Light for vehicles, preferably for motor vehicles

• US 7,500,771 B2
• Filed: 11/04/2005
• Issued: 03/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ODELO GmbH (Bayraktarlar Holding AS), Visiocorp Patents S.a.r.l.
• Original Assignee: ODELO GmbH (Bayraktarlar Holding AS), Visiocorp Patents S.a.r.l.
• Inventors: Schmierer, Arne
• Primary Examiner(s): TON, ANABEL
• Application Number:
  US11/266,818
• Publication Number:
  US 20060120097A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,222 Days
• Field of Search: 362/494, 362/559, 362/560
• US Class Current: 362/494
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2665 on rear-view mirrors lighting devices for vehicle interior on or for rear-view mirrors B60Q3/258
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/14 Light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/19 Attachment of light sources or lamp holders

Abstract

Light for vehicles, preferably for motor vehicles. The light has a housing having at least a housing front part and a housing rear wall, said housing being provided with at least one lighting source whose rays pass to the outside. In order to design the light such that it can be manufactured easily and economically in any desired conformation, the lighting source is attached to a lighting source carrier whose conformation corresponds at least in part to the inside contour of the light housing. The light is advantageously used for motor vehicles.

Claims

1. A light for a vehicle comprising:

at least one light source;

a light source carrier for operably holding said at least one light source;

a transparent housing having at least a front part, a housing rear wall, and indentations provided in an inner side of said transparent housing front part for receiving and holding said light source carrier; and

a mirror housing having an opening wherein said transparent housing at least partially fills said opening of said mirror housing, wherein the conformation of said light source carrier corresponds at least in part to the inside contour of said transparent housing, wherein the lighting source carrier is a flexible conductive film.

2. Light according to claim 1, wherein the inside contour of the said at least a front part of said transparent housing is a U-shape in cross-section.

3. Light according to claim 1, wherein the inside contour of said housing rear wall is L-shaped in cross-section.

4. Light according to claim 1, wherein the inside contour of said at least a front part of said transparent housing is curved in design, at least in sections.

5. Light according to claim 1, wherein the lighting source carrier is in contact with the inside of the housing rear wall, at least in sections.

6. Light according to claim 1, wherein the lighting source carrier is, at least in sections, immovably clamped between the housing front part and the housing rear wall.

7. Light according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of the housing front part constitutes the lens of the light.

8. Light according to claim 1, wherein the housing front part has, in cross-section, the shape of a U with arms of equal or unequal length.

9. Light according to claim 1, wherein the housing of the light unit is closed.

10. Light according to claim 1, wherein the lighting source is an LED.

11. Light according to claim 1, wherein the lighting source is an incandescent lamp.

12. Light according to claim 1, wherein the lighting source is an electroluminescent film and has the same profile as the lighting source carrier.

13. Light according to claim 1, wherein the indentations are provided in the inner side of at least one arm of said at least a front part of said transparent housing.

14. Light according to claim 1, wherein the indentations are distributed over the length of said at least a front part of said transparent housing.

15. Light according to claim 1, wherein the lighting source is positioned to be immovable in the indentations.

16. Light according to claim 1, wherein the lighting source carrier is secured in place in its mounting position in the housing by at least one retention element.

17. Light according to claim 16, wherein the retention element is provided on said at least a front part of said transparent housing, as a single piece therewith.

18. Light according to claim 16, wherein the retention element has a projection protruding into the installation space for the lighting source carrier.

19. Light according to claim 18, wherein the projection engages over the lighting source carrier.

20. Light according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of lighting sources are arranged on one side of the conductive film.

21. Light according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of lighting sources are arranged on both sides of the conductive film.

22. A light source for vehicles, said light source comprising:

at least one light source;

a light source carrier for operably holding said at least one light source wherein the light source is an electroluminescent film;

a light source carrier for operably holding said at least one light source, wherein said electroluminescent film of said light source has the same profile as the light source carrier;

a transparent housing having at least a front part, a housing rear wall, and indentations provided in the an inner side of said housing front part for receiving and holding said light source carrier; and

a mirror housing having an opening wherein said transparent housing at least partially fills said opening of said mirror housing, wherein the conformation of said light source carrier corresponds at least in part to the inside contour of said transparent housing.

23. Light according to claim 22, wherein the inside contour of the said at least a front part of said transparent housing is a U-shape in cross-section.

24. Light according to claim 22, wherein the inside contour of said housing rear wall is L-shaped in cross-section.

25. Light according to claim 22, wherein the inside contour of said at least a front part of said transparent housing is curved in design, at least in sections.

26. Light according to claim 22, wherein the lighting source carrier is in contact with the inside of the housing rear wall, at least in sections.

27. Light according to claim 22, wherein the lighting source carrier is, at least in sections, immovably clamped between the housing front part and the housing rear wall.

28. Light according to claim 22, wherein at least a part of the housing front part constitutes the lens of the light.

29. Light according to claim 22, wherein the housing front part has, in cross-section, the shape of a U with arms of equal or unequal length.

30. Light according to claim 22, wherein said transparent housing of the light unit is closed.

31. Light according to claim 22, wherein recesses are provided in said transparent housing for the lighting source.

32. Light according to claim 22, wherein the recesses are indentations in the inner side of said at least a front part of said transparent housing.

33. Light according to claim 22, wherein the indentations are provided in the inner side of at least one arm of said at least a front part of said transparent housing.

34. Light according to claim 22, wherein the indentations are distributed over the length of said at least a front part of said transparent housing.

35. Light according to claim 22, wherein the lighting source is positioned to be immovable in the indentations.

36. Light according to claim 22, wherein the retention element has a projection protruding into the installation space for the lighting source carrier.

37. Light according to claim 28, wherein the projection engages over the lighting source carrier.

38. Light according to claim 22, wherein the lighting source carrier is a flexible conductive film.

39. Light according to claim 38, wherein a plurality of lighting sources are arranged on one side of the conductive film.

40. Light according to claim 38, wherein a plurality of lighting sources are arranged on both sides of the conductive film.