# US 10,870,387 B1 · Lighting units for vehicles

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- Number: US 10,870,387 B1
- Document ID: US10870387B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 16/588,110
- Filed: 2019-09-30
- Granted: 2020-12-22
- Earliest claimed: 2019-09-30
- Assignees: Nissan North America, Inc.
- Applicants: Nissan North America, Inc.
- Inventors: Mariano López Maldonado
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10870387B1

## CPC

- B60Q 1/0441: {the housing being fastened onto the vehicle body using means other than screws}
- B60Q 1/2623: {Details of the fastening means}
- B60Q 1/045: {with provision for adjusting the alignment of the headlamp housing with respect to the vehicle body}
- B60Q 1/0466: {with arrangement for sealing the headlamp with respect to the vehicle body, or for concealling gaps between the headlamp and the vehicle body}
- B60Q 1/20: Fog lights
- B60R 19/02: Bumpers, i.e. impact receiving or absorbing members for protecting vehicles or fending off blows from other vehicles or objects ({B60R19/56 takes precedence; initiating brake action by contact of bumper with an external object B60T7/22; for rail vehicles B61F19/04; safety equipment for cycles B62J27/00;} integral with waterborne vessels or specially adapted therefor B63B59/02)
- B60R 19/50: with lights or registration plates
- F21S 43/19: Attachment of light sources or lamp holders
- B60R 2019/505: {with lights}
- F21W 2103/00: Exterior vehicle lighting devices for signalling purposes
- B60Q: ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F21S: NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
- F21W: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO USES OR APPLICATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS

## 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.

## Claims

### Claim 1

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.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the housing, the radial flange, and the at least one retainer are integrally formed.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the at least one retainer is configured as a clip.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the at least one retainer is repositionable between a normal position, in which the at least one retainer is spaced a first distance from the housing, and a biased position, in which the at least one retainer is spaced a second distance from the housing.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The vehicle of claim 4, wherein the at least one retainer is configured such that the second distance is greater than the first distance.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the at least one retainer includes a plurality of retainers.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The vehicle of claim 6, wherein the plurality of retainers includes a first retainer, a second retainer, and a third retainer.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The vehicle of claim 7, wherein the second retainer is separated from the first retainer by approximately 90°, and the third retainer is separated from the second retainer by approximately 90°.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The vehicle of claim 8, further including an alignment feature configured for insertion into a corresponding receptacle defined by the finisher.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the alignment feature includes a configuration different from those of the retainers to inhibit improper installation of the lighting unit.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the alignment feature is separated from each of the first retainer and the third retainer by approximately 90°.

### Claim 12

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.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The vehicle of claim 12, wherein the finisher includes an extension that extends in generally parallel relation to the radial flange such that the extension is positioned rearwardly of the radial flange, the channel extending between the extension and the radial flange.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The vehicle of claim 13, wherein the finisher and the radial flange are configured to prevent contact between the finisher and the housing of the lighting unit.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The vehicle of claim 14, wherein the finisher further includes a receptacle configured to receive an alignment feature on the lighting unit, the alignment feature including a configuration different from that of the at least one retainer to inhibit improper installation of the lighting unit.

### Claim 16

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.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16, wherein inserting the retainer into the corresponding opening in the body of the vehicle includes inserting a first retainer into a first opening in the body of the vehicle, inserting a second retainer into a second opening in the body of the vehicle, and inserting a third retainer into a third opening in the body of the vehicle, the second retainer being separated from the first retainer by approximately 90°, and the third retainer being separated from the second retainer by approximately 90°.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the finisher, the lighting unit, and the at least one retainer are configured 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.

### Claim 19 (depends on 1)

The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the finisher is configured such that the first extension and the second extension are offset along a length of the vehicle.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The vehicle of claim 19, wherein the finisher includes a generally S-shaped configuration.