Headlamp

• US 7,258,475 B2
• Filed: 02/24/2005
• Issued: 08/21/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cat Eye Co Limited (Cat Eye)
• Original Assignee: Cat Eye Co Limited (Cat Eye)
• Inventors: Kurumatani, Toshimitsu
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Shea; Sandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): Truong; Bao Q.
• Application Number:
  US11/064,560
• Publication Number:
  US 20050189533A1
• Time in Patent Office: 908 Days
• Field of Search: 362/475, 362/476, 362/545, 362/547, 362/548, 362/507, 362/294, 362/372, 362/96, 362/218, 362/264, 362/345
• US Class Current: 362/547
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 6/029 characterised by the structure, e.g. casings
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/70 characterised by passive heat-dissipating elements, e.g. heat-sinks
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/83 the elements having apertures, ducts or channels, e.g. heat radiation holes
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2107/13 for cycles
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

In a casing of a headlamp, a substrate portion to which a light-emitting diode as a light source is mounted, and a battery case accommodating a battery for providing necessary power to the light-emitting diode are provided. The substrate portion is spaced apart from a partition disposed on the front side of the battery case, with spacing provided therebetween. The partition is provided with a vent hole, having an upper vent hole and a lower vent hole, for establishing communication of the spacing between the substrate portion and the partition with the space within the battery case, for circulation of the air. Thus, a headlamp capable of suppressing adverse effects of the heat generated from the light-emitting diode or the like on the elements mounted on the substrate is provided.

Claims

1. A headlamp employing a light-emitting diode, comprising:

a prescribed casing;

a battery case formed in said casing and accommodating a battery for providing prescribed power to said light-emitting diode;

a substrate portion provided in said casing, spaced apart from said battery case, and mounted with said light-emitting diode and serving as a heat sink;

a partition arranged on a side of said battery case to face said substrate portion, and being spaced from said substrate portion; and

a vent hole formed through said partition for circulation of the air between the space that is provided between said substrate portion and said partition and the inside of said battery case.

2. The headlamp according to claim 1, wherein said vent hole is provided at both an upper portion and a lower portion of partition that separates said spacing from the inside of said battery case.

3. The headlamp according to claim 1, wherein

said substrate portion includes

a substrate main body and

a holder provided on said substrate main body and to which said light-emitting diode is mounted,

said substrate main body being formed only of a metal plate, and said holder being provided to contact a surface of said metal plate.

4. The headlamp according to claim 3, wherein said metal plate is an aluminum plate.

5. The headlamp according to claim 1, wherein

said substrate portion includes

a substrate main body and

a holder provided on said substrate main body and to which said light-emitting diode is mounted,

said substrate main body including a metal plate and a metal foil formed on said metal plate with a resin interposed therebetween, and said holder being provided to contact a surface of said metal foil.

6. The headlamp according to claim 5, wherein said metal foil is a copper foil.

7. The headlamp according to claim 5, wherein said metal plate is an aluminum plate.

8. The headlamp according to claim 1, wherein

said substrate portion includes

an opening penetrating through said substrate portion and

a rivet mounted to said opening and connected with a terminal of said light-emitting diode and also made to electrically contact the battery housed in said battery case,

said rivet being a hollow rivet.

10. The hesdlamp according to claim 1, wherein said vent hole means comprises a first vent hole in an upper portion of said partition and a second vent hole in a lower portion of said partition.

9. A headlamp empolying a light-emitting diode, comprising:

a casing;

a battery case formed in said casing and accommodating at least one battery for providing power to said light-emitting diode;

a substrate portion provided in said casing, spaced apart from said battery case, and mounted with said light-emitting diode and serving as a heat sink;

a partition in said casing constructed and arranged to face said substrate portion, and being spaced from said substrate portion; and

vent hole means formed through said partition for circulation of the air between the space that is provided between said substrate portion and saud partition and the inside of said battery case.