US4894761A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Protective shield for a vehicle lamp assembly
Assignee: SIGNAM Ltd WELTON ROAD WEDNOCK INDUSTRIAL ESTATE ARWICK CV34 5PZ UNITED KINGDOM A CORP OF UNITED KINGDOM
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Filing: 1987-10-07
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Granted: 1990-01-16
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Expires: 2007-10-07
Abstract
Abstract A light-transmitting plastics shield 1 is provided with distance pieces 5 for attachment to the lens 2 of a headlamp, each distance piece comprising a male part 6 and a female part 7, the male part being ultrasonically welded to the shield and comprising a cylindrical head 12 supported between spaced walls 10, 11, the female part 7 comprising a disc-shaped base 14 carrying a socket portion 16, and the base being secured to the lens by an adhesive foam pad 15. The heads 12 are received within the socket portions 16 and are mounted with their axes parallel to allow the shield to be pivoted away from the lens for cleaning. The heads are also capable of axial movement within the sockets to allow for thermal expansion of the shield.
Inventors
- 👤 Derick Gray
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 15:32
CPC Classifications
F; F21; F21V; F21V15/00; F21S; F21S41/00; F21S41/20; F21S41/29; B; B29; B29C; B29C65/00; B29C65/02; B29C65/08; B29C65/56; B29C65/58; B29C66/00; B29C66/01; B29C66/05; B29C66/302; B29C66/3022; B29C66/30223; B29L; B29L2031/00; B29L2031/747
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
109 words
A device for protecting the light-emitting face of a vehicle lamp assembly, said face having a peripheral edge, comprising: a light transmitting shield in the form of a sheet of plastics material for covering at least a portion of said face and protecting said face from impact damage; a plurality of mutually spaced distance pieces secured to said shield for spacing said shield from said face in use, each distance piece comprising a releasable two part connector; and an adhesive for attachment of said distance pieces to said face, said distance pieces being arranged for attachment directly to said light-emitting face at positions inset from the peripheral edge thereof.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
109 words
A device for protecting the light-emitting face of a vehicle lamp assembly, said face having a peripheral edge, comprising: a light transmitting shield in the form of a sheet of plastics material for covering at least a portion of said face and protecting said face from impact damage; a plurality of mutually spaced distance pieces secured to said shield for spacing said shield from said face in use, each distance piece comprising a releasable two part connector; and an adhesive for attachment of said distance pieces to said face, said distance pieces being arranged for attachment directly to said light-emitting face at positions inset from the peripheral edge thereof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said adhesive comprises a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive applied to each of said distance pieces.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said distance pieces each include a resilient pad.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
A device as claimed in claim 3, wherein: each pad is from 0.3 to 1.5 mm thick.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
A device as claimed in claim 4, wherein: each pad is from 0.5 to 1.0 mm thick.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein: each distance piece comprises means for facilitating relative lateral movement between said shield and said face of the lamp assembly.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein: each distance piece comprises male and female connector parts which are mutually engageable by a snap fit.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
A device as claimed in claim 7, wherein: said male connector part comprises a bar-like head portion having a longitudinal axis; and said bar-like portion is received within said female part for pivotal movement about said axis of said head portion.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
51 words
A device as claimed in claim 8, wherein: longitudinal axes of head portions of at least two of said distance pieces are substantially aligned so that said shield is pivotable away from said face about said aligned axes when each connector of the remainder of said distance pieces has been disconnected.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
A device as claimed in claim 9, wherein: said head portion is axially movable within said female part of each distance piece.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein: an energy director rib is provided on each distance piece; and each distance piece is attached to said shield by an ultrasonic weld at said rib.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
A vehicle lamp assembly having a protective device as claimed in claim 1.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
115 words
A device for protecting the light-emitting face of a vehicle lamp assembly, said face having a peripheral edge, comprising: a light transmitting shield in the form of a sheet of plastics material for covering at least a portion of said face and protecting said face from impact damage; a plurality of mutually spaced distance pieces secured to said shield for spacing said shield from said face in use, each distance piece comprising a resilient pad in the form of a layer of foamed pressure sensitive adhesive for attachment of each distance piece to said face, said distance pieces being arranged for attachment directly to said light-emitting face at positions inset from the peripheral edge thereof.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
115 words
A device for protecting the light-emitting face of a vehicle lamp assembly, said face having a peripheral edge, comprising: a light transmitting shield in the form of a sheet of plastics material for covering at least a portion of said face and protecting said face from impact damage; a plurality of mutually spaced distance pieces secured to said shield for spacing said shield from said face in use, each distance piece comprising a resilient pad in the form of a layer of foamed pressure sensitive adhesive for attachment of each distance piece to said face, said distance pieces being arranged for attachment directly to said light-emitting face at positions inset from the peripheral edge thereof.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
107 words
A device for protecting the light-emitting face of a vehicle lamp assembly, said face having a peripheral edge, comprising: a light transmitting shield in the form of a sheet of plastics material for covering at least a portion of said face and protecting said face from impact damage; a plurality of mutually spaced distance pieces secured to said shield for spacing said shield from said face in use, each distance piece including a pivotal connection; and an adhesive for attachment of said distance pieces to said face, said distance pieces being arranged for attachment directly to said light-emitting face at positions inset from the peripheral edge thereof.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
107 words
A device for protecting the light-emitting face of a vehicle lamp assembly, said face having a peripheral edge, comprising: a light transmitting shield in the form of a sheet of plastics material for covering at least a portion of said face and protecting said face from impact damage; a plurality of mutually spaced distance pieces secured to said shield for spacing said shield from said face in use, each distance piece including a pivotal connection; and an adhesive for attachment of said distance pieces to said face, said distance pieces being arranged for attachment directly to said light-emitting face at positions inset from the peripheral edge thereof.
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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) | 1993-01-15 | 1993-07-17 | 1994-01-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-01-15 | 1997-07-17 | 1998-01-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-01-15 | 2001-07-17 | 2002-01-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |