TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present subject matter relates to a vehicle. More particularly, the
present subject matter relates to a vehicle headlamp assembly.
BACKGROUND
[0002] In many of the developing and under developed countries, a motor
vehicle particularly a three-wheeled automotive vehicle is a significant mode of public transportation. It is vastly used as a point to point mode of transport of both goods and persons from one place to other in rural as well as in urban areas. Conventionally, three-wheeled vehicles are often provided with a one or more headlamp assemblies to provide illumination of the road area ahead of the vehicle. Generally, a front cowl structure disposed in a front portion of the vehicle is designed to include one or more apertures and other features to accommodate the one or more headlamp assemblies.
[0003] Typically, in order to enhance aesthetic appearance of said one or
more headlamp assemblies as well as its positioning on the vehicle, a bezel structure is provided in at least a portion surrounding said one or more apertures formed in said front cowl. However, during events like raining conditions, water splash from road surfaces, moisture precipitation, water wash during vehicle service, water tends to enter into a vehicle drive compartment through at least a .gap portion existing between said bezel structure and at least a portion of the front cowl surrounding said one or more apertures. Since, a driver compartment and a passenger compartment are supported on a vehicle chassis frame structure being formed of a sheet metal part, the water entry through said at least a gap portion reaches to at least a portion of the chassis frame structure. This often leads to rusting of at least a portion of the vehicle chassis which results in a frequent repair and under extreme corrosion leads to high cost of replacement of entire chassis frame structure for the vehicle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0004] The detailed description is described with reference to the
accompanying figures. The same numbers are used throughout the drawings to reference like features and components.
[0005] Fig. 1 is a left side view of an exemplary three-wheeled vehicle, as
per one embodiment of the present invention.
[0006] Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a front cowl of the three-wheeled
vehicle of Fig. 1, as per one embodiment of the present invention.
[0007] Fig. 3 is a front view of the front cowl of the three:wheeled vehicle of
Fig.l illustrating one or more headlamp assemblies being mounted in at least a portion therein, as per one embodiment of the present invention.
[0008] Fig. 4 is an exploded view of at least one headlamp assembly of one
or more headlamp assemblies of Fig. 3, and at least cover member of the three-wheeled vehicle of Fig. 1, as per one embodiment of the present invention.
[0009] Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of at least a portion of said at least one
headlamp assembly being detachabty secured on said at least a portion of the front cowl of the three-wheeled vehicle, when taken along a line AA of Fig. 3, as per one embodiment of the present invention
[00010] Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of at least a portion of said at least one headlamp assembly being detachably secured on said at least a portion of the front cowl of the three-wheeled vehicle, when taken along a line BB of Fig. 3, as per one embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[00011] A known three-wheeled vehicle comprises a chassis frame structure extending from a front portion to a rear portion along a vehicle longitudinal direction. Typically, the vehicle is used for commercial transportation and is divided into two compartments: a driver compartment having a driver's seat

assembly and a passenger compartment having at least one passenger seat assembly. A rear cabin along with the passenger compartment of the vehicle is supported on a pair of rear wheels located on either side of the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. Further, the vehicle includes a front cowl supporting a windscreen. The lower portion of the front cowl is connected to a front wheel with a wheel cover disposed in between. A handle bar. assembly is present behind the front cowl which is used to operate the three-wheeled vehicle. Typically, at least a portion of the front cowl of the vehicle is provided with one or more predetermined cut-out profiles adapted for disposing said one or more headlamp assemblies therein. In order to enhance the aesthetic value of the vehicle, a bezel structure is provided to the periphery along a contour of each of said one or more headlamp assemblies. The bezel structure is removably mounted to the peripheral portion of said at least one headlamp of the one or more headlamp assemblies through one or more fasteners. Thus, the bezel covered edge of said one or more headlamps mounting on the vehicle facilitates the front cowl to be aesthetically appealing after positioning of said one or more headlamps in said cut-out having predetermined profiles. However, in such conventional mounting of the headlamp on the three-wheeled vehicle, at least a gap portion exists between said bezel structure and at least a portion of the front cowl surrounding each of said one or more predetermined cut-out profiles, thus, when it rains or during vehicle washing or splashes from the road, waters tends to enter from said gap through said each headlamp to the vehicle driver compartment, thereby damaging the headlamp and its electrical circuitry and causing consequent corrosion of at least a portion of the vehicle chassis structure. Thus, resulting the entire chassis to be damaged, thereby involving high cost of replacement of the entire chassis for the vehicle.
[00012] In another known mounting of the headlamp assembly on the vehicle, a sheet metal cover structure is removably attached to said one or more headlamps at a rear side thereof. However, for the the mounting of the headlamps with one or more predetermined profiles including a predetermined shape with at least two edges, the use of sheet metal for forming the cover structure to conform to said one or more predetermined profiles of the headlamp is difficult and hence

