Dual function console lamp with integrated switching

• US 7,261,450 B2
• Filed: 05/27/2004
• Issued: 08/28/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Automotive Components Group North America (Lear Corporation)
• Original Assignee: International Automotive Components Group North America (Lear Corporation)
• Inventors: Tiesler, John M
• Primary Examiner(s): Husar; Stephen F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dunwiddie; Meghan K.
• Application Number:
  US10/709,785
• Publication Number:
  US 20050276056A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,188 Days
• Field of Search: 362/471, 362/479, 362/490, 362/492, 362/802, 362/269, 362/287, 362/427, 362/523
• US Class Current: 362/523
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/51 for mounting lighting devices onto vehicle interior, e.g. onto ceiling or floor
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/74 for overall compartment lighting; for overall compartment lighting in combination with specific lighting, e.g. room lamps with reading lamps general lighting mounted on specific fittings B60Q3/20; general lighting for mass transit vehicles B60Q3/43
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/82 Switches specially adapted for vehicle interior lighting, e.g. switching by tilting the lens
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/04 Recessed bases
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/30 Pivoted housings or frames
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/04 the elements being switches safety devices F21V25/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/802 Position or condition responsive switch

Abstract

Dual function console lighting with integrated switching includes a lamp housing held by a retainer within a bezel secured to a vehicle interior. The lamp housing includes eccentrically positioned collinear pivot arms relative to a central longitudinal axis of a lamp positioned within the housing. The pivot arms engage the retainer to hold the lamp housing within the retainer while allowing the lamp housing to pivot relative to the plane of the retainer. The retainer is rotatably held within the bezel by a plurality of snap features spaced around its circumference, allowing the lamp housing and retainer to rotate. A latching mechanism holds the lamp housing in a retracted position with a lens of the housing preferably substantially flush relative to immediately surrounding portions of the bezel. A spring provides a force to pivot the housing about the pivot arms to a second position when the latch is released. An integrated switch is operated by movement of the housing between the first and second positions to turn the lamp on in the extended position. A second switch is provided to select manual or automatic operation of the lamp when in the retracted position. Automatic operation may be actuated by a remotely located auxiliary switch, such as a door switch, for example. The lamp housing preferably includes an integrated lens that includes a protrusion to facilitate rotation of the housing within the retainer. A dimple may also be providing in the lens to facilitate operation of the integrated switch.

Claims

1. A dual function console lamp comprising:

a bezel having at least one lamp housing aperture;

a lamp housing having eccentrically positioned outwardly extending collinear pivot pins that allow the lamp housing to pivot from a retracted dome lighting position in a plane generally parallel to the bezel, out of the plane to an extended reading light position;

a retainer for rotatably securing the lamp housing to the bezel so that the lamp housing can rotate about an axis generally normal to the bezel; and

a switch operated by movement of the lamp housing between the retracted and extended positions.

2. The dual function console lamp of claim 1 further comprising:

a manually operated switch to control illumination of a lamp within the lamp housing when the lamp housing is in the retracted position.

3. The dual function console lamp of claim 1 wherein the lamp housing includes a reflector portion and a lens portion, the lens portion being substantially flush or recessed relative to surrounding portions of the bezel when in the retracted position.

4. The dual function console lamp of claim 1 wherein the lamp housing includes a reflector portion and a lens portion, the lens portion having a dimple feature to facilitate movement of the lamp housing between the retracted and extended positions.

5. The dual function console lamp of claim 1 wherein the lamp housing includes a reflector portion and a lens portion, the lens portion having a protrusion to facilitate rotation of the lamp housing in the plane generally parallel to the retainer.

6. The dual function console lamp of claim 1 wherein the bezel includes a plurality of retaining members disposed about the aperture and wherein the retainer includes a flange that engages the plurality of retaining members.

7. The dual function console lamp of claim 6 wherein the lamp housing includes a protrusion that extends between adjacent retaining members to limit rotation of the lamp housing.

8. The dual function console lamp of claim 1 wherein the retainer includes a latching assembly to releasably hold the lamp housing in the retracted position.

9. The dual function console lamp of claim 1 further comprising a spring positioned to exert a moment about the pivot pins to oppose movement from the extended to the retracted position.

10. The dual function console lamp of claim 1 wherein the housing includes a striker rib that actuates the switch when the housing assembly moves between the extended and retracted positions.

11. A console lamp for a vehicle interior, the lamp comprising:

a bezel having a plurality of lamp housing apertures, a main switch aperture, and a plurality of retaining members positioned around each lamp housing aperture;

a lamp housing corresponding to each lamp housing aperture, the lamp housing having non-diametrically positioned pivot pins that allow the lamp housing to pivot from a retracted dome lighting position to an extended reading light position, the lamp housing also including a latch striker and a switch striker;

a retainer ring having a flange for engaging the retaining members of a corresponding lamp housing aperture for rotatably securing the lamp housing to the bezel so that the retainer ring and lamp housing can rotate within the bezel, the retainer ring including a plurality of pivot apertures cooperating with the pivot pins to pivotally hold the lamp housing within the retainer and a mounting flange for mounting a latching mechanism;

a latching mechanism secured to the mounting flange for releasably holding the latch striker and the lamp housing in the retracted position;

a spring engaging the lamp housing and exerting a force to move the lamp housing from the retracted position to the extended position when the latch striker is released by the latching mechanism;

a hidden switch operated by the switch striker when moving the lamp housing between the retracted and extended positions to illuminate an associated lamp within the lamp housing when the lamp housing is in the extended position; and

a main switch extending through the switch aperture of the bezel to operate the lamp when the lamp housing is in the retracted position.

12. The console lamp of claim 11 wherein the lamp housing comprises a reflector portion and a lens portion permanently fixed together.

13. The console lamp of claim 12 wherein the lens portion of the lamp housing includes a dimple to facilitate movement of the lamp housing between the extended and retracted positions.

14. The console lamp of claim 12 wherein the lens portion of the lamp housing includes a rib to facilitate rotation of the lamp housing and retainer within the bezel.

15. The console lamp of claim 11 wherein the main switch includes a first position for providing power to a lamp within the lamp housing when in the retracted position, a second position for blocking power to the lamp when in the retracted position, and a third position for operating the lamp when in the retracted position based on operation of an auxiliary switch.

16. The console lamp of claim 11 wherein the spring is held by the retainer.

17. A dual function console lamp for a vehicle interior, the lamp comprising:

a bezel defining a first plane;

a housing disposed within an aperture of the bezel and adapted to receive a lamp, the housing being pivotable about a first axis to extend at an angle out of the first plane relative to the bezel to provide illumination to a first target area and to retract substantially flush with the bezel in the first plane to provide illumination to a second target area, the housing being rotatable within the first plane about a second axis; and

a switch operable by movement of the housing, wherein the switch provides power to the lamp when the housing is pivoted out of the first plane.

18. The dual function console lamp of claim 17 further comprising a spring arranged to provide a force tending to move the housing out of the first plane.

19. The dual function console lamp of claim 18 further comprising a latching mechanism operable to selectively hold the housing in the first plane against the force of the spring.