US3818210A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vehicular road-lighting system having a headlamp with a dual-segment reflector
Assignee: Philips North America LLC
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Filing: 1973-01-17
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Granted: 1974-06-18
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Expires: 1993-01-17
Abstract
Abstract A vehicle headlamp having a single concentrated light source and a unitary concave reflector which is contoured to provide a pair of hemiparabolic reflector segments that have axially spaced focal points and merge with one another along a protruding step that extends horizontally along the inner surface of the reflector. The light source extends between and is so oriented relative to the focal points of the reflector segments that the light beams from the segments are superimposed and thus form a single composite beam of intense light that has a sharp horizontal cutoff. A shield mounted in front of the light source intercepts direct rays from the source and prevents glare. The lamp is preferably of ''''sealed beam'''' construction and contains a C6 or C8 type filament. Axially or transversely mounted halogenincandescent lamps can also be employed as light sources. The lens component of the lamp is preferably provided with vertically extending flutes to provide additional control of the beam pattern or, alternatively, can be made of clear glass. In the case of a PAR 36 type lamp having a C8 filament or an axiallymounted halogen-incandescent lamp, a domed lens is used to accommodate the shield and mount structure. Also disclosed are vehicular roadway-lighting systems wherein one of the aforesaid segmented reflector headlamps is combined with three conventional headlamps to provide low-beam, turnpikebeam, and high-beam modes of illumination - or a pair of segmented-reflector lamps are used as an auxiliary lighting system which supplements the illumination of a conventional headlamp system during passing or when driving in a fog or under similar hazardous driving conditions.
Inventors
- 👤 E Pitkjaan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 04:52
CPC Classifications
F; F21; F21S; F21S41/00; F21S41/40; F21S41/43; F21S41/10; F21S41/14; F21S41/162; F21S41/166; F21S41/168; F21S41/20; F21S41/25; F21S41/255; F21S41/30; F21S41/32; F21S41/33; F21S41/331; F21S41/333; F21S41/334; F21S41/336; F21S41/435
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
356 words
In a road-way lighting system for a motor vehicle, the combination comprising; four headlamps mounted on the front of the motor vehicle with a pair of headlamps disposed on each side of the centerline thereof, one headlamp in each of said pairs of headlamps being a low-beam headlamp having a prismatic type lens and a single on-focus light source and, when operated together, producing a depressed light beam which is directed toward the right side of the roadway and is thus adapted for use in heavy traffic conditions, another headlamp in either one of said pairs of headlamps being a turnpike-beam headlamp having (a) a unitary reflector which is divided into two hemiparabolic segments that are axially offset relative to one another and have focal points that are spaced from one another along the mechanical axis of the reflector, (b) a single compact light source which extends between said focal points, and (c) a shield that is disposed in front of and in masking relationship with said light source so that said turnpike-beam headlamp, when energized, produces a composite beam of light that supplements the illumination produced by the two low-beam headlamps and thereby provides a modified light beam that is intensified in the direction of the center of the roadway and is thus adapted for turnpike driving, the remaining headlamp in said pairs of headlamps being a high-beam headlamp which has a prismatic lens and a single onfocus light source and, when energized, produces a beam of light which is centered on the roadway and supplements the turnpike-driving beam and thereby provides a high-beam mode of illumination adapted for driving in low-density traffic, and an eNergizing circuit including (d) a main two-position switch operable in one position to energize the two low-beam headlamps, and (e) an auxiliary switch operable to energize the turnpike-beam headlamp without deenergizing the low-beam headlamps, said main switch in its other position being operable to energize the remaining high-beam headlamp and thus provide high-beam illumination, and said auxiliary switch being operable to return said lighting system to the low-beam mode of illumination from both the turnpike-beam and high-beam modes of illumination.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
356 words
In a road-way lighting system for a motor vehicle, the combination comprising; four headlamps mounted on the front of the motor vehicle with a pair of headlamps disposed on each side of the centerline thereof, one headlamp in each of said pairs of headlamps being a low-beam headlamp having a prismatic type lens and a single on-focus light source and, when operated together, producing a depressed light beam which is directed toward the right side of the roadway and is thus adapted for use in heavy traffic conditions, another headlamp in either one of said pairs of headlamps being a turnpike-beam headlamp having (a) a unitary reflector which is divided into two hemiparabolic segments that are axially offset relative to one another and have focal points that are spaced from one another along the mechanical axis of the reflector, (b) a single compact light source which extends between said focal points, and (c) a shield that is disposed in front of and in masking relationship with said light source so that said turnpike-beam headlamp, when energized, produces a composite beam of light that supplements the illumination produced by the two low-beam headlamps and thereby provides a modified light beam that is intensified in the direction of the center of the roadway and is thus adapted for turnpike driving, the remaining headlamp in said pairs of headlamps being a high-beam headlamp which has a prismatic lens and a single onfocus light source and, when energized, produces a beam of light which is centered on the roadway and supplements the turnpike-driving beam and thereby provides a high-beam mode of illumination adapted for driving in low-density traffic, and an eNergizing circuit including (d) a main two-position switch operable in one position to energize the two low-beam headlamps, and (e) an auxiliary switch operable to energize the turnpike-beam headlamp without deenergizing the low-beam headlamps, said main switch in its other position being operable to energize the remaining high-beam headlamp and thus provide high-beam illumination, and said auxiliary switch being operable to return said lighting system to the low-beam mode of illumination from both the turnpike-beam and high-beam modes of illumination.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The vehicular roadway-lighting system of claim 1 wherein the light source in said turnpike-beam headlamp comprises a tubular halogen-incandescent lamp.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
72 words
an electrical circuit for energizing said auxiliary headlamps including a switch operable to energize said auxiliary headlamps when the primary headlamps are operating in their low-beam mode of illumination, both of said auxiliary headlamps being so oriented on the vehicle that the respective composite beams therefrom provide illumination which supplements the low-beam illumination of the primary headlamp lighting system and projects light further down the roadway with a minimum amount of glare.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
72 words
an electrical circuit for energizing said auxiliary headlamps including a switch operable to energize said auxiliary headlamps when the primary headlamps are operating in their low-beam mode of illumination, both of said auxiliary headlamps being so oriented on the vehicle that the respective composite beams therefrom provide illumination which supplements the low-beam illumination of the primary headlamp lighting system and projects light further down the roadway with a minimum amount of glare.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
53 words
The vehicular roadway-lighting system of claim 1 wherein; each of said low-beam headlamps contains a shield that is disposed in front of and in masking relationship with the associated light source, and said turnpike-beam headlamp has a vitreous lens with vertically-extending integral flutes that bend the transmitted light rays in a lateral direction.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
The vehicular roadway-lighting system of claim 1 wherein; each of said headlamps are of the sealed beam type, and each of said light sources comprises a coiled C6 type filament.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
The vehicular roadway-lighting system of claim 1 wherein; each of said headlamps, are of the sealed beam type, and said high-beam headlamp has a nominal wattage rating which is higher than that of any of the other said headlamps.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
47 words
The vehicular roadway-lighting system of claim 5 wherein; the light source in each of the said headlamps comprises a coiled refractory wire filament, said low-beam and turnpike-beam headlamps each have a nominal rating of 50 watts, and said high-beam headlamp has a nominal rating of 60 watts.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
58 words
In a combination with a primary headlamp lighting system for a motor vehicle wherein the headlamps are mounted on the front of the vehicle and connected to an energizing system adapted to permit selective operation of the headlamps to provide low-beam and high-beam modes of illumination, an auxiliary lighting system for supplementing said low-beam mode of illumination comprising;
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
58 words
In a combination with a primary headlamp lighting system for a motor vehicle wherein the headlamps are mounted on the front of the vehicle and connected to an energizing system adapted to permit selective operation of the headlamps to provide low-beam and high-beam modes of illumination, an auxiliary lighting system for supplementing said low-beam mode of illumination comprising;
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
The combination of claim 7 wherein said auxiliary headlamps comprise sealed-beam type lamps.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
The combination of claim 8 wherein the light source in each of said auxiliary sealed-beam headlamps compriseS a tubular halogen-incandescent lamp the filament whereof extends between the focal points of the associated hemiparabolic reflector segments.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
The combination of claim 8 wherein the light source in each of said auxiliary sealed-beam headlamps comprises a coiled filament of refractory metal.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-06-17 | 1977-12-17 | 1978-06-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-06-17 | 1981-12-17 | 1982-06-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-06-17 | 1985-12-17 | 1986-06-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |