Headlamp assembly for a saddle-type vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9688332-B2
Application number	US-201414212519-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 14, 2014
Priority date	Mar 22, 2013
Publication date	Jun 27, 2017
Grant date	Jun 27, 2017

Abstract

A headlamp assembly for a saddle-type vehicle includes left and right light-emitting portions arranged on left and right sides, respectively, of a housing. Each of the light-emitting portions includes a light source and a concave reflector, disposed proximate the light source for reflecting light forwardly. Each reflector has an inclined surface configured such that the rear surfaces of the reflectors extend in directions separating from each other as the reflectors extend rearwardly. A driver for driving the light sources of the left and right light-emitting portions is arranged behind and in between the left and right reflectors.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A headlamp assembly for a saddle-type vehicle, said headlamp assembly comprising:
left and right light-emitting portions arranged on left and right sides, respectively, each of the light-emitting portions comprising a light source and a concave reflector disposed proximate the light source for reflecting light forwardly, each reflector having an inclined surface, and having an upper surface and a rear surface, the inclined surface being configured such that the rear surfaces of the reflectors extend in directions separating from each other as the reflectors extend rearwardly, and two heat sinks each having an L-shape cover the upper surface and rear surfaces, respectively, of the reflectors;
a housing which supports the light emitting portions while covering the light emitting portions from behind; and
a lens which covers a front side of the light emitting portions while allowing light to pass therethrough;
wherein a driver for driving the light sources of the left and right light-emitting portions is arranged behind and between the left and right reflectors, said driver having power lines to connect the driver to the light-emitting portions;
wherein the driver is supported on an outer side of a rear surface wall of the housing and is arranged in a recessed, forwardly indented portion which is formed in the rear surface wall of the housing, and
wherein the rear surface wall of the housing bulges in a rearwardly projecting manner to form spaces behind the heat sinks whereby air around the heat sinks forms convection flows,
wherein the power lines are shortened due to the placement of the driver and the headlamp assembly is compact due to the structure of the headlamp assembly.

2. The headlamp assembly for a saddle-type vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the driver is treated to be water-resistant.

3. The headlamp assembly for a saddle-type vehicle according to claim 2 , wherein: the driver is a headlight-use driver for driving the light source for a headlight, the headlamp assembly further comprises a turn signal lamp, and a signal-lamp driver for the turn signal lamp is arranged inside of the housing, in a state where the rear surface wall of the housing is sandwiched between the headlight-use driver and the signal-lamp driver.

4. The headlamp assembly for a saddle-type vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein: the driver is a headlight-use driver for driving the light source for a headlight, the headlamp assembly further comprises a turn signal lamp, and a signal-lamp driver for the turn signal lamp is arranged inside of the housing, in a state where the rear surface wall of the housing is sandwiched between the headlight-use driver and the signal-lamp driver.

5. A headlamp assembly for a saddle-type vehicle, said headlamp assembly comprising:
a hollow housing;
left and right light-emitting portions arranged inside of the housing on left and right sides thereof, respectively, each of the light-emitting portions comprising a light source and a concave reflector disposed proximate the light source for reflecting light forwardly, each reflector having an inclined surface and having an upper surface and a rear surface, the inclined surface being configured such that the rear surfaces of the reflectors extend in directions separating from each other as the reflectors extend rearwardly, and two heat sinks each having an L-shape cover the upper surface and rear surfaces, respectively, of the reflectors;
a lens which covers a front side of the light emitting portions while allowing light to pass therethrough;
a headlight-use driver for driving the light sources of the left and right light-emitting portions, said driver having power lines to connect the driver to the light-emitting portions;
a turn signal lamp, and a signal-lamp driver for the turn signal lamp;

wherein the headlight-use driver is arranged on an outer side of a rear surface wall of the housing, behind and between the left and right reflectors in a recessed, forwardly indented portion which is formed in the rear surface wall of the housing; and
wherein the signal-lamp driver for the turn signal lamp is arranged inside of the housing, in a state where the rear surface wall of the housing is sandwiched between the headlight-use driver and the signal-lamp driver, and
wherein the rear surface wall of the housing bulges in a rearwardly projecting manner to form spaces behind the heat sinks whereby air around the heat sinks forms convection flows, and
wherein the power lines are shortened due to the placement of the driver and the headlamp assembly is compact due to the structure of the headlamp assembly.

6. The headlamp assembly for a saddle-type vehicle according to claim 5 , wherein the headlight-use driver is treated to be water-resistant.

7. A headlamp assembly for a saddle-type vehicle, said headlamp assembly comprising:
a hollow housing;
left and right light-emitting portions arranged inside of the housing on left and right sides thereof, respectively, each of the light-emitting portions comprising a light source and a concave reflector disposed proximate the light source for reflecting light forwardly, each reflector having an inclined surface and having an upper surface and a rear surface, the inclined surface being configured such that the rear surfaces of the reflectors extend in directions separating from each other as the reflectors extend rearwardly, and two heat sinks each having an L-shape cover the upper surface and rear surfaces, respectively, of the reflectors;
a lens which covers a front side of the light emitting portions while allowing light to pass therethrough;
a headlight-use driver for driving the light sources of the left and right light-emitting portions, said driver having power lines to connect the driver to the light-emitting portions;
a turn signal lamp, and a signal-lamp driver for the turn signal lamp;
wherein the headlight-use driver is treated to be water resistant, and is arranged on an outer side of a rear surface wall of the housing, behind, between, and above the left and right reflectors in a recessed, forwardly indented portion which is formed in the rear surface wall of the housing; and
wherein the signal-lamp driver for the turn signal lamp is arranged inside of the housing, in a state where the rear surface wall of the housing is sandwiched between the headlight-use driver and the signal-lamp driver, and is located above the reflectors and at substantially the same height as the headlight use driver, and
wherein the rear surface wall of the housing bulges in a rearwardly projecting manner to form spaces behind the heat sinks whereby air around the heat sinks forms convection flows, and
wherein the power lines are shortened due to the placement of the driver and the headlamp assembly is compact due to the structure of the headlamp assembly.

Assignees

• Honda Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Hayashi Hiroshi
• Takenaka Nobuyuki
• Murasawa Naoki

Classifications

• B60Q1/0041

  of several lamps in relation to each other · CPC title

• F21S45/33

  specially adapted for headlamps · CPC title

• B60Q1/2626

  Screw-nut fasteners · CPC title

• B60Q1/56

  for illuminating registrations or the like {, e.g. for licence plates} · CPC title

• F21S45/50

  Waterproofing · CPC title