FR2738922A1 - CONNECTION ASSEMBLY FOR INTERCONNECTING A LIGHT SOURCE AND OPTICAL FIBER CABLES - Google Patents

Abstract

A connector assembly for interconnecting a light bulb and optical fibers is disclosed. It has a bulb assembly (4), a holder (14) and a cover (16). Fiber optic cables (30) are positioned in grooves in the support (14) and are fixedly held there by lugs in the cover (16). The latter is mounted on the support by means of elastic locks. The bulb assembly can then be snapped onto the hood. Area of application: mounting lighting elements in dashboards, etc.

Description

The invention relates to a connector for inter-

  connect a light source such as a light bulb

  multi-fiber cable, in particular

  fiber optic cables used for lighting purposes.

  It is becoming more common to use fiber optic cables to illuminate various devices far from the light source. An example of this can be found in some automotive applications, such as lighting elements on the dashboard. The automotive industry is particularly competitive and there is a strong demand to produce lighting devices at very low prices. The devices must nevertheless be very reliable and must allow a quick and easy replacement

  defective parts. A very expensive job in the industry

  sorting is the assembly of parts and, consequently, the manufacture of lighting parts and their mounting on

  both cars must be particularly profitable

  ble. In addition, the replacement of limited-life parts such as light bulbs, during the life of the vehicle, must be simple and fast to restore the

maintenance costs.

  An object of the invention is therefore to provide a fiber optic connector of a particularly fast and inexpensive assembly, intended to interconnect cables

  fiber optic lighting and a light source.

  Another object of the invention is to provide a reliable and inexpensive fiber optic connector, which allows quick, easy and tool-less replacement of the

light source.

  The objects of the invention are made by a fiber optic connection assembly and a light bulb comprising a support, a cover and a light bulb assembly, the support having a plurality of radially arranged grooves for receiving stripped ends of cables. fiber optic, the cover having a corresponding number of tenons can be received in the grooves when the cover is mounted on the support to block and position the ends of the optical fiber cables in the grooves. The support is advantageously formed of a single molded piece of plastic material, and the cover is also formed of a single molded piece of plastic material which can be fixed to the support by means of elastic locks. The bonnet may comprise another group of resilient posts which are inclined relative to the first tenons and have a certain elasticity, the resilient posts being received in the grooves to hold the ends of the optical fiber cables and to absorb tolerances on the position of the ends of the cables, thanks to

the elasticity of these tenons.

  The bulb assembly advantageously comprises an insulative housing and two contacts for connection to terminals of the bulb, the assembly being detachably mountable to a hood mounting portion. Quick connection and disconnection of the bulb assembly from

  hood are permitted by an elastic locking link

  only between them. The contacts may comprise pin portions intended to come into contact with a complementary connector, and slots which can be pushed onto terminals of the light bulb, in close fit with them, during mounting of the contacts in the housing of the light. 'bulb. This ensures a quick and inexpensive mounting of the bulb in its housing, thereby allowing the bulb assembly to be connected to a complementary connector and quickly locked to the housing or removed therefrom for

  replacing the bulb assembly.

  The positioning of the ends of the optical fiber cables in the grooves of the support so that a restraint is achieved by pins located on the cover provides a particularly inexpensive design, but

nevertheless reliable.

  The invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings by way of non-limiting example and in which: FIG. 1 is an exploded isometric view of the connection assembly according to the invention; FIG. 2 is another exploded isometric view of the connection assembly according to the invention, but with the assembled bulb assembly; Fig. 3 is a plan view of a support member; Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 3; Figure 5 is a sectional view along the line -5 of Figure 3; Figure 6 is an isometric view of the support; Figure 7 is a bottom view of a hood portion; Figure 8 is a sectional view taken along the line 8-8 of Figure 7; Figure 9 is a view in the direction of the arrow 9 of Figure 7; Figure 10 is a view in the direction of the arrow 10 of Figure 7; Fig. 11 is an isometric view of the hood member; Fig. 12 is a side view of a housing of a bulb assembly; Figure 13 is a view in the direction of the arrow 13 of Figure 12; Figure 14 is a sectional view along the line 14-14 of Figure 12, comprising a contact mounted in the housing; and FIG. 15 is a sectional view along the

line 15-15 of Figure 13.

  Referring to Figures 1 and 2, an assembly 2 of fiber optic connection and bulb comprises a set of 4 bulb connection and an assembly 6 of fiber optic connection. The bulb connection assembly comprises a bulb 8, an insulating housing 10 and contacts 12. The fiber optic connection assembly 6 has a

  support 14 and a portion 16 of the hood.

  With reference to FIGS. 3 to 6, the support 14, which is molded in one piece of plastics material, comprises a base 18 and a fiber-receiving portion 19 having a number of radially arranged fiber-receiving grooves 20. and formed by walls 22 projecting from the base 18. The grooves 20 are directed radially towards a central zone 24 in which the bulb 8 is received. The grooves 20 extend from a hood receiving surface 26 to a groove bottom 28 against which optical fibers 30 (see FIG. 1) are received. The bottom 28 is inclined at an angle α relative to a horizontal plane defined by the base 18. The angle a and such that ends 32 of the optical fibers 30 are directed towards the center of the bulb 8 received in the central zone 24, in order to receive a maximum light intensity. The fiber receiving grooves have an abutment flange 34 near a light receiving face 36 of the fiber receiving portion 19 against which the outer circumference of the fiber optic cables abuts. This therefore serves to position the end 32 of the optical fiber in axial abutment against the flange 34. The support 14 further comprises resilient locking elements 38 projecting from the base 18 to engage with complementary elements 40 of FIG. locking (see FIG. 10) of the cover 16. With reference to FIGS. 7 to 11, the cover 16 comprises a base portion 44 and a fiber retaining portion 45 having a number of first pins 46 arranged radially and protruding of the basic part 44

  up to free ends 51. Second tenons elastic

  48 extend obliquely and radially towards the

  with respect to the first pins 46 to the ends

  free ends 50 offset by an angle α which is equal to the angle α of the bottom 28 of the support 14. Two pins 46 and 48 are received in each groove 20 in the mounted state on the support 14 so that they compress the 32 end of the fiber against the bottom 28 to maintain and firmly position the end of the fiber. Due to tolerances for optical fiber cable diameters and media dimensions

  and the bonnet, the elastic tenons 48 flex elastically

  to absorb some differences in tolerances between the various fibers. This ensures that the end 32 of the fiber is properly positioned against the bottom 28 of the fiber receiving groove 20. The free ends 51, tenons 46, 48 bite into the outer sheath of the fibers 30 to ensure retention. The cover 16 further comprises positioning elements 54 which are housed in complementary positioning elements 56 (see FIG. 3) of the support 14. The cover 16 also comprises a part 58 for mounting the bulb assembly comprising walls of guide 60 for positioning and holding

  the 4 bulb set on the hood.

  With reference to FIGS. 12 to 15 and to FIG. 1, the housing 10 of the bulb assembly 4 has a bulb receiving cavity 60 and, perpendicularly to

  it, a complementary cavity 62 for receiving connectors

  tor. The contacts 12, which are cut edges in metal, include pin portions 64 and bulb connection portions 66. The bulb connecting portions 66 have slots 68. The bulb assembly 4 is mounted by inserting the bulb 8 into the bulb receiving cavity 60 so that pin terminals 70 of the bulb are introduced. in corresponding cavities

  72 extending through an end wall 74 of the cavity 60.

  The contacts 12 are mounted in cavities 76 extending through an end wall 78 of the connector receiving cavity 62. The pin portions 64 are held in the cavities 76 by snug fit with them. When the bulb is mounted in the housing, the contacts 12 are pushed completely inside the housing so that the slots 68 of the connecting portions 66 are plugged onto the terminals 70 of the bulb in close fit with them. This provides inexpensive mounting and a reliable connection between the bulb and a complementary connector. The housing 10 includes a locking member 80 and an outer guide wall 82 that can be received in the hood mounting portion 58 for positioning and coupling.

fast and safe with her.

  Advantageously, therefore, a very inexpensive connection assembly is obtained between a bulb and optical fiber cables, the connection assembly having few parts.

  inexpensive to manufacture and assemble.

  It goes without saying that many modifications can be made to the connection set described and

  shown without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (8)

REVENICATIONS   Connecting assembly for interconnecting a light source (8) and a plurality of optical fiber cables (30), characterized in that it comprises a support (14), a cover (16) and a bulb assembly (4). having a light source (8), the support having a base (18) and a fiber receiving portion (19) having grooves (20) radially disposed about a central zone (24) where the source of light of the bulb assembly, the grooves being adapted to receive stripped ends (32) of optical fiber cables, the cover having a fiber retaining portion (45) having first pins (46) receivable therein; grooves (20) for abutment with the cable ends when the hood is mounted on the structure to retain the cables and   position the cables against a bottom (28) of the grooves.   2. Connection assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the bottom (28) of each groove (20) is inclined to form an acute angle with the base (18) of the support (14).   3. Connection assembly according to one of the claims   1 and 2, characterized in that the cover (16) comprises means (58) for mounting the bulb assembly to guide   and securely connecting the bulb assembly (4) to the hood.   4. Connection assembly according to any one of   of the preceding claims, characterized in that the   bonnet is molded in one piece of plastic and the support is molded in one piece of plastic material, the support and the cover being assembled to one another by means of elastic elements (38) locking made of a   only one part with the cover or the support.   5. Connection assembly according to any one   of the preceding claims, characterized in that the   bonnet (16) has second resilient lugs (48) inclined relative to the first lugs (46) and receivable in the grooves (20) of the carrier (14) for compressing the ends of the optical fiber cables against the bottom (28). ) grooves in an elastic manner to absorb tolerances. 6. Connection assembly according to any one   of the preceding claims, characterized in that the   groove (20) has flanges (34) against which the ends (32) of the optical fiber cables are intended to abut, so that the ends of the cables are positioned with respect to the light source, and that the distance between the ends of the cables and the source of light is thus determined.   7. Connection assembly according to any one of   of the preceding claims, characterized in that   the bulb assembly (4) has an insulative housing (10), cut-edge contacts (12) having a pin portion (64) and a connecting portion (66), and a bulb (8) having terminals with pin (70), the bulb being mounted in a cavity (60) of the housing (10), transversely to the contacts (12), so that slots (68) of the parts   (66) contact connections are inserted transversally   on the bulb pin terminals and that the pin portions (64) enter another housing cavity (62).   to receive a complementary connector.   Connection assembly according to Claim 7, characterized in that the recesses (60, 62) extend orthogonally between them.