US5055980A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automobile headlamp
Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co Ltd
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Filing: 1991-03-11
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Granted: 1991-10-08
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Expires: 2011-03-11
Abstract
Abstract An automobile headlamp wherein a level for measuring the tilt of the illumination angle of the headlamp in the up/down direction is attached to a horizontally extending portion of a socket fixture attached in a bulb insertion hole of a tiltable reflector or lamp body so as to extend toward the back of the lamp. The conventionally required level-mounting space on the upper portion of the headlamp is therefor not required, and hence the height of lamp in the up/down direction can be reduced and the headlamp made thin.
Inventors
- 👤 Hideharu Mochizuki
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 10:11
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60Q; B60Q1/00; B60Q1/0064; B60Q1/007; B60Q1/02; B60Q1/04; B60Q1/06; B60Q1/068; B60Q1/0683; B60Q1/0686; F; F21; F21S; F21S41/00; F21S41/60; F21S41/67; F21S41/675
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
104 words
An automobile headlamp in which an illumination angle of said headlamp can be adjusted by tilting a tilting member in which a bulb is mounted in the up/down direction and in the left/right direction with respect to a reference member, comprising: a bulb socket assembly; a socket fixture for removably holding said bulb socket assembly, said socket fixture being attached to a bulb insertion member of said tilting member; a plate-like rearwardly projecting horizontally extending portion formed on said socket fixture; and a level for measuring an amount of tilt of said tilting member in the up/down direction attached to said horizontally extending portion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
104 words
An automobile headlamp in which an illumination angle of said headlamp can be adjusted by tilting a tilting member in which a bulb is mounted in the up/down direction and in the left/right direction with respect to a reference member, comprising: a bulb socket assembly; a socket fixture for removably holding said bulb socket assembly, said socket fixture being attached to a bulb insertion member of said tilting member; a plate-like rearwardly projecting horizontally extending portion formed on said socket fixture; and a level for measuring an amount of tilt of said tilting member in the up/down direction attached to said horizontally extending portion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The automobile headlamp according to claim 1, wherein said reference member is a lamp body and said tilting member is a reflector tiltably mounted in said lamp body.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
The automobile headlamp according to claim 1, wherein said reference member is a lamp housing, and said tilting member is a lamp body reflector unit with a reflector integrally formed on an inner circumferential surface of said unit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
The automobile headlamp according to claim 1, wherein said bulb insertion member comprises a hollow generally cylindrical protrusion extending rearwardly from said tilting member having horizontal engagement protrusions for making bayonet-type engagement with said socket fixture.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
The automobile headlamp according to claim 4, wherein said socket fixture comprises a flanged hat-shaped body having a generally triangular opening therein and horizontal ribs engageable with said horizontal engagement protrusions of said bulb insertion member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
74 words
The automobile headlamp according to claim 5, wherein engagement concave portions are formed in an end surface of said bulb insertion member, wherein said socket fixture comprises a plurality of belt-like ribs extending in a circumferential direction of said socket fixture, and wherein said bulb socket assembly comprises a plurality of flange-like protrusions received in said engagement concave portions and held between said engagement concave portions and said belt-like ribs of said socket fixture.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
The automobile headlamp according to claim 1, wherein said level comprises an upwardly opening rectangular vessel-like casing, a cover body attached to an open side of said casing, and a bubble vial suspended from said cover body.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
The automobile headlamp according to claim 7, wherein said cover body comprises a plurality of hook-like sandwiching members for suspending said bubble vial from said cover body with an air layer formed between said casing and said bubble vial.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The automobile headlamp according to claim 7, said cover body is attached to said casing through lance coupling means by an adjusting screw.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
The automobile headlamp according to claim 1, further comprising a plate spring for attaching said level to said horizontally extending portion formed on said socket fixture.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
The automobile headlamp according to claim 7, wherein said horizontally extending portion comprises a forked portion, and said casing comprises a leg portion slidably inserted into said forked portion.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
49 words
The automobile headlamp according to claim 11, further comprising a plate spring and a fixing plate attached to said leg portion by screws, said forked portion being sandwiched between said level and said fixing plate with said plate spring being disposed between said fixing plate and said forked portion.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
The automobile headlamp according to claim 1, further comprising a rubber cover disposed around said bulb insertion member.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-10-07 | 1995-04-08 | 1995-10-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-10-07 | 1999-04-08 | 1999-10-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-10-07 | 2003-04-08 | 2003-10-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |