Vehicle includes an adjustable headlight

Abstract

The present invention relates to a vehicle comprising at least one headlight (1), said headlight (1) comprising a light source (3), a reflector, and a protective lens (4), characterized in that said headlight (1) is pivotally mounted about an axis of rotation (8') of a structural element (20) of the vehicle, and is capable of occupying different predefined positions about said axis by means of manipulating the headlight (1) from outside the vehicle. Figure for the abstract: Fig. 1

Description

Title of the invention: Vehicle comprising an adjustable headlight

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, comprising an adjustable headlight.

[0002] A vehicle headlight generally comprises a light source, a reflector and a protective glass. The headlight is generally fixed to a structural element of the vehicle and adjusting the position of the headlight to optimize the lighting area around the vehicle is often tedious.

[0003] Indeed, a person wishing to make this adjustment must most often lie down under the vehicle and carry out manipulations with their arm stretched upwards in order to access the adjustment screws. The person carrying out the adjustment can therefore quickly become tired. Furthermore, each time the position of the headlight has been changed, the person must get up to check whether the lighting is correct and, if necessary, repeat the adjustment several times.

[0004] Adjusting a conventional vehicle headlight is therefore complicated and restrictive for the person carrying it out. Furthermore, the position required to carry out the adjustment is uncomfortable, making it difficult to carry out precise adjustment of the headlight. It is therefore often necessary to call on a professional to carry out this adjustment, which immobilizes the vehicle and represents a cost for the user.

[0005] A vehicle according to the invention comprises at least one headlight whose mounting makes it possible to simplify the adjustment of its position while overcoming the drawbacks noted in the state of the art.

[0006] The invention relates to a vehicle comprising at least one headlight, said headlight comprising a light source, a reflector and a protective glass, characterized in that said headlight is pivotally mounted around an axis of rotation of a structural element of the vehicle, and is capable of occupying different predefined positions around said axis of rotation by means of manipulation of the headlight from outside the vehicle.

[0007] In this way, a person can directly adjust the headlight, from outside the vehicle, by simply manipulating the headlight without having to adopt a restrictive posture, such as lying down under the vehicle. The person can thus place the headlight in one of the predefined positions of the latter and can also directly check whether the orientation of the lighting zone is optimized, in particular whether the orientation, or the inclination, of the headlight is adapted to the desired lighting. Furthermore, the person can adjust the headlight while standing and therefore in a comfortable position allowing the inclination of the headlight to be adjusted with control and precision. Thus, a user of the vehicle can adjust the headlight yourself without calling a professional and therefore without immobilizing the vehicle or incurring any costs.

[0008] According to other possible characteristics, taken alone or in combination: - the rotation of the projector around the axis of rotation can take place at a curved contact zone between the projector and the structural element; the contact zone being curved, the projector and the structural element remain in contact during the rotation of the projector around the axis of rotation; - the headlight may comprise a first adjustment zone and the structural element may comprise a second adjustment zone, the first and second adjustment zones being able to interact by friction at the contact zone; thus, the pressure that a user can exert on the headlight makes it possible to overcome the friction forces existing between the headlight and the structural element at the contact zone; on the contrary, when no pressure is exerted on the headlight, the friction forces are sufficiently great so that the headlight remains stationary relative to the structural element, despite the movements of the vehicle; - the rotation of the headlight can cause the first adjustment zone to move along the second adjustment zone, the first and second adjustment zones remaining permanently in contact with each other when the headlight is moved relative to the structural element; thus, whatever the position of the headlight relative to the structural element, as long as no pressure is exerted on the headlight by a user, the headlight remains stationary relative to the structural element, despite the movements of the vehicle; - the first and second adjustment zones may comprise reliefs forming positioning notches allowing the headlight to occupy a particular predefined position; thus, the user can move the headlight from one relief to another by exerting pressure on the headlight; in the absence of pressure on the headlight, the latter occupies one of the positions predefined by the reliefs and does not move from this position, even in the event of movement of the vehicle; the reliefs may have any type of shape such as for example half-spheres, teeth, crenellations, etc. - the reliefs can preferably be half-spheres; - the structural element may be fixed relative to the vehicle and the projector may be movable relative to said vehicle; - the structural element may comprise an elongated tongue and the second adjustment zone may be placed at one end of said elongated tongue; - the axis of rotation can extend along a transverse Y axis of the vehicle; - the rotation can be done with an angular amplitude ranging from -10° to +10°; preferably ranging from -4° to +4°; and - the vehicle may be a motor vehicle and the headlight may be a fog light.

