Lens, lens system, headlight and motor vehicle

Abstract

A lens for a headlamp, the lens being at least partially formed from at least one plastic, having a lens surface and an edge surrounding the lens surface, from which at least one fastening element for fastening to a lens holder of the headlamp extends away from the lens surface, the at least one fastening element being designed as a fastening fork having two spaced-apart elastic fastening prongs. A lens system is also provided having a lens of this type and a lens holder, the lens holder having recesses corresponding to the fastening prongs, and the fastening prongs being elastically positioned by their outsides on outer insides of the recesses, or the fastening prongs being elastically positioned by their insides on inner insides of the recesses, so that the lens is fastened to the lens holder without play.

Claims

1. A lens for a headlamp, the lens being at least partially formed from at least one plastic, the lens comprising: a lens surface; at least one fastening element for fastening to a lens holder of the headlamp; and an edge surrounding the lens surface, from which the at least one fastening element extends away from the lens surface, wherein the at least one fastening element is a fastening fork including two spaced-apart elastic fastening prongs, and wherein at least one spring having an engagement section is fastened to the lens.

2. The lens according to claim 1, wherein the two fastening prongs each have an outside, the outsides facing away from each other, and the outsides adjoining a first circular segment having a first angle in an unloaded state of the two fastening prongs, wherein the unloaded state is a state of the two fastening prongs before the at least one fastening element is fastened to the lens holder.

3. The lens according to claim 1, wherein the two fastening prongs are tapered in the direction of their ends.

4. The lens according to claim 1, wherein the lens includes at least two of the at least one fastening element, which are arranged opposite each other and/or obliquely with respect to each other.

5. The lens according to claim 1, wherein the at least one fastening element is arranged in the middle of a length or a width of the lens.

6. The lens according to claim 1, wherein the at least one spring is fastened to the lens with the aid of a pivot joint.

7. The lens according to claim 1, wherein the at least one spring is arranged between the two fastening prongs.

8. A lens system comprising: the lens according to claim 1; and the lens holder, the lens holder having recesses corresponding to the two fastening prongs, wherein outsides of the two fastening prongs being elastically positioned on outer insides of the recesses or insides of the two fastening prongs being elastically positioned on inner insides of the recesses so that the lens is fastened to the lens holder without play.

9. The lens according to claim 8, wherein the outsides of the two fastening prongs are elastically positioned on the recesses only in a region of an end-side half.

10. The lens according to claim 8, wherein a stabilizing section is formed between the two fastening prongs, and a supporting section is formed between the recesses, the stabilizing section being supported on the supporting section.

11. The lens according to claim 8, wherein a first fastening element of the at least one fastening element fixes the lens on the lens holder in a longitudinal direction along a longitudinal axis of the lens, and a second fastening element of the at least one fastening element fixes the lens on the lens holder in a width direction along a width axis of the lens.

12. The lens according to claim 11, wherein two of the second fastening element are provided, which fix the lens on the lens holder in the width direction of the lens, Drenthe two second fastening elements being arranged opposite each other.

13. A headlamp comprising a lens system according to claim 8, the headlamp further comprising a light unit, which is arranged for shining light through the lens.

14. A motor vehicle comprising at least one headlamp according to claim 13.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus, are not limitive of the present invention, and wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a perspective side view of an exemplary embodiment of a lens system according to the invention;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a view of a fastening fork of a lens of the exemplary embodiment of the lens system from FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a view of recesses in a lens holder of the exemplary embodiment of the lens system from FIG. 1;

(5) FIG. 4 shows a view of the fastening fork from FIG. 2 accommodated in the recesses shown in FIG. 3; and

(6) FIG. 5 shows a front view of an exemplary embodiment of a motor vehicle according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(7) FIG. 1 shows a perspective side view of an exemplary embodiment of a lens system 1 according to the invention. Lens system 1 includes a lens 10 and a lens holder 20, lens 10 being fastened to lens holder 20 with the aid of three fastening elements 11.1, 11.2, 11.3, which are designed as fastening forks 11.1, 11.2, 11.3, and two springs 30.1, 30.2.

