Vehicle puddle lamp assembly

• US 10,493,906 B2
• Filed: 04/19/2018
• Issued: 12/03/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Favero, Kevin Joseph, Gardynik, Michael J., Frank, Steven, Gustafson, Kevin A., Murphy, Austin
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Bao-Luan Q
• Application Number:
  US15/957,351
• Publication Number:
  US 20190324362A1
• Time in Patent Office: 593 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0023 the element being a sensor, e.g. distance sensor, camera
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/247 for illuminating the close surroundings of the vehicle, e.g. to facilitate entry or exit for reverse drive B60Q1/22; by opening a side door B60Q1/323
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/263 Snap-in fasteners
• 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: B60Q 1/507 specific to autonomous vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/543 for indicating other states or conditions of the vehicle indicating taxis' state of hire or fare G07B13/045
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2400/40 Welcome lights, i.e. specific or existing exterior lamps to assist leaving or approaching the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2400/50 Projected symbol or information, e.g. onto the road or car body
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/1207 with lamps; with turn indicators
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1223 with sensors or transducers

Abstract

A vehicle puddle lamp assembly is provided herein. The vehicle puddle lamp assembly includes a housing having a housing retainer. A light source is supported by the housing. A cover is removably coupled to a base portion of the housing. An optical member is disposed between the housing and the cover. The optical member may include an image filter thereon. The image filter is configured to form a desired image pattern on a surface proximate the housing.

Claims

1. A vehicle puddle lamp assembly comprising:

a housing having a top portion, a base portion, and a housing retainer, the housing retainer including a first arm extending from the base portion towards the top portion and a second arm extending from a transition portion in an offset direction away from the housing;

a light source positioned within the top portion;

a cover removably coupled to the base portion of the housing, wherein the cover includes a cover retainer that extends into an interior cavity of the first arm and includes a release disposed externally of the interior cavity; and

an optical member disposed within a channel defined by the cover.

2. The vehicle puddle lamp assembly of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a pivot portion on an opposing side of the housing from the housing retainer.

3. The vehicle puddle lamp assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a reflector including a body that extends from a top portion to a base portion of the housing.

4. The vehicle puddle lamp assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a cover retainer configured to couple the cover to the housing, the cover retainer having first and second legs separated by a transition portion.

5. The vehicle puddle lamp assembly of claim 4, wherein the cover includes a locator disposed on an opposing end portion of the cover from the cover retainer.

6. The vehicle puddle lamp assembly of claim 1, wherein the first and second arms are resiliently deformable.

7. The vehicle puddle lamp assembly of claim 1, wherein the cover includes a cover retainer having at least one leg, the at least one leg extending into a cavity defined by a first arm.

8. The vehicle puddle lamp assembly of claim 7, wherein the first arm includes a protrusion and the at least one leg includes an extension, the protrusion and extension configured to contact one another to maintain the coupling of the cover to the housing.

9. The vehicle puddle lamp assembly of claim 1, wherein the cover defines a light output window and a channel surrounding the light output window.

10. The vehicle puddle lamp assembly of claim 9, wherein the optical member defines a rim portion that is disposed within the channel and an optical portion that provides the desired image pattern to emanate from the housing.

11. The vehicle puddle lamp assembly of claim 1, wherein the optical member includes an image filter thereon, the image filter configured to form a desired image pattern on a surface proximate the housing.

12. The vehicle puddle lamp assembly of claim 1, wherein the light source is configured as a projector lamp and the optical member is movable within the housing.

13. A vehicle puddle lamp assembly comprising:

a housing having a housing retainer, the housing retainer including a first arm retained within a void defined by an exterior member of a vehicle;

a light source supported by the housing; and

a cover removably coupled to the housing, the cover including a cover retainer that extends from the cover into an interior cavity of the first arm and including a release disposed externally of the interior cavity.

14. The vehicle puddle lamp assembly of claim 13, further comprising:

an optical member disposed between the housing and the cover.

15. The vehicle puddle lamp assembly of claim 13, wherein the cover retainer is disposed within at least a portion of the housing retainer.

16. The vehicle puddle lamp assembly of claim 14, wherein the optical member includes an image filter thereon, the image filter configured to form a desired image pattern on a surface proximate the housing.

17. A vehicle puddle lamp assembly comprising:

a housing rotatably coupled to a support member of a vehicle via a housing retainer, wherein the housing retainer includes a first arm defining an interior cavity;

a light source supported by the housing;

a cover defining a light output window and a channel surrounding the light output window, wherein the cover is removably coupled to the housing via a cover retainer that extends into the interior cavity of the first arm; and

an optical member disposed within the channel, the light source configured to emit light through the optical member and the light output window.

18. The vehicle puddle lamp assembly of claim 17, wherein the housing retainer defines a cavity on the cover retainer that is at least partially disposed within the cavity.

19. The vehicle puddle lamp assembly of claim 18, further comprising:

a protrusion extending from the housing into the cavity; and

an extension protruding from the cover retainer, wherein the extension contacts the protrusion to retain the cover in relation to the housing.

20. The vehicle puddle lamp assembly of claim 17, wherein the optical member includes an image filter thereon, the image filter configured to form a desired image pattern on a surface proximate the housing.