Illumination – Supported by vehicle structure – Automobile
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-31
2001-11-13
Husar, Stephen (Department: 2875)
Illumination
Supported by vehicle structure
Automobile
C362S289000, C362S287000, C362S523000, C362S530000, C362S419000, C362S421000, C362S428000, C362S284000, C362S528000, C362S529000, C362S531000, C362S532000, C362S267000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06315438
ABSTRACT:
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a vehicle headlamp of a movable reflector type in which a reflector having a light source is supported by an aiming mechanism that allows the reflector to be inclined.
2. Prior Art
A headlamp of a movable reflector for a vehicle has been conventionally known; and in this headlamp, a reflector has a light source (or a vehicle lamp) and is supported by an aiming mechanism so that the angle of the reflector is adjusted by the aiming mechanism.
The aiming mechanism generally comprises a single ball joint serving as a fulcrum of inclination and two aiming screws each of which is movable forward and rearward in its own axial direction. The aiming screws are rotatably supported in screw insertion holes formed in the lamp body. A nut member installed in the reflector is engaged with a thread portion of each one of the aiming screws that extend forward from the lamp body. When the aiming screw is turned, the nut member is moved forward or rearward along the aiming screw, so that the reflector is inclined around the inclination axis between the ball joint and the nut member, and the optical axis of the lamp is adjusted.
The screw insertion hole that supports the aiming screw in a rotatable fashion needs to have a sealing means therein, and “O”-rings are generally used as a sealing means so as to waterproof the rotation support portion which supports the aiming screw.
As seen from the above, since the conventional vehicle headlamp requires an “O”-ring that is installed in the rotation support portion, which is the screw insertion hole for the aiming screw, the number of components constituting the aiming mechanism tends so increase. In addition, the “O”-ring is usually of rubber and therefore easily deteriorates if it is exposed to water for an extended period. Accordingly, the use of the “O”-ring for a long time may deteriorate the waterproofing capability of the rotation support portion for supporting the aiming screw.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, in order to overcome the problems experienced with the conventional structure, the object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle headlamp of a movable reflector type which is free of any sealing member such as an “O”-ring and which is capable of waterproofing the portion of the lamp body that supports the aiming screw.
The above-described object is accomplished by a unique structure of the present invention for a vehicle headlamp of a movable reflector type that comprises: a container-like lamp body, a reflector on which a light source is mounted, and an aiming mechanism disposed between the lamp body and the reflector so as to incline the reflector with respect to the lamp body by rotating an aiming screw that is rotatably supported in a screw insertion hole of the lamp body; and in the present invention, the screw insertion hole is defined by a cylindrical portion integrally molded with the lamp body, and the aiming screw is partially made of a synthetic resin on which an engagement portion for engaging the screw insertion hole is formed, the engagement portion having an elastic waterproofing rib of an annular shape that is integrally formed thereon and slidably comes into contact with the inner surface of the screw insertion hole.
With the structure described above, the annular elastic waterproofing rib, which is formed on the engagement portion of the aiming screw and arranged to slide on the inner surface of the screw insertion hole, is held in the screw insertion hole under a pressure contact state. Accordingly, the waterproofing capability of the cylindrical portion that rotatably supports the aiming screw is assured. In addition, since the waterproofing rib is made of a synthetic resin and has elasticity (flexibility), when the engagement portion of the aiming screw is inserted into the cylindrical portion (which is the screw insertion hole), the waterproofing rib is elastically deformed; accordingly, the aiming screw can be installed in the screw insertion hole without any obstruction, and the waterproofing rib does not prevent the rotation of the aiming screw. Furthermore, the waterproofing rib does not easily deteriorate compared to the conventional rubber-made “O”-ring, since it is made of a synthetic resin.
Further in the present invention, annular grooves that extend along both sides of the base portion of the waterproofing rib is formed in the outer surface of the portion of the aiming screw which is supported by the screw insertion hole.
Accordingly, the annular grooves enlarge the area of the outer surface of the engagement portion of the aiming screw, thus increasing the quantity of water which is held in the cylindrical portion (forming the screw insertion hole) that is a rotation support portion for supporting the aiming screw therein. Moreover, the gap between the engagement portion of the aiming screw and the screw insertion hole in the axial direction are formed into a meandering maze shape by the rib; thus, the annular grooves effectively prevent introduction of water into the lamp body.
In order to improve the waterproofing capability of the rotation support portion for supporting the aiming screw and prevent looseness thereof, it is preferable to minimize the gap between the engagement portion of the aiming screw and the screw insertion hole. However, in order to allow the aiming screw to be smoothly rotated, it is preferable to make the gap larger. These facts are thus contradicting. The annular grooves formed on both sides of the waterproofing rib extend the distance of the radial projection of the waterproofing rib without enlarging the gap between the engagement portion of the aiming screw and the screw insertion hole. Therefore, the elasticity (flexibility) of the waterproofing rib can be increased, and the waterproofing rib is able to easily follow the inner surface of the screw insertion hole. Thus, a contact pressure and sliding frictional resistance produced between the waterproofing rib and the inner surface of the screw insertion hole can be lowered, and the aiming screw can be rotated smoothly and inserted into the screw insertion hole smoothly.
Furthermore, in the present invention, the waterproofing rib is formed in a plural number so that they are aligned close to each other along the axial direction of the aiming screw.
By way of this structure, a plurality of annular sliding portions are formed between the waterproofing ribs and the inner surface of the screw insertion hole. Therefore, the waterproofing capability of the rotation support portion for supporting the aiming screw can be improved.
Furthermore, in the vehicle headlamp of a movable reflector type of the present invention, a flange to be engaged with the peripheral portion of the screw insertion hole is formed on the inner portion of the aiming screw so that the flange is integral to the engagement portion thereof; in addition, an elastic sealing flap, which is a skirt shape and brought into a sliding contact with the peripheral portion of the screw insertion hole, is formed on the flange.
With this structure, the elastic sealing flap of the aiming screw is held, in a pressure contact state, on the peripheral portion of the screw insertion hole and supports the aiming screw without causing any looseness, so that the waterproofing capability is rendered to the rotation support portion for supporting the aiming screw. Since the elastic sealing flap is made of a synthetic resin and has an elasticity (flexibility), the elastic sealing flap does not obstruct the rotation of the aiming screw.
Furthermore, in the above structure, the cylindrical portion which constitutes the screw insertion hole extends rearwards, and the rear end of the cylindrical portion is provided with a plurality of swing sections which are obtained by dividing the rear end of the cylindrical portion in its circumferential direction so as to expand and contract the end of the cylindrical portion in the radial direction. In addition, an engagement hook is forme
Matsunaga Takashi
Shirai Katutada
Husar Stephen
Koda & Androlia
Koito Manufacturing Co. Ltd.
Ton Anabel M
LandOfFree
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