Unit for fixing and pivoting an optical assembly

• US 4,894,754 A
• Filed: 12/12/1988
• Issued: 01/16/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Valeo Vision (Valeo SE)
• Original Assignee: Valeo Vision (Valeo SE)
• Inventors: Levilain, Alain
• Primary Examiner(s): Husar, Stephen F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Neils, Peggy
• Application Number:
  US07/284,057
• Time in Patent Office: 400 Days
• Field of Search: 362/61, 362/80, 362/66, 362/287, 362/421, 362/69, 362/70, 362/269, 362/273, 362/285, 362/289, 362/427, 248/288.3, 248/181, 403/71, 403/135, 403/140, 403/141
• US Class Current: 362/528
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0683 Adjustable by rotation of a screw
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2200/32 Ball-joints
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 11/0638 characterised by geometrical details
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 11/0657 the socket member being mainly made of plastics
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 11/0695 Mounting of ball-joints, e.g. fixing them to a connecting rod
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32155 Bearing component clamped to plate or side, e.g., bolted, etc.
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32778 Completely spacing the members
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32786 Divided socket-type coupling

Abstract

An optical assembly, especially for an automobile vehicle, is fixed and pivoted on a support by a screw threaded in the support and carrying a ball at its free end. The ball engages in a socket mounted in a housing fixed to the optical assembly. According to the invention, the socket is moulded from plastics material and comprises two parts connected by a live hinge disposed substantially in line with the center of the concave seating. After assembly the socket is fitted into a sleeve in the housing, which prevents opening of the hinge.

Claims

1. A unit for fixing and pivoting an optical assembly to a control screw held by a fixed support, the control screw having a ball, and said unit comprising:

a socket moulded from plastics material and having a concave seat adapted to receive the ball of the screw, said socket comprising a first part having a plurality of arms, each said arm having a concave internal shape, said arms extending substantially in the direction of and around the longitudinal axis of said socket, and each said arm separated from an adjacent said arm by a slot extending substantially in the direction of said longitudinal axis, and a second part, said first and said second parts connected by a live hinge, said arms of said first part pivoting about said live hinge, and said second part having a substantially cylindrical formation connected to said second part of said socket, and said substantially cylindrical formation being adapted to connect to the optical assembly.

2. The unit as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said live hinge is substantially annular and extends about said longitudinal axis of said socket.

3. The unit as set forth in claim 2, wherein said live hinge comprises a portion of said moulded plastics material socket smaller in thickness than said arms of said first part.

4. The unit as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said live hinge comprises a portion of said moulded plastics material socket smaller in thickness than said arms of said first part.

5. The unit as set forth in claim 1. and further comprising:

a first external peripheral bearing on said first part and a second external peripheral bearing on said second part, said peripheral bearings positioned from each other a predetermined distance and having said live hinge therebetween.

6. The unit as set forth in claim 5, wherein:

said first external peripheral bearing comprises circular sectors integral with respective said arms of said first part and disposed at the free ends of said respective arms, said circular sectors constituting a substantially circular flange having a diameter greater than the external diameter of said socket and inclined toward said second external peripheral bearing.

7. The unit as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first and second part of said socket have substantially identical external diameters.

8. The unit as set forth in claim 1, wherein said arms are outwardly extended at their respective free ends, said arms together having an entry zone for the ball of the screw at said free ends shaped substantially as a truncated cone.

9. In a headlamp assembly for an automotive vehicle having a control screw held by a fixed support, said control screw having a connecting ball, a unit for fixing and pivoting said head lamp assembly to said control screw comprising:

a socket moulded from plastics material and having a concave seat adapted to receive said ball of said screw, said socket comprising a first part having a plurality of arms, each said arm having a concave internal shape, said arms extending substantially in the direction of and around the longitudinal axis of said socket, and each said arm separated from an adjacent said arm by a slot in said first part of said socket extending substantially in the direction of said longitudinal axis, and a second part, said first and said second parts connected by a live hinge, said arms of said first part pivotable about said live hinge, and said second part having a substantially cylindrical formation connected to said second part of said socket;

wherein said head lamp assembly includes a housing and said substantially cylindrical formation is adapted to fit into said housing to connect said socket to said head lamp assembly.

10. The unit as set forth in claim 9, wherein:

said live hinge is substantially annular and extends about said longitudinal axis of said socket.

11. The unit as set forth in claim 10, wherein:

said live hinge comprises a portion of said moulded plastics material socket smaller in thickness than said arms of said first part.

12. The unit as set forth in claim 9, wherein:

said live hinge comprises a portion of said moulded plastics material socket smaller in thickness than said arms of said first part.

13. The unit ass et forth in claim 9, wherein said housing is a cylindrical member on said head lamp assembly.

14. The unit as set forth in claim 13, wherein:

said substantially cylindrical formation is sized so as to have an outside diameter equal to the inside diameter of said housing on said head lamp assembly.

15. The unit as set forth in claim 13, and further comprising:

a first external peripheral bearing on said first part and a second said peripheral bearing on said second part, said peripheral bearings positioned from each other a distance at least equal to the length of said housing of said head lamp assembly and having said live hinge therebetween.

16. The unit as set forth in claim 15, wherein:

said first external peripheral bearing comprises circular sectors integral with respective said arms of said first part and disposed at the free ends of said respective arms, said circular sectors constituting a substantially circular flange having a diameter greater than the external diameter of said socket and inclined toward said second external peripheral bearing.

17. The unit as set forth in claim 9, wherein said first and second part of said socket have substantially identical external diameters.

18. The unit as set forth in claim 9, wherein:

said arms are outwardly extended at their respective free ends, said arms together having an entry zone for said ball of said screw at said free ends, said entry zone shaped substantially as a truncated cone.