Improved buld-holder device

Abstract

 A bulb-holder device (1) including a collar (10) carrying therein a seat (12) for housing the fixing flange (12) of a bulb (3) and obtained integral with, or fixable to, a reflector (6) of a lighting or light signaling device (2) coaxially to an optical axis (X) thereof, and an elastically deformable spring element (14), having a first end (15) hinged to first securing means (16) for the collar and a second end (18) adapted to snappingly engage, in use, second securing means (20) for the collar to block in abutment, by a central position (21) thereof, the flange of the bulb in the seat of the collar, the latter and the flange being provided with mating reference means (23,24) to ensure a correct angular placing of the bulb in the seat; wherein the spring element (14), the first and second securing means (16,20) and the collar (10) are dimensioned and placed reciprocally in relation so that the spring element (14) is adapted to snappingly clasp the second securing means (20) only when the bulb (3) is correctly placed, with its flange (12) resting in abutment against a flat bottom wall (36) of the collar seat and the mating reference means (23,24) of the flange and seat reciprocally coupled.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to an improved bulb-holder device and to a lighting or light signaling device for vehicles, such as a headlight or lamp, provided with such a bulb-holder device.

[0002] A lighting or light signaling device is known to include a cup-shaped body closed by a clear or prismatic lens at the front and containing one or more reflectors in the focus of which the light sources, generally consisting of bulbs of various type (e.g. incandescent, halogen, discharge, etc.), are mounted by means of one or more bulb-holder devices. The bulb-holder device, also simply referred to as "bulb-holder" hereinafter, must ensure that the bulb is placed in its correct position established in design with respect to the reflector, so as to be able to provide a light beam complying with the light distribution features required by international regulations.

[0003] This is generally obtained by implementing the bulb-holder device as a collar coaxial to an internal seat in which the bulb is accommodated, and in which seat, locator recesses or ridges intended to be coupled in use with corresponding fins or pins or recesses of a peripherally external flange of the bulb are obtained. A rocking spring carried by the collar outside the same, which cooperates in use with the flange of the bulb when it is carried in a clasping position with a fastening seat thereof carried by the collar, then blocks the bulb in the correct position, inside the seat into the collar. An example of such a bulb-holder device is known from US-A-4872096.

[0004] A bulb-holder as the one described above, especially due to the high flexibility of the blocking spring has the disadvantage, however, of allowing to achieve the spring blocking onto the bulb flange (with the consequent blocking of the bulb in the collar seat) even in a bulb position other than the correct one, e.g. with the bulb accommodated slightly askew in the collar seat with respect to the optical axis of the reflector.

[0005] Assembling the bulb in an incorrect position results in light distribution, which may be obtained by the lighting device, not complying with the features required by international regulations and not providing the adequate lighting needed for night driving, or dazzling the drivers of vehicles traveling in the opposite direction.

[0006] It should also be noted that more powerful, larger engines and many more components which automate and facilitate the driving conditions and improve safety and comfort are installed in the engine compartment of today's cars as compared to the past.

[0007] This implies that the available spaces in the engine compartment, generally obtained in the front part of the car, are greatly reduced and therefore the replacement of a faulty headlight bulb, which is generally carried out from the engine compartment, is rather difficult.

[0008] This is also due to the poor possibility of directly viewing the headlight bulb-holder mounted in a car for the same space reasons mentioned above.

[0009] Therefore, it is difficult to mount the bulb on the car, and to check if it is actually mounted and blocked onto the headlight bulb-holder in its right position, so as to provide the required correct light distribution.

[0010] Therefore, it is the object of the present invention to provide an improved bulb-holder device which, in combination with low manufacturing and assembling costs, light weight and small dimensions, allows to overcome the drawbacks of the known art, always ensuring the bulb blocking in a correct position.

[0011] An improved bulb-holder device is thus provided according to the present invention as defined in claim 1.

[0012] The invention further relates to a lighting device for vehicles provided with an improved bulb-holder device, according to claim 11.

[0013] Specifically, the bulb-holder according to the present invention comprises a tubular collar carrying therein a seat for housing a bulb fixing flange and obtained integral with, or fixable to, a lighting device reflector, coaxially to an optical axis thereof coinciding with the symmetry axis of the collar; and an elastically deformable spring element, having a first end hinged to first securing means of the collar and a second end adapted to snappingly engage, in use, second securing means of the collar to block in abutment, by a central portion thereof, the bulb flange in said collar seat, the latter and the flange being provided with mating reference means to ensure the correct angular placing of the bulb in the seat.

