FIELD OF INVENTION:
[001] The present subject matter described herein, relates to a lamp assembly in vehicle, and in particularly, to a lamp assembly for controlling gap between various parts of the assembly and restricting entry of small particulates and insects in the lamp assembly.
BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART:
[002] The lamp assembly has a plurality of parts, such as lens, housing, and bracket. Due to the gap between lens and housing of the assembly, small particulates and insects enter inside the lens and obstruct the light delivery output of the lamp assembly.
[003] Therefore, there is need in the art to develop a lamp assembly which can control gap between different parts of the assembly to avoid entry of small particulates and insects inside the lamp assembly. Accordingly, the inventors of the present invention provide a technical solution of the technical problem by efficiently handling the gap between the different parts of the lamp assembly.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION:
[004] The principal objective of the present invention is to provide a lamp assembly to control gap between different assembly parts.
[005] Another object of the present subject matter is to provide a lamp assembly in which lens is snap fitted on housing.
[006] Another object of the present subject matter is to provide a lamp assembly in which lamp sub assembly is snap fitted on bracket.
[007] Another object of the present subject matter is to provide a lamp assembly in which rib is provided to seal the gap between lamp and roof lining.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:
[008] The present subject matter relates a lamp assembly with control gap between lens and body to avoid entry of small particulates and dust particles inside the lens to obstruct light. The lamp assembly has three parts, namely lens, housing and bracket. The lens is a transparent part which is mounted over the housing. The assembled view of the lens and the housing is mounted over the bracket. The bracket is mounted inside the vehicle interior. The lens is defined as an elongated tube with inverted U shape cross section. The lens is provided with a plurality of snap fit features and a vertical rib structure on vertical side walls. The housing defines a cuboid structure channel to receive the lens. The housing has a plurality of lighting sources and electrical and electronic components. The housing has a plurality of snap fit receivers which engages with the plurality of snap fit features of the lens and a vertical enclosure which engages the vertical rib structure of the lens to assemble the lens over the housing. A plurality of snap fit features is provided on vertical side plates of the housing. The bracket defining a hollow channel to receive assembly of the lens and the housing. The bracket has a plurality of snap fit receivers that engages with the plurality of snap fit features of the housing to assemble the assembly of the lens and the housing on the bracket. The lens has a flange which extends along circumference of the vertical side portions. The flange extends perpendicularly away from end portions of the vertical side portions of the lens and engages with the housing side walls to maintain gap between the lens and housing.
[009] In order to further understand the characteristics and technical contents of the present subject matter, a description relating thereto will be made with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the drawings are illustrative only but not used to limit scope of the present subject matter.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] 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 invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments. The detailed description is described with reference to the accompanying figures. In the figures, the left-most digit(s) of 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 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:
[0011] Fig. 1 illustrates assembly of lamp with a rib and slot structure, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter;
[0012] Fig. 2 illustrates assembled view of lamp assembly as shown fig. 1, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter;
[0013] Fig. 3 illustrate cross section view AA along length of lamp assembly as shown in fig. 2, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter;
[0014] Fig. 4 illustrates perspective view of Lens of the lamp assembly, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter;
[0015] Fig. 5 illustrates cross section BB along width of the lens and housing assembly, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter; and
[0016] Fig. 6 illustrates rear view of the bracket having ribs to seal the gap between lamp bracket and roof lining of the lamp assembly, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.
[0017] The figures depict embodiments of the present subject matter for the purposes of 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.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS:
[0018] The present subject matter relates a lamp assembly with control gap between lens and body to avoid entry of small particulates and dust particles inside the lens to obstruct light. The lamp assembly has three parts, namely lens, housing and bracket. The lens is a transparent part which is mounted over the housing. The assembled view of the lens and the housing is mounted over the bracket. The bracket is mounted inside the vehicle interior. The lens is defined as an elongated tube with inverted U shape cross section. The lens is provided with a plurality of snap fit features and a vertical rib structure on vertical side walls. The housing defines a cuboid structure channel to receive the lens. The housing has a plurality of lighting sources and electrical components. The housing has a plurality of snap fit receivers which engages with the plurality of snap fit features of the lens and a vertical enclosure which engages the vertical rib structure of the lens to assemble the lens over the housing. A plurality of snap fit features is provided on vertical side plates of the housing. The bracket defining a hollow channel to receive assembly of the lens and the housing. The bracket has a plurality of snap fit receivers that engages with the plurality of snap fit features of the housing to assemble the assembly of the lens and the housing on the bracket. The lens has a flange which extends along circumference of the vertical side portions. The flange extends perpendicularly away from end portions of the vertical side portions of the lens and engages with the housing side walls to maintain gap between the lens and housing. The engagement of the vertical rib with the vertical enclosure avoids rotational motion of the lens with respect to the housing.
[0019] It should be noted that the description and figures merely illustrate the principles of the present subject matter. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that conception and specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present subject matter. It should also be appreciated by those skilled in the art that by devising various arrangements that, although not

explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the present subject matter and are included within its spirit and scope. Furthermore, all examples recited herein are principally intended expressly to be for pedagogical purposes to aid the reader in understanding the principles of the present subject matter and the concepts contributed by the inventor(s) to furthering the art, and are to be construed as being without limitation to such specifically recited examples and conditions. The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the present subject matter, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages will be better understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying figures.
[0020] These and other advantages of the present subject matter would be described in greater detail with reference to the following figures. It should be noted that the description merely illustrates the principles of the present subject matter. It will thus be appreciated that those skilled in the art will be able to devise various arrangements that, although not explicitly described herein, embody the principles of the present subject matter and are included within its scope.
[0021] Fig. 1 illustrates assembly of lamp, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter. The lamp assembly 100 has a lens 101, housing 102, and bracket 103. The lens 101 is an elongated tube defining an inverted U shape cross section. The lens 101 has an arcuate portion 101a at top to define curved profile of the elongated tube. The curved profile of the tube is like elongated dome shaped profile. From the arcuate portion 101a, two vertical side portions 101b, 101c extend downward from end portion of the arcuate portion 101a along direction X. The arcuate portion 101a and the two side portions 101b, 101c define shape of the elongated tube with inverted U shape cross section in X direction. The elongated tube is closed at both ends via plates 101 d and lOle. The plate lOle is provided upto height 'd' from the arcuate portion 101a. The plate lOle has a flange 10If at lower end which extend perpendicularly outward away from the plate lOld to control gap between the lens 101 and the housing 102 (explained in

subsequent paragraphs). The lens 101 has flange 110 (as shown in figure 5) extending along circumference of the elongated tube in particular along lower end of the side portions 101b and 101c a. The flange 110 extends perpendicularly away from the end of the vertical side portions 101b, 101c, and the plate lOld. The flange 110 is provided to control gap between the lens 101 and the housing 102.
[0022] The vertical side portions 101b and 101c of the lens 101 has a plurality of snap fit features 105. Each snap fit feature from the plurality of snap fit features 105 are provided at a distance from each other. The plurality of snap fit features 105 extend along X direction. Further, the vertical side portions 101b and 101c of the lens 101 has a vertical rib structure 106 in between the plurality of snap fit features 105 to control gap and rotational play between the lens 101 and the housing 102. The lens 101 can be made of plastic or glass. The lens 101 is transparent. The lens 101 is a single integrated part manufacture by injection molding process.
[0023] Referring to figure 1, the housing 102 houses a plurality of electrical elements, such as resistors, capacitors, choke coils, diodes, IC chips, switches, LEDs and wires. The housing 102 is a cuboid structure having one side open to receive the lens 101. The cuboid has a base structure from which two vertical side portions 102a, 102b extending upward direction Y along the X direction to define an open ended channel. Further, two vertical side plates 102c, 102d close the open end of the channel. The vertical side plate 102d comprises a switch 109 for ON and OFF of the lamp assembly 100. The vertical side portions 102a, 102b have a plurality of snap fit receivers 105a corresponding to the plurality of snap fit features 105 of the lens 101 to receive the lens 101. Further, the vertical side portion 102b has a vertical enclosure 106a corresponding to the rib structure 106 of the lens. The vertical enclosure 106a of the housing 102 guides the lens 101 on the housing 102 during assembly. Further, the vertical enclosure 106a controls the gap and play between the housing 102 and the lens 101. The vertical enclosure

106a receives the vertical rib structure 106 during assembly of the lens 101 on the housing 102.
[0024] The vertical side portions 102a, 102b have a plurality of snap fit features 107 after the plurality of snap fit receivers 105a. The plurality of snap fit features 107 of the housing 102 engages with a plurality of snap fit receivers 107a of the bracket 103 (explained in next paragraph). Based on the above arrangement, the lens 101 and the housing 102 act as a separate assembly which is assembled over the bracket 103. The plurality of snap fit features 107 on the housing 102 provides easy assembly of the lens and housing assembly over the bracket. Once the lens 101 is assembled with the housing 102, the assembly of the lens and the housing is assembled on the bracket 103 of the Lamp assembly 100. The housing 102 is a single integrated part manufacture by injection molding process.
[0025] Referring to figure 1, the bracket 103 is a hollow cuboid shape structure which is open at one end to receive the assembly of the lens and the housing. The hollow cuboid shape structure has two vertical side portions 103a, 103b extending vertical upward from side end of the base 103e (as shown in figure 6) to define an open-ended channel. Further, a plate 103c is provided at one end to close the open-ended channel at one end. Further, a plate 103d extend in vertically upward from the base 103e (not shown) at other open end upto height't'. The bracket 103 defines a receiving slot at width side to receive the switch 109 of the housing 102.
[0026] The vertical side portions 103a, 103b has a plurality of snap fit receivers 107a corresponding to the plurality of snap fit features 107 of the housing 102. The plurality of snap fit features 107a receives the assembly of the lens 101 and the housing 102. Further, the vertical side portions 103a, 103b have a cutout 106b corresponding to the rib structure 106 of the lens and the vertical enclosure 106a of the housing 102. The cutout 106b of the bracket 103 guides the assembly of the lens 101 and the housing 102 during assembly. Further, the cutout 106b guides correct fitment of the assembly of the lens 101 and the housing 102 on to the bracket 103. Furthermore, the cutout 106b controls the gap and play between the

