Illumination – Supported by vehicle structure – Adjustable lamp or lamp support
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-27
2001-05-15
Sember, Thomas M. (Department: 2875)
Illumination
Supported by vehicle structure
Adjustable lamp or lamp support
C362S523000, C362S532000, C362S531000, C362S528000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06231222
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a headlight for vehicles.
One of such headlights is disclosed for example in the German patent document DE 38 14 289 A1. The headlight has a holder in form of a housing, on which a reflector is adjustably supported. For adjusting the reflector, an adjusting device is provided which has an adjusting screw connectable by a thread with a transmission element which is articulately connected with the reflector. The adjusting screw is supported rotatably about its longitudinal axis. During its rotation, the transmission element due to the thread moves in a longitudinal direction along the longitudinal axis of the adjusting screw and adjusts the reflector. For preventing movement of the reflector relative to the holder or similar components of the headlight, the moving possibility of the transmission element in the longitudinal direction must be limited. In a known headlight, the adjusting screw is turned in one direction so that the transmission element can disengage the thread of the adjusting screw and then no adjustment of the reflector is possible any longer. During turning of the adjusting screw in the other direction, the transmission element comes to abutment against the holder, while during a further turning of the adjusting screw, the transmission element or the adjusting screw can be damaged.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a headlight for a vehicle, which avoids the disadvantages of the prior art.
In keeping with these objects and with others which will become apparent hereinafter, one feature of present invention resides, briefly stated, in a headlight, in which the transmission element for limiting of its displacement path in at least one displacement direction, after a predetermined maximum displacement disengages the thread of the adjusting screw, the transmission element after a certain displacement path after a maximum displacement in the displacing direction comes to abutment against at least one abutment, and during a further movement of the transmission element in the transmission direction until the transmission element disengages from the thread of the adjusting screw a return force is produced which acts on the transmission element in an opposite displacement direction.
When the headlight is designed in accordance with the present invention, it has the advantage that the adjusting screw can be turned arbitrarily. Since the transmission element disengages the thread of the adjusting screw, a damage to these parts is prevented. Due to the available return force the transmission element again engages with the thread of the adjusting screw for a subsequent longitudinal movement of the transmission element in another longitudinal direction.
In accordance with another feature of the present invention, the abutment of the transmission element can be (should be springy) springy deformable, the abutment is springy deformed until reaching of the maximum displacement path of the transmission element, and it produces a return force which acts on the transmission element in the opposite displacement direction.
It is also possible that the transmission element is provided with a springy deformable portion which comes to abutment against an abutment, and during reaching the maximum displacing path of the transmission element is springly deformed, and it produces a return force which acts on the transmission element in the opposite displacement direction.
With such a construction, the return force for the transmission element can be produced in a simple way.
In accordance with still a further feature of the present invention, the abutment can be formed as a springy element which is arranged between the transmission element and the holder or the adjusting screw, and during reaching of the maximum displacement path of the transmission element it is springy deformed, and produces the return force which acts on the transmission element in the opposite adjusting direction.
In this construction obtaining of the return force does not need a special construction of the transmission element and/or holder.
The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the present invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4210033 (1980-07-01), Erikson et al.
patent: 5309780 (1994-05-01), Schmitt
patent: 6017136 (2000-01-01), Burton
Daumueller Hans
Jung Peter
Klaiber Rolf
Oschmann Horst
Rottstaedt Olaf
Hobden David V.
Robert & Bosch GmbH
Sember Thomas M.
Striker Michael J.
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