Vehicular lamps

• US 5,664,870 A
• Filed: 06/19/1996
• Issued: 09/09/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Company Limited, Manufacturing Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Company Limited
• Inventors: Tsukamoto, Hironori, Uchida, Kihachiro, Nitta, Kazuto
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Assistant Examiner(s): Raab, Sara Sachie
• Application Number:
  US08/665,873
• Time in Patent Office: 447 Days
• Field of Search: 362/61, 362/80, 362/226, 439/414, 439/699.1, 439/699.2, 439/617, 439/541, 439/543
• US Class Current: 362/459
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/007 via a removable cap
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0088 Details of electrical connections B60Q1/305 takes precedence; electrical connection of the light source itself F21S41/192, F21S43/195
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/192 Details of lamp holders, terminals or connectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/194 Bayonet attachments
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/196 Wire spring attachments
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/29 Attachment thereof for achieving variable light distribution F21S41/63

Abstract

A vehicular lamp having a structure of electrical connection between a lamp bulb serving as a light source installed in a lamp body and an external power source for supplying electric power to the lamp bulb which includes a back cover detachably attached to a bulb insertion hole formed in a back surface of the lamp body and a relay connector connecting with both the lamp bulb and an external power source, and the relay connector is constituted by an internal electrical connection section disposed at an inside of the back cover for electrically connecting with the lamp bulb and an external electrical connection section disposed at an outside of the back cover for connecting with a harness for the external power source. The internal electrical connection section and the external electrical connection section are formed integrally with each other by a conductive terminal which penetrates the back cover.

Claims

1. An electrical connection structure for a vehicular lamp, comprising:

a back cover coupled to a bulb insertion hole formed in a back surface of a lamp body; and

a relay connector disposed on said back cover, said relay connector comprising an internal electrical connection section electrically connecting with a lamp bulb and an external electrical connection section electrically connecting with an external power source, said internal electrical connection section and said external electrical connection section are formed integrally with each other by a conductive terminal member penetrating said back cover, wherein said relay connector comprises a box member disposed on an outer surface of a bottom of said back cover and a cylinder member having a small diameter continuously formed with said box member.

2. The electrical connection structure according to claim 1, wherein said relay connector is integrally formed with said back cover.

3. The electrical connection structure according to claim 1, wherein an inside of said box member and said cylinder member define a recessed part formed on said back cover, said recessed part is divided into a small region and a large region.

4. The electrical connection structure according to claim 3, wherein said conductive terminal member comprises a positive conductive terminal and a negative conductive terminal both which are integrally resin-molded with said back cover, said negative conductive terminal exposes to said small region of said recessed part and said positive conductive terminal exposes to said large region of said recess part.

5. The electrical connection structure according to claim 4, wherein said external electrical connection section comprises end parts of said positive and said negative conductive terminals arranged in parallel to each other and exposed to an inside of said cylinder member.

6. The electrical connection structure according to claim 5, wherein said end part of said positive conductive terminal exposed to said large region of said recess part is bent.

7. The vehicular lamp according to claim 3, wherein a tip end of said set spring is bent to have a resilient force, said tip end engages with said negative conductive terminal.

8. The vehicular lamp according to claim 3, wherein said tip end of said set spring is bent to perform as a compression coil.

9. The vehicular lamp according to claim 3, wherein said tip end of said set spring is bent to perform as a spiral spring.

10. A vehicular lamp comprising:

a lamp body formed of a resin material;

an outer lens coupled to a front opening of said lamp body;

a lamp chamber defined by said lamp body and said outer lens;

a reflector installed within said lamp chamber, said reflector forming therein a bulb mounting hole;

a lamp bulb having a metal piece inserted in said bulb mounting hole;

a set spring resiliently urging said metal piece of said lamp bulb against said reflector;

a back cover coupled to a bulb insertion hole formed in a back surface of said lamp body; and

a relay connector disposed on said back cover, said relay connector comprising an internal electrical connection section electrically connecting with a lamp bulb and an external electrical connection section electrically connecting with an external power source, said internal electrical connection section and said external electrical connection section are formed integrally with each other by a conductive terminal member penetrating said back cover.

11. The vehicular lamp according to claim 10, wherein said relay connector is integrally formed with said back cover.

12. The vehicular lamp according to claim 10, wherein said relay connector comprises a box member disposed on an outer surface of a bottom of said back cover and a cylinder member having a small diameter continuously forming with said box member.

13. The vehicular lamp according to claim 12, wherein an inside of said box member and said cylinder member define a recessed part formed on said back cover, said recessed part is divided into a small region and a large region.

14. The vehicular lamp according to claim 13, wherein said conductive terminal member comprises a positive conductive terminal and a negative conductive terminal both which are integrally resin-molded with said back cover, said negative conductive terminal exposes to said small region of said recess part and said positive conductive terminal exposes to said large region of said recess part.

15. The vehicular lamp according to claim 14, wherein said external electrical connection section comprises an end parts of said positive and said negative conductive terminals arranged in parallel to each other and exposing to inside said cylinder member.

16. The vehicular lamp according to claim 15, wherein said end part of said positive conductive terminal exposing to said large region of said recess part is bent to be a flat bag.

17. The vehicular lamp according to claim 10, wherein said conductive terminal member comprises a positive conductive terminal and a negative conductive terminal both which are integrally resin-molded with said back cover.

18. The vehicular lamp according to claim 17, wherein said set spring is a part of said negative electrode terminal extending up and spirally bent.

19. The vehicular lamp according to claim 17, wherein said back cover comprises a cylindrical stand portion at substantially center of an inner surface thereof, said cylindrical stand portion of said back cover comprises a tapered peripheral wall at a top thereof, and an end part of said negative electrode terminal is disposed at the top of said cylindrical stand portion.

20. The vehicular lamp according to claim 17, wherein said back cover comprises a stand member having a predetermined height disposed insider said back cover, a middle part of said stand member being recessed and other end parts of said stand member being inclined.

21. An electrical connection structure for a vehicular lamp, comprising:

a back cover coupled to a bulb insertion hole formed in a back surface of a lamp body;

a relay connector disposed on said back cover, said relay connector comprising an internal electrical connection section electrically connecting with a lamp bulb and an external electrical connection section electrically connecting with an external power source, said internal electrical connection section and said external electrical connection section are formed integrally with each other by a conductive terminal member penetrating said back cover, said conductive terminal member including a positive conductive terminal and a negative conductive terminal both of which are integrally resin-molded with said back cover; and

a spring electrically engaged with said negative conductive terminal and a metal piece of said lamp bulb.

22. The electrical connection structure according to claim 21, wherein said spring is an end of a set spring urging said lamp bulb against the reflector.

23. The electrical connection structure according to claim 22, wherein a tip end of said set spring is bent to have a resilient force, said tip end engages with said negative conductive terminal.

24. The electrical connection structure according to claim 22, wherein said tip end of said set spring is bent to perform as a compression coil.

25. The electrical connection structure according to claim 22, wherein said tip end of said set spring is bent in a spiral.

26. The electrical connection structure according to claim 21, wherein said spring is a part of said negative electrode terminal extending up and spirally bent.

27. The electrical connection structure according to claim 21, wherein said back cover comprises a cylindrical stand portion at substantially center of an inner surface thereof, said cylindrical stand portion of said back cover comprises a tapered peripheral wall at a top thereof, and an end part of said negative electrode terminal is disposed at the top of said cylindrical stand portion.

28. The electrical connection structure according to claim 21, wherein said back cover comprises a stand member having a predetermined height disposed inside said back cover, a middle part of said stand member being recessed and other end parts of said stand member being inclined.