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US4677532A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Screened vehicular headlight with an ellipsoidal reflector

Assignee: Hella GmbH and Co KGaA
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Filing: 1986-07-11
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Granted: 1987-06-30
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Expires: 2006-07-11
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Abstract

Abstract A screened vehicular headlight with an ellipsoidal reflector has a source of light positioned in the reflector's first focal area. The headlight has a collecting lens positioned in the path of the rays behind the second focal area and accommodated in a rectangular area of a holder. A screen that produces a light-dark border is positioned between the collecting lens and the reflector and in the focal area of the lens. A transparent cover over the collecting lens has margins extending radially beyond the lens. The holder that accommodates the collecting lens has, above the horizontal midplane of the headlight, an upper marginal section that is bent toward the inside of the headlight and lateral marginal sections that extend out at an acute angle to the optical axis and extend far enough into the headlight to screen off not only the light that leaves bulb and directly strikes the marginal areas of the lens cover that extend radially beyond the collecting lens but also the view into the headlight through the marginal areas of the lens cover.

Inventors

  • 👤 Wolfgang Peitz
  • 👤 Pietro-Antonio Mazziotti

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-04 08:09
CPC Classifications
F; F21; F21S; F21S41/00; F21S41/50; F21S41/10; F21S41/14; F21S41/162; F21S41/168; F21S41/30; F21S41/32; F21S41/321; F21S41/40; F21S41/43

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim 292 words
A screened vehicular headlight comprising: an ellipsoidal reflector with a first focal area and a second focal area; a source of light positioned in said first focal area; a collecting lens positioned in a light ray path behind said second focal area; a holder with a flat area having dimensions substantially identical to the dimensions of said lens, said lens being inserted into said flat area of said holder; said holder having a marginal portion bent back toward the inside of the headlight; supporting arms with free ends secured to an outer edge of said reflector, said marginal portion merging into said supporting arms; a screen positioned in the focal area of said collecting lens and between said lens and said reflector; said screen having an upper substantially horizontal edge producing a light-dark border; a transparent cover over said collecting lens and having margins extending radially beyond said lens; said holder having an upper marginal section above a horizontal midplane of said headlight, said upper marginal section being bent toward the inside of said headlight; said holder having also lateral marginal sections extending out at an acute angle to the optical axis of said lens, said lateral marginal sections extending into the headlight by an amount to screen off light leaving said source of light and striking directly marginal areas of said transparent cover, said marginal areas extending radially beyond said collecting lens, said lateral marginal sections screening off also views into the headlight through said marginal areas of said transparent cover, said transparent cover having an area substantially larger than the area of said collecting lens so that said cover has an area surrounding substantially the area of said lens; said holder preventing disturbing light from entering and leaving said headlight.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 292 words
A screened vehicular headlight comprising: an ellipsoidal reflector with a first focal area and a second focal area; a source of light positioned in said first focal area; a collecting lens positioned in a light ray path behind said second focal area; a holder with a flat area having dimensions substantially identical to the dimensions of said lens, said lens being inserted into said flat area of said holder; said holder having a marginal portion bent back toward the inside of the headlight; supporting arms with free ends secured to an outer edge of said reflector, said marginal portion merging into said supporting arms; a screen positioned in the focal area of said collecting lens and between said lens and said reflector; said screen having an upper substantially horizontal edge producing a light-dark border; a transparent cover over said collecting lens and having margins extending radially beyond said lens; said holder having an upper marginal section above a horizontal midplane of said headlight, said upper marginal section being bent toward the inside of said headlight; said holder having also lateral marginal sections extending out at an acute angle to the optical axis of said lens, said lateral marginal sections extending into the headlight by an amount to screen off light leaving said source of light and striking directly marginal areas of said transparent cover, said marginal areas extending radially beyond said collecting lens, said lateral marginal sections screening off also views into the headlight through said marginal areas of said transparent cover, said transparent cover having an area substantially larger than the area of said collecting lens so that said cover has an area surrounding substantially the area of said lens; said holder preventing disturbing light from entering and leaving said headlight.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 28 words
A screened vehicular headlight as defined in claim 1, wherein said upper marginal section of said holder extends out at a substantially acute angle to said optical axis.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 51 words
A screened vehicular headlight as defined in claim 1, wherein said flat area holding the inserted lens in said holder has a substantially rectangular shape, said marginal portion of said rectangular shape being bent in toward the inside of said headlight and being made out of one piece of sheet metal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 49 words
A screened vehicular headlight as defined in claim 3, wherein said marginal portion comprises marginal sections bent in toward the inside of the headlight and extend at a substantially acute angle to said optical axis between two adjacent supporting arms, said marginal sections being cut free and bent outward.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 47 words
A screened vehicular headlight as defined in claim 1, wherein said flat area holding the inserted lens in said holder having a rectangular shape, said marginal portion extending at a substantially acute angle to said optical axis and being made out of one piece of sheet metal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 21 words
A screened vehicular headlight as defined in claim 1, wherein surfaces of said holder facing said transparent cover are reflecting surfaces.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 349 words
A screened vehicular headlight comprising: an ellipsoidal reflector with a first focal area and a second focal area; a source of light positioned in said first focal area; a collecting lens positioned in a light ray path behind said second focal area; a holder with a flat area having dimensions substantially identical to the dimensions of said lens, said lens being inserted into said flat area of said holder; said holder having a marginal portion bent back toward the inside of the headlight; supporting arms with free ends secured to an outer edge of said reflector, said marginal portion merging into said supporting arms; a screen positioned in the focal area of said collecting lens and between said lens and said reflector; said screen having an upper substantially horizontal edge producing a light-dark border; a transparent cover over said collecting lens and having margins extending radially beyond said lens; said holder having an upper marginal section above a horizontal midplane of said headlight, said upper marginal section being bent toward the inside of said headlight; said holder having also lateral marginal sections extending out at an acute angle to the optical axis of said lens, said lateral marginal sections extending into the headlight by an amount to screen off light leaving said source of light and striking directly marginal areas of said transparent cover, said marginal areas extending radially beyond said collecting lens, said lateral marginal sections screening off also views into the headlight through said marginal areas of said transparent cover, said transparent cover having an area substantially larger than the area of said collecting lens so that said cover has an area surrounding substantially the area of said lens; said holder preventing disturbing light from entering and leaving said headlight; said flat area holding said collecting lens in said holder having a rectangular shape, said marginal portion comprising marginal sections of said rectangular shape and being bent in toward the inside of said headlight and extending at a substantially acute angle to said optical axis, said marginal sections being made out of one piece of sheet metal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 349 words
A screened vehicular headlight comprising: an ellipsoidal reflector with a first focal area and a second focal area; a source of light positioned in said first focal area; a collecting lens positioned in a light ray path behind said second focal area; a holder with a flat area having dimensions substantially identical to the dimensions of said lens, said lens being inserted into said flat area of said holder; said holder having a marginal portion bent back toward the inside of the headlight; supporting arms with free ends secured to an outer edge of said reflector, said marginal portion merging into said supporting arms; a screen positioned in the focal area of said collecting lens and between said lens and said reflector; said screen having an upper substantially horizontal edge producing a light-dark border; a transparent cover over said collecting lens and having margins extending radially beyond said lens; said holder having an upper marginal section above a horizontal midplane of said headlight, said upper marginal section being bent toward the inside of said headlight; said holder having also lateral marginal sections extending out at an acute angle to the optical axis of said lens, said lateral marginal sections extending into the headlight by an amount to screen off light leaving said source of light and striking directly marginal areas of said transparent cover, said marginal areas extending radially beyond said collecting lens, said lateral marginal sections screening off also views into the headlight through said marginal areas of said transparent cover, said transparent cover having an area substantially larger than the area of said collecting lens so that said cover has an area surrounding substantially the area of said lens; said holder preventing disturbing light from entering and leaving said headlight; said flat area holding said collecting lens in said holder having a rectangular shape, said marginal portion comprising marginal sections of said rectangular shape and being bent in toward the inside of said headlight and extending at a substantially acute angle to said optical axis, said marginal sections being made out of one piece of sheet metal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 395 words
A screened vehicular headlight comprising: an ellipsoidal reflector with a first focal area and a second focal area; a source of light positioned in said first focal area; a collecting lens positioned in a light ray path behind said second focal area; a holder with a flat area having dimensions substantially identical to the dimensions of said lens, said lens being inserted into said flat area of said holder; said holder having a marginal portion bent back toward the inside of the headlight; supporting arms with free ends secured to an outer edge of said reflector, said marginal portion merging into said supporting arms; a screen positioned in the focal area of said collecting lens and between said lens and said reflector; said screen having an upper substantially horizontal edge producing a light-dark border; a transparent cover over said collecting lens and having margins extending radially beyond said lens; said holder having an upper marginal section above a horizontal midplane of said headlight, said upper marginal section being bent toward the inside of said headlight; said holder having also lateral marginal sections extending out at an acute angle to the optical axis of said lens, said lateral marginal sections extending into the headlight by an amount to screen off light leaving said source of light and striking directly marginal areas of said transparent cover, said marginal areas extending radially beyond said collecting lens, said lateral marginal sections screening off also views into the headlight through said marginal areas of said transparent cover, said transparent cover having an area substantially larger than the area of said collecting lens so that said cover has an area surrounding substantially the area of said lens; said holder preventing disturbing light from entering and leaving said headlight; said upper marginal section of said holder extending out at a substantially acute angle to said optical axis; said flat area for holding said collecting lens in said holder having a rectangular shape, said marginal portion comprising marginal sections of said rectangular shape and being bent in toward the inside of the headlight and extending at substantially acute angle to said optical axis, said marginal sections being made out of one piece of sheet metal; said marginal sections being positioned between two adjacent supporting arms and being cut free and bent outward; surfaces of said holder facing said transparent cover comprising reflecting surfaces.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 395 words
A screened vehicular headlight comprising: an ellipsoidal reflector with a first focal area and a second focal area; a source of light positioned in said first focal area; a collecting lens positioned in a light ray path behind said second focal area; a holder with a flat area having dimensions substantially identical to the dimensions of said lens, said lens being inserted into said flat area of said holder; said holder having a marginal portion bent back toward the inside of the headlight; supporting arms with free ends secured to an outer edge of said reflector, said marginal portion merging into said supporting arms; a screen positioned in the focal area of said collecting lens and between said lens and said reflector; said screen having an upper substantially horizontal edge producing a light-dark border; a transparent cover over said collecting lens and having margins extending radially beyond said lens; said holder having an upper marginal section above a horizontal midplane of said headlight, said upper marginal section being bent toward the inside of said headlight; said holder having also lateral marginal sections extending out at an acute angle to the optical axis of said lens, said lateral marginal sections extending into the headlight by an amount to screen off light leaving said source of light and striking directly marginal areas of said transparent cover, said marginal areas extending radially beyond said collecting lens, said lateral marginal sections screening off also views into the headlight through said marginal areas of said transparent cover, said transparent cover having an area substantially larger than the area of said collecting lens so that said cover has an area surrounding substantially the area of said lens; said holder preventing disturbing light from entering and leaving said headlight; said upper marginal section of said holder extending out at a substantially acute angle to said optical axis; said flat area for holding said collecting lens in said holder having a rectangular shape, said marginal portion comprising marginal sections of said rectangular shape and being bent in toward the inside of the headlight and extending at substantially acute angle to said optical axis, said marginal sections being made out of one piece of sheet metal; said marginal sections being positioned between two adjacent supporting arms and being cut free and bent outward; surfaces of said holder facing said transparent cover comprising reflecting surfaces.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

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US1260439A Cited
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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) 1990-06-29 1990-12-29 1991-06-30 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1994-06-29 1994-12-29 1995-06-30 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1998-06-29 1998-12-29 1999-06-30 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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