Patent Publication Number: US-2016229334-A1

Title: Signaling and/or lighting device for a motor vehicle having a removable handling element for a light bulb support, and production method

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to the French application 1551048 filed Feb. 10, 2015, which application is incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to a signaling and/or lighting device for a motor vehicle, comprising a casing provided with an opening for access toward the interior of the casing, a closure cover closing off the access opening and a support for receiving a light bulb arranged in the casing. 
     The invention also relates to a method for producing such a signaling and/or lighting device for a motor vehicle. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Conventionally, such a signaling and/or lighting device for a motor vehicle comprises a casing which is closed toward a front face by means of a protective outer lens designed to allow the passage of the light generated by the light bulb enclosed therein. At the rear face, the casing is provided with an access opening that is blocked by means of a closure cover which, when removed, allows access toward the interior of the housing and to the bulb. 
     The bulb may be designed for a high beam, low beam, position light, town light, turn indicator or hazard light function. 
     Currently, it is known to attach the bulb in question to the casing by means of a lamp carrier or a bulb-receiving support. This support is attached to the casing in a removable manner, for example via a bayonet system requiring the support to be moved by approximately a quarter-turn with respect to the casing. The bulb is also removably mounted on the support. The general arrangement of the assembly is generally such that the bulb faces the protective outer lens. 
     This solution has a principal drawback when the user wishes to change the bulb, for example out of necessity in the event of the bulb failing. The user must dismantle the support still bearing the lamp, withdraw this assembly in order to replace the bulb on the support, then re-fit, on the casing, the assembly consisting of the support and the new bulb. This operation requires the user to carry out a series of rotational and translational movements. This can prove difficult and troublesome if the support is not accessible for the user&#39;s hand. This problem increases with the new trend, for reasons of style, of placing the bulbs close to the protective outer lens, away from the region via which the bulbs are inserted into the casing; hitherto, it was usual to place the bulbs closer to the rear of the headlight and they were therefore more accessible. 
     Due to these difficulties, the user increasingly requires the services of a professional for replacing the bulb, with all the drawbacks that this involves in terms of service costs, immobilization of the vehicle, etc. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The object of the present invention is to resolve the drawbacks of the prior art set out above. 
     One additional objective is to find a solution which is simple, economical, user-friendly, reliable and which has good flexibility between various types of bulbs and various types of motor vehicles. 
     To that end, the invention proposes a signaling and/or lighting device for a motor vehicle, comprising a casing provided with an opening for access toward the interior of the casing, a closure cover closing off the access opening, a support for receiving a light bulb arranged in the casing, and a removable handling element by means of which it is possible to manually actuate the support to install and remove it with respect to the casing, the device comprising holding elements for the removable handling element by means of which it is possible to reversibly attach the removable handling element to the casing or to the closure cover. 
     It may be done such that the removable handling element is arranged inside the casing when it is attached by means of the holding elements. 
     The removable handling element may comprise first coupling elements and the support may comprise second coupling elements complementary with the first coupling elements, the first and second coupling elements being able to mutually engage reversibly such that the signaling and/or lighting device varies selectively between a first configuration in which the removable handling element is attached by means of the holding elements and in which the first and second coupling elements do not mutually engage, and a second configuration in which the removable handling element is not attached to the device and is separated from the holding elements and in which the first and second coupling elements mutually engage so as to allow actuation of the support by the removable handling element for installation and removal of the former with respect to the casing. 
     The removable handling element may comprise a gripping region designed to be accessible from outside the casing when the second configuration is adopted. 
     The first and second coupling elements are preferably configured such that it is possible to transmit a torque from the removable handling element toward the support in order that the removable handling element being turned by the user turns the support with respect to the casing so as to install and remove it. 
     The holding elements preferably comprise snap-fitting elements borne by the casing and/or by the closure cover, the removable handling element being held by snap-fitting the removable handling element in the snap-fitting elements. 
     The holding elements may comprise a flexible connection element by means of which it is possible to permanently connect the removable handling element to the device, in particular to the closure cover, such that the removable handling element cannot be lost and cannot be separated from the casing or from the closure cover. 
     The removable handling element may comprise at least distinct first and second heads, the first head being configured such that it is possible to manually actuate a first type of support suitable for a first type of bulb, in particular a town light, to install and remove it with respect to the casing, and the second head being configured such that it is possible to manually actuate a second type of support, different from the first type of support, suitable for a second type of bulb, in particular a turn indicator bulb, to install and remove it with respect to the casing. 
     A method for producing such a signaling and/or lighting device for a motor vehicle may comprise a step of producing, in particular by casting, a single-piece part comprising the closure cover and the removable handling element connected to one another by a predetermined rupture region in order to make the region breakable and to allow the separation of the removable handling element with respect to the closure cover when a predetermined force is applied by the user to the removable handling element. 
     These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS 
       Other advantages and features will emerge more clearly from the following description of particular embodiments of the invention given by way of non-limiting examples and shown in the appended drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a cross section view of a first example of a device according to the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a front perspective view of part of the device of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic cross section view of a second example of a device according to the invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic cross section view of a third example of a device according to the invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a view of the closure cover when the removable handling element is held; and 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view showing the closure cover and the removable handling element when it is not held. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The invention will be described in the particular case of a signaling and/or lighting device  10  for a motor vehicle located at the front of the vehicle and constituting what is conventionally called a headlight. These features are not limiting with respect to the extent of the possible field of application of the invention presented herein below. 
     The signaling and/or lighting device  10  comprises a casing  13  provided with an opening  14  for access toward the interior of the casing  13 . The signaling and/or lighting device  10  is understood as an optical device, the function of which is to emit light through a transparent or translucent wall of the casing  13 , for the purpose of signaling and/or lighting within the context of use for a motor vehicle. 
     The casing  13  encloses and protects a light bulb which, in the figures, is labeled with the references  111 ,  112 . In the relevant technical field, such a light bulb  111 ,  112  is also known as a “lamp”. Depending on the nature of the signaling and/or lighting device  10  and on its function within the vehicle, the light bulb may correspond to a lamp  111 , the function of which is to act as a town light for example (as in the example of  FIG. 3 ), or a lamp  112 , the function of which is to form a lamp of a turn indicator or hazard light for example (as in the example of  FIG. 4 ). It might also be a bulb used in the context of a traffic light or a pedestrian crossing light for example. 
     The signaling and/or lighting device  10  comprises a support for receiving a light bulb  111 ,  112 , labeled with references  121 ,  122  in the figures. The support  121 ,  122  is arranged in the casing  13 . In the technical field of interest here, such a support  121 ,  122  is also known as a “lamp carrier”. Its structure is generally suited to the nature of the bulb  111 ,  112  which it is designed to bear and to supply with electricity. The bulb  111 ,  112  is reversibly mounted on the corresponding support  121 ,  122 , in the same way that the support  121 ,  122  is itself removably mounted with respect to the casing  13  such that it is possible to move, with respect to the casing  13 , the assembly consisting of the support  121 ,  122  and the bulb  111 ,  112  when changing the bulb  111 ,  112 . By way of example having the advantage of simplicity, the support  121 ,  122  is removably attached to the casing  13  by means of a bayonet system requiring the support  121 ,  122  to be turned by approximately a quarter-turn with respect to the casing  13 . 
     In particular,  FIG. 3  shows a first type of support, referenced  121 , suitable for a first type of bulb, that is to say the bulb which is referenced  111  and which is in particular a town light. The first type of support  121  can be mounted and removed with respect to the casing  13 . In addition,  FIG. 4  shows a second type of support, referenced  122 , which is different from the first type of support  121  and is suitable for a second type of bulb, that is to say the bulb referenced  112  which is in particular a turn indicator bulb. The second type of support  122  is also able to be mounted and removed with respect to the casing  13 . 
