US20090168447A1 - Rotatable vehicular lamp assembly having a vibration-limiting element - Google Patents
Rotatable vehicular lamp assembly having a vibration-limiting element Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20090168447A1 US20090168447A1 US11/966,085 US96608507A US2009168447A1 US 20090168447 A1 US20090168447 A1 US 20090168447A1 US 96608507 A US96608507 A US 96608507A US 2009168447 A1 US2009168447 A1 US 2009168447A1
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- United States
- Prior art keywords
- plate
- holder
- vibration
- main
- rotatable
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Classifications
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60Q—ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60Q1/00—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor
- B60Q1/02—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to illuminate the way ahead or to illuminate other areas of way or environments
- B60Q1/04—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to illuminate the way ahead or to illuminate other areas of way or environments the devices being headlights
- B60Q1/06—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to illuminate the way ahead or to illuminate other areas of way or environments the devices being headlights adjustable, e.g. remotely-controlled from inside vehicle
- B60Q1/076—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to illuminate the way ahead or to illuminate other areas of way or environments the devices being headlights adjustable, e.g. remotely-controlled from inside vehicle by electrical means including means to transmit the movements, e.g. shafts or joints
Definitions
- the vehicular lamp is likely to deflect quickly during a turn of the vehicle, so that a rotating angle of the vehicular lamp is not consistent with the turning angle of the vehicle.
- the partition plate 13 may be disposed proximate to the bottom main plate 11 instead of the top main plate 12 , so that the drive gear wheel 32 may be disposed between the partition plate 13 and the bottom main plate 11 , in which case the gear-toothed plate portion 215 may be provided on the bottom holder plate 211 instead of the top holder plate 212 , and the driven gear wheel 33 may be disposed proximate to the bottom main plate 11 instead of the top main plate 12 so that the driven gear wheel 33 may be similarly meshed between the drive gear wheel 32 and the gear-toothed plate portion 215 .
- Rotation of the vehicular lamp assembly can be similarly achieved.
- the locations of the components are not limited to the embodiments disclosed above and shown in the drawings.
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Non-Portable Lighting Devices Or Systems Thereof (AREA)
- Lighting Device Outwards From Vehicle And Optical Signal (AREA)
Abstract
A rotatable vehicular lamp assembly includes a main frame having spaced-apart top and bottom main plates, a lighting unit, and a drive unit. The lighting unit includes a lamp seat holder connected pivotally to the top and bottom main plates for rotation relative to the main frame, and a lamp seat connected to and rotatable synchronously with the lamp seat holder. The drive unit includes a motor mounted on the main frame to rotate the lamp seat holder relative to the main frame. A vibration-limiting element is disposed between the main frame and the lamp seat holder to limit vibration of the lamp seat holder.
Description
- 1. Field of the Invention
- This invention relates to a rotatable vehicular lamp assembly, more particularly to a rotatable vehicular lamp assembly having a vibration-limiting element.
- 2. Description of the Related Art
- Conventional vehicular lamps are fixed to vehicular lamp holders, respectively. When the vehicle turns along a curve in the road, the vehicular lamps cannot concurrently turn, so that pertinent portions of the road may not be illuminated by the vehicular lamps. Since the conventional vehicular lamps cannot provide a driver of the vehicle a clear and bright situation of the roadway, road accidents may easily occur.
- In order to resolve the aforementioned drawback, many manufacturers have performed research and development on vehicular lamps. Currently available in the market is a vehicular lamp that can be controlled so as to rotate synchronously with a steering wheel or vehicle wheels. The vehicular lamp includes a fixed base seat, a lighting unit connected pivotally to a front side of the fixed base seat so as to be movable leftward and rightward, and a drive unit mounted on the fixed base seat to activate the lighting unit to rotate. The drive unit usually includes a gear wheel for driving the lighting unit. To allow the lighting unit to rotate, a space is provided between the fixed base seat and the lighting unit, as well as between the gear wheel and a rotary shaft.
- However, the aforementioned vehicular lamp has the following drawbacks:
- 1. Because of the presence of the spaces as described above, the vehicular lamp is likely to deflect quickly during a turn of the vehicle, so that a rotating angle of the vehicular lamp is not consistent with the turning angle of the vehicle.
- 2. Since the vehicle frequently, if not always, vibrates, such vibration is transmitted to the lighting unit and rocks the same, so that the light emitted by the lighting unit is scattered, thereby rendering the illuminating effect of the lighting unit unstable. Further, noise is produced due to such vibration of the lighting unit.
- Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a rotatable vehicular lamp assembly that is capable of overcoming the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art.
- According to this invention, a rotatable vehicular lamp assembly comprises a main frame, a lighting unit, a drive unit, and a vibration-limiting element. The main frame has a bottom main plate, and a top main plate spaced apart from the bottom main plate. The lighting unit includes a lamp seat holder connected pivotally to the top and bottom main plates for rotation relative to the main frame, and a lamp seat connected to and rotatable synchronously with the lamp seat holder. The drive unit includes a motor mounted on the main frame to rotate the lamp seat holder relative to the main frame. The vibration-limiting element is disposed between the main frame and the lamp seat holder to limit vibration of the lamp seat holder.
- Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of embodiments of the invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
-
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a rotatable vehicular lamp assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of the embodiment ofFIG. 1 ; -
FIG. 3 is a schematic top view of the embodiment ofFIG. 1 ; -
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of a rotatable vehicular lamp assembly according to another embodiment of the present invention; and -
FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of a rotatable vehicular lamp assembly according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. - Before the present invention is described in greater detail, it should be noted that the same reference numerals have been used to denote like elements throughout the specification.
- Referring to
FIGS. 1 , 2, and 3, a rotatable vehicular lamp assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown to comprise amain frame 1, alighting unit 2, adrive unit 3, and a vibration-limitingelement 4. - The
main frame 1 has a horizontal bottommain plate 11, a horizontal topmain plate 12 spaced apart from the bottommain plate 11, and ahorizontal partition plate 13 connected between rear sides of the top and bottommain plates support rods 14. In this embodiment, thepartition plate 13 is proximate to the topmain plate 12. - The
lighting unit 2 includes alamp seat holder 21 disposed between front sides of the top and bottommain plates second pivot pins 22′, 22 connecting pivotally thelamp seat holder 21 to the top and bottommain plates lamp seat holder 21 is rotatable leftward and rightward relative to themain frame 1, and alamp seat 23 connected to and rotatable synchronously with thelamp seat holder 21. Thelamp seat holder 21 has abottom holder plate 211 connected pivotally to and disposed above the front side of the bottommain plate 11 through thesecond pivot pin 22 that extends through thebottom holder plate 211 and the bottommain plate 11, atop holder plate 212 disposed below the front side of the topmain plate 12, and twocurved side plates 213 screwed between the bottom andtop holder plates top holder plate 212 has afront plate portion 214 connected pivotally to the topmain plate 12 through thefirst pivot pin 22′ that extends through thetop holder plate 212 and the topmain plate 12, and a sector-shaped gear-toothed plate portion 215 extending rearwardly from thefront plate portion 214 and rotatable about thefirst pivot pin 22′. The sector-shaped gear-toothed plate portion 215 has a periphery formed with a plurality ofengaging teeth 217. - The
drive unit 3 includes amotor 31 mounted on themain frame 1 between the bottommain plate 11 and thepartition plate 13 to rotate thelamp seat holder 21 leftward and rightward relative to themain frame 1, adrive gear wheel 32 disposed between thepartition plate 13 and the topmain plate 12 and driven by themotor 31, and a drivengear wheel 33 connected pivotally between thepartition plate 13 and the topmain plate 12 and meshed between thedrive gear wheel 32 and theengaging teeth 217 of the gear-toothed plate portion 215. Themotor 31 is a stepper motor in this embodiment. Thedrive gear wheel 32 is sleeved on a drive shaft of themotor 31. - The vibration-limiting
element 4 is disposed between themain frame 1 and thelamp seat holder 21 so as to absorb and limit vibration of thelamp seat holder 21. In this embodiment, two vibration-limitingelements 4 is disposed between the topmain plate 12 and thetop holder plate 212, and is configured as a piece of wool felt that is disposed around thefirst pivot pin 22′ and that abuts against the topmain plate 12 and thetop holder plate 212. The other one of the vibration-limitingelements 4 is disposed between the bottommain plate 11 and thebottom holder plate 211, and is configured as a piece of wool felt that is disposed around thesecond pivot pin 22 and that abuts against the bottommain plate 11 and thebottom holder plate 211. In other embodiments, any one of the vibration-limitingelements 4 may be omitted, such as the vibration-limitingelement 4 that is disposed between the bottommain plate 11 and thebottom holder plate 211. - When the
motor 31 activates thedrive gear wheel 32 to rotate, since thedrive gear wheel 32 is meshed with the drivengear wheel 33, which in turn, is meshed with theengaging teeth 217 of the gear-toothed plate portion 215 of thetop holder plate 212, thelamp seat holder 21 and thelamp seat 23 are pivoted leftward and rightward relative to themain frame 1. Hence, the vehicular lamp is rotated. During rotation of the vehicular lamp, the vibration-limitingelements 4 absorb and limit the vibration of thelamp seat holder 21, so that thelighting unit 2 rotates stably and is silent (or otherwise with a reduction in noise). - Referring to
FIG. 4 , a rotatable vehicular lamp assembly according to another embodiment of the present invention is shown to be similar to the embodiments described in conjunction withFIGS. 1 , 2 and 3. However, in this embodiment, each of the vibration-limited elements 4′ (only the vibration-limitingelement 4′ that is disposed between thetop holder plate 212 and the topmain plate 12 is shown) is configured as a spring plate, which can similarly effect stable rotation of thelighting unit 2. - Referring to
FIG. 5 , a rotatable vehicular lamp assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention is shown to be similar to the embodiment described in conjunction withFIGS. 1 , 2 and 3. However, in this embodiment, the drivengear wheel 33′ is made of plastic, so that noise can be minimized during rotation of thelighting unit 2. - It should be noted that the locations of some of the components of the aforementioned rotatable vehicular lamp assembly of the present invention can be reversed. For example, the
partition plate 13 may be disposed proximate to the bottommain plate 11 instead of the topmain plate 12, so that thedrive gear wheel 32 may be disposed between thepartition plate 13 and the bottommain plate 11, in which case the gear-toothed plate portion 215 may be provided on thebottom holder plate 211 instead of thetop holder plate 212, and the drivengear wheel 33 may be disposed proximate to the bottommain plate 11 instead of the topmain plate 12 so that the drivengear wheel 33 may be similarly meshed between thedrive gear wheel 32 and the gear-toothed plate portion 215. Rotation of the vehicular lamp assembly can be similarly achieved. Hence, the locations of the components are not limited to the embodiments disclosed above and shown in the drawings. - The advantages of the rotatable vehicular lamp assembly of the present invention can be summarized as follows:
- 1. Since the vibration-limiting
elements 4 are provided between themain frame 1 and thelamp seat holder 21, the vibration-limitingelements 4 can fully absorb vibrations associated with thelamp seat holder 21, and can appropriately produce damping forces during rotation of thelighting unit 2, so that thelighting unit 2 can indeed stop at a preset angle. Hence, accurate control of the rotating angle of thelighting unit 2 is achieved. - 2. Due to the presence of the vibration-limiting
elements 4, thelighting unit 2 can move stably, so that the light emitted from thelamp seat 23 will not scatter. Further, noise is minimized. - While the present invention has been described in connection with what are considered the most practical embodiments, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the sprit and scope of the broadest interpretations and equivalent arrangements.
Claims (11)
1. A rotatable vehicular lamp assembly, comprising:
a main frame having a bottom main plate, and a top main plate spaced apart from said bottom main plate;
a lighting unit including a lamp seat holder connected pivotally to said top and bottom main plates for rotation relative to said main frame, and a lamp seat connected to and rotatable synchronously with said lamp seat holder, said lamp seat holder having a top holder plate connected pivotally to said top main plate, and a bottom holder plate connected pivotally to said bottom main plate;
a first pivot pin extending through said top holder plate and said top main plate;
a second pivot pin extending through said bottom holder plate and said bottom main plate;
a drive unit including a motor mounted on said main frame to rotate said lamp seat holder relative to said main frame; and
two vibration-limiting elements each of which is in the form of a plate capable of vibration absorption, one of said vibration-limiting elements being disposed between said top holder plate and said top main plate around said first pivot pin and having top and bottom surfaces respectively abutting against said top holder plate and said top main plate, the other one of said vibration-limiting elements being disposed between said bottom holder plate and said bottom main plate around said second pivot pin and having top and bottom surfaces respectively abutting against said bottom holder plate and said bottom main plate.
2. (canceled)
3. (canceled)
4. (canceled)
5. The rotatable vehicular lamp assembly of claim 1 , characterized in that said plate of at least one of said vibration-limiting elements is made from a piece of wool felt.
6. The rotatable vehicular lamp assembly of claim 1 , characterized in that said plate of at least one of said vibration-limiting elements is a spring plate.
7. (canceled)
8. (canceled)
9. (canceled)
10. The rotatable vehicular lamp assembly of claim 1 , characterized in that said top holder plate of said lamp seat holder has a sector-shaped gear-toothed plate portion rotatable about said first pivot pin, said drive unit further including a drive gear wheel driven by said motor, and a driven gear wheel connected pivotally to said top main plate and meshed between said drive gear wheel and said gear-toothed plate portion.
11. The rotatable vehicular lamp assembly of claim 10 , characterized in that said driven gear wheel is made of plastic.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US11/966,085 US7543967B1 (en) | 2007-12-28 | 2007-12-28 | Rotatable vehicular lamp assembly having a vibration-limiting element |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US11/966,085 US7543967B1 (en) | 2007-12-28 | 2007-12-28 | Rotatable vehicular lamp assembly having a vibration-limiting element |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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US7543967B1 US7543967B1 (en) | 2009-06-09 |
US20090168447A1 true US20090168447A1 (en) | 2009-07-02 |
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US11/966,085 Expired - Fee Related US7543967B1 (en) | 2007-12-28 | 2007-12-28 | Rotatable vehicular lamp assembly having a vibration-limiting element |
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Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20130312656A1 (en) * | 2012-05-24 | 2013-11-28 | Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd. | Vehicular lamp |
US20160123550A1 (en) * | 2014-11-04 | 2016-05-05 | Hyundai Motor Company | Lamp for vehicle |
Families Citing this family (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CN103185209B (en) * | 2011-12-27 | 2015-08-19 | 海洋王照明科技股份有限公司 | Light fixture |
US20180334082A1 (en) * | 2017-05-16 | 2018-11-22 | Kun Chau Huang | Heat dissipation device |
Citations (6)
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US4870552A (en) * | 1988-07-22 | 1989-09-26 | Vitta Trust, C/O Michael F. Vitta, Trustee | Lighting devive |
US5860726A (en) * | 1997-05-05 | 1999-01-19 | Star Headlight And Lantern Co. Inc. | Rotator mounting system |
US20020064051A1 (en) * | 2000-11-24 | 2002-05-30 | Atsushi Sugimoto | Vehicle lamp and rotary driving apparatus |
US20030223245A1 (en) * | 2002-03-07 | 2003-12-04 | Ichikoh Industries, Ltd. | Vehicle headlamp and opposite holding type pivot mechanism for vehicle headlamp |
US20040264209A1 (en) * | 2003-05-09 | 2004-12-30 | Masao Okawa | Lighting apparatus for vehicle |
US7163323B1 (en) * | 2005-11-10 | 2007-01-16 | Chian-Yin Tseng | Vehicular rotatable lamp unit |
Family Cites Families (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB303766A (en) | 1927-10-08 | 1929-01-08 | Hubert Auguste Enrhard | Improvements in mechanism for transmitting the oscillations of a steering wheel of amotor vehicle to a headlight or lamp |
DE50306045D1 (en) | 2003-09-19 | 2007-02-01 | Saia Burgess Murten Ag | Actuator for a headlamp unit |
FR2897570B1 (en) | 2006-02-17 | 2008-05-09 | Valeo Vision Sa | IMPROVED ARRANGEMENT FOR PIVOTTING AN ELLIPTICAL MODULE OF A LIGHTING SYSTEM FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE. |
DE102007002691A1 (en) | 2006-02-20 | 2007-08-23 | Saia-Burgess Murten Ag | Actuator for pivoting a vehicle headlamp comprises play-reducing units for reducing play in the coupling between a gearing mechanism and a driven shaft and a position transmitter spaced from the driven shaft |
-
2007
- 2007-12-28 US US11/966,085 patent/US7543967B1/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Patent Citations (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4870552A (en) * | 1988-07-22 | 1989-09-26 | Vitta Trust, C/O Michael F. Vitta, Trustee | Lighting devive |
US5860726A (en) * | 1997-05-05 | 1999-01-19 | Star Headlight And Lantern Co. Inc. | Rotator mounting system |
US20020064051A1 (en) * | 2000-11-24 | 2002-05-30 | Atsushi Sugimoto | Vehicle lamp and rotary driving apparatus |
US20030223245A1 (en) * | 2002-03-07 | 2003-12-04 | Ichikoh Industries, Ltd. | Vehicle headlamp and opposite holding type pivot mechanism for vehicle headlamp |
US20040264209A1 (en) * | 2003-05-09 | 2004-12-30 | Masao Okawa | Lighting apparatus for vehicle |
US7163323B1 (en) * | 2005-11-10 | 2007-01-16 | Chian-Yin Tseng | Vehicular rotatable lamp unit |
Cited By (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20130312656A1 (en) * | 2012-05-24 | 2013-11-28 | Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd. | Vehicular lamp |
KR101505283B1 (en) | 2012-05-24 | 2015-03-23 | 가부시키가이샤 고이토 세이사꾸쇼 | Vehicular lamp |
US9022623B2 (en) * | 2012-05-24 | 2015-05-05 | Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd. | Vehicular lamp |
US20160123550A1 (en) * | 2014-11-04 | 2016-05-05 | Hyundai Motor Company | Lamp for vehicle |
US9869440B2 (en) * | 2014-11-04 | 2018-01-16 | Hyundai Motor Company | Lamp for vehicle with rotating reflector and light source positioned outside the reflector |
DE102015206755B4 (en) | 2014-11-04 | 2022-01-13 | Hyundai Motor Company | vehicle light |
Also Published As
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REMI | Maintenance fee reminder mailed | ||
LAPS | Lapse for failure to pay maintenance fees | ||
STCH | Information on status: patent discontinuation |
Free format text: PATENT EXPIRED DUE TO NONPAYMENT OF MAINTENANCE FEES UNDER 37 CFR 1.362 |
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FP | Lapsed due to failure to pay maintenance fee |
Effective date: 20130609 |