Lamp Unit and Vehicle Door Equipped with Lamp Unit

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021095837-A1
Application number	US-201816635188-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 24, 2018
Priority date	Dec 26, 2017
Publication date	Apr 1, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

To provide a lamp unit in which rattling of a light-emitting element is prevented, a lamp unit (4) includes: a holder member (9) configured to be attached to an attachment object (3), a base board (6) provided with a light-emitting element (5) couple on a main surface thereof; a retaining member (8) that engages the holder member to sandwich the base board between the retaining member and the holder member such that the base board is retained at a prescribed position on the holder member; and a cover member (9) that is at least partially light-transmissive and is attached to the holder member such that the cover member cooperates with the holder member to define a housing chamber (90) for housing the base board and the retaining member.

First claim

1 . A lamp unit, comprising:
a holder member configured to be attached to an attachment object; a base board provided with a light-emitting element on a main surface thereof; a retaining member that engages the holder member to sandwich the base board between the retaining member and the holder member such that the base board is retained at a prescribed position on the holder member; and a cover member that is at least partially light-transmissive and is attached to the holder member such that the cover member cooperates with the holder member to define a housing chamber for housing the base board and the retaining member.

2 . The lamp unit according to claim 1 , wherein the holder member has a housing recess for housing the base board and the retaining member, and an inner surface of the holder member is provided with an engagement portion for locking the retaining member.

3 . The lamp unit according to claim 2 , wherein the retaining member has a plate-like shape and is provided with a light passing hole that extends therethrough at a position corresponding to the light-emitting element.

4 . The lamp unit according to claim 3 , wherein the retaining member includes an outer frame formed along an edge portion of the base board and multiple beams provided between portions of the outer frame, the outer frame and the beams defining the light passing hole, and
the engagement portion engages the outer frame.

5 . The lamp unit according to claim 4 , wherein the retaining member is provided with first projections respectively projecting from at least two portions of an outer peripheral surface of the outer frame that face away from each other such that each first projection abuts against a wall surface defining the housing recess.

6 . The lamp unit according to claim 5 , wherein the retaining member is provided with a pair of second projections that project from the outer frame toward the base board and abut against corresponding end surfaces of the base board to sandwich the base board therebetween.

7 . The lamp unit according to any one of claims 2 to 6 , wherein a bottom wall of the housing recess of the holder member is provided with a locking recess, and a corresponding part of the retaining member is provided with a locking protrusion that protrudes into the locking recess.

8 . The lamp unit according to claim 7 , wherein the base board is formed with a through-hole that extends therethrough at a position opposing the locking recess, and the locking protrusion passes through the through-hole and is fitted into the locking recess.

9 . The lamp unit according to claim 8 , wherein the holder member is provided with a connector insertion recess that extends from an outer surface to pass between a bottom wall of the locking recess and an outer surface of the holder member and reaches the locking recess, and a connection terminal extending from the base board to the connector insertion recess by passing between the locking protrusion and the locking recess.

10 . The lamp unit according to claim 9 , wherein the locking recess extends along a prescribed axis to reach an approximate center of the connector insertion recess,
the connector insertion recess extends substantially perpendicularly to the axis to reach an approximate center of the locking recess, the locking recess and the connector insertion recess are connected to each other, the locking protrusion has a first protruding end surface and a second protruding end surface, the first protruding end surface abuts against the bottom wall of the locking recess or the connection terminal, the second protruding end surface cooperates with a wall surface of the connector insertion recess to define a connector insertion hole into which a connector is inserted, and the connection terminal passes between the first protruding end surface and the bottom wall of the locking recess to reach the connector insertion hole.

11 . The lamp unit according to claim 10 , wherein the bottom wall of the locking recess is formed with a groove for receiving the connection terminal, and
the first protruding end surface and the bottom wall of the locking recess abut against each other.

12 . The lamp unit according to claim 11 , wherein the second protruding end surface is positioned on a base end side of the locking protrusion than the first protruding end surface, and
a gap is formed between the second protruding end surface and the connection terminal.

13 . The lamp unit according to claim 12 , wherein the second protruding end surface is inclined toward the base end in a direction toward an opening of the connector insertion recess.

14 . The lamp unit according to any one of claims 9 to 13 , wherein the outer surface of the holder member is formed with an inclined surface that is continuous with an opening of the connector insertion recess.

15 . The lamp unit according to any one of claims 1 to 14 , wherein the lamp unit is a courtesy lamp configured to be mounted to a vehicle door.

16 . The lamp unit according to any one of claims 1 to 15 , wherein the holder member is integrally formed on a door trim of a vehicle door.

17 . A vehicle door equipped with the lamp unit according to any one of claims 1 to 16 .

1 - 17 . (canceled)

18 . A lamp unit, comprising:
a holder member configured to be attached to an attachment object; a base board provided with a light-emitting element on a main surface thereof; a retaining member that engages the holder member to sandwich the base board between the retaining member and the holder member such that the base board is retained at a prescribed position on the holder member; and a cover member that is at least partially light-transmissive and is attached to the holder member such that the cover member cooperates with the holder member to define a housing chamber for housing the base board and the retaining member, wherein the holder member has a housing recess for housing the base board and the retaining member, an inner surface of the holder member is provided with at least one engagement portion for locking the retaining member, the retaining member has a plate-like shape and is provided with an outer frame formed along an edge portion of the base board and a light passing hole that extends through the retaining member at a position corresponding to the light-emitting element inside the outer frame, and the retaining member is provided with first projections respectively projecting from at least two portions of an outer peripheral surface of the outer frame that face away from each other such that each first projection projects toward a wall surface defining the housing recess.

19 . The lamp unit according to claim 18 , wherein the outer frame has a substantially rectangular shape, and
the first projections are provided on mutually opposing sides of the outer peripheral surface of the outer frame.

20 . The lamp unit according to claim 18 , wherein the retaining member is provided with at least one pair of second projections that project from the outer frame toward the base board and abut against corresponding end surfaces of the base board to sandwich the base board therebetween.

21 . The lamp unit according to claim 20 , wherein the at least one pair of second projections includes multiple pairs of second projections arranged along a long-side direction of the outer frame.

22 . The lamp unit according to claim 18 , wherein the at leas

Assignees

• Ts Tech Co Ltd

Inventors

• MIHIRA Manabu
• Nakano Yuji
• Nomura Masahiro

Classifications

• H10H20/80

  Constructional details · CPC title

• B60Q2400/40

  Welcome lights, i.e. specific or existing exterior lamps to assist leaving or approaching the vehicle · CPC title

• F21S41/19

  Attachment of light sources or lamp holders (achieving variable light distribution by movable light sources F21S41/657) · CPC title

• B60Q3/217 Primary

  Doors, e.g. door sills; Steps · CPC title

• F21S43/19

  Attachment of light sources or lamp holders · CPC title