Importance

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Abstract

A lamp system for a vehicle having an impact-absorbing bumper that is designed to be mounted substantially flush with the surrounding vehicle body panels and bumper, and capable of deflecting with the stroke of the impact-absorbing bumper during impact to obviate the need for the lamp to pivot about an anchor point or to be mechanically displaceable with additional hardware. The lamp system is preferably formed from resilient, impact-resistant material, with a deformable resilient deflection member selectively located between the lens and the housing, between the inner lens and the outer lens in a dual lens system, or between the housing and the body of the vehicle or a member attached thereto. Further, the resilient deflection member may be the lens itself. The material for the resilient deflection member must have a yield strength that is adequate to sustain a predetermined degree of deformation, corresponding to the amount of deflection required to deflect with the bumper stroke. The resilient deflection member permits the lens or other components of the headlamp assembly to move upon impact without damage to itself or any other surrounding assembly components, acts as a seal between the lens and the housing so that contaminants do not degrade the function of the lamp system, and may be used as a styling element to enhance the aesthetic effect of the vehicle. The lamp system achieves an aerodynamic look, and allows stylists complete freedom to create convex-shaped front- or rear-end systems with each vehicle design.

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First Claim