involves complex tooling and increased assembling time for disposing it on the vehicle along with the headlamp assembly. Therefore, there is a need for an improved headlamp assembly with a robust mounting overcoming above stated problems.
[00013] With the above objectives in view, the present invention provides an improved mounting mechanism for said one or more headlamp assemblies on said at least a portion of the front cowl, which is simple and does not involve any substantial modification in the front cowl of the vehicle and additionally prevents the damage caused to the vehicle headlamp and the chassis frame structure from intrusion of rain and water, thereby preventing frequent and high replacement cost for the entire chassis frame structure for the vehicle.
[00014] The present invention provides an improved mounting mechanism for the one or more headlamp assemblies on the vehicle. As per one embodiment, said one or more predetermined cut-out profiles are formed in at least a portion of said front portion of the vehicle. The one or more headlamp assemblies are configured to selectively provide illumination ahead of the vehicle. In one embodiment, at least one headlamp assembly of said one or more headlamp assemblies is configured to be detachably secured to said one or more predetermined cut-out profiles. Referring to one embodiment of the present invention, at least one cover member is detachably secured to at least a portion of said at least one headlamp assembly of said one or more headlamp assemblies at a rear side thereof. As per one embodiment, at least one interface structure is integrally attached to said at least one cover member through one or more mounting mechanism to form a sealing structure for said at least one headlamp assembly on the vehicle. As per one embodiment, the sealing structure formed facilitates in preventing the intrusion of the rain and water into the headlamp and more particularly, to the driver compartment. In one embodiment, said sealing . structure is adapted to divert a direction of the water from entering said headlamp and further to the driver compartment by providing a guideway along an outer portion of said one or more headlamp assembly to the outside, thereby protecting

the headlamp from damage and further corrosion of said vehicle chassis frame structure. Further, said at least one cover member is dimensioned to conform to a predetermined contour of said least a portion of each of said one or more headlamp assemblies for detachably securing thereof to said one or more predetermined cut-out profiles. The one or more predetermined cut-out profiles are formed in at least a portion of a front cowl structure of said front portion of the vehicle. In one embodiment, said at least one headlamp assembly of the one or more headlamp assemblies are disposed in said one or more predetermined cut-out profiles on said at least a portion of the front cowl structure in the vehicle-width direction. Further, as per one embodiment, the one or more predetermined cut-out profile includes a pair of left and right predetermined cut-out profiles configured to receive said at least one of said one or more headlamp assemblies for detachably securing thereof to the vehicle. In one embodiment, said at least one interface structure is a foam member configured to be'attached to said at least one cover member. Further, said at least one cover member is made up of a flexible resin material including a plastic. In one embodiment, wherein said at least one interface structure is attached to said at least one cover member through one or more mounting mechanism including a sealing member in the form of adhesive sealing member. As per one embodiment, said at least one cover member includes at least one securing structure being integrally formed with at least a portion thereof. Further, said at least one securing structure forms at least one interference fitting for detachably securing said at least one cover member to at least one of said one or more predetermined cut-out profiles due to a compression force exerted by said at least one interface structure on said at least one cover member. As per one embodiment, during assembling of said one or more headlamp assemblies to said one or more cut-out predetermined profiles formed in. said at least a portion of the front cowl, said at least one interference fitting integrally formed in said at least one cover member is adapted to securely position said at least one cover member to said one or more cut-out predetermined profile due to a snap-fit mechanism formed by a compression formed caused by said at least one interface structure including the foam member on said at least one cover

member. Thus, said at least one cover member is positioned securely in said one or more predetermined cut-out profile before detachably securing said one or more headlamps thereto. Additionally, as per one embodiment, said at least one supporting structure in the form of said at least one interference fitting facilitates an adjustable type of mounting for said one or more headlamps on the vehicle for permitting a predetermined amount of angular adjustment of the one or more headlamp assemblies both vertically and horizontally.
[00015] It is an additional object of the present invention to provide an improved sealing structure including said at least one interface structure integrally attached to said at least one cover, specifically for prevention of intrusion of such water or other undesirable extraneous material to said vehicle driver compartment, thereby protecting the chassis frame structure from corrosion and damage. Furthermore, said improved mounting mechanism for said one or more headlamp assembly can be achieved without bringing any modification in the existing front cowl structure, more particularly, in said one or more predetermined cut-out profiles formed in said at least a portion of the front cowl structure of the vehicle. Furthermore, as per one embodiment, each of said one or more headlamp assemblies includes a predetermined profile defined by the predetermined shape with at least four edges. Thus, said at least one cover member is dimensioned to conform to the predetermined contour of said least a portion of each of said one or more headlamp assemblies for detachably securing thereof to said one or more predetermined cut-out profiles. As per one embodiment, said at least one cover member is configured to conform to said predetermined contour of said one or more headlights in order to effectively divert the remaining water over at least a portion of the surrounding surface thereof by forming the guideway to outside. Thus, said improved mounting mechanism for said one or more headlamp assemblies on the vehicles is a simple and less time consuming process for detachably securing said headlamps of said one or more predetermined profiles on said vehicle and in addition prevents degradation of said headlamps and further damage to chassis frame structure from water entry.

[00016] Advantageously, said one embodiment of the present invention provides an improved mounting mechanism for the vehicle, which adequately prevents the entry of water in the driver compartment, by a simple, yet cost effective said sealing structure, which is easy to detachably position on the existing front cowl structure.
[00017] Although the present invention has been exemplified for the three-wheeled vehicle, it is not restricted only for the three-wheeled vehicle. Application of the present invention may be extended to other vehicles, including two-wheeled vehicle, four -wheeled vehicles.
[00018] The three wheeled automotive vehicle is mainly, but not solely, used as a passenger carrier. It is to be noted that "front" and "rear", "left" and "right" wherever referred to in the ensuing description, refer to front and rear, and left and right directions as seen in a state of being seated on a seat of the vehicle and looking forward. Furthermore, a longitudinal axis refers to a front to rear axis relative to the vehicle, while a lateral axis refers generally to a side to side, or left to right axis relative to the vehicle. Various other features of the three-wheeled vehicle according to the present subject matter here will be discernible from the following further description thereof, set out hereunder.
[00019] Further features and advantages of the invention, are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like reference numbers generally indicate identical, functionally similar, and/or structurally similar elements. The drawing in which an element first appears is indicated by the leftmost digit(s) in the corresponding reference number.
[00020] Fig. 1. illustrates a side perspective view of an exemplary three-wheeled vehicle (1) (hereinafter 'vehicle'), in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The vehicle has a front cowl (6) supporting a windscreen (3). The lower portion of the front cowl (6) is connected to a front wheel (8) with a wheel cover*(7) disposed in between. A handle bar assembly (4) is present behind the front cowl (6) which is used to operate the said vehicle (1). In this view, a steering tube assembly is not visible to an onlooker of the vehicle

(1). Further, as per one embodiment, the vehicle (1) is divided into two compartments along the line X-X'; a driver compartment (D) having a driver's seat assembly (9) and a passenger compartment (P) having at least one passenger seat assembly (11). A rear cabin (10) along with the passenger compartment (P) of the vehicle (1) is supported on a pair of rear wheels (14) located on either side of the longitudinal axis (YY) of the vehicle 10.
[00021] Further in Fig.l, as per one embodiment, the vehicle (1) comprises a chassis frame structure (not shown), extending from a front portion (F) to a rear portion (R) along the vehicle longitudinal axis (YY). The chassis frame structure includes a head tube (not shown) and a main tube assembly (not shown) extending rearward from the head tube. The front cowl (6) is positioned in the anterior portion of the head tube. A floorboard (12) is extending from the bottom portion of the front cowl (6) to the rearward direction of the vehicle (1), supported by the main frame assembly. The rear suspension includes a spring and a shock absorber unit (15) connected to the chassis frame structure. A hydraulic braking system is attached to the front wheel (8) and said pair of rear wheels (14). A hood (2) connects a top portion of the front cowl (6) and a top portion of the body panel (13). Referring to one embodiment of the present invention, a pair of headlamp assemblies (5L), (5R) including a left headlamp assembly (5L) and a right headlamp assembly (5R) (shown in Fig.2) is disposed on at least a portion of the front cowl (6) of the vehicle (1).
[00022] Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the front cowl (6) of the vehicle (1) of Fig.l, as per one embodiment of the present invention. In one embodiment of the present invention, said at least a portion of the front cowl (6) includes said one or more headlamp assemblies (5L), (5R) including the left headlamp assembly (5L) and a right headlamp assembly (5R) disposed therein. A left bezel structure (16L) and a right bezel structure (16R) are disposed on at least a periphery of a left predetermined cut-out profile (200L) (shown in Fig.3) and a right predetermined cut-out profile (200R) (shown in Fig.3), respectively, formed in at least a portion of the front cowl (6). As per one embodiment, said one or more headlamp

assemblies (5L), (5R) includes a pair of left and right headlamp assemblies (5L), (5R) being detachably secured to the pair of left and right predetermined cut-out profiles (200R), (200L) (shown in Fig.3) formed in said at least a portion of the front cowl (6) of the vehicle (1). In one embodiment, said each of said pair of left and right headlamp assemblies (5L), (5R) are adjustable in a predetermined angle along a vertical line (AA) and along a horizontal line (BB) for adjusting a low beam and high beam illumination of said one or more headlights (5a), (5b) (shown in Fig.3) being housed in said one or more headlamp assemblies (5L), (5R).
[00023] Fig. 3 is an exploded view of at least one headlamp assembly including the left headlamp assembly (5L) of said pair of left and right headlamp assembly (5L), (5R) (as shown in Fig.2) and said at least cover member (400b) of the vehicle (1), as per one embodiment of the present invention. As per one embodiment, said one or more predetermined cut-out profiles (200L), (200R) are formed in said at least a portion of said front cowl (6). The one or more headlamp assemblies (5) is configured to selectively provide illumination ahead of the vehicle (1). In one embodiment, said at least one headlamp assembly including the left headlamp assembly (5L) of said one or more headlamp assemblies (5b) is configured to be detachably secured to said one or more predetermined cut-out profiles (200L), (200R). Referring to one embodiment, said at least one cover member (400b) is detachably secured to at least a portion of said at least one headlamp assembly (5L) of said one or more headlamp assemblies (5L), (5R) at the rear side (R1) thereof. In one embodiment, said at least one interface structure (400a) is integrally attached to said at least one cover member (400b) through one or more mounting mechanism to form the sealing structure (400) for said at least one headlamp assembly including the left headlamp assembly (5L) on the vehicle
(1).
[00024] Further in Fig.3, as per one embodiment, each of said one or more headlamp assemblies (5L), (5R) includes a predetermined profile defined by the predetermined shape with at least four edges. Thus, said at least one cover

member (400b) is dimensioned to conform to the predetermined contour of said least a portion of each-of said one or more headlamp assemblies (5L), (5R) for detachably securing thereof to said one or more predetermined cut-out profiles (200L), (200R). As per one embodiment, said at least one cover member (400b) including said at least one interface structure (400a) is detachably secured to said one or more headlamp assemblies (5L), (5R) at a rear side (R') thereof. In one embodiment, the bezel structure (16L) is provided to the periphery along a contour of each of said one or more headlamp assemblies from a front side (F*) thereof. As per an embodiment of the present invention, the bezel structure (16L) is removably mounted to the peripheral portion of said at least one headlamp (5L) of the one or more headlamp assemblies (5L), (5R) through one or more fasteners (not shown). In one embodiment, said one or more predetermined cut-out profiles (200L), (200R) are formed in at least a portion of said front cowl (6) of said front portion (F) of the vehicle (1). As per one embodiment, said at least one headlamp assembly (SL) of the one or more headlamp assemblies (5L), (5R) are arranged in said one or more predetermined cut-out profiles (200L), (200R) on said at least a portion of the front cowl (6) in the vehicle width direction.
[00025] Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of at least a portion of said at least one headlamp assembly (5L) of said one or more headlamp assemblies (5L), (5R) being detachably secured on said at least a portion of the front cowl (6) of the" vehicle (1), when taken along line AA of Fig. 2, as per one embodiment of the present invention. In one embodiment, said at least one interface structure (400a) is integrally attached to said at least one cover member (400b) to form a sealing structure (400). In one embodiment, said at least one headlamp assembly (5L) includes one or more headlights (5a), (5b) electrically connected thereto. As per one embodiment, said at least one cover member (400b) is configured to conform to said predetermined contour of said one or more headlights in order to effectively divert the remaining water over at least a portion of the surrounding surface thereof by forming the guideway (G) to outside, thereby protecting the one or more headlamp assemblies (5L), (5R) and hence the vehicle chassis structure from damage.

[00026] Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional isometric view of at least a portion of said at least one headlamp assembly (5L) being detachably secured on said at least a portion of the front cowl (6) of the vehicle (1), when taken along line BB of Fig. 3, as per one embodiment of the present invention. The vehicle (1) comprises said at least one cover member (400b) including at least one securing structure (401) being integrally formed with at least a portion thereof. In one embodiment, said at least one securing structure (401) forms said at least one interference fit with at least one cover member (400b) for detachably securing said at least one cover member (400b) to at least one of said one or more predetermined cut-out profiles (200L), (200R) due to a compression force exerted by said at least one interface structure (400a) on said at least one cover member (400b).
[00027] Improvements and modifications may be incorporated herein without deviating from the scope of the invention.

We Claim:
1. A vehicle (1) comprising:
a front portion (F) and a rear portion (R);
one or more predetermined cut-out profiles (200L), (200R) formed in said
front portion (F);
one or more headlamp assemblies (5L), (5R) adapted to selectively
provide illumination ahead of the vehicle (1), each of said one or more
headlamp assemblies (5L), (5R) configured to be detachably secured to at
least one of said one or more predetermined cut-out profiles (200L),
(200R);
at least one cover member (400b) detachably secured to at least a portion
of each of said one or more headlamp assemblies (5L), (5R) at a rear side
(R>) thereof; and
at least one interface structure (400a) integrally attached to said at least
one cover member (400b) to form a sealing structure (400) for said one or
more headlamp assemblies (5L)j (5R) on the vehicle (1).
2. The vehicle (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one cover member (400b) is dimensioned to conform to a predetermined contour of said at least a portion of each of said one or more headlamp assemblies (5L), (5R) for detachably securing thereof to said one or more predetermined cut-out profiles (200L), (200R).
3. The vehicle (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said one or more predetermined cut-out profiles (200L), (200R) are formed in at least a portion of a front cowl (6) of said front portion (F) of the vehicle (1).
4. The vehicle (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said each of the one or more headlamp assemblies (5L), (5R) are secured in said one or more predetermined cut-out profiles (200L), (200R) on said at least a portion of the front cowl (6) in a vehicle width direction.
5. The vehicle (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said one or more predetermined cut-out profile (200L), (200R) include a pair of left and

right predetermined cut-out profiles (200L), (200R) configured to receive at least one of said one or more headlamp assemblies (5L), (5R) for detachably securing thereof to the vehicle (1).
6. The vehicle (1) as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said at least one interface structure (400a) is being configured to be attached to at least one cover member (400b).
7. The vehicle'(1) as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said at least one interface structure (400a) is attached to said at least one cover member (400b) through one or more mounting mechanism including at least one sealing member.
8. The vehicle (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one cover member (400b) is made up of a flexible resin material.
9. The vehicle (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one cover member (400b) includes at least one securing structure (401) being integrally formed with at least a portion thereof.
10.The vehicle (1) as claimed in claim 9, wherein said at least one securing structure (401) forms at least one interference fit for detachably securing said at least one cover member (400b) to at least one of said one or more-predetermined cut-out profiles (200L), (200R).