One piece bracket and housing for motor vehicle lamp
AssigneeGuide Corporation
InventorsNova K. Filbrun, Kenneth L. Trimpe
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed is an vertically aimable motor vehicle lamp of a one-piece construction. The lamp includes a housing and mounting bracket joined by at least one integral living hinge positioned at the substantial side of the housing at the housing and bracket interface. The integral living hinges define a line of weakness between them about which the housing is pivotable. The housing includes an integral tab extending radially outwardly from the housing and adjacent to the front of the housing. The integral tab is engaged and operable by a vertical-direction adjuster. Further, the one-piece bracket and housing are suitable for manufacture via injection molding and may, because they are a unitary element, be molded in a single injection.
Claims14
A vehicle lamp assembly comprising:
- a reflector housing having an open front end adapted to receive and retain a lens, a rear end opposite the front end adapted to receive a bulb, said housing configured to reflect light from said bulb through said lens;
- a mounting bracket adapted to be mounted to the vehicle, said housing and said mounting bracket being molded as a one-piece assembly with the housing and the mounting bracket being joined along at least one integral living hinge, said integral hinge pivotably supporting the housing and defining a pivoting axis about which the housing is pivotably adjustable in relation to the mounting bracket so that the orientation of the housing with respect to said bracket may be adjusted.
A lamp assembly comprising:
- a housing having an open front end adapted to receive and retain a lens and a rear end adapted to receive and retain a bulb remote from the lens;
- a mounting bracket adapted for mounting on a motor vehicle;
- a pair of integral living hinges integrally joining said housing and said mounting bracket in a single unitary molded assembly, said hinges pivotably coupling said housing and said mounting bracket so as to allow adjustable aiming movement of said housing with respect to said mounting bracket;
- and
- an adjuster disposed between said housing and said mounting bracket for adjusting the position of said housing with respect to said mounting bracket to direct light emitted from the assembly in a selected direction, said adjuster adapted to engage said housing such that said adjuster is capable of pivoting said housing with respect to said mounting bracket along said hinges.
A vehicle lamp assembly for emitting light having one-piece construction, comprising:
- a housing pivotably coupled to a mounting bracket as a single unitary unit by a pair of integral living hinges, molded in a single mold;
- said integral living hinges defining a flexible line of weakness between them to allow said housing to be pivoted with respect to said bracket;
- and
- an adjuster for adjusting the position of the housing with respect to the mounting bracket to direct light emitted from the assembly in a selected direction, the adjuster disposed between the mounting bracket and the housing and engaging the housing such that the adjuster is capable of adjusting the position of the housing in relation to the bracket.
A lamp assembly comprising:
- a housing having an open front end adapted to receive and retain a lens and a rear end adapted to receive and retain a bulb remote from the lens;
- a tab integrally molded with said housing and extending radially outwardly from said housing adjacent the open end of said housing, the tab configured to be operable by an adjusting mechanism;
- a mounting bracket adapted for mounting on a motor vehicle;
- an adjuster disposed between said tab and said mounting bracket for adjusting the position of said housing with respect to said mounting bracket to direct light emitted from the assembly in a selected direction, said adjuster adapted to engage said tab such that said adjuster is capable of continuously adjusting the position of said housing with respect to said mounting bracket;
- and
- a pair of integral living hinges integrally molded between said housing and said mounting bracket for pivotably coupling said housing and said mounting bracket so as to allow adjustable aiming movement of said housing with respect to said mounting bracket as directed by said adjuster.
A method for pivotably adjusting the aim of a lamp, comprising the steps of:
- providing a one-piece housing and bracket joined at a pair of integral living hinges, the integral living hinges pivotably supporting said housing and defining a pivoting axis about which said housing is pivotable;
- providing an adjuster for causing the housing to pivotably rotate with respect to the bracket so as to effect adjustment of the aim of the lamp;
- and
- adjusting the aim of the lamp by operating the adjuster.
A method for aiming a lamp the type having a housing and bracket of one-piece construction comprising the steps of:
- pivotably coupling between the housing and bracket via a pair of integrally molded living hinges;
- providing an adjuster for directing the housing to pivotably rotate along said hinges so as to effect adjustment of the aim of the lamp;
- adjusting the aim of the lamp by operating the adjuster.
A method for adjusting the aim of light emitted from a lamp assembly comprising:
- providing a housing with an open front and adapted to receive and retain a lens and a bulb remote from the lens;
- providing a bracket adapted for mounting in a motor vehicle;
- pivotably coupling said housing to said bracket by a pair of integrally molded living hinges;
- providing an adjuster for directing the housing to pivotably rotate about said hinges so as to effect adjustment of the aim of the lamp;
- and
- operating the adjuster to adjust the aim of the lamp.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.