JP4155040B2 - Vehicle lighting - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a vehicular lamp in which a terminal for holding a bulb is fixed to an inner surface of a lens.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, a courtesy lamp attached to an inner lower portion of a vehicle door is known as a vehicle lamp (see Patent Document 1). As shown in FIG. 7, the courtesy lamp 1 includes a wedge bulb 2, terminals 3 and 4 that hold the wedge bulb 2, and a lens 5.
[0003]
The wedge valve 2 has a valve body 2a that contains a filament and a flat terminal 2b that conducts to the filament. The flat terminal 2b is provided with terminal portions having different poles on one side end and the other side end of the flat plate surface, and the filament emits light when a current is passed through the terminal portion.
[0004]
The lens 5 has a substantially rectangular shape, and a lens cut 6 for diffusing the illumination light of the wedge bulb 2 is formed on the inner surface thereof.
[0005]
A locking piece 7 for locking the lens 5 to a door (not shown) is provided at one end in the longitudinal direction on the inner surface side of the lens 5 via a base portion 7a, and the other end extends from a power source (not shown). A connector portion 8 connected to the socket is provided via a base portion 8a. Both the base portion 7a and the base portion 8a have a wall shape extending in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the lens 5, and ribs 9 and 10 extending in the longitudinal direction are provided between the base portion 7a and the base portion 8a. On the surface of the rib 9 that faces the rib 10, a leg fixing portion 11 for fixing a leg portion 3a of the terminal 3 to be described later is provided. A surface of the rib 10 facing the rib 9 is provided with a leg fixing portion 12 for fixing a leg portion 4a of the terminal 4 described later. The lens 5, the locking piece 7, the base portion 7a, the connector portion 8, the base portion 8a, the ribs 9 and 10, and the leg fixing portions 11 and 12 are integrally formed of a transparent resin.
[0006]
The terminals 3 and 4 are metal pieces having symmetrical shapes. The terminals 3 and 4 are provided with clamping portions 3b and 4b that hold the plate-like terminal 2b of the wedge valve 2 from the vertical direction of the plate surface and hold it in a conductive state. As shown in FIG. 8, the sandwiching portions 3 b and 4 b have a U-shaped side section, and upper end pieces 13 a and 14 a that abut on the upper surface of the flat plate surface are in contact with the lower surface. Lower sandwiching pieces 13b and 14b are formed.
[0007]
In addition, a fixed piece 15 having a U-shaped cross section in front view is in contact with the terminal 3 at three points, an upper portion 15a, a lower portion 15b, and a side portion 15c, in order to prevent rattling of the valve body 2a. Similarly, the terminal 4 has a fixed piece 16 having a U-shaped cross section in front view so as to come into contact with the valve body 2a at three points: an upper part 16a, a lower part 16b, and a side part 16c. Is provided. The clamping parts 3b and 4b and the fixing pieces 15 and 16 are supported by the leg parts 3a and 4a.
[0008]
In the terminals 3 and 4, the sandwiching portions 3 b and 4 b sandwich the flat terminal 2 b from the up and down direction of the flat plate surface, and the fixing portions 15 and 16 abut the valve body 2 a from the top and bottom and from the side, thereby Hold. The terminal 3 is fixed to the lens 5 by fitting the distal end portion 3c of the leg portion 3a of the terminal 3 into a space facing the ribs 11a and 11b having a bowl-shaped cross section constituting the leg fixing portion 11. Similarly, the terminal 4 is fixed to the lens 5 by inserting the distal end portion 4c of the leg portion 4a of the terminal 4 into a space facing the ribs 12a and 12b having a bowl-shaped cross section constituting the leg fixing portion 12. When the wedge valve 2 is installed on the terminals 3 and 4 fixed to the lens 5 in this way, the clamping portions 3b and 4b are in contact with and electrically connected to the terminals 17 provided on the connector portion 8, When the connector portion 8 is connected to the socket, the wedge valve 2 can be turned on.
[0009]
[Patent Document 1]
Refer to reference numeral 4 in FIG. 1 of JP-A-7-071426.
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, as shown in FIG. 9, the fixing portions 15 and 16 have a U-shaped cross section when viewed from the front. Therefore, when the wedge valve 2 is held by the fixing portions 15 and 16, the valve body 2 a has six points. (Reference numeral 15a, reference numeral 15b, reference numeral 15c, reference numeral 16a, reference numeral 16b, reference numeral 16c in FIG. 9). However, the valve body 2a has a dimensional error (tolerance) within an allowable range, and not all the valve bodies 2a have the same dimensions. For this reason, even when the valve main body 2a is held by the fixing portions 15 and 16, not all of the six points always come into contact with the valve main body 2a. In particular, since the courtesy lamp 1 is subjected to a large impact each time the door is opened and closed, the structure in which the valve body 2a is held at each contact point cannot sufficiently support the wedge valve 2, and the wedge valve 2 In addition to rattling, there has been a problem that flickering of the bulb light and a misfire due to dropping of the wedge bulb 2 may occur.
[0011]
The fixing portions 15 and 16 and the sandwiching portions 3b and 4b are fixed to the lens 5 by the leg portions 3a and 4a of the terminals 3 and 4. The leg portions 3a and 4a are fixed to the fixing portions 15 and 16 and the sandwiching portion 3b. 4b is provided only for fixing the lens 5 to the lens 5, and is not designed to adjust the dimensional error of the valve body 2a depending on the shape of the legs 3a, 4a, the installation angle, and the like.
[0012]
Further, when replacing the wedge bulb 2 in the courtesy lamp 1, the old wedge bulb is pulled obliquely forward and upward (in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 8) with respect to the insertion opening 18 formed by the fixing portions 15 and 16. The new wedge valve 2 was inserted obliquely from the insertion opening 18. For this reason, in the structure of the courtesy lamp 1 as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, as shown in FIG. 10, when the wedge bulb 2 is inserted, the tip 2c of the flat terminal 2b is connected to the fixing parts 15 and 16 and the lower part. Since it is easy to enter between the sandwiching pieces 13b and 14b, there is a possibility of erroneous insertion. In order to avoid this erroneous insertion, it is necessary to carefully attach and replace the wedge valve 2. However, if the assembly is performed carefully, the assembly process takes time, resulting in a decrease in productivity. It was. In addition, when the insertion angle of the wedge valve 2 is not appropriate, there is a possibility that the tip 2c of the flat terminal 2b is caught by the lower clamping pieces 13b and 14b. For this reason, unnecessary force is applied to the lower clamping pieces 13b and 14b to damage the lower clamping pieces 13b and 14b, and the upper clamping pieces 13a and 14a and the lower clamping pieces 13b and 14b of the clamping parts 3b and 4b There was also a risk of widening the interval.
[0013]
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to first provide a vehicular lamp that can prevent rattling of a wedge valve and secondly allows easy insertion of a wedge valve. .
[0014]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention according to claim 1 is a wedge valve having a valve body and a flat terminal, a lens that covers the wedge valve, and a clamp that clamps the flat terminal from the thickness direction. And a pair of terminals having a long leg portion that holds the clamping portion and is fixed to the lens , wherein both the leg portions are opposed to each other. The both end portions of the both leg portions are fixed to the lens so that the both leg portions extend at a distance from the lens, and contact the outer peripheral surface of the valve body by surface contact to support the wedge valve. contact supporting part, wherein provided on the both terminals so as to face each other at an intermediate position in each leg, the two contact supporting portion, the valve body above in a direction coming close to each other by deflection of the legs THIS narrow the valve body so as to bias and said Rukoto.
[0015]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the vehicular lamp according to the first aspect, the sandwiching portion includes a pair of sandwiching pieces that abut against the flat terminal, and the lens surface side of the pair of sandwiching pieces is disposed on the lens surface side. A guide part for guiding the flat terminal to the clamping part is formed at the end of the clamping piece positioned.
[0016]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0017]
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the courtesy lamp 20 as a vehicle lamp according to the present invention includes a wedge bulb 21, terminals 22 and 23 that hold the wedge bulb 21, and a lens 24.
[0018]
The wedge valve 21 has a valve body 21b that contains the filament 21a and a flat terminal 21c that conducts to the filament 21a. In the flat terminal 21c, terminal portions having different poles are disposed on one end and the other end of the flat plate surface, and the filament 21a emits light when an electric current is passed through the terminal portion.
