Removable Lighting Assembly

Abstract

One aspect of the present invention relates to a lighting assembly (1), a main housing (3) with a front opening (32) and a rear opening (30) facing at least a portion of the front opening (32); a light-emitting device having a sub-housing (21); - an outer lens (4) sealingly closing the front opening (32) of the main housing (3); Equipped with The light emitting device (1) is seated in the rear opening (30) and the sub-housing (21) is characterized in that it is reversibly fastened in a sealing manner to the main housing (3). In the event of a failure of the light-emitting device component of the lighting assembly and / or in the event of an impact that damages a portion of the lighting assembly, the lighting assembly according to the present invention requires only a portion of the lighting assembly to be replaced, for example, only the outer lens and main housing, or only the light-emitting device.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The technical field of the invention is that of lighting assemblies for motor vehicles (private or commercial vehicles). The lighting assemblies are in particular capable of providing lighting and / or signalling functions.

[0002] The present invention particularly relates to removable lighting assemblies, especially those located at the front or rear of a vehicle. [Background technology]

[0003] Currently, automobiles are equipped with lighting assemblies at the front and rear to illuminate the road or be visible to other motorists. These assemblies consist of one or more light sources arranged in a hermetically sealed housing, as use requires that the assemblies be sealed to prevent water from reaching the light source. As a result, in the event of an accident that damages part of the assembly or a failure that affects, for example, the light source or one of the electronic components, the entire assembly must be changed, increasing repair costs for the user. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The present invention provides a solution to the above problem by allowing only the portion of the assembly that is damaged to be changed instead of the entire assembly.

[0005] The present invention relates to a lighting assembly intended to be mounted on a motor vehicle, a main housing having a first side with a front opening and a second side opposite the first side with a rear opening facing at least a portion of the front opening; a light emitting device having a sub-housing; an outer lens sealingly closing a forward opening in the first side of the main housing; Equipped with The light emitting device is seated in the rear opening of the second side of the main housing, and the secondary housing is reversibly fastened in a sealing manner to the second side of the main housing. The front opening preferably extends across the entire front surface of the main housing.

[0006] In the event of a failure of the light-emitting device part of the lighting assembly and / or an impact that damages a part of the lighting assembly, the lighting assembly according to the present invention only requires replacement of a part of the lighting assembly, for example, only the outer lens and main housing, or only the light-emitting device, while ensuring the hermeticity of the assembly before and after repair, which helps to reduce repair costs.

[0007] The opening on a second side opposite the first side allows the light emitting device to be inserted into the main housing, particularly when the main housing is irreversibly closed by the outer lens at the first side.

[0008] The present invention also allows for a degree of standardization since the same main housing with associated outer lens of a lighting assembly can be used for different light emitting devices depending on the equipment level of the vehicle.

[0009] The outer lens is advantageously irreversibly fastened to the main housing. The outer lens may, for example, be bonded to the main housing.

[0010] The secondary housing advantageously comprises a groove in which a gasket is arranged facing the primary housing, said gasket ensuring a tight seal between the two housings, in particular between the secondary housing of the light emitting device and the primary housing of the lighting assembly.

[0011] Advantageously, the light emitting device comprises a means for attaching the secondary housing to the main housing. This fastening means consists, for example, of a lug mounted on the secondary housing, in which a fastening screw can be inserted into a complementary fastening means, such as a threaded bush mounted on the main housing. By tightening the fastening screw, a gasket on the main housing is compressed, thereby ensuring a hermetic fastening of the secondary housing and thus the main housing of the light emitting device.

[0012] Advantageously, the secondary housing is open at the front face and the outer lens closes the front face of the secondary housing. In fact, the secondary housing is hermetically fastened to the primary housing and the outer lens hermetically closes the front opening of the primary housing, so that the outer lens forms part of the hermetically closed front face of the secondary housing. In particular, the front face of the secondary housing is not fastened to the outer lens, i.e. there is no contact between the front face of the secondary housing and the outer lens. The outer lens thus participates indirectly in the closing of the front face of the secondary housing.

[0013] Advantageously, the light emitting device comprises a light source and an optical deflection element, such as a reflector, a lens or a light guide, which is used to shape the light beam emitted by the light source and participate in forming the light or signal beam.

[0014] According to a first embodiment, the light-emitting device is a headlamp or taillight. In particular, the headlamp, or respectively the taillight, may comprise one or more light-emitting modules, or respectively one or more lighting units. The one or more light-emitting modules, or respectively one or more lighting units, are arranged in a sub-housing. According to one example, the sub-housing comprises a cavity for receiving the one or more light-emitting modules, or respectively one or more lighting units. The cavity may in particular comprise an opening, and the headlamp or taillight may or may not have a closing outer lens closing the opening of this cavity.

[0015] For example, each light emitting module, or respectively each lighting unit, comprises at least one light source and an optical deflection element for shaping the light beam emitted by the light source.

[0016] Advantageously, the main housing has an elongated shape with two ends and comprises two headlamps or two taillights, each with a secondary housing sealed and reversibly fastened to each end of the main housing. In this case, the lighting assembly is intended to cover the entire front or rear width of the vehicle. The main housing and the outer lens then constitute a panel on which the headlamps or taillights are mounted. In this case, the lighting assembly comprises both this very voluminous and wide panel with a large and expensive outer lens, and several other very expensive elements, such as the headlamps or taillights. The invention makes it possible to avoid the need to change the entire lighting assembly formed by the panel and the headlamps or taillights in case of failure of the headlamps or taillights or in case of impact on the outer lens. In fact, only the defective headlamps or taillights need to be changed and the glass can be maintained, i.e. the outer lens and the main housing as well as the other headlamp or taillight can be maintained, or only the outer lens and the main housing need to be changed and the headlamp or taillight can be maintained.

[0017] Advantageously, the outer lens covers both headlamps or both taillights. In particular, the sub-housing of each of the two headlamps or each of the two taillights is open at the front and the outer lens covers the front of the sub-housing of both headlamps or both taillights. This front opening may correspond to the opening of the cavity of the sub-housing. In this case, the panel does not have two small outer lenses covering only a single headlamp or a single taillight, respectively, but a single large outer lens covering both headlamps or both taillights and the part located between them. In this case, the lighting assembly according to the invention is particularly advantageous, since it can protect the headlamps or taillights, for example in case of an impact on the outer lens.

[0018] The lighting assembly advantageously includes at least one light guide mounted on the main housing behind the outer lens, the light guides being used to create a light pattern, in particular a light signature that is unique to the vehicle in which the lighting assembly is intended to be installed.

[0019] Advantageously, the or each light guide is fed from a light source located in the headlamp or tail light. This eliminates the need for electronics in the panel. In other words, in the lighting assembly, only the headlamp or tail light contains electronics. This makes it easy to replace the panel, or either the headlamp or tail light, individually.

[0020] This unique light source may be located within a sub-housing of the headlamp or taillight, for example on a dedicated printed circuit board, where "dedicated printed circuit board" means that this printed circuit board is different from the printed circuit board on which the headlamp or taillight light source is located and which generates the light or signal beam.

[0021] According to a second embodiment, the lighting assembly is a headlamp and the light emitting device comprises at least one light emitting module.

[0022] The invention and its various applications will be better understood on reading the following description and on examining the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0023] The figures show non-limiting examples of the present invention. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0024] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a first embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the center portion of the assembly of FIG. 1. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 shows a detail of a cross-sectional view of the assembly of FIG. 1. [Figure 4] FIG. 13 is an exploded view of a second embodiment of one of the headlamps. [Diagram 5] FIG. 11 is an exploded view of a modified example of the second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0025] Unless otherwise stated, identical elements shown in different figures are given a single reference number.

[0026] Throughout the description, the side from which light emerges will be referred to as the "front" and the side from which light is emitted will be referred to as the "rear".

[0027] In a first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the lighting assembly 1 comprises two light emitting devices formed by two headlamps 2, a main housing 3 and an outer lens 4. Here, a light emitting device formed by a front headlamp is described, but a light emitting device formed by a tail light is similar. The main housing 3 comprises a first side having a front opening 32 and a second side opposite the first side having two rear openings 30. In an alternative form not shown, the lighting assembly may comprise only one headlamp and the main housing may comprise only one rear opening.

[0028] In the illustrated example, the main housing 3 has an elongated shape with two ends. The front opening 32 extends from one end of the main housing 3 to the other end, i.e., across the entire surface of the main housing 3. Each of the rear openings 30 faces the front opening 32 at one end of the main housing 3.

[0029] The outer lens 4 faces the front opening 32 of the main housing 3. It hermetically closes the front opening of the main housing 3. In the illustrated example, the outer lens 4 is fastened to the main housing 3 by gluing. As can be seen in FIG. 2, which shows a cross-section of the central part of the assembled lighting assembly 1, the outer lens 4 comprises ribs 40 and the main housing 3 comprises slots 31 for receiving the ribs 40. To firmly bond the outer lens 4 to the main housing 3 by gluing, an adhesive is inserted into the slots 31 and then the ribs 40 of the outer lens 4 are inserted into the slots 31. Alternatively, the outer lens 4 can be joined to the main housing 3 by welding or hot plate processing. It will thus be understood that the outer lens 4 is not only hermetically fastened to the main housing 3, but also fastened in an irreversible, in other words non-removable, manner. The outer lens 4 and the main housing 3 thus form a non-removable panel 10. By "non-removable" it is meant that the outer lens 4 cannot be separated from the main housing 3 without damaging the outer lens 4 and / or the main housing 3.

