Patent ID: 7329033

Claim:
A headlamp assembly for a motor vehicle comprising: a lens; a housing, the housing and the lens cooperating to form a housing assembly that at least partially defines an inner chamber that is generally fluidly isolated from the atmosphere; a unitary heat sink having a base portion and a fin portion, the heat sink extending through the housing assembly with the base portion being positioned within the inner chamber and the fin portion extending beyond the inner chamber to a location exposed to ambient air; a light source located within the chamber and being supported on the base portion of the heat sink; a reflector positioned within the housing and adapted to reflect light from the light source; and a flow channel positioned adjacent the housing, and having an inlet and an outlet, the fin portion of the heat sink extending into the flow channel such that heat from within the inner chamber is conducted through the heat sink to air within the flow channel, wherein the inlet of the flow channel is oriented in the forward direction and forward motion of the vehicle will cause air to be forced into the flow channel.