IP Library Granted Patent US 10,486,585
Granted Patent B2
US 10,486,585 · App. 14/414,438 · Granted Nov 26, 2019

Closure system for closing an opening of a vehicle light and vehicle light

Inventors: Frank Hansmann (Lipperbruch, DE); Martin Zajak (Kaiserslautern, DE)
Assignee: Hella KGaA Hueck & Co.
B60Q1/007F21S45/10F21S45/50F21V15/01F21V31/005
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,486,585
App. No.
14/414,438
Granted
Nov 26, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

The invention relates to a closure system ( 1 ) for closing an opening ( 20 ) of a vehicle light, having a closure element ( 10 ) and an opening ( 20 ) of a vehicle light, wherein the opening ( 20 ) has an edge ( 21 ), the edge ( 21 ) of the opening ( 20 ) being in particular conical or at least substantially conical in shape. The invention further relates to a vehicle light having such a closure system ( 1 ).

Claims (65)

1. A closure system ( 1 ) for closing an opening ( 20 ) of a vehicle light, comprising a vehicle light closure element ( 10 ) and an opening ( 20 ) of a vehicle light, wherein the opening ( 20 ) comprises an edge ( 21 ),

characterized in that,

the edge ( 21 ) of the opening ( 20 ) is tapered, and

the closure element comprises a side groove having a horizontal ledge forming an inner bottom surface of the groove, wherein the bottom surface is closer in distance to the vehicle light than a top surface of the closure element, the bottom surface of the groove faces an upper surface of the groove, and a vertical wall connecting the opposed upper and bottom surfaces of the groove, wherein said upper surface of the groove extends above an uppermost top surface of the opening;

a perimeter edge of the closure element ( 10 ) located beneath the groove and facing the edge ( 21 ) of the opening, beginning from an outermost point of the horizontal ledge, tapers to match an incline of the edge ( 21 ) and configured to align with the incline of the edge ( 21 ) in a closed position, wherein the taper of the perimeter edge of the closure element produces a self-centering of the closure element during a closing operation in that the closure element is inclined up to ±30° with respect to a reference axis aligned with the edge of the opening at a beginning of the closing operation without preventing a closure of the opening;

the edge of the opening begins from the uppermost top surface of the opening, the incline of the edge of the opening tapers consistently from the uppermost top surface and aligns with the perimeter edge of the closure element in the closed position, such that the edge of the opening forms a conical shape;

wherein the closure element ( 10 ) comprises an acceptance ( 11 ) assembled on the top surface of the closure element facing away from the vehicle light and in an axial center of the closure system which is shaped as a hexagonal nut;

wherein the closure element ( 10 ) is shaped at least in or at the edge ( 21 ) of the opening ( 20 ), wherein the closure element ( 10 ) is at least force- or form-fittingly attachable to the opening ( 20 ).

2. The closure system ( 1 ) according to claim 1 ,

characterized in that,

the perimeter edge of the closure element ( 10 ) that is beneath the groove and facing the edge ( 21 ) of the opening ( 20 ) tapers toward the axial center.

3. The closure system ( 1 ) according to claim 1 ,

characterized in that,

at the closure element ( 10 ) the acceptance ( 11 ) is intended for actuation by a tool ( 30 ),

wherein by utilization of the tool ( 30 ) the opening ( 20 ) of the vehicle light is lockable with the closure element ( 10 ).

4. The closure system ( 1 ) according to claim 3 ,

characterized in that,

the acceptance ( 11 ) is shaped for actuation by a tool ( 30 ) shaped as an open-end wrench or a hexagon socket wrench.

5. The closure system ( 1 ) according to claim 1 ,

characterized in that,

the closure element ( 10 ) comprises a revolving sealing element ( 12 ).

6. The closure system ( 1 ) according to claim 1 ,

characterized in that,

the edge ( 21 ) of the opening ( 20 ) intends a revolving sealing element ( 12 ).

7. The closure system ( 1 ) according to claim 5 ,

characterized in that,

through the sealing element ( 12 ) the opening ( 20 ) is radially and axially sealable.

8. The closure system ( 1 ) according to claim 1 ,

characterized in that,

at the closure element ( 10 ) and at the edge ( 21 ) of the opening ( 20 ), corresponding parts ( 13 , 22 ) of a bayonet lock are assembled.

9. A vehicle light, comprising a closure system ( 1 ) for closing of an opening ( 20 ) of the vehicle light,

characterized in that,

the closure system ( 1 ) is established according to claim 1 .

10. The closure system ( 1 ) according to claim 2 ,

characterized in that,

at the closure element ( 10 ) the acceptance ( 11 ) is intended for actuation by a tool ( 30 ),

wherein by utilization of the tool ( 30 ) the opening ( 20 ) of the vehicle light is lockable with the closure element ( 10 ).

11. The closure system ( 1 ) according to claim 10 ,

characterized in that,

the acceptance ( 11 ) is shaped for actuation by a tool ( 30 ) shaped as an open-end wrench or a hexagon socket wrench.

12. The closure system ( 1 ) according to claim 2 ,

characterized in that,

the closure element ( 10 ) comprises a revolving sealing element ( 12 ).

13. The closure system ( 1 ) according to claim 3 ,

characterized in that,

the closure element ( 10 ) comprises a revolving sealing element ( 12 ).

14. The closure system ( 1 ) according to claim 4 ,

characterized in that,

the closure element ( 10 ) comprises a revolving sealing element ( 12 ).

15. The closure system ( 1 ) according to claim 2 ,

characterized in that,

the edge ( 21 ) of the opening ( 20 ) intends a revolving sealing element ( 12 ).

16. The closure system ( 1 ) according to claim 3 ,

characterized in that,

the edge ( 21 ) of the opening ( 20 ) intends a revolving sealing element ( 12 ).

17. The closure system ( 1 ) according to claim 4 ,

characterized in that,

the edge ( 21 ) of the opening ( 20 ) intends a revolving sealing element ( 12 ).

18. The closure system ( 1 ) according to claim 5 ,

characterized in that,

the edge ( 21 ) of the opening ( 20 ) intends a revolving sealing element ( 12 ).

19. The closure system ( 1 ) according to claim 6 ,

characterized in that,

through the sealing element ( 12 ) the opening ( 20 ) is radially and axially sealable.

20. The closure system ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the closure element ( 10 ) comprises two opposing handles ( 14 ), each handle ( 14 ) on an opposing side of the closure element ( 10 ), and two bayonet lock parts ( 13 , 22 ), each of the bayonet lock parts ( 13 , 22 ) assembled on an opposing edge of the closure element ( 10 ), such that each of the handles ( 14 ) are displaced from each of the bayonet lock parts ( 13 , 22 ) by about 90° in alternating order.

Assignments (4)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 10, 2019
From: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
To: HELLA KGAA HUECK & CO.
Reel/Frame 050326/0601 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 18, 2017
From: ITW FASTENER PRODUCTS GMBH
To: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC
Reel/Frame 042271/0964 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 15, 2016
From: TRW AUTOMOTIVE ELECTRONICS & COMPONENTS GMBH
To: ITW FASTENER PRODUCTS GMBH
Reel/Frame 039355/0187 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 1, 2015
From: HANSMANN, FRANK; ZAJAK, MARTIN
To: TRW AUTOMOTIVE ELECTRONICS & COMPONENTS GMBH; HELLA KGAA HUECK & CO.
Reel/Frame 035309/0225 →