Light for a vehicle, vehicle light and method for removing and sealingly attaching a cover to a housing of a light

Abstract

A lamp (1) for a vehicle, which lamp (1) has a housing (2), a cover (3), and a sealing means (4), wherein the housing (2) has, in each connecting region (9), a housing molding (20) extending into the outer region (6), and the cover (3) has, in each connecting region (9), a covering molding (30) extending into the outer region (6), wherein each connecting means (8) in each connecting region (9) is closed internally via a snap-in connection (10), the covering molding (30) in each connecting region (9) clamps onto the housing molding (20) in such a way that the clamping force (K) required for sealing is generated between the cover (3), the housing (2), and the sealing means (4) arranged between the cover (3) and the housing (2), wherein each self-contained connecting means (8) in each connecting region (9) can be separated using a separating tool.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a lamp for a vehicle, which lamp has a housing, a cover and a sealing means, wherein the housing, the cover and the sealing means together delimit an inner region from an outer region, wherein the cover is held at least in sections on the housing with a clamping force and the sealing means is arranged along a closed sealing path between the cover and the housing in such a way that a seal between the inner region and the outer region is ensured at least in the region in which the cover adjoins the housing via the sealing means, wherein the clamping force is generated by a plurality of similar connecting means, which connecting means are arranged in connecting regions spaced apart from one another.

[0002] Such lights must fulfill specific lighting functions for a vehicle over a long service life and are therefore manufactured to be correspondingly robust and durable. Nevertheless, damage to the light or its interior components can render the light unsuitable for its intended use. Previously, such lights had to be replaced entirely. Due to sustainability considerations, it is now required to be able to replace individual parts of such lights. These parts can include the cover itself, in particular the cover in the form of a cover plate, or parts inside the light that are only accessible from the outside by removing a cover.

[0003] For such luminaires, fasteners are typically used that create a positive connection between the housing and the cover. The necessary structures, such as snap connections, always engage the housing or cover in such a mechanical way that releasing the clamping force is very difficult.

[0004] The object of the invention is therefore to provide a lamp for a vehicle and a method for removing and sealingly attaching a cover to a housing of a lamp in order to overcome the disadvantages mentioned.

[0005] The object is achieved with a luminaire of the type mentioned at the outset, wherein the housing has a housing formation extending into the outer region in each connecting region and the cover has a cover formation extending into the outer region in each connecting region, wherein each connecting means in each connecting region is closed in itself via a snap-in connection, enclosing the cover formation and the housing formation in sections and furthermore clamping the cover formation to the housing formation in each connecting region in such a way that the clamping force required for tightness is generated between the cover, the housing and the sealing means arranged between the cover and the housing, wherein each self-contained connecting means in each connecting region can be separated by a separating tool.

[0006] In this context, "separable" means that the condition of the self-contained fastener can be changed by separation in such a way that the fastener is no longer self-contained. In particular, separation methods according to DIN standard DIN 8588, e.g., from September 2003, are applicable.

[0007] Tightness refers to sufficient impermeability to certain gases or liquids. This can be assessed using specific leak tests. For example, sufficient tightness is present if the luminaire can be completely immersed in water for at least 5 seconds and no air escapes from the interior to the exterior, at least in the area where the cover connects to the housing via the sealant. The immersion depth can be at least 10 to 100 mm, for example. Furthermore, it can be provided that the interior is subjected to atmospheric overpressure during the leak test. For example, the overpressure can be at least 10 to 100 mbar.Elements such as ventilation elements, which are intended to create an atmospheric exchange between the interior and exterior areas during the normal operation of the luminaire, are of course closed during the leak test in order to be able to check the tightness.

[0008] In order to ensure a reliable hold of at least one such connecting means, it can be provided that in at least one connecting region the housing formation and / or the cover formation has an opening through which the connecting means is guided.

[0009] Furthermore, it is advantageous if, in at least one connecting region, the housing formation and / or the cover formation has, at least in sections, a recess corresponding to the connecting means, in which recess the connecting means runs.

[0010] In order to simplify the feasibility of the separation, it can advantageously be provided that in each connection area the self-contained connecting means is accessible from the outside area for the separating tool in at least one section in such a way that a separation of the self-contained connecting means by the separating tool is possible without mechanical action on the cover or the housing, wherein for this purpose a defined distance is ensured between the respective housing formations and the respective cover formations by means of spacer formations, over which distance the separating tool can be inserted from the outside area.

[0011] Advantageously, the sealing means can be a detachable sealing body which has elastic components.

[0012] Assembly is simplified if the cover and the housing have corresponding positioning elements.

[0013] Advantageously, it can be provided that all connecting means are formed from plastic, have the same geometry and each have an integrally formed toothing and at least one locking element corresponding to the toothing, which toothing together with the locking element forms the locking connection.

[0014] The invention further relates to a vehicle lamp which is designed as such a lamp, wherein the cover is an at least partially transparent cover plate of the vehicle lamp.

[0015] Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for removing and sealingly attaching a cover to a housing of such a luminaire, the method comprising the following steps: a) Disconnecting each self-contained fastener so that the clamping force is reduced to such an extent that the cover can be removed from the housing; b) Detaching the cover, also called old cover, from the housing; c) Removing the sealant, also called old sealant; d) Providing the old cover or a new cover; e) Placing a new sealant between the old cover or the new cover and the housing; f) Fitting the old cover or the new cover.the new cover to the housing with a new sealant in between; g) providing new connecting means; h) closing each new connecting means within itself in each connecting area via a snap-in connection, so that the cover formation and the housing formation are partially enclosed by the new connecting means and the cover formation is clamped to the housing formation in each connecting area in such a way that the clamping force required for tightness is generated between the old cover or the new cover, the housing and the new sealant arranged between the old cover or the new cover and the housing.

[0016] The invention is illustrated below with reference to exemplary and non-limiting figures. Fig. 1 an isometric view of a lamp for a vehicle, Fig. 2 an isometric view of a luminaire with a cover removed from the housing, Fig. 3 a sectional view through a connection area, Fig. 4 another sectional view through a connection area and Fig. 5 a flowchart.

[0017] Fig. 1 shows a lamp 1 for a vehicle. The lamp 1 has a housing 2 and a cover 3. A sealing means 4 arranged between the housing 2 and the cover 3 is shown in the sectional views in Fig. 3 und Fig. 4 The housing 2, the cover 3, and the sealant 4 delimit an interior area 5 from an exterior area 6.

[0018] The sealing means 4 is arranged along a closed sealing path 7 between the cover 3 and the housing 2 (see Fig. 2 bis Fig. 4 ). The closed sealing path 7 is therefore a continuous path along which the inner area 5 is sealed from the outer area 6. The cover 3 is clamped with a clamping force K (see Fig. 3 und Fig. 4 ) is held on the housing 2 in such a way that at least in the area in which the cover 3 connects to the housing 2 via the sealing means 4, a tight seal between the inner area 5 and the outer area 6 is ensured.

[0019] It is clear that the demarcation between the outer area 6 and the inner area 5 does not necessarily mean a hermetic demarcation. Those skilled in the art are familiar with common measures—for example, ventilation elements—that can create an atmospheric connection between the inner area 5 and the outer area 6. It is essential that, at least in the area where the cover 3 adjoins the housing 2 via the sealant 4, a seal, for example, according to the following definition, is ensured between the inner area 5 and the outer area 6.

[0020] Tightness refers to sufficient impermeability to certain gases or liquids. This can be assessed using specific leak tests. For example, sufficient tightness is present if the luminaire 1 can be completely immersed in water for at least 5 seconds and no air escapes from the interior 5 into the exterior 6, at least in the area where the cover 3 connects to the housing 2 via the sealant 4. The immersion depth can, for example, be at least 10 to 100 mm. Furthermore, it can be provided that the interior 6 is subjected to atmospheric overpressure during the leak test. For example, the overpressure can be at least 10 to 100 mbar.Elements, such as ventilation elements, which are intended to create an atmospheric exchange between the interior 5 and exterior 6 during the proper operation of the luminaire 1, are of course closed during the leak test in order to be able to check the leak tightness.

