Self-locking nut having divided and undivided circumferential portions

• US 5,746,559 A
• Filed: 06/18/1996
• Issued: 05/05/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Company Limited
• Inventors: Shirai, Katutada
• Primary Examiner(s): Saether, Flemming
• Application Number:
  US08/665,683
• Time in Patent Office: 686 Days
• Field of Search: 411/437, 411/182, 411/60, 411/55, 411/307, 411/263, 362/421
• US Class Current: 411/182
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0683 Adjustable by rotation of a screw
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2200/32 Ball-joints
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 37/043 with snap action

Abstract

A self-locking nut fitted into a fitting hole of a reflector with which an aiming screw engages for adjusting an inclination angle of a reflector of a vehicular lamp, the self-locking nut comprising: a nut leading portion having slits extending in radius direction; a flange arranged below said nut leading portion; a fitting portion formed below said flange, said fitting portion having slits extending in radius direction and a pair of legs for fitting into the fitting hole of the reflector, said pair of legs being elastically expandable and having a wedge shape; a shaft hole having an inner surface, said shaft hole passing through the nut leading portion, the flange and the fitting portion in vertical direction; and a threaded portion formed on the inner surface of said shaft hole engageable with the aiming screw, the threaded portion comprising: first grooves extending from said slit of said fitting portion; second grooves positioned perpendicular to said slit of said fitting portion; a divided circumferential portion divided in the circumferential direction by said first and second grooves; and an entire circumferential portion having a circular shape in section, said entire circumferential portion being positioned at said fitting portion, wherein a pitch diameter of said entire circumferential portion being slightly smaller than that of the aiming screw.

Claims

1. A self-locking nut for fitting into a fitting hole of a reflector of a vehicle lamp, and engaging with an aiming screw for adjusting an inclination angle of the reflector, the self-locking nut comprising:

a body for receiving the aiming screw;

a fitting portion formed below said body, for fitting into the fitting hole of the reflector, wherein said fitting portion comprises a pair of legs, each of said legs having a wedge shape, and said pair of legs being elastically expandable;

a shaft hole having an inner surface, said shaft hole passing through said body and said fitting portion in a vertical direction; and

a threaded portion formed on the inner surface of said shaft hole, for engaging with the aiming screw, said threaded portion comprising;

a groove extending along said inner surface of said shaft hole from said fitting portion through said body, a divided circumferential portion divided in a circumferential direction thereof by said groove; and

an undivided circumferential portion disposed below said groove, wherein said threaded portion is undivided in the circumferential direction by said groove.

2. The self-locking nut according to claim 1, wherein said self-locking nut is made from resin.

3. The self-locking nut according to claim 1, wherein a pitch diameter of said undivided circumferential portion is slightly smaller than that of the aiming screw.

4. The self-locking nut according to claim 3, wherein said undivided circumferential portion is arranged at the fitting portion.

5. The self-locking nut according to claim 1, wherein said threaded portion has plural grooves for dividing the divided circumferential portion.

6. A self-locking nut for fitting into a fitting hole of a reflector of a vehicular lamp with which an aiming screw engages for adjusting an inclination angle of the reflector, the self-locking nut comprising:

a nut leading portion having slits extending in a radial direction;

a flange formed below said nut leading portion;

a fitting portion formed below said flange, said fitting portion having slits extending in a radial direction and a pair of legs for fitting into the fitting hole of the reflector, said pair of legs being elastically expandable and each of said legs having a wedge shape;

a shaft hole having an inner surface, said shaft hole passing through the nut leading portion, the flange and the fitting portion in a vertical direction; and

a threaded portion formed on the inner surface of said shaft hole engageable with the aiming screw, the threaded portion comprising;

a first groove extending along said shaft hole from said slits of said fitting portion through said nut leading portion;

a divided circumferential portion divided in the circumferential direction by said first groove; and

undivided circumferential portions each having a semi-circular shape in section, and each of said undivided circumferential portions being positioned on said inner surface of said shaft hole within one of said legs of said fitting portion, wherein a pitch diameter of said undivided circumferential portions is slightly smaller than that of the aiming screw.

7. The self-locking nut according to claim 6, wherein said self-locking nut is made from resin.

8. The self-locking nut according to claim 6, said threaded portion further comprising second grooves positioned perpendicular to said slit of said fitting portion, wherein said divided circumferential portion is divided in the circumferential direction by said first and second grooves.

9. An aiming adjustment device for adjusting an optical axis of a vehicular lamp, comprising:

an aiming screw having a threaded shaft, said aiming screw being rotatably supported by a lamp body;

a bracket formed on a reflector of the lamp; and

a self-locking nut fitted in a hole formed in said bracket, said self-locking nut being engageable with the threaded shaft of said aiming screw, said self-locking nut comprising;

a body for receiving said aiming screw;

a fitting portion formed below said body, for fitting into the hole in said bracket, wherein said fitting portion comprises a pair of legs, each of said legs having a wedge shape, and said pair of legs being elastically expandable;

a shaft hole having an inner surface, said shaft hole passing through said body and said fitting portion in a vertical direction;

a threaded portion formed on the inner surface of said shaft hole, for engaging with said aiming screw, said threaded portion comprising, a groove extending along said inner surface of said shaft hole from said fitting portion through said body;

a divided circumferential portion divided in a circumferential direction thereof by said groove; and

an undivided circumferential portion having a circular shape in section disposed below said groove, wherein said threaded portion is undivided in the circumferential direction by said groove.

10. The aiming adjustment device according to claim 9, wherein said self-locking nut is made from resin.

11. The aiming adjustment device according to claim 9, wherein a pitch diameter of said undivided circumferential portion is slightly smaller than that of said aiming screw.

12. The aiming adjustment device according to claim 11, wherein said undivided circumferential portion is arranged at said fitting portion.

13. The aiming adjustment device according to claim 9, wherein said threaded portion has plural grooves for dividing the divided circumferential portion.