Specific Lamp Mounting Or Retaining Patents (Class 362/549)
  • Patent number: 8235553
    Abstract: A lighting device for a headlamp light source includes an connector to be connected to cables for supplying power to the light source, and attached to the bottom of a headlamp case that houses a light source, wherein the output connector is formed such that when the lighting device is attached to the headlamp case, the bottom of a connection opening to which cables of the output connector are connected is disposed at a higher position than a bottom face inside the headlamp case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Fumihiro Minami, Takashi Ohsawa
  • Patent number: 8231254
    Abstract: A lighting unit for vehicle headlights comprising a light-emitting diode device (500), and a housing (200), in the interior of which are arranged components of an operating circuit for operating the light-emitting diode device (500), wherein the housing (200) is composed of electrically insulating material, electrical connections (222) for the voltage supply of the lighting unit are embedded in the housing (200), and the housing (200) has adjustment means (213a, 213b, 213c) for orienting the lighting unit in a vehicle headlight; wherein the light-emitting diode device (500) is arranged on a surface (112) of a heat sink (100) composed of thermally conductive material; and wherein the heat sink (100) forms a bearing surface (120a) for an external cooling system, said bearing surface being arranged at an outer side of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Osram AG
    Inventors: Jürgen Beck, Siegfried Foerstner, Peter Frey, Christian Meier
  • Patent number: 8212277
    Abstract: In an optical semiconductor device module constructed by an optical semiconductor device having a light emitting portion on its top surface, a mounting substrate adapted to mount the optical semiconductor device thereon, at least one wiring pattern layer formed on a front surface of the mounting substrate, and at least one power supplying portion in contact with the wiring pattern layer, at least one of the power supplying portion and the wiring pattern layer is uneven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takaaki Sakai, Norifumi Imazeki, Soji Owada
  • Patent number: 8210725
    Abstract: A light bar has several modular light source heads which may contain different types of light sources as well as different technologies mounted in cages by shock absorbing grommets. The cages are mounted on a bottom member so that the heads can be arranged along opposite sides and the ends of the bottom members. The heads are captured, and assembled with the bottom member, by a top member which also captures translucent or transparent members or lenses along the sides of the light bar and, transparent or translucent end caps which may also provide lenses for the light source heads at the ends of the bar. The end caps are removably connected to the top and bottom members at the ends of the bar by screws extending through the end caps. The light source modules have the same wiring connected thereto by connectors from a connector board to connectors along the back ends of the light source heads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Start Headlight & Lantern Co., Inc.
    Inventors: R. Michael Datz, Robert J. Gross, Steven W. Neufeglise, Stephen T. Vukosic, J. Douglas Richardson, Michael F. Mastin
  • Patent number: 8197108
    Abstract: A bumper arrangement in or for a vehicle is provided that includes, but is not limited to a bumper, comprising at least one headlamp housing disposed at least partially in the bumper, that includes, but is not limited to a device for positioning the headlamp housing relative to the bumper, having a first receiving means, at which the bumper is attached, a first engagement means, which is firmly connected to the first receiving means, and the first engagement means is displaceably in engagement with the headlamp housing along an x axis, wherein the first engagement means has a fixed distance to the first receiving means along the z axis substantially perpendicularly to the x axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Heiko Eckert, Thomas Feid, Martin Likar, Ingolf Schneider
  • Patent number: 8192064
    Abstract: A low profile vehicle lamp assembly includes a housing having a top end, body with an interior portion and a lens portion covering the top end. The housing is adapted to fit within an opening in a surface such that the lens portion is substantially flush with the surface and the body is positioned behind the surface. In addition, circuitry is disposed within the interior portion of the housing and at least one light source is electrically connected to the circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Truck-Lite Co., LLC
    Inventors: Gary Johnson, Adam Wagner, Robert C. Bartkowski, Timothy A. DiPenti, Kurt L. Schwab, Rodney Ehrlich
  • Patent number: 8192052
    Abstract: A lamp is provided. Generally, the lamp comprises light source means for providing illumination in a frontward direction, retainer means for applying a frontward-directed load to the light source, and housing means for mechanically supporting the light source means and the retainer means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Sunnex, Inc.
