Plural Headlight Supports Concurrently Operated Patents (Class 362/420)
  • Patent number: 11279427
    Abstract: A saddle riding vehicle includes a light emitting device (15, 23), an object information acquisition device (17, 26), a control board (20) and an accommodating case (14). The light emitting device (15, 23) radiates light to an outer side of the vehicle, and the object information acquisition device (17, 26) acquires information of an object outside the vehicle. The control board (20), to which the light emitting device (15, 23) is attached, controls the light emitting device. The accommodating case (14) accommodates the light emitting device (20), the object information acquisition device (17, 26), and the control board (20). The object information acquisition device (17, 26) is supported by the control board (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Naoki Murasawa, Kazuhiko Mori, Kiyoshi Katagiri, Taishi Inoue, Manabu Ichikawa, Tsuyoshi Oguchi
  • Patent number: 10625666
    Abstract: This system for detecting the surrounding conditions of a moving body forcibly changes the state of at least one of a plurality of lighting devices (change from an unlit state to a lighting state or a blinking state, change in the emission color, or change in the luminance) installed inside the moving body, if an object to which attention must be paid during traveling of the moving body is detected in the surroundings of the moving body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: PIONEER CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masahiro Kato
  • Patent number: 9802532
    Abstract: This system for detecting the surrounding: conditions of a moving body forcibly changes the state of at least one of a plurality of lighting devices (change from an unlit stats to a lighting state or a blinking state, change in the emission color, or change in the luminance) installed inside the moving body if an object to which attention must be paid during traveling of the moving body is detected in the surroundings of the moving body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: PIONEER CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masahiro Kato
  • Patent number: 9709235
    Abstract: A synchronized lamp adjuster assembly allows for adjustment of vehicle lamp assemblies that can be adjusted synchronously or by using the same adjuster assembly. Two or more adjuster assemblies are connected together by at least one shaft drive assembly having a shaft drive head that interacts with an input shaft for the adjuster assemblies. Rotation of the shaft drive head causes rotation of input shaft and adjuster assembly thus causing adjustment of the lamp assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Burton Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: John Burton
  • Patent number: 9649972
    Abstract: This system for detecting the surrounding: conditions of a moving body forcibly changes the state of at least one of a plurality of lighting devices (change from an unlit stats to a lighting state or a blinking state, change in the emission color, or change in the luminance) installed inside the moving body if an object to which attention must be paid during traveling of the moving body is detected in the surroundings of the moving body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: PIONEER CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masahiro Kato
  • Patent number: 8764255
    Abstract: A semi-rigid electronic device is disclosed that includes a flexible panel and a housing. The housing may have a physical dimension L, such as length, height, or a diagonal. The minimum bending device radius of the device along the dimension L may be L/pi when held at an edge. The bending radius increases the more rigid the device. The housing, electronic components, and display may each contribute to the flexibility of the overall device. The housing and/or the flexible panel may also include one or more ribs to constrain movement of the semi-rigid device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Universal Display Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Hack, Emory Krall, Ruiqing Ma, Prashant Mandlik
  • Patent number: 8356920
    Abstract: A lighting device is disclosed. The lighting device can include a base, a first light source housing, and a second light source housing. The first and second light source housings each can include a lighting element (e.g., a light-emitting diode). The first and second light source housings can be independently moveable relative to the base. For example, the first light source housing can be rotatable relative to the base around a first axis and a second axis, the first axis being substantially perpendicular to the second axis. Similarly, the second light source housing can be rotatable relative to the base around a third axis and a fourth axis, the third axis being substantially perpendicular to the fourth axis. The base can include a battery compartment and wires electrically connecting the battery compartment to the first and second light source housings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Inventor: Jonathan E. Levine
  • Patent number: 8251558
