Socket for a lamp

A socket for a vehicle lamp, including a base housing and at least two contact spring elements fixed in the base housing for housing and electrically contacting the lamp. The contact spring elements of the socket housing are fixed to the base housing by means of a base slide having a slot recess for receiving a leg of a first contact spring element, and an abutment surface for contacting a leg of the second contact spring elements.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a base according to the preamble of patent claim1, and to a lamp provided with such a base, according to the preamble of patent claim17.

PRIOR ART

The base according to the invention can be used in principle, for a large number of lamps which have a base at one end. The main application area of the base, however, is likely to be in lamps for vehicle headlights which are inserted into a base via a pinched portion at one end.

A lamp with such a base is described, for example, in the applicant's application DE 10 2004 007 150, which was published after the priority date. These conventional lamps use a base with a metallic base part for accommodating the lamp. This metallic base part is inserted into a second, approximately cup-like plastic base part which is provided with two contact springs. These serve for making electrical contact with the lamp and are integrated in the second plastic base part by means of injection molding. The lamp-side end portions of the contact springs each contain a groove-like recess for accommodating power-supply leads of the lamp. In the case of this solution, the power-supply leads are inserted into the recesses of the contact springs and fixed by means of welding. The disadvantage with such lamps is that, on the one hand, an additional base part is required for accommodating the lamp and, on the other hand the operation for joining the lamp and contact springs, on account of the welding, requires high production outlay.

In order to simplify production, it is known, from the general prior art, for the contact springs to be configured, on the lamp side, with a clamp-like retaining region for accommodating the lamp and making electrical contact therewith. For this purpose, the lamp is inserted into the retaining region of the contact springs via a base-side pinched portion. This solution does indeed allow simplified production of the lamp since, in relation to DE 10 2004 007 150 from the prior art, no welding is necessary and it is possible to dispense with an additional base part for accommodating the lamp, but the configuration of the contact springs in the retaining region i.e. in the region in which the pinched portion of the lamp is accommodated and electrically contacted, means that this solution is not suitable for installation in the base by means of injection molding since, on account of the retaining region, encapsulation of the contact springs is only possible to a certain extent.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to provide a base for a lamp, in particular for a vehicle lamp, a lamp provided with such a base and also a method of producing such a lamp, which, in relation to conventional solutions, allows simplified production, along with minimal outlay in terms of equipment, and also improved securing of the lamp on the base.

This object is achieved, in respect of the base, by the combination of features of claim1, in respect of the lamp, by the features of claim17. Particularly advantageous embodiments of the invention are described in the dependent claims.

The base according to the invention for a lamp, in particular for a vehicle lamp, has a base housing and at least two contact elements which are fixed in the base housing and are intended for accommodating the lamp and making electrical contact therewith. According to the invention, the contact elements of the base housing are fixed in a form-fitting and/or force-fitting manner by means of a base slide which can be secured in the base housing. The contact springs may thus be configured with a retaining region for accommodating the lamp and making electrical contact therewith, in which case the securing of the lamp in the base is significantly improved in relation to DE 10 2004 007 150 of the prior art. This solution allows simplified installation of the lamp in the base and production which is likewise significantly simplified in relation to the methods of the generic type, since it is possible to dispense with the separate operating steps for forming the weld.

The base slide is preferably a base part which can be inserted into the base housing and serves to fix the electrical contact elements following insertion into the base housing.

In the case of a preferred embodiment of the invention, the base slide can be introduced radially into an accommodating portion of the base housing.

The base slide along with the base housing preferably forms, at least in certain sections, a common base surface and/or side surface. On account of the base being closed off via the base slide, penetration of moisture and dirt into the base housing is effectively prevented and the service life of the lamp is significantly increased.

According to a particularly preferred exemplary embodiment, the base slide has a multiplicity of protrusions which can be introduced into recesses of the base housing. The protrusions make it easier to slide the base slide into the base housing.

It has proven to be particularly advantageous to form the recesses of the base housing as longitudinal grooves which extend at right angles to a longitudinal axis of the base housing.

In order to ensure that the base slide is installed in the correct position in the base housing, at least two longitudinal grooves are formed with a larger cross section than the other longitudinal grooves.

The base slide is preferably fixed on the base housing via a locking element. In the case of a particularly preferred exemplary embodiment, the locking element has at least one latching nose. Since all that is required, in order to install the contact elements in the base housing, is for the base slide to be pushed radially into the base housing, the production of the base is simplified to a considerable extent (so-called one-touch solution).

The base housing preferably has at least two recesses for accommodating the contact elements, the recesses being arranged such that the contact elements are located essentially parallel to one another. The recesses are arranged in the base housing such that contact springs are fixed between the base slide and the base housing. This facilitates the installation of the lamp in the base.

According to one exemplary embodiment of the invention, the contact elements used are contact springs, of which the spring legs are preferably angled in relation to one another.

The base slide has an essentially slot-like recess for accommodating a leg of the first contact spring and an abutment surface for a leg of the second contact spring. As a result, following installation of the base slide, the contact springs are retained in the base housing via this base slide and yielding of the contact spring as the lamp is plugged in is prevented.

The contact springs preferably have at least one spring leg which can be brought into force-fitting and/or form-fitting engagement with the lamp.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the base can be brought into abutment with a headlight, in particular a vehicle headlight, directly or indirectly via an essentially annular flange. In order to avoid the penetration of moisture and dirt into the reflector housing of the headlight, a sealing element, for example a sealing disk may be arranged between the flange and the headlight housing. Instead of the sealing element, it is also possible to provide a spring element, for example made of metal, or a retaining ring for bridging tolerances of the headlight.

The base housing can preferably be rotated relative to the headlight and can be secured in a releasable manner thereon by means of a bayonet closure. This allows straightforward installation of the lamp on the vehicle headlight.

It is preferred to form the base housing, and/or the base slide from an electrically insulated material, preferably from a plastic. It is possible here for that region of the base which is arranged in the vicinity of the lamp vessel to consist of a high-temperature plastic material and for the base slide, which is subjected to less pronounced thermal loading, to be produced from a more cost-effective plastic.

The lamp according to the invention has a base and contact elements which are fixed in a form-fitting and/or force-fitting manner in the base housing by means of the base slide.

The method of producing a lamp according to the invention, the lamp being inserted into a base, and electrically contacted, via contact elements, has the following steps:

a) introducing the contact elements into the base housing;

b) pushing the base light into the base housing in order to fix the contact elements; and

c) inserting the lamp into a retaining portion of the contact elements.

PREFERRED IMPLEMENTATION OF THE INVENTION

The invention is explained hereinbelow by way of a vehicle-headlight discharge lamp which has a base at one end. As has already mentioned in the introduction, however, the base according to the invention is not in any way limited to such types of lamp.

FIG. 1shows a three-dimensional illustration of a base1according to the invention having a lamp2of type W16W, as are used for example in a vehicle headlight as an indicator or brake lamp inserted in it. Such a lamp2has a luminous means (not illustrated) which is connected to power-supply leads and is inserted into a lamp vessel4made of quartz glass. The lamp vessel4is sealed, and inserted into the base1via a pinched portion6, which is located at one end and has an essentially rectangular cross section. This base has a base housing8which, on the lamp side, has an installation recess10for accommodating the lamp2in the base housing8. The base housing8contains two contact elements which are configured as contact springs12,14and, in the region of the installation recess10of the lamp2, for a retaining portion16for accommodating the pinched portion6of the lamp2and are each electrically contacted to one of the two power-supply leads of the luminous means (not illustrated). The base housing8has, on the lamp side, an essentially cylindrical fastening portion18which has, on its outer circumferential surface20three radially projecting, approximately crosspiece-like connecting elements22(inFIG. 1, one of the connecting elements22is concealed by the fastening portion18), which engage in corresponding retaining elements of a headlight and can be secured there (not illustrated). On the side which is directed away from the lamp vessel, the fastening portion18merges into a flange24, which is annular at least in certain sections. This flange has an abutment surface26which, for the purpose of installing the base1in the headlight, can be brought into abutment against the headlight via a sealing disk28arranged on the fastening portion18. In the installed state of the base1, the sealing disk28is arranged between the flange24and headlight and prevents moisture and dirt from penetrating into the headlight. Following the flange24, on the side which is directed away from the lamp vessel, the base housing8merges into an essentially box-like grip part30. For the purpose of installing the base1on the headlight, the base is inserted into the headlight via the fastening portion18and secured on the headlight, by way of a rotary movement relative to that, by means of the connecting elements22—in other words, the connecting elements22, along with the retaining elements of the headlight, form a bayonet closure via which the base1can be secured in a releasable manner on the headlight. Introduction of the base1into the headlight is facilitated by a chamfer32formed on the end side of the fastening portion18.

According toFIG. 2, which shows a three-dimensional illustration solely of the base1fromFIG. 1, the contact springs12,14are arranged in the base housing8such that two end portions34,36of the contact springs12,14project radially out of the base housing8and can be electrically contacted via a contact plug (not illustrated). According to the invention, the contact springs12,14are fixed in a form-fitting and force-fitting manner in the base housing8by means of a base slide38which can be secured in the base housing8. The contact springs12,14may thus be configured with the retaining region16(seeFIG. 1) for accommodating the lamp2and making electrical contact therewith, in which case the securing of the lamp2in the base1is significantly improved in relation to the prior art. Furthermore, according to the invention, production of the lamps is likewise significantly simplified in relation to the methods of the generic type, since it is possible to dispense with the separate operating steps for forming a weld. According toFIG. 2, the contour of the base slide38is adapted to the contour of the base housing8such that the base slide38along with the base housing8forms a common base surface40and side surface42. As a result, moisture and dirt are prevented from penetrating into the base housing8and the service life of the lamp is significantly increased. In the case of the exemplary embodiment shown, the base housing8and the base slide38are formed from an electrically insulating plastic.

As can be gathered fromFIG. 3, which shows a three-dimensional illustration solely of the base housing8fromFIG. 2, this base housing has an accommodating portion44which is open at the bottom and on the end side and is intended for accommodating the base slide38(seeFIG. 2). The accommodating portion44contains two approximately groove-like recesses46,48for accommodating the contact springs12,14, the recesses being arranged in the base housing8such that the contact springs12,14can be brought into abutment against supporting surfaces52,54of the recesses46,48and can be secured between the base slide38and the base housing8(seeFIG. 2). A first recess46is arranged in a plug-side end portion54of the base housing8and is assigned to a first leg56(seeFIG. 4) of the contact spring14. The second recess48is formed on a connecting crosspiece64running between the side walls60,62of the base housing8, in the direction of a longitudinal axis58of the base housing8, and is assigned to a leg66of the contact spring12(seeFIG. 4). The recess48is provided, along the edges, with a chamfer68in each case, in order to facilitate insertion of the contact spring12.

As can be seen, in particular fromFIG. 4, which shows a three-dimensional illustration of the base housing8with contact springs12,14inserted, the depth of the recesses46,48corresponds approximately to the thickness of the legs56,66of the contact springs12,14, in which case the spring legs56,66each terminate flush with the top side of the recesses46,48. The contact springs12,14are pressed into the recesses46,48such that the spring legs56,66run essentially parallel to one another and project radially out of the base housing8.

According toFIG. 5, which shows a three-dimensional illustration of the base housing8, with contact springs12,14inserted, as the base slide38is being pushed in, this base slide is pushed into the accommodating portion44of the base housing8in a radial direction, i.e. 90° to the longitudinal axis58of the base housing8, as is indicated by an arrow. For this purpose the approximately L-shaped base slide38has four crosspiece-like guide protrusions70,72,74,76which can be introduced into guide recesses78,80,82,84of the base housing8. In the case of the exemplary embodiment shown, the guide recesses78,80,82,84of the base housing8are in the form of longitudinal grooves which extend, at right angles to the longitudinal axis58of the base housing8, into a radially widened region86of the accommodating portion44. The longitudinal grooves78,80of the base housing8, these grooves being at the top inFIG. 5, each extends, beyond the radially widened region44, into the side walls60,62of the base housing8(seeFIG. 3). The guide protrusions70,72,74,76make it easier to push the base slide38into the base housing8, and fix the base slide in the direction of the longitudinal axis58in the accommodating portion44of the base housing8. In order to facilitate installation of the base slide38in the base housing8, the two longitudinal grooves82,84of the base housing8, these grooves being at the bottom inFIG. 5, are formed with a larger cross section than the two longitudinal grooves78,80at the top. The base slide38is fixed on the base housing8via two locking elements90,92which are provided with a latching nose88and are arranged between the guide protrusions70,74and72,76(the locking element92is concealed by the base slide38inFIG. 5). For this purpose, the locking elements90,92are designed elastically and, once the base slide38has been pushed all the way in, engage behind an edge94(seeFIG. 3) of the base housing8via the latching noses88, in the region between the longitudinal grooves78,82and80,84.

