Vehicular turn signal lamp

• US 5,287,101 A
• Filed: 12/18/1992
• Issued: 02/15/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Company Limited
• Inventors: Serizawa, Yukio
• Primary Examiner(s): Weldon, Ulysses
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHOW, DOON Y
• Application Number:
  US07/993,895
• Time in Patent Office: 424 Days
• Field of Search: 340/815.15, 340/479, 340/475, 362/61, 362/80, 362/297, 362/346, 362/268, 362/331
• US Class Current: 340/815.76
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/28 for indicating front of vehicle

Abstract

A vehicular turn signal lamp in which part of the direct light from the light bulb is reflected from the reflector of an inner cap and applied through the rear lens portion of an outer lens. Hence, an observer at the rear of (or in front of) the vehicle body can observe the lamp more positively, and the lamp gives a positive signal to the observer that the vehicle will turn. The turn signal lamp includes a lamp body having a reflecting mirror surface formed on at least a portion of an inner surface thereof, a light bulb mounted in a rear opening in the lamp body, an inner cap covering the light bulb, a reflector protruding from an outer surface of the inner cap for reflecting light from the light bulb rearwardly, and an outer lens engaged with a front opening of the lamp body and having a rear lens portion through which light reflected from the reflector passes. The rear lens portion extends beyond a side panel of the vehicle when the lamp is installed on the vehicle.

Claims

1. A turn signal lamp for a vehicle, comprising:

a lamp body having a reflecting mirror surface formed on an inner surface thereof;

a light bulb mounted in a rear opening in said lamp body;

a translucent inner cap disposed around and cover said light bulb;

a reflector protruding from an outer side surface of said inner cap laterally and forwardly of said light bulb for reflecting light from said light bulb transmitted through said side surface of said inner cap such that said light is reflected rearwardly of said turn signal lamp;

an outer lens engaged with a front opening of said lamp body and having a rear lens portion through which light reflected from said reflector passes without being reflected by said reflecting mirror surface, said rear lens portion extending outwardly beyond an adjacent side panel of said vehicle when said turn signal lamp is installed on said vehicle.

2. The turn signal lamp of claim 1, wherein a central body portion of said inner cap is in the form of a cup made of a synthetic resin having a cylindrical wall and a front wall having lensing formed therein.

3. The turn signal lamp of claim 2, wherein said front wall of said inner cap has Fresnel lens steps formed on an inner surface thereof and cylindrical lens steps formed on an outer surface thereof.

4. The turn signal lamp of claim 3, wherein said cylindrical lens steps extend in a lateral direction.

5. The turn signal lamp of claim 2, wherein said inner cap further comprises light emission panels protruding vertically from said cylindrical wall of said inner cap and extending parallel with a side of said vehicle.

6. The turn signal lamp of claim 2, wherein said reflector comprises a sector-shaped panel extending outwardly from said cylindrical wall of said inner cap and a reflecting surface formed on said sector-shaped panel.

7. The turn signal lamp of claim 6, wherein said reflecting surface is formed of vacuum-deposited aluminum.

8. The turn signal lamp of claim 6, wherein said reflecting surface is formed of an aluminum layer.

9. The turn signal lamp of claim 6, wherein said reflecting surface is flat.

10. The turn signal lamp of claim 6, wherein said reflecting surface is a diffusing reflecting surface.

11. The turn signal lamp of claim 6, wherein said reflecting surface is wavy.

12. The turn signal lamp of claim 2, wherein said inner cap further comprises a flange around a rear end of said cylindrical wall, said flange being fitted in a supporting step formed in an inside of said rear opening of said lamp body.

13. The turn signal lamp of claim 2, wherein said inner cap further comprises a mounting leg secured to a boss of said lamp body.

14. The turn signal lamp of claim 1, wherein said outer lens has lens steps formed in an inner surface thereof, including an inner surface of said rear lens portion.