[0030] The headlamps 2 are each disposed at one end of the main housing 3 and mounted to the main housing 3 facing one of the rear openings 30 of the main housing 3. Each headlamp 2 includes a front opening 25 aligned with the rear opening 30 of the main housing 3.

[0031] When the lighting assembly 1 is mounted on a vehicle, the panel 10 covers the entire front of the vehicle and thus both headlamps 2 arranged at either end of the main housing 3 constitute the right and left headlamps of the vehicle.

[0032] The headlamp 2 has at least one light source and one optical deflection element, e.g. a reflector, a lens or a light guide, for shaping the light beam emitted from the light source to form at least a part of a light or signal beam. For example, the headlamp 2 may comprise a light emitting module including at least one light source and an optical deflection element.

[0033] The outer lens 4 also faces a rear opening 30 of the main housing 3 so that the light or signal beam formed by each headlamp 2 passes through the outer lens 4 and is visible from outside the lighting assembly 1 .

[0034] 3 shows a cross section of the lighting assembly 1 in one of the headlamps 2. Each headlamp 2 comprises a secondary housing 21 hermetically and reversibly attached to a primary housing 3.

[0035] The secondary housing 21 comprises mounting elements which cooperate with complementary mounting elements arranged on the main housing 3. For example, the mounting elements of the secondary housing 21 may be formed by protrusions arranged on the periphery of the secondary housing 21 and including through holes, and the complementary mounting elements arranged on the main housing 3 may be formed by threaded bushings. Thus, by inserting fastening screws into the through holes and the threaded bushings, the secondary housing 21 and the main housing 3 can be attached together in a reversible manner. The headlamp 2 can then be removed from the main housing 3 and thus from the panel 10.

[0036] The lighting assembly 1 includes a gasket 20 disposed in a groove 23 of the sub-housing 21 and abutting against the main housing 3, thereby ensuring a hermetic fastening between the headlamp 2 and the panel 10. When the sub-housing 21 is joined to the main housing 3, the fastening screw is tightened, which brings the main housing 3 into contact with the sub-housing 21, thus compressing the gasket 20 between the main housing 3 and the sub-housing 2. This ensures a hermetic fastening between the main housing 3 and the sub-housing 2.

[0037] In this example, the headlamp 2 does not have its own closing outer lens. In other words, the front opening 25 of each headlamp is not closed by an outer lens specific to the headlamp. The outer lens 4 indirectly seals and closes the front opening 25 of the headlamp 2, thereby protecting the headlamp 2. In fact, the outer lens 4 seals and closes the front opening 32 of the main housing 3, and the secondary housing 21 of each headlamp 2 is sealingly fastened to the main housing 3 at its rear opening 30. The outer lens 4 thus seals and closes the front opening 25 of the headlamp 2.

[0038] In a variant not shown, the front opening 25 of the headlamp 2 can be sealed closed by an outer lens specific to the headlamp 2 .

[0039] In the illustrated non-limiting example, the lighting assembly 1 also comprises a plurality of light guides 5, a support 50 for the light guides 5, and a mask 6. The support 50 for the light guides 5, the light guides 5, and the mask 6 are disposed between the main housing 3 and the outer lens 4, more precisely between a first side of the main housing 3 and the outer lens 4. The support 50 for the light guides 5, the light guides 5, and the mask 6 are sandwiched between the main housing 3 and the outer lens 4. Thus, the panel 10 comprises the light guides 5, the support 50 for the light guides 5, and the mask 6.

[0040] The light guide support 50, the light guide 5, and the mask 6 are optional. The panel 10 need only include the main housing 3 and the outer lens 4. It is also possible for the panel 10 to include only the main housing 3, the outer lens 4, and the mask 6 and one or the other of the assemblies formed by the light guide 5 support 50 and the light guide 5.

[0041] The light guides 5 are used to create a unique light signature for the vehicle in which the lighting assembly 1 is installed. In the illustrated example, the lighting assembly comprises six light guides 5 arranged along the periphery of the front surface of the main housing 3. Two curved side light guides 5a are located at both ends of the main housing 3, and two central light guides 5b couple the side light guides 5a. This arrangement of the light guides 5 optimizes the light guide at the curved portion. However, the number of light guides is not limited, and for example, a single light guide or two light guides could be used.