[0021] The clamping force K is generated by means of a plurality of similar connecting elements 8. The connecting elements 8 are arranged in mutually spaced connection areas 9. Preferably, the connection areas 9 are arranged at regular intervals in the region of the sealing path 7.

[0022] The housing 2 has a housing projection 20 extending into the outer region 6 in each connecting region 9. Likewise, the cover 3 has a cover projection 30 extending into the outer region 6 in each connecting region 9. The respective housing projections 20 are molded in one piece with the housing 2. Likewise, the respective cover projections 30 are molded in one piece with the cover 3. Preferably, both the housing 2 and the associated housing projections 20, as well as the cover 3 and the associated cover projections 30, are molded from plastic.

[0023] Furthermore, the connecting means 8 arranged in each connecting region 9 partially encloses, i.e. contacts, both the housing formation 20 and the cover formation 30. At the same time, each connecting means 8 is closed in itself via a snap-in connection 10. Because the connecting means 8 are self-contained and partially enclose both the housing formation 20 and the cover formation 30, no structures on the housing or cover need to be damaged in order to enable the cover 3 to be removed from the housing 2. If it is now necessary to remove the cover 3 from the housing 2 due to repair measures, only the self-contained connecting means 8 have to be separated in order to reduce the clamping force K between the cover 3, the housing 2 and the sealing means 4 arranged between the cover 3 and the housing 2 in such a way that the cover 3 can be removed from the housing 2.

[0024] If necessary, the connecting elements 8 are separated using a separating tool. Such separating tools should be designed in such a way that the connecting elements 8 can be separated using the separation methods specified in DIN standard DIN 8588, e.g., as of September 2003. This only destroys the connecting element 8 without damaging the housing 2 or the cover 3. Thus, after separating a connecting element 8, the state of the self-contained connecting element 8 is changed such that the connecting element 8 is no longer self-contained.

[0025] Fig. 2 shows a cover 3 removed from the housing 2. A lighting module 16 can be arranged in the interior 5 of the lamp 1, which can fulfill a specific lighting function. If the lamp 1 is a vehicle lamp, the lighting function can be, for example, a low beam function or a high beam function. The cover 3 can be designed as an at least partially transparent cover plate. The cover 3 can also be designed as a cover of the lamp 1.

[0026] Fig. 3 shows a partial sectional view along the Fig. 1 indicated section line AA. It can be seen that the housing formation 20 and the cover formation 30 have recesses 12 in sections. These recesses 12 correspond at least in sections with the connecting means 8. Thus, the connecting means 8 can run in these recesses 12 and is securely held in position.

[0027] The aforementioned sealing means 4 is arranged between the housing and the cover 3. It extends along the closed sealing path 7. The sealing means 4 is preferably a detachable sealing body having elastic components. In contrast to reactive adhesive bonds, which must be laboriously removed during a repair process, a detachable sealing body can be easily removed from the sealing path 7. In order to still achieve the required tightness through the sealing means 4 in combination with the clamping force K generated by the connecting means 8, the detachable sealing body is preferably a thermoplastic elastomer. For example, sealing styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene copolymer (SEBS) or butyl rubber can be used as materials for the detachable sealing body.

[0028] As can be seen, the cover 3 and the housing 2 can have positioning elements 13. These can be molded directly onto the housing 2 and the cover 3, as shown in the present example, or can be formed as additional elements. The present positioning elements 13 are designed as a rib and a groove.

[0029] As shown, additional spacing portions 21 can be formed on the housing portions 20. These ensure a defined distance D between the housing portions 20 and the cover portions 30 in each connection area 9. The self-contained connecting means 8 therefore extend partially without contact with parts of the housing 2 or the cover 3. This makes the respective self-contained connecting means 8 more easily accessible for the cutting tool from the outer area 6 during the repair process. Alternatively or additionally, the cover portion 30 can also have such a spacing portion 21.

[0030] Another possible design of the connection areas 9 is shown in Fig. 4 shown. Fig. 4 shows a partial sectional view along the Fig. 1 indicated by section lines BB and CC. The connecting means 8 here is constructed identically to the previously described connecting means 8 and is also closed by a snap-in connection 10. In this example, the housing formation 20 has an opening 11 through which the connecting means 8 is guided. This facilitates handling of the connecting means 8 during assembly. Alternatively or additionally, the cover formation 30 can also have such an opening 11.

[0031] All connecting means 8 are preferably formed from plastic and have the same geometry, although, as shown, the connecting regions 9 in which they enclose the housing formation 20 and the cover formation 30 can be designed differently. All connecting means 8 preferably have an integral, i.e., one-piece, toothing 14 and at least one locking element 15 corresponding to the toothing 14. The toothing 14, together with the locking element 15, forms a locking connection 10, by means of which the connecting means 8 can be closed in accordance with the principle of a cable tie. It is clear that the connecting means 8 are correspondingly flexible so that they can be closed in themselves.

[0032] With regard to a possible repair process, Fig. 5 The steps of a corresponding method are shown in a flowchart, and some of the associated activities are schematically illustrated. The features of luminaire 1 now mentioned in the course of the method therefore refer to those features already mentioned in the previous description.

[0033] To remove the cover 3 and subsequently sealably attach a new cover 3n, if necessary, to the housing 2 of the luminaire 1, each self-contained connecting means 8 is separated in a step a) so that the clamping force K is reduced to such an extent that the cover 3 can be removed from the housing 2. Ideally, the clamping force K is completely eliminated by separating each self-contained connecting means 8.

[0034] In step b), the cover 3 is removed from the housing 2. This cover 3 can be referred to as the old cover 3.

[0035] In step c), the sealant 4 is removed. This sealant 4 can be referred to as the old sealant 4.

[0036] If a replacement of the old cover 3 is intended, a new cover 3n can be provided in a step d). Such a new cover 3n is preferably of identical construction to the old cover 3 and thus also has corresponding cover formations 30. Schematically, the provision of a new cover 3n is shown in Fig. 5 shown. If, instead of replacing the old cover 3, only a replacement of a part, for example the lighting module 16, in the interior 5 of the luminaire 1 is necessary, the old cover 3 can be reused, thus providing the old cover 3 in step d).

[0037] In a step e), a new sealing means 4n is now arranged between the old cover 3 or the new cover 3n and the housing 2. The new sealing means 4n is preferably of identical construction to the old sealing means 4. The arrangement of the new sealing means 4n is shown schematically in Fig. 5 shown

[0038] In step f), the old cover 3 or the new cover 3n is placed on the housing 2 with the new sealant 4n in between, so that the housing projections 20 and the corresponding cover projections 30 face each other. This results in the previously described connection areas 9.

[0039] In a step g), new connecting means 8n are provided, which new connecting means 8n are preferably constructed identically to the described connecting means 8. Schematically, the provision of new connecting means 8n is shown in Fig. 5 shown.

[0040] In a final step h) of the method, the new connecting means 8n are closed in each connection area 9 via a snap-in connection 10. The new connecting means 8n partially enclose both the cover formation 30 of the old cover 3 or the new cover 3n and the housing formation 20 of the housing 2 and clamp them together in such a way that the clamping force K required for tightness is generated between the old cover 3 or the new cover 3n, the housing 2 and the new sealing means 4n arranged between the old cover 3 or the new cover 3n and the housing 2.

[0041] The invention is not limited to the embodiments shown, but is defined by the entire scope of the claims. Individual aspects of the invention or the embodiments may also be taken up and combined with one another. Any reference symbols in the claims are exemplary and serve only to facilitate the readability of the claims, without limiting them.