    Inventors: A. Brian Jacobson, B. Mayur Pangrekar
  • Patent number: 8186862
    Abstract: A first exemplary embodiment of an automotive discharge lamp assembly includes an integrated high intensity discharge lamp and driver assembly having a high voltage starter/igniter and a ballast unit contained in a common housing with a high intensity discharge lamp burner extending therefrom. A separate automotive headlamp optical assembly is mechanically and electrically joined to the integrated high intensity discharge lamp and driver assembly. The joining assembly includes snap-fit clamps received on one of (i) the headlamp assembly and (ii) the integrated lamp and driver assembly, and received in a recess/groove on the other of (i) the headlamp optical assembly and (ii) the integrated lamp and driver assembly. Another exemplary embodiment includes at least one bayonet pin extending outwardly from one of (i) the integrated lamp and driver assembly and (ii) the headlamp optical assembly for operative receipt in a recess or groove formed in the other component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Agoston Boroczki, Csaba Horvath, Tamas Panyik
  • Publication number: 20120120675
    Abstract: Wedge-base bulb socket comprising: a supporting base provided with a coupling seat dimensioned to house the plug of the light bulb; two coupling and connecting members which are located inside the coupling seat, and are structured to separately hold the wedge-shaped plug of the light bulb fitted into the coupling seat, and to feed electric current to said light bulb; two electrically conductive elements which extend on the surface of the supporting base up to the edge of the entrance of the coupling seat, on opposite sides of said entrance, and then descend into the coupling seat up to reach each a respective coupling and connecting member; and two respectively-facing additional supporting jaws which are supported by the two electrically conductive elements so as to be located substantially on opposite sides of the entrance of the coupling seat, and structured to clamp the wedge-base light bulb fitted into the socket, so as to firmly hold said wedge-base light bulb in the wedge-base bulb socket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2010
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Applicant: AUTOMOTIVE LIGHTING REAR LAMPS ITALIA S.P.A.
    Inventor: Fabiano Cozzi
  • Patent number: 8177410
    Abstract: The invention relates to a lamp base comprising a plastic base part (320) that is provided with electric connections (61, 62, 63) for supplying power to at least one luminous means (21, 22) of the lamp that is surrounded by the lamp vessel (10). The electric connections (61, 62, 63) comprise contact sections (610, 620, 630) for connecting to power supply lines (51, 52, 53) of the at least one luminous means (21, 22), that protrude from the lamp vessel (10), and the lamp base is equipped with a sealing element (330) for covering the contact sections (610, 620, 630), said sealing element being fixed to the plastic base part (320) by a detent connection (3213, 3223, 3311, 3312, 3321, 3322). Said detent connection is preferably concealed. Said lamp base can be used, for example, in a motor vehicle headlight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Osram AG
    Inventors: Gerhard Behr, Peter Helbig
  • Publication number: 20120113669
    Abstract: A fog lamp cover mounting structure includes: a cover body that is assembled to a mounting portion at which a fog lamp is mounted on a bumper, that has an opening through which the fog lamp appears, and that has a first engaging portion that engages with the bumper; and a cover ring that is assembled to a peripheral portion of the opening of the cover body, and that has a second engaging portion that engages with the first engaging portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2011
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Inventors: Hitoshi SUEHIRO, Akihiro HIROSE
  • Publication number: 20120092886
    Abstract: A skateboard lighting system is provided which is mountable to a skateboard having a deck, a deck top surface, a deck bottom surface and a pair of supporting trolleys, each trolley being mounted to the deck bottom surface and defining a trolley wheel axis. The lighting system comprises a lighting system frame mountable to the deck bottom surface proximate a first trolley and at least one light mounted to the frame, the light including a first lighting element arrayed to direct light along a light axis, the light axis being substantially parallel to the trolley wheel axis. A power source is provided in electrical communication with the light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2010
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Inventors: Vance Calhoun, Bryan Bartlett
  • Publication number: 20120081914
    Abstract: A wiring structure of a rear combination light of a vehicle includes a light-side wire, a vehicle-body-side wire holding portion, a stay, a light-side wire holding portion and a wire coupler. The vehicle-body-side wire holding portion is mounted on a rear surface of the vehicle body to hold an intermediate portion of a vehicle-body-side wire. The light-side wire holding portion is mounted on the stay to hold an intermediate portion of the light-side wire on a distal end portion of the stay. The wire coupler is arranged between the rear surface of the vehicle body and a back surface of the rear combination light. The light-side wire is connected to the vehicle-body-side wire via the wire coupler in a state where the rear combination light is mounted on the rear portion of the vehicle body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Ono, Makoto Hattori, Koji Suzuki, Yoshiya Omuro, Masayuki Hojo, Katsuhisa Yamada
  • Publication number: 20120075880
    Abstract: The conventional light source unit has problems of an increasing size and radiation. According to the present invention, a direction “D” for mounting the connector 14 at a power source side to a connector portion 13 is perpendicular or substantially perpendicular with respect to a direction O-O for mounting a light source unit 1 to the vehicle light unit 100. As a result, the present invention can decrease a depth space of the light source unit and efficiently radiated heat generated by the light emitting chips 40 to 44, resistances RS, RT, RP, diodes DS, DT, and conductors 51 to 57 from a heat radiation member 8 to an outside.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2011
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Inventors: Masateru HAYASHI, Katsuaki Nakano
  • Patent number: 8136972
    Abstract: An assembling-type car lamp includes a lamp housing and a bulb unit. The lamp housing is provided with an assembling hole, and the assembling hole is provided on an inner wall surface thereof with a plurality of circumferentially spaced ribs to thereby define a notch between any two adjacent ribs. The bulb unit includes a base and a bulb mounted to the base. The base includes an end plate and a forward raised seat. The raised seat is provided on an outer wall surface thereof with a plurality of circumferentially spaced guide blocks located corresponding to the notches, such that an annular space is defined between the end plate and the guide blocks. The bulb unit can be removably assembled to the lamp housing by moving the guide blocks through the notches into the assembling hole and turning the bulb unit for the ribs to locate in the annular space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Eiko (Pacific) Ltd.
    Inventor: Ming-Hong Liao
  • Patent number: 8128139
    Abstract: A vehicle bumper and mounting bracket assembly for a lamp is disclosed. The mounting bracket has a geometry that facilitates mating with flanges disposed on apertures on the bumper. The mounting bracket also includes resilient tab locks configured to receive tabs on the flanges. Ledges of the mounting bracket are used to attach a lamp that is held in cantilever relation with the bumper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Christopher J. Stoffel, Nick A. Massaro, Steven U. Behm
  • Patent number: 8128265
    Abstract: A device for illuminating a target surface of a vehicle. The device includes a base and a top cover coupled to the base. The top cover includes a perimeter wall portion and an actuator portion coupled to the perimeter wall portion. The actuator portion extends generally downward between walls of the perimeter wall portion toward the base and is movable toward the base for changing the state of a switch upon application of an external force to the actuator portion. A light source is coupled to the base and positioned for illuminating the target surface through the actuator portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Stoneridge Control Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Shamitz, William Harrop
  • Patent number: 8104941
    Abstract: A retrofit vehicle mini lamp assembly for attaching a mini lamp to an existing opening in a vehicle surface includes a housing having a body with an interior portion and a lens portion covering a top end of the interior portion. The lamp assembly also includes circuitry disposed within the interior portion of the housing and at least one light source being electrically connected to the circuitry. An attachment member is also provided. The attachment member includes an aperture therein adapted to receive the housing, a rim adapted to abut the vehicle surface around the existing opening, and a spacer portion extending laterally from the aperture to the rim. The spacer portion includes an outer surface, wherein the lens portion of the housing is substantially continuous with the outer surface of the spacer portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Truck-Lite Co., LLC
    Inventors: Todd Kolstee, Timothy A. DiPenti, Gary R. Johnson
  • Patent number: 8100571
    Abstract: A lamp assembly includes a reflective structure, a mounting structure, and a collar. The reflective structure at least partially surrounds and reflects light from a light source. The mounting structure is formed as a unitary structure with the reflective structure. The mounting structure is elongated and extends longitudinally from a proximal end to a distal end. The proximal end is adjacent to the reflective structure. The distal end is spaced from the reflective structure. The collar is engaged with the mounting structure such that an interface surface of the collar contacts an interface surface of the mounting structure. A fastener engagement portion of the collar is configured to selectively engage a fastener to facilitate mounting of the lamp assembly. The reflective structure and the mounting structure are both formed from a metal material, and the collar is formed from a different material. Vehicles are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Thomas Kracker, Steven Kovach, Brent Andrees
  • Patent number: 8092056
    Abstract: The invention relates to a light module (1) for a lighting device for a motor vehicle. The lighting module (1) comprises a light source (3) for emission of electromagnetic radiation, preferably in the form of light which is visible for the human eye, and a reflector (2) for focusing the emitted radiation. At its apex, in the area of its optical axis (8), the reflector (2) has an opening (7) for holding a light-emitting part (5) of the light source (3). A reflector neck (9) is formed on the reflector (2), surrounding at least a part of the holding opening (7), to which reflector neck (9) another part (4, 6) of the light source (3) is attached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Automotive Lighting Reutlingen GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias Brendle, Michael Hamm, Ernst-Olaf Rosenhahn, Heike Froehlich
  • Patent number: 8083387
    Abstract: A deformable subassembly (1) for mounting of headlight in the region of a recess (5) in a wing (4) of a motor vehicle has a sealing channel body (6) connected to the wing (4) in the region of a joint with a motor vehicle bonnet. A headlight cup (3) for mounting the headlight is connected on one side to the sealing channel body (6) spaced from the wing (4). A lower side of the headlight cup (3) is connected to a bracket body (7) that is connected to a supporting structure (8) of the motor vehicle. The sealing channel body (6), headlight cup (3) and/or the bracket body (7) are configured to deform in the event of an impact with a pedestrian so that the risk of injury to the pedestrian is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c.F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Michael Soellner, Jorg Kusche, Reza Shakory-Tabrizi
  • Publication number: 20110310632
    Abstract: A room lamp for a motor vehicle, including a lamp assembly having a resin clip; a vessel having an opening; and a reinforcing member, wherein the resin clip is engaged with a peripheral edge of the reinforcing member through the opening of the vessel to integrally attach the lamp assembly, the vessel and the reinforcing member, the resin clip is formed generally in an inverted U shape, made of an elastic member and includes a base part connected to a housing, an inverted U shape part connected to the base part and a lock connected to the inverted U shape part, the resin clip has a protruding piece in a lower part of the lock, a side protruding piece is formed in a lower part side of the protruding piece and the protruding piece is located in an engaging recessed part of an opening peripheral edge of the vessel which has a clip abutting surface under a state the resin clip is engaged with the peripheral edge of the reinforcing member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2011
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Applicant: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shingo CHIBA
  • Patent number: 8070335
    Abstract: The invention relates to a fixture for a headlight unit, comprising fastening means (105) for attaching the fixture to a support part (102) of a front unit of a motor vehicle, a reception zone (106) for the headlight unit, and first and second spaced-apart elastic means (112, 114) between the fastening means and the reception zone. The reception zone extends between the first and second elastic means which are embodied such that the reception zone for the headlight unit can be translationally moved substantially perpendicular to the direction of travel of the motor vehicle in order to mount the fixture into a motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Faurecia Kunststoffe Automobilsysteme GmbH
    Inventors: Harald Becher, Pascal Joly-Pottuz
  • Publication number: 20110286231
    Abstract: It is important to securely fix a semiconductor-type light source 2 to a holding member 3 by means of a mount member 4 or a screw 5 so as to be durable against vibration of a vehicle. A vehicle lighting device according to the present invention is comprised of the semiconductor-type light source 2, the holding member 3, the mount member 4, and the screw 5. The semiconductor-type light source 2 is comprised of a board 20 and a main body. A placement face 30 on which the semiconductor-type light source 2 is to be placed is provided at the holding member 3. An opening portion 400 is provided at a site which corresponds to the board 20 of the semiconductor-type light source 2 of the mount member 4. A presser face 401 which is adapted to press the semiconductor-type light source 2 against the holding member 3 is provided at a circumferential edge part of the opening portion 400 of the mount member 4.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Inventor: Yoshihiro SUGIE
  • Patent number: 8061871
    Abstract: The invention relates to a lamp ring for a lamp, in particular an indicator lamp, which comprises a recess for coding and an additional recess for positioning the lamp ring in a base mounting machine. According to the invention, the second recess has an inner wall with a projection. The invention also relates to a lamp comprising a lamp ring of this type and to a base mounting machine for assembling a lamp of this type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: OSRAM AG
