EP1859515B1 - Socket for a lamp - Google Patents

Description

Technical area

The invention relates to a socket according to the preamble of patent claim 1, a lamp provided with such a socket according to the preamble of patent claim 15.

State of the art

The base according to the invention can in principle be used in a large number of single-ended lamps. However, the main application of the socket is likely to be in lamps for vehicle headlights, which are inserted through a pinch on one side in a socket.

document EPO 655,811 discloses a socket according to the preamble of claim 1.

A lamp with such a base, for example, in the post-published application DE 10 2004 007 150 the applicant described. In these conventional lamps, a base with a metallic base part for receiving the lamp is used. This metallic base part is inserted into a second approximately cup-shaped plastic base part, which is provided with two contact springs. These are used for electrical contacting of the lamp and are integrated by means of injection molding in the second plastic base part. On lamp-side end portions of the contact springs, a groove-shaped recess for receiving current leads of the lamp is formed in each case. In this solution, the power supply lines are inserted into the recesses of the contact springs and fixed by means of a weld. The disadvantage of such lamps is, on the one hand, that an additional base part is required to hold the lamp and, on the other hand, the joining technique between the lamp and the contact springs requires a high production outlay due to the welding.

To simplify the production, it is known from the general state of the art to design the contact springs on the lamp side with a clip-like holding region for receiving and electrically contacting the lamp. For this purpose, the lamp is a socket-side pinch in the holding area of the Contact springs inserted. Although this solution allows a simplified manufacture of the lamp, as compared to the prior art according to the DE 10 2004 007 150 no welding is required and can be dispensed with an additional base part for receiving the lamp, but is not due to the design of the contact springs in the holding area, ie in the area in which the pinch of the lamp is received and electrically contacted, not for mounting in the base means Injection molding technology suitable because encapsulation of the contact springs due to the holding area is only possible to a limited extent.

Presentation of the invention

The invention has for its object to provide a base for a lamp, in particular for a vehicle lamp, provided with such a base lamp and a method for producing such a lamp, in which compared to conventional solutions a simplified production with minimal device complexity and a improved mounting of the lamp is made possible on the base.

This object is achieved with respect to the base by the combination of features of claim 1, with respect to the lamp by the features of claim 15. Particularly advantageous embodiments of the invention are described in the dependent claims.

The base according to the invention for a lamp, in particular for a vehicle lamp, has a base housing and at least two contact elements fixed in the base housing for receiving and electrically contacting the lamp. According to the invention, the contact elements of the base housing are fixed positively and / or non-positively by means of a base slide which can be fixed in the base housing. As a result, the contact springs can be designed with a holding region for receiving and making electrical contact with the lamp, so that the holder of the lamp in the base in relation to the prior art according to FIG DE 10 2004 007 150 is significantly improved. This solution enables a simplified installation of the lamp in the base and a much simplified compared to the generic method production, since the separate steps to form the weld can be omitted.

The base slide is preferably a socket part which can be inserted into the socket housing and serves to fix the electrical contact elements after insertion into the socket housing.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the base slide is radially insertable into a receiving portion of the base housing.

Preferably, the base slide with the base housing at least partially forms a common base and / or side surface. Due to the socket which is closed off via the base slide, the penetration of moisture and dirt into the base housing is effectively prevented and the service life of the lamp is substantially increased.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the base slide on a plurality of projections which are insertable into recesses of the base housing. The projections facilitate the insertion of the base slide in the base housing.

To be particularly advantageous, it has been found, the recesses of the base housing form as longitudinal grooves which extend at right angles to a longitudinal axis of the base housing.

In order to ensure the correct position mounting of the base slide in the base housing, at least two longitudinal grooves are formed with a larger cross-section than the other longitudinal grooves.

The base slide is preferably fixed to the base housing via a locking element. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the locking element has at least one latching lug. Since the base slide for mounting the contact elements in the base housing is inserted only radially into this, simplifies the production of the socket considerably (so-called one-touch solution).

The base housing preferably has at least two recesses for receiving the contact elements, which are arranged such that the contact elements are substantially parallel to one another. The recesses are arranged in the socket housing such that the contact springs are fixed between the socket slide and the socket housing. This facilitates the mounting of the lamp in the socket.

According to an embodiment of the invention find as contact elements contact springs use whose spring legs are preferably angled to each other.

The base slide has a substantially slot-shaped recess for receiving a spring leg of the first contact spring and a contact surface for a spring leg of the second contact spring. As a result, the contact springs are held after the mounting of the base slide on this in the base housing and a deflection of the contact springs during insertion of the lamp is prevented.

The contact springs preferably have at least one spring leg, which is non-positively and / or positively engageable with the lamp.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the base via a substantially annular flange with a headlight, in particular a vehicle headlight, directly or indirectly brought into abutment. In order to avoid the ingress of moisture and dirt into the reflector housing of the headlight, a sealing element, for example a sealing washer, may be arranged between the flange and the headlight housing. Instead of the sealing element may also be provided a spring element, for example made of metal, or a retaining ring for bridging tolerances of the headlamp.

Preferably, the base housing is rotatable relative to the headlight and releasably secured by means of bayonet lock on this. This allows easy mounting of the lamp to the vehicle headlight.

It is preferred to form the base housing and / or the base slide of an electrically insulating material, preferably of a plastic. In this case, the region of the base arranged close to the lamp vessel can consist of a high-temperature plastic and the thermally less heavily loaded base slide can be made of a less expensive plastic.

The lamp according to the invention has a base and contact elements, which are fixed by means of the base slide in the base housing positively and / or non-positively.

Brief description of the drawings

• Figur 1 eine schematische Darstellung eines bevorzugten Ausführungsbeispiels des erfindungsgemäßen Sockels mit eingesetzter Lampe;
• Figur 2 eine dreidimensionale Einzeldarstellung des Sockels aus Figur 1;
• Figur 3 eine dreidimensionale Einzeldarstellung des Sockelgehäuses aus Figur 2;
• Figur 4 eine dreidimensionale Darstellung des Sockelgehäuses aus Figur 2 mit eingesetzten Kontaktfedern;
• Figur 5 eine dreidimensionale Darstellung des Sockels während des Einschiebens des Sockelschiebers;
• Figur 6 eine dreidimensionale Darstellung des Sockelgehäuses mit teilweise eingeschobenem Sockelschieber und
• Figur 7 eine dreidimensionale Darstellung des Sockelschiebers und die relative räumliche Anordnung der Kontaktfedern zueinander.

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to a preferred embodiment. Show it:

• FIG. 1 a schematic representation of a preferred embodiment of the socket according to the invention with inserted lamp;
• FIG. 2 a three-dimensional single representation of the base FIG. 1 ;
• FIG. 3 a three-dimensional single representation of the base housing FIG. 2 ;
• FIG. 4 a three-dimensional view of the base housing FIG. 2 with inserted contact springs;
• FIG. 5 a three-dimensional view of the base during insertion of the base slide;
• FIG. 6 a three-dimensional view of the base housing with partially inserted base slider and
• FIG. 7 a three-dimensional representation of the base slide and the relative spatial arrangement of the contact springs to each other.

Preferred embodiment of the invention

The invention will be explained below with reference to a single-ended discharge lamp for a vehicle headlight. However, as already mentioned, the socket according to the invention is by no means limited to such lamp types.

FIG. 1 shows a three-dimensional representation of a base 1 according to the invention with a used in this lamp 2 type W16W, as used for example in a vehicle headlight as a flashing or brake light lamp. Such a lamp 2 has a connected to power supply lamps (not shown), which is inserted into a lamp vessel 4 made of quartz glass. The lamp vessel 4 is sealed by a one-sided pinch 6, which has a substantially rectangular cross-section, and inserted into the base 1. This has a base housing 8, the lamp side has a mounting recess 10 for receiving the lamp 2 in the base housing 8. In the base housing 8, two as contact springs 12, 14 executed contact elements are arranged in the region of the mounting recess 10 of the lamp 2 form a holding portion 16 for receiving the pinch seal 6 of the lamp 2 and each electrically contacted with one of the two power supply lines of the lamp (not shown). The base housing 8 has a substantially cylindrical fastening portion 18 on the lamp side, on whose outer peripheral surface 20 has three radially projecting approximately web-shaped connecting elements 22 (in FIG. 1 one of the connecting elements 22 is covered by the mounting portion 18) are formed, which engage in corresponding holding elements of a headlamp and are fixed there (not shown). The attachment portion 18 merges on the side facing away from the lamp vessel in an at least partially annular flange 24. This has a contact surface 26 which can be brought into contact with the headlight for mounting the base 1 in the headlight via a arranged on the mounting portion 18 sealing washer 28. The sealing disc 28 is disposed in the assembled state of the base 1 between the flange 24 and headlights and prevents the ingress of moisture and dirt in the headlight. The base housing 8 goes beyond the flange 24 on the side facing away from the lamp vessel in a substantially box-shaped handle member 30 via. For mounting the base 1 on the headlamp this is inserted via the attachment portion 18 in the headlight and fixed by means of the connecting elements 22 by a rotational movement relative to the headlight on this - in other words - the connecting elements 22 form with the holding elements of the headlamp from a bayonet lock, about the base 1 is releasably secured to the headlight. The insertion of the base 1 in the headlight is facilitated by a frontally formed on the mounting portion 18 chamfer 32.

According to FIG. 2 representing a three-dimensional detail of the base 1 FIG. 1 shows, the contact springs 12, 14 are arranged in the base housing 8, that two end portions 34, 36 of the contact springs 12, 14 protrude radially from the base housing 8 and are electrically contacted via a contact plug, not shown. According to the invention, the contact springs 12, 14 in the base housing 8 by means of a fixable in the base housing 8 base slide 38 positively and non-positively fixed. This allows the contact spring 12, 14 with the holding portion 16 (see FIG. 1 ) are designed for receiving and electrical contacting of the lamp 2, so that the holder of the lamp 2 in the base 1 over the prior art is substantially improved. Furthermore, according to the invention, the production of the lamps in comparison to the generic method also significantly simplified, since the separate steps for forming a weld can be omitted. According to FIG. 2 the contour of the base slide 38 is adapted to the contour of the base housing 8 such that the base slide 38 with the base housing 8 forms a common base 40 and side surface 42. This prevents moisture and dirt from penetrating into the base housing 8 and substantially increases the service life of the lamp. In the embodiment shown, the base housing 8 and the base slide 38 is formed of an electrically insulating plastic.

As FIG. 3 can be removed, the three-dimensional individual representation of the base housing 8 from FIG. 2 shows, this has a bottom and front side open receiving portion 44 for receiving the base slide 38 (see FIG. 2 ). In the receiving portion 44 are two approximately groove-shaped recesses 46, 48 for receiving the contact springs 12, 14 are formed, which are arranged in the base housing 8, that the contact springs 12, 14 in contact with support surfaces 52, 54 of the recesses 46, 48 can be brought and between the base slide 38 and the base housing 8 can be fixed (see FIG. 2 ). A first recess 46 is disposed in a plug-side end portion 54 of the base housing 8 and a first spring leg 56 (see FIG. 4 ) associated with the contact spring 14. The second recess 48 is formed on a in the direction of a longitudinal axis 58 of the base housing 8 between the side walls 60, 62 of the base housing 8 extending connecting web 64 and a spring leg 66 of the contact spring 12 (see FIG. 4 ). The recess 48 is provided on the edge side each with a chamfer 68 in order to facilitate the insertion of the contact spring 12.

As in particular from FIG. 4 It can be seen that shows a three-dimensional view of the base housing 8 with inserted contact springs 12, 14, the depth of the recesses 46, 48 corresponds approximately to the thickness of the spring legs 56, 66 of the contact springs 12, 14, so that the spring legs 56, 66 each flush with the top of the recesses 46, 48 complete. The contact springs 12, 14 are pressed in the recesses 46, 48 such that the spring legs 56, 66 extend substantially parallel to each other and protrude radially out of the base housing 8.

