Headlamp adjusting assembly

Claim 2

An adjusting mechanism for a headlamp comprising: housing means having a gear journaling bore for rotation of an adjusting gear journalled therein; an adjusting member movably coupled to said adjusting gear such that rotation of said adjusting gear imparts linear movement to said adjusting member for adjusting orientation of said headlamp; and aperture means in said housing means and cooperating with said adjusting member slidably extending through said aperture means for preventing rotation of said adjusting member during said linear movement thereof wherein said aperture means has a cross-sectional configuration interfering with rotation of said adjusting member while allowing slidable linear movement of said adjusting member therethrough.

Claim 3

An adjusting mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said adjusting member has a cross-sectional configuration including at least one radial projection, and wherein said aperture means configuration includes a radially extending slot receiving said radial projection to define said preventive rotational interference.

Claim 4

An adjusting mechanism according to claim 2, wherein said aperture means and adjusting member include mating respective cruciform cross-sectional configurations.

Claim 5

An adjusting mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said aperture means is formed in a cap member of said housing means having an interior surface defining one end of said gear journaling bore.

Claim 6

An adjusting mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said housing means comprises a main housing member defining said gear journaling bore, and a cap member closing said bore, said aperture means being formed in a wall of the main housing member.

Claim 7

An adjusting mechanism for a headlamp comprising: a housing having a gear-journaling bore; a drive gear rotatably journaled in said bore; a drive shaft extending through said housing and having one end thereof operatively and removably coupled with said drive gear within said bore, said drive shaft further including a radially extending retainer portion disposed within said bore adjacent said coupled end thereof; said housing further including a cap portion which is joined thereto to close an outer end of said bore, said retainer portion being located between said cap portion and said drive gear, said cap portion bearing against said retainer portion in order to prevent retraction of said coupled shaft end from said drive gear and housing.

Claim 8

An adjusting mechanism for a headlamp comprising: a housing having a gear-journaling bore; a drive gear rotatably journaled in said bore; a drive shaft extending through said housing and having one end thereof operatively and removably coupled with said drive gear within said bore, said drive shaft further including a radially extending retainer portion disposed within said bore adjacent said coupled end thereof; said housing further including a cap portion which is joined thereto to close an outer end of said bore, said retainer portion being located between said cap portion and said drive gear, said cap portion bearing against said retainer portion in order to prevent retraction of said coupled shaft end from said drive gear and housing.

Claim 9

An adjusting mechanism according to claim 6, wherein said retainer portion comprises an annular flange and wherein said cap portion includes spaced arm members straddling said drive shaft and bearing against said annular flange.

Claim 10

An adjusting mechanism according to claim 6, wherein said cap portion includes an aperture through which said drive shaft extends and wherein a peripheral surface of said cap aperture provides said bearing against said retainer portion of said drive shaft.

Claim 11

An adjusting mechanism according to claim 6, wherein said gear housing further comprises a second bore providing rotatable journaling of a second gear therein which is rotatably meshed with said drive gear.

Claim 12

An adjusting mechanism according to claim 9, further comprising an adjusting member movably coupled to said second gear such that rotation of said second gear imparts linear movement to said adjusting member for adjusting orientation of said headlamp.

Claim 13

An adjusting mechanism for a headlamp comprising: a housing having a gear-journaling bore; a drive gear rotatably journaled in said bore; a drive shaft extending through said housing and having one end thereof operatively coupled with said drive gear within said bore, said drive shaft further including a radially extending retainer portion disposed within said bore adjacent said coupled end thereof; said housing further including a cap portion which is joined thereto to close an outer end of said bore, said cap portion bearing against said retainer portion in order to prevent retraction of said coupled shaft end from said drive gear and housing; said gear housing further comprising a second bore providing rotatable journaling of a second gear therein which is rotatably meshed with said drive gear, and an adjusting member movably coupled to said second gear such that rotation of said second gear imparts linear movement to said adjusting member for adjusting orientation of said headlamp; and, aperture means through said gear housing and cooperating with said adjusting member slidably extending through said aperture means to prevent rotation of said adjusting member during said linear movement thereof.

Claim 14

An adjusting mechanism for a headlamp comprising: a housing having a gear-journaling bore; a drive gear rotatably journaled in said bore; a drive shaft extending through said housing and having one end thereof operatively coupled with said drive gear within said bore, said drive shaft further including a radially extending retainer portion disposed within said bore adjacent said coupled end thereof; said housing further including a cap portion which is joined thereto to close an outer end of said bore, said cap portion bearing against said retainer portion in order to prevent retraction of said coupled shaft end from said drive gear and housing; said gear housing further comprising a second bore providing rotatable journaling of a second gear therein which is rotatably meshed with said drive gear, and an adjusting member movably coupled to said second gear such that rotation of said second gear imparts linear movement to said adjusting member for adjusting orientation of said headlamp; and, aperture means through said gear housing and cooperating with said adjusting member slidably extending through said aperture means to prevent rotation of said adjusting member during said linear movement thereof.

Claim 15

An adjusting member according to claim 11, wherein said adjusting member has a cross-sectional configuration including at least one radial projection, and wherein said aperture means configuration includes a radially extending slot receiving said radial projection to define said preventive rotational interference.

Claim 16

An adjusting mechanism according to claim 12, wherein said aperture means and adjusting member include mating respective cruciform cross-sectional configurations.

Claim 17

An adjusting mechanism according to claim 11, wherein said aperture means is formed in a removable cap portion of said housing having an interior surface defining one end of said second gear journaling bore.

Claim 18

An adjusting mechanism according to claim 6, wherein said housing further comprises a plurality of resiliently deflectable coupling members projecting from said housing for snap-fitted and locking insertion through respective receiving apertures formed in support structure in order to securely mount said housing thereon.