Flexible lamp mounting

Abstract

A body subassembly for a vehicle that is designed to be mounted substantially flush with the surrounding vehicle body panels and an impact-absorbing bumper, and that is capable of deflecting with the stroke of the impact-absorbing bumper during impact. The body subassembly is preferably formed with at least one deformable resilient deflection member selectively located between an exterior member and a housing, between an inner lens and an outer lens in a dual lens system, or between the housing and the body of the vehicle or a member attached or molded thereto. Further, the resilient deflection member may be the exterior member itself or the housing itself. The resilient deflection member permits the exterior member or other components of the body subassembly to move upon impact without damage to itself or any other surrounding assembly components, and may be used as a styling element to enhance the aesthetic effect of the vehicle.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An elastically deformable automobile lamp assembly for an automotive vehicle having at least one panel member and an impact-absorbing bumper assembly spaced from said at least one panel member, said lamp assembly comprising: 
 a housing member mounted to said at least one panel member, said housing member further being located relative to said impacting-absorbing bumper assembly;    a lens member mounted to said housing member; and    at least one resilient deflection member interposed said lens member and said housing member, said at least one resilient deflection member having a predetermined yield strength so as to enable a predetermined elastic deformation of said lamp assembly whereby upon impact said at least one resilient deflection member does not exceed said predetermined yield strength of said at least one resilient deflection member so as to return said lamp assembly substantially to its pre-impact position without damage thereto upon removal of said impact force.    
     
     
         2 . An elastically deformable automotive lamp assembly according to    claim 1    further comprising means for sealing said housing member.  
     
     
         3 . An elastically deformable automotive lamp assembly according to    claim 1    wherein said at least one resilient deflection member borders at least a portion of the periphery of said lens member.  
     
     
         4 . An elastically deformable automotive lamp assembly according to    claim 1    wherein a portion of said at least one resilient deflection member is molded to said lens member.  
     
     
         5 . An elastically deformable automotive lamp assembly according to    claim 3    wherein said at least one resilient deflection member is bonded to said lens member.  
     
     
         6 . An elastically deformable automotive lamp assembly according to    claim 2    wherein said means for sealing is located between said at least one resilient deflection member and said lens member.  
     
     
         7 . An elastically deformable automotive lamp assembly according to    claim 2    wherein said means for sealing further comprises a gimp.  
     
     
         8 . An elastically deformable automotive lamp assembly according to    claim 1    further comprising a reflector member mounted to said housing member and a second resilient deflection member attached to said reflector member whereby said second resilient deflection member resiliently deforms under a force of an impact.  
     
     
         9 . An elastically deformable automotive lamp assembly according to    claim 1    further comprising means for removably attaching said lens member to at least one of said housing member and said at least one resilient deflection member whereby said lens member may be detached from said at least one of said housing member and said resilient deflection member for replacement purposes.  
     
     
         10 . An elastically deformable automotive lamp assembly according to    claim 9    wherein said means for removably attaching further comprises at least one track member.  
     
     
         11 . An elastically deformable automotive lamp assembly according to    claim 9    wherein said means for removably attaching further comprises at least one tab member.  
     
     
         12 . An elastically deformable automotive lamp assembly according to    claim 1    wherein said at least one resilient deflection member further comprises: 
 means for guiding the direction of the deformation of said at least one resilient deflection member, said means for guiding attached to said resilient deflection member, whereby said means for guiding causes said at least one resilient deflection member to fold in a predetermined direction when said at least one resilient deflection member comes under a force of an impact.  
 
     
     
         13 . An elastically deformable automotive lamp assembly according to    claim 12    wherein said means for guiding further comprises an indentation in said at least one resilient deflection member.  
     
     
         14 . An elastically deformable automotive lamp assembly according to    claim 12    wherein said means for guiding further comprises at least one gusset.  
     
     
         15 . An elastically deformable automotive lamp assembly according to    claim 12    wherein said means for guiding further comprises a layer member laminated to said at least one resilient deflection member.  
     
     
         16 . An elastically deformable lamp assembly, said lamp assembly comprising: 
 a housing member having one end and an other end extending in a direction away from said one end;    a lens member mounted adjacent said housing member; and    at least one resilient deflection member interposed said lens member and said other end of said housing member, said at least one resilient deflection member having a predetermined yield strength so as to enable a predetermined elastic deformation of said lamp assembly whereby upon impact said at least one resilient deflection member does not exceed said predetermined yield strength of said at least one resilient deflection member so as to return said lamp assembly substantially to its pre-impact position without damage thereto upon removal of said impact force.    
     
     
         17 . An elastically deformable automobile lamp assembly for an automotive vehicle having at least one panel member and a movable bumper member spaced a predetermined distance from said at least one panel member, said lamp assembly comprising: 
 at least one resilient deflection member attached to said at least one panel member, said at least one resilient deflection member having a predetermined yield strength so as to enable a predetermined elastic deformation of said lamp assembly, whereby upon impact said at least one resilient deflection member provides a degree of resiliency to said lamp assembly such that said lamp assembly may sustain a predetermined elastic deformation upon said lamp assembly member being impacted without said at least one resilient deflection member exceeding said predetermined yield strength and return said lamp assembly substantially to its pre-impact position without damage thereto upon removal of said impact force;    a housing member having one end fixed to said resilient deflection member and an opposite end; and    a lens member attached to said opposite end of said housing member.    
     
     
         18 . An elastically deformable automotive lamp assembly according to    claim 17    further comprising an inner lens member attached to at least one of said housing member, said at least one resilient deflection member, and said lens member.  
     
     
         19 . In combination with an automotive lamp assembly of the type having a light-permeable lens member, said lens member having a first predetermined form; a housing attached to said lens member, said housing having a second predetermined form; a lamp mounted in said housing; and means for mounting said housing to an automotive vehicle, said means for mounting having a third predetermined form, the improvement which comprises: 
 at least a portion of at least one of said lens member, said housing, and said means for mounting said housing to said vehicle being resiliently deformable whereby any one of said lens member, said housing, and said means for mounting said housing may sustain a yieldable predetermined deformation upon impact and return said respective one of said lens member, said housing, and said means for mounting to said first, second, and third predetermined form, respectively, after impact without impairing said light-permeable characteristics of said lens member of said lamp assembly    
     
     
         20 . In combination with a lamp assembly of the type having a light-permeable lens member, said lens member having a first predetermined form; a housing attached to said lens member, said housing having a second predetermined form; a lamp mounted in said housing; and means for mounting said housing to a mounting surface, said means for mounting having a third predetermined form the improvement which comprises: 
 at least a portion of at least one of said lens member, said housing, and said means for mounting said housing to said mounting surface being resiliently deformable whereby any one of said lens member, said housing and said means for mounting said housing may sustain a yieldable predetermined deformation upon impact and return said respective one of said lens member, said housing, and said means for mounting to said first, second, and third predetermined form, respectively, after impact without impairing said light-permeable characteristics of said lens member of said lamp assembly.    
     
     
         21 . A flexible lens member for a lamp assembly, said flexible lens member comprising: 
 a light-permeable member having a predetermined form; and    at least a predetermined portion of said light-permeable member being resiliently deformable whereby said light-permeable member may sustain a yieldable predetermined deformation upon impact and return to said predetermined form after impact without impairing said light-permeable characteristics of said flexible lens member.    
     
     
         22 . The flexible lens member as claimed in    claim 21    further comprising: 
 a housing member having one end attached to said light-permeable member and an opposite end extending in a direction away from said one end; and  
 means for fastening said one end of said housing to said light-permeable member.  
 
     
     
         23 . A vehicle body subassembly for mounting to a vehicle, said vehicle body subassembly having a predetermined form and being adapted to resiliently absorb an impact for enhancing pedestrian safety, said vehicle body subassembly comprising: 
 a housing;    an exterior member; and    means for attaching said exterior member to said housing, wherein at least a portion of at least one of said housing, said exterior member, and said means for attaching is resiliently deformable to enable said vehicle body subassembly to absorb said impact and recover said predetermined form after said impact, whereby risk of injury can be reduced during a vehicle-pedestrian collision.    
     
     
         24 . The vehicle body subassembly as claimed in    claim 23    further comprising means for mounting said housing to said vehicle, wherein at least a portion of said means for mounting is resiliently deformable to enable said vehicle body subassembly to absorb said impact and recover said predetermined form.  
     
     
         25 . The vehicle body subassembly as claimed in    claim 23    further comprising a bezel having a predetermined form and being mounted between said exterior member and said housing, said bezel being at least partially composed of a resiliently deformable material such that under said impact said bezel resiliently deforms to absorb said impact and recovers said predetermined form after said impact.  
     
     
         26 . The vehicle body subassembly as claimed in    claim 23    wherein said vehicle body subassembly is a flexible appliqué and said means for attaching comprises a flexible member connected to at least a portion of said exterior member and connected to at least a portion of said housing, whereby said exterior member is at least partially attached to said housing via said flexible member.  
     
     
         27 . The vehicle body subassembly as claimed in    claim 26    wherein said flexible appliqué attaches to a decklid of said vehicle.  
     
     
         28 . The vehicle body subassembly as claimed in    claim 27    wherein said decklid locates against and seals with another portion of said vehicle when said decklid is closed.  
     
     
         29 . The vehicle body subassembly as claimed in    claim 27    wherein said flexible appliqué attaches to a vertically extending portion of said decklid and said flexible appliqué locates against and seals with another portion of said vehicle when said decklid is closed.  
     
     
         30 . The vehicle body subassembly as claimed in    claim 27    wherein said flexible appliqué attaches to a horizontally extending portion of said decklid and said flexible appliqué locates against and seals with another portion of said vehicle when said decklid is closed.  
     
     
         31 . The vehicle body subassembly as claimed in    claim 27    wherein said flexible appliqué attaches to a body panel.  
     
     
         32 . The vehicle body subassembly as claimed in    claim 31    wherein a decklid locates against and seals with said body panel when said decklid is closed.  
     
     
         33 . The vehicle body subassembly as claimed in    claim 23    wherein said housing comprises a rigid portion and a flexible portion.  
     
     
         34 . The vehicle body subassembly as claimed in    claim 33    wherein said flexible portion is overmolded to said rigid portion.