The present invention relates to a vehicular lamp and, more particularly, to a vehicular lamp providing enhanced heat dissipating efficiency and enhanced assembling stability.
Vehicular lamps have been developed from conventional halogen lamps to high-intensity discharge (HID) lamps and then to LED lamps. LED lamps for vehicles do not include stabilizers required in HID lamps and consume less energy while having the advantages of small volume, light weight, high on/off speed, excellent resistance to vibration, and long service life.
However, the LED lamps for vehicles can only reliably work in a suitable working environment generally below 80° C. The crystalline grains of the LEDs have low lighting efficiency or could be damaged at high temperature. Thus, it is important to provide heat dissipation for the LED lamps for vehicles, so that the LED lamps can work smoothly.
However, it is difficult to control the lighting patterns, because most part of the light beams directly transmits the light-transmitting cover 3′. Furthermore, the reflective housing 2′ provides poor heat dissipation, leading to poor heat dissipating effect while the LED light module 1′ emits light beams.
An objective of the present invention is to provide a vehicular lamp capable of controlling the lighting patterns, providing enhanced heat dissipating efficiency, and providing enhanced assembling stability.
A vehicular lamp according to the present invention includes an LED light module. A reflective housing includes a first recessed portion having a reflective surface. The reflective housing further includes an opening in a front end thereof and in communication with the first recessed portion. An outer housing made of heat dissipating material is fixed to the reflective housing. The outer housing includes a plurality of fins on an outer surface thereof. The outer housing further includes a second recessed portion receiving the reflective housing. The outer housing further includes an opening in a front end thereof and in communication with the second recessed portion. A receiving portion is provided behind the second recessed portion. A circuit board received in the receiving portion. A heat conductive seat made of heat dissipating material includes a connecting plate fixed to the outer housing. An extension extends from the connecting plate to a central, front portion of the reflective housing. The extension includes a coupling seat. The LED light module is mounted to the coupling seat and electrically connected to the circuit board. A light-transmitting cover is mounted to and covers the openings of the reflective housing and the outer housing.
The LED light module emits light beams to the reflective surface of the reflective housing. The reflective surface reflects the light beams to a predetermined position. Heat generated by the LED module is conducted by the heat conductive seat to the outer housing. The heat dissipating efficiency and the assembling reliability are enhanced.
Other objectives, advantages, and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
With reference to
The outer housing 3 is made of material with good heat dissipating characteristics. The outer housing 3 includes a plurality of fins 31 on an outer surface thereof for increasing the heat dissipating area. The outer housing 3 further includes a second recessed portion 32 for receiving the reflective housing 2. The outer housing 3 further includes an opening 33 in a front end thereof and in communication with the second recessed portion 32. A protruded portion 34 is formed on a lower section of an inner periphery of the second recessed portion 32 and includes an outer face having a groove 35. The protruded portion 34 further includes an insertion hole 36, two through-holes 37, and a fixing hole 38. A receiving portion 39 is provided behind a rear wall of the second recessed portion 32 for receiving a circuit board 6. The receiving portion 39 includes through-holes 391 through which wires 61 of the circuit board 6 extend. The outer housing 3 further includes fixing holes 392 in a rear end thereof. The reflective housing 2 is received in the second recessed portion 32 of the outer housing 3. The protruded portion 34 of the outer housing 3 is received in the engaging groove 25 of the reflective housing 2. Fasteners 7 are extended through fixing holes 392 and 27 to fix the outer housing 3 and the reflective housing 2 together. The insertion holes 26 and 36 are aligned with each other.
The heat conductive seat 4 is made of material with good heat dissipating characteristics, such as aluminum. The heat conductive seat 4 includes a connecting plate 41 extending through insertion holes 26 and 36 of the reflective housing 2 and the outer housing 3. The connecting plate 41 includes a connecting hole 411 aligned with the fixing hole 38 of the outer housing 3. The connecting plate 411 of the heat conductive seat 4 is received in the groove 35 of the outer housing 3. A fastener 7 is extended through the fixing holes 38 and 411 to fix the connecting plate 41 to the protruded portion 34 of the outer housing 3. The fastener 7 can not be seen from the front, providing an aesthetic appearance. An extension 42 extends from the connecting plate 41 and extends to a central, front portion of the reflective housing 2. The extension 42 has a coupling seat 421 having coupling holes 422. The LED light module 1 is fixed to the coupling seat 421 by extending fasteners 7 through coupling holes 422 and holes 11 of the LED light module 1. The heat conductive seat 4 further includes through-holes 43. The wires 61 of the circuit board 6 are extended through the through-holes 37 of the outer housing 3 and the through-holes 43 of the heat conductive seat 4 and are electrically connected to the LED light module 1. The LED light module 1 can emit light beams rearward and sideward toward the reflective cover 2.
The light-transmitting cover 5 covers the openings 22 and 33 of the reflective housing 2 and the outer housing 3. Waterproof glue can be applied to engagement sections between the light-transmitting cover 5 and the openings 22 and 33 and to the groove 35 of the outer housing 3.
With reference to
It can be appreciated that the vehicular lamp according to the present invention can be mounted in different orientations. The protrusion 24 of the reflective housing 2 the protruded portion 34 of the outer housing 3 can be provided in other locations of the inner peripheries of the first and second recessed portions 22 and 32 instead of the lower sections.
The vehicular lamp according to the present invention can be used in any lighting portion in any vehicle such as a truck, an automobile, a motorcycle, or the like and provide enhanced heat dissipating effect and save energy.
Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, numerous modifications and variations are still possible without departing from the essence of the invention. The scope of the invention is limited by the accompanying claims.