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US4807094A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Headlamp assembly

Assignee: Ally Credit Canada Ltd
•
Filing: 1987-12-21
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Granted: 1989-02-21
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Expires: 2007-12-21
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Abstract

Abstract A headlamp assembly having a colorless lens which is positioned flush with the adjacent panels at the front end of a motor vehicle and which includes horizontal louvre and vertical slat means located within the body of the headlamp that art of the same color as the adjacent panels and are positioned and spaced therein so that the lens appears to be the same color as the adjacent panels.

Inventors

  • 👤 Luis A. Mateos
  • 👤 Lawrence M. Rice

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-04 22:19
CPC Classifications
F; F21; F21S; F21S41/00; F21S41/50; F21S41/55; F21S41/40; F21S41/43

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim 228 words
In combination with the front end of a motor vehicle having a pair of laterally spaced openings defined by the outer panel portions of the motor vehicle, each of said openings having a headlamp assembly located therein that includes a housing closed by a colorless lens, said lens having optical flutes formed thereon, a pair of side by side first and second reflector cavities formed in said housing with said first cavity adapted to project a low beam light along a first axis and said second cavity adapted to project a high beam light along a second axis which is inclined upwardly relatively to said first axis, a plurality of blade-like louvres the top portions of which are the same color as the color of said panel portions and being located in said headlamp assembly between said first and second reflector cavities and said lens, the louvres located forwardly of said first cavity being positioned in planes parallel to said first axis and the louvres located forwardly of said second cavity being positioned in planes parallel to said second axis, and the outer surface of said lens being contiguous with the adjacent panel portions of the motor vehicle so when the headlamp assembly is not lighted the color of the louvres causes the lens to appear to the observer to be the same color as the panel portions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 228 words
In combination with the front end of a motor vehicle having a pair of laterally spaced openings defined by the outer panel portions of the motor vehicle, each of said openings having a headlamp assembly located therein that includes a housing closed by a colorless lens, said lens having optical flutes formed thereon, a pair of side by side first and second reflector cavities formed in said housing with said first cavity adapted to project a low beam light along a first axis and said second cavity adapted to project a high beam light along a second axis which is inclined upwardly relatively to said first axis, a plurality of blade-like louvres the top portions of which are the same color as the color of said panel portions and being located in said headlamp assembly between said first and second reflector cavities and said lens, the louvres located forwardly of said first cavity being positioned in planes parallel to said first axis and the louvres located forwardly of said second cavity being positioned in planes parallel to said second axis, and the outer surface of said lens being contiguous with the adjacent panel portions of the motor vehicle so when the headlamp assembly is not lighted the color of the louvres causes the lens to appear to the observer to be the same color as the panel portions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 266 words
In combination with the front end of a motor vehicle having a pair of laterally spaced openings defined by the outer panel portions of the motor vehicle, each of said openings having a headlamp assembly located therein that includes a housing closed by a lens having a front wall which is entirely colorless, said lens having optical flutes formed thereon, a pair of side by side first and second reflector cavities formed in said housing with said first cavity adapted to project a low beam light along a first axis through said front wall of said lens and said second cavity adapted to project a high beam light along a second axis which is inclined upwardly relatively to said first axis, a plurality of blade-like louvres the top portions of which are coated with a matte finish of the same color as the color of the panel portions and being located in said headlamp assembly between said first and second reflector cavities and said lens, the louvres located forwardly of said first cavity being positioned in planes parallel to said first axis and the louvres located forwardly of said second cavity being positioned in planes parallel to said second axis, and the outer surface of said front wall of said lens being contiguous with the adjacent panel portions of the motor vehicle so when the headlamp assembly is not lighted, the color of the louvres causes said entire front wall to appear to be the same color as the color of the panel portions so that the headlamp assembly is in effect concealed to the observer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 266 words
In combination with the front end of a motor vehicle having a pair of laterally spaced openings defined by the outer panel portions of the motor vehicle, each of said openings having a headlamp assembly located therein that includes a housing closed by a lens having a front wall which is entirely colorless, said lens having optical flutes formed thereon, a pair of side by side first and second reflector cavities formed in said housing with said first cavity adapted to project a low beam light along a first axis through said front wall of said lens and said second cavity adapted to project a high beam light along a second axis which is inclined upwardly relatively to said first axis, a plurality of blade-like louvres the top portions of which are coated with a matte finish of the same color as the color of the panel portions and being located in said headlamp assembly between said first and second reflector cavities and said lens, the louvres located forwardly of said first cavity being positioned in planes parallel to said first axis and the louvres located forwardly of said second cavity being positioned in planes parallel to said second axis, and the outer surface of said front wall of said lens being contiguous with the adjacent panel portions of the motor vehicle so when the headlamp assembly is not lighted, the color of the louvres causes said entire front wall to appear to be the same color as the color of the panel portions so that the headlamp assembly is in effect concealed to the observer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 298 words