As can be gathered, in particular, fromFIG. 6, which shows a three-dimensional illustration of the base housing8with the base slide38pushed part of the way in, this base slide rests, via a guide surface98on the top collar96on a supporting surface100of the base housing8, this supporting surface being set back axially in relation to the side surface42of the base housing8, and is guided via this supporting surface as it is pushed into the base housing8. Once the base slide38has been pushed in, a plug-side portion102of the collar96remains free and, this portion being provided with a rounded formation104. According toFIG. 6, the installation recess10of the base housing8is of an essentially circular design and is widened radially via two diametrically arranged rectangular grooves106,108. These serve for supporting the contact springs12,14in the installation recess10. For this purpose, protrusions126of the contact springs12,14which are bent through 90° can be brought into abutment against the narrow side112of the rectangular grooves106,108.

According toFIG. 7, which shows a three-dimensional illustration of the base slide38and the arrangement of the contact springs12,14relative to one another in space, the base slide38has, in the region between the guide protrusions70,72, an essentially slot-like recess114for accommodating the legs66of the first contact spring12and an abutment surface116for the leg56of the second contact spring14(seeFIG. 4). As a result, following installation of the base slide38, the contact springs12,14are retained in the base housing8via this base slide, and yielding of the contact springs12,14as the lamp1is plugged into the retaining portion16is prevented. The contact springs12,14have spring legs118,120which are angled through 90° in relation to the spring legs56,66and, on the lamp side, form the approximately clamp-like retaining portion16, which can be brought into force-fitting and form-fitting engagement with the pinched portion6of the lamp2and is in electrical contact therewith (seeFIG. 1). The lamp-side end portions112,124of the spring legs118,120each have two protrusions126which project beyond the spring legs118,120and are bent through 90° into the retaining portion16, in which case they form essentially parallel side surfaces128for guiding side surfaces130of the pinched portion6of the lamp2(seeFIG. 1) in the retaining portion16. Also formed on the spring legs118,120in each case are two clamp-like spring protrusions132which are bent toward one another and merge into hardening portions134which run in an axis-parallel manner in relation to the longitudinal axis58of the base housing8and have a retaining region136which is bent in an approximately C-shaped manner. The spring protrusions132are brought into abutment against the side surfaces130of the pinched portion6via the retaining regions136and thus fix the lamp2in the retaining region16(seeFIG. 1). The end portions34,36of the spring legs118,120, these end portions projecting out of the base housing8, are provided, on both sides with all-round chamfers138, which facilitate introduction of the contact plug (not illustrated).

The essential steps for producing the lamp1are explained hereinbelow with reference toFIGS. 1 to 5. In a first operating step, the contact spring14is introduced into the accommodating portion44in the direction of the longitudinal axis58of the base housing8and brought into abutment against the supporting surface54. The second contact spring12is then pushed into the accommodating portion44and brought into abutment against the supporting surface52of the connecting crosspiece64. In the following operating step, as is indicated by an arrow inFIG. 5, the base slide38is pushed radially into the accommodating portion44of base housing8. As the base slide38is pushed into the accommodating portion44of the base housing8, the leg66of the contact spring12penetrates into the recess114of the base slide38, and the leg56of the other contact spring14is guided on the abutment surface116of the base slide38(seeFIG. 7). The guide protrusions70,72,74,76of the base slide38, as the latter is pushed in, are guided in the longitudinal grooves78,80,82,84of the base housing8. Once the base slide38has been pushed all the way in, it is fixed on the base housing8via the locking elements90,92, which are provided with latching noses88. Finally, the lamp2is pushed into the retaining portion16of the contact springs12,14via the pinched portion6and, on account of the spring action of the fastening portions134, fixed in the base1.

The base1according to the invention allows a so-called one-touch solution since all that is required, in order to install the contact springs12,14in the base housing8, is for the base slide38to be pushed radially into the base housing, in which case it latches there automatically.

The invention discloses a base1for a lamp2, in particular for a vehicle lamp, having a base housing8and at least two contact elements12,14which are fixed in the base housing and are intended for accommodating the lamp2and making electrical contact therewith. According to the invention, the contact elements12,14of the base housing8are fixed in a form-fitting and/or force-fitting manner by means of a base slide38which can be secured in the housing.