Vehicle lamp

• US 5,121,304 A
• Filed: 10/15/1990
• Issued: 06/09/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: GTE Products Corporation
• Original Assignee: GTE Products Corporation
• Inventors: Hall, Rolland B., Bergin, John A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Husar, Stephen F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEE, Y MY QUACH
• Application Number:
  US07/597,269
• Time in Patent Office: 603 Days
• Field of Search: 362/61, 362/226, 362/249, 362/83.3, 362/267, 439/56, 439/602, 439/611, 439/617, 439/619, 439/593
• US Class Current: 362/548
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/192 Details of lamp holders, terminals or connectors
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 5/62 Connection of wires protruding from the vessel to connectors carried by the separate part
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 33/09 for baseless lamp bulb
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/918 Multilamp vehicle panel

Abstract

A vehicle lamp having a lamp capsule held in a holder with electric leads protruding into a base where a pressure arm holds the leads against connection lugs, in addition to the leads being welded to the connection lugs. The lugs then extend through the base to be exposed for connection in a connector receptacle end.

Claims

1. A vehicle lamp comprising:

a) a capsule having an electrically powered light source, a light transmissive envelope, and a two or more protruding electrical leads,

b) a holder having a capsule receptacle to hold the capsule, and lug supports to assist in lug support,

c) two or more connection lugs, at least one having a first coupling end supported in part by the holder, at least one contact point making a contact with one of the leads and an exposed connector end, and

d) a base formed from a slightly flexible material coupled to the holder including a portion formed as a pressure arm pressing at least one lead against the at least one adjacent lug to preserve electrical contact between the lead and the lug.

2. The lamp in claim 1, wherein the light source is an incandescent light source.

3. The lamp in claim 1, wherein the holder includes a lug wall extending adjacent the lugs in the region where electrical contact is made between the lead and the lug.

4. The lamp in claim 3, wherein the lug wall extends adjacent the lugs on a side opposite where the electrical contact is made between the lead and the lug.

5. The lamp in claim 3, wherein the lug wall includes a lug wall passage adjacent where a weld contact is made between the lead and the lug.

6. The lamp in claim 1, wherein at least one lug includes an end coupled to the holder.

7. The lamp in claim 1, wherein at least one lug includes a right angle dividing the lug into a first side and a second side.

8. The lamp in claim 7, wherein the at least one lug including a right angle includes a side coupled to the base.

9. The lamp in claim 7, wherein the at least one lug including a right angle includes a side coupled to the base by potting material.

10. The lamp in claim 1, wherein the pressure arm includes a lip to press the lead and lug into contact with each other.

11. The lamp in claim 1, wherein the pressure arm comprises a wall with a free end closely positioned adjacent the lead and lug to provide a pressure contact between the lead and lug.

12. The lamp in claim 1, wherein the base includes a coupling face to mate with a corresponding coupling face of the holder to provide a coupling between the holder and base.

13. The lamp in claim 12, wherein the base includes a protruding element to clip into an indentation formed in the holder.

14. The lamp in claim 12, wherein lug includes a right angle with one leg of the right angle projecting outwards to the connector ends, and the base includes a blocking element positioned adjacent the right angle to block inward motion of the connector ends.

15. The lamp in claim 12, wherein lug wall includes end portions positioned adjacent the base, and the base include walls adjacent the lug wall end portions to block motion of the lug wall end portions when force is applied axially to the connector ends.

16. A vehicle lamp comprising:

a) a capsule having an electrically powered light source, a light transmissive envelope with a seal end, and a two or more protruding electrical leads,

b) a holder having a capsule receptacle to hold the capsule along the seal end, a holder coupling surface, and a lug coupling,

c) two or more connection lugs having a first coupling end to couple with the holder, at least one lug having a contact point making a contact with one of the leads and an exposed connector end, and

d) a base formed from a slightly flexible material having a base coupling surface coupled to the holder along the holder coupling surface, a portion formed as a pressure arm preserving at least one lead in contact with the adjacent lug, and a connector receptacle partially enclosing the connector ends.

17. A vehicle lamp comprising:

a) a capsule having an electrically powered light source, a light transmissive envelope with a seal end, and a two or more protruding electrical leads,

b) a holder having a capsule receptacle to hold the capsule along the seal end, a holder coupling surface, and a lug coupling,

c) two or more connection lugs each having a first coupling end to couple with the holder, a pressure contact point to make the pressure contact with a respective lead, and a weld point to make a weld contact with the same respective lead, and a connector end, and

d) a base formed from a slightly flexible material having a base coupling surface coupled to the holder along the holder coupling surface, a portion formed as a pressure arm forcing the respective leads to contact with adjacent the pressure contact points of the respective lugs, and a connector receptacle partially enclosing the connector ends.