Snap-fit connection structure, lighting device and vehicle

Technical Field

The present invention relates to the technical field of vehicle lamps, in particular to a snap-fit connection structure, a lighting device and a vehicle.

Background Art

Inside a vehicle lamp, many components are connected by snap-fit; compared with screw connection, snap-fit connection can save space and costs, and simplify assembly processes. However, existing snap-fit designs still take up a lot of internal space, so are not suitable for limited-space situations; also, sliders need to be used in the injection molding of conventional snap-fits, and this has a high cost.

Summary of the Invention

Thus, an object of the present invention is to propose a snap-fit connection structure, a lighting device and a vehicle, which can at least partially solve the problems mentioned above.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a snap- fit connection structure is provided, comprising a first connection member and a second connection member, the first connection member comprising a snap hook; the second connection member comprises a limiting hole and a tongue, the tongue extending in the limiting hole and being elastically deformable, and the snap hook being at least partially limited in the limiting hole by the tongue.

According to the embodiments of the present invention, the elastically deformable tongue is provided in the limiting hole rather than on the snap hook, so the snap hook is considerably reduced in size compared with a snap-fit member in the prior art, and is very well suited to use in situations where size is limited.

In one embodiment, the limiting hole comprises a first sidewall and a second sidewall opposite each other, the tongue extends from the first sidewall toward the second sidewall, and a free end of the tongue abuts against the snap hook, to at least partially limit the snap hook between the free end of the tongue and the second sidewall.

According to the embodiments of the present invention, displacement of the snap hook toward the first sidewall and second sidewall can be restricted.

In one embodiment, the free end of the tongue is warped in a direction of hole depth of the limiting hole.

According to the embodiments of the present invention, a tongue with a warped free end can prevent disengagement of the snap hook more effectively.

In one embodiment, the snap hook reaches a limited position by causing the tongue to deform elastically in a direction of hole depth of the limiting hole.

According to the embodiments of the present invention, the tongue can limit the snap hook between the free end of the tongue and the second sidewall after recovering from deforma ion.

In one embodiment, the snap hook also at least partially abuts against a region of the second connection member that is located close to the second sidewall, to limit movement of the snap hook in a direction of hole depth of the limiting hole.

According to the embodiments of the present invention, displacement of the snap hook in the direction of hole depth of the limiting hole is limited.

In one embodiment, the snap hook also at least partially abuts against at least one sidewall that connects the first sidewall and the second sidewall.

According to the embodiments of the present invention, displacement of the snap hook in a direction transverse to the sidewall connecting the first sidewall and second sidewall is limited.

In one embodiment, the first sidewall and the second sidewall have different horizontal heights.

According to the embodiments of the present invention, when the first sidewall and second sidewall have different horizontal heights, an injection molding process of the tongue and limiting hole can be simplified, without the need to use an additional slider.

In one embodiment, the snap hook is substantially L- shaped.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a lighting device is further provided, comprising any one of the snap-fit connection structures described above.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a vehicle is further provided, comprising any one of the lighting devices described above.

Brief Description of the Figures

The above-described characteristics, technical features and advantages of the present invention and modes of implementation thereof will be further explained below in a clear and easy-fo-understand manner through a description of preferred embodiments with reference to the drawings, wherein

Fig. 1 shows a front view of a snap-fit connection structure 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 shows a front view of a first connection member 10 of the snap-fit connection structure 1 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 shows a front view of a second connection member 20 of the snap-fit connection structure 1 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 shows a partial side view of the first connection member 10 of the snap-fit connection structure 1 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 shows a partial top view of the second connection member 20 of the snap-fit connection structure 1 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 shows a partial side view of the second connection member 20 of the snap-fit connection structure 1 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 shows a partial side view of the snap-fit connection structure 1 in Fig. 1.

Detailed Description of Embodiments

Embodiments of the present invention are described demonstratively below. As those skilled in the art should realize, the embodiments explained may be amended in various ways without departing from the concept of the present invention. Thus, the drawings and description are essentially illustrative, not restrictive. In the following text, identical reference numerals generally denote elements with identical or similar functions.

In the description of the embodiments of the present invention and the accompanying drawings, the X-axis represents the longitudinal direction, the Y-axis represents the horizontal direction, and the Z-axis represents the vertical direction. Moreover, "front” , "rear” , "left” and "right” all take the positive direction of the X-axis as a reference, while "upper” and "lower” take the positive direction of the Z-axis as a reference.

Fig. 1 shows a front view of a snap-fit connection structure 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 shows a front view of a first connection member 10 of the snap-fit connection structure 1 in Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 shows a front view of a second connection member 20 of the snap-fit connection structure 1 in Fig. 1. As shown in Figs 1 ~ 3, the snap-fit connection structure 1 comprises a first connection member 10 and a second connection member 20, which are connected by snap-fit. In a non-limiting example, the first connection member 10 may comprise a first support 11 and a first lens 12, wherein the first support 11 can prevent light leakage while supporting the first lens 12, the first lens 12 may be used for a daytime running light function, and the first support 11 and lens 12 may be integrally formed by a dual-colour injection molding process. The second connection member 20 may comprise a second support 21; the second support 21 may be used to support a second lens (not shown), wherein the second lens is used for a high beam and/or a low beam function. It will be understood that the first connection member 10 and second connection member 20 are not limited to the above example; they may be any types of components connected by snap-fit.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 3, a region A in Fig. 1 or a region C in Fig. 3 is a region of connection of the first connection member 10 and the second connection member 20. Due to the modelling design of the second connection member 20, the dimension of region C in a transverse direction, i. e. the Y axis direction, is limited. If a snap-fit structure from the prior art is used, that is, if a limiting hole is provided on the second connection member 20 while a snap-fit member with an elastically deformable element is provided on the first connection member 10, then the snap-fit member can be fitted into the limiting hole by deforming the elastically deformable element; due to the large size of the snap-fit member with the elastically deformable element, there will not be enough space to accommodate it in the Y axis direction. For this reason, the embodiments of the present invention provide a snap-fit structure of small size, which is described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

Fig. 4 shows a partial side view of a region B of the first connection member 10 of the snap-fit connection structure 1 in Fig. 1. As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4, the first connection member 10 comprises a snap hook 100 in region B of connection with the second connection member 20; the snap hook is substantially L-shaped, and extends in the Z axis direction and X axis direction from a body part of the first connection member 10, specifically from the first support 11. It will be understood that the shape of the snap hook 100 is not limited to an L-shape, but can be any other suitable shape.

Fig. 5 shows a partial top view of region C of the second connection member 20 of the snap-fit connection structure 1 in Fig. 1, Fig. 6 shows a partial side view of region C of the second connection member 20 of the snap-fit connection structure 1 in Fig. 1, and Fig. 7 shows a partial side view of region A of the snap-fit connection structure 1 in Fig. 1. As shown in Figs. 5 - 7, the second connection member 20 comprises a limiting hole 210 and a tongue 220 in region C of connection with the first connection member 10, wherein the tongue 220 extends in the limiting hole 210 and is elastically deformable, and the snap hook 100 can be at least partially limited in the limiting hole 210 by the tongue 220. Specifically, the limiting hole 210 is provided in a body part of the second connection member 20, specifically in the second support 21, wherein a direction of hole depth lies in the Z axis direction; in the direction of hole depth, the limiting hole 210 comprises a first sidewall 211 and a second sidewall 212 extending opposite each other, and the tongue 2220 extends from the first sidewall 211 toward the second sidewall 212.

When the first connection member 10 and second connection member 20 are fitted, the snap hook 100 can slide forward with the first connection member 10 in the positive direction of the X axis, or the limiting hole 210 and tongue 220 can slide backward with the second connection member 20 in the negative direction of the X axis. During this process, the snap hook 100 causes the tongue 220 to deform downward in the negative direction of the Z axis, and thereby enters a space between a free end of the tongue 220 and the second sidewall 212. At this time, the tongue 220 recovers from deformation, and the free end abuts against a rear part of the snap hook 100, at least partially limiting the snap hook 100 between the free end of the tongue 220 and the second sidewall 212. In this way, the displacement of the snap hook 100 in the X axis direction is limited.

Preferably, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the free end of the tongue 100 is warped upward in the positive direction of the Z axis; this can prevent disengagement of the snap hook 100 more effectively.

Furthermore, as shown in Fig. 7, at the limited position, the snap hook 100 also at least partially abuts against a region close to the second sidewall 212 of the second connection member 20, i. e. a region at the left side of the second sidewall 212 in the figure; displacement of the snap hook 100 in the Z axis direction is thereby limited.

In the embodiments of the present invention, the elastically deformable tongue is provided in the limiting hole rather than on the snap hook, so the snap hook is considerably reduced in size compared with the snap-fit member in the prior art, and is very well suited to use in situations where size is limited in the Y axis direction, while displacement of the snap hook in the X axis and Z axis directions can still be limited. It will be understood that displacement of the snap hook 100 in the Y axis direction may also be limited according to actual needs, for example but without limitation, by having the snap hook 100 at least partially abut against at least one sidewall of the limiting hole 210 that connects the first sidewall 211 and the second sidewall 212.

Furthermore, to simplify an injection molding process of the second connection member 20, as shown in Fig. 7, the first sidewall 211 and second sidewall 212 may be configured to be at different horizontal heights. Thus, when the limiting hole 210 and tongue 22 of the second connection member 20 are injection molded, they can be obtained by normal mold release in the X axis direction, without the need for an additional slider for mold release in the Z axis direction.

According to the embodiments of the present invention, a lighting device is also included, which comprises the snap- fit connection structure as described above.

According to the embodiments of the present invention, a vehicle is also included, which comprises the lighting device as described above.

The present invention is not limited to the structure described above; various other variants could also be used. Although the present invention has already been described by means of a limited number of embodiments, those skilled in the art could, drawing benefit from this disclosure, design other embodiments which do not depart from the scope of protection of the present invention disclosed herein. Thus, the scope of protection of the present invention should be defined by the attached claims alone.