    Abstract: A vehicular headlamp system and corresponding kit, including (left and right) headlamps and a mode switch (control mechanism) responsive to inputs from a mode switch console or other user interface arrangements, the combination of headlamps and mode switch providing high and low beam on-road illumination and a higher level of illumination for off-road illumination using the same light source in each headlamp as is used for the on-road illumination. Cooperation between a light source driver circuit in each headlamp and the mode switch results in the light source in each headlamp being driven by more or less current, as required by the selected mode. A (daytime) running lights mode of operation may also be provided using the same light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Ibis Tek, LLC
    Inventors: David E. Hubert, James M. Helms, Mark R. Barie, Richard P. Lizotte
  • Patent number: 8152330
    Abstract: Lighted reading glasses are provided to enable clear reading of normal sized text to occur when the reading material is held at usual distances from the reader in poorly lit locations. The lighted glasses have high intensity lights, such as in the form of LEDs that generate narrow light beam cones and which are oriented in light modules to inwardly cant the light beam cones to meet and overlap so high brightness light is generated in a conical overlap area of light which is maximized in size in the range of normal reading distances. In another form, a clip-on light apparatus is provided that includes a spacer frame having opposite end portions each mounting lights, preferably constructed as described above. In one form, retainers at the end portions are adapted to releasably engage outer sides of the eyeglass lenses. The frame preferably incorporates a draw spring assembly to allow adjustments for different size glasses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Inventor: Michael Waters
  • Patent number: 7954966
    Abstract: A stage lighting lamp unit includes a processor for receiving control data from a remote console. Beam orientation data for the lamp unit is passed to the lamp in the form of the x, y and z co-ordinates of a point in space through which the beam is to pass. The processor divides the required lamp travel into a number of stages dependent on execution duration data sent with the position data, and calculates, for each stage, a new value for pan and tilt angles for the lamp. These values are passed to pan and tilt controlling co-processors which control servo-motors for pan and tilt operation. The lamp unit also incorporates a rotatable shutter for interrupting the lamp beam when required. The shutters of all the lamps in a system can be instructed from the remote console to open and close in synchronism, thereby providing a stroboscopic effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Production Resource Group, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Mark A. Hunt, Keith J. Owen, Michael D. Hughes
  • Patent number: 7628516
    Abstract: The invention relates to a headlamp adjusting device with lamp units that can be adjusted in groups. To this end, each lamp unit is mounted individually directly or indirectly in the headlamp housing by means of one respective joint; and it is swivelably mounted in a first feed mechanism. The headlamp adjusting device comprises a second feed mechanism. The second feed mechanism guides the first feed mechanism. The orientation of the feed motion of the first feed mechanism and the orientation of the feed motion of the second feed mechanism enclose an angle, which is not equal to an integral multiple of Pi. With the present invention a space-saving headlamp adjusting device for adjusting the lamp units in two directions of adjustment is developed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: odelo GmbH
    Inventors: Jens Mertens, Otto Muller, Frank Tebbe
  • Patent number: 7572032
    Abstract: A lamp assembly of a projection apparatus which has a function of adjusting the position of the lamp device is disclosed. The lamp assembly includes an outer housing, a lamp module, a transversely adjustable device and a vertically adjustable device. The lamp module is detachably disposed in the outer housing with the transversely and vertically adjustable devices disposed on the outer housing. When the lamp module is located within the outer housing, the lamp module can be adjusted by operating the transversely and vertically adjustable devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: Delta Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Chang-Hsing Lu
  • Patent number: 7520648
    Abstract: The invention concerns a headlight adjustment device with at least one light module mounted to pivot in an intermediate part by means of a pivot device, in which the intermediate part is mounted to pivot directly or indirectly in the headlight housing by means of an additional pivot device. For this purpose, at least one pivot device includes a clamping and/or release device. The headlight adjustment device also includes precisely one drive unit that adjusts the light module or light modules relative to the headlight housing. A low-wear, compact headlight adjustment device is developed with the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: odelo GmbH
    Inventor: Robert Apfelbeck
  • Patent number: 7241038
    Abstract: In this light distribution control device in order to provide a vehicular lighting fixture for an Adaptive Frontlighting System (AFS) in which a lot of light distribution patterns can be set without making the entire lighting fixture larger, beams which link said movable substrates to said inner frames and beams which link said inner frames to said outer frame are mutually orthogonal, and a light distribution pattern is set by deforming under torsion the beams which link said movable substrates to said inner frames and the beams which link said inner frames to said outer frame, and swinging each of said movable substrates with respect to said outer frame in the biaxial directions independently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Irizo Naniwa, Kazutaka Satou, Masaya Horino, Tatsuhiko Monji, Ken Ohsumi
  • Patent number: 7111966
    Abstract: A light fixture coupling bracket to connect to a light box. The light fixture coupling bracket connects to a light bar having at least one light socket. The light fixture coupling bracket connects to a removable and adjustable gripping device. The gripping device is rotationally adjustable around the light box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Inventor: Joshua Jenkins
  • Patent number: 7077551
    Abstract: An adjustable element is part of an apparatus such as an automotive headlight which includes a support, and a security cap prevents undetected interference with the adjustment of that element, guaranteeing its inviolability. The adjustment is effected with a control member rotatable about a geometrical axis transverse to the axis of the support. The control member has an adjusting head accessible from outside the support. The security cap is mounted for movement in translation with respect to the support, parallel to the geometric support axis, and includes snap-fitting means co-operating with a zone of the support, to be engaged in response to this movement. The cap is put into a final snap-fitted position, in which it conceals the adjusting head, by a simple push.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventor: Franck Dinant
  • Patent number: 6793359
    Abstract: A transmission member is swingably connected respectively to a reflector and a nut member, about an axis substantially orthogonal to a tilting direction of the reflector and to an advancing and backward direction of the nut member. As a result, the transmission member, which forms a link of a link mechanism, converts the linear motion of the nut member into rotation motion and transmits the rotation motion to the reflector, and also adjusts a misalignment between the linear motion of the nut member and the rotation motion of the reflector. Accordingly, optical axis adjustment is carried out smoothly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignee: Ichikoh Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Miyoshi Iwamoto
  • Patent number: 6457851
    Abstract: The headlight arrangement for a vehicle produces respective light beams with different characteristics and includes at least two headlight units (10), each having a number of individual headlights (12, 14, 16), by means of which the respective light beams are produced and operated simultaneously and/or in different combinations. The headlight unit (10) has at least one base headlight (12) by which a light beam with low beam characteristics is produced. In a basic or initial configuration the base headlights of two headlight units on opposite sides of the vehicle have substantially parallel optic axes (11) and their light beams are superimposed. The base headlights (12) may be pivoted in opposite directions from each other from their initial configuration about vertically extending axes (40) so that their optic axes (11) diverge or converge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Michael Hamm
  • Patent number: 5833347
    Abstract: An aiming apparatus for a headlamp having a structure such that nuts-for holding adjusting screws are protected from being loaded excessively when an operation for aiming the headlamp is performed is disclosed, the apparatus having brackets fixedly provided for a automobile body, and a headlamp unit provided in such a manner that the headlamp unit can be inclined so as to change the light emission axis of the headlamp when the headlamp unit is inclined, wherein the brackets and the headlamp unit are connected to each other by a rotation support portion and two adjusting screws screwed to nuts provided for brackets, a plane of the headlamp unit on which connection points between the members are located is inclined with respect to the optical axis, the adjusting screws are disposed substantially perpendicular to the plane, and each of the nuts has a cylindrical inner surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Nakamura, Mitsuhiro Matsunaga
  • Patent number: 5641223
    Abstract: A compact portable horticultural lamp that is easily assembled and disassembled. The lamp consists of a stand, lamp assembly, including a lamp housing and reflector shade, and a lamp assembly adjuster for raising and lowering the lamp assembly. The base of the stand forms an area in which a plant growth environment can be placed. The plant growth environment suitably includes seeds, a growing medium, plant containers, and a watering system, including a water reservoir and wicking mat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 24, 1997
    Assignee: Tetrad, Inc.
    Inventor: Susan K. Rustebakke
  • Patent number: 5639155
    Abstract: A headlamp mounting system for an automobile includes respective headlamp housings for holding monofilament headlamps. Also, respective bases are attached to the automobile and each base is pivotably engaged with a respective one of the headlamp housings. An activating shaft extends between the headlamp housings and is connected to each, and an activating rod is connected to a radially protruding ear of the activating shaft. The activating rod is coupled to an operating knob in the passenger compartment, and the knob can be pushed and pulled as desired by an occupant to cause the activating rod to reciprocate and, thus, to rotate the activating shaft and hence pivot the headlamp housings. Thereby, the elevation angle of the headlamp beams is selectively established, with a high angle establishing a high beam orientation and a low angle establishing a low beam orientation. A spool having front and rear ends is pivotably engaged with the activating rod in the passenger compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 17, 1997
    Assignee: Chrysler Corporation
    Inventors: David J. Kowall, Del C. Schroeder, Delbert D. DeRees
  • Patent number: 5499168
    Abstract: A device for regulating a light width of headlights of motor vehicles comprises an adjusting device associated with one of the headlights, a transmitter which emits electromagnetic radiation to illuminate a region of a roadway located in front of the motor vehicle, an opto-electronic sensor which determines radiation emitted by the transmitter and reflected by the roadway and in dependence on the detected radiation produces signals, an evaluating device which processes the produced signals and controls the adjusting device for maintaining constant a light width of a beam emitted by the headlights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1996
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Roland Cochard, Frieder Heizmann
  • Patent number: 5479323
    Abstract: A vehicular cornering lamp system which can be adapted to all types and models of vehicles without having to change the correspondence of the illuminating angle with specific characteristics of the vehicle. The angular velocity of the vehicle is detected when the vehicle is traveling on a curve by an angular velocity sensor. Pulses from a distance sensor are counted to detect the vehicle's velocity. Angular velocity data and vehicle velocity data are latched by respective latch circuits. The reciprocal of the turning radius is calculated directly by dividing the angular velocity data by the vehicle velocity data in a divider. There is carried out an arithmetic operation of calculating the reciprocal of the turning radius after calculating the turning radius by dividing the vehicle velocity data by the angular velocity data. The illuminating angle can be approximated as a simple inverse function with respect to the turning radius.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1995
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroki Shibata, Takayuki Unno, Tomoaki Serizawa
  • Patent number: 5459646
    Abstract: An automobile headlamp in which an illumination angle of the headlamp can be adjusted laterally by pivoting a reflector right to left with respect to a lamp body. A leveling device for measuring the lateral inclination of a reflector is held between the reflector and a lamp body. The leveling device includes tubular holders which are fixedly fitted into the holder fitting hole of the lamp body and extend longitudinally, a sliding rod which is slidably fitted into the holder, has its leading end urged to abut against the rear side of the reflector and slides in the holder in association with the inclination of the reflector, and graduations provided between the sliding rod and the holder. Flanges are formed on the holder by fixing them to the peripheral edge of the holding fitting hole with screws, whereas vertical walls are formed at the peripheral edge of the holder fitting hole of the lamp body. The vertical walls engage the respective flanges in the peripheral direction and surround the holders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 17, 1995
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masakazu Sato
  • Patent number: 5394318
    Abstract: A device for adjusting and controlling the optical axis of a headlamp including an optical axis initial setting mechanism which includes a manual operation section consisting of two operation bolts and a position adjustment member. The bolts provided with operation gears at one end are mounted to the casing of the device in a symmetrical positions on the left and right sides with the head portions of the operation bolts exposed to outside of the casing of the device. The position adjusting member has a gear portion at one end that engages with respective operation gears of the operation bolts and also has an engagement portion at the other end that engages with the aiming shaft so that the engagement portion, which is used for adjustment and control of the optical axis of the headlamp, can slide in the axial direction but cannot rotate in the circumferential direction of the aiming shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1995
    Assignee: Harada Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroshi Komachi
  • Patent number: 5197799
    Abstract: A motor vehicle headlamp has adjusting means for adjusting the orientation of its reflector by essentially linear displacement of an application point on the reflector. This application point is defined by one end of a threaded rod which includes at its opposite end an adjusting head, and which is threadedly mounted with a first degree of friction in a fixed part of the headlamp. The threaded rod is also threadedly engaged, but with a second degree of friction, in an adjusting cap. The second degree of friction is greater than the first degree of friction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1993
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventor: Guy Dehaene
  • Patent number: 5195816
    Abstract: An auxiliary adjustable headlight assembly is provided for a motor vehicle which consists of a mechanism for vertically adjusting a pair of auxiliary headlights on an elongated rectangular plate that is mounted above the front bumper and between the conventional headlights of the motor vehicle. When the motor vehicle is traveling down/up an inclined road at night the auxiliary headlights can be vertically adjusted to shine upwardly/downwardly in the path of travel enabling the driver of the motor vehicle to better see the path of travel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1993
    Inventors: Donald R. Moss, Jr., George Spector
  • Patent number: 5138542
    Abstract: A headlamp for a power vehicle having a chassis comprises a reflector mounted on the chassis and turnable in a horizontal direction for adjusting a direction of light bundle produced by the reflector, reference markings arranged on a chassis part for marking a predetermined position of the reflector, and markings showing a position of the reflector relative to the reference markings, the markings being provided on an upper side of the headlamp in its lateral end regions, the chassis part extending at least partially through the headlamp, and the chassis part having two openings through which the markings can be observed from a side of the headlamp respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1992
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Hans Daumueller, Karl-Otto Dobler, Heinz Ruckwied, Friedrich Schauwecker
  • Patent number: 5083244
    Abstract: A headlight for a motor vehicle having a level for adjusting the direction of light emission from the headlight in the vertical direction in which the quantities of heat transmitted to the respective regions of the casing of the level which face the bubble vial of the level are made substantially equal to each other, even if the temperature around the level changes due to the lighting or extinction of the bulb of the headlight or the like, so that the accuracy of the measurement performed with the level is maintained despite changes in the temperature around the level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 21, 1992
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katutada Shirai, Hideharu Mochizuki, Yasushi Ohtuska, Kenji Miyazawa
  • Patent number: 5003436
    Abstract: A headlight apparatus including a lamp body having a recess being open in the front direction and a lens covering the front opening of the recess, and a reflective mirror tiltably mounted on the lamp body. Two spaced apart adjust shafts are respectively supported rotatively on the lamp body with the rear end portions thereof projecting from the rear surface of the lamp body, and screw-thread portions are formed respectively on the front portions of the adjust shafts to engage with nuts respectively. The nuts have respectively on the outer side surfaces resilient retaining pieces for snappingly engaging with respective mounting members which are mounted on the reflective mirror. A ball joint connection is formed between the reflective mirror and the lamp body at the position spaced apart respectively from respective adjust shafts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1991
    Assignee: Koito Menufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kunihiko Yamada, Yukio Yonezawa, Katsutada Shirai
  • Patent number: 4967319
    Abstract: To accurately shade headlamp light for both a leading vehicle running on the same lane and an opposed vehicle running on an opposed lane, the headlight apparatus for an automotive vehicle comprises a movable headlamp, a light sensor attached on the pivotal headlamp for detecting presence of a leading vehicle, an adjusting mechanism for adjusting the optical axis of the headlamp, a controller for actuating the adjusting mechanism in response to sensor signals of the light sensor to move the headlamp so that angle of headlamp optical axis can be adjusted according to distance to a leading vehicle, and a shading plate disposed independently from the optical axis motion of the headlamp for shading light for an opposed vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 30, 1990
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasutoshi Seko
  • Patent number: 4928215
    Abstract: A vehicle lamp device in which the gap provided beside the headlamps is made inconspicuous, and rainwater or dust are prevented from entering the gap. The inventive vehicle lamp device in one embodiment includes a unit movable rectangular headlamp and a rectangular vehicle lamp arranged with a gap therebetween, and, of the confronting side walls of the front lens of at least one of the lamps, at least one has a front edge protruding outwardly so that the gap between the front lenses of the lamps is narrower at the front edge of the side wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 22, 1990
