Vehicle lamp assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12377779-B2
Application number	US-202318447281-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 9, 2023
Priority date	Aug 9, 2023
Publication date	Aug 5, 2025
Grant date	Aug 5, 2025

Abstract

A vehicle lamp assembly includes a lamp housing, a trim panel and a bezel. The lamp housing includes a lens, a light source and first attachment structures. The trim panel defines a first lens receiving opening. The bezel has a second lens receiving opening and second attachment structures. The lamp housing attaches to the bezel with the lamp housing overlaying a portion of the trim panel on an opposite side from the bezel. The lens of the lamp housing extends through the first lens receiving opening and the second lens receiving opening with the first attachment structures and the second attachment structures attached to one another.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle lamp assembly, comprising:
a lamp housing that includes a lens and a light source within the lamp housing, the lens being generally cylindrical so as to define an end surface and a generally circular side surface, the light source being behind the lens, the housing having first attachment structures adjacent to the lens;
a trim panel located adjacent to a footwell area of a passenger compartment of a vehicle, the trim panel having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, the trim panel defining a first lens receiving opening that extends from the first surface to the second surface;
a bezel having a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface, a second lens receiving opening extending between the first and second surfaces of the bezel and second attachment structures adjacent to the second lens receiving opening such that with the lamp housing attached to the bezel the lamp housing overlays a portion of a first surface of the trim panel surrounding the first lens receiving opening, the first surface of the bezel overlays a portion of the second surface of the trim panel surrounding the second lens receiving opening, the lens of the lamp housing extends through the first lens receiving opening and the second lens receiving opening such that the end surface of the lens extends beyond the second surface of the bezel to expose the generally circular side surface of the lens and the first attachment structures and the second attachment structures are engaged with one another attaching the bezel to the lamp housing with the trim panel sandwiched therebetween with the lens being centered between the first and second attachment structures and spaced apart from the first and second attachment structures; and
wherein the lens is disposed within the bezel to be capable of emitting through a radial side thereof.

2. The vehicle lamp assembly according to claim 1 , wherein
the lamp housing has a main body with a cylindrical protrusion extending therefrom with the lens supported by the cylindrical protrusion at a location spaced apart from the main body.

3. The vehicle lamp assembly according to claim 2 , wherein
the main body of the lamp housing has an overall rectangular shape with the cylindrical protrusion extending from the main body.

4. The vehicle lamp assembly according to claim 3 , wherein
the first attachment structures are stop surfaces and the second attachment structures are snap-fitting protrusions that contact and engage the stop surfaces with the lamp housing and the bezel attached to one another.

5. The vehicle lamp assembly according to claim 2 , wherein
the main body of the lamp housing has an overall square shape with the cylindrical protrusion extending from the main body.

6. The vehicle lamp assembly according to claim 5 , wherein
the first attachment structures are stop surfaces and the second attachment structures are snap-fitting protrusions that contact and engage the stop surfaces with the lamp housing and the bezel attached to one another.

7. The vehicle lamp assembly according to claim 1 , wherein
the first attachment structures are stop surfaces and the second attachment structures are snap-fitting protrusions that contact and engage the stop surfaces with the lamp housing and the bezel attached to one another.

8. The vehicle lamp assembly according to claim 1 , wherein
the lens is a light diffusing lens.

9. The vehicle lamp assembly according to claim 1 , wherein
the lens is positioned on the trim panel to direct light to the footwell of the vehicle.

10. The vehicle lamp assembly according to claim 1 , wherein
the trim panel is positioned adjacent to a dashwall of the passenger compartment.

11. The vehicle lamp assembly according to claim 10 , wherein
the trim panel is positioned to cover a forward portion of a center console within the footwell of the passenger compartment.

12. The vehicle lamp assembly according to claim 10 , wherein
the trim panel is positioned to cover a lower end of an A-pillar within the footwell of the vehicle.

13. The vehicle lamp assembly according to claim 1 , wherein
the bezel includes an opaque cover that at least partially covers the lens.

14. The vehicle lamp assembly according to claim 1 , wherein
the bezel has an overall circular shape.

15. The vehicle lamp assembly according to claim 1 , wherein
the bezel and the lens are positioned such that light passing through the lens lights the footwell of the passenger compartment within the vehicle.

Assignees

• Nissan North America Inc

Inventors

• Young Steven
• Phan Nelson

Classifications

• B60Q3/76 Primary

  for spotlighting, e.g. reading lamps (spotlighting on or for specific fittings B60Q3/20; spotlighting in mass transit vehicles B60Q3/44) · CPC title

• B60Q3/64

  for a single lighting device · CPC title

• B60Q3/51

  for mounting lighting devices onto vehicle interior, e.g. onto ceiling or floor · CPC title

• B60Q3/54 Primary

  Lighting devices embedded in interior trim, e.g. in roof liners · CPC title