IP Library Granted Patent US 9,151,459
Granted Patent B2
US 9,151,459 · App. 13/270,378 · Granted Oct 6, 2015

Mounting structure for a headlamp reflector

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,151,459
App. No.
13/270,378
Granted
Oct 6, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

In some embodiments, a headlamp assembly can comprise: a reflector, a mounting bracket, a housing, and a light source. The reflector can have a lip at a light source opening and a peripheral rim with a reflector portion extending from the lip to a peripheral rim. The mounting bracket can be configured to attach to the reflector. The mounting bracket can comprise attachment structures configured to mate with the lip, and adjustment features that enable horizontal, vertical, and pivotal adjustment. The light source can extend into the reflector through the light source opening.

Claims (41)

1. A headlamp assembly comprising:

a reflector having a lip at a light source opening and a peripheral rim with a reflector portion extending from the lip to a peripheral rim;

a mounting bracket configured to attach to the reflector, the mounting bracket comprising attachment structures configured to mate with the lip, and

adjustment features that enable horizontal, vertical, and pivotal adjustment of the reflector without attachment of the adjustment features to the reflector portion;

a housing; and

a light source extending into the reflector through the light source opening;

wherein, during use, adjustment of the reflector is achieved by translation of motion by the mounting bracket to the lip.

2. The headlamp assembly of claim 1 , wherein the adjustment features are located so as to form a right triangle, and wherein the horizontal adjustment feature and the vertical adjustment feature form a hypotenuse.

3. The headlamp assembly of claim 1 , wherein the mounting bracket and the reflector each comprise a section of a turn and lock mechanism and/or comprise a mating part of a snap mechanism.

4. The headlamp assembly of claim 1 , wherein the reflector comprises a plastic material.

5. The headlamp assembly of claim 1 , wherein the reflector further comprises a second material that is different than the plastic material.

6. The headlamp assembly of claim 1 , wherein the reflector only attaches to the mounting bracket at the lip.

7. The headlamp assembly of claim 1 , wherein the reflector is free of attachment elements on its back surface.

8. The headlamp assembly of claim 1 , wherein the attachment features comprise a horizontal adjustment slider, a vertical adjustment slider, a clip holding mechanism, and a pivot mechanism.

9. The headlamp assembly of claim 1 , wherein the mounting bracket further comprises a guide feature for mounting the light source, and an assembly slot located adjacent to the vertical adjustment.

10. The headlamp assembly of claim 1 , wherein the attachment features comprise a horizontal adjustment element, a vertical adjustment element, a clip holding mechanism, and a pivot mechanism.

11. The headlamp assembly of claim 10 , wherein the horizontal adjustment element and the vertical adjustment element each comprise a portion of a slot and a plug in mechanism, the plug in mechanism configured to be inserted into the slot.

12. A headlamp assembly comprising:

a reflector having a lip at a light source opening and a peripheral rim with a reflector portion extending from the lip to a peripheral rim;

a mounting bracket configured to attach to the reflector, the mounting bracket comprising

attachment structures configured to mate with the lip;

a guide feature for mounting a light source;

adjustment features that enable horizontal, vertical, and pivotal adjustment of the reflector without attachment of the adjustment features to the reflector portion; and

an assembly slot located adjacent to an adjustment feature;

a housing;

the light source extending into the reflector through the light source opening; and

a lens attached to the housing and enclosing the reflector;

wherein, during use, adjustment of the reflector is achieved by translation of motion by the mounting bracket to the lip.

13. A method of making a mounting bracket comprising:

injection molding a thermoplastic material to form a mounting bracket to attach to a reflector, the mounting bracket comprising attachment structures configured to mate with a lip of the reflector, adjustment features that enable horizontal, vertical, and pivotal adjustment of the reflector without attachment of the adjustment features to the reflector, and wherein, during use, adjustment of the reflector is achieved by translation of motion by the mounting bracket to the lip.

14. A mounting bracket configured to attach to a reflector, the mounting bracket comprising attachment structures configured to mate with a lip at a reflector bulb opening, wherein the mounting bracket comprises adjustment features that enable horizontal, vertical, and pivotal adjustment of the reflector without attachment of the adjustment features to the reflector and wherein, during use, adjustment of the reflector is achieved by translation of motion by the mounting bracket to the lip.

15. The mounting bracket of claim 14 , wherein the adjustment features are located so as to form a right triangle, and wherein the horizontal adjustment feature and the vertical adjustment feature form a hypotenuse.

16. The mounting bracket of claim 14 , comprising a section of a turn and lock mechanism and/or comprising a mating part of a snap mechanism.

17. The mounting bracket of claim 14 , wherein the mounting bracket is configured to only attach to a lip surrounding a light source opening in a reflector.

18. The mounting bracket of claim 14 , wherein the attachment features comprise a horizontal adjustment slider, a vertical adjustment slider, a clip holding mechanism, and a pivot mechanism.

19. The mounting bracket of claim 18 , further comprising a guide feature for mounting the light source, and an assembly slot located adjacent to the vertical adjustment.

20. The mounting bracket of claim 14 , wherein the attachment features comprise a horizontal adjustment element, a vertical adjustment element, a clip holding mechanism, and a pivot mechanism.

21. The mounting bracket of claim 20 , wherein the horizontal adjustment element and the vertical adjustment element each comprise a portion of a slot and a plug in mechanism, the plug in mechanism configured to be inserted into the slot.

22. The mounting bracket of claim 14 , wherein the attachment structures comprise a turn and lock mechanism.

23. The mounting bracket of claim 14 , wherein the attachment structures comprise a direct snap mechanism.

24. The mounting bracket of claim 14 , wherein the mounting bracket is a thermoplastic material and/or a thermoset material.

Assignments (4)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE 12/116841, 12/123274, 12/345155, 13/177651, 13/234682, 13/259855, 13/355684, 13/904372, 13/956615, 14/146802, 62/011336 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 033591 FRAME 0673. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE CHANGE OF NAME. Recorded Aug 29, 2014
From: SABIC INNOVATIVE PLASTICS IP B.V.
To: SABIC GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES B.V.
Reel/Frame 033663/0427 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT REMOVE 10 APPL. NUMBERS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 033591 FRAME: 0673. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE CHANGE OF NAME. Recorded Aug 28, 2014
From: SABIC INNOVATIVE PLASTICS IP B.V.
To: SABIC GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES B.V.
Reel/Frame 033649/0529 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Aug 22, 2014
From: SABIC INNOVATIVE PLASTICS IP B.V.
To: SABIC GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES B.V.
Reel/Frame 033591/0673 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 5, 2012
From: WILSON, JAMES ROBERT; BLOOMFIELD, RUSSELL DAMIAN; PARAMESHWARA, ARUNACHALA; KUSHALAPPA, POOVANNA THEETHIRA; TANKALA, TRILOKA CHANDER; GARG, ANKIT KUMAR; NAYAK, SUBRATA
To: SABIC INNOVATIVE PLASTICS IP B.V.
Reel/Frame 028913/0854 →