A HEADLAMP UNIT
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates generally to a headlamp unit of a
vehicle, and more particularly, but not exclusively, to a headlamp unit for a motorcycle.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] A motorcycle is provided with a headlamp unit to enable the rider
for better visibility during low light conditions. The headlamp unit is supported by a headlamp housing comprising of a front housing portion and a rear housing portion. The front housing portion supports a light source and a reflector which reflects the light from the light source in a predetermined manner so that the luminous intensity of the headlamp unit conforms to the statutory regulations.
[0003] The rear housing portion houses a vehicle information unit and is
located rearwardly to the front housing portion. During the headlight operation, light from the light source leaks out in vehicle vertical direction towards the interface of the front housing portion and the rear housing portion of the headlamp unit. If the surrounding area is dark, the light leakage is a source of distraction to the vehicle rider who may lose his focus to be involved in a road mishap. The light leakage also reduces the intensity of light available for complying with the statutory regulations. In the prior art, the light leakage is prevented by using a tape but it adds to manufacturing cost and additional steps in the headlamp unit
assembly. Further, the tape may wear out over a period of time due to the effect of percolating rain water and sun light.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] It is therefore an object of the present invention to prevent light
leakage towards the vehicle rider from the headlamp unit and ensure smooth vehicle operation without any distraction. To this end, the present invention discloses a motorcycle comprising a headlamp unit accommodated in a headlamp housing having a front housing portion and a rear housing portion. The headlamp unit comprises of a lens member and a reflector housing wherein an upper periphery of the reflector housing further comprises of a forwardly inclined light obstructing strip.
[0005] According to a feature of the present invention, the light
obstructing strip is located in a central portion of the upper periphery and borders a rear surface of the front housing portion. The light obstructing strip is projected to develop into a rearwardly inclined rib member.
[0006] The foregoing objectives and summary is provided to introduce a
selection of concepts in a simplified form, and is not limiting. To fully appreciate these and other objects of the present subject matter as well as the subject matter itself, all of which will become apparent to those skilled in the art, the ensuing detailed description of the subject matter and the claims should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0007] The above and other features, aspects and advantages of the subject
matter will be better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims and accompanying drawings where:
[0008] FIG. 1 shows a side elevation view of a motorcycle exemplified in
the form of a two wheeled scooter type motorcycle according to the present invention.
[0009] FIG. 2 shows a side perspective view of the headlamp unit
assembled in an upper front portion of the motorcycle.
[00010] FIG. 3 shows the top perspective view of complete headlamp unit
surrounded by a headlamp housing.
[00011] FIG. 4 shows a rear view of the headlamp unit.
[00012] FIG. 5 shows the front view of the headlamp unit.
[00013] FIG.6 shows a sectional view of the headlamp unit along the A-A
axis of FIG. 5.
[00014] FIG. 7 shows an exploded view of the headlamp unit engaged with
the front housing portion of the headlamp housing.
[00015] FIG. 8 shows a second embodiment of the front housing portion of
the headlamp housing.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[00016] It is to be noted that in the ensuing description, the present
invention is usable in a saddle type vehicle exemplified in the form of a two wheeled scooter type motorcycle for illustration. Further "front" and "rear", and "left" and "right" referred to in the ensuing description of the illustrated embodiment refer to front and rear, and left and right directions as seen in a state of being seated on a seat of the scooter type motorcycle. Furthermore, a longitudinal axis, except otherwise mentioned, refers to a front to rear axis relative to the said motorcycle, while a lateral axis, except otherwise mentioned, refers generally to a side to side, or left to right axis relative to the said motorcycle. Similarly a vertical axis refers to a ground to sky axis relative to the motorcycle. Various other features and embodiments of the present subject matter here will be discernible from the following further description thereof, set out hereunder. The detailed explanation of the constitution of parts other than the subject matter which constitutes an essential part has been omitted at suitable places.
[00017] FIG. 1 shows a side elevation view of the scooter type motorcycle
(hereinafter 'motorcycle'). The motorcycle 1 includes a frame assembly made up of several tubes welded together supporting the body of said motorcycle. A lower half of the front portion of the motorcycle 1 has a steerable front wheel 2 and a driven rear wheel 4 driven by driving force generated by a power unit 11. The front wheel 2 of the motorcycle 1 is axially supported at a lower end of a front fork 3, and the front fork 3 is pivoted in a steerable manner in a head pipe (not shown) of the motorcycle frame. Meanwhile, the motorcycle frame assembly is
covered by a plurality of motorcycle body covers including a front panel 16, a leg shield 18, an under seat cover 13, a left side cover 6, a right side cover and a bottom cover 12. The right side cover is symmetrical to the left side cover and hence not shown.
