Interior Illuminating Lamp for Vehicle Technical Field

The present invention relates to an interior illuminating lamp for vehicle attached to a roof etc. for partitioning a vehicle room, and particularly to temporary unlocking of a rotary assembly connector. Background Art

A structure in which an interior illuminating lamp for vehicle is attached to a roof includes a structure in which in a bracket for vehicle body attachment in which an interior illuminating lamp is attached to a vehicle body side panel, a bracket body for supporting the interior illuminating lamp and a first connector which is detachably assembled to this bracket body and can be connected to an electric wire connected to the interior illuminating lamp are included and the first connector is connected to a second connector arranged in the side of the vehicle body side panel in a state of mounting the bracket body in the vehicle body side panel (see JP-A-2001-130257).

Since the configuration of the interior illuminating lamp for vehicle described in JP-A-2001-130257 is a separate configuration in which the first connector is detachably assembled to the bracket body, a structure of the bracket body can be formed in a simple shape and molding of the bracket body is facilitated and also, the first connector can be generalized even when the bracket body facing a vehicle room is changed according to a grade or a model of a vehicle, so that it is unnecessary to mold the first connector out of a constituent material of the bracket for vehicle body attachment, with the result that cost of the bracket for vehicle body attachment was reduced, but there was a problem of requiring accuracy of assembly. Citation List

Patent Literature

Patent Literature V JP-A-2001- 130257 Summary of Invention

Technical Problem

The invention has been implemented in view of the circumstances described above, and an object of the invention is to provide an interior iUuminating lamp for vehicle in which a connector is surely fitted using attachment of a bracket and workability and assembly efficiency are improved.

Solution to Problem

In order to achieve the object described above, an interior illuminating lamp for vehicle according to the invention is characterized by the following (l) to (5).

(1) An interior illuminating lamp for vehicle attached and fixed to a roof, including:

a bracket, a first connector, and a second connector, wherein the bracket is provided with an arm part which is erected in the back of the bracket and extends laterally and elastic engaging pieces opposed and erected in both sides of the bracket, lock pieces are formed in the elastic engaging pieces, a pair of right and left protrusion parts is formed in a lateral part of the second connector, the first connector is turnably attached to the bracket, the elastic engaging pieces of the bracket are elastically deformed to ride over the protrusion parts, the lock pieces engage with lock parts provided on the protrusion parts and the first connector is fitted into the second connector.

(2) The elastic engaging piece is provided with a first engaging hole and a second engaging hole, a side surface of the first connector is provided with an engaging protrusion, the first engaging hole engages with the engaging protrusion and the first connector is temporarily fixed to the bracket.

(3) The first engaging hole disengages from the engaging protrusion by elastically deforming the elastic engaging piece.

(4) The lock piece engages with the lock part and the second engaging hole engages with the engaging protrusion.

(5) A storage part for storing the first connector is formed by an erected portion of the arm part and the elastic engaging pieces.

According to the configuration of (l) described above, the bracket engages with the second connector by elastic deformation of a pair of elastic engaging pieces formed in the bracket, so that the bracket can surely be coupled to the second connector. The lock pieces of a pair of elastic engaging pieces engage with the lock parts provided on a pair of protrusion parts, so that a force of coupling between the bracket and the second connector increases and attachment of the interior illuminating lamp for vehicle with good earthquake resistance is enabled.

According to the configuration of (2) described above, by engagement between the first engaging holes and the engaging protrusions, a relative positional relation between the first connector and the bracket can be held and the first connector is surely fitted into the second connector and workability improves.

According to the configuration of (3) described above, by elastic deformation of the elastic engaging pieces, the first engaging holes smoothly disengage from the engaging protrusions and rotation of the bracket also becomes smooth and assembly work is facilitated.

According to the configuration of (4) described above, elastic pressing forces from the right and left act on the first connector by a pair of elastic engaging pieces and together with fitting into the second connector, a stable holding force inside the bracket is provided for the first connector.

According to the configuration of (5) described above, by storing and placing the first connector in the storage part, the first connector or a wire harness is protected against, for example, a shock from the outside occurring at work. Advantageous Effects of Invention

According to the invention, engagement is performed using the elastic engaging pieces of the bracket and the protrusion parts of the second connector, so that an engaging force greater than that of engaging means formed on general male and female connectors can be obtained. Particularly, a stable holding force in a vertical direction can be ensured. Also, it is unnecessary to provide the male and female connectors with the engaging means, and a compact configuration is obtained. Then, the elastic engaging pieces engage with the first connector and thereby, a relative positional relation between the first connector and the bracket is accurately determined and work for fitting the first connector into the second connector is surely done and workability improves. Further, since both of the elastic engaging pieces and the protrusion parts are formed by a pair, movement in right and left directions is regulated and a stable attachment state is obtained and the interior illuminating lamp for vehicle with good earthquake resistance can be provided.

The invention has been described above briefly. Further, the details of the invention will become more apparent by reading through the best mode for carrying out the invention described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of Drawings

Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of one embodiment of an interior illuminating lamp for vehicle according to the invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of attachment of the embodiment of the interior illuminating lamp for vehicle according to the invention. Fig. 3A is a side perspective view of a second connector, and Fig. 3B is a sectional view showing a state of assembling the second connector to a roof.

Fig. 4A is a side perspective view of a bracket and Fig. 4B is an enlarged view of an elastic engaging piece.

Fig. 5A is a right perspective view of a first connector and Fig. 5B is a left perspective view of the first connector.

Fig. 6 is a back view showing an assembly state of the component.

Figs. 7A and 7B are enlarged views of the elastic engaging pieces and Fig. 7C is a perspective view showing an operation of the elastic engaging pieces.

Fig. 8A is a partially sectional view seen from a viewpoint A of Fig. 7A, and Fig. 8B is a perspective view seen from a viewpoint B of Fig. 7A.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view before assembly of the interior illuminating lamp for vehicle.

Fig. 10 is a sectional view of the middle of assembly of the interior illuminating lamp for vehicle.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged view of the elastic engaging piece in Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a sectional view of the middle of assembly of the interior illuminating lamp for vehicle.

Fig. 13Ais an enlarged view of the elastic engaging piece in Fig. 12, and

Fig. 13B is a perspective view from an upper part of the first connector portion in Fig. 12.

Fig. 14 is a sectional view of the completion of assembly.

Fig. 15 is an enlarged view of the elastic engaging piece in Fig. 14.

Description of Embodiments

A preferred embodiment of an interior illuminating lamp for vehicle according to the invention will hereinafter be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

An interior illuminating lamp 10 for vehicle which is one embodiment of the invention will be described based on Fig. 1.

This interior illuminating lamp 10 for vehicle of one embodiment is attached to a roof R for partitioning a vehicle room of a vehicle using a roof panel B, and broadly includes substantially a rectangular bracket (lamp fitting) 20, a first connector (female connector) 30 attached to the bracket 20, and a second connector (male connector) 40 attached to the back side of the roof R. A T-shaped through hole BH through which an upper part of the second connector 40 and a part of the bracket 20 extend is formed in the roof panel B, and an opening RH through which the first connector 30 and the back of the bracket 20 extend is formed in the roof R.

The interior iUuminating lamp 10 for vehicle made by assembling the bracket 20, the first connector 30 and the second connector 40 is attached to the roof R using the roof panel B (see Fig. 2).

Each configuration will hereinafter be described in detail in order of the bracket 20, the first connector 30 and the second connector 40.

The bracket 20 is described with reference to Figs. 4A and 4B. The back side of the bracket 20 is provided with an arm part 21 which is erected backward and extends laterally, and a pair of elastic engaging pieces 22 is opposed and erected in both sides in the vicinity of the center of the back side of the bracket 20. Also, substantially a circular boss 23 is included in the side opposite to an extension direction of the arm part 21. Further, a slit 24 is provided between the arm part 21 and the elastic engaging piece 22, and the top of the elastic engaging pieces 22 has a function capable of elastic deformation mutually outward as a free end. In addition, a lens, a light source, etc. (not shown) are arranged in the front side Cower side in the drawing) of the bracket 20. A storage part 25 for storing and placing the first connector 30 is formed in space surrounded by the elastic engaging pieces 22 and the erected portion of the arm part 21.

As shown in an enlarged view of the elastic engaging piece 22 of Fig. 4B, a first engaging hole 22A and a second engaging hole 22B are formed in the elastic engaging piece 22, and substantially a V-shaped protrusion piece 22S whose top has a taper shape and a lock piece 22T, whose top has a taper shape, projecting to a lateral part of the vicinity of the top are formed in the vicinity of the top of the elastic engaging piece 22.

