VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICE

• US 20100321947A1
• Filed: 06/18/2009
• Published: 12/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ichikoh Industries Limited (Valeo SE)
• Original Assignee: Ichikoh Industries Limited (Valeo SE)
• Inventors: HAMASHIMA, Yoshihiko
• Application Number:
  US12/486,966
• Publication Number:
  US 20100321947A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/517
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/147 the main emission direction of the LED being angled to the optical axis of the illuminating device
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/192 Details of lamp holders, terminals or connectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/336 with discontinuity at the junction between adjacent areas
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/37 characterised by their material, surface treatment or coatings
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/39 Attachment thereof achieving variable light distribution by movable reflectors F21S41/675
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/43 characterised by the shape thereof
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 45/10 Protection of lighting devices cooling of lighting devices F21S45/40; waterproofing of lighting devices F21S45/50
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 45/47 Passive cooling, e.g. using fins, thermal conductive elements or openings
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 45/49 Attachment of the cooling means

Abstract

A reflector made of a synthetic resin material is positioned and fixed in a heat sink member. At a position spaced from the positioned and fixed portion, a deformation prevention portion for preventing a warping deformation of the reflector is provided for a respective one of the reflector and the heat sink member, thus preventing a warping deformation of the reflector due to a heat generated from a semiconductor-type light source. As a result, the impairment of light distribution performance, caused by a slight warping deformation of the reflector, is avoided. In this manner, a thermal deformation of the reflector due to the heat generated from the semiconductor-type light source is prevented.

Claims

1. A vehicle lighting device, comprising:

(i) a semiconductor-type light source;

(ii) a reflector having a reflecting surface for reflecting light from the semiconductor-type light source in a predetermined direction;

(iii) a heat sink member in which the semiconductor-type light source and the reflector are positioned and fixed therein, the heat sink member being adapted to radiate a heat from the semiconductor-type light source; and

(iv) a deformation prevention portion which is provided for a respective one of the reflector and the heat sink member at a position spaced from the positioned and fixed site in (iii) and prevents a warping deformation of the reflector due to a heat from the semiconductor-type light source.

2. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 1, wherein:

the deformation prevention portion is made up of a hook mechanism engaged between the reflector and the heat sink, thereby restraining a deformation movement in a respective one of directions in which the reflector is spaced from, and approaches, the heat sink.

3. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 1, wherein:

the deformation prevention portion is made up of an abutment mechanism for restraining the deformation movement in the direction in which the reflector approaches the heat sink member; and

the abutment mechanism comprises an abutment piece which is provided at either one of the reflector and the heat sink member and an abutment seat portion which is provided at the other one, against which the abutment piece abuts.

4. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 1, wherein:

the abutment piece and the abutment seat portion of the abutment mechanism abuts in linear contact with each other.

5. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 1, wherein:

the deformation prevention portion is provided at a respective one of left and right sides of the reflector and the heat sink member.

6. A vehicle lightning device, comprising:

(i) a semiconductor-type light source;

(ii) a reflector having a reflecting surface for reflecting light from the semiconductor-type light source in a predetermined direction;

(iii) a heat sink member in which the semiconductor-type light source and the reflector are positioned and fixed in a first location, the heat sink member being adapted to radiate a heat from the semiconductor-type light source; and

(iv) a deformation prevention portion for preventing a warping deformation of the reflector due to the heat from the semiconductor-type light source, the deformation prevention portion being formed by the reflector being positioned and fixed in the heat sink member in a second location spaced from the portion positioned and fixed in the first location of the heat sink member (iii).

7. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 6, wherein:

the deformation prevention portion is made up of a hook mechanism which is provided for a respective one of the reflector and the heat sink member, which is engaged therewith, and which restrains the deformation movement in directions in which the reflector is spaced from, and approaches, the heat sink member in the second location.

8. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 6, wherein:

the deformation prevention portion comprises an abutment mechanism in which the reflector is formed in abutment against the heat sink member in a third location between the first location and the second location, the abutment mechanism being adapted to restrain the deformation movement in the direction in which the reflector approaches the heat sink member.

9. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 8, wherein:

the abutment mechanism comprises an abutment piece provided at either one of the reflector and the heat sink member and an abutment seat portion provided at the other one, against which the abutment piece abuts.

10. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 8, wherein:

a plurality of ribs are erected on a back face of the heat sink member; and

the abutment mechanism is arranged on a top face of the heat sink member corresponding to the plurality of ribs erected on the back face of the heat sink member.

11. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 9, wherein:

the abutment piece and the abutment seat portion of the abutment mechanism abut in linear contact with each other.

12. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 6, wherein:

the deformation prevention portion comprises;

a hook mechanism which is provided for a respective one of the reflector and the heat sink member and restrains a deformation movement in the direction in which the reflector is spaced from, and approaches, the heat sink member at the second location; and

an abutment mechanism in which the reflector is formed in abutment against with the heat sink member at the third location between the first location and the second location, the abutment mechanism being adapted to restrain the deformation movement in the direction in which the reflector approaches the heat sink member.

13. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 6, wherein:

the deformation prevention portion is provided at a respective one of left and right sides of the reflector and the heat sink member.

14. A vehicle lighting device, comprising:

(i) first and second semiconductor-type light sources;

(ii) a first reflector having a reflecting surface for reflecting light from the first semiconductor-type light source in a predetermined direction;

(iii) a second reflector having a reflecting surface for reflecting light from the second semiconductor-type light source in a predetermined direction;

(iv) a heat sink member in which the first semiconductor-type light source and the first reflector are positioned and fixed in a first location and the second semiconductor-type light source and the second reflector are positioned and fixed in parallel thereto, the heat sink member being adapted to radiate a heat from a respective one of the first and second semiconductor-type light sources; and

(v) a deformation prevention portion for preventing a warping deformation of the first reflector due to a heat of the first semiconductor-type light source and a warping deformation of the second reflector due to a heat from the second semiconductor-type light source, the deformation prevention portion being formed by the first reflector and the second reflector being positioned and fixed in the heat sink member in a second location upwardly spaced from the portion positioned and fixed in the first location of (iv).

15. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 14, wherein:

the first reflector and the second reflector are integrally molded; and

the deformation prevention portion comprises;

a first hook mechanism which is provided for each of one end side of the first reflector and the heat sink member and restrains a deformation movement in a respective one of directions in which the first reflector is spaced from, and approaches, the heat sink member, in the second location; and

a second hook mechanism which is provided for each of one end side of the second reflector and the heat sink member, and restrains a deformation movement in a respective one of directions in which the second reflector is spaced from, and approaches, the heat sink member, in the second location.

16. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 14, wherein:

the deformation prevention portion comprises;

a first abutment mechanism in which the first reflector is formed in abutment against the heat sink member in a third location between the first location and the second location, the first abutment mechanism being adapted to restrain the deformation movement in the direction in which the first reflector approaches the heat sink member; and

a second abutment mechanism in which the second reflector is formed in abutment against the heat sink member in the third location, the second abutment mechanism being adapted to restrain the deformation movement in the direction in which the second reflector approaches the heat sink member.