According to FIG. 5 , which shows a three-dimensional representation of the base housing 8 with inserted contact springs 12, 14 during insertion of the base slide 38, this is radially, ie 90 ° to the longitudinal axis 58 of the base housing 8, as indicated by an arrow, inserted into the receiving portion 44 of the base housing 8 , For this purpose, the approximately L-shaped base slide 38 has four web-shaped guide projections 70, 72, 74, 76 which are in guide recesses 78, 80, 82, 84 of the base housing 8 can be inserted. In the embodiment shown, the guide recesses 78, 80, 82, 84 of the base housing 8 are formed as longitudinal grooves which extend at right angles to the longitudinal axis 58 of the base housing 8 to a radially enlarged portion 86 of the receiving portion 44. In the FIG. 5 Upper longitudinal grooves 78, 80 of the base housing 8 each extend beyond the radially expanded portion 44 into the side walls 60, 62 of the base housing 8 into (see FIG. 3 ). The guide projections 70, 72, 74, 76 facilitate the insertion of the base slide 38 in the base housing 8 and fix it in the direction of the longitudinal axis 58 in the receiving portion 44 of the base housing 8. To facilitate the mounting of the base slide 38 in the base housing 8, the two in FIG. 5 lower longitudinal grooves 82, 84 of the base housing 8 with a larger cross-section than the two upper longitudinal grooves 78, 80 are formed. The base slider 38 is arranged over two between the guide projections 70, 74 and 72, 76, provided with a detent 88 locking elements 90, 92 (the locking member 92 is in FIG. 5 obscured by the base slide 38) fixed to the base housing 8. For this purpose, the locking elements 90, 92 formed elastically and engage behind the complete insertion of the base slide 38 via the locking lugs 88 in the region between the longitudinal grooves 78, 82 and 80, 84 of the base housing 8, an edge 94 (see FIG. 3 ) of the base housing 8.

In particular FIG. 6 can be seen, which shows a three-dimensional view of the base housing 8 with partially inserted base slider 38, this is about a formed on an upper collar 96 guide surface 98 on a relative to the side surface 42 of the base housing 8 axially recessed support surface 100 of the base housing 8 and is about this guided during insertion into the base housing 8. A plug-side portion 102 of the collar 96 remains free after insertion of the base slide 38 and is provided with a rounding 104. According to FIG. 6 the mounting recess 10 of the base housing 8 is formed substantially circular and radially expanded via two diametrically opposed rectangular grooves 106, 108. These are used to support the contact springs 12, 14 in the mounting recess 10. For this purpose, 90 ° bent projections 126 of the contact springs 12, 14 in abutment against the narrow sides 112 of the rectangular grooves 106, 108 can be brought.

According to FIG. 7 showing a three-dimensional representation of the base slide 38 and the relative spatial arrangement of the contact springs 12, 14 to each other, the base slide 38 in the region between the guide projections 70, 72 has a substantially slot-shaped recess 114 for receiving the spring leg 66 of the first contact spring 12 and a Contact surface 116 for the spring leg 56 of the second contact spring 14 (see FIG. 4 ). As a result, the contact springs 12, 14 are held over the latter in the base housing 8 after assembly of the base slide 38 and prevent deflection of the contact springs 12, 14 during the insertion of the lamp 1 into the holding section 16. The contact springs 12, 14 have at 90 ° to the spring legs 56, 66 angled spring leg 118, 120, the lamp side form the approximately bracket-shaped holding portion 16 which is frictionally and positively with the pinch seal 6 of the lamp 2 is engageable and electrically contacted (please refer FIG. 1 ). On lamp-side end portions 122, 124 of the spring legs 118, 120, two projections 126 are each formed, which protrude beyond the spring legs 118, 120 and are bent by 90 ° in the holding portion 16, so that these substantially parallel side surfaces 128 for guiding side surfaces 130 of the pinch 6 of the lamp 2 (see FIG. 1 ) in the holding portion 16. Furthermore, two clip-shaped spring projections 132, which are bent toward one another, are each formed on the spring legs 118, 120, which extend in axially parallel to the longitudinal axis 58 of the base housing 8 extending fastening portions 134 with an approximately C-shaped holding portion 136. The spring projections 132 are brought over the holding portions 136 in abutment against the side surfaces 130 of the pinch 6 and thereby fix the lamp. 2 in the holding area 16 (see FIG. 1 ). The protruding from the base housing 8 end portions 34, 36 of the spring legs 118, 120 are provided on both sides with circumferential chamfers 138, which facilitate the insertion of the contact plug (not shown).