[0009] The invention also relates to a method for adjusting a headlight of a vehicle according to the invention, said method comprising the following steps: - exert pressure on the headlight protection glass from outside the vehicle and - change the tilt of the projector in the desired direction by moving from one predefined position to another. Brief description of the drawings

[0010] The attached drawings illustrate the invention:

[0011] [fig. 1] [fig.l] is a rear perspective view of a vehicle headlight attached to a structural member;

[0012] [fig.2] [fig.2] is an interior side view of the projector of [fig.l];

[0013] [fig.3A] [fig.3A] is a side view of the projector of [fig.l] in a first position relative to the structural element; and

[0014] [fig.3B] [fig.3B] is a side view of the projector of [fig.l] in a second position relative to the structural element. Description of embodiment(s)

[0015] For reasons of clarity, only the elements essential for understanding the embodiments set out below have been represented schematically, and this without respecting the scale.

[0016] In order to better understand the positioning of the various parts involved in a vehicle according to the invention, the description is carried out with reference to a direct orthonormal reference frame XYZ in which X is a front-rear longitudinal axis of the vehicle oriented towards the rear, Y is a transverse axis oriented towards the right of the vehicle and Z is a vertical axis directed upwards.

[0017] The invention is described for a front fog lamp of a motor vehicle. However, the invention may relate to any type of front or rear lamp of any type of vehicle.

[0018] Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a projector 1 comprises a housing 2 containing a light source 3 of which only the rear part is visible, a non-visible reflector and a protective glass 4 closing the housing 2. In this embodiment, the projector 1 has a generally circular shape when viewed along the X axis. According to other possible embodiments, the projector 1 can have any type of shape, such as, for example, having a square or rectangular section.

[0019] The projector 1 is fixed, by means of the housing 2, to a fixed structural element 20 of the vehicle so as to be able to pivot relative to this structural element 20. The structural element 20 forms a ring surrounding a rear part 10 of the housing 2 allowing the visible part of the light source 3 to protrude in particular.

[0020] The housing 2 is provided on each of its sides with a fixing lug 6, only one of which is visible in [fig.l]. The structural element 20 comprises a wall 24 forming a housing allowing the passage of the fixing lug 6. The fixing lug 6 has a front end 6a which protrudes from the wall 24 towards the front of the vehicle. The fixing lug 6 also has a rear end 6b which protrudes from the structural element 20 towards the rear of the vehicle. The fixing lug 6 has a shape which flares from the front to the rear.

[0021] The front end 6a of the fixing lug 6 has a semi-circular shape and comprises at its center a pin 8 extending along a transverse axis Y of the vehicle. The pin 8 is inserted into an orifice 22 of the structural element 20 and forms an axis of rotation allowing the headlight to pivot relative to the structural element 20. According to other possible embodiments, the headlight 1 can be fixed to the structural element 20 in any other manner allowing the headlight 1 to be movable in rotation relative to the structural element 20.

[0022] The rear end 6b of the fixing lug 6 has the shape of an arc of a circle inscribed in a circle having the pin 8 as its center. The rear end 6b of said fixing lug comprises, over part of its length, a first curved adjustment zone 12 provided with first positioning reliefs 14 which are, in this embodiment, half-spheres joined to each other.

[0023] The structural element 20 comprises an elongated tongue 26 which extends from the wall 24 of the structural element, on the side opposite the orifice 22. The tongue 26 is folded at its end over a portion of the first adjustment zone 12. The folded portion of the tongue 26 comprises an internal face 30 along which a second adjustment zone 32 extends. The second adjustment zone 32 is curved so as to be in contact with the first adjustment zone 12 over its entire length. The second adjustment zone 32 is provided with second positioning reliefs 29 which are, in this embodiment, adjoining half-spheres identical to those of the first adjustment zone 12.

[0024] Thus, the first and second adjustment zones 12 and 32 interact by friction at a curved contact zone 34, in particular by means of bringing their hemispheres into contact. Rotating the projector 1, around its axis of rotation 8' and relative to the structural element 20, causes the first adjustment zone 12 to move relative to the second adjustment zone 32, generating friction between the first and second hemispheres 14 and 29.

[0025] The first positioning hemispheres 14 are complementary to the second positioning half-spheres 29. Thus, in the absence of pressure exerted on the glass 4 of the projector 1, the first positioning half-spheres 14 occupy the spaces located between the second positioning half-spheres 34. The first positioning half-spheres 14 are thus inserted between the second positioning half-spheres 29 creating predefined positions of the fixing lug 6 relative to the tab 26. Each positioning half-sphere 14 and 29 therefore corresponds to a predefined position of the projector 1 relative to the structural element 20. According to other possible embodiments, the first and second positioning reliefs 14 and 29 may be teeth or crenellations.

[0026] When the first positioning half-spheres 14 are interposed between the second positioning half-spheres 29, the projector 1 is locked in a predefined position and cannot spontaneously change position even when the vehicle is moving.

[0027] When a person wishes to modify the orientation of the lighting of the headlight 1, he will modify the position of the headlight 1 relative to the structural element 20. To do this, the person will grasp the headlight 1 at the level of the window 4 which is the accessible part of the headlight 1 from outside the vehicle, and exert pressure on the window 4 of the headlight 1 so as to pivot the headlight in the desired direction. This pivoting causes the movement of the first adjustment zone 12 relative to the second adjustment zone 32. During this movement, the first and second half-spheres 14 and 29 interact by friction and remain in contact with each other.

[0028] When the adjustment is deemed satisfactory, the person releases the projector 1 which, thanks to the close interaction between the first and second half-spheres 14 and 29 of the first and second adjustment zones 12 and 32, remains in its position.

[0029] According to another possible embodiment, the fixing tab 6 is folded at its end 6b and the folded part comprises an internal face comprising a first adjustment zone. According to this embodiment, the end of the elongated tab 26 is not folded and comprises the second adjustment zone so that it comes into contact with the first adjustment zone.

[0030] Referring to Figures 3A and 3B, the headlight 1 can occupy two possible extreme positions relative to the structural element 20. When the headlight 1 is placed in its maximum low position as shown in [fig.3A], an angle al of -4° is created relative to a position of the headlight 1 along the longitudinal and horizontal axis X of the vehicle. The angle al is measured at the level of the axis of rotation 8'. By exerting pressure PI on the window 4, the user can move the first contact zone 12 relative to the second contact zone 32 until the headlight 1 reaches its maximum high position as illustrated in [fig.3B]. In this maximum high position, an angle of +4° is created relative to a position of projector 1 along the X axis.

[0031] Figures 3A and 3B represent the maximum positions that the projector 1 relative to the structural element 20. However, the user can place the projector 1 in multiple predefined positions between the maximum low position and the maximum high position. In this embodiment, the amplitude of rotation of the projector 1 relative to the structural element is -4° to +4°. However, according to other possible embodiments, the amplitude of rotation may have a larger or smaller value than in the described embodiment.

Claims

Claims

1. Vehicle comprising at least one headlight (1), said headlight (1) comprising a light source (3), a reflector and a protective glass (4), said headlight (1) being pivotally mounted about an axis of rotation (8') of a structural element (20) of the vehicle, and being capable of occupying different predefined positions about said axis of rotation (8') by means of manipulation of the headlight (1) from outside the vehicle, the vehicle being characterized in that the rotation of the headlight (1) about the axis of rotation (8') takes place at a curved contact zone (34) between the headlight (1) and the structural element (20), said headlight (1) comprising a first adjustment zone (12) and the structural element (20) comprising a second adjustment zone (32), the first and second adjustment zones (12, 32) interacting by friction at the contact zone (34), the first and second zones (12,32) adjustment comprising reliefs (14, 29) forming positioning notches allowing the projector (1) to occupy a particular predefined position.,

2. Vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that the rotation of the headlight (1) causes the first adjustment zone (12) to move along the second adjustment zone (32), the first and second adjustment zones (12, 32) remaining permanently in contact with each other during the movement of the headlight (1) relative to the structural element.

3. Vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the reliefs (14, 29) are half-spheres.

4. Vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the structural element (20) comprises an elongated tongue (26) and in that the second adjustment zone (32) is placed at one end of said elongated tongue (26).

5. Vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the axis of rotation (8') extends along a transverse Y axis of the vehicle.

6. Method for adjusting a headlight of a vehicle according to claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it comprises the following steps. - exerting pressure on the protective glass (4) of the headlight (1) from outside the vehicle and - modifying the inclination of the headlight (1) in the desired direction by passing from one predefined position to another.

Images