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuuji Fujino, Yasuhiro Nakamura
  • Patent number: 4858080
    Abstract: The headlight moving apparatus comprises a yaw rate sensor, a headlight position sensor, a vehicle speed sensor, a CPU, and a headlight actuator. The CPU calculates an appropriate headlight turning position on the basis of these three sensor signals. Since the yaw rate sensor can directly detect the vehicle turning motion and direction, it is possible to move the headlights right and left more reliably. Therefore, the adjusted headlights can brighten remote forward road surface when the vehicle runs along a curved road.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 15, 1989
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Takahiro Oikawa
  • Patent number: 4761717
    Abstract: A support shoe for pivotably supporting a portion of a lamp body within a support frame and allowing the lamp body to be adjustably aimed in vertical and horizontal planes, characterized in that the support shoe includes a stud which carries a resilient body received by a slot in the support frame in a manner that allows the support shoe to serve as a pivot assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 2, 1988
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: David R. McMahan, Harry S. Murphy, William E. Nagengast, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4757428
    Abstract: An assembly for adjustable mounting of a headlamp assembly relative to a frame permits both vertical and horizontal pivotal movement of the headlamp assembly relative to the frame to allow aiming of the headlamp beam. The frame has an elongate slot for receiving the mounting assembly and the headlamp assembly has a housing to be coupled to the mounting assembly so as to permit pivotal motion for adjustment thereof relative to the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1988
    Assignees: Ryder International Corporation, Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Francis E. Ryder, Stephen P. Lisak
  • Patent number: 4716344
    Abstract: A system for directing a plurality of lighting instruments in accordance with an operator designed sequence. The system includes a control module and a plurality of satellite modules where each satellite module is, in turn, connected in a controlling relationship to a further plurality of drive motors which are mechanically connected to the light assemblies for directing the beams to move in accordance with a stored program of presets contained in the memory of a microprocessor in the control module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1987
    Assignee: Micro Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Darrel E. Newell, Mary C. O'Brien
  • Patent number: 4516191
    Abstract: A retractable automobile head-light device including a retractable head lamp mounted through a linkage for movement between a retracted position and an extended position. A lamp cover panel is mounted at the rear end portion on the automobile body for vertical movements and twisting movements. A lamp cover driving mechanism includes a pair of driving links each connected at one end to the lamp cover panel through a lug and at the other end to the linkage so that the lamp cover is swingably moved together with the movement of the head lamp between the extended and retracted positions. The driving link at the laterally outboard side is larger in length than the inboard link and the lugs for the links have a difference in length complementary to the difference in lengths of the driving links.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1984
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1985
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Naomune Moriyama, Fumiyuki Ohtani
  • Patent number: 4486688
    Abstract: A method and an arrangement are disclosed for regulating a path length defined by a pressure-responsive unit. Whenever a coarse positional adjustment has been made, a pause period is made to elapse before a fine adjustment (if any) is carried out. This arrangement does not, due to the pause period, require any accommodation or tuning to regulating stages having different decay behaviors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1982
    Date of Patent: December 4, 1984
    Assignee: Pierburg GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Eckehard Schmitz
  • Patent number: 4471410
    Abstract: A headlight apparatus for a motorcar including a headlight and a mechanism for protruding and retracting the same above and below, respectively, the upper front portion of the car body. The mechanism includes a pair of parallel links on each side of the headlight pivotally attached at one end to the car body and at the other to the headlight, a crank having a pin and being driven by an electric motor and a connector connecting the pin to one of the pair of parallel links intermediate the ends thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1982
    Date of Patent: September 11, 1984
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masahito Nakano
  • Patent number: 4423471
    Abstract: A mobile lighting unit which includes a plurality of lighting fixtures, each utilizing high-wattage, high-intensity lamps. The fixtures comprise a socket and hemispherical reflector assembly which are vertically and horizontally adjustably mounted to a lighting rack by an adjustable elbow member. The lamps are positioned in said fixtures so that their longitudinal axis is parallel to the light beam formed by the reflector, requiring one end of the lamp to be inserted in the socket and the other end to extend to the center of the hemispherical reflector. The lamps are cooled by pressurized air produced by a fan and transported through air tight channels in the lighting rack. The lamps are shock-dampened by mounting their socket end to a metal spring located on the interior wall of the socket and by attaching wires to the front end of the lamp, which are in turn attached to metal springs on the interior surface of the reflector. Thus, the lamp is fully shock absorber protected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1982
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1983
    Assignee: Mycro-Group Company
    Inventors: Myron K. Gordin, James L. Drost, Bryan L. Mydosh
  • Patent number: 4380789
    Abstract: A concealable headlamp assembly and an actuator therefor that provides an increased force output for moving the headlamp assembly from the concealed position to the exposed position when opening movement of the headlamp assembly is resisted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 1980
    Date of Patent: April 19, 1983
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Gale M. Craig
  • Patent number: 4206497
    Abstract: A folding headlight for motor vehicles in which the housing holding the main headlights, has a topside which is made at least partially of a light-permeable material. An auxiliary headlight is located within the topside portion of the housing and serves as a light signal. The auxiliary headlight is aligned in the folded position of the housing and has its main beam axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. When viewed in the direction of travel, the auxiliary headlight is located ahead of the main headlights and is displaced upward relative to them. The auxiliary headlight is a broad-band headlight, and the main beam axes of the auxiliary headlight and the main headlight include an angle which corresponds to the tilt angle of the housing. In the extended position of the housing, the light signal is connected to the main headlight which is constructed as a long-distance headlight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1978
    Date of Patent: June 3, 1980
    Inventor: Karl Kressel
  • Patent number: 4195327
    Abstract: The device comprises a bar pivoted to a swing-bar whose ends are each connected to a piston rod of a jack having two positions. The travel of one of the jacks is equal to double the travel of the other. The front end of the bar is connected to the upper part of a headlamp and the bar is connected to the middle of the swing-bar. The ends of the latter are formed over and engaged in notches formed in a support of the device. The edges of the notches constitute abutments for the swing-bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1978
    Date of Patent: March 25, 1980
    Assignee: Automobiles Peugeot
    Inventor: Gerard Piquot
  • Patent number: 4186428
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for the joint control of the inclination of the headlights of an automobile, of the type comprising an electric motor-reduction gear mechanically coupled to each headlight to adjust the inclination thereof, each motor-reduction gear being of the type comprising, in series in its electrical supply circuit, an electrical switch actuated generator that the motor-reduction gear makes a predetermined rotation, and comprising a time base possessing at least one output and capable of supplying in controlled manner on said output a series of electrical pulses at intervals of time at least equal to the time necessary for the motor-reduction gears to make said predetermined rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1978
    Date of Patent: January 29, 1980
    Assignee: Cibie Projecteurs
    Inventor: Alain Deverrewaere
  • Patent number: 4142228
    Abstract: An operating wire directly and operatively connected to a lamp casing for swingingly moving same by linear movement of the operating wire and a pulley for converting the direction of linear movement of the operating wire to the direction of swinging movement of the lamp casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1977
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1979
    Assignees: Nissan Motor Company, Limited, Ichikoh Industries Limited
    Inventors: Kimio Kumagai, Masao Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 4065806
    Abstract: A searchlight or the like comprising a base, a housing rotatable horizontally and accommodating one or more lamps and reflectors, and a planetary rotation mechanism provided between the base and the housing to rotate the housing. A support frame carrying lamps and reflectors thereon is pivotally connected within the housing for vertical tilting movement centering around a horizontal axis passing through focal points of the reflector. The irradiation angle can be easily varied by tilting upwardly or downwardly the supporting frame without tilting the heavy housing. The circumferential position of irradiation can be changed by operating the planetary rotation mechanism which is compact in size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1976
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1977
    Assignee: Sanshin Dengu Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Taiji Satoh