Synchronized lamp adjuster

• US 10,272,820 B2
• Filed: 04/21/2017
• Issued: 04/30/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Burton Technologies LLC
• Original Assignee: Burton Technologies LLC
• Inventors: Burton, John E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mai, Anh T
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fallahkhair, Arman B
• Application Number:
  US15/494,067
• Publication Number:
  US 20170225606A1
• Time in Patent Office: 739 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0483 mounted on a bracket, e.g. details concerning the mouting of the lamps on the vehicle body
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/068 by mechanical means
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0683 Adjustable by rotation of a screw
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/072 comprising a flexible element, e.g. chain
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2200/36 Conjoint adjustments, i.e. a mechanical link allows conjoint adjustment of several units

Abstract

A synchronized lamp adjuster assembly allows for adjustment of vehicle lamp assemblies that can be adjusted synchronously or by using the same adjuster assembly. Two or more adjuster assemblies are connected together by at least one shaft drive assembly having a shaft drive head that interacts with an input shaft for the adjuster assemblies. Rotation of the shaft drive head causes rotation of input shaft and adjuster assembly thus causing adjustment of the lamp assemblies.

Claims

1. A synchronized lamp adjuster for a vehicle headlight having a plurality of lamp assemblies, the lamp adjuster comprising:

a first adjuster and a second adjuster, each capable of interacting with one of the lamp assemblies in the vehicle headlight so as to selectively change a position of the lamp assembly, wherein the first adjuster and the second adjuster are interconnected by a shaft drive assembly;

a first ball stud mechanically coupled to a first output gear, both forming part of the first adjuster, wherein rotation of the first output gear extends or retracts the first ball stud;

a second ball stud mechanically coupled to a second output gear, both forming part of the second adjuster, wherein rotation of the second output gear extends or retracts the second ball stud, and wherein each ball stud is suitable for forming a joint with at least one of the lamp assemblies in the vehicle headlight;

a first input shaft having first gear teeth thereon and forming part of the first adjuster, wherein the first input shaft is rotationally interconnected to the first output gear; and

a second input shaft having second gear teeth thereon and forming part of the second adjuster, wherein the second input shaft is rotationally interconnected to the second output gear;

wherein the shaft drive assembly includes a first shaft head interconnected with a second shaft head via a shaft head drive extending therebetween, the first shaft head including first shaft head teeth that engage with the first gear teeth of the first adjuster, and the second shaft head including second shaft head teeth that engage with the second gear teeth of the second adjuster;

and wherein rotation of the shaft head drive results in simultaneous rotation of the first output gear and the second output gear, and a resultant movement of the first ball stud and the second ball stud.

2. The lamp adjuster of claim 1, further comprising a third adjuster capable of engagement with one of the lamp assemblies in the vehicle headlight so as to selectively change a position of the lamp assembly.

3. The lamp adjuster of claim 2, further comprising a second shaft drive assembly interconnecting the second adjuster and the third adjuster.

4. The lamp adjuster of claim 3, wherein the second shaft drive assembly includes a second shaft head drive that rotates simultaneously with the first shaft head drive of the first shaft drive assembly.

5. The lamp adjuster of claim 1, wherein the shaft head drive extends in a substantially vertical direction.

6. The lamp adjuster of claim 1, wherein the shaft head drive is flexible to provide non-linear extension.

7. The lamp adjuster of claim 1, wherein the resultant movement of the first ball stud is in a direction opposite the resultant movement of the second ball stud.

8. A headlight for an automobile comprising:

a plurality of lamp assemblies;

a frame for supporting the lamp assemblies; and

a synchronized lamp adjuster comprising;

a first adjuster and a second adjuster, each capable of interacting with one of the lamp assemblies so as to selectively change a position of at least one of the lamp assemblies, wherein the first adjuster and the second adjuster are interconnected by a shaft drive assembly;

a first ball stud mechanically coupled to a first output gear, both forming part of the first adjuster, wherein rotation of the first output gear extends or retracts the first ball stud;

a second ball stud mechanically coupled to a second output gear, both forming part of the second adjuster, wherein rotation of the second output gear extends or retracts the second ball stud, and wherein each ball stud is suitable for forming a pivot joint with at least one of the lamp assemblies;

a first input shaft having first gear teeth thereon and forming part of the first adjuster, wherein the first input shaft is rotationally interconnected to the first output gear; and

a second input shaft having second gear teeth thereon and forming part of the second adjuster, wherein the second input shaft is rotationally interconnected to the second output gear;

wherein the shaft drive assembly includes a first shaft head interconnected with a second shaft head via a shaft head drive extending therebetween, the first shaft head including first shaft head teeth that engage with the first gear teeth of the first adjuster, and the second shaft head including second shaft head teeth that engage with the second gear teeth of the second adjuster; and

wherein rotation of the shaft head drive results in simultaneous rotation of the first and second output gears.

9. The headlight of claim 8, further comprising a third adjuster capable of interacting with one of the lamp assemblies in the vehicle headlight so as to selectively change a position of the lamp assembly.

10. The headlight of claim 9, further comprising a second shaft drive assembly interconnecting the second adjuster and the third adjuster.

11. The headlight of claim 10, wherein the second shaft drive assembly includes a second shaft head drive that rotates simultaneously with the first shaft head drive of the first shaft drive assembly.

12. The headlight of claim 8, wherein the shaft head drive extends in a substantially vertical direction.

13. The headlight of claim 8, wherein the shaft head drive is flexible to provide non-linear extension.

14. The headlight of claim 8, wherein the resultant movement of the first ball stud is in a direction opposite the resultant movement of the second ball stud.