GB2527917A

GB2527917A - Guiding device and method for applying a headlamp adaptor to a headlamp

Info

Publication number: GB2527917A
Application number: GB1507901.5A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Paul Ivor Harper
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2014-05-09
Filing date: 2015-05-08
Publication date: 2016-01-06
Anticipated expiration: 2035-05-08
Also published as: GB201507901D0; GB2527917B; GB201408261D0

Abstract

A guiding device for the correct positioning of a vehicle headlamp converter, said device comprising a sheet including a region coated with at least one thermochromic material. The guiding device, may comprise a further region suitable for displaying data, which may be on the opposite side of the to the thermochromic material. There may be a single thermochromic material, with a single characteristic activation temperature. There may be multiple thermochromic materials, each with a different characteristic activation temperature, which may be arranged in stripes placed adjacently or patterned, for example in squares, dots, crosses, or swirls. There is also included a method of use and a kit for positioning a headlight converter, allowing a headlamp designed for use on one side of the road, to be used on the opposite side. There is also a disclosure of photochromic material.

Description

GUIDING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR APPLYING A HEADLAMP

ADAPTOR TO A HEADLAMP

This invention relates to a guiding device and method for correctly aligning and S fitting a headlamp adaptor onto a vehicle headlamp.

Vehicles include headlamps which provide three categories of illumination, sidelights to indicate the presence of the vehicle, dipped beam to illuminate the road in front of, and to the side of, the vehicle, and main beam to provide additional illumination for the driver. Light from the dipped beam illuminates the road ahead of the vehicle and also the area to the side of the vehicle, so that for example the driver can see both the road ahead and also anything to the side of the road, for example on the pavement.

However, when driving the vehicle in a country where vehicles drive on the opposite side of the road, the portion of the dipped beam directed to the side of the road may dazzle oncoming traffic, and to avoid this adaptors are provided to vehicle headlamps to intercept that portion of the dipped beam that may dazzle oncoming traffic.

However such adaptors must be correctly fitted so that they are aligned with the headlamp beam and intercept the appropriate portion of the beam.

Modern vehicle headlamps tend to comprise one or more light sources arranged within a casing which directs the headlamp light as required, the casing completed by a transparent headlamp cover, and headlamp adaptors must be fitted to the covers in the correct position to intercept the relevant portion of the dipped beam. However, modern headlamps are provided with multi-focal reflectors and not only differ from one vehicle manufacturer to another but frequently from one vehicle model to another. In addition, vehicles such as modem cars often have curved headlamp covers meaning that correct positioning of headlamp adaptors can be very difficult to achieve.

Current headlamp adaptors may be provided with a booklet of instructions to indicate to a driver where, on a particular model and make of a vehicle, the adaptor should be placed, however such booklets are necessarily lengthy and the correct make and model of the vehicle must be located in the booklet and the instructions followed.

Alternative solutions to the problem of positioning a headlamp adaptor accurately on a vehicle headlamp are disclosed in patent GB2471 704 and patent application number GB1307878.7, both of which rely on use of a translucent sheet including a marker, such that with the headlamp switched on and the translucent sheet positioned in front S of the headlamp cover the marker can be positioned on the hot spot', i.e. the hottest, brightest region of the beam. However this suffers from the disadvantage that a judgement as to the brightest, hottest region is necessarily subjective, and also that the positioning may be carried out during the day time, so bright light from the headlamp may be competing with for example sunlight, or reflected light, to indicate the brightest, hottest region, and so the position chosen may not be entirely accurate.

The present invention is directed to overcoming at least some of the problems set out above.

Accordingly, in it broadest aspect, the present invention provides a guiding device for the correct positioning of a vehicle headlamp converter, said device comprising a sheet including a region coated with at least one thermochromic material.

Preferably the region is on one side of the sheet only.

Preferably the thermochromic material is thermochromic ink.

Preferably the sheet includes a frirther region suitable for displaying data.

In a second embodiment the further region is positioned on the sheet on the opposite side to the side coated with the at least one thermochromic material.

Preferably the at least one thermochromic material comprises a single thermochromic material with a characteristic activation temperature.

Preferably the thermochromic material is provided in a block of uniform thickness.

In a third embodiment the at least one thermochromic material comprises a plurality of thermochromic materials, each one of which has a characteristic activation temperature.

S Preferably the activation temperature of each one of the plurality of thermochromic materials is different to the activation temperature of respective other ones of the plurality of thermochromic materials, Preferably the plurality of thermochromic materials are provided in respective stripes, each stripe comprising a single thermochromic material with a characteristic activation temperature and positioned adjacent a further stripe comprising a single thermochromic material different to the thermochromic material of its neighbour and with a characteristic activation temperature which is different to the characteristic activation temperature of its neighbour.

Preferably the stripes of thermochromic material are placed adjacently.

In a fourth embodiment the plurality of thermochromic materials are patterned.

Preferably the pattern comprises dots, crosses, squares or swirls.

In a further aspect the present invention provides a method of positioning a headlamp converter on a headlamp cover of a headlamp of a vehicle, which comprises the steps of placing a guide in accordance with any one the above onto a headlamp cover of a vehicle, switching on the headlamp so that it emits a beam of light, noting the position, on the guide, which changes colour first, and applying a headlamp converter to the headlamp cover in accordance with the position on the guide which changed colour first.

In a still further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a kit for positioning a headlamp converter onto a headlamp cover of a vehicle, comprising at least one guiding device as set out above, The above and other aspects of the present invention will now be described in further detail by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a guiding device for fitting a headlamp converter in accordance with a first embodiment; Figure 2 shows a guiding device for fitting a headlamp converter in accordance with a second embodiment, Figure 3 shows a guiding device for fitting a headlamp converter in accordance with s third embodiment, and Figures 4 (a) to (c) show a guiding device in accordance with Figures 2 and 3, showing a hot spot.

Figure 1 shows a guiding device comprising a sheet 10 including a first region 20 adapted to display information in respect of the sheet, for example instructions for fitting an adaptor on a headlamp using the sheet, and a second region, 30, comprising an area coated with thermochromic ink. It is contemplated that the sheet 10 outside the first and second regions is transparent or translucent.

Thermochromic materials are temperature sensitive compounds that temporarily change colour with exposure to heat, usually changing from tbr example black to white when heat is applied, although other arrangements are possible.

Thermochromic materials can be engineered to change colour at specific temperatures, according to requirements, and the temperature at which a particular thermochromic material changes colour is the activation temperature' of that particular material. Common examples of thermochromic materials are thermochromic inks. Reference will be made to thermochromic ink throughout the examples given, but it is contemplated that there is no intended limitation and thermochromic materials of all kinds are included in the disclosure.

The thermochromic ink block 30 shown in Figure 1 is comprised of a single ink with a single activation temperature.

Figure 2 shows a guiding device comprising a sheet 100 with a single region 130 comprising an area coated with thermochromic ink, It is contemplated that the sheet outside the region 130 is transparent or translucent, and the region 130 is comprised of a single ink with a single activation temperature, as with the first S embodiment, shown in Figure 1 It is contemplated that instructions, set out in region for the first embodiment, are set out on the back of the sheet of Figure 2 (not shown).

Figure 3 shows a third embodiment of the invention, including a guiding device comprising a sheet 200 with a single region 230 comprising an area coated with thermochromic ink, It is again contemplated that the sheet outside the second region 230 is transparent or translucent, and that instructions may be placed on the back of the sheet (not shown). The thermochromic ink of this third embodiment comprises several inks, each one with a characteristic activation temperature, provided to the sheet in alternating stripes or lines 250, such that the activation temperatures of adjacent lines are different to each other.

While Figure 3 shows horizontal lines, other arrangements, such as vertical, diagonal, or curved lines (not shown), or other arrangements still, such as thennochromic materials provided in patterns such as squares, swirls, dots, crosses or other designs, some of which are shown in Figures 4 (b) and (c), are contemplated and fall within the scope of the present application.

In the present embodiment it is contemplated that the thermochromic inks in the block of thermochromic ink comprise three distinct inks, each with a characteristic activation temperature. For example a first set of lines may comprise a particular thermochromic ink which changes colour for example from black to white as the temperature approaches the temperature range of 10 -20 degrees centigrade. A second set of lines may comprise a thermochromic ink which changes colour, for example from black to white, when the temperature approaches 22 -32 degrees centigrade. A third set of lines may comprise a thermochromic ink which changes colour, for example from black to white, when the temperature approaches 42 -52 degrees centigrade, and so on, The thermochromic material, for example ink, may be laid onto the substrate, or sheet, by for example a method of printing such as lithographic printing, screen printing, or flexographic printing, although other suitaNe methods are contemplated and fall within the scope of the present disclosure. The thermochromic material will preferably sit on the substrate surface, and in general no additional adhesive layer is required to attach the thermochromic material to the substrate or sheet.

The material of the sheet comprises any suitable material that is conventionally usable with the thermochromic material used and the application method selected. It may comprise paper, plastics or any other suitable material.

The width of respective lines of thermochromic material will depend on the size of the region of the sheet that is allocated for thennochromic material, and the number of lines required. The more lines present the more sensitive the sheet will be to indicate the position of the hot spot and hence the correct positioning of the headlamp adaptor.

