Composite headlamp bulb retaining mechanism
AssigneeFord Motor Company
InventorBradley: Hugh T.
Life of this patent
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Abstract
For a composite headlamp bulb body that has a seal and a flange with spaced tabs extending therefrom, the mechanism allows for the bulb body to be oriented in a predetermined configuration and inserted into the aperture of a retaining ring. The retaining ring is snap fitted for permanent installation onto the socket structure of a reflector housing and contains cantilevered finger elements with ramped surfaces to interfere with the flange tabs during rotation of the inserted bulb while in the socket.
Claims10
A retaining mechanism for a composite headlamp bulb comprising:
- a headlamp reflector housing that contains an integral socket structure with an aperture for accepting said composite headlamp bulb;
- a retaining ring containing integral locking elements for providing a permanent snap fit to said socket structure, a central aperture aligned with said socket aperture for accepting the insertion of said composite headlamp bulb and a plurality cantilevered elements configured to hold said composite headlamp bulb in said socket when inserted therein.
A mechanism for retaining a flanged composite headlamp bulb in a reflector housing that contains an integral socket structure with an aperture for accepting said composite headlamp bulb comprising:
- a retaining ring containing integral locking elements for providing a permanent snap fit to said socket structure, a central aperture aligned with the aperture of said socket structure for accepting the insertion of said flanged composite headlamp bulb and a plurality cantilevered elements configured to hold said flange of said composite headlamp bulb in said socket, when inserted therein.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.