Description:A FLEXIBLE MOUNTING STRUCTURE FOR LAMP HOUSING

TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present subject matter described herein relates to a rear combination lamp in a vehicle. The present invention is particularly related to providing a flexible mounting structure configured to accommodate in an mounting surface of a rear lamp housing to prevent the rear lamp housing from sagging and rotation during assembly with vehicle.

BACKGROUND
[0002] Background description includes information that may be useful in understanding the present subject matter. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the presently claimed invention, or that any publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.
[0003] Modern automobiles and other motorized vehicles currently in production are built with lighting systems to illuminate the interior and exterior of the vehicle for the driver. The vehicle's front, sides, and rear all have a variety of lamp assemblies attached or built into them. These functions of these lamp assemblies is to make the vehicle more visible and to supply the driver with exterior illumination so they may drive it safely in low-light situations, including at night.
[0004] In conventional designs, a rear combination lamp assembly includes a number of incandescent lamp bulbs that serve as various lamps. The design enables one or more lamp bulbs to be activated to emit light, turning on the associated tail lamp section, stop lamp section, winker lamp section, or backup lamp section through a reflector and a lens.
[0005] Ref. Fig. 1(a) and Fig. 1(b). In the existing design, the rear lamp housing (101) is mounted to the C-pillar of the vehicle or vehicle body. To assemble the rear lamp housing (101) onto the vehicle body, the vehicle body is firstly placed on the hollow structure and adjusted simultaneously on the vehicle body and then afterwards, the rear lamp housing (101) is mounted to the C-pillar of a vehicle body with the help of plurality of fasteners like grommets (104a, 104b).
[0006] Further, a cut out portion (103) is provided on the mounting surface (102). The cut out portion (103) houses a fastener that couples the rear lamp housing (101) and the C pillar of the vehicle body.
[0007] The problem with the existing design is that there are chances of mismatch of the rear lamp housing with the vehicle body during the assembly process due to variations in vehicle body mounting. Further there occurs uneven gap between the vehicle body and the rear lamp housing due to variations that are produced in the BL (width wise), WL (height wise) and TL (depth wise) directions while assembly. The produced variation further lead to sagging of the rear lamp housing with respect to the vehicle body which does not look pleasing to the eyes even after positive mounting due to initial sagging condition.
[0008] It is therefore desirable to avoid sagging of the rear lamp housing with respect to the vehicle body while assembling and at the same time avoiding the overconstrained mounting between lamp housing and the vehicle body.

OBJECTS OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0009] It forms an object of the present disclosure to overcome the aforementioned and other drawbacks/limitations in the existing solutions available in the form of related prior arts.
[0010] It is primary object of the present disclosure is to prevent sagging and rotation of a rear lamp housing during assembly with a vehicle.
[0011] It is another object of the present disclosure to reduce tolerance in the widthwise, lengthwise and depthwise directions of the lamp assembly.
[0012] It is another object of the present disclosure to prevent misalingnment of the screws with the vehicle body while assembling the rear lamp housing.
[0013] It is another object of the present disclosure to provide a cost-effective solution to achieve the above objectives.
[0014] It is another object of the present disclosure to accommodate mounting point in vehicle with higher tolerances.
[0015] These and other objects and advantages of the present subject matter will be apparent to a person skilled in the art after consideration of the following detailed description taken into consideration with accompanying drawings in which preferred embodiments of the present subject matter are illustrated.

SUMMARY
[0016] A solution to one or more drawbacks of existing technology and additional advantages are provided through the present disclosure. Additional features and advantages are realized through the technicalities of the present disclosure. Other embodiments and aspects of the disclosure are described in detail herein and are considered to be a part of the claimed disclosure.
[0017] The present disclosure provides a solution in the form of a flexible mounting structure configured to accommodate in a mounting surface of a rear lamp housing to prevent the rear lamp housing from sagging and rotation during assembly with a vehicle. The flexible mounting structure includes a U-shaped base having a horizontal surface and a first transverse surface and a second transverse surface extending in an upwards direction from the horizontal surface, an upper portion cover the U-shaped base and extend outward in transverse direction to define side flanges, the upper portion has a cut out portion, a flexible arm extend from both lateral ends of the side flanges of the upper portion, a cylindrical stud extend away from the horizontal surface in downward direction, the cylindrical stud define a circular flange head at distal end for coupling with the rear lamp housing.
[0018] In an aspect, the upper portion defines width (D) and the horizontal surface defines width (d), where width (D) is greater than width (d).
[0019] In an aspect, the flexible arms having a U shape, abut or rest on surface of the rear lamp housing.
[0020] In an aspect, the cut out portion defines a key hole shape.
[0021] In an aspect, the flexible arm connected with the side flanges extend downwards from lateral ends of the side flanges of the upper portion, the flexible arm connected with the lateral ends of the side flanges define a U shaped structure.
[0022] In an aspect, the upper portion has more horizontal width than the U-shaped base.
[0023] In an aspect, the cylindrical stud is elongated in a downwards direction.
[0024] In an aspect, the rear lamp housing assembly for adjustably mounting the rear lamp housing on a C-pillar of a vehicle body includes the rear lamp housing having a mounting surface in an upper portion, wherein the mounting surface has a cut out to receive a cylindrical surface of the flexible mounting structure, wherein a fastener is provided to connect the C-pillar with the cut out portion on the upper portion of the flexible mounting structure to form a coupling.
[0025] The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
[0026] It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of the present subject matter and are therefore not to be considered for limiting of its scope, for the present disclosure may admit to other equally effective embodiments. The detailed description is described with reference to the accompanying figures. In the figures, a reference number identifies the figure in which the reference number first appears. The same numbers are used throughout the figures to reference like features and components. Some embodiments of system or methods or structure in accordance with embodiments of the present subject matter are now described, by way of example, and with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:
[0027] Fig. 1a illustrates a rear lamp housing according to the prior art;
[0028] Fig. 1b illustrates a mounting surface on the rear lamp housing according to the prior art;
[0029] Fig. 2a illustrates a flexible mounting structure provided on the mounting surface on the rear lamp housing according to the present disclosure;
[0030] Fig. 2b illustrates a top view of the flexible mounting structure provided on the mounting surface on the rear lamp housing according to the present disclosure;
[0031] Fig. 3a illustrates a perspective view of the flexible mounting structure according to the present disclosure;
[0032] Fig. 3b illustrates a front view of the flexible mounting structure according to the present disclosure;
[0033] Fig. 3c illustrates a back view of the flexible mounting structure according to the present disclosure;
[0034] Fig. 3d illustrates a side view showing flexible arms of the flexible mounting structure according to the present disclosure;
[0035] Fig. 4 illustrates a cut out on the upper portion of the flexible mounting structure according to the present disclosure;
[0036] Fig. 5 illustrates a cylindrical stud on the horizontal surface according to the present disclosure;
[0037] Fig. 6 illustrates an assembled view of flexible mounting structure on the rear lamp housing according to the present disclosure;
[0038] Fig. 7 illustrates A-A and B-B cross section of the flexible mounting structure mounted on the rear lamp housing according to an embodiment the present disclosure.
[0039] The figures depict embodiments of the present subject matter for illustration only. A person skilled in the art will easily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the disclosure described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION
[0040] The detailed description of various exemplary embodiments of the disclosure is described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the embodiments are described herein in such details as to communicate the disclosure. However, the amount of details provided herein is not intended to limit the anticipated variations of embodiments; on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.
[0041] It is also to be understood that various arrangements may be devised that, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, all statements herein reciting principles, aspects, and embodiments of the present disclosure, as well as specific examples, are intended to encompass equivalents thereof.
[0042] It should also be noted that in some alternative implementations, the functions/acts noted may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two figures shown in succession may be executed concurrently or may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality/acts involved.
[0043] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which example embodiments belong. It will be further understood that terms, e.g., those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.
[0044] In the following detailed description of the embodiments of the disclosure, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration of specific embodiments in which the disclosure may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the disclosure, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The following description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.
[0045] Hereinafter, a description of an embodiment with several components in communication with each other does not imply that all such components are required. On the contrary, a variety of optional components are described to illustrate the wide variety of possible embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0046] The present invention discloses a flexible mounting structure that is provided on a mounting surface of the rear lamp housing. The fexible mounting structure is provided to reduce or prevent variations in the BL (width wise), WL (height wise) and TL (depth wise) directions so that there is no sagging or rotation of the lamp housing with respect to the C-pillar of the vehicle body.
[0047] Also the present invention prevents misalingnment of the screws with the vehicle body while assembling the rear lamp housing.
[0048] Referring to FIG. 2a, the flexible mounting structure (200) is accommodated on a mounting surface (102) of the rear lamp housing (101). The flexible mounting structure (200) is located on a top side (201) of the rear lamp housing (101) in accordance to the direction of a height of the vehicle.
[0049] Referring to FIG. 2b, a top view of the flexible mounting structure (200) is disclosed. The figure shows that the rear lamp housing (101) is provided adjacent to the C-pillar of the vehicle body. The flexible mounting structure (200) is provided on an top side (201) of the rear lamp housing (101).
[0050] Referring to FIG. 3a, it shows the flexible mounting structure (200). The flexible mounting structure (200) has a U-shaped base (301). The U-shaped base (301) is composed of a plurality of surfaces namely a horizontal surface (302), a first transverse surface (303a) and a second transverse surface (303b). The first transverse surface (303a) and the second transverse surface (303b) extend in an upwards direction from the horizontal surface (302).
[0051] A third transverse surface (303c) is also provided. The third transverse surface (303c) also extend in an upwards direction from one of the horizontal surface (302).
[0052] Further, an upper portion (304) is provided. The upper portion (304) touches the first transverse surface (303a), the second transverse surface (303b) and the third transverse surface (303c) from its back side surface. The upper portion (304) is more wider and has more horizontal width than the U-shaped base (301).
[0053] Furthermore, the upper portion (304) covers the U-shaped base (301). Also, the upper portion (304) extends outwards in transverse direction and opposite to the upper portion (304) to define side flanges (306a, 306b, 306c, 306d).
[0054] The side flanges (306a, 306b, 306c, 306d) along with the upper portion (304) defines an L shape. Further, the upper portion (304) has a cut out portion (305).
[0055] Furthermore, a flexible arm (307a, 307b) is extended from both lateral ends of the side flanges (306a, 306b, 306c, 306d) of the upper portion (304). The flexible arms (307a, 307b) have a U shape and the flexible arms (307a, 307b) abut or rest on the mounting surface (102) of the rear lamp housing (101 as provided in Fig. 1b).
[0056] Also, on the backside (501 as shownin Fig. 5) of the U-shaped base (301), a cylindrical stud (308) is provided. The cylindrical stud (308) extends away in a downwards direction from the horizontal surface (302). On one distal end of the cylindrical stud (308), a circular flange head (309) is provided.
[0057] The cylindrical stud (308) along with the circular flange head (309) are used for coupling the flexible mounting structure (200) with the rear lamp housing (101).
[0058] Referring to FIG. 3b, the upper portion (304) illustrates width (D) and the horizontal surface (302) defines width (d), where width (D) is greater than width (d).
[0059] Referring to FIG. 3b, 3c and 3d, The flexible arm (307a) is connected to the side flanges (306a, 306d) of the upper portion (304) and the fliexible arm (307b) is connected to the side flanges (306b, 306bc) of the upper portion (304). The flexible arms (307a, 307b) helps in providing a movement to the flexible mounting structure (200) to help accomodate variations in the depthwise direction.
[0060] Therefore, the movement observed in the depthwise direction on the rear lamp housing (101) while assembling, is controlled by the inclusion of the flexible arms (307a, 307b).
[0061] Referring to FIG. 4, an upper side (401) of the upper portion (304) is disclosed. The upper portion (304) has the cut out portion (305). The cut out portion (305) defines a key hole shape. The key hole shape is provided to couple a fastener that is coming out from the C-pillar of the vehicle body with the rear lamp housing (101).
[0062] Referring to FIG. 5, a backside (501) of the U-shaped base (301) is shown. The horizontal surface (302) of the U-shaped base (301) has the cylindrical stud (308 as provided in Fig. 3a) that has the circular flange head (309) provided at one distal end.
[0063] The cylindrical stud (308 as provided in Fig. 3a) along with the circular flange head (309) are used for coupling the flexible mounting structure (200) with the rear lamp housing (101 as provided in Fig. 1a) to prevent movement in the transverse direction while assembling.
[0064] Referring to FIG. 6, the rear lamp housing assembly (600) is illustrated. The rear lamp housing assembly (600) is provided for adjustably mounting the rear lamp housing (101) on the C-pillar of the vehicle body.
[0065] The rear lamp housing assembly (600) includes the rear lamp housing (101). The rear lamp housing (101) comprises of having a mounting surface (102) on the top side (201) of the rear lamp housing (101). Also, the mounting surface (102) has the cut out (103). The cut out (103) is provided to receive the cylindrical surface (308) of the flexible mounting structure (200) (preferably from upwards but not limited to that).
[0066] The cylindrical surface (308) when mounted on the cut out (103) helps to accommodate variation in the widthwise direction.
[0067] Further, a fastener like grommet is provided to connect the C-pillar with the cut out portion (305) that is given on the upper portion (304) of the flexible mounting structure (200). The connection forms a coupling and further helps in preventing the sagging and accommodating the variation in the transverse direction.
[0068] Lastly, the variation in the depthwise direction is accommodated by the flexible arms (307a, 307b) that are connected with a plurality of transverse surfaces (306a, 306b, 306c, 306d).
[0069] Referring to FIG. 7 a cross section A-A of the flexible mounting structure (200) is disclosed. The A-A shows the cylindrical surface (308) of the flexible mounting structure (200) is inserted inside the cut out portion (103) to give freedom to the flexible mounting structure (200) to adjust in the heightwise direction.
[0070] Further, a cross section B-B of the flexible mounting structure (200) is disclosed. The B-B shows the placement of the flexible arms (307a, 307b) on the mounting surface (102). The flexible arms (307a, 307b) give freedom to the flexible mounting structure (200) to adjust in the heightwise direction.
TECHNICAL ADVANTAGES
[0071] With the help of the solution as proposed herein in the context of the present disclosure, the sagging of the rear lamp housing with respect to the vehicle body is avoided.
[0072] The misalingement of the screws is avoided.
[0073] The present invention is cost effective.
[0074] It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, terms used herein, and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are generally intended as “open” terms (e.g., the term “including” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to,” the term “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term “includes” should be interpreted as “includes but is not limited to,” etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation, no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles “a” or “an” limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to disclosures containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases “one or more” or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or “an” (e.g., “a” and/or “an” should typically be interpreted to mean “at least one” or “one or more”); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. Also, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of “two recitations,” without other modifiers, typically means at least two recitations or two or more recitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, and C, etc.” is used, in general, such construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, and C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). In those instances, where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, or C, etc.” is used, in general, such construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, or C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that virtually any disjunctive word and/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in the description, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms or both terms. For example, the phrase “A or B” will be understood to include the possibilities of “A” or “B” or “A and B.”
[0075] It will be further appreciated that functions or structures of a plurality of components or steps may be combined into a single component or step, or the functions or structures of one-step or component may be split among plural steps or components. The present disclosure contemplates all of these combinations. Unless stated otherwise, dimensions and geometries of the various structures depicted herein are not intended to be restrictive of the disclosure, and other dimensions or geometries are possible. Also, while a feature of the present disclosure may have been described in the context of only one of the illustrated embodiments, such feature may be combined with one or more other features of other embodiments, for any given application. It will also be appreciated from the above that the fabrication of the unique structures herein and the operation thereof also constitute methods in accordance with the present disclosure. The present disclosure also encompasses intermediate and end products resulting from the practice of the methods herein. The use of “comprising” or “including” also contemplates embodiments that “consist essentially of” or “consist of” the recited feature. , Claims:We claim:
1. A flexible mounting structure (200) configured to accommodate in a mounting surface (102) of a rear lamp housing (101) to prevent the rear lamp housing (101) from sagging and rotation during assembly with a vehicle, the flexible mounting structure (200) comprising:
a U-shaped base (301) having a horizontal surface (302) and a first transverse surface (303a) and a second transverse surface (303b) extending in an upwards direction from the horizontal surface (302);
an upper portion (304) cover the U-shaped base (301) and extend outward in transverse direction to define side flanges (306a, 306b, 306c, 306d), the upper portion (304) has a cut out portion (305);
a flexible arm (307a, 307b) extend from both lateral ends of the side flanges (306a, 306b, 306c, 306d) of the upper portion (304); and
a cylindrical stud (308) extend away from the horizontal surface (302) in downward direction, the cylindrical stud (308) define a circular flange head (309) at distal end for coupling with the rear lamp housing (101).
2. The flexible mounting structure (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the upper portion (304) defines width (D) and the horizontal surface (302) defines width (d), where width (D) is greater than width (d).
3. The flexible mounting structure (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the flexible arms (307a, 307b) having a U shape, abut or rest on surface of the rear lamp housing (101).
4. The flexible mounting structure (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cut out portion (305) defines a key hole shape.
5. The flexible mounting structure (200) as claimed in claim 1 and 3, wherein the flexible arm (307a, 307b) connected with the side flanges (306a, 306b, 306c, 306d) extend downwards from lateral ends of the side flanges (306a, 306b, 306c, 306d) of the upper portion (304), the flexible arm (307a, 307b) connected with the lateral ends of the side flanges (306a, 306b, 306c, 306d) define a U shaped structure.
6. The flexi mount structure (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the upper portion (304) has more horizontal width than the U-shaped base (301).
7. The flexi mount structure (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cylindrical stud (308) is elongated in a downwards direction.
8. A rear lamp housing assembly (600) for adjustably mounting the rear lamp housing (101) on a C-pillar of a vehicle body, the rear lamp housing assembly (600) comprising:
the rear lamp housing (101) having a mounting surface (102) in an upper portion (304), wherein the mounting surface (102) has a cut out (103) to receive a cylindrical surface (308) of the flexible mounting structure (200) as claimed in claims 1 to 4,
wherein a fastener is provided to connect the C-pillar with the cut out portion (305) on the upper portion (304) of the flexible mounting structure (200) to form a coupling.