Aimable vehicle lamp assembly

• US 20060044802A1
• Filed: 09/01/2004
• Published: 03/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Automotive Components Group North America (Lear Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: Chou, Shu-Hsiung, Pattitoni, Christopher Paul, Tiesler, John Marstan
• Granted Patent: US 7,073,930 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/287
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/76 for spotlighting, e.g. reading lamps spotlighting on or for specific fittings B60Q3/20; spotlighting in mass transit vehicles B60Q3/44
• 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: F21W 2106/00 Interior vehicle lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

An aimable lamp assembly is provided having a bezel, with an opening, in which the bezel is secured to a backplate. A housing assembly having a front housing and a back housing is disposed between the backplate and the bezel. A light source is disposed within the housing assembly. The back housing is connected to the backplate through a ball and a socket joint and the front housing partially protrudes through the opening in the bezel.

Claims

1. An aimable lamp assembly, comprising:

a backplate;

a bezel, having an opening therein, secured to the backplate;

a housing assembly, disposed between the backplate and the bezel, the housing assembly having a front housing and a back housing, the back housing connected to the backplate through a ball and socket assembly and the front housing partially protruding through the opening in the bezel; and

a light source disposed within the housing assembly.

2. The aimable lamp assembly of claim 1 wherein the light source is a light emitting diode.

3. The aimable lamp assembly of claim 2 further comprising a switch assembly electrically coupled to the light emitting diode.

4. The aimable lamp assembly of claim 3 wherein:

the bezel has a second opening therethrough; and

the switch assembly is disposed between the backplate and the bezel and partially protrudes through the second opening in the bezel.

5. The aimable lamp assembly of claim 4 wherein the bezel is a single piece bezel.

6. The aimable lamp assembly of claim 2 wherein the back housing further comprises a retainer member having a socket which engages a ball member of the ball and socket assembly.

7. The aimable lamp assembly of claim 6 further comprising a board member coupled with the light emitting diode wherein the board member is seated within the retainer member.

8. The aimable lamp assembly of claim 7 wherein the ball and socket assembly further comprises a post extending from the ball member and a backing member secured to the post which is connected with the backplate.

9. The aimable lamp assembly of claim 8 further comprising a bore through the retainer member to permit an electrical coupling member to extend from a switch assembly through the bore for communication with the board member coupled to the light emitting diode.

10. The aimable lamp assembly of claim 6 wherein the front housing further comprises a conical opening which extends from a narrow end positioned proximate the light emitting diode to a wide end.

11. The aimable lamp assembly of claim 1 wherein the housing assembly is pivotal about the ball and socket assembly.

12. The aimable lamp assembly of claim 11 wherein the front housing is pivotal about the ball and socket assembly such that it is positionable from a movable position to a blocked position in which an edge of the front housing is placed into contact with the backplate.

13. An aimable lamp assembly, comprising:

a housing assembly having a front housing and a back housing secured to the front housing;

a light source disposed within the housing assembly; and

a ball and socket assembly connected to the back housing such that the housing assembly is pivotally movable about the ball and socket assembly.

14. The aimable lamp assembly of claim 13 wherein the light source is a light emitting diode.

15. The aimable lamp assembly of claim 14 further comprising a switch assembly electrically connected to the light emitting diode.

16. The aimable lamp assembly of claim 15 further comprising a backplate connected to the back housing through the ball and socket assembly and a bezel secured to the backplate in which the front housing partially protrudes through an opening in the bezel.

17. The aimable lamp assembly of claim 16 wherein the switch assembly is disposed between the backplate and the bezel and partially protrudes through a second opening in the bezel.

18. The aimable lamp assembly of claim 15 wherein the back housing further comprises a retainer member having a socket which engages a ball member of the ball and socket assembly.

19. The aimable lamp assembly of claim 18 wherein the ball and socket assembly further comprises a post extending from the ball member and wherein a backing member is attached to the post and is securable to the interior of a vehicle.

20. The aimable lamp assembly of claim 18 further comprising a board member coupled with the light emitting diode wherein the board member has an outer rim that engages an interior of the front housing.