Optical axis adjustment device

• US 10,640,032 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2018
• Issued: 05/05/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Mizuguchi, Ko
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams, Joseph L
• Assistant Examiner(s): Stern, Jacob R
• Application Number:
  US16/223,814
• Publication Number:
  US 20190210512A1
• Time in Patent Office: 504 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 13/481 for operating in areas having limited access
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 15/004 characterised by cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 15/005 with cross- or star-shaped cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 27/0035 for motor-vehicles wrenches for mounting or dismounting wheels B60B29/003
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/06 adjustable, e.g. remotely-controlled from inside vehicle B60Q1/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0683 Adjustable by rotation of a screw

Abstract

An optical axis adjustment device that adjusts an optical axis of a headlamp includes an aiming screw that is provided extending from inside to outside the headlamp and that has an operation portion outside the headlamp, and an aiming guide. The aiming guide is disposed outside the headlamp and includes: a cover portion that covers the operation portion of the aiming screw; a guide portion that has a tool insertion space inside and that is provided extending linearly from the cover portion; and a locking cap portion that is provided on an end portion of the guide portion away from the cover portion and that is configured to cover an opening of the tool insertion space.

Claims

1. An optical axis adjustment device that adjusts an optical axis of a headlamp, the optical axis adjustment device comprising:

an aiming screw that is provided extending from inside to outside the headlamp and that has an operation portion outside the headlamp; and

an aiming guide, the aiming guide being disposed outside the headlamp and having;

a cover portion that covers the operation portion of the aiming screw;

a guide portion that has a tool insertion space inside and that is provided extending linearly from the cover portion; and

a locking cap portion that is provided on an end portion of the guide portion away from the cover portion and that is configured to cover an opening of the tool insertion space.

2. The optical axis adjustment device according to claim 1, wherein the locking cap portion is integral with the guide portion and is joined with the guide portion by integral hinging.

3. The optical axis adjustment device according to claim 1, wherein the guide portion has a protruding piece that protrudes from a peripheral portion of the opening away from the cover portion.

4. The optical axis adjustment device according to claim 3, wherein a tab is provided on one of the locking cap portion and the protruding piece of the guide portion, and a tab receiver configured to be engaged with the tab is provided on the other of the locking cap portion and the protruding piece of the guide portion.

5. The optical axis adjustment device according to claim 4, wherein:

the protruding piece has first, second, and third protruding pieces along the peripheral portion of the opening in this order; and

among the first, second, and third protruding pieces, the first and third protruding pieces are provided so as to face each other and are provided with the tab or the tab receiver, and the second protruding piece is positioned ahead of an end portion of the locking cap portion in a closed state, the end portion being on an opposite side of the locking cap portion from a side on which the locking cap portion is joined with the guide portion by integral hinging.

6. The optical axis adjustment device according to claim 4, wherein:

the protruding piece has first, second, and third protruding pieces along the peripheral portion of the opening in this order; and

among the first, second, and third protruding pieces, the second protruding piece is positioned ahead of an end portion of the locking cap portion in a closed state, the end portion being on an opposite side of the locking cap portion from a side on which the locking cap portion is joined with the guide portion by integral hinging, and is provided with the tab or the tab receiver, and the first and third protruding pieces are provided facing each other and are positioned on both sides of the locking cap portion in the closed state.

7. The optical axis adjustment device according to claim 1, wherein the guide portion is provided extending vertically upward or obliquely upward from the cover portion.

8. The optical axis adjustment device according to claim 1, wherein the aiming guide has a mounting portion for mounting the aiming guide to the headlamp.

9. The optical axis adjustment device according to claim 1, wherein the optical axis adjustment device is configured to adjust the optical axis of the headlamp in a lateral direction of a vehicle.