[0019]
The lens 24 has a substantially rectangular shape, and a lens cut 25 for diffusing the illumination light of the wedge bulb 21 is formed on the inner surface thereof.
[0020]
A locking piece 26 for locking the lens 24 to a door (not shown) is provided at one end in the longitudinal direction on the inner surface side of the lens 24, and a connector connected to a socket extending from a power supply (not shown) at the other end. A portion 27 is provided. At the four corners of the lens 24, leg fixing portions 28 to 31 for fixing the leg portions 22a, 22b, 23a and 23b of the terminals 22 and 23 are disposed. The leg fixing portions 28 and 29 are integrally formed with a base portion 26 a that supports the locking piece 26, and the leg fixing portions 30 and 31 are integrally formed with a base portion 27 a that supports the connector portion 27. The leg fixing part 28 is provided with an opening 32 for fixing the leg part 22 a of the terminal 22, and the leg fixing part 29 is provided with an opening 33 for fixing the leg part 23 a of the terminal 23. The leg fixing part 30 is provided with an opening 34 for fixing the leg part 22b of the terminal 22, and the leg fixing part 31 is provided with an opening 35 for fixing the leg part 23b of the terminal 23. Yes. The lens 24, the locking piece 26, and the connector portion 27 are integrally formed of a transparent resin together with the base portions 26a and 27a and the leg fixing portions 28 to 31.
[0021]
As shown in FIG. 4, the terminals 22 and 23 are metal pieces having substantially symmetrical shapes. The terminals 22 and 23 are provided with clamping portions 40 and 41 that hold the plate-like terminal 21c of the wedge valve 21 in the thickness direction and hold it in a conductive state. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the sandwiching portions 40 and 41 have a U-shape when viewed from the side, and sandwiching pieces 40 a and 41 a that come into contact with the top surface of the flat terminal 21 c at the end portions and the bottom surface Lower sandwiching pieces 40b and 41b that are in contact with the lens 24 side are formed. The tip portions of the lower sandwiching pieces 40b and 41b are longer than the tip portions of the upper sandwiching pieces 40a and 41a, and the lens body 21 in the installation of the lens body 21b from the contact point S that contacts the flat terminal 21c. The distal end extends to the vicinity of the outer peripheral surface of the lens 24 side (lower side).
[0022]
The terminals 22 and 23 are provided with contact portions 42 and 43 that contact the outer peripheral surface of the valve main body 21b in order to prevent rattling of the valve main body 21b. Contact surfaces (inner curved surfaces) 42a and 43a with the outer peripheral surfaces of the contact portions 42 and 43 are formed in curved shapes corresponding to the outer surface shape of the valve body 21b, and the contact portions 42 and 43 are in contact with each other. The side surfaces of the surfaces 42a and 43a are semicircular when viewed from the front. For this reason, the contact portions 42 and 43 can contact the outer surface of the valve body 21b with the entire contact surfaces 42a and 43a.
[0023]
The sandwiching part 40 and the contact part 42 are integrally formed with the leg parts 22a and 22b that support them, and the sandwiching part 41 and the contact part 43 are integrally formed with the leg parts 23a and 23b that support them. The leg portions 22 a and 23 a include open leg portions 22 c and 23 c that extend forward from the front end portions 42 b and 43 b of the contact portions 42 and 43 and expand in the width direction of the lens 24. Furthermore, since the leg portions 22a and 23a are longer from the leg portions 22b and 23b to the leg fixing portion, even if the tip ends of the leg portions 22a and 23a are fixed to the leg fixing portions 28 and 29, respectively. The abutting portions 42 and 43 have a structure that tends to be in the width direction of the lens 24. For this reason, the leg portions 22a and 23a have a deflection characteristic for urging the contact portions 42 and 43 toward the valve body 21b.
[0024]
In the terminal 22, the leg portion 22a of the terminal 22 is extended to the leg fixing portion 28, the tip end portion of the leg portion 22a is fitted into the opening 32, and the leg portion 22b is extended to the leg fixing portion 30 so that the leg portion 22b The distal end is fixed to the lens 24 by being fitted into the opening 34. Similarly, in the terminal 23, the leg 23a of the terminal 23 extends to the leg fixing part 29, the tip of the leg 23a is fitted into the opening 33, and the leg 23b extends to the leg fixing part 31. The tip of the portion 23 b is fixed to the lens 24 by being fitted into the opening 35.
[0025]
Next, a procedure for installing the wedge valve 21 on the terminals 22 and 23 fixed to the lens 24 will be described. First, the flat terminal side 21c of the wedge valve 21 is inserted into an insertion opening 44 formed by a pair of abutting portions 42 and 43 facing each other. When the flat terminal 21c passes through the abutting portions 42 and 43, the flat terminal 21c is guided between the upper holding pieces 40a and 41a and the lower holding pieces 40b and 41b of the holding portions 40 and 41 (pinching portions). It is burned. At this time, since the wedge valve 21 has the locking piece 26 in front of the insertion opening, it is difficult to insert the wedge valve 21 horizontally with respect to the insertion opening, and the wedge valve 21 is inserted obliquely as shown by an arrow C in FIG. Often. Even when the wedge valve 21 is inserted obliquely in this way, the lower clamping pieces 40b and 41b are extended so that they serve as a guide member to the clamping portion, and the tip of the flat terminal 21c. The portion 21d is guided to the sandwiching portion along the lower sandwiching pieces 40b and 41b. Thereafter, the flat terminal 21c is pushed through the sandwiching portions 40 and 41 from the sandwiching portion, the valve body 21b moves between the pair of contact portions 42 and 43, and the flat terminal 21c moves in the vertical direction of the flat plate surface. And the valve body 21b comes into contact with the contact surfaces 42a and 43a in a state where the valve body 21b is urged from the left and right sides by the deflection of the leg portions 22a and 23a, and the wedge valve 21 is fixed. The
[0026]
When the wedge valve 21 is installed with respect to the terminals 22 and 23 fixed to the lens 24 in this way, the clamping portions 40 and 41 come into contact with and electrically connected to the terminals provided on the connector portion 27, When the connector part 27 is connected to the socket, the wedge valve 21 can be lit.
[0027]
As described above, in the courtesy lamp 20 according to the present invention, the shape of the contact surfaces 42a and 43a of the contact portions 42 and 43 is a curved surface shape corresponding to the facing shape of the valve body 21b. The portions 42 and 43 can be brought into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the valve main body 21b by surface contact over the entire contact surfaces 42a and 43a, and compared with the conventional case where the valve main body 21b comes into contact with six points. It becomes possible to hold the main body 21b more firmly. Further, since the contact portions 42 and 43 are biased in the direction of the valve body 21b by the deflection of the leg portions 22a and 23a, even if the valve body 21b causes an error due to tolerances, the outer peripheral surface of the valve body 21b. The abutting surfaces 42a and 43a abut against the wedge valve 21, and the wedge valve 21 can be held more firmly. For this reason, it is possible to prevent the wedge valve 21 from rattling, and further, it is possible to prevent the wedge valve 21 from dropping off and causing poor contact, flickering or detaching and causing a bonfire. Become.
[0028]
Further, in the courtesy lamp 20 according to the present invention, since the tip portions of the lower clamping pieces 40b and 41b are extended, even if the wedge bulb 21 is inserted obliquely, the end portions of the flat terminal 21c 21 d can be prevented from entering between the contact portions 42 and 43 and the sandwiching portions 40 and 41. Further, since the lower sandwiching pieces 40b and 41b are extended, the lower sandwiching pieces 40b and 41b serve as a guide member. Therefore, even when the wedge valve 21 is inserted obliquely, the end 21d of the flat terminal 21c is connected to the lower sandwiching piece. It is guided to the sandwiching portions of the sandwiching portions 40 and 41 along 40b and 41b, and the end portion 21d of the flat terminal 21c is not easily caught by the lower sandwiching pieces 40b and 41b, thereby preventing the sandwiching portion from opening. It becomes possible. Further, since the lower clamping pieces 40b and 41b are extended to the vicinity of the lower outer peripheral surface of the valve main body 21b, even when a large force is applied to the wedge valve 21 in the lens 24 direction, The portions 40b and 41b can suppress the force, and the rattling of the wedge valve 21 can be reduced.
[0029]
Although the vehicular lamp according to the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to that described in the embodiment of the present invention. For example, although the courtesy lamp 20 has been described as the vehicle lamp according to the present invention, the present invention is not limited to the courtesy lamp, and the present invention is applied to a vehicle room lamp (interior lamp), a trunk room lamp, and the like. It doesn't matter.
[0030]
【The invention's effect】
Since the vehicular lamp according to the present invention is provided with the contact support portion that contacts the outer peripheral surface of the valve body by surface contact, the valve body can be supported by the entire contact surface of the contact portion. For this reason, it becomes possible to hold | maintain a valve main body more firmly compared with the case where the fixing | fixed part which contact | abuts to a valve main body at 6 points | pieces conventionally is used.
[0031]
In addition, since the abutment support portion is fixed to the terminal so as to urge the valve body by the deflection of the leg portion, even if an error occurs in the product size of the wedge valve due to the tolerance of the valve body, Regardless of the error, the abutment surface can be brought into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the valve body, preventing rattling of the wedge valve, flickering due to poor contact of the wedge valve, and igniting fire due to falling off of the wedge valve. Etc. can be prevented.
[0032]
Furthermore, in the vehicular lamp according to the present invention, since the guide portion is formed at the end portion of the holding piece located on the lens side, the interval between the holding portion and the abutting support portion is narrowed and the gap is reduced. For this reason, even when the wedge valve is inserted obliquely, it is possible to prevent the tip portion of the flat terminal from entering between the contact support portion and the sandwiching portion. Furthermore, since the guide member is formed, even if the wedge valve is inserted obliquely, the distal end portion of the flat plate terminal is guided to the clamping portion along the guide portion. Becomes difficult to be caught by the sandwiching pieces, and it is possible to prevent the gap between the pair of sandwiching pieces from opening.
[0033]
In addition, since the guide part is formed on the clamping piece on the lens side, even when a large force is applied to the wedge valve in the lens direction (lower surface direction), the wedge part is supported by the clamping part. The force can be suppressed and absorbed, and the play of the wedge valve can be reduced.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a vehicular lamp according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a vehicular lamp according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a side view showing a vehicular lamp according to the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a pair of terminals according to the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a terminal according to the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a side view showing a terminal according to the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a conventional vehicular lamp.
FIG. 8 is a side view showing a conventional vehicle lamp.
9 is a cross-sectional view showing a BB cross section shown in FIG. 8. FIG.
FIG. 10 is a side view showing a terminal according to a conventional vehicular lamp.
[Explanation of symbols]
1, 20 Courtesy lamp 2, 21 Wedge bulb 2a, 21b Valve body 2b, 21c Flat terminal 3, 4, 22, 23 Terminal 22c, 23c Open leg 5, 24 Lens 7, 26 Locking piece 8, 27 Connector 40, 41 clamping part 40a, 41a upper clamping piece 40b, 41b lower clamping piece (guide part)
42, 43 Contact part (contact support part)
42a, 43a Contact surface

Claims (2)

A wedge valve having a valve body and a flat terminal, a lens that covers the wedge valve, a clamping part that clamps the flat terminal from the thickness direction, and a long length that holds the clamping part and is fixed to the lens A vehicle lamp comprising a pair of terminals having a leg shape ,
The both terminals are fixed to the lens at both ends of the legs so that the legs are opposed to each other and the legs extend with a distance from the lens.
A contact support portion that contacts the outer peripheral surface of the valve body by surface contact and supports the wedge valve is provided at both terminals so as to face each other at an intermediate position in each leg portion,
Wherein each abutment supporting part of the vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the narrow Soo Rukoto the valve body so as to bias the valve body said in a direction coming close to each other by deflection of the legs Lamps. The clamping part has a pair of clamping pieces that abut against the flat terminal,
The guide part for guiding the flat terminal to the clamping part is formed at an end of the clamping piece located on the lens surface side of the pair of clamping pieces. Vehicle lamps.

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