" shape and provided
with at least one pair of bars projecting from a shorter flange of the said "L" for
each lamp, a first bar of the said pair being adapted to hold a respective lamp snapped
in position, a second bar of the said pair being adapted to make electrical contact
with the said respective lamp, and the said second bar moreover being provided with
a bearing edge folded at a right angle.
5. Lighting device according to claim 4, characterised in that the said plates are provided
with a plurality of spacer elements formed directly in one piece therewith, the said
spacer elements comprising a plurality of recesses defined on the said shorter flange
of the said "L" between respective extension pieces of the said plates, the said plates
moreover being provided with semi-blanked flexible spacer elements projecting from
respective surfaces of the said plates opposite the said bars.
6. Lighting device according to claim 5, characterised in that the said first and second
seats adapted to receive the said plates are formed by respective longitudinal openings
formed in the said supporting body, the said semi-blanked spacer elements being adapted
to cooperate with respective internal walls of the said seats in order to hold the
said plates in respective positions of use together with the said spacer elements.
7. Lighting device according to claim 6, characterised in that the said supporting body
comprises for each of the said lamps at least one pair of transverse ribs disposed
with play between the said internal walls of the seats and a pair of longitudinal
ribs formed in one piece with and projecting from a base wall of the said supporting
body parallel to the direction of insertion of the said lamps.
8. Lighting device according to claim 7, characterised in that the said plates are inserted
into the space defined between the said transverse ribs and the said internal walls
of the seats, respective edges of the said plates in correspondence with the said
recesses bearing against the said transverse ribs in order to hold the said plates
in respective transverse positions of use, the said longitudinal ribs receiving the
said bearing edges of the second bars in order to hold the said plates in respective
longitudinal positions of use.
9. Lighting device according to claim 5, characterised in that the said supporting body
carries for each lamp respective groups of bearing elements adapted to cooperate with
respective ends of the said second bars in order to keep the said plates at a predetermined
distance from the said base wall of the said supporting body.
10. Lighting device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that
the said plates are blocked between the said seats and are held tightly between the
said supporting body and the said closure element.