Electrical connector for automotive lamp
First Claim
1. An electrical connector for a vehicle lamp, comprising:
- a connector housing formed from an insulating material;
a plurality of electrically conductive terminals each having a generally planar connecting portion inserted into said connector housing, said planar connecting portions of said plurality of electrically conductive terminals lying substantially in a single plane; and
an insulated wire connected to each of said terminals, all of the insulated wires extending outward from a first side of said connector housing in a direction parallel to said plane, wherein said connector body comprises;
a main body having sleeves formed therein for receiving respective ones of said terminals through respective openings formed in a base portion of said main body;
a lid for covering said openings in said main body; and
a hinge formed on a second side of said main body opposite said first side, said hinge connecting said lid to said main body, wherein a groove is formed in said base portion for guiding one of said insulated wires connected to a first of said terminals around a second of said terminals and out of said housing.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An electrical connector for an automotive headlamp includes a connector housing formed from an insulating material and electrical terminals which are electrically conductive and inserted into the respective sleeves of the connector housing. Respective planar connecting portions of the electrical terminals are disposed in the same plane and are disposed to as to about a plane in which corresponding external terminals provided in the lamp are disposed. Thus, the length of the connector housing in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the planar connecting portions can be reduced, thereby reducing the width of the electrical connector. As a result, the overall height of the headlamp can be reduced.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. An electrical connector for a vehicle lamp, comprising:
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a connector housing formed from an insulating material;
a plurality of electrically conductive terminals each having a generally planar connecting portion inserted into said connector housing, said planar connecting portions of said plurality of electrically conductive terminals lying substantially in a single plane; and
an insulated wire connected to each of said terminals, all of the insulated wires extending outward from a first side of said connector housing in a direction parallel to said plane, wherein said connector body comprises;
a main body having sleeves formed therein for receiving respective ones of said terminals through respective openings formed in a base portion of said main body;
a lid for covering said openings in said main body; and
a hinge formed on a second side of said main body opposite said first side, said hinge connecting said lid to said main body, wherein a groove is formed in said base portion for guiding one of said insulated wires connected to a first of said terminals around a second of said terminals and out of said housing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A lighting circuit device for an automotive lamp, comprising:
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a lighting circuit module comprising;
a molded lighting circuit module case; and
a pair of terminals extending outward from a side surface of said case, said terminals being generally planar and lying in the same plane, and an electrical connector mating with said pair of terminals for connecting said lighting circuit module to make electrical connection to said pair of terminals, said electrical connector comprising;
a connector housing formed from an insulating material; and
a plurality of electrically conductive terminals each having a generally planar connecting portion inserted into said connector housing, said planar connecting portions of said plurality of electrically conductive terminals of said electrical connector lying substantially in a single plane, said electrically conductive terminals making electrical contact with respective ones of said terminals of said lighting circuit module; and
an insulated wire connected to each of said terminals of said electrical connector, all of the insulated wires extending outward from a first side of said connector housing in a direction parallel to said single plane, wherein said connector body comprises;
a main body having sleeves formed therein for receiving respective ones of said terminals through respective openings formed in a base portion of said main body;
a lid for covering said openings in said main body; and
a hinge formed on a second side of said main body opposite said first side, said hinge connecting said lid to said main body, wherein a groove is formed in said base portion for guiding one of said insulated wires connected to a first of said terminals around a second of said terminals and out of said housing. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An automotive lamp comprising:
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a lamp body assembly comprising;
a lamp body and a lens assembled to said lamp body, said lamp body having a bottom wall, a lamp chamber being defined by the assembled lamp body and lens;
a reflector mounted within said lamp chamber;
a discharge lamp mounted on said reflector; and
an extension member defining a gap chamber between said bottom wall of said lamp body and said extension member, a lighting circuit module comprising;
a molded lighting circuit module case mounted in said gap chamber; and
a pair of terminals extending outward from a side surface of said case, said terminals being generally planar and lying in the same plane, and an electrical connector mating with said pair of terminals for connecting said lighting circuit module to make electrical connection to said pair of terminals, said electrical connector comprising;
a connector housing formed from an insulating material;
a plurality of electrically conductive terminals each having a generally planar connecting portion inserted into said connector housing, said planar connecting portions of said plurality of electrically conductive terminals of said electrical connector lying substantially in a single plane, said electrically conductive terminals making electrical contact with respective ones of said terminals of said lighting circuit module; and
an insulated wire connected to each of said terminals of said electrical connector, all of the insulated wires extending outward from a first side of said connector housing in a direction parallel to said single plane, wherein said connector body comprises;
a main body having sleeves formed therein for receiving respective ones of said terminals through respective openings formed in a base portion of said main body;
a lid for covering said openings in said main body; and
a hinge formed on a second side of said main body opposite said first side, said hinge connecting said lid to said main body. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. An electrical connector for a vehicle lamp, comprising:
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a connector housing formed from an insulating material; and
a plurality of electrically conductive terminals each having a generally planar connecting portion inserted into said connector housing, said planar connecting portions of said plurality of electrically conductive terminals lying substantially in a single plane;
an insulated wire connected to each of said terminals, all of the insulated wires extending outward from a first side of said connector housing in a direction parallel to said plane;
the connector body comprising;
a main body having sleeves formed therein for receiving respective ones of said terminals through respective openings formed in a base portion of said main body;
a lid for covering said openings in said main body; and
a hinge formed on a second side of said main body opposite said first side, said hinge connecting said lid to said main body;
wherein an L-shaped groove is formed in said base portion for guiding one of said insulated wires connected to a first of said terminals around a second of said terminals and out of said housing.
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17. A lighting circuit device for an automotive lamp, comprising:
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a lighting circuit module comprising;
a molded lighting circuit module case; and
a pair of terminals extending outward from a side surface of said case, said terminals being generally planar and lying in the same plane, and an electrical connector mating with said pair of terminals for connecting said lighting circuit module to make electrical connection to said pair of terminals, said electrical connector comprising;
a connector housing formed from an insulating material; and
a plurality of electrically conductive terminals each having a generally planar connecting portion inserted into said connector housing, said planar connecting portions of said plurality of electrically conductive terminals of said electrical connector lying substantially in a single plane, said electrically conductive terminals making electrical contact with respective ones of said terminals of said lighting circuit module;
an insulated wire connected to each of said terminals of said electrical connector, all of the insulated wires extending outward from a first side of said connector housing in a direction parallel to said single plane;
wherein the connector body comprises;
a main body having sleeves formed therein for receiving respective ones of said terminals through respective openings formed in a base portion of said main body;
a lid for covering said openings in said main body; and
a hinge formed on a second side of said main body opposite said first side, said hinge connecting said lid to said main body;
wherein an L-shaped groove is formed in said base portion for guiding one of said insulated wires connected to a first of said terminals around a second of said terminals and out of said housing.
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18. A lighting circuit device for an automotive lamp, comprising:
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a lighting circuit module comprising;
a molded lighting circuit module case; and
a pair of terminals extending outward from a side surface of said case, said terminals being generally planar and lying in the same plane, and an electrical connector mating with said pair of terminals for connecting said lighting circuit module to make electrical connection to said pair of terminals, said electrical connector comprising;
a connector housing formed from an insulating material; and
a plurality of electrically conductive terminals each having a generally planar connecting portion inserted into said connector housing, said planar connecting portions of said plurality of electrically conductive terminals of said electrical connector lying substantially in a single plane, said electrically conductive terminals making electrical contact with respective ones of said terminals of said lighting circuit module;
wherein said molded lighting circuit module case comprises a pair of generally U-shaped guide walls bracketing said terminals of said lighting circuit module; and
wherein one of said walls of said pair of walls has a U-shaped opening having a width larger than that of the other of said walls.
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19. An automotive lamp comprising:
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a lamp body assembly comprising;
a lamp body and a lens assembled to said lamp body, said lamp body having a bottom wall, a lamp chamber being defined by the assembled lamp body and lens;
a reflector mounted within said lamp chamber;
a discharge lamp mounted on said reflector; and
an extension member defining a gap chamber between said bottom wall of said lamp body and said extension member, a lighting circuit module comprising;
a molded lighting circuit module case mounted in said gap chamber; and
a pair of terminals extending outward from a side surface of said case, said terminals being generally planar and lying in the same plane, and an electrical connector mating with said pair of terminals for connecting said lighting circuit module to make electrical connection to said pair of terminals, said electrical connector comprising;
a connector housing formed from an insulating material; and
a plurality of electrically conductive terminals each having a generally planar connecting portion inserted into said connector housing, said planar connecting portions of said plurality of electrically conductive terminals of said electrical connector lying substantially in a single plane, said electrically conductive terminals making electrical contact with respective ones of said terminals of said lighting circuit module;
an insulated wire connected to each of said terminals of said electrical connector, all of the insulated wires extending outward from a first side of said connector housing in a direction parallel to said single plane;
wherein said connector body comprises;
a main body having sleeves formed therein for receiving respective ones of said terminals through respective openings formed in a base portion of said main body;
a lid for covering said openings in said main body; and
a hinge formed on a second side of said main body opposite said first side, said hinge connecting said lid to said main body;
wherein an L-shaped groove is formed in said base portion for guiding one of said insulated wires connected to a first of said terminals around a second of said terminals and out of said housing.
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Specification