Illumination – Supported by vehicle structure – Light modifier
Reexamination Certificate
1998-10-19
2001-07-17
Schuberg, Darren (Department: 2872)
Illumination
Supported by vehicle structure
Light modifier
C362S529000, C362S531000, C362S532000, C362S273000, C362S275000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06260993
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a vehicle lamp furnished with a moving-reflector type aiming mechanism.
Vehicle lamps such as head lamps and fog lamp are generally provided with aiming mechanisms for adjusting directions of irradiation and in the case of a vehicle lamp having a reflector contained in a lamp body, a moving-reflector type aiming mechanism is employed.
Such a moving-reflector type aiming mechanism so configured that aiming screws are used to couple a tiltable reflector and a lamp body for containing the reflector functions is what tilts the reflector in a predetermined direction by turning the aiming screws in order to make an aiming adjustment.
However, the vehicle lamp equipped with the aforesaid moving-reflector type aiming structure has the following problem:
If the reflector is tilted more than necessary over a proper tilting angle position, the leading edge portion of the aforesaid aiming screw will be brought into contact with the rear surface of the reflector at a certain tilted angle. If the aiming screw is turned further, there will develop problems arising from defects such as cracks, crazing, bends and the like caused by the load of the aiming screw to the reflector.
When it is attempted to secure a large reflective area in a small-sized lamp in particular, the difficulty of providing a sufficient allowance in the direction of inclination results in developing the defects since the reflector and the lamp body are situated close to each other before the reflector is brought into contact with the aiming screw after exceeding the proper tilting angle position.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle lamp so adapted as to prevent development of defects on a reflector because of excessive inclination.
Means for Solving the Problems
According to the present invention, a vehicle lamp comprising a reflector, a lamp body for containing the reflector tiltably and aiming screws coupled to the reflector and the lamp body and extended in a substantially longitudinal direction is characterized in that
a first projected portion is formed in a place near an aiming screw coupling portion on the rear surface of the reflector and a second projected portion is formed in a place behind the first projected portion with respect to the inner surface of the lamp body and that
when the reflector is tilted up to a predetermined angle position, the first and second projected portions are brought into contact with each other within a plane substantially perpendicular to the axial direction of the aiming screw.
The aforesaid tilting direction is not restrictive but may be any vertical, horizontal or oblique direction.
The aforesaid “first and second projected portions” are not limited to a specific arrangement on condition that the first and second projected portions can be brought into contact with each other within a plane substantially perpendicular to the axial direction of the respective aiming screws and may be in the form of ribs, those formed by rendering the rear surface of the reflector and the inner surface of the lamp body partially planar or the like.
The aforesaid “place near an aiming screw coupling portion on the rear surface of the reflector” means a place within a one-third distance of the length of a line connecting the axial line position and the fulcrum position of the tilting reflector from the axial line position of the aiming screw.
The aforesaid “predetermined angle position” is such that as long as the leading edge portion of the aiming screw is positioned at an angle of inclination smaller than the angle of inclination at which the aiming screw is brought into contact with the rear surface of the reflector, the degree of the angle of inclination is not specifically restricted.
Functions and Effect of the Invention
As shown in the arrangement of the vehicle lamp according to the present invention, the leading edge portion of the aiming screw is prevented from being brought into contact with the rear surface of the reflector since the first projected portion formed in the place near the aiming screw coupling portion on the rear surface of the reflector and the second projected portion formed in the place behind the first projected portion on the inner surface of the lamp body are brought into contact with each other when the reflector is tilted up to the predetermined angle position. Since the first and second projected portions are brought into contact with each other within the plane substantially perpendicular to the axial direction of the aiming screw at that time, the reflector can be prevented from being excessively overloaded thereby.
According to the present invention, development of defects such as cracks, crazing, bends and the like caused by the excessive inclination of the reflector can be prevented accordingly.
Thus, thermoplastic resins excellent in forming workability and dimensional stability though comparatively inferior in rigidity may be used as material for the reflector above.
With the aforesaid arrangement, “the first projected portion” may be formed independently of the aiming screw coupling portion as long as it is formed in the place near the aiming screw coupling portion on the rear surface of the reflector or may be formed in a fashion contiuous to the aiming screw coupling portion. However, according to the present invention, since the first projected portion and the aiming screw coupling portion are capable of reinforcing each other in the latter case, an excessive load is prevented from acting on the reflector more effectively when the first and second projected portions are brought into contact with each other.
With the aforesaid arrangement, moreover, according to the present invention, the first and second projected portions are formed in the shape of ribs extending within planes substantially perpendicular to each other to ensure that both the projected portions can be brought into contact with each other even though some fabrication error and the like are produced between the reflector and the lamp body.
In this case, according to the present invention, the formation of a reinforcing portion in the intermediate region of the first projected portion eliminates the possibility of letting the projected portion from fall down because the projected portion is formed like a rib. At this time, the formation of the boss-like “reinforcing portion” makes it possible to utilize the reinforcing portion as a projected pin receiving portion at the time of molding the reflector.
In this case, according to the present invention, furthermore, the formation of a reinforcing rib extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the second projected portion on both sides portions of the second projected portion eliminates the possibility of letting the second projected portion fall down.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4503486 (1985-03-01), Makita
patent: 4831502 (1989-05-01), Fujino et al.
patent: 4881152 (1989-11-01), Watanabe et al.
patent: 4903173 (1990-02-01), Mochizuki et al.
patent: 5083244 (1992-01-01), Shirai
patent: 5337223 (1994-08-01), Fujino
patent: 5546283 (1996-08-01), Ohtsuka et al.
Assaf Fayez
Koito Manufacturing Co. Ltd.
Morgan & Lewis & Bockius, LLP
Schuberg Darren
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