US4121278A — Motorcycle headlight tilt control

Claim 1

Independent Claim 243 words

In combination with motorcycle headlight structure and wind deflecting fairing, (a) support means supporting the headlight structure to the fairing so that the headlight is tiltable to tilt the headlight forward beam up and down, said structure including a lamp casing, (b) a manual control on the fairing, and (c) other means connected with the headlight structure and the manual control to controllably tilt the headlight in response to manual operation of said control, (d) there being a spring acting to transmit force biasing said headlight structure in a tilt direction, (e) said other means including interconnection structure including first and second parts that are interconnected so that rotation of the manual control displaces said parts to tilt the headlight as aforesaid, (f) the fairing including a re-entrant portion receiving the headlight structure, and a shelf spaced above the level of said re-entrant portion, said manual control located above said shelf, there being openings in the shelf and re-entrant portion of the fairing to receive said interconnection structure, (g) said other means including multi-legged brackets integral with the casing and supporting said first part to swivel about a lateral axis as the headlight is tilted, there being trunnion means on said first part and received in at least one bracket carried opening, the trunnion means having an edge to frictionally engage a bore defining said opening in response to force exertion by the spring, thereby to hold the casing in selected tilt position.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 243 words

In combination with motorcycle headlight structure and wind deflecting fairing, (a) support means supporting the headlight structure to the fairing so that the headlight is tiltable to tilt the headlight forward beam up and down, said structure including a lamp casing, (b) a manual control on the fairing, and (c) other means connected with the headlight structure and the manual control to controllably tilt the headlight in response to manual operation of said control, (d) there being a spring acting to transmit force biasing said headlight structure in a tilt direction, (e) said other means including interconnection structure including first and second parts that are interconnected so that rotation of the manual control displaces said parts to tilt the headlight as aforesaid, (f) the fairing including a re-entrant portion receiving the headlight structure, and a shelf spaced above the level of said re-entrant portion, said manual control located above said shelf, there being openings in the shelf and re-entrant portion of the fairing to receive said interconnection structure, (g) said other means including multi-legged brackets integral with the casing and supporting said first part to swivel about a lateral axis as the headlight is tilted, there being trunnion means on said first part and received in at least one bracket carried opening, the trunnion means having an edge to frictionally engage a bore defining said opening in response to force exertion by the spring, thereby to hold the casing in selected tilt position.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 57 words

The combination of claim 1 wherein said first part is connected to the casing in offset relation to said axis, and said second part is elongated and connected to the manual control, said parts having threaded interengagement characterized in that rotation of said second part by said manual control displaces said first part relatively up and down.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 43 words

The combination of claim 2 wherein said spring comprises a compression spring about said second part and urging said casing about said axis in a direction tending to tilt the beam upwardly, said second part resisting displacement of the casing by the spring.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 40 words

The combination of claim 2 wherein said spring comprises a tension spring connected between the fairing and said casing and urging the casing in one direction about said axis, said second part resisting displacement of the casing by the spring.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 55 words

The combination of claim 2 wherein said shelf is above the re-entrant portion, and said manual control comprises a knob directly over said shelf, said second part operatively connected to the knob and projecting through said opening in said re-entrant portion of the fairing, said first part located within said re-entrant portion of the fairing.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 18 words

The combination of claim 5 wherein said second part also passes through said opening defined by the shelf.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 57 words

The combination of claim 5 wherein said spring comprises a compression spring about the second part in the space between the shelf and said re-entrant portion of the fairing, said spring urging said casing about said axis in a direction tending to tilt the beam upwardly, said second part resisting displacement of the casing by the spring.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1981-10-16	1982-04-17	1982-10-17	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1985-10-16	1986-04-17	1986-10-17	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1989-10-16	1990-04-17	1990-10-17	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Motorcycle headlight tilt control

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