Illumination – Supported by vehicle structure – Adjustable lamp or lamp support
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-28
2001-03-27
Husar, Stephen (Department: 2875)
Illumination
Supported by vehicle structure
Adjustable lamp or lamp support
C362S531000, C362S485000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06206556
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF INVENTION
This present invention relates to a remote headlamp adjustment system for a vehicle. In one aspect, it relates to a remote headlamp adjustment system for adjusting the aim of a headlamp from the exterior of a vehicle. In another aspect, it relates to a headlamp assembly for a vehicle where the headlamp aim can be adjusted from the exterior of the vehicle via a hole formed in the headlamp assembly.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
Often the headlamp aim of a vehicle headlamp assembly must be adjusted when a headlamp is installed or replaced to ensure that the headlamp light beam provides the optimum night visibility for a given vehicle. Also, for safety reasons, it important to avoid directing the headlamp aim in a direction that may shine directly into the eyes of oncoming traffic. Hence, most headlamp assemblies incorporate a means of adjusting the headlamp aim relative to a given vehicle configuration. In the past, many headlamp assemblies were designed so that the entire headlamp assembly (lens, headlamp, and housing) could tilt for adjustment. However, many modern headlamps have a fixed outer headlamp lens because it is often desirable to have a headlamp assembly that is flush mounted and follows the contours of adjacent vehicle body panels to enhance aerodynamics or styling. In a headlamp assembly with a fixed outer lens, the headlamp typically can tilt within the housing relative to the fixed outer lens for headlamp aim adjustment.
Various adjustment mechanisms for adjusting headlamp aim are well known. Most adjustment mechanisms have an adjustment screw that engages with either the vehicle chassis or the headlamp assembly to push/pull the headlamp actuating a tilt in the headlamp relative to the vehicle chassis or relative to the headlamp assembly in a fixed lens assembly. In the past, the adjustment screw was typically turned by engaging the screw head with a tool directly. For example, many headlamp adjustment mechanisms found on passenger cars and pickup trucks have at least one adjustment screw that has a slot formed in the screw head adapted to receive a phillips-head screwdriver.
For many of the older style headlamp assemblies without a fixed lens, the headlamp aim can be adjusted from outside the vehicle by engaging an adjustment screw head with a screwdriver directly. Some vehicle configurations only provide access to the headlamp adjustment mechanism from within the engine bay, which often requires the hood to be open during adjustment. For the more modern style headlamp assemblies having a fixed outer lens, the headlamp adjustment typically must be accessed from within the engine bay area, from the backside of a body panel, or from underneath a vehicle body panel because the adjustment screw head faces the rear of the vehicle.
But for some applications, it is not feasible to adjust the headlamp aim with the headlamp assembly at its normal operating position while having the hood open. For example, on many heavy trucks the headlamp assembly is mounted to the hood, where the hood is one large integral piece incorporating the front fenders and grill, and the hood tilts forward in its open position about an axis in front of the engine. Thus in such vehicle configurations, the headlamp assembly tilts with the hood and the headlamps are aimed downward when the hood is open. To adjust the headlamp aim, it is typically desirable to have the headlamp aim directed generally horizontal with the headlamp assembly in the same position during adjustment as it would be during normal operation (i.e., with the hood closed). Hence, there is a need for a means of adjusting the headlamp aim for a headlamp assembly with a fixed outer headlamp lens from the exterior of the vehicle, without the need for having vehicle body panels open and without the need to crawl underneath the vehicle to access the adjustment mechanism.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
Many of the needs outlined above are addressed by the present invention hereof. It is an object of the present invention to provide a remote headlamp adjustment system that provides a way to adjust the headlamp aim for a headlamp assembly with a fixed outer headlamp lens from the exterior of the vehicle, without the need for having vehicle body panels open and without the need to crawl underneath the vehicle to access the adjustment mechanism.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a remote headlamp adjustment system is provided for a vehicle. The remote headlamp adjustment system comprises a headlamp adjustment mechanism attached to a headlamp housing. The headlamp adjustment mechanism is adapted to adjust an aim of a headlamp relative to the headlamp housing. An adjustment screw protrudes from the adjustment mechanism to a terminal screw head. The screw is adapted to control a tilt movement for the aim of the headlamp. The screw has a screw axis along a longitudinal extent of the screw that the screw rotates about when the headlamp aim is being adjusted using the adjustment mechanism. A flexible shaft has first and second shaft ends. The first shaft end is rotatably connected to the screw head such that a rotation of the shaft actuates a rotation of the screw about the screw axis. The shaft has first and second shaft axes that portions of the shaft rotate about when the headlamp aim is being adjusted using the adjustment mechanism. The first shaft axis projects from the first end and substantially aligns with the screw axis. The second shaft axis projects from the second shaft end and the second shaft axis does not axially align with the first shaft axis. A clip protrudes from the headlamp housing, and the second shaft end interlocks within the clip such that the clip retains a position of the second shaft end relative to the clip and relative to the adjustment mechanism. The clip allows the second shaft end to rotate within the clip about the second shaft axis. The second shaft end may be accessible through a hole formed in an exterior headlamp lens when the lens is attached to the headlamp housing and when the headlamp housing and lens are installed on a vehicle such that the headlight aim can be adjusted from the exterior of the vehicle. A slot adapted to receive a phillips-head or flat-head screwdriver tip may be formed in the second shaft end.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5871276 (1999-02-01), Kowall et al.
patent: 5906431 (1999-05-01), Chianale et al.
Husar Stephen
Paccar Inc
Sidley & Austin
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