Projector light assembly

• US 5,938,323 A
• Filed: 10/23/1996
• Issued: 08/17/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Decoma International Inc (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Cooper Automotive Products Inc (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: McMahan, Robert T.
• Primary Examiner(s): HUSAR, STEPHEN F
• Application Number:
  US08/735,557
• Time in Patent Office: 1,028 Days
• Field of Search: 362/517, 362/519, 362/538, 362/539, 362/303
• US Class Current: 362/539
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/162 Incandescent light sources, e.g. filament or halogen lamps
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/25 Projection lenses
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/295 specially adapted to projection lenses
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/321 the reflector being a surface of revolution or a planar surface, e.g. truncated
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/33 Multi-surface reflectors, e.g. reflectors with facets or reflectors with portions of different curvature
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/365 successively reflecting the light
• 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 41/47 Attachment thereof achieving variable light distribution by movable screens F21S41/683
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2102/30 Fog lights

Abstract

A projector light assembly includes a primary reflector having a proximal end and a distal end and a lens positioned distally of the distal end of the reflector. The assembly also includes a shade plate configured to prevent light reflected by a first section of the primary reflector from reaching a first portion of the lens (e.g., a portion of the lens above a horizontal axis of the lens). An auxiliary reflector attached to the shade plate reflects light reflected by a second section of the primary reflector so as to direct the reflected light toward the first portion of the lens.

Claims

1. A projector light assembly comprising:

a primary reflector having a proximal end and a distal end;

a lens positioned distally of the distal end of the reflector;

a shade plate configured to prevent light reflected by a first section of the primary reflector from reaching a first portion of the lens; and

an auxiliary reflector configured to reflect light reflected by a second section of the primary reflector so as to direct the reflected light toward the first portion of the lens, the auxiliary reflector being attached to the shade;

wherein the auxiliary reflector includes a reflective first surface that reflects light from the second section of the primary reflector and a second surface that prevents light reflected by a third section of the primary reflector from reaching the first portion of the lens.

2. The projector light assembly of claim 1, wherein the first portion of the lens is a portion of the lens above a horizontal axis of the lens.

3. The projector light assembly of claim 1, wherein the shade and the auxiliary reflector are positioned between the distal end of the primary reflector and the lens.

4. The projector light assembly of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary reflector and the shade are formed from a single piece of material.

5. The projector light assembly of claim 1, further comprising a lamp unit configured to produce light and direct the light toward the primary reflector.

6. The projector light assembly of claim 1, further comprising a socket for insertion of a lamp unit.

7. The projector light assembly of claim 6, further comprising socket structure positioned around the socket.

8. The projector light assembly of claim 6, further comprising a latching mechanism that includes the socket structure and a clip.

9. The projector light assembly of claim 8, wherein the clip is made from plastic.

10. The projector light assembly of claim 8, further comprising apertures in the socket structure and tabs extending from the clip, wherein the clip is attached to the socket structure with the tabs positioned in the apertures.

11. The projector light assembly of claim 8, further comprising a lamp unit positioned in the socket and configured to produce light and direct the light toward the primary reflector.

12. The projector light assembly of claim 11, wherein the lamp unit includes a flange and wherein the lamp unit is secured in the socket by positioning the flange between the clip and the socket structure.

13. The projector light assembly of claim 12, wherein the flange of the lamp unit includes extensions having different shapes and wherein the clip includes an aperture shaped to receive the flange of the lamp unit and the extensions thereof.

14. The projector light assembly of claim 8, wherein the socket structure and the clip together define a circular slot.

15. The projector light assembly of claim 14, wherein the socket structure further includes at least one stop in the circular slot for limiting a range of rotational movement of a component of a lamp unit in the circular slot.

16. The projector light assembly of claim 14, wherein the socket structure further includes at least one ramp in the circular slot to allow rotational movement of a component of a lamp unit in the circular slot in one direction while resisting rotational movement of the component in an opposite direction.

17. A projector light assembly comprising:

a primary reflector having a proximal end and a distal end;

a lens positioned distally of the distal end of the reflector;

a shade plate configured to prevent light reflected by a first section of the primary reflector from reaching a first portion of the lens;

an auxiliary reflector configured to reflect light reflected by a second section of the primary reflector so as to direct the reflected light toward the first portion of the lens;

a socket for insertion of a lamp unit;

socket structure positioned around the socket; and

a clip positioned relative to the socket structure so that the clip and the socket structure together define a latching mechanism.

18. The projector light assembly of claim 17, wherein the clip is made from plastic.

19. The projector light assembly of claim 17, further comprising apertures in the socket structure and tabs extending from the clip, wherein the clip is attached to the socket structure with the tabs positioned in the apertures.

20. The projector light assembly of claim 17, further comprising a lamp unit positioned in the socket and configured to produce light and direct the light toward the primary reflector.

21. The projector light assembly of claim 20, wherein the lamp unit includes a flange and wherein the lamp unit is secured in the socket by positioning the flange between the clip and the socket structure.

22. The projector light assembly of claim 21, wherein the flange of the lamp unit includes extensions having different shapes and wherein the clip includes an aperture shaped to receive the flange of the lamp unit and the extensions thereof.

23. The projector light assembly of claim 17, wherein the socket structure and the clip together define a circular slot.

24. The projector light assembly of claim 23, wherein the socket structure further includes at least one stop in the circular slot for limiting a range of rotational movement of a component of a lamp unit in the circular slot.

25. The projector light assembly of claim 23, wherein the socket structure further includes at least one ramp in the circular slot to allow rotational movement of a component of a lamp unit in the circular slot in one direction while resisting rotational movement of the component in an opposite direction.

26. The projector light assembly of claim 17, wherein the auxiliary reflector is attached to the shade and includes a reflective first surface that reflects light from the second section of the primary reflector and a second surface that prevents light reflected by a third section of the primary reflector from reaching the first portion of the lens.