US4703400A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Shock resistant vehicular lamp
Assignee: Truck Lite Co LLC
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Filing: 1986-07-24
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Granted: 1987-10-27
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Expires: 2006-07-24
Abstract
Abstract A vehicular lamp having a one piece open topped resilient housing containing an outer peripheral groove that permits the housing to be snapped into a receiving opening formed in a body panel of a vehicle. The housing further includes an inner peripheral groove located above the outer groove into which a lens is snap fitted to close the housing. The inner groove is offset from the outer groove a sufficient distance so that the lens can be removed and replaced without having to remove the housing from the body panel. An outwardly disposed lip protrudes from the top of the outer groove that is inclined downwardly over the groove opening so that it will form a biased seal against the rim of the panel opening when the lamp is snap-locked in place.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald W. Vescio
- 👤 Daniel S. Latham
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 23:12
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60Q; B60Q1/00; B60Q1/02; B60Q1/04; B60Q1/0408; B60Q1/0441; B60Q1/26; B60Q1/2619; B60Q1/2623; B60Q1/263; B60Q1/2653; F; F21; F21V; F21V15/00; F21V15/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
181 words
A shock resistant lamp that is capable of being snapped into locking contact with the rim of a receiving opening formed in a body panel of a vehicle that includes an open topped housing formed of a resilient material having a horizontal bottom wall and vertically disposed side walls, said housing having an expanded section about the side wall that compliments and is slightly larger than the opening in the body panel and having a first outer groove formed thereabout for accepting the rim of said panel opening therein, said outer groove being located a predetermined distance below the top surface of the housing, said housing further including a second inside groove formed about the inner periphery of the housing for containing a lens therein whereby the lens closes the housing, said second groove being positioned above the first groove a vertical distance that is sufficient so that the top of the housing can be deformed to release the lens without removing the housing from the panel, and illumination means secured to an inside wall of said housing beneath the lens.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
181 words
A shock resistant lamp that is capable of being snapped into locking contact with the rim of a receiving opening formed in a body panel of a vehicle that includes an open topped housing formed of a resilient material having a horizontal bottom wall and vertically disposed side walls, said housing having an expanded section about the side wall that compliments and is slightly larger than the opening in the body panel and having a first outer groove formed thereabout for accepting the rim of said panel opening therein, said outer groove being located a predetermined distance below the top surface of the housing, said housing further including a second inside groove formed about the inner periphery of the housing for containing a lens therein whereby the lens closes the housing, said second groove being positioned above the first groove a vertical distance that is sufficient so that the top of the housing can be deformed to release the lens without removing the housing from the panel, and illumination means secured to an inside wall of said housing beneath the lens.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
71 words
The lamp of claim 1 wherein said housing further includes an outwardly disposed lip positioned over said first outside groove, said lip being inclined downwardly toward the bottom wall of the housing to at least partially close the entrance of said first outside groove whereby the lip is biased against the rim of the panel opening when the panel is locked in said first outside groove to form a seal thereagainst.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
The lamp of claim 2 wherein the bottom surface of said lip is co-extensive with the top wall of the outside groove and normally extends downwardly over the front opening of the said outside groove.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
The lamp of claim 1 wherein the expanded section of said housing is further joined to the side walls of the housing by means of a series of inclined ribs that slant downwardly and inwardly toward the bottom wall of the housing.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The lamp of claim 1 wherein the separation distance between the first and second grooves is greater than the wall thickness of the housing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The lamp of claim 1 wherein the illumination means further includes a bracket means that is secured to the bottom wall of the housing for centrally supporting a bulb and socket unit beneath the lens.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
The lamp of claim 1 wherein the outer surface of a lens seated in said second inside groove is below the top surface of the housing so that the housing forms a protective railing over the lens.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
The housing of claim 6 wherein said housing further includes a horizontal shelf adjacent said socket, said shelf having holes formed therein which open to the outside of said housing beneath said outside groove through which electrical leads are passed into the housing.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The lamp of claim 8 that further includes hollow cylindrical lead shields depending downwardly from the shelf for encircling the leads entering the housing.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
The lamp of claim 7 wherein the protective rail further contains at least one drain hole formed therein to permit moisture collected on the lens to drain away from the housing.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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Cited
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Cited
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Cited
US3794278A
Cited
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-10-26 | 1991-04-27 | 1991-10-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-10-26 | 1995-04-27 | 1995-10-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-10-26 | 1999-04-27 | 1999-10-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |