Automobile signal lamp

• US 5,050,051 A
• Filed: 01/26/1990
• Issued: 09/17/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Company Limited
• Inventors: Masuda, Susumu, Machida, Tsutomu, Mochizuki, Toshiyasu
• Primary Examiner(s): Lazarus, Ira S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cox, D. M.
• Application Number:
  US07/471,578
• Time in Patent Office: 599 Days
• Field of Search: 302/61, 302/80, 302/80.1, 302/268, 302/336, 302/374, 302/375, 302/368
• US Class Current: 362/503
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/302 mounted in the vicinity, e.g. in the middle, of a rear window
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/14 Light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/15 Strips of light sources

Abstract

An automobile signal lamp being mounted on the inside of a rear window of an automobile and including a lens member, a body member and a light source member which is disposed in a space defined between the lens member and the body member. Connecting portions are integrally formed on respective lens member and the body member, and which portions cooperate in connecting the lens member with the body member.

Claims

1. An automobile high-mount stop lamp for mounting on the inside of a rear window of an automobile, comprising:

an outer lens member having a top plate portion and a front surface portion formed integrally with said top plate portion and depending downward from a front edge of said top plate portion, a plurality of spaced pawl pieces projecting from a lower end of said front surface portion, and a plurality of downward projecting receptacle pieces disposed along a rear edge of said top plate portion having retaining openings formed therein, said top plate portion, said front surface portion, said pawl pieces and said receptacle pieces being molded integrally with one another;

a body member having a base plate portion, a rear plate portion extending vertically upward from a rear end of said base plate portion, side plate portions extending vertically upward from opposite side edges of said base plate portions and connected to respective side edges of said rear plate portion, an extended portion extending forward from a front edge of said base portion with a rear facing step being formed between said base plate portion and said extended portion, a plurality of spaced retaining openings being formed in said base plate portion adjacent said step each receiving a respective one of said pawl pieces of said outer lens member, a plurality of spaced pawl members formed along an upper edge of a rear surface of said rear plate projecting rearward and with each received in a respective one of said retaining openings of said lens member, and a plurality of rearward projecting mounting pieces formed on said rear plate portion, said base plate portion, said rear plate portion, said side plate portions, said extended portion, and said pawl members being molded integrally with one another; and

a light source member disposed in a space between said outer lens member and said base member.

2. The automobile high-mount stop lamp of claim 1, wherein said outer lens member further comprises:

an elongated projection extending leftward and rightward along said top plate portion, and a plurality of forward projecting depending pieces formed on an upper front edge of said elongated projection spaced from one another along said upper front edge and defining retaining grooves between a front surface of said projection and an upper surface of said top plate portion forward of said elongated projection.

3. The automobile high-mount stop light of claim 2, wherein said receptacle pieces project downward and have retaining openings formed therein, and said spaced pawl members are formed along an upper edge of a rear surface of said rear plate, project rearward and are received in respective ones of said retaining openings of said receptacle pieces.

4. The automobile high-mount stop lamp of claim 3, wherein said base plate portion of said body member is formed in a stepped form such that a front portion thereof is slightly higher than a rear portion thereof so as to define a recess in said rear portion, a plurality of projections being formed on an upper surface of said recess defining retaining grooves for mounting said light source member.

5. The automobile high-mount stop lamp of claim 1, wherein a plurality of heat radiating openings are formed in said rear half portion of said base plate portion.

6. The automobile high-mount stop lamp of claim 1, wherein an engaging step is formed in a front edge of said extended portion.

7. The automobile high-mount stop lamp of claim 1, wherein a plurality of light-converging lens elements are formed in said front surface portion of said outer lens member.

8. The automobile high-mount stop lamp of claim 2, further comprising an inner lens member, said inner lens member having a generally L shape and having a generally horizontally extending mounting portion and a generally vertical lens portion formed integrally with said mounting portion, said mounting portion being fitted in a recess beneath said projection of said outer lens member.

9. The automobile high-mount stop lamp of claim 8, wherein a lower end of said lens portion of said inner lens member abuts an upper surface of said front portion of said base portion of said body member.

10. The automobile high-mount stop lamp of claim 8, wherein a lower end of said lens portion of said inner lens member is spaced apart from an upper surface of said front portion of said base portion of said body member.

11. The automobile high-mount stop lamp of claim 1, wherein a lower end of said lens portion of said inner lens member abuts an upper surface of said base portion of said body member.

12. The automobile high-mount stop lamp of claim 3, wherein said mounting pieces each comprise a boss portion having a bore formed therein for receiving a screw.