Process of forming a seal structure for a vehicular lamp

• US 5,556,584 A
• Filed: 12/01/1993
• Issued: 09/17/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Company Limited
• Inventors: Yamazaki, Kazuhiro, Suzuki, Michihiko, Akiyama, Kazuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuhns, Allan R.
• Application Number:
  US08/159,749
• Time in Patent Office: 1,021 Days
• Field of Search: 264/252, 264/46.4, 264/46.5, 264/261, 264/263, 264/278, 264/46.6, 264/238
• US Class Current: 264/46.5
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/56 using mechanical means or mechanical connections, e.g. form-fits
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/562 using extra joining elements, i.e. which are not integral with the parts to be joined using plastic snap elements B29C65/58; using plastic rivets B29C65/601
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/565 involving interference fits, e.g. force-fits or press-fits B29C65/66 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/58 Snap connection
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/12449 being asymmetric B29C66/12445 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/12463 being tapered
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/12469 being asymmetric
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/301 Three-dimensional joints, i.e. the joined area being substantially non-flat B29C66/5223, B29C66/5224, B29C66/5225 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/322 Providing cavities in the joined article to collect the burr
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/54 Joining several hollow-preforms, e.g. half-shells, to form hollow articles, e.g. for making balls, containers; Joining several hollow-preforms, e.g. half-cylinders, to form tubular articles
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/55 sealing elements being incorporated into the joints, e.g. gaskets B29C66/52296 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/727 being porous, e.g. foam
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/30 Vehicles, e.g. ships or aircraft, or body parts thereof vanes or blades B29L2031/08, air bags B29L2022/027
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/747 Lightning equipment
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/29 Attachment thereof for achieving variable light distribution F21S41/63
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 17/101 permanently, e.g. welding, gluing or riveting

Abstract

A seal structure between a leg part 15 of a front lens and a seal groove 12, wherein a seal member 20 is applied into the seal groove 12 formed on a periphery of a front opening portion of a lamp body 10, the leg part 15 of the front lens engaging with the seal groove 12 is secured to the seal groove 12 by a mechanical fastening means (clip 30) to prevent a removal, and the seal member 20 in the seal groove 12 is compressed by the lens leg part 15, characterized in that the seal member 20 is formed of a solid foamed material which foams from an initial fluid state and hardens while keeping elasticity, and which can be stripped off.

Claims

1. A method of sealing a lens to a lamp body, said lens including a flange (15a) extending around the periphery thereof and a leg portion extending from said flange, said lamp body including a groove (12) extending around a front peripheral portion thereof and defined by an extension portion (12a), comprising the following steps:

injecting a foam sealant into said groove when said sealant is in a liquid state;

inserting said leg portion of said lens into said groove while said foam sealant remains in said liquid state;

allowing said foam sealant to expand such that said foam sealant at least partially surrounds said leg portion and assumes a semi-solid state thereby retaining said leg portion of said lens within said groove; and

forcing said leg portion further into said groove after said foam sealant has expanded and assumed said semi-solid state to thereby compress said foam sealant and, thereafter, mechanically fastening said flange of said lens to said extension portion of said lamp body, wherein in said inserting step said leg portion is inserted to an extent that a space of a predetermined distance remains between said flange and said extension portion so that said leg portion of said lens does not contact a bottom of said groove.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of forming said foam sealant using polyurethane by blending a main material and a hardening material within a ratio range of 1:

1 to 1;

10.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of forming said foam sealant using silicone by blending a main material and a hardening material within a ratio range of 1:

1 to 1;

10.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said foam sealant has an expansion ratio between 1:

2 and 1;

4.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said foam sealant is removable from said groove.