[0042] As can be seen in FIG. 2, the light guide 5 rests in a groove 51 in a support 50 for the light guide 5 and is held in place.

[0043] Each light guide 5 is fed by at least one light source arranged in one of the headlamps 2. The light sources feeding the light guides 5 are arranged in a sub-housing 21 of the headlamps 2, for example on a dedicated printed circuit board 15 (visible in FIG. 3 ). In this way, the panel 10 has no electronic components, so that one or the other of the panel or the headlamps 2 can be more easily and individually replaced. It should be noted that the light sources feeding the light guides 5 are different from the light sources forming the light or signal beams of the headlamps 2.

[0044] The central light conductor 5b is fed by a light source arranged at its first end on one side of the headlamp 2 and at its second end on the other side of the headlamp 2, respectively. Figure 1 shows two light inlets 15b of the central light conductor 5b. This double feeding of the central light conductor 5b allows for uniform illumination of the central light conductor 5b. The side light conductors 5a are fed by a single light source arranged at the headlamp 2, which is located at the same end of the main housing 3 as the corresponding side light conductors 5a. Figure 1 shows the light inlets 15a of the side light conductors 5a.

[0045] The mask 6 is arranged in front of the light guide 5 and the support 50 of the light guide 5. The mask 6 is mounted on its ends and comprises two openings 60 facing the rear opening 30 of the main housing 3. The openings 60 therefore also face the headlamp 2, in particular the front opening 25 of the headlamp 2. Thus, the light or signal beam emitted from the headlamp 2 can be transmitted through the rear opening 30, the front opening 32 and the openings 60 to the outer lens 4 and become visible from outside the lighting assembly 1.

[0046] The cover 6 comprises an opaque portion 63 in front of the light guide 5, which can cover certain parts of the lighting assembly 1, in particular the central part of the lighting assembly 1, and a transparent portion 61 facing the light guide 5. Thus, the light guide 5 and the light emitted from the light guide 5 are visible from outside the lighting assembly 1.

[0047] Furthermore, the front surface of the covering surface 6, which corresponds to the surface facing the outer lens 4, may be patterned for styling the vehicle. For example, the pattern may be a geometric shape.

[0048] The support 50 and the cover 6 of the light guide 5 are joined to each other by, for example, snap fitting or screwing, and the light guide 5 is placed between the support 50 and the cover 6 and held by being sandwiched between them. Alternatively, the support 50 and the cover 6 can be joined to each other by adhesive. The joining by snap fitting or screwing can shorten the joining time compared to joining by adhesive, which requires drying time.

[0049] Once assembled, the support 50, light guide 5, and mask 6 are disposed between and sandwiched between the main housing 3 and the outer lens 4. Thus, the panel 10, comprising the main housing 3, support 50, light guide 5, mask 6, and outer lens 4, is joined in a non-removable manner.

[0050] The panel may also optionally include a logo 7 disposed between the cover 6 and the outer lens 4 .

[0051] The lighting assembly 1 is advantageous in that in the event of an impact to the outer lens 4 or failure of one of the headlamps 2, only the panel 10 needs to be changed and the headlamp 2 can be maintained, or alternatively, only one of the headlamps 2 needs to be changed and the panel 10 and the other headlamp 2 can be maintained.

[0052] To change the panel 10, one simply removes the lighting assembly 1, then unscrews the two headlamps 2 from the panel 10 and screws the two headlamps 2 back into the new panel. To replace one of the headlamps, one simply removes the lighting assembly 1, then unscrews the headlamp 2 to be replaced and replace the defective headlamp 2 with the other headlamp.

[0053] In this embodiment, the panel 10 can be made somewhat complex depending on the options (light guides or no light, logos or no logos, etc.), and by removably joining the headlamps 2 to the panel 10, different, somewhat sophisticated headlamps 2 can be mounted on the panel 10 depending on the desired performance of the lighting assembly 1.

[0054] 4 shows a second embodiment in which the lighting assembly 1 is a headlamp 11 and comprises a main housing 3, an outer lens 4 and a light emitting device 8. The light emitting device 8 comprises a light emitting module 41, a support 62 for the light emitting module 41 and a sub-housing 21 in which the light emitting module 41 and the support 62 for the light emitting module 41 are arranged.

[0055] Elements similar to those in the first embodiment will be described briefly, with it being understood that the descriptions given for these elements in the first embodiment apply.

[0056] As in the first embodiment, the main housing 3 comprises a first side having a front opening 32 and a second side opposite the first side having a rear opening (not visible) facing the front opening 32, and the outer lens 4 sealingly closes the front opening on the first side of the main housing 3. Furthermore, the outer lens 4 is irreversibly fastened to the main housing 3. The fastening of the outer lens 4 to the main housing 3 is similar to that described for the first embodiment.

[0057] The rear opening is intended to receive the sub-housing 21 of the light emitting device 8. As in the first embodiment, the sub-housing 21 of the light emitting device 8 comprises a protrusion 24 with a through hole arranged around the periphery of the sub-housing 21, which cooperates with a threaded bush of the main housing 3 to allow the insertion of a fastening screw 9 and reversibly attach the sub-housing 21 to the main housing 3. Furthermore, the sub-housing 21 of the light emitting device 8 is also sealingly mounted to the main housing 3. As explained for the first embodiment, a gasket may be used to ensure the seal.

[0058] The light emitting device 8 has a front opening 25 aligned with the rear opening of the main housing 3. In the illustrated example, the light emitting device 8 does not have its own closing outer lens. In other words, the front opening 25 of the light emitting device 8 is not closed by an outer lens specific to the light emitting device 8. The outer lens 4 of the headlamp 11 can indirectly seal and close the front opening 25 of the light emitting device 8.

[0059] The light emitting module 41 comprises at least one light source and one optical deflection element, e.g. a reflector, a lens or a light guide, for shaping the light beam emitted by the light source to form at least a part of a light or signal beam. The beam emitted by the light emitting module 41 passes through the outer lens 4 and is therefore visible from outside the headlamp 11.

[0060] In the headlamp 11 according to the present invention, if an impact is applied to the outer lens 4, only the assembly formed by the outer lens 4 and the main housing 3 needs to be changed, and the light emitting device 8 can be maintained. Also, if the light emitting module 41 breaks down, only the light emitting device 8 needs to be replaced, and the assembly formed by the outer lens 4 and the main housing 3 can be maintained.

[0061] Furthermore, by removably joining the light emitting device 8 to the main housing of the headlamp 11, it becomes possible to vary the number and type of light emitting device 8 mounted on the headlamp 11, in particular the light emitting modules arranged in the light emitting device 8.

[0062] Thus, as shown in Fig. 5 showing a variant of the second embodiment, the light-emitting device 8 may comprise only one light-emitting module 42 instead of two light-emitting modules 41. Furthermore, the light-emitting module 42 is different from the light-emitting module 41. In this way, the headlamp 11 can be easily adapted depending on the lighting or signaling function performed by the headlamp 11 by selecting the light-emitting device 8 to be arranged in the headlamp 11. The headlamp 11 thus allows good compatibility between different light-emitting devices 8.

Claims

1. A lighting assembly (1) intended to be mounted on a motor vehicle, comprising: a main housing (3) having a first side with a front opening (32) and a second side opposite the first side with a rear opening (30) facing at least a portion of the front opening (32); A light emitting device having a sub-housing (21); an outer lens (4) sealingly closing the front opening of the first side of the main housing (3); Equipped with The lighting assembly (1), characterized in that the light emitting device is seated in the rear opening of the second side of the main housing, and the sub-housing (21) is sealingly and reversibly fastened to the second side of the main housing (3).

2. 2. The lighting assembly (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the outer lens (4) is irreversibly fastened to the main housing (3).

3. 3. A lighting assembly (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the sub-housing (21) comprises a groove (23) in which a gasket (20) is arranged facing the main housing.

4. 4. An illumination assembly (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the light emitting device comprises means (24) for attaching the sub-housing (21) to the main housing (3).

5. 5. An illumination assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sub-housing (21) is open at its front side and the outer lens (4) closes the front side of the sub-housing.

6. 6. An illumination assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the light emitting device comprises a light source and an optical deflection element.

7. 7. Lighting assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the light-emitting device is a headlamp (2) or a taillight.

8. 8. The lighting assembly (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that the main housing (3) has an elongated shape with two ends and comprises two headlamps or two tail lights, each having a sub-housing hermetically and reversibly fastened to each end of the main housing.

9. 9. Lighting assembly (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that the outer lens (4) covers both headlamps (2) or both tail lights.

10. 10. An illumination assembly (1) according to any one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that it comprises at least one light guide (5) mounted in the main housing (3) behind the outer lens (4).

11. 11. The lighting assembly (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that the light guide (5) is supplied from a light source arranged in the headlamp (2) or in the tail light.

12. 7. The lighting assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lighting assembly is a headlamp (11) and the light emitting device (8) comprises at least one light emitting module (41, 42).

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