Light assembly comprising an optical device integrated into a motor vehicle air-conditioning assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016185286-A1
Application number	US-201414911598-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 4, 2014
Priority date	Sep 5, 2013
Publication date	Jun 30, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A light assembly comprising an optical device adapted to be mounted onto an air-conditioning duct of a vehicle. This optical device comprises means for fastening it to the duct, and comprises an optical guide element adapted to receive through an input face the light rays emitted by at least one light source positioned outside the duct, and to diffuse said rays through an output face directed toward the inside of the duct.
Thus the optical device enables the elements of the air-conditioning duct to be interconnected, while carrying means for providing the internal illumination of this duct.
The invention also relates to a vehicle equipped with an air-conditioning assembly whose ducts are internally illuminated by the optical device of the light assembly, controlled by instructions from the control module of said air-conditioning assembly.

First claim

1 . A light assembly comprising an optical device adapted to be mounted on the path of an air-conditioning duct of a motor vehicle, said optical device comprising a first fastening means and a second fastening means at one and the other of its axial ends respectively, for fastening said optical device to an air inlet pipe and to a connecting tube fixed to an air outlet nozzle, said optical device further comprising an optical guide element, said optical guide element being adapted to receive through an input face the light rays emitted by at least one light source, said at least one light source being positioned outside said air-conditioning duct, and to diffuse said light rays through an output face directed toward the inside of said air-conditioning duct.

2 . The light assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said input face is housed outside said air-conditioning duct defined by said air inlet pipe and said connecting tube, being notably substantially perpendicular to an axis of revolution.

3 . The light assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said output face is inclined relative to a plane of said input face and is directed toward the inside of said air-conditioning duct.

4 . The light assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said optical device is fitted in such a way that said first fastening means interact with said connecting tube, while said second fastening means interact with said air inlet pipe.

5 . The light assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said optical device is fitted in such a way that said first fastening means interact with said air inlet pipe, while said second fastening means interact with said connecting tube.

6 . The light assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said optical guide element is an optical guide element of annular shape, having an axis of revolution coinciding with that of said air-conditioning duct at a mounting location of said optical device.

7 . The light assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said optical guide element carries said first fastening means.

8 . The light assembly as claimed in claim 6 , wherein said first fastening means take the form of a first simple annular wall adapted to be mounted by fitting around an upstream end of said connecting tube said air outlet nozzle or around a downstream end of said air inlet pipe, said first simple annular wall being made in one piece with said optical guide element and prolonging the latter axially at its free end.

9 . The light assembly as claimed claim 6 , wherein said optical element carries said second fastening means.

10 . The light assembly as claimed in claim 9 , wherein said second fastening means take the form of a second simple annular wall adapted so that an upstream end of said connecting tube of said air outlet nozzle or a downstream end of said air inlet pipe is mounted by fitting around said second wall, said second simple annular wall being made in one piece with said optical guide element and prolonging the latter axially at the level of said output face.

11 . The light assembly as claimed in claim 6 , wherein said light assembly comprises a support element of said optical guide element, said support element being of annular shape and having an axis of revolution identical to that of said optical guide element, and in that said support element carries said second fastening means.

12 . The light assembly as claimed in claim 11 , wherein said second fastening means take the form of two annular lips adapted to grip a downstream end of said air inlet pipe or an upstream end of said connecting tube of said air outlet nozzle, one of said two annular lips being formed by an annular body of a support element, the other of said two annular lips being formed by a fin made in one piece with said annular body and extending along the latter.

13 . The light assembly as claimed in claim 6 , wherein said light assembly comprises a support element of said optical guide element, said support element being of annular shape and having an axis of revolution identical to that of said optical guide element.

14 . The light assembly as claimed in claim 13 , wherein at least one light source is formed by a light-emitting diode mounted on a printed circuit board which is of substantially annular shape and is fixed to an annular collar made in one piece with said support element, so as to be positioned facing said input face of said optical guide element.

15 . The light assembly as claimed in either of claim 13 , wherein said support element and said optical guide element are formed by two separate pieces, said optical guide element being attached around said support element by gluing.

16 . The light assembly as claimed in claim 13 , wherein said support element has a radially projecting ridge around the whole periphery of an annular wall of said support element, said radially projecting ridge being adapted to receive means for the gluing of said optical guide element.

17 . A motor vehicle, in which an air-conditioning assembly comprises a control module adapted to generate instructions for controlling the air distribution in air-conditioning ducts which are distributed in the structure of the vehicle, said air-conditioning ducts having inlet pipes for guiding this air toward nozzles for the outlet of the air toward the passenger compartment, wherein it comprises at least one light assembly as claimed in claim 1 , in which an optical device is fitted in the prolongation of, on the one hand, a connecting tube fixed to an air outlet nozzle, and, on the other hand, an air inlet pipe, to provide an interconnection thereof and allow the continuous passage of air toward said air outlet nozzles, said optical device also being adapted to illuminate the inside of corresponding said air-conditioning duct.

18 . The light assembly as claimed in claim 7 , wherein said light assembly comprises a support element of said optical guide element, said support element being of annular shape and having an axis of revolution identical to that of said optical guide element, and in that said support element carries said second fastening means.

19 . The light assembly as claimed in claim 2 , wherein said output face is inclined relative to a plane of said input face and is directed toward the inside of said air-conditioning duct.

20 . A light assembly comprising an optical device adapted to be mounted on the path of an air-conditioning duct of a motor vehicle, said optical device comprising a first fastener and a second fastener at one and the other of its axial ends respectively, for fastening said optical device to an air inlet pipe and to a connecting tube fixed to an air outlet nozzle, said optical device further comprising an optical guide element, said optical guide element being adapted to receive through an input face the light rays emitted by at least one light source, notably a light source positioned outside said air-conditioning duct, and to diffuse said light rays through an output face directed toward the inside of said air-conditioning duct.

Assignees

• Valeo Vision

Inventors

• Cazenave Philippe
• Letoumelin Remi
• Boiroux Nicolas

Classifications

• B60Q2500/20

  associated with air conditioning arrangements · CPC title

• B60Q3/002 Primary

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• F21V33/0092 Primary

  with heating or cooling devices · CPC title

• B60Q3/0203

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B60Q3/0243

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic