One-piece lens with a driven wheel section

Abstract

The present invention relates to a vehicle lighting device, comprising: a light source (6); a lens (101), which is arranged to deflect light emitted by the light source (6) and includes a wheel section (111) having a driven surface (112), the wheel section being integrally formed as a single part with the lens; and a drive mechanism (160) having a drive surface (161) such that the drive surface contacts the driven surface and the movement of the drive surface drives the movement of the lens.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle lighting device including an adjustable optical member. More specifically, the present invention relates to a vehicle lighting device including a lens that is moved by a mechanical member. Background Art

[0002] In a device including an optical member such as a lens, one solution for adjusting the member is to use an adjustment screw, in particular a guide screw.

[0003] An example of such a device is disclosed in W02014012878, in which a ribbed fork cooperates with an adjustment screw. The adjustment screw is integrally formed with the lens as a single part. Precise adjustment and a compact device are obtained. However, it is difficult to mount the fork on the adjustment screw. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The object of the present invention is to improve the robustness between the drive mechanism and the lens while maintaining compactness and precision.

[0005] Thus, the present invention resides in a vehicle lighting device, comprising:

[0006] - a light source;

[0007] - a lens, which is arranged to deflect the light emitted by the light source (6), and which comprises a wheel section having a driven surface, the wheel section being integrally formed with the lens as a single part,

[0008] - a drive mechanism having a drive surface such that the drive surface contacts the driven surface and the movement of the drive surface drives the movement of the lens.

[0009] Thus, the use of the wheel section enables the wheel section to be positioned more easily and more powerfully relative to the drive mechanism. The use of the wheel section also enables the lens to be made as a single part, thus making it possible to improve its compactness and accuracy.

[0010] The lighting device according to the present invention may optionally have one or more of the following individual features:

[0011] - the driven surface includes a raised pattern that meshes with a raised pattern of the drive surface; this enables optimizing the transmission of movement between the drive surface and the driven surface;

[0012] - the wheel section is a gear section and the raised pattern of the driven surface is teeth; this is a simple and effective shape for optimizing the transmission of movement between the drive surface and the driven surface;

[0013] The movement of a lens is a rotational movement about a rotation axis, and the wheel section is centered on the rotation axis of the lens; this enables rotation with less force applied to the drive mechanism.

[0014] - The lens includes an optical component and two movable hinge components. The optical component includes a front refractive mirror and a rear refractive mirror adapted to deflect light rays from the light source of the device. The movable hinge components are arranged on opposite sides of the optical component. Thus, the lens can be mounted while stably holding the optical component while allowing the lens to freely rotate via its movable hinge components.

[0015] - The axis of rotation passes through each movable hinge.

[0016] - The lens is formed as a component of a transparent or translucent material, especially polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA). These materials can be brittle when deformed. However, the wheel segment embodiment is of a relatively robust shape, which allows the wheel segment to be made of the lens material while maintaining good strength over a long period. In particular, PMMA is especially advantageous for forming the optical component that defines its transparency and optical properties. However, compared to other plastic materials, such as polyoxymethylene used to produce the adjusting screw, PMMA is more susceptible to creep. However, for the wheel, especially for the gear, the fan shape is particularly creep-resistant. Therefore, generating the lens from PMMA enables the use of materials with good optical properties for the optical component and the wheel segment while resisting creep and thus having an extended service life.

[0017] - The wheel segment forms an arm that extends longitudinally between a first end connected to the lens and a free second end. The second end carries a driven surface. This enables the overall size of the wheel segment to be minimized while also increasing the motion reduction, which also allows for more precise adjustment at the level height of the drive mechanism.

[0018] - The arm is generally flat and includes two extended surfaces separated by an edge surface. The edge surface includes the driven surface located at the second end. This is a shape that is especially easier to produce by a molding process.

[0019] - The wheel segment includes a cylindrical portion and teeth on the edge surface of the cylindrical portion that form the driven surface. In particular, the cylindrical portion has an axis parallel to or coinciding with the axis of rotation of the lens. In particular, it has an axis parallel to or coinciding with the axis of rotation of the lens.

[0020] - According to the foregoing, the driven surface can carry helical teeth. In this case, the driven surface is tangent to the cylindrical portion. The helical teeth enable sufficient engagement with other helical teeth or adjusting screws. Of course, the driven surface can also carry straight teeth.

[0021] - The drive mechanism is an adjusting screw including a threaded portion having a thread that forms a drive surface. This enables simple adjustment of the light beam with good reduction.

[0022] - The adjusting screw extends along a longitudinal axis and includes a carrier part which is located on one side of the threaded part along the longitudinal axis. The device further includes:

[0023] - A wall cooperating with the adjusting screw,

[0024] - One or more elastic means which are arranged between the carrier part and the cooperating wall and are adapted to be compressed in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the adjusting screw,

[0025] The lens, the cooperating wall and the elastic means cause at least one of the elastic means or the elastic means to be loaded to apply a return force that pushes the threaded part towards the lens; thus, the threaded part continuously abuts against the lens support, thereby preventing any gap between the threaded part and the lens;

[0026] - A wheel section forms an arm, and the force returning the threaded part towards the lens is aligned with the direction in which the arm extends; this further compensates for the gap between the driven surface and the driving surface;

[0027] - The carrier part forms one of the ends of the adjusting screw; this results in a more effective return action that pushes it towards the adjustable part and simplifies its production particularly by a molding process;

[0028] - The elastic means is a leaf spring which has a first end extending from the carrier part (69) and a free second end; this is a simple embodiment of the elastic means; the elastic means can also be a rubber member or an elastic foam member.

[0029] - The device includes a housing, and the lens and the adjusting screw are accommodated inside the housing;

[0030] - The housing includes:

[0031] - A front housing which is closed at the front by an outer lens, and the lens is mounted inside the front housing,

[0032] - A cartridge, the interior of which accommodates the threaded part,

[0033] - A sleeve which connects the front housing and the cartridge, and the wheel section forms an arm that extends longitudinally through the sleeve into the cartridge, where the driven surface contacts the driving surface;

[0034] This enables the lens to be mounted by sliding it towards the cartridge, and the sleeve forms a mechanism for guiding the wheel section towards the adjusting screw;

[0035] - The cartridge has an inner wall formed by a cylindrical part with a specified diameter, and the sleeve has an inner width that is smaller than the specified diameter and larger than the thickness of the wheel section in the transverse direction; this improves the guiding of the driven surface towards the threaded part;

[0036] - The sleeve leads to the cartridge via an opening defined by a groove directed towards the interior of the sleeve; this facilitates the engagement of the wheel segment in the sleeve;

[0037] - The cartridge has a circular wall that defines an opening for inserting the adjusting screw, the adjusting screw having a rotational support that is arranged to bear against the circular wall to prevent translation of the adjusting screw along its longitudinal axis;

[0038] A circular shoulder between the circular wall and the complementary part receives a seal;

[0039] One end of the adjusting screw along the longitudinal axis includes an adjusting wheel for actuating the adjusting screw, and the other end of the adjusting screw along the longitudinal axis is approximately conical;

[0040] - The wheel segment is a conical wheel segment, particularly having an axis parallel to or coinciding with the rotational axis of the lens,

[0041] - The drive mechanism is a conical wheel having an axis angled with respect to the axis of the conical wheel segment, particularly the two axes are crossed and they form an angle of 90° therebetween, and the conical wheel particularly forms a drive gear; this enables direct transmission without an adjusting screw;

[0042] - The wheel segment forms an arm having elasticity in a direction parallel to the axis of the conical wheel, and the arm and the conical wheel cause the arm to be loaded to exert a return force that pushes the driven surface towards the drive surface; thus this can compensate for any clearance between the conical wheel and the lens;

[0043] - The device further includes:

[0044] - A pressing member that includes a decoration and a contact portion carried by the decoration, the decoration at least partially surrounding the lens, and the contact portion bearing against the lens,

[0045] The lens, the drive mechanism, and the pressing member cause the lens to be at least partially clamped between the drive mechanism and the contact portion, and in a direction called the flexure direction from the drive mechanism towards the contact portion, the contact portion is rigid and the pressing member is elastically deformable; this can enable a mechanism that absorbs force when the lens contacts its abutment;

[0046] - The wheel segment forms an arm that extends longitudinally, and its length is aligned with the flexure direction; thus, the force on the drive mechanism is directly transmitted to the decoration, thereby supporting greater absorption of the force on the decoration;

[0047] - In a direction called the flexure direction from the drive mechanism towards the contact portion, the contact portion is rigid and the ornament is elastically deformable.

[0048] - The lens includes a deflection member and a moving hinge member, the deflection member being configured to deflect light from a light source;

[0049] The vehicle lighting device further includes a bracket for supporting the lens and the light source, the moving hinge member being hinged between the contact portion and a fixed hinge member on the bracket such that the lens rotates freely via the moving hinge member;

[0050] - The moving hinge member includes a cylindrical portion that abuts against the contact portion, the contact portion having a concave shape complementary to the cylindrical portion at its end;

[0051] - The fixed hinge member on the bracket includes a disc portion that abuts against the moving hinge member, the moving hinge member including a concave portion complementary to the disc portion;

[0052] - The outer plane of the disc portion in contact with the moving hinge member is inclined towards the inside;

[0053] - The contact portion, the moving hinge member, and the fixed hinge member on the bracket are smaller on one side of the wheel section than on the other side of the vehicle lighting device;

[0054] - The contact portion and the disc portion on the bracket are offset in a direction along the rotation axis of the lens, and the wheel section is arranged between the contact portion and the disc portion on the bracket;

[0055] - The pressing member is fixed to the bracket;

[0056] - The pressing member includes a fixed lug provided with a hole, and a hook of the bracket is snapped into the hole;

[0057] - The pressing member pre-stresses the lens;

[0058] - The bracket includes a radiator, and the bracket has an offset towards the deflection member such that the rotation axis of the lens generally passes through the light source;

[0059] - The vehicle lighting device further includes a housing, the lens and the bracket being accommodated inside the housing; an inner surface of the housing includes elastic ribs for clamping the bracket into the housing;

[0060] - The housing includes guide rails for guiding the sliding of the bracket in the housing;

[0061] - The decorative element is visible from the outside of the vehicle lighting device, and the pressing member has a central opening, and at least a part of the deflecting portion of the lens for deflecting light from the light source is received in the central opening;

[0062] - The pressing member further includes a pin longitudinally extending from the decorative element for anti-misassembly;

[0063] - When installed in the housing, the decorative element is prestressed to generate a return force on the adjusting screw, pushing the adjusting screw in a direction opposite to the flexing direction; thus, this increases the pressure against the adjusting screw;

[0064] - The lighting device includes a bracket for the lens, and the bracket is a heat dissipation device, especially a radiator; by enabling the heat generated by the light source to be discharged, this improves the compactness;

[0065] - The decorative element is made of polycarbonate; this enables it to have good flexibility;

[0066] - The lighting device includes a light source; in this case, the lighting device is ready to emit a light beam when it is powered;

[0067] - The light source is a light-emitting diode (LED); in the case of a lighting device using a light-emitting diode, the present invention is particularly useful; actually, compared with a conventional incandescent lamp, the light-emitting diode has a very small size, so gaps and errors have a greater impact;

[0068] - On one side, the lens directly abuts against the pressing member, and / or on the other side, against the driving mechanism;

[0069] - The lens is adapted to deflect light to form a lighting beam having a cut-off line; since the cut-off line must be accurately positioned so as not to dazzle the driver of a vehicle approaching in the opposite direction or a subsequent vehicle equipped with the lighting device according to the present invention, in this case, the accuracy of the device according to the present invention is more useful;

[0070] - The lighting device is a fog lamp, and the lens is particularly adapted to deflect light to form a fog beam having a horizontal cut-off line.

[0071] The present invention also relates to a vehicle including the lighting device according to the present invention.

[0072] Unless otherwise indicated, when they are used in the devices of the lighting device, the terms "front", "rear", "below", "above", "side", "longitudinal", "transverse" are relative to the light emission direction from the lighting device. Description of the Drawings

[0073] Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent when reading the following detailed description of non-limiting examples. To understand the examples, reference will be made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0074] Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a lighting device according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

[0075] Figure 2 is a front view of the lighting device shown during assembly; Figure 1 of the lighting device;

[0076] Figure 3 is in a plane perpendicular to Figure 2 and passing through axis 3, a view of a cross-section of the lighting device from Figure 2 ;

[0077] Figure 4 is of an adjusting screw according to an embodiment of the present invention, particularly of the adjusting screw of the device from Figure 1 a perspective bottom view;

[0078] Figure 5 is from Figure 4 a side view of the adjusting screw;

[0079] Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the adjusting screw perpendicular to its longitudinal axis and at the level of the elastic mechanism;

[0080] Figure 7 is a perspective view of the pressing member of the lighting device in the previous figure;

[0081] Figure 8 is of the lighting device without the closed outer lens and the housing; Figure 2 a side view;

[0082] Figure 9 is in a plane perpendicular to axis 3 and including axis 63 but without the closed outer lens, a perspective cross-sectional view of the lighting device from Figure 2 ;

[0083] Figure 10 is of the lighting device without the housing and the closed outer lens, a side view seen from the side opposite to Figure 2 ; Figure 8 ;

[0084] Figure 11 is a perspective view of a part of another embodiment of the lighting device;

[0085] Figure 12 is Figure 11 a top view. Detailed Description

[0086] Figure 1 and 2 shows a first embodiment of a vehicle lighting device according to the present invention.

[0087] The lighting device includes a housing 50 that defines a housing 52, and a light source 6 and a lens 1 that deflects light emitted by the light source 6 are disposed inside the housing 52. Generally, the lighting device may include a closing outer lens 54 and a styling member or cover 30 located between the closing outer lens 54 and the lens 1 in the emission direction X of the light beam of the lighting device.

[0088] The housing 50 includes a member that forms a generally cylindrical envelope defining the housing 52. The housing may include fixing lugs 53 intended to be fixed to the vehicle.