The first connector 30 as female connector is described with reference to Figs. 5A and 5B The first female connector 30 is provided with a connector body 31 and a fitting part 32 which laterally projects from the bottom of the connector body 31 and is bent upward. Both sides of the connector body 31 are provided with engaging protrusions 33 for engaging with the first and second engaging holes 22A, 22B formed in the elastic engaging pieces 22 of the bracket 20, and a protective wall 34 is provided so as to protect a wire harness W outward extending from the center of the connector body 31 and surround the wire harness W. Also, the bottom opposite to the fitting part 32 of the connector body 31 is provided with a rotary shaft 30R (Fig. 8B) with substantially a circular cross section. In addition, the first connector 30 is described as the female connector and the second connector 40 is described as the male connector, but the reverse case can apply naturally.

The second connector 40 is described with reference to Figs. 1, 3A and 3B. In the second male connector 40, a pair of first pinching parts 41 for engaging with one side surface of the opening RH of the roof R is formed in a lateral part of the second connector 40 as shown in Fig. 1. Further, in the second connector 40, a pair of second pinching parts 41S for engaging with the other side surface of the opening RH is formed in a direction perpendicular to the first pinching parts 41 as shown in Fig. 3A. By these first and second pinching parts 41, 4 IS, the second connector 40 is engaged and fixed to the opening RH and the roof panel B is placed on the back side of the roof R with a lateral part of the second connector 40 abutting on a side surface of the through hole BH of the roof panel B as shown in Fig. 3B. Also, right and left opposed protrusion parts 42 projecting outward are formed in a side surface of the second connector 40, and the upper ends of the protrusion parts 42 are provided with step-shaped lock parts 42T.

Relation between the bracket 20 and the first connector 30 is described with reference to Figs. 6 to 8B. Next, an assembly relation between the bracket 20 and the first connector 30 will be described in detail using Figs. 6 to 8B.

Fig. 6 is a back view showing a state of assembling the bracket 20 to the first connector 30. The first connector 30 is stored and placed in the storage part 25 provided on a back surface of the bracket 20. This storage part 25 constructs a wall by the arm part 21 and the elastic engaging pieces 22 so as to surround the first connector 30, and functions as the protective wall for protecting the wire harness W or the first connector 30 against, for example, a shock from the outside occurring at work.

First, in the first connector 30, the engaging protrusions 33 provided on the connector body 31 of the first connector 30 engage with the first engaging holes 22A formed in the elastic engaging pieces 22 of the bracket 20. This engagement results in temporary fixing between the bracket 20 and the first connector 30. In that case, the rotary shaft 30R is used as a fulcrum P (see a circularly broken line of Fig. 7 A) and the first connector 30 is turnably stored and placed in the storage part 25.

Next, the engaging protrusions 33 engage with the second engaging holes 22B and thereby, the first connector 30 rotated in a counterclockwise direction in the drawing around the fulcrum P (Fig. 7 A) is engaged and fixed to the bracket 20. In engagement between the first engaging holes 22A and the engaging protrusions 33 and engagement between the second engaging holes 22B and the engaging protrusions 33, movement of the first connector 30 in right and left directions with respect to the bracket 20 is regulated by elastic pressure contact from the right and left of a pair of elastic engaging pieces 22.

By providing the connector body 31 with the engaging protrusions 33, it becomes unnecessary to provide the fitting part 32 with means of engagement with the second connector 40, and the fitting part 32 can be formed in a simple shape. At the same time, work for prompting engagement between the first connector 30 and the second connector 40 is not required and workability improves.

The elastic engaging pieces 22 are elastically deformed in a direction in which both sides of the bracket 20 push out in the case of temporarily fixing the first connector 30 to the bracket 20 and the case of turning the first connector 30 (see arrows of Fig. 7C).

Turning attachment of the first connector 30 will be described using

Figs. 8A and 8B. Fig. 8A is a partially sectional view seen in a viewpoint A of Fig. 7A, and Fig. 8B is a perspective view seen in a viewpoint B of Fig. 7A.

A shaft part 20R with substantially a semicircular cross section (viewpoint A of Fig. 7A) is formed in the inner wall end of the storage part 25 of the bracket 20, and the rotary shaft 30R of the first connector 30 makes sliding contact with the shaft part 20R, and the first connector 30 is turnably attached to the bracket 20 (viewpoint B of Fig. 7A).

Procedure of assembly of interior illuminating lamp 10 for vehicle^ is described with reference to Figs. 9 to 15. A procedure for assembling the interior iUuminating lamp 10 for vehicle to the roof R will be described in detail using Figs. 9 to 15.

(l) Start of assembly- Fig. 9

The roof R is placed on the vehicle room side of the roof panel B. The second connector 40 is attached to the back side of its roof R, and the engaging protrusions 33 of the first connector 30 engage with the first engaging holes 22 A of the elastic engaging pieces 22. One end of the bracket 20 to which the first connector 30 is temporarily fixed is used as a fulcrum by abutting on a side surface of the vehicle room of the roof R, and the bracket 20 is rotated (see an arrow in the drawing) while the arm part 21 of the bracket 20 extends through the opening RH of the roof R and the through hole BH of the roof panel B.

(2) middle of assembl ^: Figs. 10 and 11

The bracket 20 is rotated and the fitting part 32 of the first connector 30 is inserted into the second connector 40. In that case, the protrusion pieces 22S of the elastic engaging pieces 22 of the bracket 20 abut on lower parts of the protrusion parts 42 (Fig. ll) of the second connector 40. In this state, the engaging protrusions 33 of the first connector 30 do not disengage from the first engaging holes 22 A of the elastic engaging pieces 22. By this engagement between the engaging protrusions 33 and the first engaging holes 22A, a relative positional relation between the first connector 30 and the bracket 20 is determined and the first connector 30 can accurately be inserted into the second connector 40 at work for assembling the bracket 20 from the room inside of the vehicle to the roof R.

(3) middle of assembly: Figs. 12, 13A and 13B

When the bracket 20 is further rotated, the first connector 30 turns around the rotary shaft 30R of the first connector 30. The protrusion parts 42 of the second connector 40 abut on taper parts A (Fig. 7C) of inner surfaces of the protrusion pieces 22S of the elastic engaging pieces 22, and the protrusion parts 42 cause the protrusion pieces 22S to flex to the outside as the first connector 30 turns. Therefore, by elastically deforming the protrusion pieces 22S of the elastic engaging pieces 22, the protrusion pieces 22S ride over side surfaces of the protrusion parts 42 of the second connector 40 while being spaced apart from the side surfaces. By this elastic deformation of the elastic engaging pieces 22, the engaging protrusions 33 disengage from the first engaging holes 22A and also the bracket 20 can be rotated easily. Also, the first connector 30 has already been inserted into the second connector 40, so that a positional relation between the bracket 20 and the roof R is determined and workability improves.

(4) Completion of assembly: Figs. 14 and 15

A state of the completion of assembly will be described. The side of arm part 21:

The roof panel B is pressed on the side of the roof R by the arm part 21 of the bracket 20, and the roof R and the roof panel B are pinched by the arm part 21 and one end of the bracket 20.

Connectors 30, 40:

The first connector 30 is fitted into the second connector 40.

The other end side (side opposite to the side of arm part 21):

The peripheral edge of the boss 23 of the bracket 20 abuts on one side wall of the opening RH of the roof R, and the boss 23 is fitted into the opening RH.

Bracket 20 and second connector 40:

The protrusion parts 42 of the second connector 40 abut on taper parts B (Fig. 15) of inner surfaces of the lock pieces 22T of the elastic engaging pieces 22, and the protrusion parts 42 cause the lock pieces 22T to flex to the outside as the first connector 30 turns. Then, at a point in time when the elastic engaging pieces 22 pass, the lock pieces 22T elastically return from the flexure and finally, the lock pieces 22T engage with the lock parts 42T provided on the protrusion parts 42 of the second connector 40 and the bracket 20 is prevented from coming out. At the same time, the second engaging holes 22B of the elastic engaging pieces 22 engage with the engaging protrusions 33, and movement in right and left directions is also regulated, and good earthquake-resistant attachment of the interior illuminating lamp 10 for vehicle to the roof R is completed.

The procedure of assembly has been described above, and the bracket 20 can be detached from the roof R by a procedure opposite to the procedure described above.

According to the interior illuminating lamp 10 for vehicle according to the invention, the elastic engaging pieces 22 provided on the bracket 20 engage with the protrusion parts 42 formed on the second connector 40. By this engagement, an engagement area larger than that of general male and female connector engaging means can be obtained and at the same time, a great engaging force can be obtained and a stable holding force in a vertical direction can be ensured. Further, it is unnecessary to provide the general male and female connector engaging means, and the connectors 30, 40 are miniaturized and a shape of the whole interior illuminating lamp 10 for vehicle is also simplified.

Also, since the engaging protrusions 33 of the first connector 30 engage with the first engaging holes 22A of the elastic engaging pieces 22 of the bracket 20, a relative positional relation between the first connector 30 and the bracket 20 is accurately determined and work for fitting the first connector 30 into the second connector 40 is surely done and workability improves. Further, since both of the elastic engaging pieces 22 and the protrusion parts 42 are formed by a pair, movement in the right and left directions is regulated and a stable attachment state is obtained and the interior illuminating lamp 10 for vehicle with good earthquake resistance can be provided.

The interior iUuminating lamp 10 for vehicle described above includes the bracket 20 provided with the arm part 21 and a pair of elastic engaging pieces 22, the first connector 30 turnably attached to the bracket 20 and the second connector 40 in which a pair of protrusion parts 42 is formed, and the elastic engaging pieces 22 are elastically deformed to ride over the protrusion parts 42, and the lock pieces 22T of the elastic engaging pieces 22 engage with the lock parts 42T of the protrusion parts 42.

By this configuration, the bracket 20 engages with the second connector 40 by elastic deformation of a pair of elastic engaging pieces 22 formed in the bracket 20, so that the bracket 20 can surely be coupled to the second connector 40. Further, the lock pieces 22T of a pair of elastic engaging pieces 22 engage with the lock parts 42T provided on a pair of protrusion parts 42, so that a force of coupling between the bracket 20 and the second connector 40 increases and attachment of the interior illuminating lamp 10 for vehicle with good earthquake resistance is enabled.

Also, the first connector 30 is provided with the engaging protrusions 33 and the elastic engaging pieces 22 are provided with the first engaging holes 22A, and the engaging protrusions 33 respectively engage with the first engaging holes 22A and thereby, a relative positional relation between the first connector 30 and the bracket 20 is determined and the first connector 30 is surely fitted into the second connector 40 and workability improves.

Also, by elastically deforming the elastic engaging pieces 22, the first engaging holes 22A smoothly disengage from the engaging protrusions 33, so that rotation of the bracket 20 also becomes smooth and assembly work is facilitated.

Further, the lock pieces 22T engage with the lock parts 42T and also the second engaging holes 22B engage with the engaging protrusions 33 and thereby, elastic pressing forces from the right and left act on the first connector 30 by a pair of elastic engaging pieces 22 and together with fitting into the second connector 40, a stable holding force inside the bracket 20 is provided for the first connector 30.

Then, the storage part 25 is formed by the erected portion of the arm part 21 and the elastic engaging pieces 22. By storing and placing the first connector 30 in the storage part 25, the first connector 30 or the wire harness W is protected against, for example, a shock from the outside occurring at work.

In addition, the invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, and modifications, improvements, etc. can be made properly. Moreover, as long as the invention can be achieved, the number of components, materials, shapes, dimensions, numerical values, modes, arrangement places, etc. of each of the components in the embodiment described above are arbitrary and are not limited. Industrial Applicability

According to the invention, engagement is performed using the elastic engaging pieces of the bracket and the protrusion parts of the second connector, so that an engaging force greater than that of engaging means formed on general male and female connectors can be obtained.

Particularly, a stable holding force in a vertical direction can be ensured.

Also, it is unnecessary to provide the male and female connectors with the engaging means, and a compact configuration is obtained. Then, the elastic engaging pieces engage with the first connector and thereby, a relative positional relation between the first connector and the bracket is accurately determined and work for fitting the first connector into the second connector is surely done and workability improves. Further, since both of the elastic engaging pieces and the protrusion parts are formed by a pair, movement in right and left directions is regulated and a stable attachment state is obtained and the interior illuminating lamp for vehicle with good earthquake resistance can be provided.

The present application is based on Japanese Patent Application No.

JP 2011-40632, filed on February 25, 2011, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Reference Signs List

10·· INTERIOR ILLUMINATING LAMP FOR VEHICLE

20: BRACKET

20R: SHAFT PART

21: ARM PART

22: ELASTIC ENGAGING PIECE

22A: FIRST ENGAGING HOLE

22B: SECOND ENGAGING HOLE

22S: PROTRUSION PIECE 22T- LOCK PIECE

25: STORAGE PART

30: FIRST (FEMALE) CONNECTOR 30R: ROTARY SHAFT

33: ENGAGING PROTRUSION

40: SECOND (MALE) CONNECTOR 42: PROTRUSION PART

42T: LOCK PART

B: ROOF PANEL

R: ROOF