(8) Lens 10 has a lens surface 16 and an edge 17, which surrounds lens surface 16 and delimits lens 10. Fastening forks 11.1, 11.2, 11.3 extend from edge 17 perpendicularly or essentially perpendicularly away from lens surface 16. The extension follows along a depth axis T in a depth direction, which follows the thickness of lens 10 and the depth of lens holder 20.

(9) A first fastening fork 11.1 of the three fastening forks 11.1, 11.2, 11.3 is situated on a lower length side 19.1 of lens 10 or of edge 17. First fastening fork 11.1 is arranged in the middle of a length of lens 10. The length is a largest extension of lens 10 in the longitudinal direction along longitudinal axis L, which is perpendicular to depth axis T. Lens 10 of the present exemplary embodiment has four sides 19.1, 19.2, 19.3, 19.4, two of which are opposite each other in each case. In the present case, these are two length sides 19.1, 19.2 and two width sides 19.3, 19.4. Length sides 19.1, 19.2 are longer than width sides 19.3, 19.4. Alternatively. however, length sides 19.1, 19.2 may also be the same length as width sides 19.3, 19.4. Width sides 19.3, 19.4 of lens 10 extend in the width directly along width axis B, which is perpendicular to longitudinal axis L and depth axis T. Length sides 19.1, 19.2 are straight in the present case, while width sides 19.3, 19.4 have a rounded shape.

(10) A second fastening fork 11.2 and a third fastening fork 11.3 of the three fastening forks 11.1, 11.2, 11.3 are situated on width sides 19.3, 19.4 of lens 10 opposite each other. Second fastening fork 11.2 and third fastening fork 11.3 are thus opposite each other. In addition, second fastening fork 11.2 and third fastening fork 11.3 are arranged in the middle of their length along their width sides 19.3, 19.4. First fastening fork 11.1 is arranged obliquely with respect to second fastening fork 11.2 and third fastening fork 11.3.

(11) Each of fastening forks 11.1, 11.2, 11.3 includes two spaced-apart elastic fastening prongs 12.1, 12.2, 12.3, 12.4, 12.5, 12.6. In other words, two of fastening prongs 12.1, 12.2, 12.3, 12.4, 12.5, 12.6 in each case are adjacent to each other and form fastening forks 11.1, 11.2, 11.3. Spaced-apart and adjacent fastening prongs 12.1, 12.2, 12.3, 12.4, 12.5, 12.6 face each other with their insides 15.1, 15.2 (cf. FIG. 2). A distance thus results between spaced-apart fastening prongs 12.1, 12.2, 12.3, 12.4, 12.5, 12.6 in each case (cf. FIG. 2).

(12) First fastening fork 11.1 or its fastening prongs 12.1, 12.2 fix(es) lens 10 on lens holder 20 in the longitudinal direction along longitudinal axis in recesses 22.1, 22.2 of lens holder 20 corresponding to fastening prongs 12.1, 12.2. The operating principle of the elastic fastening without play is described in detail later on with reference to FIGS. 2 through 4.

(13) Second fastening fork 11.2 and third fastening fork 11.3 fix lens 10 on lens holder 20 in the width direction along width axis B. A spring 30.1, 30.2 is arranged in each case between spaced-apart fastening prongs 12.3, 12.4, 12.5, 12.6 of second fastening forks 11.2, 11.3 on lens 10 or edge 17. Springs 30.1, 30.2 are designed as C springs and are fastened to lens 10 or edge 17 with the aid of a pivot joint 31 in each case. For this purpose, lens 10 has rod-shaped sections, which are encompassed by a hinge of springs 30.1, 30.2. Springs 30.1, 30.2 are rotatable with the aid of pivot joints 31. By inserting fastening forks 11.1, 11.2, 11.3 into corresponding recesses 22 in lens holder 20, fastening prongs 12 are elastically positioned on outer insides 23 of recesses 22 (cf. FIG. 4), by means of which lens 10 is fixed on lens holder 20 in the width direction along width axis B and in the longitudinal direction along longitudinal axis L. Afterwards, springs 30.1, 30.2 may be rotated in the direction of lens holder 20 and engage behind a projection 26 on lens holder 20 with the aid of an engagement section 32 for the purpose of also fixing lens 10 on lens holder 20 in the depth direction along depth axis T. Engagement axis 32 is a curved end section of spring 30. In the present case, springs 30.1, 30.2 are provided with a metallic design to be particularly elastic.

