Motor vehicle headlamp combined with clearance lamp

• US 5,140,504 A
• Filed: 09/10/1991
• Issued: 08/18/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Company Limited
• Inventors: Sato, Osamu
• Primary Examiner(s): Lazarus, Ira S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hagarman, Sue
• Application Number:
  US07/757,395
• Time in Patent Office: 343 Days
• Field of Search: 362/61, 362/66, 362/80, 362/418, 362/419, 362/421, 362/427, 362/428, 362/261, 362/263, 362/265
• US Class Current: 362/517
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0041 of several lamps in relation to each other
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0094 Arrangement of electronic circuits separated from the light source, e.g. mounting of housings for starter circuits for discharge lamps arrangements being part of the light source holder F21V17/06, F21S43/195
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/17 Discharge light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/192 Details of lamp holders, terminals or connectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2103/10 Position lights

Abstract

A motor vehicle headlamp which employs a discharge lamp as its light source, and which is combined with a clearance lamp. The clearance lamp is provided in the front end portion of a space defined by a lamp body in such a manner that the clearance lamp is adjacent to the reflector, and a ballast circuit for energizing the discharge lamp is provided behind the clearance lamp inside the lamp body.

Claims

1. In a motor vehicle headlamp having a clearance lamp in which a discharge bulb is mounted on a reflector inside a lamp body, the improvement wherein:

a clearance lamp is comprising a second reflector and a light bulb is provided in a front end portion of a space defined by said lamp body in such a manner that said clearance lamp is adjacent to said reflector and a space is defined behind said clearance lamp adjacent said reflector, and

a ballast circuit for exciting said discharge lamp is provided in said space defined behind said clearance lamp and inside said lamp body.

2. A motor vehicle lamp in which a headlamp combined with a clearance lamp, comprising:

a container-shaped lamp body defining a lamp chamber;

a lens covering a front opening of said lamp body;

a reflector assembly comprising first and second reflectors for producing headlamp beams and a third reflector for producing a clearance light, said third reflector being disposed between said first and second reflectors, and a space being defined within said lamp body behind said third reflector;

an aiming mechanism supporting said reflector assembly within said lamp body;

first and second discharge bulbs mounted in bulb insertion openings in said first and second reflectors, respectively;

a ballast circuit for exciting said first and second discharge bulbs mounted in said space behind said third reflector; and

wires for connecting said first and second discharge bulbs to said ballast circuit.

3. A motor vehicle lamp in which a headlamp combined with a clearance lamp, comprising:

a container-shaped lamp body defining a lamp chamber;

a lens covering a front opening of said lamp body;

first and second reflectors mounted in said lamp body for producing headlamp beams;

a third reflector for producing a clearance light, said third reflector being mounted in said lamp body between said second reflector and side of said lamp body, a space being defined behind and between said second and third reflectors;

first and second aiming mechanisms for supporting said first and second reflector within said lamp body;

first and second discharge bulbs mounted in bulb insertion openings in said first and second reflectors, respectively;

a ballast circuit for exciting said first and second discharge bulbs mounted in said space behind and between said second and third reflectors; and

wires for connecting said first and second discharge bulbs to said ballast circuit.

4. A motor vehicle lamp in which a headlamp combined with a clearance lamp, comprising:

a container-shaped lamp body defining a lamp chamber;

a lens covering a front opening of said lamp body;

a reflector assembly comprising first and second reflectors for producing headlamp beams and a third reflector for producing a clearance light, said third reflector being disposed between said first and second reflectors, and a space being defined within said lamp body behind said third reflector;

an aiming mechanism supporting said reflector assembly within said lamp body;

first and second bulbs mounted in bulb insertion openings in said first and second reflectors, respectively, at least one of said bulbs being a discharge bulb;

a ballast circuit for exciting said first and second discharge bulbs mounted in said space behind said third reflector; and

wires for connecting said first and second discharge bulbs to said ballast circuit.

5. A motor vehicle lamp in which a headlamp combined with a clearance lamp, comprising:

a container-shaped lamp body defining a lamp chamber;

a lens covering a front opening of said lamp body;

first and second reflectors mounted in said lamp body for producing headlamp beams;

a third reflector for producing a clearance light, said third reflector being mounted in said lamp body between said second reflector and side of said lamp body, a space being defined behind and between said second and third reflectors;

first and second aiming mechanisms for supporting said first and second reflector within said lamp body;

first and second bulbs mounted in bulb insertion openings in said first and second reflectors, respectively, at least one of said bulbs being a discharge bulb;

a ballast circuit for exciting said first and second discharge bulbs mounted in said space behind and between said second and third reflectors; and

wires for connecting said first and second discharge bulbs to said ballast circuit.