US 12,296,741 B2
Support frame for a vehicle lighting device
Frank Brinkmeier, Lippstadt (DE); Michael Lakenbrink, Oelde (DE); Thomas Thesing, Lippstadt (DE); Thomas Wiese, Lippstadt (DE); Odo Karger, Geseke (DE); Sven Kinkel, Borchen (DE); and Konrad Schuerhoff, Rietberg (DE)
Assigned to Hella GmbH & Co. KGaA, Lippstadt (DE)
Filed by HELLA GmbH & Co. KGaA, Lippstadt (DE)
Filed on Nov. 20, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/514,395.
Application 18/514,395 is a continuation of application No. PCT/EP2021/063270, filed on May 19, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2024/0083340 A1, Mar. 14, 2024
Int. Cl. B60Q 1/04 (2006.01); B29C 45/14 (2006.01)
CPC B60Q 1/0408 (2013.01) [B29C 45/14377 (2013.01)] 9 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A vehicle lighting device comprising:
a least one light module;
a housing that encloses the at least one light module; and
at least one support frame to support the at least one light module and the housing, the at least one support frame comprising a sandwich structure formed of at least two metallic sheet members in parallel arrangement and at least one intermediate plastic joint member that has form-locking joints with the at least two metallic sheet members,
wherein a first support frame of the at least one support frame is a housing support frame, wherein the housing is mounted on the housing support frame, and wherein the housing support frame is dedicated to be mounted on a vehicle, and
wherein a second support frame of the at least one support frame is a module support frame, wherein the light module is mounted on the module support frame, and wherein the housing surrounds and encloses the module support frame.