assembly of the lens 101 and the housing 102. Engaging of vertical enclosure 106a of the housing with the cutout 106b restrict rotational movement of the assembly of lens and housing. Once the assembly of the lens 101 and the housing 102 is assembled with the bracket 103, the assembly of the lamp 100 is ready to fit on the vehicle panel. The bracket 103 is a single integrated part manufacture by injection molding process.
[0027] Referring to figures 2 and 3, the figure 2 illustrates assembled view of the lamp assembly. Figure 3 illustrates cross section view of the assembly along line AA. The lens 101 is snap fitted on to the housing 102 and the housing 102 is snap fitted on to the bracket 103. After assembly, the lamp assembly is mounted on the body panel 201 by different mounting means. The different mounting means can be screw, hook and snap fit.
[0028] Referring to figures 4 and 5, figure 4 illustrate assembly of lens and the housing. Figure 5 illustrates cross section view of the assembly of lens and the housing along line BB. As shown in the figure 5, the lens 101 has the flange 110 across circumference which defines lower edge of the lens 101. The flange 110 maintain uniform gap between the lens 101 and the housing 102 and avoid entry of dust and insects inside the lens 101. Further, the flange 110 reduces the gap between the housing 102 and the lens 101.
[0029] Figure 6 illustrates rear view of the bracket 103 of the light assembly, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter. On the base 103e of the bracket 103, a plurality of ribs 601, 602, 603, 604 are provided to seal gap between the bracket 103 and the roof lining. The plurality of ribs 601, 602, 603, 604 are in variable shape and configurations to control gap between the bracket and the roof lining. The ribs 601, 602 are hollow cylindrical ribs extending from the rear surface of the bracket 103 towards roof lining. The ribs 603 and 604 are of polygon shape to cover more surface area over the roof lining to avoid any gap between the roof lining and the bracket. The plurality of brackets 601, 602, 603,

604 may have provisions for mounting the bracket 103 of the light assembly on the roof lining of the vehicle.
[0030] In the lamp assembly, the lens, the housing, and the bracket are made by injection molding process. The present lamp assembly can be a LED lamp assembly or a bulb based lamp assembly.
[0031] The term "vehicle" or "Automobile" as used throughout this detailed description and in the claims refers to any moving vehicle that is capable of carrying one or more human occupants or Goods and is powered by any form of energy. The term "vehicle" is a motor vehicle which includes, but is not limited to: cars, trucks, vans, minivans, hatchback, sedan, MUVs, and SUVs.
[0032] 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 inventions 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. In addition, 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 a 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 a 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."
[0033] 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 invention 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 invention, and other dimensions or geometries are possible. In addition, while a feature of the present invention 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 invention. The present invention 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.
[0034] Although embodiments for the present subject matter have been described in language specific to structural features, it is to be understood that the present subject matter is not necessarily limited to the specific features described. Rather, the specific features and methods are disclosed as embodiments for the present subject matter. Numerous modifications and adaptations of the system/component of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and thus it is intended by the appended claims to cover all such modifications and adaptations which fall within the scope of the present subject matter.

claim:
1. A lamp assembly (100) comprising:
a lens (101) defining a elongated tube with inverted U shape cross section is provided with a plurality of snap fit features (105) and a vertical rib structure (106);
a housing (102) defining a channel to receive the lens (101), the housing (102) has a plurality of snap fit receivers (105a) engages with the plurality of snap fit features (105) and a vertical enclosure (106a) engages the vertical rib structure (106) of the lens (101) to assemble the lens (101) over the housing (102), wherein a plurality of snap fit features (107) provided on vertical side plates (102a, 102b) of the housing (102);
a bracket (103) defining a hollow channel to receive assembly of the lens (101) and the housing (102), the bracket (103) has a plurality of snap receivers (107a) that engages with the plurality of snap fit features (107) of the housing (102) to assemble the assembly of the lens (101) and the housing (102) on the bracket.
2. The lamp assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a flange (110) extending along circumference of vertical side portions (101b, 101c) of the lens (101).
3. The lamp assembly (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the flange (110) extend perpendicularly away from end portions of the vertical side portions (101b, 101c) of the lens (101).
4. The lamp assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein vertical side plate (102d) of the housing (102) comprises a switch (109).

5. The lamp assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of snap fit receivers (105a) are sandwich between the plurality of snap fit features (107).
6. The lamp assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a vertical cutout (106b) is provided on the vertical side portion (103a) of the bracket (103) which engages with the assembly of the vertical rib structure (106) and the vertical enclosure (106a).
7. The lamp assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a plurality of ribs (601, 602, 603, 604) is provided on base (103e) of the bracket (103).
8. The lamp assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lens (101), the housing (102) and the bracket (103) are made by injection molding process.
9. The lamp assembly (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a plate (lOle) provided at one end of the elongated tube with inverted U shape cross section, wherein a flange (lOlf) extend perpendicularly away from the plate (lOle).