US 4,569,002 AGranted

Motor vehicle lighting system

AssigneeGTE Products Corporation

InventorsGeorge J. English, Robert E. Lvein

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Abstract

A lighting system for a motor vehicle including a plurality of replaceable, sealed lighting modules and means for mounting the modules in the vehicle in a pair of spaced-apart linear, horizontally disposed arrays. Each array possesses a maximum height of only about two inches and a width greater than the array height. All of the modules are similar and each includes a reflector with a lighting capsule mounted therein. The front of the module is enclosed by means of a optically clear cover exclusive of lens elements. A lens means is separately mounted in front of each array of lighting modules for controlling the light emitted therefrom to in turn provide both high and low beam patterns for the vehicle. Each of the arrays comprises four similar modules, resulting in a system containing a total of eight such components.

Claims12

Dependent claims

A lighting system for providing forward illumination for a motor vehicle, said system comprising:

first and second pluralities of replaceable, sealed lighting modules each including a reflector, a lighting capsule sealed within said reflector and mounted within said reflector in predetermined alignment therewith, and means for enclosing and sealing said module, said enclosing and sealing means including a clear cover member sealed to said reflector and not including lens elements thereon or as part thereof;
means for mounting each of said pluralities of said modules within said motor vehicle such that each of said pluralities of modules occupies a substantially linear and horizontally disposed array having a total vertical height of about two inches or less and a total width greater than said height;
a lens means associated with each of said arrays of modules and located a spaced distance therefrom for controlling the light emitted from each of said pluralities of said modules in said array to provide a predetermined forward pattern of light;
and
means for mounting each of said lens means within said motor vehicle forward of said array of said modules.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.