Vehicle lamp with a back cover having a terminal

• US 6,322,239 B1
• Filed: 03/02/2000
• Issued: 11/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Company Limited
• Inventors: Tsukamoto, Hironori, Yoneyama, Masatoshi, Nitta, Kazuto
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Shea, Sandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): DELGIZZI, RONALD ERNEST
• Application Number:
  US09/517,452
• Time in Patent Office: 635 Days
• Field of Search: 362/543, 362/265, 362/546, 362/548, 362/549, 362/374, 362/375, 362/226
• US Class Current: 362/543
• 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: 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 41/172 High-intensity discharge light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/192 Details of lamp holders, terminals or connectors
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/64 Means for preventing incorrect coupling

Abstract

A vehicle lamp is provided with a feeder device for simplifying the labor of disposing feeder cords while improving accuracy. The vehicle lamp has a movable reflector tiltably supported by a lamp body via an aiming mechanism. A back cover is detachably fitted in an opening formed in the rear of the lamp body. The back cover includes a terminal for conducting the terminal of a feeder cord connected to a light source provided in the lamp body, and the terminal of a power supply cord connected to a power supply for supplying power to the light source.

Claims

1. A vehicle lamp, comprising:

a movable reflector tiltably supported by a lamp body via an aiming mechanism, wherein a back cover is detachably fitted in an opening formed in the rear back of said lamp body, and

wherein said back cover includes a terminal for connecting a terminal of a feeder cord connected to a light source provided in said lamp body and a terminal of a power supply cord connected to a power supply for supplying power to said light source, wherein said feeder cord includes a first feeder cord connected to a discharge bulb forming the light source, and a second feeder cord drawn from a discharge circuit unit to which said first feeder cord is connected, and

wherein said terminal of said feed cord comprises a flag-type terminal extending in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of said feeder cord.

2. A vehicle lamp according to claim 1, wherein said feeder cord is connected to the terminal of said back cover via a connector case for storing the terminal of said feeder cord.

3. A vehicle lamp according to claim 2, wherein said connector case and said back cover are arranged so that the terminal of said feeder cord is prevented from being reversely connected to said back cover, and

wherein a reverse-fitting preventive region is provided on the outer wall of a case forming said connector case, and an area for receiving said reverse-fitting preventive region is formed in said back cover.

4. A vehicle lamp, comprising:

a movable reflector tiltably supported by a lamp body via an aiming mechanism, wherein a back cover is detachably fitted in an opening formed in the rear back of said lamp body,

wherein said back cover includes a terminal for conducting a terminal of a feeder cord connected to a light source provided in said lamp body and a terminal of a power supply cord connected to a power supply for supplying power to said light source,

wherein said connector case and said back cover are arranged so that the terminal of said feeder cord is prevented from being reversely connected to said back cover, and

wherein a reverse-fitting preventive region is provided on the outer wall of a case forming said connector case, and an area for receiving said reverse-fitting preventive region is formed in said back cover.

5. A vehicle lamp, comprising:

a movable reflector tiltably supported by a lamp body via an aiming mechanism, wherein a back cover is detachably fitted in an opening formed in the rear back of said lamp body,

wherein said back cover includes a terminal for conducting a terminal of a feeder cord connected to a light source provided in said lamp body and a terminal of a power supply cord connected to a power supply for supplying power to said light source,

wherein said connector case and said back cover are arranged so that the terminal of said feeder cord is prevented from being reversely connected to said back cover,

wherein said connector case and said back cover are arranged so that the terminal of said feeder cord is prevented from being reversely connected to said back cover, and

wherein a reverse-fitting preventive region is provided on the outer wall of a case forming said connector case, and an area for receiving said reverse-fitting preventive region is formed in said back cover.

6. A vehicle lamp comprising:

a movable reflector tiltably supported by a lamp body via an aiming mechanism, wherein a back cover is detachably fitted in an opening formed in the rear back of said lamp body,

wherein said back cover includes a terminal for connecting a terminal of a feeder cord connected to a light source provided in said lamp body and a terminal of a power supply cord connected to a power supply for supplying power to said light source,

wherein said feeder cord is connected to the terminal of said back cover via a connector case for storing the terminal of said feeder cord,

wherein said connector case and said back cover are arranged so that the terminal of said feeder cord is prevented from being reversely connected to said back cover, and

wherein a reverse-fitting preventive region is provided on the outer wall of a case forming said connector case, and an area for receiving said reverse-fitting preventive region is formed in said back cover.