Multidirectional headlamp mount with manually adjustable elevation angle
First Claim
1. A mount for holding a headlamp of an automobile having a headlamp support element, comprising:
- a headlamp housing for holding the headlamp, the headlamp housing defining a light beam axis;
a base formed with a clamp for engaging the headlamp support element, the clamp defining a yaw angle relative to the headlamp support element, the clamp having clamping legs materially biased to establish an interference fit between the clamp and the headlamp support element, each clamp being formed with a respective non-planar clamping rib abutting the headlamp support element to permit selectively establishing the yaw angle and a support configured for pivotably engaging the headlamp housing; and
an actuator coupled to the headlamp housing and reciprocatingly disposed on the automobile, the actuator being configured for transforming translational motion of the actuator to pivotal motion of the headlamp housing, such that the actuator can be moved to pivot the headlamp housing to a low beam orientation, wherein a first elevation angle is established between the light beam axis and the ground directly beneath the mount, and a high beam position, wherein a second elevation angle is established between the light beam axis and the ground directly beneath the mount.
21 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A headlamp mounting system for an automobile includes respective headlamp housings for holding monofilament headlamps. Also, respective bases are attached to the automobile and each base is pivotably engaged with a respective one of the headlamp housings. An activating shaft extends between the headlamp housings and is connected to each, and an activating rod is connected to a radially protruding ear of the activating shaft. The activating rod is coupled to an operating knob in the passenger compartment, and the knob can be pushed and pulled as desired by an occupant to cause the activating rod to reciprocate and, thus, to rotate the activating shaft and hence pivot the headlamp housings. Thereby, the elevation angle of the headlamp beams is selectively established, with a high angle establishing a high beam orientation and a low angle establishing a low beam orientation. A spool having front and rear ends is pivotably engaged with the activating rod in the passenger compartment. The high beam orientation is established when the front end abuts the automobile and the low beam orientation is established when the rear end abuts the automobile, thereby establishing the limit of travel of the activating rod. The spool can be rotated on the rod as desired to vary the high beam and low beam orientations.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A mount for holding a headlamp of an automobile having a headlamp support element, comprising:
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a headlamp housing for holding the headlamp, the headlamp housing defining a light beam axis; a base formed with a clamp for engaging the headlamp support element, the clamp defining a yaw angle relative to the headlamp support element, the clamp having clamping legs materially biased to establish an interference fit between the clamp and the headlamp support element, each clamp being formed with a respective non-planar clamping rib abutting the headlamp support element to permit selectively establishing the yaw angle and a support configured for pivotably engaging the headlamp housing; and an actuator coupled to the headlamp housing and reciprocatingly disposed on the automobile, the actuator being configured for transforming translational motion of the actuator to pivotal motion of the headlamp housing, such that the actuator can be moved to pivot the headlamp housing to a low beam orientation, wherein a first elevation angle is established between the light beam axis and the ground directly beneath the mount, and a high beam position, wherein a second elevation angle is established between the light beam axis and the ground directly beneath the mount. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A headlamp mounting system for selectively establishing an elevation angle of first and second single-filament automobile headlamps relative to the ground directly beneath the automobile, the automobile having a frame, the system comprising:
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first and second headlamp holders attached to the automobile and configured for respectively pivotably holding the first and second headlamps, each holder including a rib for abutting the frame to permit selectively establishing a yaw angle between the holder and the frame; and an activating rod coupled to the first and second holders and movable by an occupant of the automobile to move the holders between a low beam orientation, wherein a first elevation angle is established between the headlamps and the ground, and a high beam position, wherein a second elevation angle is established between the headlamps and the ground. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for selectively establishing the elevation angle of a headlamp relative to an automobile from inside a passenger compartment of the automobile, comprising the steps of:
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(a) attaching the headlamp to a headlamp housing; (b) pivotably engaging the headlamp housing with a base; (c) attaching the base to the automobile; (c1) pivoting the base relative to the automobile to cause preselected portions of the clamping surface to contact the automobile and thereby establish a predetermined yaw angle of the base with respect to the automobile; (d) coupling an operating member to the headlamp housing; and (e) selectively manipulating the operating member from inside the passenger compartment to pivot the headlamp housing relative to the base and thereby establish a desired elevation angle of the headlamp relative to the automobile. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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Specification