Displaceable Lamp

The tend toward smaller and lighter automobiles has increased interest in bumper systems that comprise a rigid support beam covered with resiliently deformable elastomeric materials adapted to absorb the energy of impact. Regardless of the specific elastomeric material used in forming the energy absorbing cushion, the thickness of the bumper is substantially increased over the thickness of a conventional metal bumper. This increased thickness presents a problem if it is desired to mount the parking lamps, turn signal lamps or other lamps within the vertical confines of the bumper as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,706,468, issued Dec. 19, 1972 to S. J. Yoviene for a "Vehicle Bumper" and 4,070,051, issued Jan. 24, 1978 to D. Peter for a "Vehicle Bumper".

The Yoviene patent discloses a bumper beam having an aperture arranged to provide unobstructed view of the parking lamp mounted behind a bumper beam plate. The energy absorbing material also is provided with an aperture in alignment with the aperture of the support beam; but if the energy absorbing material is of substantial thickness, the visibility of the lamp from any direction other than one substantially normal to the plane of the lense would be minimal.

The present invention discloses a construction and arrangement of the bumper and lamp assembly that will maximize the visibility of the lamp.

The present invention relates to the combination of a vehicle bumer and a lamp assembly housed within the bumper. The vehicle bumper comprises a rigid support beam covered in the impact area with a resilient elastomeric impact energy absorbing body. The lamp assembly has a lamp body and lens assembly telescopically mounted on the housing supported within the beam. The housing is aligned with an opening extending through the energy absorbing body. The lamp body and lens assembly are biased in the direction to telescopically project from the housing into the energy absorbing body. The lamp body and lens assembly are telescopically retractible against the biasing force upon the bumper energy absorbing body being impacted in the area of the opening through which the lamp lens is visible and being restored to normal telescopic relationship by the biasing force upon release of the deflecting force.

Other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become more apparent as the description proceeds, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a horizontal section view taken through a segment of the bumper and lamp assembly embodying the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a vertical section taken on the line 2--2 of FIG. 1.

Referring now to the drawing, the vehicle bumper generally designated 10, comprises a rigid, box section, support beam 11 having a vertical impact face 12, a horizontal upper plate portion 13 and a lower stepped portion 14. The support beam 11 has inwardly turned flange portions 15 and 16 paralleling the impact face 12 to complete the box-like section. As seen in FIG. 1, the flanges 15 and 16 are reinforced by a vertical reinforcement plate 17 to which is bolted as at 18 the flange 19 on the end of a shock absorber-type support strut 21 extending from the vehicle frame (not shown).

The beam 11 is covered on the top of the plate portion 13, the outer side of the vertical impact face 12 and the outer side of the lower step portion 14 by a suitable elastomeric energy absorbing material, for example, a polyurethane foam 22 having an integral skin 23.

The configuration of the support beam 11 and the elastomeric covering material have no particular significance with respect to the bumper shown in the drawing other than the fact that the elastomeric material covering the impact face of the beam is of substantial thickness. This presents a problem if it is desired to mount a parking or turn signal lamp assembly within the bumper. Conventional practice is to mount the lamp assembly behind the vertical impact surface of the beam, a suitable opening being provided in the impact face through which the lens of the lamp assembly is visible. As shown in the referenced Pat. No. 3,706,468, it then is necessary to provide an opening or aperture in the elastomeric material through which the light from the lamp can shine. With an elastomeric material of substantial thickness as seen in FIG. 2, the lamp will only be visible from a position almost directly normal to the plane of the lens.

In a turn signal application of a bumper mounted lamp assembly, it is desirable that the turn signal lamp be visible, especially in a front bumper application, from an angle so that a vehicle entering an intersection from the left or the right of the signaling vehicle can have some forewarning of the intention to make a turn. It is, therefore, also desirable that the front face of the lens of the lamp assembly be as close as possible to the front face of the impact surface of the energy absorbing material.

As seen in the drawing, the vertical impact face 12 of the support beam is provided with an aperture 24. The energy absorbing material 22-23 is likewise provided with an aperture 25 that opens into a pocket 26 that is aligned with the aperture 24 in the impact face 12.

The lamp assembly, generally designated 27, to be mounted within the bumper 10 comprises a substantially tubular housing 28 of rectangular cross section. The housing is bolted at 29 or otherwise secured to the underside of the plate 13 of the beam 11. The housing 28 is axially aligned with the apertures 24 and 25. A lamp body 31 is mounted within the housing 28 for sliding telescopic movement relative to the latter. The lamp body has side members 32 slidable in guide grooves 33 in the side walls 34 of the housing 28. A lens 35 having a substantially planar lens face is bonded to the lamp body 31 to complete the enclosure for the lamp socket 36 and bulb 37. At each side of the housing 28 a sear spring 38 is provided, one leg 39 of each sear spring being anchored to a side wall of a housing and the other leg 39 being interlocked with a retention tab 42 on the lamp body 31. The sear springs 38 are preloaded to maintain the lamp body 31 in an extended or telescoped relation to the housing 28 so that the lens 35 projects a substantial distance beyond the impact face 12 of the beam 11 into the pocket 26 in the energy absorbing material to minimize the distance between the lens face and the impact face 43 of the energy absorbing material.

The foregoing thus provides a construction and arrangement in which an impact upon the energy absorbing body 22-23 in the vicinity of the lamp opening forces the latter into engagement with the lamp body 31 and lens 35 and causes the latter to be retracted into the housing 28 against the resistance of the sear spring 38. After the deflecting load is released, the sear spring 38 is then effective to restore the lamp body and lens 35 to normal extended relationship to the housing 28.

It is to be understood this invention is not limited to the exact construction illustrated and described above, but that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.