(19)
(11) EP 1 468 873 A2

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(43) Date of publication:
20.10.2004 Bulletin 2004/43

(21) Application number: 04008030.1

(22) Date of filing: 02.04.2004
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7B60Q 3/02, F21V 19/00
// F21W101:08
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IT LI LU MC NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR
Designated Extension States:
AL HR LT LV MK

(30) Priority: 18.04.2003 IT TO20030308

(71) Applicant: Olsa S.p.A.
10090 Rivoli (IT)

(72) Inventor:
  • Bosco, Eugenio
    10090 Rivoli (IT)

(74) Representative: Lotti, Giorgio et al
c/o Ing. Barzanò & Zanardo Milano S.p.A. Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, 61
10128 Torino
10128 Torino (IT)

   


(54) An anchoring device for torpedo lamp-bulbs


(57) An anchoring device (1) for torpedo lamp-bulbs (2) is designed for anchoring a torpedo lamp-bulb (2) in a seat (4) having two end walls (5) that are set axially opposite to one another with respect to a longitudinal axis (A) of the torpedo lamp-bulb (2), the anchoring device having one contrast element (7) fixed to one first end wall (5a) of said two end walls (5), and an elastic supporting element (8) bent to form a U and set between a second end wall (5b) of said two end walls (5) and the torpedo lamp-bulb (2) to push the torpedo lamp-bulb (2) itself against the contrast element (7); the elastic supporting element (8) being provided with a first arm (11) and a second arm (12) radiused to one another, the first arm (11) being provided with a containment seat (14) for containing a free end (3) of the torpedo lamp-bulb (2), and the second arm (12) being mounted in a disengageable way on the second end wall (5b) and having a gripping portion (21) coming out from the seat (4).




Description


[0001] The present invention relates to an anchoring device for torpedo lamp-bulbs.

[0002] The anchoring device for torpedo lamp-bulbs according to the present invention finds advantageous application in the field of ceiling lights and roof lights in general and, in particular, of roof lights for motor vehicles, to which the ensuing treatment will make explicit reference, without this, however, implying any loss of generality.

[0003] An anchoring device for torpedo lamp-bulbs is designed for anchoring a torpedo lamp-bulb into an internal seat of the ceiling light or roof light and comprises two supporting elements, which are set in axially opposed positions with respect to an axis of the torpedo lamp-bulb and are fixed to respective end walls of the internal seat itself.

[0004] Normally, one of the two supporting elements is defined by the corresponding end wall, through which there is made a through hole to receive a respective conical end of the torpedo lamp-bulb, whilst the other supporting element is defined by a metal plate bent to form a U, which comprises a first arm, which is anchored to the corresponding end wall, and a second arm, which is provided with a respective through hole for receiving a respective further conical end of the torpedo lamp-bulb.

[0005] The U conformation of the metal plate enables deformation of the metal plate itself in the case of replacement of the torpedo lamp-bulb, as well as ensuring electrical connection of the torpedo lamp-bulb.

[0006] Anchoring devices of the type described above present, however, a drawback 'caused by the increasingly reduced dimensions of the roof lights used in motor vehicles. In fact, said reduced dimensions prevent easy handling of the torpedo lamp-bulb within the internal seat, so rendering replacement of the torpedo lamp-bulb somewhat complicated.

[0007] The purpose of the present invention is to provide an anchoring device for torpedo lamp-bulbs, which will enable a fast and simple replacement of the torpedo lamp-bulb itself.

[0008] According to the present invention, an anchoring device for torpedo lamp-bulbs is provided, designed for anchoring a torpedo lamp-bulb in a seat having two end walls that are set axially opposite to one another with respect to a longitudinal axis of the torpedo lamp-bulb, the anchoring device having at least one contrast element fixed to one first end wall of said two end walls, and an elastic supporting element bent to form a U and set between a second end wall of said two end walls and the torpedo lamp-bulb to push the torpedo lamp-bulb itself against the contrast element; the anchoring device being characterized in that the elastic supporting element comprises, in turn, a first arm and a second arm radiused with one another, the 'first arm being provided with a containment seat for containing a free end of the torpedo lamp-bulb, and the second arm being mounted in a disengageable way on the second end wall and having a gripping portion coming out from the seat.

[0009] The invention will now be described with reference to the annexed drawings, which illustrate a non-limiting example of embodiment, and in which:
  • Figure 1 is a side elevation, with parts in cross-sectional view and parts removed for reasons of clarity, of a preferred embodiment of the anchoring device for torpedo lamp-bulbs according to the present invention; and
  • Figure 2 is a perspective view of a detail of Figure 1.


[0010] With reference to Figure 1, number 1 designates, as a whole, an anchoring device for a torpedo lamp-bulb 2 having a longitudinal axis A and two opposed free ends of a substantially conical shape.

[0011] The device 1 is designed to anchor the torpedo lamp-bulb 2 in a seat 4, which is set inside a roof light (known and not illustrated) or to any other lighting assembly, and comprises two end walls that are set axially opposite to one another with respect to the axis A, and a reflecting wall 6, which is set transverse to the walls 5 and provides a connection between the two walls 5 themselves.

[0012] The device 1 comprises a contrast element 7, fixed to one first end wall 5a of said two end walls 5, and an elastic supporting element 8, which is bent to form a U and is set between a second end wall 5b of said two end walls 5 and the torpedo lamp-bulb 2 to push the torpedo lamp-bulb 2 itself against the contrast element 7.

[0013] The contrast element 7 is defined by a conductive metal plate and is provided with a through hole 9, which is designed to be engaged by a corresponding end 3 of the lamp-bulb 2.

[0014] According to what is better illustrated in Figure 2, the elastic element 8 is entirely made of conductive metal material and comprises a plate 10 bent to form a U having two substantially rectilinear arms 11 and 12 and a curved radiusing stretch 13 between the two arms 11 and 12 themselves.

[0015] The arm 11 is provided with a containment seat 14, which is designed to receive and to block one end 3 of the lamp-bulb 2, and comprises a through hole 15 for receiving the end 3 and two shaped flaps 16 set around the hole 15 to surround the end 3 itself. In particular, the two flaps 16 are made of a single piece with the arm 12, extend in cantilever fashion from and in a direction transverse to the arm 12 itself, and each have a substantially T-like conformation.

[0016] Each flap 16 comprises a base bracket 17 connected with the arm 11 and in a direction transverse to the arm 11 itself, and a transverse head 18, which is fixed to the bracket 17 and has a substantially semi-cylindrical shape to embrace the end 3 of the lamp-bulb 2.

[0017] The arm 12 is mounted in a disengageable way on the wall 5b and comprises: a contrast portion 20, which is connected to the radiusing stretch 13 and has a length substantially equal to the length of the arm 11; and a gripping tab 21, which is inclined with respect to the contrast portion 20 and extends outside the seat 4 to enable disengagement of the arm 12 from the wall 5b and, hence, replacement of the lamp-bulb 2.

[0018] In particular, the contrast portion 20 is mounted up against the wall 5b and comprises an anchorage tooth 22, which is inserted, in use, in a slit 23 made through the wall 5b itself and is wedge shaped with an inclination substantially parallel to the gripping tab 21.

[0019] In use, the anchoring device 1 enables not only a fast replacement of the lamp-bulb 2, but also an equally fast installation of the lamp-bulb 2 itself in the seat 4.

[0020] Starting, for example, from this latter operation, the prior installation of the lamp-bulb 2 is obtained, in the first place, by coupling the lamp-bulb 2 to the elastic element 8 via insertion of one end 3 of the lamp-bulb 2 within the containment seat 14, and, subsequently, by inserting the elastic element 8 itself within the seat 4.

[0021] Said insertion is carried out by gripping the elastic element 8 via the gripping tab 21, inserting previously the other end 3 of the lamp-bulb 2 into the seat 4 and inside the hole 9 of the contrast element 7, and causing the contrast portion 20 of the arm 12 to slide progressively against the wall 5b until the tooth 22 slots into the slit 23 in such a way as to clamp the lamp-bulb 2 into the seat 4.

[0022] After insertion of the lamp-bulb 2 into the seat 4, the elasticity of the elastic element 8, due to the U conformation of the elastic element 8 itself, will compensate all the axial loads on the lamp-bulb 2 itself thus guaranteeing integrity thereof, whereas, once insertion has taken place, said elasticity will ensure, on the one hand, that the two ends 3 will remain inside the holes 9 and 15, and, on the other hand, also that the tooth 22 will remain in the slit 23.

[0023] In the case, instead, of replacement of the lamp-bulb 2, it will be sufficient to grip the gripping tab 21, which comes out from the seat 4 and is hence readily accessible, and exert on the tab 21 itself a slight force in the direction of the axis A to disengage the tooth 22 from the slit 23. Once the tooth has been released, the elastic element 8 can be easily extracted from the seat 4 together with the lamp-bulb 2, which will remain firmly clamped in the containment seat 14.

[0024] Furthermore, in the case where the clamping exerted by the containment seat 14 on the end 3 of the lamp-bulb 2 were to loosen off, it is sufficient to deform the brackets 17 elastically by pushing them towards one other. The insertion between the heads 18 of the end 3 of the lamp-bulb 2 will force elastic resistance of the brackets 17, so bringing about firm clamping of the end 3 between the flaps 16.

[0025] From what has been described above, it clearly emerges that the anchoring device 1 enables not only a fast first installation of the lamp-bulb 2 within the seat 4, but also a convenient and fast replacement of the lamp-bulb 2 itself, it being possible to act directly from outside the seat 4 by means of the tab 21 both for insertion and for removal of the lamp-bulb 2.

[0026] It is understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiment described and illustrated herein, which is to be considered purely as an example of implementation of the anchoring device for torpedo lamp-bulbs, which may, instead, undergo further modifications as regards shapes and arrangements of parts and details of construction and assembly.


Claims

1. An anchoring device (1) for torpedo lamp-bulbs (2), designed for anchoring a torpedo lamp-bulb (2) in a seat (4) having two end walls (5) that are set axially opposite to one another with respect to a longitudinal axis (A) of the torpedo lamp-bulb (2), the anchoring device (1) comprising a contrast element (7) fixed to one first end wall (5a) of said two end walls (5), and an elastic supporting element (8) bent to form a U and set between a second end wall (5a) of said two end walls (5) and the torpedo lamp-bulb (2) to push the torpedo lamp-bulb (2) itself against the contrast element (7); the anchoring device (1) being characterized in that the elastic supporting element (8) comprises, in turn, a first arm (11) and a second arm (12) radiused with one another, the first arm (11) being provided with a containment seat (14) for containing a free end (3) of the torpedo lamp-bulb (2), and the second arm (12) being mounted in a disengageable way on the second end wall (5b) and having a gripping portion (21) coming out from the seat (4).
 
2. The anchoring device according to Claim 1, characterized in that said second arm (12) comprises a contrast portion (20) fixed to the gripping portion (21) and provided with an anchoring tooth (22), which can be inserted into a slit (23) made through the second end wall (5b); the anchoring tooth (22) having a wedge shape with an inclination substantially parallel to the gripping portion (21).
 
3. The anchoring device according to Claim 2, characterized in that the contrast portion (20) of the second arm (12) has a length that is substantially equal to the length of the first arm (11); said gripping portion (21) being defined by a tab inclined with respect to the contrast portion (20) itself.
 
4. The anchoring device according to Claim 3, characterized in that the containment seat (14) comprises a through hole (15) for receiving a respective conical end (3) of the torpedo lamp-bulb (2) and at least two shaped flaps (16) designed to surround the conical end (3) itself.
 
5. The anchoring device according to Claim 4, characterized in that the two shaped flaps (16) are made of a single piece with the second arm (12), extend transversely from the second arm (12), and can be elastically deformed away from and towards one another.
 
6. The anchoring device according to Claim 1,
characterized in that said elastic supporting element (8) is made of a conductive metal material.
 
7. The anchoring device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the contrast element (7) is defined by a conductive metal plate and is provided with a through hole (9) passing through a respective conical end (3) of the torpedo lamp-bulb (2).
 
8. An anchoring device for torpedo lamp-bulbs, substantially as described herein with reference to the annexed drawings.
 




Drawing