GB2085569A - Combined Headlamp and Sidelight for Vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

A lamp unit comprises an envelope containing a bulb 16, the envelope comprising a front lens 10 and a rear reflector 12, and a secondary bulb holder 26 for holding a secondary bulb 28, said secondary bulb holder being of plastics material and adhered to the outside of the reflector. The unit is utilised in a motor vehicle so that the bulb 16 forms the source for the vehicle headlight, whilst the secondary bulb 28 forms the source for the vehicle side light. Both bulbs are arranged so that light therefrom issues through the said front lens. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Head Lamp Unit This invention relates to lamp units for motor vehicles and in particular concerns a lamp unit which comprises an envelope containing (or for containing) a bulb, the envelope being made up of a front lens, and a rear relfector, the reflector being of appropriate shape to relfect light which emanates from the bulb, through the lens to create a beam, and which unit is also provided with a secondary bulb to provide one of the vehicle's side lights.

In accordance with the present invention the unit as described is provided, and there is a secondary bulb holder for the secondary bulb, such secondary bulb holder being formed in plastics material and being arranged so that a secondary bulb carried thereby can project light through an aperture or window into the interior of the envelope, and through the front lens.

The said plastic material bulb holder, which is inexpenseive to produce in comparison with a metal holder used for this purpose, may be adhered to the rear of the reflector portion of the envelope by means of adhesive, the reflector portion having an area over which there is no reflective material to form said window and the reflector portion being constructed from transparent glass, so that the light-from the secondary bulb will pass through the glass of the reflector portion constituting said window.

Heretofore, it has been thought necessary to provide at the secondary bulb holder should have a reflectorised internal surface for reflecting the light from the secondary bulb which eminates in a direction away from the lens, but to the lens of the unit. We have discovered, contrary to expectations, it is not necessary that the surface of the secondary bulb holder be reflective, hence a material, namely a plastics material with no special reflectorising or polishing treatment can be used. This reduces the cost of the unit noticabiy.

Any suitable plastics material may be used for the holder and the holder may be produced by a moulding, turning or other forming operation.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing of which the single figure is a sectional elevation through a light unit in accordance with the present invention.

Referring to the drawing, the lighting unit comprises a front lens 10 which is of glass, and a rear, parabolic relfector 1 2 which is also of glass, the lens and reflector being sealed together where their rim regions meet, as indicated by reference numeral 14.

A main beam bulb 16 is located at the focus of the parabolic reflector, and the interior surface 1 8 of the relfector is made highly relfective by any suitable known process, except that inner region 20 of the reflector 12 does not have any relfective material, whereby a window 22 through the reflector 12 is formed.

Around this window to the outside surface of the reflector 1 2 is adhered a secondary bulb holder 26, which according to this invention is formed in a plastics material of any suitable colour. It is not necessary that this holder be made of reflective material, and indeed we have found that the cheapest material for the holder is a dull grey plastics material.

The holder 26 is for holding a secondary bulb 28 friction fitted therein, which bulb is for defining one of the side lights of the vehicle.

By virtue of the provision of the window 24 light emanating from the bulb 28 can pass through the window into the interior of the envelope and through the lens 10.

The holder may be attached in any other fashion, apart from adhesive and the reflector 12 instead of having a window as shown, may have an aperture with which the holder registers.

Claims

1. A lamp unit of the type described herein, wherein there is a secondary bulb holder for the secondary bulb, such secondary bulb holder being formed in plastics material and being arranged so that a secondary bulb carried thereby can project light through an aperture or window into the interior of the envelope, and through the front lens.

2. A lamp unit according to claim 1, wherein the secondary bulb holder is formed from a plastics material of a dull colour which is not specially treated to be reflective.

3. A lamp unit of the type herein described, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (3)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Head Lamp Unit This invention relates to lamp units for motor vehicles and in particular concerns a lamp unit which comprises an envelope containing (or for containing) a bulb, the envelope being made up of a front lens, and a rear relfector, the reflector being of appropriate shape to relfect light which emanates from the bulb, through the lens to create a beam, and which unit is also provided with a secondary bulb to provide one of the vehicle's side lights. In accordance with the present invention the unit as described is provided, and there is a secondary bulb holder for the secondary bulb, such secondary bulb holder being formed in plastics material and being arranged so that a secondary bulb carried thereby can project light through an aperture or window into the interior of the envelope, and through the front lens. The said plastic material bulb holder, which is inexpenseive to produce in comparison with a metal holder used for this purpose, may be adhered to the rear of the reflector portion of the envelope by means of adhesive, the reflector portion having an area over which there is no reflective material to form said window and the reflector portion being constructed from transparent glass, so that the light-from the secondary bulb will pass through the glass of the reflector portion constituting said window. Heretofore, it has been thought necessary to provide at the secondary bulb holder should have a reflectorised internal surface for reflecting the light from the secondary bulb which eminates in a direction away from the lens, but to the lens of the unit. We have discovered, contrary to expectations, it is not necessary that the surface of the secondary bulb holder be reflective, hence a material, namely a plastics material with no special reflectorising or polishing treatment can be used. This reduces the cost of the unit noticabiy. Any suitable plastics material may be used for the holder and the holder may be produced by a moulding, turning or other forming operation. An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing of which the single figure is a sectional elevation through a light unit in accordance with the present invention. Referring to the drawing, the lighting unit comprises a front lens 10 which is of glass, and a rear, parabolic relfector 1 2 which is also of glass, the lens and reflector being sealed together where their rim regions meet, as indicated by reference numeral 14. A main beam bulb 16 is located at the focus of the parabolic reflector, and the interior surface 1 8 of the relfector is made highly relfective by any suitable known process, except that inner region 20 of the reflector 12 does not have any relfective material, whereby a window 22 through the reflector 12 is formed. Around this window to the outside surface of the reflector 1 2 is adhered a secondary bulb holder 26, which according to this invention is formed in a plastics material of any suitable colour. It is not necessary that this holder be made of reflective material, and indeed we have found that the cheapest material for the holder is a dull grey plastics material. The holder 26 is for holding a secondary bulb 28 friction fitted therein, which bulb is for defining one of the side lights of the vehicle. By virtue of the provision of the window 24 light emanating from the bulb 28 can pass through the window into the interior of the envelope and through the lens 10. The holder may be attached in any other fashion, apart from adhesive and the reflector 12 instead of having a window as shown, may have an aperture with which the holder registers. Claims

1. A lamp unit of the type described herein, wherein there is a secondary bulb holder for the secondary bulb, such secondary bulb holder being formed in plastics material and being arranged so that a secondary bulb carried thereby can project light through an aperture or window into the interior of the envelope, and through the front lens.

2. A lamp unit according to claim 1, wherein the secondary bulb holder is formed from a plastics material of a dull colour which is not specially treated to be reflective.

3. A lamp unit of the type herein described, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.