However, if the line thickness falls below a minimum thickness, it may be difficult to detect the hot spot colour change. It is contemplated that the lines should be of the order of 1mm thick, and abutted close together, however line thickness could fall below 0.5mm and still provide an accurate indication as to the hot spot position, and could be much wider, however the larger the width, the less sensitive the measurement of the hot spot will be. In addition, if the different thermochromic materials are positioned in spots, squares, swirls, crosses or other patterns, sizes will also be dictated by the need for accurate positioning of the hot spot, and the complexity of providing the pattern selected.

In use, an operator may read the instructions on the sheet, either on the first region 20 of Figure 1 or on the back of the sheet for the embodiments of Figures 2 and 3. Once the operator is familiar with the instructions, sheet 10, 100, or 200 may be positioned on a headlamp cover and the headlamp light switched on, As light passes through the headlamp cover and onto the sheet the temperature of the sheet will rise, and when the, or one of the, thermochromic inks approaches its' activation temperature the ink will begin to change colour. In each embodiment the hotspot' of the headlamp light will change colour first to indicate to the user where, on the cover, the adaptor should be placed.

Figures 4 (a) to (c) show sheets 300 in accordance with the embodiment of Figure 2 S and 3 with the hotspot' 360 visible on thermochromic ink region 330.

For the arrangement of Figure 1, with a block of thermochromic ink with a single activation temperature, the thermochromic ink block will begin to change colour as the temperature of the sheet approaches the activation temperature, with the region of the ink closest to the hotspot changing colour first to indicate where the adaptor should be placed.

For the arangement of Figure 2, again with a block of thermochromic ink with a single activation temperature, the thermochromic ink block will begin to change colour as the temperature of the sheet approaches the activation temperature, with the hotspot changing colour first to indicate where the adaptor should be placed. The advantage of the arrangement of Figure 2 over that of Figure 1 is that the sheet is smaller and easier to manipulate.

For the arrangement of Figure 3, where the block 230 of thermochromic ink comprises a series of lines 250 of respective thermochromic inks, each one with a characteristic activation temperature and positioned adjacent to a neighbouring line with a different characteristic activation temperature, light from the headlamp passing through the headlamp cover and onto the sheet will cause the temperature of the sheet to rise. As the sheet approaches the activation temperature of the set of lines with the lowest activation temperature, these lines will change colour, with the hotspot changing colour first to indicate where the adaptor should be placed.

If the ambient temperature is such that the first activation temperature of the first series of lines has already been reached, the lines of thermochromic ink activated at that temperature will already have changed colour; however the thermochromic ink of a second set of lines may not yet have reached the characteristic activation temperature and so will still be the original colour. Placing the sheet onto the headlamp cover and switching on the headlamp will still cause the temperature to rise to perhaps the activation temperature of the second series of lines, which will then change colour for example from black to white with the hotspot changing colour first to indicate where the adaptor should be placed.

S

Should the ambient temperature already exceed the activation temperature of the first arid second set of lines, further lines comprising thermochromic ink with a still higher characteristic activation temperatures remain on the sheet to change colour as the headlamp light increases the temperature.

In addition to the advantage of coping with a large range of ambient temperatures, this embodiment has the advantage that should it provide difficult for a user to detect exactly where the hotspot may be -perhaps because the temperature rises too quickly and the difference in time between the hotspot changing colour and the remainder of the lines changing colour is not long enough for a user to be able to ascertain the appropriate position for the headlamp adaptor -the user will probably arrive at a good idea as to the potential location of the hotspot when for example the first set of lines changes colour, and may then wait until the second set of lines changes colour to more accurately identify the position of the hotspot, Similarly the third set of lines with a still higher activation temperature provides for confirmation that the hotspot has been selected correctly.

Removal of the sheet from the headlamp will result in a drop in temperature so that the sheet returns to its original colour Afler a short time the sheet, returned to its pristine state, can be placed on the headlamp again and will again change colour, the hotspot' changing colour first to indicate where the headlamp adaptor should be placed.

The sheet may be retained by the user for re-use at any time, for example when a further headlamp adaptor may need to be fitted to the headlamp, for a new journey to a country where drivers drive on the opposite side of the road.

It is contemplated that the types of thermochromic ink used, for example with specific activation temperatures, may be adapted to ensure that they can be used with all types of headlamps. For example some headlamps are energy efficient, so that the temperature range experienced between a headlamp that is switched off, and a S headlamp that is switched on, for example on dipped beam, is not large. The thermo-chromatic material used in a sheet for fitting a headlamp adaptor for such a vehicle may need to be particularly sensitive to the temperature range of the headlamp between the off and the on position.

