US 12,000,554 B2
Lighting apparatus for a motor vehicle and assembly of the components of the lighting apparatus
Ralf Stopper, Rottenburg Am Neckar (DE); Christian Lange, Pfullingen (DE); Fan Lu, Böblingen (DE); Lothar Pfitzner, Reutlingen (DE); and Daniel Wagner, Reutlingen (DE)
Assigned to Marelli Automotive Lighting Reutlingen (Germany) GmbH, Reutlingen (DE)
Filed by Marelli Automotive Lighting Reutlingen (Germany) GmbH, Reutlingen (DE)
Filed on Dec. 19, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/068,178.
Claims priority of application No. 102021134391.7 (DE), filed on Dec. 22, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0194062 A1, Jun. 22, 2023
Int. Cl. F21S 41/19 (2018.01); F21S 41/29 (2018.01); F21V 17/00 (2006.01); F21V 17/10 (2006.01); F21V 17/12 (2006.01); F21V 17/14 (2006.01); F21V 17/16 (2006.01); F21V 17/18 (2006.01)
CPC F21S 41/198 (2018.01) [F21S 41/29 (2018.01); F21S 41/295 (2018.01); F21V 17/005 (2013.01); F21V 17/10 (2013.01); F21V 17/104 (2013.01); F21V 17/107 (2013.01); F21V 17/12 (2013.01); F21V 17/14 (2013.01); F21V 17/16 (2013.01); F21V 17/164 (2013.01); F21V 17/166 (2013.01); F21V 17/168 (2013.01); F21V 17/18 (2013.01)] 8 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A lighting apparatus for a motor vehicle comprising a first structural component of the lighting apparatus that is connected to a second structural component of the lighting apparatus, wherein the connection between the first and second structural components is formed by a twist-on connection, wherein the second structural component comprises at least two coupling elements that are deflectable along a z-axis and that fit along the z-axis at least partly over the perimeter of the first structural component in the fully assembled state, and the first structural component is deployable in an engaged position at the perimeter thereof, through a rotation in an x-y plane in relation to the second structural component, and wherein the second structural component comprises an edge surface extending in an x-y plane and at least one recess that is lower than the edge surface along the z-axis, and the first structural component includes a surface portion facing towards the edge surface of the second component and extending in the x-y plane, wherein the edge surface of the second structural component comes in to contact with the surface portion of the first structural component through a translatory movement, wherein the first structural component extends beyond the surface portion along the z-axis on the side facing the second structural component when it is oriented in the assembly position, and wherein the second structural component comprises at least one positioning element protruding toward the surface portion of the first structural component, the at least one positioning element on the second structural component being a snap-fit hook and being deflectable outward in the x-y plane, and wherein the first structural component comprises at least one positioning ridge protruding from the surface portion towards the second structural component, wherein the positioning ridge interacts with the positioning element of the second structural component in a fully assembled state, and the positioning element defines the position of the second structural component in relation to the first structural component in the fully assembled state, thereby securing the first structural component in place.