US4511955A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vehicle headlight
Assignee: Westfaelische Metall Industrie KG Hueck and Co
•
Filing: 1983-05-16
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Granted: 1985-04-16
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Expires: 2003-05-16
Abstract
Abstract A vehicle headlight for providing a shaped beam spreading as a flat bundle. A dish-shaped reflector is employed where the inner reflection surface in the axial longitudinal sections in each case forms an ellipse segment, where the ellipse eccentricity increases from the longitudinal section spanned by the vertical and the reflector axis to the longitudinal section spanned by the horizontal and the reflector axis, where the focal points of the ellipse segments of all sections disposed in planes containing the reflector axis coincide, and where the vertices of the ellipse segments of all sections disposed in planes containing the reflector axis coincide. The depth of the reflector within the longitudinal sections of the reflector containing the reflector axis corresponds to the longer half-axis of the respective ellipse.
Inventors
- 👤 Hans-Otto Ernst
- 👤 Wilhelm Rohling
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 07:47
CPC Classifications
F; F21; F21S; F21S41/00; F21S41/30; F21S41/32; F21S41/33; F21S41/334; F21S41/336; F21S41/323
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
103 words
A vehicle headlight for providing a shaped beam comprising a dish-shaped reflector having an axis where an inner reflection surface in a section containing the axis of the reflector in each case forms an ellipse segment; where the ellipse eccentricity increases from the longitudinal section spanned by the vertical and the reflector axis to the longitudinal section spanned by the horizontal and the reflector axis; where the focal points of the ellipse segments of all sections disposed in planes containing the reflector axis coincide; and where the vertices of the ellipse segments of all sections disposed in planes containing the ellipse axis coincide.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
103 words
A vehicle headlight for providing a shaped beam comprising a dish-shaped reflector having an axis where an inner reflection surface in a section containing the axis of the reflector in each case forms an ellipse segment; where the ellipse eccentricity increases from the longitudinal section spanned by the vertical and the reflector axis to the longitudinal section spanned by the horizontal and the reflector axis; where the focal points of the ellipse segments of all sections disposed in planes containing the reflector axis coincide; and where the vertices of the ellipse segments of all sections disposed in planes containing the ellipse axis coincide.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
The vehicle headlight for providing a shaped light beam according to claim 1 wherein the depth of the reflector within the longitudinal sections of the reflector containing the reflector axis correspond to the full length of a longer half-axis of the respective ellipse.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
The vehicle headlight for providing a shaped light beam according to claim 1 wherein the eccentricity e of the ellipse segment disposed in a longitudinal section plane containing the vertical is from about 0.6 to 0.75.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
The vehicle headlight for providing a shaped light beam according to claim 1 wherein the eccentricity e of the ellipse segment disposed in a longitudinal section plane containing the horizontal is from about 0.65 to 0.8.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
50 words
The vehicle headlight for providing a shaped light beam according to claim 1 wherein the ratio of the eccentricity of the ellipse segment in a horizontal plane containing the axis to the eccentricity of the ellipse segment in a vertical plane containing the axis is from about 1.05 to 1.20.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The vehicle headlight for providing a shaped light beam according to claim 1 wherein the reflector is produced by an injection molding method.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
The vehicle headlight for providing a shaped light beam according to claim 6 wherein the reflector further comprises an attachment flange radially extending outwardly and formed to an outer contour of the reflector.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The vehicle headlight for providing a shaped light beam according to claim 1 wherein the reflector is produced by a pressing method.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
The vehicle headlight for providing a shaped light beam according to claim 8 wherein the reflector further comprises an attachment flange radially extending outwardly and formed to an outer contour of the reflector.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
44 words
The vehicle headlight for providing a shaped light beam according to claim 1 wherein the reflector further comprises attachment means; and a recessed edge having a non uniform height, attached to the outer edge of the reflector and provided for supporting the attachment means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The vehicle headlight for providing a shaped light beam according to claim 10 wherein the attachment means is a flange formed to the recessed edge.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
126 words
A vehicle headlight for providing a shaped light beam comprising a dish-shaped reflector having an axis where an inner reflection surface in a section containing the axis of the reflector in each case forms an ellipse segment; where the ellipse eccentricity increases from the longitudinal section spanned by the vertical and the reflector axis to the longitudinal section spanned by the horizontal and the reflector axis; where the focal points of the ellipse segments of all sections disposed in planes containing the reflector axis coincide; and where the vertices of the ellipse segments of all sections disposed in planes containing the ellipse axis coincide; and a convex lens disposed about the focal point of the light beam deflected about within a horizontal plane by the reflector.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
126 words
A vehicle headlight for providing a shaped light beam comprising a dish-shaped reflector having an axis where an inner reflection surface in a section containing the axis of the reflector in each case forms an ellipse segment; where the ellipse eccentricity increases from the longitudinal section spanned by the vertical and the reflector axis to the longitudinal section spanned by the horizontal and the reflector axis; where the focal points of the ellipse segments of all sections disposed in planes containing the reflector axis coincide; and where the vertices of the ellipse segments of all sections disposed in planes containing the ellipse axis coincide; and a convex lens disposed about the focal point of the light beam deflected about within a horizontal plane by the reflector.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
40 words
The vehicle headlight for providing a shaped light beam according to claim 12 wherein the size of the lens is adapted to collect light coming from the focal point of light reflected by the reflector within about a vertical plane.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
136 words
A vehicle headlight for providing a shaped light beam comprising a dish-shaped reflector having an axis where an inner reflection surface in a section containing the axis of the reflector in each case forms an ellipse segment; where the ellipse eccentricity increases from the longitudinal section spanned by the vertical and the reflector axis to the longitudinal section spanned by the horizontal and the reflector axis; where the focal points of the ellipse segments of all sections disposed in planes containing the reflector axis coincide; and where the vertices of the ellipse segments of all sections disposed in planes containing the ellipse axis coincide; and a diaphragm disposed about at the focal point of light reflected by the reflector within about a vertical plane and having a substantially horizontally running edge for producing a bright-dark delineation.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
136 words
A vehicle headlight for providing a shaped light beam comprising a dish-shaped reflector having an axis where an inner reflection surface in a section containing the axis of the reflector in each case forms an ellipse segment; where the ellipse eccentricity increases from the longitudinal section spanned by the vertical and the reflector axis to the longitudinal section spanned by the horizontal and the reflector axis; where the focal points of the ellipse segments of all sections disposed in planes containing the reflector axis coincide; and where the vertices of the ellipse segments of all sections disposed in planes containing the ellipse axis coincide; and a diaphragm disposed about at the focal point of light reflected by the reflector within about a vertical plane and having a substantially horizontally running edge for producing a bright-dark delineation.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
170 words
A method for producing a shaped light beam for a vehicle headlight comprising providing a reflector where the vertical plane passing through a reflector axis contains an ellipse segment and where the horizontal plane passing through the reflector axis contains an ellipse segment as inner surface line of the reflector and where the focal points of the ellipse segments of all sections disposed in planes containing the reflector axis coincide and where the vertices of the ellipse segments of all sections disposed in planes containing the ellipse axis coincide and where the ellipse segment about within the horizontal plane has a larger eccentricity as compared to the ellipse segment about within a vertical plane; placing a light source at the coinciding focal point of the ellipse segments disposed close to the reflector; imaging the light reflected within about the vertical plane to an area where a diaphragm is disposed; and imaging the light reflected within about the horizontal plane to a further spaced area where a convex lens is disposed.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
170 words
A method for producing a shaped light beam for a vehicle headlight comprising providing a reflector where the vertical plane passing through a reflector axis contains an ellipse segment and where the horizontal plane passing through the reflector axis contains an ellipse segment as inner surface line of the reflector and where the focal points of the ellipse segments of all sections disposed in planes containing the reflector axis coincide and where the vertices of the ellipse segments of all sections disposed in planes containing the ellipse axis coincide and where the ellipse segment about within the horizontal plane has a larger eccentricity as compared to the ellipse segment about within a vertical plane; placing a light source at the coinciding focal point of the ellipse segments disposed close to the reflector; imaging the light reflected within about the vertical plane to an area where a diaphragm is disposed; and imaging the light reflected within about the horizontal plane to a further spaced area where a convex lens is disposed.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method for producing a shaped light beam for a vehicle headlight according to claim 15 wherein the first imaging step includes generating a bright-dark delineation with the diaphragm disposed about the focal point of the light beam deflected within about a vertical plane.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method for producing a shaped light beam for a vehicle headlight according to claim 15 wherein the providing step includes mounting an attachment flange to a recessed edge of the reflector outside.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
64 words
The method for producing a shaped light beam for a vehicle headlight according to claim 15 wherein the second imaging step includes focussing the light coming from the light source into a bundle substantially running in a horizontal plane, which beam extends over a wider open area as compared with a beam coming from the light source and substantially running in a vertical plane.
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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) | 1988-04-15 | 1988-10-15 | 1989-04-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-04-15 | 1992-10-15 | 1993-04-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-04-15 | 1996-10-15 | 1997-04-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |