US3643082A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vehicle lighting systems
Assignee: Automobiles Citroen SA
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Filing: 1969-02-11
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Granted: 1972-02-15
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Expires: 1989-02-11
Abstract
Abstract Pivotal headlamps are connected to a vehicle suspension system to cause the lamp beams to move to illuminate a curve in a road and a mechanical or hydraulic system is operated by the vehicle suspension to ensure that the beams remain in the same plane despite pitching movements of the vehicle.
Inventors
- 👤 Jacques Fleury
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 18:33
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60Q; B60Q1/00; B60Q1/02; B60Q1/04; B60Q1/06; B60Q1/08; B60Q1/10; B60Q1/18; B60Q2300/00; B60Q2300/10; B60Q2300/12; B60Q2300/122; B60Q2300/13; B60Q2300/132
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
201 words
In a vehicle a pair of road wheels, a steering system controlling said pair of road wheels, a first pair of headlamps, and a vehicle structure, the improvement comprising first means for mounting each lamp which include a first support pivotally mounted to the chassis of the vehicle at one end of a vertical axis through the lamp to tilt said axis relative to said vehicle by moving the second end of the axis in a plane substantially vertical and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, and a second support mounted on said first support on which the lamp can rotate in a horizontal direction on said vertical axis, second means operated by said steering system for rotating each of said headlamps about said axis in the direction in which said steering system acts to orientate said road wheels, and third means responsive to the angle of pitch of the vehicle body for tilting the axis of each lamp in a plane substantially vertical and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle whereby the longitudinal axis of the beam of each headlamp is kept substantially constantly in a predetermined plane irrespective of any pitching motion of the vehicle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
201 words
In a vehicle a pair of road wheels, a steering system controlling said pair of road wheels, a first pair of headlamps, and a vehicle structure, the improvement comprising first means for mounting each lamp which include a first support pivotally mounted to the chassis of the vehicle at one end of a vertical axis through the lamp to tilt said axis relative to said vehicle by moving the second end of the axis in a plane substantially vertical and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, and a second support mounted on said first support on which the lamp can rotate in a horizontal direction on said vertical axis, second means operated by said steering system for rotating each of said headlamps about said axis in the direction in which said steering system acts to orientate said road wheels, and third means responsive to the angle of pitch of the vehicle body for tilting the axis of each lamp in a plane substantially vertical and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle whereby the longitudinal axis of the beam of each headlamp is kept substantially constantly in a predetermined plane irrespective of any pitching motion of the vehicle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
130 words
In a vehicle according to claim 1, a second pair of lamps for illuminating an area closer to the vehicle than the area to be illuminated by the first said pair of lamps, each of said second pair of lamps being carried by said first means on a pivotally mounted support mounted to the chassis of the vehicle at one end of the vertical axis through the lamp to tilt said axis relative to a horizontal axis extending transversely of the vehicle, by moving the second end of the axis in a plane substantially vertical and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, whereby the longitudinal axis of the beam of each headlamp is kept substantially constantly in a predetermined plane irrespective of any pitching motion of the vehicle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
78 words
In a vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the supports are further provided with other supports on which each lamp can rotate in a horizontal direction on said axis and means connecting the lamps of the second pair of the steering system, said connecting means serving to rotate the lamps in the direction in which said steering system acts to orientate the road wheels through an angle differing from the rotational angle of the first pair of lamps.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
127 words
In a vehicle according to claim 1, in which said first support of said first means include, a first ball joint mounting one lamp of said first pair of lamps at the top of said lamp, a second ball joint mounting the other lamp of said pair of lamps at the top of said lamp, first and second control rods, a third ball joinT mounting the one lamp on the first control rod at the bottom of the lamp, and a fourth ball joint mounting the other lamp on the second control rod at the bottom of the lamp, said first and said second control rods being movable by said third means in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle whereby to vary the orientation of the lamps.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
109 words
In a vehicle according to claim 1, which includes a second pair of head-lamps and in which said first means comprise a support frame means carrying one lamp of each pair, said frame means being pivotally mounted to the chassis of the vehicle at one end of a vertical axis through at least one lamp, to tilt the axis of both lamps relative to said support by moving the second end of the axis of the lamps in a plane substantially vertical and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, said frame means including at least one second support mounted thereon which can rotate at least one lamp.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
In a vertical according to claim 5, a spindle, both said frames being mounted to pivot about said spindle.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
A vehicle according to claim 5, wherein the lamps mounted to rotate in the frames are the lamps of the second pair is fixed to the corresponding frame.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
A vehicle according to claim 5, wherein both of said frame means are further adapted to rotate the lamps situated on the same side of the vehicle.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
A vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the lamps of the second pair include double filament bulbs.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
42 words
In a vehicle according to claim 1, in which said third means include a torsion bar interconnecting said road wheels, and a member secured to and extending radially from the torsion bar, said member being angularly movable to actuate said third means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-02-14 | 1975-08-16 | 1976-02-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-02-14 | 1979-08-16 | 1980-02-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-02-14 | 1983-08-16 | 1984-02-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |