Patent Application
20090116255
1. Field of the Invention
In at least one aspect, the present invention relates to vehicle interior lighting.
2. Background Art
The demand for aesthetically pleasing automobile interior accessories with enhanced functionality continues to grow. Consumers expect enhancement of basic features, such as interior lighting, as models change from year to year. Likewise, manufacturers are continually examining new materials, designs, and assembly procedures to meet the consumer demand while attempting to reduce complexity and cost.
Currently, lamp housing designs for vehicle interior lighting tend to be somewhat complex with a relatively large footprint. Complexity arises from the multi-component nature of the lamp assembly in which there is a separate component for attachment to the vehicle headliner. Such multi-component designs add expense by requiring an extra assembly step.
Accordingly, for at least these reasons, there is a need for new flexible vehicle interior components that are economical to fabricate and install.
The present invention solves one or more problems of the prior art by providing in at least one aspect a lamp assembly for attachment to a vehicle interior component. The lamp assembly of this embodiment includes a bezel having a lamp receiving section and an integrated attachment section. The integrated attachment section has one or more outwardly directed extensions for attaching the lamp assembly to the interior component by rotating the bezel into a receiving aperture. A lamp housing is disposed within the lamp receiving assembly. Finally, the lamp assembly includes a light source positioned within the lamp housing for projecting light along a light path. Advantageously, the present embodiment provides lamp assemblies with small footprints. In particular, compact round lamp assemblies may be utilized if desired.
In another embodiment of the present invention, a vehicle lighting system in which the lamp assembly set forth above is attached to a headliner is provided.
Reference will now be made in detail to presently preferred compositions, embodiments and methods of the present invention, which constitute the best modes of practicing the invention presently known to the inventors. The Figures are not necessarily to scale. However, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for any aspect of the invention and/or as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention.
Except in the examples, or where otherwise expressly indicated, all numerical quantities in this description indicating amounts of material or conditions of reaction and/or use are to be understood as modified by the word “about” in describing the broadest scope of the invention.
It is also to be understood that this invention is not limited to the specific embodiments and methods described below, as specific components and/or conditions may, of course, vary. Furthermore, the terminology used herein is used only for the purpose of describing particular embodiments of the present invention and is not intended to be limiting in any way.
It must also be noted that, as used in the specification and the appended claims, the singular form “a,” “an,” and “the” comprise plural referents unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. For example, reference to a component in the singular is intended to comprise a plurality of components.
Throughout this application, where publications are referenced, the disclosures of these publications in their entireties are hereby incorporated by reference into this application to more fully describe the state of the art to which this invention pertains.
With reference to
Still referring to
In another variation of the present embodiment, light source 24 is pivotally supported within the lamp housing. In one refinement, pivoting of light source 24 is accomplished by pivoting of lamp housing 22 about pivot points 40, 42. In another refinement, a component of lamp housing 22 is pivotable, thereby allowing redirection of light emerging from light source 24.
With reference to
With reference to
With reference to
One skilled in the art will recognize that bezel 12 can be made of virtually any material capable of being formed into the shape set forth above. Plastics are a useful material for the construction of bezel 12. Particularly useful plastics include thermoplastic resins and thermoset resins. Examples of thermoplastic resins, include but are not limited to, polyvinylchloride, polyethylene, polypropylene, other polyolefins, or nylon. Accordingly, the bezel of the present embodiment is advantageously made by injection modeling, compression molding, or by RIM. In the case of injection molding, urethanes are particularly useful.
While embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it is not intended that these embodiments illustrate and describe all possible forms of the invention. Rather, the words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