[0014] According to a main aspect of the invention, the spring element, the first and second securing means and the collar are dimensioned and placed reciprocally in relation so that the spring element is adapted to snappingly clasp the second securing means only when the bulb is placed in a correct position, in which the flange rests in abutment against a flat bottom wall of the collar seat and in which the mating reference means of flange and seat are reciprocally coupled.

[0015] Specifically, the spring element is substantially fork-shaped and is made of a sheared metal wire bent so that the first end is a closed end of the fork, and the second end is an open end of the fork, defined by opposite adjacent terminals of the metal wire, which in the aforesaid correct position of the bulb, and only in this position, are both and at the same time adapted to snappingly engage the second securing means.

[0016] Furthermore, according to another aspect of the invention, the first and second securing means are carried by the collar under an edge of the collar itself defining a mouth of the housing seat for the bulb flange, edge consequently arranged on the opposite side of the bottom wall of the bulb flange seat; in particular, the first and second securing means are carried by the collar outside the same and under said edge, between the edge and the bottom wall of the bulb flange seat; furthermore, the second securing means are carried by the collar closer to such an edge than said first securing means.

[0017] Thereby, the improved bulb-holder according to the invention simply allows to prevent the bulb from being incorrectly assembled and fixed to the bulb-holder, thus overcoming all the drawbacks of the known art.

[0018] Indeed, even in the absence of direct visibility (i.e. even "blindly"), the user (or an operator) surely knows that the impossibility of blocking the spring element, in particular with both metal wire terminals forming the second end thereof, onto the second securing means, indicates the incorrect placing of the bulb. The user (or operator) may thus place the bulb again and try to block the spring element again, until this occurs, thereby ensuring that the bulb is correctly placed.

[0019] Furthermore, the specific relative placing of the first and second securing means and the fork shape of the spring element ensure that the advantage of the invention applies even in the presence of spring elements provided with high elasticity and which could thus be deformed in case of an incorrect placing of the bulb. Indeed, if this should occur, it would be impossible to determine the simultaneous clasping of both opposite ends of the metal wire forming the fork-shaped spring element onto the second securing means, thus continuing to provide a clear, easily detectable indication to the user (operator) of the correct or incorrect placing of the bulb, even when the spring element is not visible.

[0020] Further features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description of two non-limitative embodiments thereof, made with reference to the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which:

• figure 1 shows a three-quarters top perspective view of a bulb-holder device made according to the invention and bulb-free, shown in a released configuration and carried inside a lighting device for vehicles, only diagrammatically shown with a dashed line for simplicity;
• figure 2 shows a same view of the bulb-holder device as figure 1, but rotated by about 90° about the axis X in figure 1, shown with an H7 bulb incorrectly inserted therein;
• figure 3 shows the bulb-holder device in figure 1 with an H7 bulb inserted therein and in a blocked configuration of the bulb;
• figure 4 shows a perspective view of a detail of the bulb-holder device in figure 1;
• figure 5 shows an axial section view of a variant of the bulb-holder in figure 1, again shown as carried inside a lighting device for vehicles, only diagrammatically shown with a dashed line for simplicity;
• figure 6 shows a perspective view of the bulb-holder in figure 5 shown in the same configuration as figure 2;
• figure 7 shows a perspective view of a detail of the bulb-holder device in figure 5; and
• figures 8 and 9 show a same detail of the bulb-holder in figure 5 on an enlarged scale, in the secured and released configuration, respectively.

[0021] With reference to figures from 1 to 4, numeral 1 indicates as a whole a bulb-holder device for a lighting device 2 for vehicles, in turn comprising, in addition to device 1, a bulb 3 (figure 2), a cup-shaped body 4 closed by a lens 5 and a reflector 6 accommodated inside the cup-shaped body 4; the bulb-holder device 1 is obtained integral with, or fixed to, the reflector 6 (in a known manner) at a through hole 7 of the reflector 6 adapted to allow, in use, the passage of bulb 3.

[0022] The device 1 comprises a tubular collar 10 carrying therein a seat 11 for housing a fastening flange 12 for the bulb 3 and having a symmetry axis coinciding with an optical axis X of the lighting device 1, i.e. the reflector 6, parallelly facing in use the travel direction of the vehicle.

[0023] The device 1 further comprises an elastically deformable spring element 14, having a first end 15 hinged to first securing means 16 of the collar 10 and a second end 18, adapted to snappingly engage, in use, second securing means 20 of the collar 10 in order to block in abutment the flange 12 of the bulb 3 in the seat 11 by a central position 21 thereof.

[0024] Specifically, seat 11 and flange 12 are provided with mating angular reference means 23,24 to ensure a correct angular placing of the bulb 3 in the seat 11 and the spring element 14 is substantially fork-shaped and made of a sheared metal wire 30 (figure 4) bent so that the first end 15 is a closed end of the fork and the second end 18 is an open end of the fork, defined by opposite adjacent terminals 31,32 of the metal wire 30.

[0025] According to the main feature of the invention, the first securing means 16, the second securing means 20 and the collar 10 are dimensioned and placed reciprocally in relation so that the spring element 14 is adapted to snappingly clasp the second securing means 20 (figure 3) only when the bulb 3 is placed in a correct position, shown in figure 3, in which the flange 12 rests in abutment against a flat bottom wall 36 (figure 1) of the seat 11, and in which the mating reference means 23,24 of flange 12 and seat 11 are reciprocally coupled.

[0026] Alternatively to the known abutting rest against a flat wall 36, known reliefs 25 may be obtained on a wall 36' parallel to the wall 36 but placed farther away from the upper edge 60, which reliefs are placed at the same distance of the wall 36 with respect to the edge 60, and against which the flange 12 and the reference means 23 of the bulb (figure 1) rest in abutment.

[0027] Other types of bulb/bulb-holder resting means may be used without departing from the scope of the patent.

[0028] Specifically, by virtue of the fork shape of the spring element 14, the latter can snappingly clasp the securing means 20 with both and simultaneously opposite terminals 31,32 of the wire 30, forming the open end 18, when the bulb 3 is in the correct position shown in figure 3 only.

[0029] In other words, if by chance the bulb 3 takes an incorrect position within the seat 11, e.g. such as the one shown in figure 2, the shape of the spring element 14 and the position of the securing means 16 and 20 are such that it is impossible to clasp both terminals 31 and 32 onto the securing means 20, even by causing an intense deformation of the spring element 14; it may be possible to fasten only one, but not both.

[0030] For this purpose, the central portion 21 of the spring element 14 is defined by two parallel branches 40,41 of sheared and bent metal wire 30, each branch 40,41 is then V-folded, in turn, in the direction of the optical axis X so that, in use and with the spring element 14 engaging the second securing means 20, the vertex of the V defined by the branches 40,41 faces the bottom wall 36 of the seat 11 in the collar 10.

[0031] According to the embodiment shown in figures from 1 to 4, each terminal 31,32 of metal wire 30 forming the second open end 18 of the spring element 14 is L-shaped on a plane parallel to the optical axis X and extends parallel to, and on the same side of, the V-folded branches 40,41 of metal wire 30 forming the central portion 21 of the spring element 14, from a respective rectilinear length 42,43 of metal wire 30 joining with the central portion 21.

[0032] Now, referring to figures from 5 to 9, a variant 1b of the bulb-holder device 1 is shown, which differs from the previous one due to the shape of the spring element, which in this case is a fork-shaped element 144, again made of a sheared, bent metal wire 30. Similar or equivalent details to those already described will be indicated with the same numbers for simplicity.

[0033] Specifically, in the case of the device 1b, the open end 18 of the fork-shaped spring element 144 consists of a pair of opposite, adjacent, parallel terminals 311 and 322 of metal wire 30 and each terminal 311,322 is U-shaped on a plane parallel to the optical axis X and extends parallel to, but from the opposite side of, the V-folded branches 40,41 of metal wire 30 forming the central portion 21, from a respective rectilinear length 42,43 of metal wire 30 joining with the central portion 21. Essentially, the clasping elements 311,322 of the end 18 of the spring element 144 extend from the opposite side of the corresponding clasping elements 31,32 of the end 18 of the spring element 14.

