Lighting units for vehicles
AssigneeNissan North America, Inc.
InventorMariano López Maldonado
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A lighting unit for a vehicle is disclosed that includes a housing; a radial flange that extends outwardly of the housing; and at least one retainer that is fixedly connected to the radial flange such that the at least one retainer extends rearwardly towards a body of the vehicle during installation to allow for removable connection of the lighting unit to the body of the vehicle from a location forward of the vehicle. The at least one retainer is configured for insertion into a corresponding opening in the body of the vehicle and includes a resilient material that facilitates deflection of the at least one retainer during installation and removal of the lighting unit.
Claims20
A vehicle comprising:
- a bumper;
- a finisher mechanically connected to the bumper, the finisher comprising:
- a first extension extending in a first direction;
- a second extension extending in a second direction, the second extension being configured for mechanical connection to the bumper;
- and
- a wall extending between and interconnecting the first extension and the second extension;
- and
- a lighting unit mechanically connected to the first extension such that the lighting unit is indirectly connected to the bumper via the finisher, the lighting unit comprising:
- a housing;
- a radial flange extending outwardly of the housing;
- and
- at least one retainer fixedly connected to the radial flange such that the at least one retainer extends rearwardly towards the finisher during installation to allow for removable connection of the lighting unit to the finisher from a location forward of the vehicle, the at least one retainer being configured for insertion into a corresponding opening formed in the first extension and including a resilient material facilitating deflection of the at least one retainer during installation and removal of the lighting unit.
A vehicle comprising:
- a body including a finisher defining a receiving space and including at least one opening;
- and
- a lighting unit configured for removable insertion into the receiving space, the lighting unit including:
- a housing;
- a radial flange extending outwardly from the housing;
- and
- at least one retainer fixedly connected to the radial flange and configured to facilitate removable connection of the lighting unit to the finisher from a location forward of the vehicle, the at least one retainer being configured for insertion into the at least one opening in the finisher and being resiliently deflectable between an initial position and a deflected position during installation and removal of the lighting unit, wherein the at least one retainer is configured for engagement with the finisher such that a channel is defined between the lighting unit and the finisher upon installation of the lighting unit to facilitate air flow about the lighting unit.
A method of connecting a lighting unit to a vehicle, the method comprising:
- positioning the lighting unit such that a retainer extending fixedly and rearwardly from a radial flange of the lighting unit is generally aligned with a corresponding opening in a body of the vehicle;
- and
- from a location forward of the vehicle, inserting the retainer into the corresponding opening in the body of the vehicle such that the retainer is resiliently deflected from an initial position to a deflected position to removably secure the lighting unit to the body of the vehicle, wherein inserting the retainer into the corresponding opening in the body of the vehicle includes defining a channel between the lighting unit and the body of the vehicle to facilitate air flow about the lighting unit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.