An alternative to the use of thermo-chromic material is to use a photo-chromic material. Photo-chromic materials change colour in response to the electromagnetic radiation. Therefore a sheet with a region including photo-chromic material may, when positioned on a headlamp cover, also change colour when the headlamp is switched on. It is contemplated that such a photo-chromic region would be adapted to change colour in response to for example the intensity of light so that the hotspot, where the intensity of headlamp light is greatest, would change colour first, and thereby indicate where the headlamp adaptor should be placed.

In a further embodiment, LCD thenriochromics may be relied upon. LCD thermochromic materials exhibit a more nuanced response to temperature change, the colour changing from for example black through brown, blue, and green and finally to white, This would allow a more finely tuned distinction between the hotspot and the rest of the sheet to assist with indicating the correct position of a headlamp adaptor.

In addition, the backing paper of a headlamp adaptor may be arranged for use as a fitting template, with the thermochromic ink of the sheet discussed above. An adaptor with such a backing paper could be positioned on a headlamp cover and the headlamp switched on, and as the thermochromie ink on the backing paper changes colour the backing paper may be removed and the adaptor fitted and positioned as indicated by the colour change of the backing paper. As the thermochromic ink colour change is reversible and repeatable, a user is provided with the opportunity to have several attempts to fit the adaptor correctly.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiments. For example, one suitable thermochromic material comprises thermochromic ink, however any thermochromic material is contemplated to fall within the scope of protection. In addition, the activation temperature ranges are exemplary only, it is S contemplated that thermochromic materials such as for example thermochromic inks with a wide variation in activation temperatures may be used, depending on the particular circumstances. Thermochromic material activation temperatures may not show the wide variation as set out above, but any such are contemplated to fall within the scope of protection sought. In addition, the temperature ranges of the thermochromic materials are exemphiry only, and other ranges are contemplated, which fall outside the examples shown, For example the thermochromic material used may have activation temperatures that for practical reasons range from -10 up to degrees centigrade, but thennochromic materials that exceed these ranges may also be appropriate should the need arise, and are contemplated to fall within the scope of protection sought. Also, there may be more than three sets of thermochromic material, it is contemplated that any suitable number of thermochromic materials, with a wide variety of activation temperatures, are used. In addition, the thermochromic materials may be positioned in alternative arrangements other than the alternating arrangements discussed above.

Claims

C LA I NI S: A guiding device for the correct positioning of a vehicle headlamp converter, said device comprising a sheet including a region coated with at least one thermochromic material.
2. The guiding device of claim 1 wherein the region is on one side of the sheet only.
3. The guiding device of claim 1, wherein the thermochromi c material is thermochromic ink.
4. The guiding device of claim 1, wherein the sheet includes a further region suitable for displaying data.
5. The guiding device of claim 4, wherein the further region is positioned on the sheet on the opposite side to the side coated with the at least one thermochromic material.
6. The guiding device of claim 1, wherein the at least one thermochromic material comprises a single thermochromic material with a characteristic activation temperature.
7. The guiding device of claim 6, wherein the thermochromic material is provided in a block of uniform thickness,
8. The guiding device of claim 1, wherein the at least one thermochromic material comprises a plurality of thermochromic materials, each one of which has a characteristic activation temperature.
9. The guiding device of claim 8, wherein the activation temperature of each one of said plurality of thermochromic materials is different to the activation temperature of respective other ones of the plurality of thermochromic materials.
10. The guiding device of claim 8 or claim 9, wherein said plurality of Uermochronnc materials are provided in respective stripes, each stripe comprising a single thermochromic material with a characteristic activation temperature and positioned adjacent a further stripe comprising a single thermochromic material different to the thermochromic material of its neighbour and with a characteristic activation temperature which is different to the characteristic activation temperature of its neighbour.
11. The guiding device of claim 9, wherein the stripes of thermochromic material are placed adjacently.
12. The guiding device of claim 8 or claim 9, wherein said plurality of thermochromic materials are patterned.
13. The guiding device of claim 12, wherein the pattern comprises dots, crosses, squares or swirls.N A method of positioning a headlamp converter on a headlamp cover of a headlamp of a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of placing a guide in accordance with any one of claims I to 13 onto said headlamp cover; switching on the headlamp so that it emits a beam of light; noting the position, on the guide, which changes colour first, and applying a headlamp converter to said headlamp cover in accordance with the position on the guide which changed colour first, 15. A kit for positioning a headlamp converter onto a headlamp cover of a vehicle, comprising at least one guiding device in accordance with any one of claims I to ii 6. A guiding device substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.17. A method substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.