    Inventors: Franz Brandl, Jürgen Hallmeier, Klaus Knorr
  • Patent number: 8042979
    Abstract: A headlight case, that houses a light body, is made small in size. The light body includes a reflector, and a lens attached to the reflector. The light body is pivotally supported in the headlight case by bolts extending through a ring member extending around the light body, so that an aiming operation can be performed. The ring member is connected to the light body behind the lens, and is locked to the headlight case at a position spaced away from an open edge thereof. A ring body of the ring member has an outer shape smaller than a maximum outer shape of the light body. A rim, to be fitted around the open end of the headlight case, has a lead that extends toward a position spaced away from the open end of the headlight case, to be fitted into a concave part of the headlight case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Osugi, Naoki Murasawa
  • Patent number: 8033703
    Abstract: A fastener for a vehicle includes a fastener head. A lamp stalk extends in a first direction from the fastener head, and a vehicle stalk extending in a second direction from the fastener head. The lamp stalk includes a plurality of protruding rings and the vehicle stalk includes a threaded engagement portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Rodney R. Bryce, Gregory G. Gordon
  • Patent number: 8029177
    Abstract: A lighting device with at least one lighting unit for vehicles, preferably motor vehicles. The lighting device comprises at least one illuminant unit with one circuit board, and with at least one illuminant attached to the circuit board, connected to the conductive paths of the circuit board through contacts. The illuminant is positioned at the front face of the circuit board in order to configure the lighting device so that it can be manufactured simply and economically in a particularly flat configuration and in any curved shape. The lighting device is advantageously used in vehicles, preferably in motor vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: SMR Patents S.a.r.l.
    Inventor: Arne Schmierer
  • Patent number: 8016462
    Abstract: A motorcycle light bar assembly has two light bar arms that are mountable to a mounting bracket secured on a structural member of the front fork of the motorcycle. Each of the two light bar arms is a mirror image of the other and includes a first portion that extends along an axis in an X direction and a second portion the curves off axis in a Y direction. The first portion of each of the light bar arms is mountable to the mounting bracket. A lighting component is connectable to a free end of each of the second portions of the two light bar arms. Mounted to the mounting bracket in a first configuration the free ends of the two light bar arms are positioned forward of the axis of the respective first portions. Mounted to the mounting bracket in a second configuration, the free ends of the two light bar arms are positioned rearward of the axis of the respective first portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Kuryakyn Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: Darron B. May
  • Patent number: 8016469
    Abstract: A ceramic board is formed in an almost rectangular shape and has one side surface of an outer peripheral surface formed as an abutting surface, which is caused to abut on positioning surfaces of a radiating member, and one surface in a vertical direction formed as a device disposing surface on which a semiconductor light emitting device is to be disposed. Predetermined conductive patterns are formed on the ceramic board. A light emitting portion has a semiconductor light emitting device. A pair of positive and negative planar electrode portions are formed on the ceramic board and connected to the semiconductor light emitting device through the conductive patterns. At least a part of the pair of planar electrode portions are set to be exposure regions exposed to the device disposing surface of the ceramic board and the exposure regions are positioned in portions other than a portion linked to the abutting surface in an outer peripheral portion of the device disposing surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignees: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd., Nichia Corporation
    Inventors: Hitoshi Takeda, Tsukasa Tokida, Kazunori Watanabe, Masato Ono
  • Patent number: 7993041
    Abstract: A track and roller system for guiding and supporting a sliding tarpaulin for covering a flat-bed trailer and for supporting at least one light means. The track and roller system comprises a track for supporting for a plurality of rollers and a mounting bar. The rollers are connected to base portions of sliding supports for the tarpaulin. The track has at least one interlocking element. The mounting bar supports the at least one light means below the track. The mounting bar has an outwardly facing supporting portion for supporting the at least one light means and an interlocking portion connected to the supporting portion. The interlocking portion has at least one interlocking element for interlocking with the at least one interlocking element of the track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Petelka Investments Ltd.