Based on FIGS. 1 to 5 In the following, the essential steps of the manufacture of the lamp 1 will be explained. In a first step, the contact spring 14 is inserted in the direction of the longitudinal axis 58 of the base housing 8 in the receiving portion 44 and brought into abutment against the support surface 54. Subsequently, the second contact spring 12 is inserted into the receiving portion 44 and brought into abutment against the support surface 52 of the connecting web 64. In the following step, the base slider 38, as indicated by an arrow in FIG. 5 indicated, radially inserted into the receiving portion 44 of the base housing 8. When inserting the base slide 38 in the receiving portion 44 of the base housing 8 of the spring leg 66 of the contact spring 12 dives into the recess 114 of the base slide 38, and the spring leg 56 of the other contact spring 14 is guided on the contact surface 116 of the base slide 38 (see FIG. 7 ). The guide projections 70, 72, 74, 76 of the base slide 38 are guided during insertion into the longitudinal grooves 78, 80, 82, 84 of the base housing 8. After complete insertion of the base slide 38, this is fixed to the socket housing 8 via the latching lugs 88 provided with locking elements 90, 92. Finally, the lamp 2 is inserted via the pinch 6 in the holding portion 16 of the contact springs 12, 14 and fixed in the base 1 due to the spring action of the mounting portions 134.

The base 1 according to the invention enables a so-called one-touch solution, since the base slide 38 for mounting the contact springs 12, 14 in the base housing 8 is merely inserted radially into this and locked there automatically.

Disclosed is a base 1 for a lamp 2, in particular for a vehicle lamp, with a base housing 8 and at least two fixed in the base housing contact elements 12, 14 for receiving and electrical contacting of the lamp 2. According to the contact elements 12, 14 of the base housing 8 by means one fixed in this fixable base slider 38 positively and / or non-positively.

Claims (15)

1. Base for a lamp, having a base housing (8), and having at least two contact elements (12, 14) which are fixed in the base housing (8) and are intended for accommodating the lamp (2) and making electrical contact therewith, the contact elements (12, 14) of the base housing (8) being contact springs and being fixed in a form-fitting and/or force-fitting manner by means of a base slide (38) which can be secured in the housing, characterized in that the base slide (38) has an essentially slot-like recess (114) for accommodating a leg (66) of a first contact spring (12) and an abutment surface (116) for a leg (56) of a second contact spring (14).
2. Base according to Claim 1, in which the base slide (38) can be introduced radially into an accommodating portion (44) of the base housing (8).
3. Base according to Claim 1 or 2, in which the base slide (38) along with the base housing (8) forms, at least in certain sections, a common base surface and/or side surface (40, 42).
4. Base according to one of the preceding claims, in which the base slide (38) has a multiplicity of protrusions (70, 72, 74, 76) which can be introduced into recesses (78, 80, 82, 84) of the base housing (8).
5. Base according to Claim 4, in which the recesses (78, 80, 82, 84) of the base housing (8) are longitudinal grooves which extend at right angles to a longitudinal axis (58) of the base housing (8).
6. Base according to Claim 5, in which at least two longitudinal grooves (78, 80) have a larger cross section than the other two longitudinal grooves (82, 84).
7. Base according to one of the preceding claims, in which the base slide (38) is fixed on the base housing (8) via at least one locking element (90, 92).
8. Base according to Claim 7, in which the locking element (90, 92) has at least one latching nose (88).
9. Base according to one of the preceding claims, in which the base housing (8) has at least two recesses (46, 48) for accommodating the contact elements (12, 14), the recesses being arranged such that the contact elements (12, 14) are located essentially parallel to one another.
10. Base according to Claim 1, in which the legs (56, 66, 118, 120) of the contact springs (12, 14) are angled in relation to one another.
11. Base according to Claim 1, in which the contact springs (12, 14) have at least one spring leg (118, 120) which can be brought into force-fitting and/or form-fitting engagement with the lamp (2).
12. Base according to one of the preceding claims, in which the base housing (8) can be brought into abutment with a headlight, in particular a vehicle headlight, directly or indirectly via an essentially annular flange (24).
13. Base according to one of the preceding claims, in which the base housing (8) can be rotated relative to a headlight and can be secured in a releasable manner thereon by means of bayonet closure.
14. Base according to one of the preceding claims, in which the base housing (8) and/or the base slide (38) are/is made of an electrically insulating material, preferably plastic.
15. Lamp with a base according to one of Claims 1 to 14, in which the contact elements (12, 14) are fixed in a form-fitting and/or force-fitting manner in the base housing (8) by means of the base slide (38).

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