Vehicle lamp reflector having ventilation channel adjacent lamp capsule

An automotive lamp reflector (12) adapted to receive an automotive lamp capsule (10) having a resilient gasket (64) and retaining keys (42) extending from a lamp base (20), the reflector (12) comprising:

• a neck (2) and a reflective optical surface (16) formed thereon, the optical surface (16) defining an inner reflector cavity (19);
• the neck (2) defining a bore (40) having a bore inner surface (44), the bore (40) extending in an axial direction (18) between a neck entrance region (46) and a neck exit region (48),
• the neck entrance region (46) sized to receive a lamp capsule (10) and facing away from the optical surface (16), the neck entrance region (46) opening to an exterior region (45) disposed outwardly exterior of the reflector (12);
• the neck exit region (48) being adjacent the optical surface (16), whereby the bore (40) communicates between the inner reflector cavity (19) and the exterior region (45);
• the neck further defining:
• a socket region (50) adapted to receive the lamp capsule (10) when positioned in the bore (40), the socket region (50) comprising a capsule latching structure (52) adapted to retain, at an axially predetermined position, the plurality of retaining keys (42) formed on the lamp base (20) of the lamp capsule (10);
• a gasket seating surface (47) axially displaced from the capsule latching structure (52) and configured to receive the lamp gasket (64) disposed on the lamp base (20) of the lamp capsule (10);
• and
• at least one channel (43) defined in the neck (2) adjacent to and recessed relative the gasket seating surface (47), said at least one channel (43) opening to the neck entrance region (46) and thereby bounding an air passageway (70) in fluid communication between the reflector cavity (19) and the neck entrance region (46),
• whereby when a lamp capsule (10) is received in the bore (40) with the lamp gasket (64) adjacent the gasket seating surface (47) and the retaining keys (42) of the lamp capsule (10) retained against the capsule latching structure (52) in the socket region (50), the air passageway (70) defined in the neck (2) permits communication of air between the optical surface (16) and neck entrance region (46).