Vehicular headlamp having a reflector with improved efficiency of reflection

• US 6,502,972 B2
• Filed: 10/01/1998
• Issued: 01/07/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Company Limited
• Inventors: Matsubara, Masao
• Primary Examiner(s): Spyrou, Cassandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): ASSAF, FAYEZ G
• Application Number:
  US09/164,590
• Publication Number:
  US 20020001200A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,559 Days
• Field of Search: 362/523, 362/528, 362/507, 362/516, 362/517, 359/853
• US Class Current: 362/523
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0683 Adjustable by rotation of a screw
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/162 Incandescent light sources, e.g. filament or halogen lamps
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/192 Details of lamp holders, terminals or connectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/321 the reflector being a surface of revolution or a planar surface, e.g. truncated
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/36 Combinations of two or more separate reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/39 Attachment thereof achieving variable light distribution by movable reflectors F21S41/675
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/675 by moving reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/50 characterised by aesthetic components not otherwise provided for, e.g. decorative trim, partition walls or covers

Abstract

A vehicular headlamp has a reflector which is supported at not less than three points through respective link members in relation to the lamp body in a tiltable manner. The reflector is molded by molding of a synthetic resin material. At least one of the link members is supported by an attachment piece which is integrally formed with and protrudes outward from a location where the opening periphery of a reflective surface of the reflector as viewed from the blanking direction during molding of the reflector.

Claims

1. A vehicular headlamp, comprising:

a reflector which is supported at not less than three points through respective link members in relation to a lamp body in a tiltable manner, wherein the reflector is molded from a synthetic resin material;

a lens provided in front of the reflector; and

an extension that is provided between the reflector and the lens and that covers an exterior of an opening perimeter of the reflector,

wherein at least one of said link members is supported by an attachment piece,

wherein the attachment piece is integrally formed with the reflector and protrudes outwardly past an opening periphery of a reflective surface of the reflector when travelling from within said opening periphery along a direction which is perpendicular to an optical axis of said reflector.

2. The vehicular headlamp according to claim 1, further including ribs on the attachment piece which extends in a direction that is substantially parallel to a direction in which light is emitted from the headlamp.

3. The vehicular headlamp according to claim 1, wherein the extension extends outwardly from the opening perimeter of the reflector such that the extension is located between the attachment piece and the lens.

4. The vehicular headlamp according to claim 3, wherein the extension fully blocks a line of sight from the lens towards the attachment piece.

5. The vehicular headlamp according to claim 4, wherein the extension contains a reflective inner surface.

6. The vehicular headlamp according to claim 5, wherein the reflective surface of the reflector and the reflective inner surface of the extension are substantially contiguous.

7. The vehicular headlamp according to claim 6, wherein the reflective surface of the reflector and the reflective inner surface of the extension form a substantially uniform concave shape.

8. The vehicular headlamp according to claim 1, wherein the extension contains a reflective inner surface.

9. The vehicular headlamp according to claim 8, wherein the reflective surface of the reflector and the reflective inner surface of the extension are substantially contiguous.

10. The vehicular headlamp according to claim 9, wherein the reflective surface of the reflector and the reflective inner surface of the extension form a substantially uniform concave shape.

11. The vehicular headlamp according to claim 1, wherein a second link member of said link members is supported by a second attachment piece, and

wherein the second attachment piece is integrally formed with the reflector and protrudes outwardly from the opening periphery of the reflective surface of the reflector.

12. The vehicular headlamp according to claim 1, wherein the attachment piece is not substantially located within the opening periphery of the reflective surface of the reflector.

13. The vehicular headlamp according to claim 1, wherein a majority of the attachment piece is located outside the opening periphery of the reflective surface of the reflector.

25. The vehicular headlamp according to claim 1, wherein the attachment piece originates at a position located substantially at the opening periphery of the reflective surface of the reflector and protrudes outwardly from the position past the opening periphery.

14. A vehicular headlamp, comprising:

a reflector which is connected to a lamp body at three points via first, second, and third link members, respectively, such that the reflector is tiltably supported by the lamp body, wherein the reflector is molded from a synthetic resin material; and

a lens provided in front of the reflector;

wherein at least the first and second link members are supported by first and second attachment pieces, respectively,

wherein the first and second attachment pieces are integrally formed with the reflector and protrude outwardly past an opening periphery of a reflective surface of the reflector when travelling from within said opening periphery along a direction which is perpendicular to an optical axis of said reflector,

wherein the vehicular headlamp further comprises;

an extension that is provided between the reflector and the lens and that covers an exterior of an opening perimeter of the reflector.

15. The vehicular headlamp according to claim 14, wherein the extension extends outwardly from the opening perimeter of the reflector such that the extension is located between the first and second attachment pieces and the lens.

16. The vehicular headlamp according to claim 15, wherein the extension fully blocks a line of sight from the lens towards the first and second attachment pieces.

17. The vehicular headlamp according to claim 14, wherein the extension contains a reflective inner surface.

18. The vehicular headlamp according to claim 17, wherein the reflective surface of the reflector and the reflective inner surface of the extension are substantially contiguous.

19. The vehicular headlamp according to claim 18, wherein the reflective surface of the reflector and the reflective inner surface of the extension form a substantially uniform concave shape.

20. The vehicular headlamp according to claim 14, wherein the first and second attachment pieces respectively originate at positions located substantially at the opening periphery of the reflective surface of the reflector and respectively protrude outwardly from the positions past the opening periphery.

21. The vehicular headlamp according to claim 14, wherein the first and second attachment pieces are not substantially located within the opening periphery of the reflective surface of the reflector.

22. The vehicular headlamp according to claim 14, wherein a majority of the first and second attachment pieces are located outside the opening periphery of the reflective surface of the reflector.

23. A vehicular headlamp, comprising:

a reflector which is supported at not less than three points through respective link members in relation to a lamp body in a tiltable manner, wherein the reflector is molded from a synthetic resin material;

a lens provided in front of the reflector; and

an extension that is provided between the reflector and the lens and that covers an exterior of an opening perimeter of the reflector,

wherein at least one of said link members is supported by an attachment piece,

wherein the attachment piece is integrally formed with the reflector and protrudes outwardly from an opening periphery of a reflective surface of the reflector,

wherein the attachment piece is connected to the reflector at a front edge of the opening periphery of the reflective surface of the reflector.

24. A vehicular headlamp, comprising:

a reflector which is connected to a lamp body at three points via first, second, and third link members, respectively, such that the reflector is tiltably supported by the lamp body, wherein the reflector is molded from a synthetic resin material; and

a lens provided in front of the reflector;

wherein at least the first and second link members are supported by first and second attachment pieces, respectively,

wherein the first and second attachment pieces are integrally formed with the reflector and protrude outwardly from an opening periphery of a reflective surface of the reflector,

wherein the vehicular headlamp further comprises;

an extension that is provided between the reflector and the lens and that covers an exterior of an opening perimeter of the reflector,

wherein the first and second attachment pieces are connected to the reflector at a front edge of the opening periphery of the reflective surface of the reflector.