Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Guide Corporation

Paul D Van Duyn

David R McMahan

John D Geddie

Ismael Garcia

Carey D Marks

Christopher R Powers

William E Nagengast

Michael E O'Shaughnessey

Alfred M Allen

John A Delmastro

Leslie H Hallgarth

Ronald A Wheat

Jerry J Johnson, Sr

Robert C House, Ii

Keith D Childress

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

A lamp assembly and methods of assembling the lamp assembly are provided. The lamp assembly comprises a printed circuit board (PCB) having a face surface, a rear surface opposite the face surface, electrical traces on the rear surface, and an opening extending from the face surface to the rear surface, and a light emitting diode (LED) emitter having a dome portion, a body, and a plurality of electrical terminals connected to the body, wherein the body of the LED emitter is adjacent the rear surface, the dome portion of the LED emitter extends through the opening in the PCB to the face surface, and the electrical terminals are connected to the electrical traces on the rear surface.

LED assembly with reverse circuit board

A lamp assembly with a peripheral auxiliary function is described for use with automobile lamps. A moveable shield and a fixed shield are positioned about a light source inside a housing. A first reflective surface and a second reflective surface are formed on the inside of the housing. The moveable shield is moveable between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the moveable shield blocks light from striking the second reflective surface, and a main beam is projected from the lamp assembly. In the second position, the moveable shield blocks light from striking the first reflective surface, and a peripheral beam is projected from the assembly. Thus, the moveable shield may be moved to switch between the main beam and the peripheral beam, creating the ability to alter the functionality of the lamp assembly.

Lamp assembly with peripheral auxiliary function

A lamp assembly with a multi-stage reflector is described for use with automobile lamps. A singular shield is positioned about a light source inside a housing. A first reflective surface and a second reflective surface are formed on the housing. The singular shield is moveable between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the moveable shield blocks light from striking the second reflective surface, and a main beam is projected from the lamp assembly. In the second position, the moveable shield allows light to strike both the first and second reflective surfaces, and a second beam is projected. Thus, the singular shield may be moved to switch between the main beam and the second beam, creating the ability to alter the functionality of the lamp assembly. More than two reflective surfaces and moveable positions may be used, to create a multitude of possible beam patterns.

Lamp assembly with multi-stage reflector

The present invention comprises a light assembly which provides additional light adjacent the main beam of a light. A shield within the light assembly is moved in response to a sensed condition so as to provide a first area of additional illumination at the edge of the light's main beam. In response to a second sensed condition, the shield is moved such that a second area of additional illumination is illuminated in addition to the first area.

Light assembly with bending light

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 vehicular headlamp in which the radial beam of radiated light is continuously adjustable between a first position and a second position. Semi-cylindrical lamp shields surround a lamp. The lamp shields are attached to gears which operate to rotate the lamp shields radially about the lamp. An actuator is attached to the gears, such the actuator can turn the gears in order to rotate the lamp shields. The actuator is controlled by a circuit which prevents over-rotation. The actuator may move in very small increments, such that the lamp shields may be continuously adjustable between the first position and the second position. The lamp shields are thus continuously adjustable to vary the projected radial beam of the headlamp.

Variable progressive beam headlamp

A headlamp assembly having a recalibration device for providing the correct aim of the headlamp in a horizontal plane and characterized in that the recalibration device includes a transparent member which allows a leveling device to be visible to an observer so as to indicate whether or not the headlamp is in a correct aimed position in a vertical plane.

Vehicle headlamp assembly

A vehicle headlamp having a retainer that can be fastened to the rear of the reflector through sonic welding or by adhesive bonding and that includes a pair of integrally interconnected ring members which provide a circular open space therebetween for accommodating the retainer members formed on a replaceable light bulb and has locator tabs formed on one of the ring members for cooperation with locator slots on the reflector for properly locating the retainer on the reflector.

Headlamp assembly

A headlamp assembly having a mounting bracket which is generally L-shaped in configuration and provides a three-point suspension for a lamp body and in which two of the points are longitudinally adjustable and are located on opposed legs of the bracket and the third point is fixed in position and is located at the intersection of the two legs of the bracket.

Mounting bracket for headlamp assembly

A replaceable bulb headlamp of a rectangular configuration that includes an elongated passage along one side edge of the headlamp and a second elongated passage along the bottom edge of the headlamp, with each passage being located immediately behind and in line with the sealant channel for the lens and serving to communicate the interior of the headlamp with the atmosphere.

Headlamp ventilation system

A support arrangement for a vehicle headlamp assembly that includes a stanchion that supports the lamp body through two pivotal connections and facilitates the installation of the lamp body a support panel located at the front end of a motor vehicle.

Support arrangement for a vehicle headlamp

A support shoe for pivotably connecting a headlamp body to a support frame and including a block member and a retaining member each of which is provided with a spherical surface so, when the block member and retaining member are interconnected, a socket is formed for the ball portion of the ball stud connected to the headlamp body.

Growing community of inventors

Anderson, IN, United States of America

Paul D Van Duyn