Vehicle headlamp system

• US 20020181244A1
• Filed: 07/23/2002
• Published: 12/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: John T. Griffin
• Original Assignee: John T. Griffin
• Inventors: Griffin, John T.
• Application Number:
  US10/200,430
• Publication Number:
  US 20020181244A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/527
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/1415 Dimming circuits

Abstract

A headlamp system for a motor vehicle for providing increased visibility to a driver of the vehicle when the vehicle is in a moisture-laden atmosphere. The system includes at least one headlamp adapted to produce a beam of illuminating light and a shield mounted for placement adjacent to said at least one headlamp. The headlamp is selectively movable between a first position in which it is recessed into the body of the vehicle and a second position in which it projects in front of the body of the vehicle to permit the shield to deflect at least a portion of the beam of illuminating light emitted.

Claims

1. A headlamp system for a motor vehicle for providing increased visibility to a driver of the vehicle when the vehicle is in moisture-laden atmosphere, the system comprising:

a pair of headlamps adapted to produce respective beams of illuminating light; and

a shield mounted for placement adjacent to one of the pair of headlamps, said shield being adapted to deflect at least a portion of the beam of illuminating light emitted by said pair of headlamps,

wherein said one of said pair of headlamps is selectively movable between a first position in which it is recessed into the body of the vehicle and a second position in which it projects in front of the body of the vehicle.

2. The headlamp system of claim 1, wherein said pair of headlamps comprises a driver-side headlamp and a passenger-side headlamp, and said shield is mounted adjacent to said passenger-side headlamp.

3. The headlamp system of claim 2, wherein said shield comprises a horizontally-extending shield section that redirects a portion of the illuminating light beam downwardly in front of the vehicle and a vertically-extending shield section that redirects a portion in front of the vehicle and away from the driver-side of the vehicle.

4. The headlamp system of claim 1, further comprising a drive mechanism for moving said passenger-side headlamp between said first position and said second position.

5. The headlamp system of claim 4, wherein said drive mechanism comprises a carrier frame for supporting said passenger-side headlamp, a pair of guide rods which permit the carrier frame move linearly, and a control device for selectively moving the carrier frame.

6. The headlamp system of claim 5, wherein said control device comprises one selected from the group consisting of a solenoid, a vacuum cylinder, a motorized rack and a lead screw mechanism.

7. A headlamp system for a motor vehicle for providing increased visibility to a driver of the vehicle when the vehicle is in moisture-laden atmosphere, the system comprising:

a first headlamp adapted to emit a beam of illuminating light in a first geometric pattern; and

a second headlamp selectively movable between a first position that emits a beam of illuminating light in said first geometric pattern and a second position that emits a beam of illuminating light in a second geometric pattern.

8. The headlamp system of claim 7, wherein said first geometric pattern is a substantially horizontal geometric pattern and said second geometric pattern is a substantially vertical geometric pattern.

9. The headlamp system of claim 8, wherein said first headlamp is positioned on a driver-side of the vehicle and said second headlamp is positioned on a passenger-side of the vehicle.

10. The headlamp system of claim 9, wherein said second headlamp is selectively movable between a third position in which it is recessed into the body of the vehicle and a fourth position in which it projects in front of the body of the vehicle.

11. The headlamp system of claim 10, further comprising a shield mounted for placement adjacent to said second headlamp for to deflect at least a portion of the beam of illuminating light emitted by said second headlamp.

12. The headlamp system of claim 7, wherein said second headlamp is selectively movable between a third position in which it is recessed into the body of the vehicle and a fourth position in which it projects in front of the body of the vehicle.