[00018] The upper half of the front portion of the motorcycle 1 comprises
of a handle bar 7 attached to an upper end of the head pipe (not shown). The handle bar 7 and a seat 5 are supported at opposing ends of the frame assembly and a generally open area is defined there between known as floorboard 15 which functions as a step through space. The seat 5 for a driver and a pillion is placed forward to a fuel tank and rearwardly of the floorboard 15. A utility box (not shown) is provided below the seat 5 for storing useful articles. A side trim member 14 laterally beneath the floorboard 15 is provided to cover the lower frame members from being visible. The side trim member 14 is laterally present on both sides of the motorcycle; however, only one is visible in the side view. A side stand fixed to the left side of the frame supports the motorcycle such that motorcycle can incline to the left side without falling. A rear fender 8 is accommodated at the rearmost end of the motorcycle to partially cover the rear wheel 4. Likewise, the front wheel 2 is covered by a lower member 17 of the front panel 16. The bottom cover 12 covers the vehicle from the bottom and prevents it from any water or mud splash.
[00019] In the said motorcycle, the power unit 11 is configured to drive,
and is swingably supported on, the rear wheel 4. The power unit 11 is integrally formed with a forwardly inclined engine and a transmission system, and the rear
wheel 4 is connected to a drive shaft at the rear of the power unit 11. In an embodiment of the present invention, the engine is a four stroke single cylinder internal combustion engine.
[00020] A headlamp unit 19 is arranged forwardly of the rider and
comprises of a lens member 20 and a reflector housing 30. FIG. 2 shows a side perspective view of the headlamp unit 19 mounted in the upper front portion of the motorcycle. The lens member 20 is a forward facing transparent lens which encloses a light source 20a and disperses the light emitted from the light source 20a. The reflector housing 30 houses a reflector (not shown) provided rearward of the lens member 20. The reflector reflects the light emitted from the light source 20a in a predefined pattern to ensure compliance with the statutory regulations. The lens member 20 and the reflector housing 30 are operatively engaged with each other to develop into the complete light emitting headlamp unit.
[00021] FIG. 3 shows the complete headlamp unit assembled in the upper
front portion of the motorcycle. The headlamp unit 19 is supported and housed in a headlamp housing 28 having a front housing portion 21 and a rear housing portion 24 with an interface 25 in between through which the two portions are secured together. The front housing portion 21 and the rear housing portion 24 are operatively engaged with each other and also cover a substantial portion of the handlebar 7. The front housing portion 21 is inclined forwardly and downwardly to accommodate the headlight unit and has a rear surface 22 which supports the reflector housing 30. The front housing has a cavity 26 accommodating the
headlamp unit 19. The contour of the lens member 20 and the reflector housing 30 is similar to that of cavity 26.
[00022] FIG. 4 shows a rear view of the reflector housing 30 which
includes an upper periphery 31 contouring an upper portion of the reflector housing and a lower periphery 32 contouring a lower portion of the reflector housing. The upper periphery 31 and the lower periphery 32 form a continuous outline around the reflector housing 30. The upper periphery 31 is curved rearwardly to form an arc shaped profile when viewed from the top. The upper periphery 31 has a central portion referred by the numeral 33. The upper periphery 31 has an opening through which the light from the lens member 20 leaks towards the interface 25 of the front housing portion 21 and the rear housing portion 24. It is noted that maximum light leakage occurs from the central portion 33 of the upper periphery 31.
[00023] To this end, in the present invention, the upper periphery 31 further
comprises a forwardly inclined light obstructing strip 34 bordering the rear surface 22 of the front housing portion 21 of the headlamp housing. The length of the light obstructing strip 34 lies along the vehicle lateral axis and breadth lies along the vehicle longitudinal axis. The light obstructing strip 34 is of sufficient length and width, which covers the transition of lens member 20 and reflector, through which light is leaking. The light obstructing strip 34 has is deeper at its central portion than the edges along the vehicle lateral axis. It maintains a clearance with the lens member 20 and the clearance between the two is filled up by a glue material thus forming a lock between the lens member 20 and the strip
34. As seen in the sectional view of the FIG. 6, the light obstructing strip 34 is tapered at its edges and vertically projected into a rearwardly inclined rib member 35 disposed parallel to the rear surface 22 of the front housing portion 21. The rearwardly inclined rib member 35 is approximately perpendicular to the light obstructing strip 34 and its length is shorter than the light obstructing strip 34 along the vehicle lateral axis. The light obstructing strip 34 acts as a flange and borders the rear surface 22 of the front housing portion 21 due to its forward inclination. Thus, the light obstructing strip 34 just butts the rear surface of the front housing portion 21 and prevents light from leaking into the interface 25.
[00024] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the light
obstructing strip 34 is provided in the central portion 33 of the upper periphery 31. This prevents a substantial amount of light from leaking out through the interface 25 and thus prevents distraction to the vehicle rider. However, in another embodiment, the light obstructing strip 34 is provided along the complete contour of the upper periphery 31.
[00025] FIG. 7 shows the assembly of the reflector housing 30 with the
headlamp housing 28. According to a feature, the light obstructing strip 34 is enmoulded along with the upper periphery 31 i.e. it is formed integral with the upper periphery 31. The integration of the light obstructing strip 34 with the reflector housing 30 is a permanent solution and hence it is not prone to wear and tear by sunlight or rain water. It removes the need for using external tape. It also reduces manufacturing costs and number of steps taken during assembly of the headlamp unit.
[00026] In an embodiment, the rear surface 22 of the front housing portion
21 further comprises of a plurality of ribs 27 as shown in FIG. 2 and at least one of the ribs butts against the rearwardly inclined rib member 35. The light leaking from the headlamp unit 19 is prevented from going to the interface 25 of the front housing portion 21 and the rear housing portion 24 through the light obstructing strip 34. The rib member 35 which is located angular to the light obstructing strip 34 further stops the leak. In an embodiment, the rib member 35 is positioned just below the ribs 27 wherein the ribs are protruded in the rear direction of the vehicle. Therefore, even if some amount of light escapes from the light obstructing strip, the positioning of light obstructing strip 34 and rib member 35 below the rib 27 would contain the light leakage to the rider.
[00027] According to yet another feature of the present invention, the light
obstructing strip 34 is arcuate towards the rear direction because it follows the upper periphery 31. Further, the light obstructing strip is made of same material as that of reflector housing.
[00028] FIG. 8 shows another embodiment of the front housing portion 21
where the plurality of ribs 51 has at least one rib parallel to the vehicle lateral axis and multiple ribs projecting out vertically from the at least one rib. The rib member 35 butts just below the at least one rib thereby closing the gap between the two. This embodiment while helping to further stop the light leak also imparts strength to the front housing portion 21 of the headlamp housing. It also increases form strength of plastic parts which enhances durability and reliability of the parts and aesthetic appeal.
[00029] The present subject matter is thus described. The description is not
intended to be exhaustive nor is it intended to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the disclosed embodiments may be modified in light of the above description. The embodiments described are chosen to provide an illustration of principles of the invention and its practical application to enable thereby one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. Therefore the forgoing description is to be considered exemplary, rather than limiting, and the true scope of the invention is that described in the appended claims.
We claim:
1. A motorcycle comprising a headlamp unit (19) accommodated in a
headlamp housing (28) having a front housing portion (21) and a rear
housing portion (24), the headlamp unit (19) having a lens member (20)
connected with a reflector housing (30), the reflector housing (30)
including an upper periphery (31) contouring an upper portion of the
reflector housing (30) and a lower periphery (32) contouring a lower
portion of the reflector housing, characterized in that,
the upper periphery (31) further comprises a forwardly inclined light obstructing strip (34) located in a central portion (33) of the upper periphery (31) and bordering a rear surface (22) of the front housing portion (21) of the headlamp housing (28), and wherein the light obstructing strip (34) is projected into a rearwardly inclined rib member (35) disposed parallel to the rear surface (22) of the front housing portion (21).
The motorcycle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light obstructing strip (34) and rib member (35) is arcuate towards the rear direction.
The motorcycle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light obstructing strip (34) is lengthier than the rib member (35) along the vehicle lateral axis.
The motorcycle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light obstructing strip (34) is made of same material as that of reflector housing (30).
The motorcycle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light obstructing strip (34) is formed integrally with the upper periphery (31) of the reflector housing.
The motorcycle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rear surface (22) of the front housing portion (21) further comprises of a plurality of ribs (27) and at least one of the ribs butts against the rearwardly inclined rib member (35).
The motorcycle as claimed in claim 6, wherein the at least one of the ribs from the plurality of ribs (27) is parallel to the vehicle lateral axis.