# US 11,112,095 B2 · Lamp unit and vehicle door equipped with lamp unit > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,112,095 B2 - Document ID: US11112095B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/635,188 - Filed: 2018-12-24 - Published: 2021-04-01 - Granted: 2021-09-07 - Earliest claimed: 2017-12-26 - Assignees: Ts Tech Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Ts Tech Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Manabu Mihira; Yuji Nakano; Masahiro Nomura - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11112095B2 ## CPC - F21V 19/005: {by permanent fixing means, e.g. gluing, riveting or embedding in a potting compound} - B60Q 3/217: Doors, e.g. door sills; Steps - B60Q 3/50: Mounting arrangements (for compartments other than passenger or driving compartments B60Q3/30; specially adapted for specific vehicle types B60Q3/40) - B60R 13/02: {Internal} Trim mouldings {; Internal} Ledges; Wall liners {for passenger compartments}; Roof liners (B60R13/01 takes precedence {; padded linings for the vehicle interior B60R21/04; arrangements or adaptations of floor mats or carpets in vehicles B60N3/04; internal lining for trains B61D17/18}) - F21S 41/19: Attachment of light sources or lamp holders (achieving variable light distribution by movable light sources F21S41/657) - F21S 43/19: Attachment of light sources or lamp holders - F21S 43/601: {characterised by variable optical properties, e.g. involving the use of LCD or movable parts} - F21V 23/06: the elements being coupling devices {, e.g. connectors} - H10H 20/80: Constructional details - B60Q 2400/40: Welcome lights, i.e. specific or existing exterior lamps to assist leaving or approaching the vehicle - F21W 2102/40: the light being emitted to facilitate access to the vehicle - F21Y 2115/10: Light-emitting diodes [LED] - F21V: FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - 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 - H10H: INORGANIC LIGHT-EMITTING SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES HAVING POTENTIAL BARRIERS - F21W: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO USES OR APPLICATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS - F21Y: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO THE FORM OR THE KIND OF THE LIGHT SOURCES OR OF THE COLOUR OF THE LIGHT EMITTED ## Abstract To provide a lamp unit in which rattling of a light-emitting element is prevented, a lamp unit (4) includes: a holder member (9) attached to an attachment object (3), a base board (6) provided with a light-emitting element (5) coupled on a main surface thereof; a retaining member (8) that engages the holder member to sandwich the base board between the retaining member and the holder member such that the base board is retained at a prescribed position on the holder member; and a cover member (9) that is at least partially light-transmissive and is attached to the holder member such that the cover member cooperates with the holder member to define a housing chamber (90) for housing the base board and the retaining member. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A lamp unit, comprising: a holder member configured to be attached to an attachment object; a base board provided with a light-emitting element on a main surface thereof; a retaining member that engages the holder member to sandwich the base board between the retaining member and the holder member such that the base board is retained at a prescribed position on the holder member; and a cover member that is at least partially light-transmissive and is attached to the holder member such that the cover member cooperates with the holder member to define a housing chamber for housing the base board and the retaining member, wherein the holder member has a housing recess for housing the base board and the retaining member, an inner surface of the holder member is provided with at least one engagement portion for locking the retaining member, the retaining member has a plate-like shape and is provided with an outer frame formed along an edge portion of the base board and a light passing hole that extends through the retaining member at a position corresponding to the light-emitting element inside the outer frame, and the retaining member is provided with first projections respectively projecting from at least two portions of an outer peripheral surface of the outer frame that face away from each other such that each first projection projects toward a wall surface defining the housing recess. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The lamp unit according to claim 1, wherein the outer frame has a substantially rectangular shape, and the first projections are provided on mutually opposing sides of the outer peripheral surface of the outer frame. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The lamp unit according to claim 1, wherein the retaining member is provided with at least one pair of second projections that project from the outer frame toward the base board and abut against corresponding end surfaces of the base board to sandwich the base board therebetween. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The lamp unit according to claim 3, wherein the at least one pair of second projections includes multiple pairs of second projections arranged along a long-side direction of the outer frame. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The lamp unit according to claim 1, wherein the at least one engagement portion includes multiple engagement portions arranged along a short-side direction of the outer frame so as to each engage the outer frame. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The lamp unit according to claim 1, wherein a bottom wall of the housing recess is formed with multiple ribs that protrude toward an opening of the housing recess so as to abut against the base board. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The lamp unit according to claim 6, wherein the holder member is provided with a connector insertion recess that extends from an outer surface to pass between the bottom wall of the housing recess and an outer surface of the holder member and reaches the housing recess, and the ribs are arranged around the connector insertion recess. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The lamp unit according to claim 7, wherein the ribs are arranged to oppose one another so as to sandwich the connector insertion recess. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The lamp unit according to claim 1, wherein the lamp unit is a courtesy lamp configured to be mounted to a vehicle door. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) A vehicle door equipped with the lamp unit according to claim 9. ### Claim 11 A lamp unit, comprising: a holder member configured to be attached to an attachment object; a base board provided with a light-emitting element on a main surface thereof; a retaining member that engages the holder member to sandwich the base board between the retaining member and the holder member such that the base board is retained at a prescribed position on the holder member; and a cover member that is at least partially light-transmissive and is attached to the holder member such that the cover member cooperates with the holder member to define a housing chamber for housing the base board and the retaining member, wherein the holder member has a housing recess for housing the base board and the retaining member, a wall defining the housing recess is provided with an engagement portion for locking the retaining member, the base board is provided with a cutout, the housing recess is defined by a bottom wall and a sidewall provided along an outer edge of the bottom wall, the engagement portion is provided on the sidewall, the cutout is provided in an outer peripheral edge of the base board, the base board is disposed between the bottom wall and the retaining member, the engagement portion protrudes from the sidewall to be in contact with a front surface of the retaining member. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The lamp unit according to claim 11, wherein the cutout is provided at a position corresponding to the engagement portion. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The lamp unit according to claim 11, wherein the base board has a substantially rectangular shape, and the cutout is provided in an approximately central part of one side of the outer peripheral edge of the base board. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The lamp unit according to claim 11, wherein the retaining member includes a substantially rectangular outer frame forming an outer edge, and the cutout is provided between the outer frame and the bottom wall. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The lamp unit according to claim 11, wherein multiple metallic connection terminals are attached to the base board, and the connection terminals are arranged to avoid the cutout. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The lamp unit according to claim 11, wherein the base board is formed with multiple connection holes at positions different to a position of the cutout, each connection hole being a substantially circular through-hole. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The lamp unit according to claim 11, wherein the lamp unit is a courtesy lamp configured to be mounted to a vehicle door. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) A vehicle door equipped with the lamp unit according to claim 17.