Guide Corporation

Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Carey D Marks

David R McMahan

Paul D Van Duyn

Ismael Garcia

Christopher R Powers

Jan A Wisler

Brian E Witte

Paul D VanDuyn

Michael E O'Shaughnessey

Steven V Horsman

David R Mc Mahan

Eric S Donovan

Tom Sweetland

Thomas B Slick

Mark L Whittemore

The present disclosure relates to terminals that are utilized in bulb sockets for automotive lamp assemblies. The embodiments of the bulb sockets disclosed provide for superior alignment, electrical connection, and stabilization of the bulb in the bulb socket. Exemplary embodiments of the terminals contain a cover plate that can be sized to substantially cover a receiver slot and can be positioned in the bulb socket in order to prevent sealing material from entering the bulb accepting portion of the bulb socket.

Terminals for bulb sockets

The subject invention relates to terminals that are utilized in bulb sockets for automotive lamp assemblies. The embodiments of the bulb sockets disclosed provide for superior alignment and stabilization of the bulb in the bulb socket so that proper contact is made between the terminals and the bulb without damaging the bulb or the terminals during insertion. The terminal may comprise, among other things, at least one alignment feature, which may include partial spheres, that allows for easy insertion into the bulb socket and substantially ensures proper alignment and positioning within the bulb socket so that a proper connection can be maintained with the bulb and terminal Sealing material may be used to cover wire attachment portions of the terminals and plate portions of the terminals may be used to prevent the sealing material from entering a bulb accepting portion of the socket.

Terminal alignment features for bulb sockets

The present invention comprises a bulb socket assembly. The bulb socket assembly comprises a bulb accepting body portion, a terminal accepting body portion connected to the bulb accepting body portion, at least one terminal positioned in the bulb socket with the terminal's blade end extending into the bulb accepting body portion and its lead end positioned in the terminal accepting body, at least one wire connected to the lead end of the at least one terminal, and a sealing material substantially covering the lead end and the connected wire of the at least one terminal. One embodiment of the bulb socket assembly further comprises a stabilizing feature that allows the socket assembly to firmly grasp bulbs of various sizes. Another embodiment of the bulb socket assembly further comprises a plurality of alignment features to help guide a bulb into proper alignment with a set of terminals.

Wedge base sealed lamp socket

A headlamp mounting arrangement is provided including a screw with a first end for connection with a headlamp and a second end extending toward a vehicle panel aperture; a retainer body having a base engaged with the vehicle panel in a nonrotative fashion, the retainer body having a head portion extending from the base encircling and mounting the screw and also having an aperture aligned with the screw; a barb piece having a central opening allowing penetration of the screw and also having a head nonrotatively engaged with the base of the retainer body and at least partially encircled thereby, the barb piece head having an outer threaded periphery, the barb piece also having extending from the head through a panel aperture a plurality of legs with outer gripping surfaces extending radially outwardly for contacting an edge of the aperture rim generally opposite the headlamp; and a nut with a central aperture for passage of the retainer body head, the nut having inner threads for threaded engagement of the barb piece head, causing the retainer body base to be clamped to the panel and the barb piece to be pulled toward the retainer piece head and causing the contact surface of the barb piece to be clamped against the panel aperture rim, thereby affixing the screw to the panel to affix the reflector body to the automotive vehicle.

Headlamp adjustment mechanism

A headlamp assembly including a headlamp body located within a support frame and adapted to be mounted on the front end of a motor vehicle for selective adjustment about a substantially horizontal aim axis and a substantially vertical aim axis for obtaining the desired aim of the light beam emitted from the lamp body.

Vehicle headlamp assembly

Growing community of inventors

Anderson, IN, United States of America

Carey D Marks