Releasable attachment for a lamp in a vehicle
An apparatus secured to a lamp of a vehicle is designed to release the lamp upon impact to the lamp. The apparatus may secure with a lamp housing as well as with a front end module of a vehicle. The apparatus may include a fastener that secures with the lamp housing. When the lamp is impacted, the fastener may shear (e.g., break), thus allowing displacement of the headlamp. As a result, pedestrians and/or objects impacting the lamp are less likely to incur damage. Moreover, the lamp is less likely to be damaged, and may be reinstalled when the fastener is replaced.
1 . An apparatus, comprising:
a base comprising a tapered body that includes a shape corresponding to i) a first guide of a housing and ii) a second guide of the housing, the base comprising a first opening;
a connector disposed on the base, the connector configured to couple with a module; and
a fastener configured to extend into the first opening and into a second opening formed in the housing to couple the base with the housing, wherein in response to an applied force, the fastener is configured to break and release the housing from the base.
2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the fastener comprises a pin configured to break in response to the applied force.
3 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the pin is configured to break in response to contact with the housing.
4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the base causes the housing to move in a direction of the applied force.
5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the connector is configured to rotate and couple with a module fastener coupled to the module.
6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein in response to the tapered body of the base being positioned the first guide, the first opening of the base is aligned with the second opening of the housing.
7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the housing is configured to carry a light source.
8 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the tapered body is configured to slide between the first guide and the second guide.
9 . A vehicle, comprising:
a front end module;
a housing comprising:
a guide comprising a first rail and a second rail, wherein the second rail is non-parallel with respect to the first rail, and
an opening positioned between the first rail and the second rail; and
an apparatus, comprising:
a tapered base configured to couple with the housing, wherein the first rail and the second rail are configured to receive the tapered base,
a connector coupled to the tapered base, the connector configured to couple with the housing with the front end module, and
a fastener configured to extend into the opening to couple the tapered base with the housing, wherein in response to an applied force, the fastener is further configured to break.
10 . The vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the housing further comprises a light source.
11 . The vehicle of claim 9 , the fastener is further configured to release the housing from the tapered base.
12 . The vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the fastener is a pin configured to break in response to the applied force.
13 . The vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the pin is configured to break in response to contact with the housing.
14 . The vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the tapered base causes the housing to move in a direction of the applied force.
15 . The vehicle of claim 9 , further comprising a second opening formed in the tapered base.
16 . The vehicle of claim 15 , wherein the fastener is configured to be inserted into the second opening.
17 . A method, comprising:
providing a base comprising a tapered body configured to slide between i) a first guide of a housing and ii) a second guide of the housing, the base comprising a first opening;
providing a connector that is disposed on the base, wherein the connector configured to couple the base with a module; and
providing a fastener configured to extend into the first opening and into a second opening of the housing to couple the base with the housing, wherein in response to an applied force, the fastener is configured to break and release the housing from the base.
18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the housing is configured to carry a light source.
19 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising rotating the connector to couple with a module fastener coupled to the module.
20 . The method of claim 17 , wherein providing the base comprises forming the base to extend between a first rail and a second rail of the housing.