[0034] As a consequence, the bulb-holder device 1b is provided with second securing means 200, which differ from the securing means 20 due to their shape and position.

[0035] In both cases, i.e. both in device 1 and in device 1b, the first securing means 16 and the second securing means, 20 or 200 respectively, are carried by the collar 10 under an upper edge 60 thereof (or rear edge, according to the travel direction of the vehicle, parallelly to the optical axis X) defining a mouth 61 of the seat 11 for housing the flange 12 of the bulb 3 and, consequently, arranged on the opposite side of the bottom wall 36.

[0036] Furthermore, the securing means 16, 20 and 200 are radially arranged outside the collar 10 in an axial position (according to the direction of axis X), between the edge 60 and the bottom wall 36 of the seat 11, and the second securing means 20,200 are preferably carried by the collar 11 closer to the edge 60 than the first securing means 16.

[0037] For this purpose, the first securing means 16 are mounted at the bottom of a circumferential recess 66 obtained along the edge 60 of the collar 10; moreover, the first securing means 16 and the second securing means 20,200 consist of respective shaped portions 70 and 71 and 72 respectively, of respective U-folded metal brackets 73 mounted straddling the collar 11; a dimmer element 78 for the bulb 3 is optionally (i.e. it is present in the examples shown, but may also be missing) connected integral with, and so as to protrude from, the metal brackets 73 by means of respective arms 77 substantially parallel to the optical axis X.

[0038] In the case of the device 1b, on both sides of the second securing means 200, the collar 11 is further provided with respective circumferential housing recesses 80 for the second end 18 of the spring element 144.

[0039] Although the two non-limitative embodiments described heretofore use an H7-type bulb 3 it is apparent that the description is also applicable to bulbs of different type, which are for example similar to an H7 bulb due to their type and/or assembly references.

[0040] Furthermore, in order to achieve the objects of the invention, it has been found that the height of the peripheral collar 11 of the device should be at least 10 mm, calculated in the direction of the optical axis X and from the resting zone(s) of the bulb 3, i.e. from the locator surface or face 36, or from the reliefs 25, and that the collar 11 should have at least one vertical groove as the angular mating reference means 24, which departs from the upper edge 60 and proceeds towards the bottom wall 36 to end blind and substantially at this bottom wall, grooves having a width such as to accommodate the reference means 23 mating the flange 12 and consisting of fins.

[0041] When the bulb 3 is correctly inserted and placed on its references in the bulb-holder 1 (o 1b), its back (figures 3 and 6) is pressed by rotating the fork-shaped spring element 14 or 144, having a V-shaped profile of the central portion 21, specifically rounded at the vertex, about a rotation axis Y (figures 1 and 6) consisting of the ends 15, defined by a rectilinear length of metal wire 30, which transversally and reciprocally connects the two branches 40,41.

[0042] Accordingly, upon the bulb 3 has been correctly inserted, the portion 21 of the spring element 14 (or 144) presses the back of flange 12 of the bulb 3 until it reaches its correct position abutting against the surface or face 36 or reliefs 25 when the open end 18 is engaged into respective clasping grooves (of known type) 118 of the portions 71 (figure 2) of brackets 73, i.e. in the case of the device 1b, of recesses 119 of the portions 72 of brackets 73, so as to block the spring element 14 (144).

[0043] If the bulb 3 is incorrectly mounted to the bulb-holder 1 (or 1b), it will rest with its fin 23 and/or flange 12 on the edge 60 and in this incorrect assembly position, the portion 21 of the spring element 14 (144) comes in contact with the incorrectly placed flange 12. In this position, the dimensions and shape of spring element 14 (144), collar 11 and angular placing means 24 are such that they do not allow the opposite terminals 31,32 (311,322) of the metal wire 30 forming the open end 18 of the fork-shaped spring element 14 (144) to be reciprocally engaged in the clasping recesses 118 (119) and to block the same.

[0044] In order to achieve the above, as previously mentioned, the clasping recesses 118,119 should be placed under the edge 60 and, in the variant 1b, under the laying plane of the face or surface 36.

Claims

1. A bulb-holder device (1;1b) for a lighting or light signaling device (2) for vehicles, comprising: a tubular collar (10) carrying therein a housing seat (11) for a fixing flange (12) of a bulb (3) on the collar (10), and a symmetry axis thereof coincides in use with an axis (X) of the lighting device; and an elastically deformable spring element (14;144), having a first end (15) hinged to first securing means (16) of the collar and a second end (18) adapted to snappingly engage, in use, second securing means (20;200) of the collar to block in abutment, by a central portion (21) thereof, said flange (12) of the bulb in said seat (11) of the collar, the latter and the flange being provided with mating reference means (23,24) to ensure a correct angular placing of the bulb in the seat; characterized in that the spring element (14;144), the first and second securing means (16,20;200) and said collar (10) are dimensioned and placed reciprocally in relation so that the spring element (14;144) is adapted to snappingly clasp the second securing means (20;200) only when the bulb (3) is placed in a correct position, in which said flange (12) rests in abutment against a flat bottom wall (36) of the seat (11) of the collar and in which said mating reference means (23,24) of flange and seat are reciprocally coupled.

2. A bulb-holder device according to claim 1, characterized in that said spring element (14;144) is substantially fork-shaped and is made of a sheared metal wire (30) bent so that the first end (15) is a closed end of the fork and the second end (18) is an open end of the fork, defined by opposite adjacent terminals (31;311,32;322) of said metal wire (30); the spring element, the first and second securing means and the collar being dimensioned and placed reciprocally in relation so that the spring element (14;144) is adapted to snappingly clasp the second securing means, when the bulb is placed in said correct position, with both said opposite metal wire terminals (31;311,32;322) defining said second open end (18) thereof.

3. A bulb-holder device according to claim 2, characterized in that said central portion (21) of the spring element is defined by two parallel branches (40,41) of said sheared, bent metal wire, each branch being in turn V-folded in the direction of said axis (X) so that, in use and with the spring element (14;144) engaging the second securing means, the vertex of the V faces towards the bottom wall (36) of the seat in the collar for the bulb-fixing flange.

4. A bulb-holder device according to claim 3, characterized in that each said metal wire terminal (31,32) which forms said second open end of the spring element is L-shaped on a plane parallel to said axis (X) and extends parallel to, and on the same side of, said V-folded, metal wire branches (40,41) forming said central portion of the spring element, from a respective rectilinear length (42,43) of metal wire joining with said central portion.

5. A bulb-holder device according to claim 3, characterized in that each said metal wire terminal (311,322) which forms said second open end of the spring element is U-shaped on a plane parallel to said axis (X) and extends parallel to, and from the opposite side of, said V-folded, metal wire branches (40,41) forming said central portion of the spring element, from a respective rectilinear length (42,43) of metal wire joining with said central portion.

6. A bulb-holder device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first and second securing means (16, 20;200) are carried by the collar under an edge (60) thereof defining a mouth (61) of said seat (11) for housing the bulb flange and consequently arranged on the opposite side to said bottom wall (36), outside the collar (11) and between said edge (60) and the bottom wall (36) of the seat thereof.

7. A bulb-holder device according to claim 6, characterized in that said second securing means (20;200) are carried by the collar closer to said edge (60) than said first securing means (16).

8. A bulb-holder device according to one of the claims 6 or 7, characterized in that the first securing means (16) are mounted at the bottom of a first circumferential recess (66) of the edge (60) of collar (10).

9. A bulb-holder device according to any one of the claims from 6 to 8, characterized in that said first and second securing means consist of respective shaped portions (71;72) of respective U-folded, metal brackets (73) mounted straddling the collar (10); a dimmer element (78) for the bulb being optionally connected integral with, and so as to protrude from, said metal brackets by means of respective arms (77) substantially parallel to the optical axis.

10. A bulb-holder device according to any one of the claims from 6 to 9, characterized in that on both sides of said second securing means (200), said collar (10) is provided with respective second circumferential housing recesses (80) for the second end (18) of the spring element.

11. A lighting device (2) for vehicles, comprising a bulb (3), a cup-shaped body (4) closed by a lens (5) and a reflector (6) accommodated inside the cup-shaped body, characterized in that it further comprises a bulb-holder device (1;1b) according to any one of the preceding claims, obtained integral with or fixed to said reflector (6) at a through hole (7) of the reflector adapted to allow the passage of the bulb (3).

12. A vehicle equipped with a lighting or light signaling device and/or bulb-holder according to any one of the preceding claims.

Drawing