     The casing  13  is closed toward the front by a protective outer lens  15  designed to allow the light generated by the light bulb  111 ,  112  enclosed therein to pass through. The rear face of the casing  13  is closed off, at the level of the opening  14 , by means of a closure cover  17 . This may be removably attached by any suitable means. Removing this closure cover  17  allows access toward the interior of the casing  13  and in particular to the bulb  111 ,  112 , or at least to the support  121 ,  122 . 
     The signaling and/or lighting device  10  also comprises a removable handling element  16  by means of which it is possible to manually actuate, remotely, the support  121 ,  122  to install and remove it with respect to the casing  13 . In other words, the removable handling element  16 , which for example is in the general shape of a stem, is a tool by means of which it is possible to be manually gripped by the user at a first end of the tool and engage at a second end of the tool with the support  121 ,  122  to be mounted and to be removed. The movements applied to the removable handling element  16  by the user at the first end of the removable handling element  16  cause actuation of the support  121 ,  122  by the second end of the removable handling element  16 , in order to mount and remove the support  121 ,  122  by means of the removable handling element  16 . The removable handling element  16  may be considered as an extension permitting remote, manual handling of the support  121 ,  122  by the user, in the event that the latter cannot grip it manually, in particular if access through the opening  14  is difficult or impossible. 
     The signaling and/or lighting device  10  comprises holding elements  20  for holding the removable handling element  16 , which holding elements  20  are configured such that it is possible to reversibly and therefore removably attach the removable handling element  16  to the casing  13  or to the closure cover  17 . 
     According to the embodiment as illustrated, but in no way limiting, the removable handling element  16  is arranged inside the casing  13  when it is attached by means of the holding elements  20 . This makes it possible to protect the removable handling element  16  and, as far as possible, avoid it being lost when not in use. However, it remains possible to provide that the removable handling element  16  is arranged outside the casing  13  when it is attached by means of the holding elements  20 . The holding elements  20  will then be suitably adapted. 
     The removable handling element  16  comprises first coupling elements  22  and the support  121 ,  122  comprises second coupling elements  23  complementary with the first coupling elements  22 . The first and second coupling elements  22 ,  23  are able to mutually engage reversibly such that the signaling and/or lighting device  10  varies selectively between:
         a first configuration in which the removable handling element  16  is attached by means of the holding elements  20  and in which the first and second coupling elements  22 ,  23  do not mutually engage,   and a second configuration in which the removable handling element  16  is not attached and is separated from the holding elements  20  and in which the first and second coupling elements  22 ,  23  mutually engage so as to allow actuation of the support  121 ,  122  by the removable handling element  16  for installation and removal of the former with respect to the casing  13 .       

       FIG. 5  shows the first configuration whereas  FIGS. 3 and 4  show the second configuration. 
     The nature of the first and second coupling elements  22 ,  23  is not limiting per se. They may for example be of male and female type as shown in  FIG. 1 , suitable for transmitting a torque when they mutually engage, from the element  16  toward the support  121 ,  122 . 
     The second configuration corresponds to a state of the signaling and/or lighting device  10  in which the removable handling element  16  and the bulb support are able to move relative to one another. 
     The removable handling element  16  comprises a gripping region designed to be accessible from outside the casing  13  when the second configuration is adopted. Such an arrangement facilitates manipulation of the removable handling element  16  by the user when mounting and removing the support  121 ,  122  on the casing  13 . 
     According to one particular embodiment, the first and second coupling elements  22 ,  23  are configured such that it is possible to transmit a torque from the removable handling element  16  toward the support  121 ,  122  in order that the removable handling element  16  being turned by the user turns the support  121 ,  122  with respect to the casing  13  so as to install and remove it. 
     With reference now to  FIG. 5 , the holding elements  20  comprise snap-fitting elements  21  borne by the casing  13  and/or by the closure cover  17 . The removable handling element  16  is held by snap-fitting the removable handling element  16  in the snap-fitting elements  21 . The example of  FIG. 5  shows a particular arrangement in which the snap-fitting elements  21  are arranged on an internal face of the closure cover  17 , by means of which it is possible to place the handling element  16  inside the casing  13  when, on one hand, the handling element  16  is attached to the closure cover  17  via the snap-fitting elements  21  and, on the other hand, the closure cover  17  is attached so as to close off the opening  14 . Another advantage of this arrangement is to make the handling element  16  appear to the user when he removes the closure cover  17 , which will encourage them to use it. The reversible attachment between the closure cover  17  and the casing  13  may be achieved by any means. A seal, referenced  18 , arranged at the periphery of the closure cover  17  and secured thereto, may be interposed between the closure cover  17  and the casing  13  around the opening  14  so as to seal against water and air. 
     The snap-fitting elements  21  may alternatively be formed on an outer face of the closure cover  17  so as to hold the handling element  16  outside the casing  13  or on an inner or outer face of the casing  13 . 
     The holding elements  20  preferably comprise a flexible connection element  19  by means of which it is possible to permanently connect the removable handling element  16  to the signaling and/or lighting device  10 , in particular to the closure cover  17 , such that the removable handling element  16  cannot be lost and cannot be separated from the casing  13  or from the closure cover  17 . In particular, the objective is to connect the handling element  16  to either the casing  13  or the closure cover  17  when the second configuration defined hereinabove is adopted.  FIG. 6  shows the particular case in which the flexible connection element  19 , which is for example a cord, a wire, a cable or the like, permanently connects the removable handling element  16  to the closure cover  17 , even when the removable handling element  16  is not attached by the holding elements  20 . 
     In the example shown in  FIG. 4 , which is very advantageous in terms of flexibility and modularity of use between various types of motor vehicles and various types of bulbs, the removable handling element  16  has a two- or three-headed arrangement: it comprises at least first and second heads  161 ,  162  which are distinct from one another, in particular arranged at opposite ends of the handling element  16 . The first head  161  is configured such that it is possible to manually actuate the first type of support  121  suitable for the first type of bulb  111 , to install and remove it with respect to the casing  13 . The second head  162 , for its part, is configured such that it is possible to manually actuate the second type of support  122  suitable for the second type of bulb  112 , to install and remove it with respect to the casing  13 . One alternative, which is not shown, provides arranging the removable handling element  16  having three heads which are distinct and are respectively suitable for the cooperation with three types of supports for bulbs which are different from one another. 
     Each head  161 ,  162  may have, integrated therein, the second coupling elements  23  mentioned above, suitable for cooperation with the associated first coupling elements  22  borne by the corresponding support  121 ,  122 . 
     It is to be noted, however, as in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 3 , that the removable handling element  16  may be equipped with only one head suitable for a single type of bulb support  121 ,  122 . 
     During fabrication of such a signaling and/or lighting device  10  for a motor vehicle, it may be advantageous to implement a step of producing, in particular by casting, a single-piece part comprising the closure cover  17  and the removable handling element  16  connected to one another by a predetermined rupture region. This arrangement makes it possible to make this predetermined rupture zone breakable and to allow the separation of the removable handling element  16  with respect to the closure cover  17  when a predetermined force is applied by the user to the removable handling element  16 . But, before this force is applied, the removable handling element  16  is then rigidly secured to the closure cover  17 , which makes it possible to avoid any risk of loss of the removable handling element  16  until it is necessary to change a bulb  111 ,  112 . 
     It goes without saying that the figures are provided solely by way of illustration and that each of the parts making up the signaling and/or lighting device  10  described above may have other forms and other dimensions. 
     While the system, apparatus, process and method herein described constitute preferred embodiments of this invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to this precise system, apparatus, process and method, and that changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention which is defined in the appended claims.