    Inventor: Brian W. Petelka
  • Patent number: 7988336
    Abstract: A mounting collar on a light fixture provides a compressive force between the illumination module and a light fixture. For example, a mounting collar that is fixed to the light fixture may engage with an illumination module to deform elastic mounting members on the illumination module to generate the compressive force. The mounting collar may include tapered features on first and second members that are moveable with respect to each other and that when engaged generate the compressive force. The mounting collar may include elastic mounting members on first and second members that move with respect to each other, wherein the movement deforms the elastic mounting members to generate the compressive force. The mounting collar may include an elastic member, wherein movement movement of the mounting collar relative to a light fixture deforms the elastic member to generate the compressive force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Xicato, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerard Harbers, Gregory W. Eng, Christopher R. Reed, Peter K. Tseng, John S. Yriberri
  • Patent number: 7985012
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a head lamp. The head lamp includes a light source emitting light, a reflection plate reflecting the emitted light toward a lens, and a shield integrally formed with the reflection plate to intercept a portion of the light illuminated toward the lens. The head lamp can accurately adjust an illumination pattern of light through a reduction of assembly tolerance between components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: You Kun An
  • Patent number: 7985014
    Abstract: A light source module is provided. The light source module includes a light emitting element; a module substrate on which the light emitting element is mounted; a support member comprising a position reference section; and a fixing member which fixes the module substrate to the support member. The module substrate includes a positioning section which determines a position of the module substrate; and a displacement force generation section which imparts a displacement force onto the module substrate so as to bring the positioning section into contact with the position reference section of the support member when the fixing member is fastened to the support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hironori Tsukamoto
  • Patent number: 7980732
    Abstract: An projector type lamp includes a casing formed with a front open end and configured by connecting an upper casing member and a lower casing member to each other; a concave mirror formed on an inside face of the casing; a light source provided at the first focal point of the concave mirror; a convex lens configured to be held between the upper casing member and the lower casing member at the front open end of the casing and adapted to refract a reflected light that is emitted from the light source and reflected on the concave mirror so as to project a substantially parallel pencil beam forward from the project type lamp; provisional fixers provided on the upper casing member and the lower casing member respectively and configured to latch one another so as to provisionally fix the casing members to one another in place; and a fastener configured to fasten the provisionally-fixed casing members together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Ichikoh Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Takayuki Kawamura
  • Patent number: 7972047
    Abstract: A headlight unit having a virtual pivot center provided at a position different from a supported position to a vehicle body. Two, upper and lower headlight supporting portions spaced apart from each other are provided at a rear portion of a headlight unit The upper headlight supporting portion on each side includes a guide shaft formed on a support member of a radiator cover and a groove formed on an upper base portion of the headlight unit. The lower headlight supporting portion on each side includes an elongated hole formed through the support member of the radiator cover and a bolt threadedly engaged with a lower base portion of the headlight unit. The guide shaft and the bolt slide in the groove and the elongated hole, respectively, for performing the swing motion of the headlight unit about the virtual pivot center C to perform an adjustment of an optical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuya Shiokawa, Koji Aoki
  • Patent number: 7972054
    Abstract: A lighting assembly that has a light fixture and an LED light module is provided. One or more resilient members generate a compression force when the LED light module is removably coupled to the light fixture to thereby exert a generally axial force on the LED light module to resiliently maintain the LED light module in resilient contact with the light fixture or socket of the light fixture to thereby resiliently couple the LED light module to the light fixture or socket of the light fixture. One or both of the LED light module and light fixture have one or more engaging members that extend radially from a circumferential surface thereof, and one or both of the LED light module and the light fixture have one or more slots configured to removably receive the one or more engaging members therein when coupling the LED light module to the light fixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Journée Lighting, Inc.