Claims

1. A lamp (1) for a vehicle, which lamp (1) comprises a housing (2), a cover (3), and a sealing means (4), wherein the housing (2), the cover (3), and the sealing means (4) together delimit an inner region (5) from an outer region (6), wherein the cover (3) is held at least in sections on the housing (2) with a clamping force (K), and the sealing means (4) is arranged along a closed sealing path (7) between the cover (3) and the housing (2) such that a seal between the inner region (5) and the outer region (6) is ensured at least in the region in which the cover (3) adjoins the housing (2) via the sealing means (4), wherein the clamping force is generated by a plurality of similar connecting means (8), which connecting means (8) are arranged in mutually spaced-apart connecting regions (9), characterized in thatthe housing (2) has a housing formation (20) extending into the outer region (6) in each connecting region (9), and the cover (3) has a cover formation (30) extending into the outer region (6) in each connecting region (9), wherein each connecting means (8) in each connecting region (9) is closed inwardly via a snap-in connection (10), thereby enclosing the cover formation (30) and the housing formation (20) in sections, and furthermore the cover formation (30) in each connecting region (9) is clamped to the housing formation (20) in such a way that the clamping force (K) required for tightness is generated between the cover (3), the housing (2), and the sealing means (4) arranged between the cover (3) and the housing (2), wherein each self-contained connecting means (8) in each connecting region (9) can be separated by a separating tool.

2. Luminaire according to claim 1, wherein in at least one connecting region (9) the housing formation (20) and / or the cover formation (30) has an opening (11) through which the connecting means (8) is guided.

3. Luminaire according to one of the preceding claims, wherein in at least one connecting region (9) the housing formation (20) and / or the cover formation (30) has at least in sections a recess (12) corresponding to the connecting means (8), in which recess (12) the connecting means (8) runs.

4. Luminaire according to one of the preceding claims, wherein in each connection area (9) the self-contained connecting means (8) is accessible in at least one section from the outer region (6) for the separating tool in such a way that a separation of the self-contained connecting means (8) by the separating tool is possible without mechanical action on the cover (3) or the housing (2), wherein for this purpose a defined distance (D) is ensured between the respective housing formations (20) and the respective cover formations (30) by means of spacer formations (21), over which distance (D) the separating tool can be inserted from the outer region (6).

5. Luminaire according to claim 1 to 4, wherein the sealing means (4) is a detachable sealing body which has elastic components.

6. Luminaire according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the cover (3) and the housing (2) have mutually corresponding positioning elements (13).

7. Luminaire according to one of the preceding claims, wherein all connecting means (8) are formed from plastic, have the same geometry and each have an integrally formed toothing (14) and at least one locking element (15) corresponding to the toothing (14), which toothing (14) together with the locking element (15) forms the locking connection (10).

8. Vehicle lamp which is designed as a lamp (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the cover (3) is an at least partially transparent cover plate of the vehicle lamp.

9. A method for removing and sealingly attaching a cover (3, 3n) to a housing of a luminaire (1) according to one of the preceding claims, the method comprising the following steps: a) separating each self-contained connecting means (8) so that the clamping force (K) is reduced such that the cover (3) can be removed from the housing (2); b) removing the cover (3), also called old cover (3), from the housing (2); c) removing the sealing means (4), also called old sealing means (4); d) providing the old cover (3) or a new cover (3n); e) arranging a new sealing means (4n) between the old cover (3) or the new cover (3n) and the housing (2); f) placing the old cover (3) orthe new cover (3n) to the housing (2) with a new sealing means (4n) in between; g) providing new connecting means (8n); h) closing each new connecting means (8n) within itself in each connecting area (9) via a snap-in connection (10), so that the cover formation (30) and the housing formation (20) are partially enclosed by the new connecting means (8n) and the cover formation (30) is clamped to the housing formation (20) in each connecting area (9) in such a way that the clamping force (K) required for the tightness is generated between the old cover (3) or the new cover (3n), the housing (2) and the new sealing means (4n) arranged between the old cover (3) or the new cover (3n) and the housing (2).

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