[0089] The lighting device enables the emission of a beam whose tip is truncated or at least characterized by a very rapid decrease in luminous intensity when below a certain level height, and the edge of the truncated part or this very rapid decrease corresponds to a cut-off line. For example, when the device has been installed in a vehicle, the light beam is delimited especially by a plane that is intended to be substantially horizontal and below a certain height above the roadway.

[0090] In the example shown, the device is a fog lamp that generates a fog beam, so the fog beam is characterized by a horizontal cut-off line; the lamp is also considered a front fog lamp or a fog lamp.

[0091] The device is configured to allow the position of the cut-off line of the light beam to be adjusted in a specified direction, especially in the vertical direction.

[0092] In the example shown, the lens 1 has an optical component, which is hereinafter referred to as a deflection component 4 and is defined by a rear refractive mirror and a front refractive mirror.

[0093] The front refractive mirror and the rear refractive mirror of the deflection component 4 are adapted to deflect light to form a light beam with a cut-off line. According to an embodiment not shown, both the front and / or rear refractive mirror support stripes are adapted to deflect light to form a cut-off line.

[0094] In this example, by actuating an adjustment screw 60 having a threaded portion 61, the angular position of the lens 1 is changed around a pivot axis to adjust the position of the cut-off line. In this example, the pivot axis is the rotation axis 3.

[0095] The rotation axis 3 is intended to be oriented along the transverse axis of the vehicle on which the lighting device is configured.

[0096] In this example, to allow this adjustment, the lens 1 further includes two movable hinge members 9 and 10 on opposite sides of the deflection component 4, and the lens 1 can rotate around the movable hinge members. In Figure 3 these movable hinge members 9 and 10 are diagrammatically separated from the deflection component 4 by dashed lines.

[0097] The lens 1 further includes a toothed member 11 that cooperates with the adjusting screw 60. The rotation of the toothed member 11 about the longitudinal axis 63 of the screw pivots the lens 1 upward or downward. In other words, the adjusting screw 60 forms an embodiment of the mechanism for driving the lens 1.

[0098] Therefore, by actuating a single member, namely the lens 1 for forming and transmitting the light beam, the adjustment of the cut-off line is achieved.

[0099] In this example, according to a principle of the present invention, the toothed member forms a wheel section 11 having a surface driven by the adjusting screw 60. The wheel section 11 is integrally formed as one part with the lens, particularly with the deflection member 4.

[0100] In this example, the wheel section is more specifically a gear section 11.

[0101] In this example, the teeth 12' of the gear section 1l form a driven surface 12. The thread 61' of the threaded portion 61 forms a driving surface that drives the driven surface and thus the gear section 11 and thus directly drives the lens 1.

[0102] Therefore, the gear section 11 meshes with the threaded portion 61, as Figure 8 and 9 shown.

[0103] The teeth 12' can be straight teeth, and the gear section can be part of a cylindrical portion that forms a cylinder carrying the straight teeth.

[0104] Optionally, the teeth 12' form a helical tooth portion. In other words, the gear section 11 includes a part of a cylinder carrying these teeth, and the teeth have an inclination and curvature corresponding to the threaded portion.

[0105] Optionally, the part of the cylinder carrying the teeth constitutes the driven surface 12 of the wheel section.

[0106] Optionally, the center of the part of the cylinder carrying the teeth is located on the rotation axis 3 of the lens 1.

[0107] Optionally, the driven surface 12 of the wheel section 11 is centered on the rotation axis of the lens 1.

[0108] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the lens 1 is a one-piece member. The deflection member 4 and the moving hinge members 9, 10 and the gear section 11 are thus made of the same material and, in this case, are particularly formed as one part.

[0109] In particular, the lens 1 is made of PMMA and thus provides good optical properties, and its gear section 11 is more resistant to creep and can therefore undergo many adjustments without significant deformation.

[0110] Here, the gear section 11 is formed by a strip having a first end connected to the first moving hinge member 9 and a second end carrying the tooth portion 12' of the gear section, thus forming an arm that extends longitudinally from the rear of the device to the front, i.e., from the tooth portion 12' to the first moving hinge member 9.

[0111] In this example, the height h of the strip enables the lens 1 to make some movements.

[0112] The largest surface of the arm is arranged approximately vertically. Figure 8 One of them is shown. These surfaces are separated by the driven surface 12 at the rear and by the lower edge surface and the upper edge surface at the top and bottom.

[0113] The width of these edge surfaces corresponds to the thickness e of the gear section 11.

[0114] In this example, the light source 6 is a light-emitting diode placed upstream of the lens 1 with respect to the emission direction of the light rays.

[0115] The lighting device includes a bracket 20 that supports the light source 6 and the lens 1. The bracket is directly fixed to the housing 50. The bracket positions the source 6 relative to the lens and thus directly fixes it in the housing 50.

[0116] Here, a cut-off line is generated by the mutual arrangement of the lens 1 (especially its front and rear refractive mirrors) and the light source 6, as disclosed especially in document EP1762776 corresponding to the embodiments of and / or especially corresponding to Figure 11 and subsequent figures and EPl970619 corresponding to the embodiments of Figure 1 as disclosed.

[0117] According to this example, the axis of rotation 3 passes approximately through the light source 6. The lens 1 may also have a focal point at the horizontal height of the light source 6. This generates a light beam whose shape and light intensity distribution do not change according to the angular position of the lens 1 and thus do not depend on the position of the cut-off line.

[0118] In this example, the light source is a light-emitting diode (LED) 6.

[0119] According to the rotation direction of the adjustment screw 60, the gear section 11 tilts upward or downward, driving the deflection member 4 to adjust upward or downward respectively.

[0120] This moves the projected image of the LED 6 and thus the corresponding light beam. In particular, in the case of a fog beam, the height of its cut-off line can be adjusted.

[0121] Figures 4 to 6 shown Figures 1 to 3 and the adjusting screw 60 of the lighting device shown in FIGS. 8 to 10.

[0122] The adjusting screw 60 extends along a longitudinal axis 63 and is driven to rotate about the longitudinal axis 63. The adjusting screw 60 continuously includes, along this longitudinal axis 63, a first end formed by an adjusting wheel 62, a rotational bearing 64, a clip 67, a threaded portion 61, and a second end in the form of a carrier portion 69 carrying a leaf spring 90. Here, the leaf spring 90 forms the elastic mechanism of the adjusting screw.

[0123] The threaded portion carries a thread 61", and the surface of the thread 61" forms a driving surface 61' of the tooth portion 12' of the gear section 11.

[0124] Here, the adjusting wheel 62 forms a mechanism for actuating the adjusting screw 60 to rotate in either direction.

[0125] As Figure 6 better shown, the leaf spring 90 is adapted to be flexible and capable of elastic deformation towards the carrier portion 69. Here, the flexibility is imparted by its specific shape. However, this does not limit the present invention.

[0126] Here, due to their shape and position, these leaf springs 90 can be compressed transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis 63 of the adjusting screw 60.

[0127] Each of these leaf springs 90 has a first end and a second end. The first end of each leaf spring is formed by a base 91 extending radially from the carrier portion 69. The second end is a free end 93, here formed by a rounded terminal.

[0128] The leaf spring 90 has a bend 94 between the base 91 of the leaf spring and a flexure portion 92, and the flexure portion is located between this bend 94 and the free end 93. The flexure portion 92 of each leaf spring has a curvature such that the free ends 93 of all the leaf springs 90 can be tangent to a circle, and the circle has its center on the longitudinal axis 63 of the adjusting screw 60. In other words, all the free ends 93 pass through the same circle.

[0129] Furthermore, this curvature of the flexure portion of the leaf spring 90 is such that at the level height of the free end 93, the curvature of each leaf spring 90 is tangential to this circumscribed circle. When the carrier portion 69 is inserted into the housing for the adjusting screw 61, i.e., here the housing is the cartridge 55 of the outer housing 50 and the housing has a cylindrical shape, the leaf spring 90 will thus be approximately tangential to the inner wall of the cartridge 55. This facilitates the sliding of the leaf spring 90 against the inner wall of the cartridge 55, for example as Figure 6 shown.

[0130] Furthermore, this bent shape of the leaf spring 90 enables it to be deformed more easily and more flexibly.

[0131] To support the rotation of the adjusting screw 60 in the cartridge 55, the free end 93 has a circular shape, in particular the shape of a cylindrical part having an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis 63 of the adjusting screw 60.

[0132] As Figure 4 and 5 shown, when the adjusting screw 60 is removed from the lighting device, the leaf springs 90 are no longer compressed and move away from the carrier part 69, such that the circumscribed circle at the free ends 93 of these leaf springs has a diameter larger than the diameter of the threaded part 61 including the thread.

[0133] For example, in Figure 6 each free end 93 of the leaf spring includes a point at the maximum radial distance from the longitudinal axis 63 of the adjusting screw 60. The radial distance of this point from the longitudinal axis 63 is greater than the radius of the threaded part 61.

[0134] In other words, these leaf springs 90 must be compressed so that the adjusting screw 60 can be inserted into the sleeve, the diameter of which approximately corresponds to the diameter of the thread of the threaded part 61.

[0135] In this example, the diameter of the inner wall of the cartridge 55 is smaller than the diameter of this circumscribed circle. Thus, when the adjusting screw 60 is installed in the cartridge 55, these leaf springs are prestressed.

[0136] As Figure 5 shown, the upper end of the adjusting screw 60 is approximately conical, thus facilitating its insertion into the cartridge 55.

[0137] The adjusting screw 60 can be made of a single piece, for example, of polyoxymethylene.

[0138] In particular, as Figure 1 and 9 shown, the housing 52 can be defined by the cylindrical wall 80 of the outer housing 50, and the closing outer lens 54 is mounted on the cylindrical wall 80. The housing 52 is defined at the front by this closing outer lens 54 and at the rear by the rear wall of the outer housing 50.

[0139] Without limiting the present invention, the outer housing 50 is characterized by a sleeve 85 that extends from the rear wall of the housing and opens towards the cartridge 55 that houses the adjusting screw 60. This sleeve 85 thus connects the housing 52 and the cartridge 55.

[0140] The adjusting screw 60 is arranged in the cartridge 55 and is clamped into the outer housing 50. The adjusting screw 60 is thus fixed to prevent translational movement in this cartridge 55.

[0141] As shown here, the clip 67 is formed, for example, by a radial projection relative to an adjusting screw 60 arranged against complementary parts (not shown in these figures) near the opening for inserting the adjusting screw 60 into the cartridge 55. Thus, these clips 67 make it possible to prevent the adjusting screw 60 from moving translationally downwards.

[0142] Similarly, in this example, the rotary bearing 64 is arranged against the circular wall 82 of the housing 50 to prevent the adjusting screw 60 from moving translationally upwards.

[0143] The circular wall 82 defines an opening for inserting the adjusting screw 60. The insertion opening and thus the edge of the circular wall 82 at this level are located between the rotary bearing 64 and these locking lugs 67 to press the rotary bearing 64 against the plane of the outer surface of this circular wall 82. In addition to fixing it to prevent translational movement, this facilitates the sealed rotation of the screw in the insertion opening.

[0144] Here, an annular seal 81 is arranged between the clip 67 and the rotary bearing 64 to seal the housing 54 at the level of the insertion opening, enabling the adjusting screw 60 to be assembled. For example, this seal 81 can be pre-placed on the adjusting screw 60.

[0145] In this example, the circular shoulder between the circular wall 82 and the complementary part receives the seal 81.

[0146] The cover 30 forms a pressing member. As shown in FIG. 1, the bracket 20, the lens 1 and the cover 30 are stacked in sequence in the housing 50. This means that the cover 30 is fixed to the bracket 20 by fixing lugs 33 including holes, and the hooks 23 of the bracket are clipped into these holes, as Figure 8 and 10 shown.

[0147] Stacked in this way, the cover 30 presses the lens 1 against its bracket 20, as described in detail below.

[0148] In this example, when passing through the stacking assembly device, the sleeve 85 serves as a mechanism for guiding the arm formed by the gear segment 11, as described below.

[0149] The cover 30 is characterized by a central opening 34. When the fog lamp has been assembled, the cover 30 surrounds the lens 1, and its deflection member 4 is received in the central opening 34. From the outside, when viewed from the front, actually only this deflection member 4 of the lens 1 and the front of the cover 30 are seen.

[0150] Here, the bracket 20 further includes an electronic control circuit board 24. This circuit board 24 is used in particular to control the LED 6. The arms 21, 22 of the bracket 20 extend along the axis of rotation 3 on opposite sides of this control circuit board 24.

[0151] In this example, the support 20 is a radiator having fins 25 on its back. The radiator 20 is more particularly adapted to exchange heat with the LED 6 via an electronic circuit board 24 in particular.

[0152] In this example, in order to support the heat dissipation and the compactness of the lamp, the rear wall of the housing 50 includes a rear opening (not shown) through which the fins 25 pass. In this case, the lamp includes an annular seal 58 to provide a seal between the support 20 and the rear wall of the housing 50.

[0153] The radiator may be made of metal, in particular aluminum or a thermally conductive polymer.

[0154] The housing 50 may include ventilation means such as ventilation holes 56 passing through the side walls of the housing 50 and blocked by a semi-permeable membrane 57. This enables the interior of the housing 50 to communicate with the outside.

[0155] The inner face of the housing 50 may include elastic nesting ribs for clamping the support 20 into the housing 50 by means complementary to these ribs.

[0156] In this example, the back of the housing also includes a connector 51 for supplying power to the light source 6.

[0157] The housing 50 is further characterized by a projection forming a ring 59 for holding a drive gear 70, the longitudinal axis of the drive gear 70 being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the adjustment screw 60. The drive gear 70 cooperates with the teeth of the adjustment wheel 62 such that actuation of the gear 70 drives the rotation of the adjustment wheel 62 and thus of the adjustment screw about the longitudinal axis 63.

[0158] Figure 7 The specifically shown cover 30 includes a decoration 36 forming a decoration of the cover. In fact, as Figure 2 shown, the front part of the decoration 36 forms a part visible from the outside of the lighting device and enables the back of the housing 50 to be masked.

[0159] In this example, when the lighting device has been assembled, the decoration 36 completely surrounds the lens 1.

[0160] In this example, the cover 30 includes two contact parts 31 and 32. Here, projections extending approximately in the stacking direction of the components inside the housing 50 form the contact parts. The contact parts 31, 32 face the rear of the decoration 36 so that the contact parts 31, 32 are not visible from the outside. When the lighting device has been assembled, the first contact part 31 and the second contact part 32 respectively come into contact with the exteriors 13 and 14 of the first moving articulated part 9 and the second moving articulated part 10.

[0161] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the exterior of the first movable hinge member 9 and the exterior of the second movable hinge member 10 are formed by the first cylindrical portion 13 and the second cylindrical portion 14.

[0162] As Figure 3 shown, the arms of the bracket 20 are formed by the disk portions 21, 22, each of the disk portions 21, 22 including edge surfaces 21a, 22a, each of the edge surfaces being received in a complementary shape at the rear thereof of the lens 1, the complementary shapes being the concave portions 15, 16.

[0163] The contact portions 31, 32 have a concave shape complementary to the cylindrical portions 13, 14 at the ends.

[0164] Therefore, the first movable hinge member 9 rotates easily between the contact portion 31 and the disk portion 21. Similarly, the second movable hinge member 10 rotates easily between the contact portion 32 and the disk portion 22.

[0165] The disk portions 21, 22 and the contact portions 31, 32 hold the lens 1 on the bracket 20 on the one hand and allow the lens 1 to rotate freely relative to the bracket 20 on the other hand. Here, the disk portions 21, 22 and the contact portions 31, 32 thus form fixed hinge members, and the movable hinge members 9, 10 pivot between the fixed hinge members, thus forming the hinge portions of the two lenses.

[0166] In this example, the concave portions 15, 16 of the lens 1 are located between the cylindrical portions 13 and 14 along the rotation axis 3. The ornament 36 thus presses the movable hinge members 9, 10 firmly against the bracket 20.

[0167] This offset between the two fixed hinge members of each hinge portion, i.e., the offset along the rotation axis 3 between the corresponding cylindrical portions 13, 14 and the corresponding concave portions 15, 16, enables easier placement of the lens 1 having the gear segment 11, the gear segment 11 forming an arm extending toward the rear.

[0168] The disk portions 21, 22 have contact surfaces 21b, 22b transverse to the light source 6 and opposite to the light source 6. They form sliding contact supports, each sliding contact support cooperating with the flat surface of the corresponding movable hinge member 9, 10.

[0169] In this example, these planes and these contact surfaces 21b, 22b are inclined inwardly, i.e., toward the space between the hinge portions of the lens 1. This improves the stacking of the lens 1 and its bracket 20 in the housing 50, and the movable hinge members 9, 10 are placed on opposite sides of the cylindrical portions 21 and 22.

[0170] As Figure 3As shown, the bracket 20 has an offset towards the front such that a circuit card 24 and an LED 6 (not shown in this figure) can be positioned together with the light-emitting element of the LED 6 aligned with the rotational axis 3.

[0171] As Figure 8 and 10 shown, the cover is clamped onto the bracket 20 and the contact portion 31 contacts the cylindrical member 9, and thus presses against the cylindrical member 9. The housing 50 is not shown in these Figure 8 and 10 to keep the drawings clear.

[0172] By pressing against the lens 1, the cover 30 not only presses the lens 1 against the bracket 30, but also presses the gear section 11 against the adjusting screw 60.

[0173] Thus, in the embodiments shown by way of example in these figures, each of the bracket 20 and the adjusting screw 60 respectively forms a support element against which the lens 1 presses.

[0174] As Figure 8 and 9 shown, in an alignment direction parallel to the emission direction X of the light beam of the lamp, the arm formed by the gear section 11 is arranged between the contact portion 31 and the adjusting screw 60, more specifically its threaded portion 61.

[0175] In this example, here on the side of the cover 30, in the flexing direction F, the ornament 36 is flexible and elastically deformable. Figure 8 The dashed line in

[0176] indicates the maximum flexing position of the ornament 36.

[0177] In this example, this flexing direction F of the ornament 36 corresponds to the alignment direction of the contact portion 31, the arm formed by the gear section 11, and the adjusting screw 60.

[0178] When the adjusting screw 60 is actuated, the lens 1 pivots upwards to a certain limit position, for example until it abuts against the bracket 30. In this state, the gear section 11 exerts a force on the adjusting screw 60. The means of the gear section 11 enables this force on the adjusting screw 60 to be transmitted to the contact portions 31, 32, which are rigid, resulting in the deformation of the ornament 36 in the flexing direction F. The teeth of the gear section 11 thus gradually separate from the threaded portion 61 until they reach the maximum flexing position, at which the teeth 12' of the gear section 11 are completely separated from the threaded portion 61. The lens 1 then separates from the adjusting screw 60.

[0179] The cover 30 can be installed in the housing 50 to slightly prestress the lens. Here, the interference between the thread diameter of the threaded portion 61 and the diameter of the gear section 11 is 3.5 mm. Thus, in this lamp, there is a forward movement of 3 mm or 5 mm of the gear section 11 before the gear section 11 separates.

[0180] The interference between two parts installed together is expressed as those parts being closer together than when they are undeformed. The distance between the installation position when they are undeformed and the installation position when they are deformed corresponds to the interference value.

[0181] In this example, the flexibility of the leaf spring 90 of the adjusting screw is used to occupy the clearance at the horizontal height of the hinge portion of the lens 1.

[0182] In fact, if there is any clearance between the moving hinge members 9, 10 and the disc portions 21, 22 and the contact portions 31, 32, the flexibility of the leaf spring 90 allows any offset to be compensated for.

[0183] According to an embodiment of the present invention and particularly in this example, the cover 30, the lens 1 and the bracket 20 are installed together such that the contact portions 31, 32 interfere with the cylindrical portions 13, 14 over a distance of more than 0.2 mm in the flexure direction F.

[0184] In other words, when the lighting device has been assembled, the leaf spring or spring 90 that contacts the cooperating wall 68 and thus the rear end portion of the adjusting screw will be compressed to move approximately 0.2 mm towards the longitudinal axis 63 of the adjusting screw 60. The leaf spring or spring 90 is thus prestressed, and the prestress also allows the clearance to be occupied.

[0185] Furthermore, the rear leaf spring 90 is prestressed more than the front leaf spring, and they thus exert a return force, pushing the threaded portion 61 towards the gear section 11.

[0186] When the ornament 36 as Figure 10 shown is supported on the gear section 11 via the contact portion 31, the gear section 11 thus supports on the adjusting screw 60 and thus slightly pushes the adjusting screw 60 towards the rear of the lighting device, also driving the carrier portion 69 towards the rear and compressing the leaf spring 90 located behind the adjusting screw 60. In Figure 6 where the carrier portion 69 is shown inside the box 55, this relates to two leaf springs having free ends 93 located behind the longitudinal axis 63, that is, the leaf spring on the right side in Figure 6 Because of the pressing action of the cover 30, since the rearmost leaf spring is transverse to the movement direction D of the carrier portion 69, the rearmost leaf spring is the most deformed leaf spring.

[0187] There are three leaf springs 90 here, which means that regardless of the orientation of the adjusting screw 60 caused by the positioning lens 1, there will always be at least one leaf spring 90 pressing against the cooperating part 68. In addition, each leaf spring 90 extends from its base 91 to its free end 93 almost up to the base of the next leaf spring. As the adjusting screw 60 rotates, as the leaf spring 90 moves away from the direction of movement D and towards the front of the cassette 55, the leaf spring 90 slides against the cooperating part 68 and its compression gradually decreases. At the same time, because the previous leaf spring in the rotational direction takes on a gradually lateral orientation with respect to the direction of movement D and moves to the rear of the cassette 55, the previous leaf spring in the rotational direction is gradually compressed. Thus, as the adjusting screw 60 rotates, the load is transferred from one leaf spring to another leaf spring.

[0188] The entire load on the adjusting screw 60 is thus continuous. This load remains constant, is continuously distributed, and is stepped from one leaf spring to another. Here, the return force pushing the threaded part 61 towards the gear section 11 is thus constant.

[0189] Here the leaf springs have the same shape, which facilitates the uniform distribution of the force exerted by the carrier part 69 against the cooperating wall 68.

[0190] In addition, there is always one leaf spring 90 aligned with the carrier part 69 and the arm formed by the gear section 11, with the carrier part 69 located between this leaf spring 90 and the gear section 11.

[0191] In the example shown, the contact parts 31, 32, the cylindrical parts 13, 14, and the disc parts 21, 22 are smaller on one side of the lamp, here on the side of the gear section 11, compared to the other side of the lamp. This enables the provision of an anti-misalignment part to position the cover 30 relative to the lens 1 and likewise the lens 1 on the bracket 20 in an accurate manner.

[0192] And here, the cover 30 can also include a pin 38 that protrudes from the rear of the ornament 36 and extends longitudinally in the direction of the back of the housing. This pin 38 and the bracket 20 enable the pin 38 to move together with the bracket as long as the lens 1 is correctly placed on the bracket 20.

[0193] As Figure 9 shown, the arm carrying the gear section 11 passes through the sleeve 85 and enters the cassette 55 through the opening 84.

[0194] The lamp can be assembled in the following manner.

[0195] First:

[0196] The adjusting screw 60 is clamped into the adjusting cassette 55 via the insertion opening;

[0197] The lens 1 is mounted on its bracket 20, and the cover 30 is clamped to the bracket and surrounds the lens 1, thus pressing the lens 1 against the bracket 20.

[0198] Second, the cover / lens / support assembly slides into the housing 50 and the gear section 11 passes through the opening 84 in the partition of the separating sleeve 85 and the cartridge 55.

[0199] According to an embodiment of the present invention, and as in the example shown herein, the cover 30 and / or the bracket 20 and the housing 50 are adapted to guide the positioning of the cover / lens / support assembly in the housing 50. In particular, the guide rail 86 guides the sliding of the bracket 20 in the housing 50 to facilitate the gear section 11 passing through the opening in the partition of the separating cartridge 55 and the sleeve 85 and engaging with the adjusting screw 60.

[0200] In the example shown, to facilitate the positioning of the cover / lens / support assembly in the housing 50, the sleeve 85 is adapted to form a mechanism for guiding the arm forming the gear section 11. In fact, as Figure 1 and 9 shown, the sleeve 85 has a height such that it can accommodate the movement of the arm forming the gear section 11 and the gear section 11.

[0201] To guide the arm, the sleeve 85 has an internal width "1" corresponding to the lateral distance between its inner walls. This internal width "1" is greater than the thickness "e" of the toothed sector 11, but less than the diameter of the inner wall of the cartridge 55.

[0202] Thus, the sleeve 85 provides longitudinal and vertical guidance for the arm forming the gear section 11.

[0203] When the cover / lens / support assembly slides in the housing 50, the end of the carrying tooth portion 12 of the gear section thus slides in the sleeve 85 until the opening 84, and the end enters the cartridge 55 through the opening 84 and engages with the thread 61' of the gear portion 61. In fact, the threaded portion 61 faces the opening 84.

[0204] To facilitate the passage of the gear section 11 through the opening 84 during the assembly process, the opening 84 has a chamfered edge formed by the edge surfaces of the walls of the separating cartridge 55 and the sleeve 85. These edges are directed towards the interior of the housing 82 and thus define a funnel shape for guiding the gear section 11 until the threaded portion 61.

[0205] The drive gear 70 can then be mounted in the retaining ring 59 and in the lamp closed by the outer lens 54.

[0206] In this example, the compression of the leaf spring 90 allows any difference in the misalignment of the multiple components of the lighting device to be absorbed. This is particularly advantageous in the example shown here, where the multiple components are stacked from the front to the back of the housing 50.

[0207] In the embodiment shown here, when installed in the lighting device, the prestress of the ornament 36 due to its deformation in the flexure direction F is greater than the rigidity of the heat sink 90 in the flexure direction F, and the flexure direction F is parallel to the movement direction D of the carrier portion 69. Therefore, the prestress of the ornament 36 causes a prestress of the adjusting screw 60, where the leaf spring at the rear of the adjusting screw is pressured more than the leaf spring at the front of the adjusting screw.

[0208] Furthermore, the prestress of the cover 30 due to the flexibility of the ornament 36 indicates that when the adjusting screw 60 starts on its own without being locked, there is no change in the compression and flexibility of the ornament 36. Therefore, it has little impact on the position of the lens 1.

[0209] In addition, when the adjusting screw is locked after the lighting device has been assembled, the flexure of the ornament 36 and the leaf spring 90 is balanced, and the stress will more significantly affect the flexibility of the cover 30 and cause the separation of the gear section 11.

[0210] In the example shown here, the leaf spring 90 can have a shape and a certain flexibility to deform 2 mm towards the carrier portion 69, but it requires a greater force to deform more than 2 mm.

[0211] Actually, as Figure 6 shown, due to the relatively small flexure of the flexure portion 92 relative to the base 91, the free end 93 of the leaf spring 90 first moves relatively easily towards the carrier portion 69. On the other hand, a greater degree of flexure is required to compress the leaf spring beyond this situation.

[0212] In this example, when the adjusting screw 60 is not installed in the housing 50, the circle circumscribing the free end 93 has a diameter larger than the diameter of the inner wall of the box 55. When the adjusting screw is installed in the housing, the leaf spring 90 is thus prestressed. This prestress particularly causes all the leaf springs 90 to press against the inner wall of the box 55 when the device has been assembled, including those at the front, i.e., those between the lens 1 and the carrier portion 69, as Figure 6 shown.

[0213] Generally speaking, the adjusting screw itself thus allows any gaps in the assembled device of the lighting device to be occupied, and thus enables the adjusting screw and the adjustable components to remain engaged.

[0214] Furthermore, according to one embodiment, the adjusting screw can also cooperate with the pressing member, and by virtue of its flexibility, the pressing member itself is also deformed so that the adjustable member can be pressed against the adjusting screw and in particular to allow the separation of the adjusting screw.

[0215] Furthermore, the fact that the gear section 11 and the lens 1 are made as one component also facilitates the transmission of the return force exerted by the leaf spring 90 and / or the cover 36. In particular, this makes it possible to directly transmit the return force on the driven surface and the driving surface from one to the other.

[0216] In an embodiment where the gear section 11 forms an arm, the arm can be more particularly aligned with the flexure direction F. The return force generated by the flexibility of the cover 30 and the return force generated by the leaf spring 90 are thus more effectively transmitted to the adjusting screw 60 and the hinge portion of the lens 1 respectively.

[0217] The elastic mechanism is not limited to the leaf spring. They can take the form of leaf springs made of other materials and having other shapes or consist of rubber or elastic foam members.

[0218] Figure 11 and 12 A second embodiment is shown. This is a variation of the first embodiment.

[0219] The cover, the closing outer lens, and the bracket of the LED are the same as those of the first embodiment, so they are not shown.

[0220] The lens 101 includes an optical component 104 that is the same as the optical component 4 of the lens 1 of the first embodiment. The lens 101 also includes a first movable hinge member 109 and a second movable hinge member 110. Each of these movable hinge members 109 and 110 includes cylindrical portions 113, 114. The cylindrical portions 113, 114 are arranged with the LED bracket and the cover in the same manner as in the first embodiment. Therefore, the device is not described here.

[0221] In this example, the second movable hinge member 110 is furthermore the same as the second movable hinge member 10 of the lens 1 of the first embodiment.

[0222] The first movable hinge member 109 of the lens 101 of the second embodiment is different from the first movable hinge member of the lens 1 of the first embodiment. In fact, the lens 101 also includes a gear section 111, but the gear section 111 is different from the gear section of the first embodiment.

[0223] In this second embodiment, the gear section 111 is a conical gear section having an axis 103 that coincides with the axis of rotation 103 of the lens 101. In other words, the driven surface 112 formed by the edge surface of the gear section 111 is inclined with respect to a direction parallel to the axis of rotation 103 of the lens 101.

[0224] Here the gear section 111 cooperates with a conical gear 160 that forms a gear 160 for driving the gear section 111. The gear 160 includes a drive surface 161 formed by teeth (not shown in these figures). These teeth are inclined with respect to the axis of rotation 163 of the gear 160.

[0225] The gear section 111 and the gear 160 thus engage with non-parallel axes, here in particular intersecting axes.

[0226] In this example, the axis of rotation 103 of the lens 101 is more specifically perpendicular to the axis of rotation 163 of the gear 160.

[0227] The device thus provides direct access from the rear to drive the gear section 111 and thus adjust the position of the lens.

[0228] To this end, the gear 160 includes an actuation cylinder 162 at the rear of its teeth. The actuation cylinder 162 ends on the right side with features (not shown) and is adapted to cooperate with a tool or an automatic actuation mechanism. The actuation cylinder 162 passes through the housing of the device (not shown here). A seal 181 is provided, and the seal 181 is adapted to be compressed between the housing and the edge of the gear 160 carrying the teeth. Figure 12

[0229] In this second embodiment, the gear section 111 also forms an arm that extends longitudinally and between the first moving hinge member 109 and the teeth 112 of the gear section 111 from the front to the rear. As in the first embodiment, the force that is transmitted by the shroud to press the lens against its support but that is also capable of pushing the support towards the gear 160 is thus transmitted directly by this arm.

[0230] The arm extends over a length greater than its thickness "e" to have some resilience transverse to its length. The lens can be mounted such that the arm formed by the gear section 111 is prestressed against the gear 160. The direction of this prestress is parallel to the axis of rotation 103 of the lens and towards the center of the lighting device, i.e., Figure 12 upward in This enables the prestress to exert a transverse return force on the teeth 112 of the gear section 111 towards the teeth 161 of the gear 160. The gap between the gear 160 and the gear section 111 is thus occupied by the resilience of the arm itself.

[0231] The invention is particularly advantageous in the case of fog lights. However, the invention can be applied to other lighting devices.

[0232] For example, the present invention can be applied to an illumination device having a lens with a moving part that rotates about a vertical axis to generate a light beam, the light beam being in particular a first light beam having an inclined or vertical cut-off line, which first light beam is intended to be combined with a light beam having a horizontal cut-off line.

[0233] According to one embodiment of the invention, this combination can be applied to an illumination device according to the invention for generating a basic light beam having an inclined or vertical cut-off section intended to be combined with a second basic light beam having a horizontal cut-off line. For example, depending on the rotation of a vehicle equipped with the illumination device or also depending on a vehicle approaching in the opposite direction, the light beam having this inclined cut-off section is horizontally displaced by the actuation of an optical member.

Claims

1. A vehicle lighting device, characterized in that, comprising: - a light source (6); - a lens (1; 101), the lens being arranged to deflect light emitted by the light source (6) and including a wheel section (11; 111) having a driven surface (12; 112), the wheel section being integrally formed as a single part with the lens, the wheel section (11; 111) forming an arm extending from a first end at the front to a second end at the rear, the first end being connected to the lens (1; 101), and the driven surface (12; 112) being formed on the rear end face of the second end; - a drive mechanism (60; 160), the drive mechanism (60; 160) having a drive surface (61'; 161), the drive surface being in contact with the driven surface (12; 112) and the movement of the drive surface (61'; 161) driving the movement of the lens (1; 101), the movement of the lens (1; 101) being a rotational movement about a rotational axis (3; 103).

2. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 1, wherein: the driven surface (12; 112) includes a raised pattern (12') that meshes with a raised pattern (61") of the drive surface (61'; 161).

3. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 2, wherein: the wheel section is a gear section (11; 111), and the raised pattern of the driven surface (12; 112) is a tooth portion (12').

4. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 1, wherein: the wheel section (11; 111) is centered on the rotational axis (3; 103) of the lens (1; 101).

5. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 1, wherein: the lens (1; 101) is formed as a single part from a transparent or translucent material.

6. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 5 above, wherein: the material is polymethyl methacrylate.

7. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 1, wherein: the drive surface (61'; 161) is located on a side of the driven surface (12'; 112) remote from the first end; the wheel section (11; 111) forms an arm that extends longitudinally between a first end connected to the lens (1; 101) and a free second end, and the second end carries the driven surface (12'; 112).

8. The vehicle lighting device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: the wheel section (11) includes a cylindrical portion and tooth portions (12') formed on the edge surface of the cylindrical portion to form the driven surface (12).

9. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 8 above, wherein: the cylindrical portion has an axis parallel to or coinciding with the rotational axis (3) of the lens (1).

10. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 8, wherein: the driven surface (12) carries helical teeth or straight teeth.

11. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 8, wherein: The drive mechanism is an adjusting screw (60), and the adjusting screw (60) includes a threaded portion (61) having a thread (61") that forms the drive surface (61').

12. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 11, wherein: The adjusting screw (60) extends along a longitudinal axis (63) and includes a carrier portion (69), the carrier portion (69) being located on one side of the threaded portion (61) along the longitudinal axis (63), and the vehicle lighting device further includes: - A cooperating wall (68) that cooperates with the adjusting screw (60), - One or more elastic mechanisms (90), the one or more elastic mechanisms (90) being arranged between the carrier portion (69) and the cooperating wall (68) and adapted to be compressed in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the adjusting screw (60), The lens (1), the cooperating wall (68), and the elastic mechanism (90) cause at least one of the elastic mechanism (90) or the elastic mechanisms (90) to be loaded to apply a return force that pushes the threaded portion (61) toward the lens (1), and wherein the wheel segment (11; 111) forms an arm, and the return force that pushes the threaded portion toward the lens (1) is aligned with the direction in which the arm extends.

13. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 12, wherein: The elastic mechanism (90) includes at least one of the following: A leaf spring having a first end extending from the carrier portion (69) and a free second end; A rubber member; An elastic foam member.

14. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 11, the vehicle lighting device includes a housing (50), the lens (1) and the adjusting screw (60) are accommodated inside the housing (50), and wherein the housing (50) includes: - A front housing (52), the front housing (52) being closed at the front by an outer lens, and the lens (1) is mounted inside the front housing (52), - A box (55) that houses the threaded portion (61) inside it, - A sleeve (85) that connects the front housing (52) and the box (55), and the wheel segment (11) forms an arm that extends longitudinally through the sleeve (85) into the box (55), and at the box (55), the driven surface (12) contacts the drive surface (61').

15. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 14, wherein: The box (55) has an inner wall formed by a cylindrical portion of a specified diameter, and the sleeve (85) has an inner width that is smaller than the specified diameter in the transverse direction and larger than the thickness (e) of the wheel segment (11).

16. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 14, wherein: The sleeve (85) leads to the box (55) via an opening (84), and the opening (84) is defined by a groove directed toward the inside of the sleeve (85).

17. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 14, wherein: The box (55) has a circular wall (82) which defines an opening for inserting the adjusting screw (60), the adjusting screw (60) having a rotational support (64) which is arranged to bear against the circular wall (82) to prevent translation of the adjusting screw (60) along its longitudinal axis (63).

18. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 17, wherein: A circular shoulder between the circular wall (82) and a complementary part receives a seal (81), the complementary part being located near the opening for inserting the adjusting screw (60) into the box (55).

19. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 11, wherein: One end of the adjusting screw (60) along the longitudinal axis (63) includes an adjusting wheel (62) for actuating the adjusting screw (60), and the other end of the adjusting screw (60) along the longitudinal axis (63) is approximately conical.

20. The vehicle lighting device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein: The wheel section (111) is a conical wheel section having an axis parallel to or coinciding with the rotational axis (103) of the lens (101), and wherein the drive mechanism is a conical wheel (160) having an axis (163) angled with respect to the axis (103) of the lens (101).

21. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 20, wherein: The wheel section (111) forms an arm having elasticity in a direction parallel to the axis (163) of the conical wheel (160), and the arm and the conical wheel (160) are such that the arm is loaded to exert a return force that pushes the driven surface (112) towards the drive surface (161).

22. The vehicle lighting device according to any one of claims 1 to 7 above, wherein: The vehicle lighting device further includes: - A pressing member (30) which includes a decoration (36) and a contact part (31) carried by the decoration (36), the decoration (36) at least partially surrounding the lens (1; 101), and the contact part bearing against the lens (1; 101), The lens (1; 101), the drive mechanism (60; 160), and the pressing member (30) are such that the lens (1; 101) is at least partially clamped between the drive mechanism (60; 160) and the contact part (31; 32), and in a direction called the flexure direction (F) from the drive mechanism (60; 160) towards the contact part (31; 32), the pressing member (30) is elastically deformable.

23. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 22, wherein: The wheel section (11; 111) forms a longitudinally extending arm whose length is aligned with the flexure direction (F).

24. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 22, wherein: In a direction called the flexure direction (F) from the drive mechanism (60; 160) towards the contact portion (31; 32), the contact portion (31; 32) is rigid and the ornament (36) is elastically deformable.

25. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 22, wherein: the lens (1; 101) includes a deflection member (4) for deflecting light from a light source, and a moving hinge member (9; 109; 10; 110); the vehicle lighting device further includes a bracket (20) for supporting the lens (1; 101) and the light source (6), and the moving hinge member (9; 109; 10; 110) is hinged between the contact portion (31; 32) and a fixed hinge member on the bracket (20) such that the lens (1; 101) is free to rotate via the moving hinge member (9; 109; 10; 110).

26. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 25, wherein: the moving hinge member (9; 109; 10; 110) includes a cylindrical portion (13; 14; 113; 114) that abuts against the contact portion (31; 32), and the contact portion (31; 32) has a concave shape complementary to the cylindrical portion (13; 14; 113; 114) at its end.

27. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 25, wherein: the fixed hinge member on the bracket (20) includes a disk portion (21; 22) that abuts against the moving hinge member (9; 109; 10; 110), and the moving hinge member (9; 109; 10; 110) includes a concave portion (15; 16) complementary to the disk portion (21; 22).

28. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 27, wherein: the outer plane of the disk portion (21; 22) in contact with the moving hinge member (9; 109; 10; 110) is inclined inward.

29. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 25, wherein: compared with the other side of the vehicle lighting device, the contact portion (31; 32), the moving hinge member (9; 109; 10; 110), and the fixed hinge member on the bracket (20) are smaller on one side of the wheel section (11).

30. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 25, wherein: the contact portion (31; 32) and the disk portion (21; 22) on the bracket (20) are offset in a direction along the rotation axis (3; 103) of the lens (1; 101), and the wheel section (11; 111) is disposed between the contact portion (31) and the disk portion (21; 22) on the bracket (20).

31. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 25, wherein: the pressing member (30) is fixed to the bracket (20).

32. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 31, wherein: The pressing member (30) includes a fixing lug (33) provided with a hole, and a hook (23) of the bracket (20) is snapped into the hole.

33. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 31, wherein: The pressing member (30) is prestressed on the lens.

34. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 25, wherein: The bracket (20) includes a radiator, and the bracket (20) has an offset toward the deflection member (4) such that the rotation axis (3; 103) of the lens (1; 101) substantially passes through the light source (6).

35. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 25, wherein: The vehicle lighting device further includes a housing (50), and the lens (1) and the bracket (20) are accommodated inside the housing (50); The inner surface of the housing (50) includes elastic ribs for clamping the bracket (20) into the housing (50).

36. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 35, wherein: The housing (50) includes a guide rail (86) for guiding the sliding of the bracket (20) in the housing (50).

37. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 22, wherein: The ornament (36) is visible from the outside of the vehicle lighting device, and the pressing member (30) has a central opening (34), and at least a part of the deflection portion (4) of the lens (1; 101) for deflecting light from the light source (6) is received in the central opening (34).

38. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 22, wherein: The pressing member (30) further includes a pin (38) longitudinally extending from the ornament (36) for anti-misassembly.

Images