Headlamp

• US 6,511,215 B2
• Filed: 05/23/2001
• Issued: 01/28/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Company Limited
• Inventors: Hashigaya, Kazuya
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Shea, Sandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tsidulko, Mark
• Application Number:
  US09/863,615
• Publication Number:
  US 20010046139A1
• Time in Patent Office: 615 Days
• Field of Search: 362/515, 362/460, 362/475, 362/476, 362/518, 362/523, 362/525, 362/514, 362/544
• US Class Current: 362/515
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0041 of several lamps in relation to each other
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/06 adjustable, e.g. remotely-controlled from inside vehicle B60Q1/05 takes precedence

Abstract

A lamp apparatus or a vehicle headlamp having first and second lamp units that are provided adjacent to each other in the lateral direction so as to tilt in a lamp body by first and second aiming mechanisms, respectively. First supporting portions for supporting a fulcrum pin and aiming screws of the fast aiming mechanism are provided behind the first lamp unit in the lamp body, and second supporting portions for supporting a fulcrum pin and aiming screws of the second aiming mechanism are provided behind the second lamp unit in the lamp body; and at least one of the plurality of first supporting portions and at least one of the plurality of second supporting portions are provided so as to overlap each other in a direction in which the lamp units are disposed when the headlamp is viewed from front.

Claims

1. A vehicle headlamp, in which separate first and second lamp units are housed adjacent to each other in a lamp chamber defined by a front cover and a lamp body, said lamp units being tiltable in said lamp body by separate first and second aiming mechanisms, respectively, wherein:

a plurality of first supporting portions for supporting a plurality of aiming members that constitute said first aiming mechanism are provided in a rear portion of said fist lamp unit in said lamp body, and a plurality of second supporting portions for supporting a plurality of aiming members that constitute said second aiming mechanism are provided in a rear portion of said second lamp unit in said lamp body, and

at least one of said plurality of said first supporting portions and at least one of said plurality of said second supporting portions are provided so as to overlap each other in a direction in which said lamp units are disposed when said headlamp is viewed from front.

2. The vehicle headlamp according to claim 1, wherein

said second lamp unit is offset toward back with respect to said first lamp unit; and

said front cover is curved so as to extend from said first lamp unit to said second lamp unit and toward back with respect to a direction in which said lamp units are installed.

3. The vehicle headlamp according to claim 2, wherein

a front stage portion and a rear stage portion, which are offset from each other in a longitudinal direction, are formed so that at least one of said first supporting portions overlap at least one of said second supporting portions;

and

at least one of said first supporting portions is provided on said front stage portion, and at least one of said second supporting portions is provided on said rear stage portion.

4. The vehicle headlamp according to claim 2, wherein said second lamp unit comprises:

a light source generally coaxially disposed with an optical axis that extends in a vehicle longitudinal direction;

a reflector that reflects a light from said light source toward a front and toward said optical axis; and

a condensing lens provided in front of said reflector.

5. The vehicle headlamp according to claim 3, wherein said second lamp unit comprises:

a light source generally coaxially disposed with an optical axis that extends in a vehicle longitudinal direction;

a reflector that reflects a light from said light source toward a front and toward said optical axis; and

a condensing lens provided in front of said reflector.

6. The vehicle headlamp according to claim 2, wherein a light source of said second lamp unit is a discharge light emitting portion of a discharge bulb.

7. The vehicle headlamp according to claim 3, wherein a light source of said second lamp unit is a discharge light emitting portion of a discharge bulb.

8. The vehicle headlamp according to claim 4, wherein a light source of said second lamp unit is a discharge light emitting portion of a discharge bulb.

9. The vehicle headlamp according to claim 5, wherein a light source of said second lamp unit is a discharge light emitting portion of a discharge bulb.

10. A vehicle headlamp, in which separate first and second lamp units are housed adjacent to each other in a lamp chamber defined by a front cover and a lamp body, said lamp units being tiltable in said lamp body by separate first and second aiming mechanisms, respectively, wherein:

a plurality of fist supporting portions for supporting a plurality of aiming members that constitute said first aiming mechanism are provided in a rear portion of said first lamp unit in said lamp body, and a plurality of second support portions for supporting a plurality of aiming members that constitute said second aiming mechanism are provided in a rear portion of said second lamp unit in said lamp body, and

at least one of said plurality of said first supporting portions and at least one of said plurality of said second supporting portions are provided so as to be one above the other in a direction of a height of said lamp body.