US3982121A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Headlamp tilting system in a motor vehicle
Assignee: Carello Lighting PLC
•
Filing: 1975-03-05
•
Granted: 1976-09-21
•
Expires: 1995-03-05
Abstract
Abstract The headlamp tilting system comprises a headlamp tilting mechanism and a headlamp securing mechanism. The headlamp tilting system includes a tensioned cable which leads to a sensor at the rear of the motor vehicle and is connected with a tube having a slidable output rod therein connected with a cross rod upon which headlamps of the motor vehicle are mounted. The tube is movable relative to a body of the vehicle and the output rod is connected with the tube via a pair of springs. The headlamp securing mechanism comprises a lever carrying a catch in the form of a V-shaped notch which is engageable over a pin carried by a lever secured to the cross rod. A spring biasses the lever into a position in which the catch engages the pin but an abutment on the lever engaging a pin in an elongate slot in the rod normally prevents such movement. In the event of a breakage of the cable, the springs within the tube cause a plate on the tube to engage an extension on lever to effect disengagement of the abutment from the pin. This action causes spring to urge the lever so that the catch engages the pin on the lever secured to the cross rod. In this manner, movement of the headlamps is limited.
Inventors
- 👤 Frederick Raymond Patrick Martin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 20:10
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60Q; B60Q1/00; B60Q1/02; B60Q1/04; B60Q1/06; B60Q1/08; B60Q1/10; B60Q1/11; B60Q1/105
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
204 words
In a motor vehicle having a body, wheels on which said body is mounted and a headlamp mounted for tilting movement on said body, a headlamp tilting system comprising a headlamp tilting mechanism, and a headlamp securing mechanism which is arranged to override said headlamp tilting mechanism and which is normally de-activated to permit said headlamp tilting mechanism to tilt said headlamp, said headlamp tilting mechanism including an element which is normally maintained in tension and which is movable in response to variations in the attitude of said vehicle body relative to said wheels caused by variations in the load carried by said vehicle body, and a member disposed in a part of said headlamp tilting mechanism which connects said element with said headlamp, said member being arranged to activate said headlamp securing mechanism when it moves into a predetermined position, said member being biassed towards said predetermined position but being held against movement into said predetermined position by the tension in said element whereby, when a loss of tension occurs in said element, said member moves into its said predetermined position under the action of its bias to activate said headlamp securing mechanism which is arranged to limit tilting movement of said headlamp.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
204 words
In a motor vehicle having a body, wheels on which said body is mounted and a headlamp mounted for tilting movement on said body, a headlamp tilting system comprising a headlamp tilting mechanism, and a headlamp securing mechanism which is arranged to override said headlamp tilting mechanism and which is normally de-activated to permit said headlamp tilting mechanism to tilt said headlamp, said headlamp tilting mechanism including an element which is normally maintained in tension and which is movable in response to variations in the attitude of said vehicle body relative to said wheels caused by variations in the load carried by said vehicle body, and a member disposed in a part of said headlamp tilting mechanism which connects said element with said headlamp, said member being arranged to activate said headlamp securing mechanism when it moves into a predetermined position, said member being biassed towards said predetermined position but being held against movement into said predetermined position by the tension in said element whereby, when a loss of tension occurs in said element, said member moves into its said predetermined position under the action of its bias to activate said headlamp securing mechanism which is arranged to limit tilting movement of said headlamp.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
105 words
The headlamp tilting system according to claim 1, wherein the headlamp securing mechanism includes an abutment member fixedly connected with the headlamp for movement therewith, a spring loaded lever, and a catch connected for movement with the lever and engageable, upon movement of the lever under the action of its spring, with the abutment member so as to limit movement of the latter, the arrangement being such that, when said member in the headlamp tilting mechanism moves into its said predetermined position, said member effects movement of the lever so that the spring is triggered and moves the catch into engagement with the abutment member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
84 words
The headlamp tilting system according to claim 1, wherein the headlamp tilting mechanism further includes a mass which is mounted to be movable relative to the vehicle body under acceleration and braking forces and arranged to effect tilting of the headlamp in addition to tilting of the headlamp caused by movement of the said element, and the headlamp securing mechanism is arranged so as to permit the headlamps to be tilted under the action of said mass when the headlamp securing mechanism is activated.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
The headlamp tilting system according to claim 3, wherein tilting of the headlamps under acceleration and braking forces is permitted by arranging a predetermined amount of relative movement between the catch and the abutment member when the two are interengaged.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The headlamp tilting system according to claim 4, wherein the amount of movement between the abutment member and the catch is adjustable.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
GB1166482A
Cited
US3840729A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-09-21 | 1980-03-22 | 1980-09-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-09-21 | 1984-03-22 | 1984-09-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-09-21 | 1988-03-22 | 1988-09-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |