Molded retention features for internal movable reflector lamps
AssigneeGuide Corporation
InventorsKenneth L. Trimpe, Joseph C. Ballman
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A movable reflector with integrally molded bulb assembly retention features. The movable reflector comprises a bore at the center of the reflector for receiving a bulb assembly and retention features integrally molded on the rear side of the reflector to retain the bulb assembly. The movable reflector further comprises mold voids spaced around the bore adjacent to the retention features and extending through the movable reflector so that the structure of the retention features and the movable reflector may be molded in one injection molding step without additional tool movement.
Claims18
A reflector for use in a reflector aimable vehicle headlamp assembly having a light bulb assembly with at least one tab projecting radially outwardly therefrom, said reflector having a front side and a rear side, and comprising:
- a molded body with a bore there through for accepting the light bulb assembly from the rear side of said reflector;
- and
- at least one retainer section integrally molded on the rear side of said reflector and arranged adjacent to said bore, each of said at least one retainer sections having a ramp and a stop feature molded there on such that when the light bulb assembly is inserted into said bore and is rotated, each of said at least one retainer sections accepts one of the at least one tabs and upon further rotation the tabs are mechanically retained between said ramps and said stop feature;
- and
- said molded body also comprising at least one void there through adjacent said bore and aligned with said at least one retainer section and dimensioned so that said reflector may be molded in one injection molding step using two mold halves.
A reflector, comprising:
- a body having a front side and a rear side, said front side having a reflective surface;
- a circular opening through the approximate center of said body, said circular opening adapted to receive a light bulb of a replaceable light bulb assembly, said replaceable light bulb assembly having a socket portion and plurality of tabs projecting radially outwardly from said socket portion;
- a plurality of retainer sections integrally molded on said rear side, each of said plurality of retainer sections circumferentially spaced adjacent to said circular opening, each of said plurality of retainer sections comprising a ramp and a stop feature molded therein;
- a plurality of voids through said body dimensioned and positioned such that a respective one of said plurality of retainer sections is aligned with and over lies a respective one of said voids so that said headlamp reflector can be injection molded in a single injection molding step.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.