    Inventors: Clayton Alexander, Brandon S. Mundell
  • Patent number: 7967488
    Abstract: A breakable structure of a headlamp for vehicles is partially broken and deformed when an impact force is applied to the headlamp. The breakable structure of the present invention includes at least a separable member provided in the junction of the headlamp housing and the headlamp lens, the separable member being separated from the junction of the headlamp and the headlamp lens when an impact force is applied thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Seung Hyun Bae
  • Publication number: 20110122643
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a lighting unit for vehicles, comprising a light source arranged on a circuit board and further comprising an optical attachment mounted in the direction of light emission in front of the light source, said optical attachment comprising at least one holding turret on one of the sides facing the circuit board such that, at its mounting position, the holding turret slots into a hole drilled into the circuit board, wherein the optical attachment is positive-locking to a holding body arranged on one of the sides facing away from the light source, wherein the holding body is molded to a carrier frame, and wherein the holding body or the carrier frame snaps on to the optical attachment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Applicant: HELLA KGaA HUECK & CO.
    Inventors: Heinz-Uwe Spork, Sonia Martinez, David Hanuschkiewitz
  • Patent number: 7946745
    Abstract: A system for mounting a headlight on a motor vehicle comprising a rigid housing closed by a protective glass. The system comprising: a first connecting element fixed to the headlight, a second connecting element fixed to the motor vehicle, the first and second connecting elements being assembled so as to slide one in the other. The first and second connecting elements are curved and mounted at least partially about a center of rotation of the headlight providing rotational movement of the headlight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventors: Christophe Baert, Malik Bakacha
  • Publication number: 20110115259
    Abstract: A utility vehicle includes a cover provided to cover an instrument panel in front of a driver seat, a hood which is configured to cover a space between a pair of right and left front wheels from above in front of the cover and is pivotable around a front end portion thereof so as to open and close, a stopper mechanism configured to retain the hood in a closed position, and a positioning mechanism configured to position the hood in the closed position with respect to the cover such that a rear end portion of the hood is fitted to a front end portion of the cover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2009
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Applicant: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Fumio Mizuta
  • Publication number: 20110115260
    Abstract: A utility vehicle includes a vehicle body frame, a cabin frame coupled to an upper portion of the vehicle body frame, a cover coupled to the vehicle body frame so as to cover an instrument panel in front of a driver seat, and a hood. The hood is configured to cover a space between a pair of right and left front wheels from above in front of the cover and is pivotable around a front end portion thereof so as to open and close. A rear end portion of the hood is fitted to a front end portion of the cover and a rear end of the hood is located in front of a front end of the cabin frame, in a state where the hood is in a closed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2009
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Applicant: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Fumio Mizuta
  • Patent number: 7931394
    Abstract: A vehicle light assembly that includes a light cover and a cap is described. The light cover includes a light blocking, sealing rib that prevents undesirable light leakage around a housing of the light assembly. The cap includes one or more retention members that upon attachment of the cap to the light cover, prevent unintended detachment of the cap from the light cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Nicholas Goldsberry
  • Patent number: 7926982
    Abstract: An LED illumination device includes a lampshade and a light engine arranged on the lampshade. The lampshade defines a room therein. The light engine includes a heat dissipation member, and a plurality of LEDs arranged on the heat dissipation member and received in the room of the lampshade. The heat dissipation member includes a heat pipe and a heat sink. The heat pipe forms a planar absorbing surface and a dissipating surface opposite to the absorbing surface. The absorbing surface of the heat pipe attaches to the LEDs to absorb heat therefrom. The heat sink includes a base attaching to the dissipating surface of the heat pipe to absorb heat of the heat pipe, and a plurality of fins extending from the base for dissipating heat absorbed from the heat pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Foxconn Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tay-Jian Liu
  • Patent number: 7922377
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp includes a light emitting diode (LED) unit supported by a metal-made support member. The LED unit is constituted by an integrally formed aluminum diecast product including an LED support portion for supporting an LED, a reflector including a reflecting face constituted by a face thereof opposed to the LED, a rib projected from a back face of the reflector, and a connecting portion connected to the metal-made support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuhiko Yamamichi, Shigeyuki Watanabe, Tetsuaki Inaba, Takashi Inoue
  • Publication number: 20110069481
    Abstract: A sunglass holder is removably clamped on a sunvisor in a car for fastening a pair of sunglasses or eyeglasses on the sunglass holder when not in use, and an illuminator such as a LED illuminator is detachably attached to the sunglass holder. The illuminator may be easily removed from the sunglass holder for portable illumination use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2009
    Publication date: March 24, 2011
    Inventor: Mike Chen
  • Patent number: 7911122
    Abstract: The invention relates to a lamp base with a plastic base part which has electrical connections for the power supply of at least one lighting device of the lamp, the lighting device being enclosed by a lamp vessel and the electrical connections being configured by metal pins. The first ends of these pins project laterally, perpendicular to the longitudinal extension of the lamp base, from the plastic base part in order to establish electrical contact with the lamp socket, and the second ends are adapted to connect a power supply wire for the at least one lighting device which wire is to the outside of the lamp vessel. The invention is characterized in that the plastic base part has a recess on a lower face of the plastic base part facing away from the lamp vessel, the two ends of the metal pins being disposed in the recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Osram Gesellschaft mit Beschraenkter Haftung
    Inventors: Gerhard Behr, Peter Helbig
  • Patent number: 7905632
    Abstract: The invention relates to a illumination module (10; 10a; 10b) for a headlamp or a illumination system of an automobile with at least one semiconductor light source (5) secured to a carrier element (4). The carrier element (4) in turn is attached to a heat sink (7) and fixed in place by means of a separate securing bracket (18; 18a; 18b) that is plate-shaped or is in the form of a wire-bale spring. The securing bracket (18; 18a; 18b) is attached to the heat sink (7) and includes a recess that at least partially surrounds the carrier element (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: Automotive Lighting Reutlingen GmbH
    Inventors: Karl-Otto Dobler, Andres Faehnle, Thomas Wezel
  • Patent number: 7901123
    Abstract: A light emitting module includes a semiconductor light emitting element disposed on a rectangular board, and a pair of plane-shaped electrode portions formed on the board and coupled to the semiconductor light emitting element. The pair of plane-shaped electrode portions is separated in first opposite directions, and a center of the semiconductor light emitting element is shifted from a center of the board in one of second opposite directions. End faces of the pair of plane-shaped electrode portions do not protrude in the one of the second opposite directions from an end face of the semiconductor light emitting element on a side facing toward the one of the second opposite directions. The first opposite directions are directions along which one pair of opposite sides of the board extend, and the second opposite directions are directions along which the other pair of opposite sides of the board extend.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hitoshi Takeda, Tsukasa Tokida, Hiroyuki Ishida
  • Patent number: 7896531
    Abstract: Providing an electrical assembly, which can protect electric components provided at the electrical assembly from damage, and minimize output amount of recycle material and waste material, a functional module as the electric assembly includes a lamp and a switch as the electric components. The lamp extends from a center area of a bottom wall of a housing so as to slant toward an outside of the housing according to going apart from the bottom wall. The switch extends vertically from one end of the bottom wall. Ends of the lamp and the switch far from the bottom wall project out of the housing. When the functional modules are transported to an assembling line, the pair of functional modules is stacked on each other so as to arrange the lamp face to each other in parallel, and fixed to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Kentaro Nagai, Yoshinori Hirayama, Shinji Yamada