SYNCHRONIZED LAMP ADJUSTER

• US 20140029278A1
• Filed: 07/18/2013
• Published: 01/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Burton Technologies LLC
• Original Assignee: Burton Technologies LLC
• Inventors: Burton, John E.
• Granted Patent: US 9,643,529 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/487
• 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 assembly for a vehicle headlight comprising:

a plurality of adjusters that are each capable of interacting with a lamp assembly in the vehicle headlight so as to selectively change a position of the lamp assembly; and

a shaft drive assembly having two shaft heads, each shaft head operably connected to an adjuster such that when the shaft drive assembly is rotated, each adjuster moves simultaneously to change the position of the lamp assembly with which the adjuster interacts.

2. The synchronized lamp adjuster assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one of the adjusters further comprises:

an input shaft having a first end and a second end, the first end shaped to interact with a shaft head of the shaft drive assembly and the second end having a gear;

a ball stud having a ball portion and an engagement portion, the ball portion suitable for forming a joint with the lamp assembly in the vehicle headlight, and the engagement portion shaped for engaging with the gear, such that rotation of the first end of the input shaft by the shaft head causes rotation of the gear and resulting movement of the ball stud and lamp assembly.

3. The synchronized lamp adjuster assembly of claim 2 wherein the gear is a bevel gear.

4. The synchronized lamp adjuster assembly of claim 1 wherein at least one of the adjusters further comprises:

a gear screw having a gear screw head and a threaded shaft, the threaded shaft operably engaged to a lamp assembly in the vehicle headlight, and the gear screw head capable of receiving the shaft head of the shaft drive assembly, such that rotation of the shaft head causes rotation of the gear screw and resulting movement of the lamp assembly.

5. The synchronized lamp adjuster assembly of claim 4 further comprising:

a grommet at least partially positioned around the gear screw, the grommet operably engaged to the reflector such that rotation of the gear screw moves the grommet and positions the reflector.

6. The synchronized lamp adjuster assembly of claim 1 wherein the shaft head further comprises:

shaft head teeth for engaging with the input shaft of the adjuster.

7. The synchronized lamp adjuster assembly of claim 1 wherein the shaft head further comprises:

a driver head capable of causing rotation of a gear screw.

8. The synchronized lamp adjuster assembly of claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of adjusters further comprises:

an input shaft having a first end and a second end, the second end of the input shaft having an adjustment gear;

a ball stud having a ball portion and an engagement portion, the ball portion suitable for forming a joint with the lamp assembly in the vehicle headlight, and the engagement portion shaped for engaging with the adjustment gear, such that rotation of the first end of the input shaft causes rotation of the adjustment gear and resulting movement of the ball stud and lamp assembly.

9. The synchronized lamp adjuster assembly of claim 8 wherein one of the shaft heads of the shaft drive assembly integrally includes a shaft gear that interacts with one adjustment gear,

and wherein the other shaft head forms an input shaft that interacts with the other adjustment gear, such that the ball studs of the adjuster assemblies are rotated in opposite directions.

10. A lamp adjuster assembly for adjusting a first lamp assembly and a second lamp assembly in a vehicle headlight, the lamp adjuster assembly comprising:

a first adjuster assembly having a first input shaft operably connected to an adjustment gear, the first adjuster assembly capable of interacting with the first lamp assembly in the vehicle headlight;

a second adjuster assembly having a second input shaft operably connected to an second adjustment gear, the second adjuster assembly capable of interacting with the second lamp assembly in the vehicle headlight;

a shaft drive assembly having a first shaft head and a second shaft head, the first shaft head being coupled to the first adjuster assembly and the second shaft head being operably connected to the second adjuster assembly, such that the first lamp assembly can be adjusted by adjustment of the first input shaft and such that the second lamp assembly can be adjusted using the synchronized lamp adjuster assembly by adjusting the first shaft head of the shaft drive assembly.

11. A headlight assembly for an automobile comprising:

at least two lamp assemblies, each lamp assembly including a reflector and a light source;

a frame for supporting the at least two lamp assemblies; and

a synchronized lamp adjuster assembly comprising;

a plurality of adjusters that are each capable of interacting with a lamp assembly; and

a shaft drive assembly having two shaft heads, each shaft head operably connected to one of the plurality of adjusters such that when the shaft drive assembly is rotated, each adjuster moves simultaneously to change the position of the lamp assembly with which the adjuster interacts.

12. The headlight assembly of claim 11 wherein at least one of the plurality of adjusters further comprises:

an input shaft having a first end and a second end, the first end shaped to interact with a shaft head of the shaft drive assembly and the second end having a gear;

a ball stud having a ball portion and an engagement portion, the ball portion suitable for forming a joint with one of the lamp assemblies in the vehicle headlight, and the engagement portion shaped for engaging with the gear, such that rotation of the first end of the input shaft by a shaft head causes rotation of the gear and resulting movement of the ball stud and lamp assembly.

13. The headlight assembly of claim 12 wherein the gear is a bevel gear.

14. The headlight assembly of claim 11 wherein at least one of the plurality of adjusters further comprises:

a gear screw having a gear screw head and a threaded shaft, the threaded shaft operably engaged to a lamp assembly in the vehicle headlight, and the gear screw head capable of receiving the shaft head of the shaft drive assembly, such that rotation of the shaft head causes rotation of the gear screw and resulting movement of the lamp assembly.

15. The headlight assembly of claim 14 further comprising:

a grommet at least partially positioned around the gear screw, the grommet operably engaged to the reflector such that rotation of the gear screw moves the grommet and positions the reflector.

16. The headlight assembly of claim 11 wherein the shaft head further comprises:

shaft head teeth for engaging with the input shaft of the adjuster.

17. The headlight assembly of claim 11 having a shaft head further comprising a driver head capable of causing rotation of a gear screw.

18. The headlight assembly of claim 11, wherein each of the plurality of adjusters further comprises:

an input shaft having a first end and a second end, the second end of the input shaft having an adjustment gear;

a ball stud having a ball portion and an engagement portion, the ball portion suitable for forming a joint with the lamp assembly in the vehicle headlight, and the engagement portion shaped for engaging with the adjustment gear, such that rotation of the first end of the input shaft causes rotation of the adjustment gear and resulting movement of the ball stud and lamp assembly.

19. The headlight assembly of claim 18 wherein one of the shaft heads of the shaft drive assembly integrally includes a shaft gear that interacts with one adjustment gear,

and wherein the other shaft head forms an input shaft that interacts with the other adjustment gear, such that the ball studs of the adjuster assemblies are rotated in opposite directions.