Optical unit with fire module and mask

Abstract

The invention relates to an optical unit comprising a hollow housing with a front opening, at least one light module whose front end is fixed to the bottom of the housing, and a mask that contributes to a lighting function of the light module or to a styling function of the optical unit. The mask includes a suitable window to allow the front end of the module to pass through the window of the mask during mask installation, and it also includes at least one means for attaching the mask to the light module. This attachment means comprises a centering member carried on an inner face (33) of the mask and a shimming member carried on a lateral face (16) of the light module, the centering member and the shimming member cooperating during mask installation. Figure 3

Description

Title of the invention: optical unit with fire module and mask Technical field of the invention

[0001] The technical field of the invention relates to vehicle optical units which provide at least one light function, for example a high beam function of a front optical unit or a night lighting function (also called a "lantern") of a rear optical unit. State of the art

[0002] In the automotive field in particular, it is now common to produce an optical unit comprising: • a hollow single-piece housing with a front opening, • at least one fire module positioned inside the housing, one front end of which is secured to the bottom of the housing, and one front end of which embodies the fire function of the module, • a mask participating in a fire function or a style function of the optical unit.

[0003] Conventionally, the housing is closed by a window and the mask includes a window to leave all or part of the front end of the light module visible in order to allow the latter to fulfill its lighting function.

[0004] In practice, particularly when a vehicle incorporating such an optical unit is being driven, it is observed that vibrations of the vehicle linked to imperfections in the driving area can cause unwanted movements of the light module and / or the mask at the optical unit. These movements cause visual discomfort for people or motorists near the vehicle in question; these movements also generate unwanted noise that is annoying for the driver of the vehicle in question. Statement of the invention

[0005] The invention proposes a technical solution to overcome all or part of the drawbacks of the optical units set out above.

[0006] To this end, the invention proposes a new optical unit comprising: • a substantially hollow case with a front opening, • at least one fire module (10) positioned inside the housing and of which one front end is secured to the bottom of the case and • a mask participating in a fire function of the fire module or in a style function of the optical unit.

[0007] The optical block according to the invention is characterized in that the mask comprises a window (31) of suitable shape and dimensions to allow the passage of a front end (15) of the fire module through the window of the mask when the mask is put in place and in that it also comprises at least one means for fixing the mask to the fire module, fixing means comprising a centering member carried by an internal face (33) of the mask and a wedging member carried by a lateral face (16) of the fire module, the centering member and the wedging member cooperating when the mask is put in place.

[0008] With the invention, the fire module is secured to the mask so that there is no longer any relative movement between the two; the visual disturbance and the parasitic noises linked to these relative movements are thus eliminated. Thus, according to the invention, the mask also participates in a function of maintaining the light of the fire modules.

[0009] The invention also relates to a motor vehicle comprising an optical unit as described above. Presentation of figures

[0010] The invention will be better understood, and other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear in the light of the following description of an example of implementation of the invention. This example is given without limitation. The description is to be read in relation to the appended drawings in which: • [Fig. 1] is a front view of a mask of an optical unit according to the invention, • [Fig.2] shows essential elements of an optical unit according to the invention, in side view, • [Fig.3] is a partial section of the elements of [Fig.2], in side profile view, • [Fig.4] is a partial view of an optical module in front view, mask removed • [Fig.5] is a sectional view of the optical unit according to the invention.

[0011] In the various figures, identical or similar elements are referenced with the same references.

[0012] The concepts "top", "bottom", "above", "below", "side", "front" or "frontal", "rear" or "anterior", are usual concepts defined by taking as reference the view of [Fig.l] where the mask of the light module is in a position similar to the position that it conventionally has on a motor vehicle and in relation to the point of view of a person who would look in the direction of the vehicle and more precisely who would look straight ahead at the optical unit mounted on the vehicle. Detailed description

[0013] As stated previously, the invention relates to an optical unit comprising a housing, at least one 10 fire module and a 30 mask.

[0014] Conventionally, the housing is hollow and has a front opening closed by a window (not shown).

[0015] In the example shown, the optical unit comprises three similar light modules 10 of substantially parallelepiped shape positioned inside the housing one above the other to thus form three light strips.

[0016] In a manner known per se, each light module 10 comprises a light diffuser 11 and a light device 12 fixed on a support 13; the light device comprises a plurality of LEDs and means for controlling the LEDs; the light device 12 is fixed to a front end of the support 13; finally, the front end of the support is fixed by screws 14 to the bottom of the housing of the optical unit; the front faces of the diffuser 11 and of the support 13 together form the front end 15 of the light module. In the example shown, the light diffuser has a substantially parallelepiped, flat shape, with a curved front face; the diffuser covers the support, of similar shape.

[0017] When the LEDs are lit, the light diffuser propagates the light it receives from the LEDs at its front end so as to illuminate the front end 15 of the light module.

[0018] Also in a known manner, the mask participates in a fire function or a style function of the optical unit.

[0019] In addition, the mask according to the invention comprises as many windows as there are fire modules (3 in the example shown); each window has a shape and dimensions suitable for allowing the front end of the associated fire module to be inserted through the window when the mask is put in place. In practice in the example, each window has a rectangular shape and dimensions adjusted to the front end of the fire module, with a clearance, to facilitate the putting in place of the mask.

[0020] The block according to the invention also comprises at least one means for fixing the mask 30 to the fire module 10 or at least one means for fixing the mask to each fire module. More precisely, in the example shown, two fixing means are provided for each fire module.

[0021] Thus, according to the invention, the mask also participates in a function of maintaining the light of the fire modules.

[0022] The or each fixing means comprises in the example shown a centering member carried by an internal face 33 of the mask 30 and a wedging member carried by a lateral face 16 of the light module 10. The centering member and the wedging member cooperate during the positioning of the mask. More precisely in the example shown where the light modules are parallelepipedal, the lateral face 16 is the bottom side face of the fire module, which corresponds to the bottom side face of the support 13 of the light diffuser 11. Of course, depending on the shape of the front end of the module, the fixing means can be positioned on the side or on the top of the fire module.

[0023] The centering member of the mask may be a pin 32, in the example shown, of cross section [Fig. 3]. The associated wedging member is a tab 17 extending from the lateral face of the fire module; the pin is intended to penetrate, during assembly, into a wedging orifice 17a formed in the tab 17 opposite the pin. Such a cross shape for the pin has the advantage of being able to be retouched to add or remove material to adjust the size and shape of the pin to the wedging member. Other cross-sectional shapes may be envisaged, for example a disc-shaped section. The orifice 17a preferably has a circular shape to facilitate insertion of the pin.

[0024] In the example, the wedging member has a frustoconical external shape along a longitudinal axis (which is an axis for inserting the pin into the orifice). Such a shape facilitates the insertion of the pin. At the same time, as the pin is pushed in, such a shape results in precise positioning and then immobilization of the mask relative to the fire module.

[0025] The wedging member (the tab 17 in the example shown) can be positioned at the front end of the light module. Alternatively, the wedging member can be positioned set back from the front end of the light module 10 [Fig. 3], and preferably at a distance D from the front end of the light module greater than 0.5 cm. This setback makes the wedging member less visible; it also gives an aesthetically pleasing cantilever effect to the optical unit.

[0026] In the example shown, a privacy rib 18 extends from the lateral face of the fire module and is positioned between the front end 15 of the fire module and the wedging member. The rib masks the wedging member from view.

[0027] Alternatively or additionally, the front end 15 of the fire module may be extended by a privacy cap 19 opposite the fixing means. The cap also hides the wedging member from view.

[0028] The fire module may have a front end 15 of substantially elongated shape and the window of the mask has a similar shape. In the example shown, the fire module has a parallelepiped shape and its front end is curved rectangular. In another example, the fire module may have a curved tile shape with an annular front end. The fire module may also have a tube portion or wave shape. The shape of the fire module is chosen according to a desired style effect.

[0029] For each fire module, several fixing means can be provided, depending on the shape and dimensions of the front end 15 of the fire module. Where appropriate, they are preferably distributed around the periphery of the mask window so as to ensure good retention of the mask and the fire modules. Each fixing means comprises, on an internal face 33 of the mask, a centering member cooperating during the positioning of the mask with a wedging member carried by a lateral face of the associated fire module. In the example shown where the front end 15 of the fire module is rectangular, two fixing means are provided, the pins 32 of which are distributed near a first longitudinal edge 31a of the mask window [Fig.4]; thus, when the mask is put in place, as the pin of each fixing system is pushed into the associated tab, the first mask edge is secured to the lower lateral face of the fire module while a second longitudinal edge 31b, opposite the first, comes to bear on the upper lateral face of the fire module.

Claims

Claims

1. Optical unit comprising: a substantially hollow housing and having a front opening, at least one light module (10) positioned inside the housing and one front end of which is secured to the bottom of the housing and a mask participating in a light function of the light module or in a style function of the optical unit, optical unit characterized in that the mask comprises a window (31) of suitable shape and dimensions to allow the passage of a front end (15) of the light module through the window of the mask when the mask is put in place and optical unit characterized in that it also comprises at least one means for fixing the mask to the light module, fixing means comprising a centering member carried by an internal face (33) of the mask and a wedging member carried by a lateral face (16) of the light module, the centering member and the wedging member cooperating when the mask is put in place.

2. Block according to claim 1 in which the centering member of the mask is a pin (32), in which the wedging member is a tongue (17) extending from the lateral face of the fire module, and in which the pin is intended to penetrate, when the mask is put in place, into a wedging orifice (17a) formed in the tongue (17) opposite the pin.

3. Block according to the preceding claim, in which the wedging member has a frustoconical external shape along a longitudinal axis.

4. Block according to one of the preceding claims in which the wedging member (17) is positioned set back from the front end (15) of the fire module, and preferably at a distance from the front end of the fire module greater than 0.5 cm.

5. Block according to the preceding claim, also comprising a privacy rib (18) extending from the lateral face of the fire module and positioned between the front end (15) of the fire module and the wedging member.

6. Block according to one of the preceding claims in which the front end (15) of the fire module is extended by a privacy cap (19) opposite the fixing means.

7. Block according to one of the preceding claims, comprising at least two fixing means distributed around the periphery of the mask window.

8. Optical unit according to one of the preceding claims in which the light module has a substantially elongated front end and in which the window of the mask has a similar shape.

9. Block according to one of the preceding claims comprising a plurality of fire modules positioned side by side, each fire module being positioned inside the housing and comprising a front end secured to the bottom of the housing, block in which the mask comprises a plurality of windows, each window having a shape and dimensions suitable for allowing the insertion of a front end of one of the fire modules when the mask is put in place and block also comprising a plurality of means for fixing the mask to the plurality of fire modules, each fixing means comprising, on an internal face of the mask, a centering member cooperating when the mask is put in place with a wedging member carried by a lateral face of the associated fire module.

10. Motor vehicle comprising an optical unit according to one of the preceding claims.

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