(14) FIG. 2 shows a view of a fastening fork 11 of a lens 10 of the exemplary embodiment of lens system 1 from FIG. 1. Fastening fork 11, including its two fastening prongs 12.1, 12.2, extends perpendicularly away from edge 17 of lens 10. Fastening prongs 12.1, 12.2 are fastened to edge 17, spaced a distance apart. They have the same length. Fastening prongs 12.1, 12.2 taper toward their ends 14.1, 14.2, by means of which they are designed to be particularly elastic in an end region, in particular in the region of their end-side half.

(15) Insides 15.1, 15.2 of fastening prongs 12.1, 12.2 face each other. Fastening prongs 12.1, 12.2 are situated at a distance from each other. Outsides 13.1, 13.2 of fastening prongs 12.1, 12.2, which face away from each other, limit a first circular segment having a first angle α. An unloaded state of fastening prongs 12.1, 12.2 is shown, in which first angle α is pronounced. Fastening prongs 12.1, 12.2 have a trapezoidal cross-section. Fastening prongs 12.1, 12.2 also have four sides. Alternatively, fastening prongs 12.1, 12.2 may have a triangular cross-section. Outsides 13.1, 13.2 and/or insides 15.1, 15.2 are furthermore straight or flat, so that they rest in the recesses over a wide area. Lens 10 also has a stabilizing section 18, which is designed as an elevation with respect to lens 10 or edge 17.

(16) FIG. 3 shows a view of recesses 22.1, 22.2 in a lens holder 20 of the exemplary embodiment of lens system 1 from FIG. 1. Recesses 22.1, 22.2 belong to a receptacle 21 for fastening fork 11. Recesses 22.1, 22.2 have end sides 24.1, 24.2 and inner insides 25.1, 25.2. Recess 21 or lens holder 20 also has a supporting system 28, which designed in a corresponding manner for the purpose of supporting stabilizing section 18. Recesses 22.1, 22.2 furthermore have insides 23.1, 23.2, which limit a second circular segment having a second angle ß. Second angle ß is larger than first angle α of the first circular segment for the purpose of facilitating an insertion of fastening prongs 12.1, 12.2.

(17) FIG. 4 shows a view of fastening fork 11 from FIG. 2 accommodated in recesses 22.1, 22.2 shown in FIG. 3. When fastening prongs 12.1, 12.2 are inserted into recesses 22.1, 22.2, fastening prongs 12.1, 12.2 are elastically deformed in the direction toward each other, thus pressing against outer insides 23.1, 23.2 and being elastically positioned thereon. For this purpose, fastening prongs 12.1, 12.2 are designed to be oversized in a region of an end-side half thereof, compared to outer insides 23.1, 23.2 of recesses 22.1, 22.2. To be precise, the distance between outsides 13.1, 13.2 of fastening prongs 12.1, 12.2 in this region is greater than the distance between outer insides 23.1, 23.2 of recesses 22.1, 22.2. This facilitates a very secure, easy, detachable and stable fastening of lens 10 on lens holder 20.

(18) In an alternative specific embodiment, it is possible to design fastening prongs 12.1, 12.2 to be undersized with respect to inner insides 25.1, 25.2 in the region of the end-side half thereof. To be precise, the distance between insides 15.1, 15.2 would be less than the distance between inner insides 25.1, 25.2 of recesses 22.1, 22.2. When fastening prongs 12.1, 12.2 are inserted into recesses 22.1, 22.2, fastening prongs 12.1, 12.2 would be elastically deformed in the direction away from each other, thus pressing against inner insides 25.1, 25.2 and being elastically positioned thereon.

(19) FIG. 5 shows a front view of an exemplary embodiment of a motor vehicle 50 according to the invention. Motor vehicle 50 comprises two headlamps 40.1, 40.2 according to the invention, including light units 41.1, 41.2 as front headlamps, which have lens system 1 according to FIG. 1.

(20) The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are to be included within the scope of the following claims.