In combination with the front end of a motor vehicle having a pair of laterally spaced rectangular openings defined by the outer panel portions of the motor vehicle, each of said openings having a rectangular headlamp assembly located therein that includes a housing a lens having a front wall which is entirely colorless, said front wall having an outer surface which is entirely smooth and an inner surface formed with a plurality of horizontal rows of optical flutes, a pair of side by side first and second reflector cavities formed in said housing with said first reflector cavity adapted to project a low beam light along a first axis through said front wall of said lens and said second reflector cavity adapted to project a high beam light along a second axis which is inclined upwardly relatively to said first axis, a plurality of vertically spaced and horizontally extending blade-like louvres the top portions of which are coated with a matte finish of the same color as the color of the panel portions, said louvres being located in said headlamp assembly between said first and second reflector cavities and said lens, each of the louvres having a first section located forwardly of said first cavity positioned in a plane parallel to said first axis and having a second section located forwardly of said second cavity positioned in a plane parallel to said second axis, and said outer surface of said lens being contiguous with the adjacent panel portions of the motor vehicle so when the headlamp assembly is not lighted, the color of the louvres causes said entire front wall of said lens to appear to be the same color as the color of the panel portions causes the headlamp assembly is in effect concealed to the observer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 298 words
In combination with the front end of a motor vehicle having a pair of laterally spaced rectangular openings defined by the outer panel portions of the motor vehicle, each of said openings having a rectangular headlamp assembly located therein that includes a housing a lens having a front wall which is entirely colorless, said front wall having an outer surface which is entirely smooth and an inner surface formed with a plurality of horizontal rows of optical flutes, a pair of side by side first and second reflector cavities formed in said housing with said first reflector cavity adapted to project a low beam light along a first axis through said front wall of said lens and said second reflector cavity adapted to project a high beam light along a second axis which is inclined upwardly relatively to said first axis, a plurality of vertically spaced and horizontally extending blade-like louvres the top portions of which are coated with a matte finish of the same color as the color of the panel portions, said louvres being located in said headlamp assembly between said first and second reflector cavities and said lens, each of the louvres having a first section located forwardly of said first cavity positioned in a plane parallel to said first axis and having a second section located forwardly of said second cavity positioned in a plane parallel to said second axis, and said outer surface of said lens being contiguous with the adjacent panel portions of the motor vehicle so when the headlamp assembly is not lighted, the color of the louvres causes said entire front wall of said lens to appear to be the same color as the color of the panel portions causes the headlamp assembly is in effect concealed to the observer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 27 words
The headlamp assembly according to claim 3 wherein one of said plurality of louvres is located at each horizontal parting line between said rows of optical flutes.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 39 words
The headlamp assembly according to claim 4 wherein said plurality of louvres are interconnected by a plurality of horizontally spaced and vertically orientated slats each of which is of the same color as said top portion of said louvres.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 22 words
The headlamp assembly according to claim 5 wherein a horizontal midway louvre is located midway between each of said horizontal parting lines.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 44 words
The headlamp assembly according to claim 6 wherein a straight line drawin from the front edge of said midway louvre to the rear edge of the adjacent louver immediately below and the plane of the latter provides an included angle of substantially 11 degrees.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 48 words
The headlamp assembly according to claim 7 wherein the first axis of said first reflector cavity is slightly bent towards the curb side of said vehicle and each of said slats in front of said first reflector cavity are located in vertical planes parallel to said first axis.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 241 words
In combination with the front end of a motor vehicle having a pair of laterally spaced rectangular openings defined by the outer panel portions of the motor vehicle, each of said openings having a rectangular headlamp assembly located therein that includes a housing closed by a colorless lens having a front wall, said lens having optical flutes formed on the inner surface of said front wall, said front wall having an outer surface which is entirely smooth, a reflector cavity formed in said housing and adapted to project a low beam light and a high beam light through said front wall of said lens, a plurality of vertically spaced and horizontally extending blade-like louvres the top portions of which are of the same color as the color of the adjacent panel portion, said louvres being located in said headlamp assembly between said reflector cavity and said lens, vertically orientated slats interconnecting said louvres of the same color as said louvres, and said outer surface of said lens being contiguous with the adjacent panel portions of the motor vehicle so when the headlamp assembly is not lighted and is viewed from above the lens or from the side of the motor vehicle, the color of the louvres causes said entire front wall of said lens to appear to be the same color as the color of the adjacent panel portion so that the headlamp assembly is in effect concealed to the observer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 241 words
In combination with the front end of a motor vehicle having a pair of laterally spaced rectangular openings defined by the outer panel portions of the motor vehicle, each of said openings having a rectangular headlamp assembly located therein that includes a housing closed by a colorless lens having a front wall, said lens having optical flutes formed on the inner surface of said front wall, said front wall having an outer surface which is entirely smooth, a reflector cavity formed in said housing and adapted to project a low beam light and a high beam light through said front wall of said lens, a plurality of vertically spaced and horizontally extending blade-like louvres the top portions of which are of the same color as the color of the adjacent panel portion, said louvres being located in said headlamp assembly between said reflector cavity and said lens, vertically orientated slats interconnecting said louvres of the same color as said louvres, and said outer surface of said lens being contiguous with the adjacent panel portions of the motor vehicle so when the headlamp assembly is not lighted and is viewed from above the lens or from the side of the motor vehicle, the color of the louvres causes said entire front wall of said lens to appear to be the same color as the color of the adjacent panel portion so that the headlamp assembly is in effect concealed to the observer.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US1463024A Cited
US3487206A Cited
US4383290A Cited
US4153928A Cited
EP0074726A1 Cited
GB2129537A 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) 1992-02-21 1992-08-22 1993-02-21 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1996-02-21 1996-08-22 1997-02-21 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2000-02-21 2000-08-22 2001-02-21 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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