Patent Publication Number: US-10787115-B1

Title: Angle-adjusting vehicular headlights

Description:
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
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     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH 
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     REFERENCE TO APPENDIX 
     Not Applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to the field of vehicular lighting, more specifically, angle-adjusting vehicular headlights. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     The angle-adjusting vehicular headlights comprise a housing, a swivel bracket, a distance checker, a tilt mechanism, a controller, and a headlight socket. The angle-adjusting vehicular headlights may change an elevation angle of a headlight responsive to a determination by the controller that an inclination angle of a vehicle has changed. As non-limiting examples, the inclination angle may have changed due to a cargo load that has been placed into the vehicle thus compressing the vehicle suspension or the inclination angle may have changed due to the cargo load being removed from the vehicle and the resulting decompression of the vehicle suspension. angle-adjusting vehicular headlights may generally be deployed in pairs. 
     An object of the invention is to adjust an elevation angle of a headlight responsive to a change in the loading of the vehicle. 
     Another object of the invention is to determine that the loading of the vehicle has changed by measuring a change in the height of the headlight. 
     A further object of the invention is to determine the height of the headlight when the vehicle&#39;s transmission is in PARK. 
     Yet another object of the invention is to lock the elevation angle of the headlight when the vehicle&#39;s transmission is in any gear other than PARK. 
     These together with additional objects, features and advantages of the angle-adjusting vehicular headlights will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the following detailed description of the presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative, embodiments when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     In this respect, before explaining the current embodiments of the angle-adjusting vehicular headlights in detail, it is to be understood that the angle-adjusting vehicular headlights is not limited in its applications to the details of construction and arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustration. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the concept of this disclosure may be readily utilized as a basis for the design of other structures, methods, and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the angle-adjusting vehicular headlights. 
     It is therefore important that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent construction insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the angle-adjusting vehicular headlights. It is also to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for purposes of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate an embodiment of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention. They are meant to be exemplary illustrations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to practice the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the appended claims. 
         FIG. 1  is a front view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a rear view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is a bottom view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  is an in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure illustrating the swivel bracket pivoted upwards. 
         FIG. 6  is an in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure illustrating the swivel bracket pivoted downwards. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT 
     The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the described embodiments of the application and uses of the described embodiments. As used herein, the word “exemplary” or “illustrative” means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any implementation described herein as “exemplary” or “illustrative” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. All of the implementations described below are exemplary implementations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to practice the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory presented in the preceding technical field, background, brief summary or the following detailed description. As used herein, the word “or” is intended to be inclusive. 
     Detailed reference will now be made to a first potential embodiment of the disclosure, which is illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 6 . 
     The angle-adjusting vehicular headlights  100  (hereinafter invention) comprises a housing  200 , a swivel bracket  220 , a distance checker  230 , a tilt mechanism, a controller  262 , and a headlight socket  240 . The invention  100  may change an elevation angle  300  of a headlight  950  responsive to a determination by the controller  262  that an inclination angle of a vehicle has changed. As non-limiting examples, the inclination angle may have changed due to a cargo load that has been placed into the vehicle thus compressing the vehicle suspension or the inclination angle may have changed due to the cargo load being removed from the vehicle and the resulting decompression of the vehicle suspension. 
     The housing  200  may be an outermost enclosure for the headlight  950 . The housing  200  may couple to the vehicle. The orientation of the housing  200  may remain fixed relative to the vehicle as the cargo load within the vehicle changes. This may indicate that the elevation angle  300  of the headlight  950  mounted within the housing  200  would change as the inclination angle of the vehicle changes if the invention  100  was not present or not working. The housing  200  may comprise a right motor mount  204  and a left motor mount  202 . The right motor mount  204  and the left motor mount  202  may be projections within the housing  200  located on alternate lateral sides of the housing  200 . A right motor  276  may couple to the right motor mount  204  and a left motor  266  may couple to the left motor mount  202 . 
     The swivel bracket  220  may be a pivoting bracket located within the housing  200 . The swivel bracket  220  may be pivotably coupled to the housing  200  via a right pivot  224  and a left pivot  222 . The headlight  950  may removably couple to the front of the swivel bracket  220  such that the elevation angle  300  of the headlight  950  is determined by the swivel bracket  220 . The swivel bracket  220  may pivot to change the elevation angle  300  of the headlight  950  relative to the housing  200 . 
     The distance checker  230  may determine a height  320  of the housing  200  above ground  910 . The distance checker  230  may be coupled to the housing  200  and may be accessible on the underside of the housing  200  where the distance checker  230  has an unobstructed line-of-sight to the ground  910 . The distance checker  230  may communicate the height  320  of the housing  200  above the ground  910  to the controller  262 . The height  320  of the housing  200  above the ground  910  may decrease when the cargo load is placed into the vehicle, thus indicating that the elevation angle  300  of the headlight  950  needs to be adjusted to compensate for placement of the cargo load. The height  320  of the housing  200  above the ground  910  may increase when the cargo load is removed from the vehicle, thus indicating that the elevation angle  300  of the headlight  950  needs to be adjusted to compensate for removal of the cargo load. 
     In some embodiments, the distance checker  230  may be a laser ranging device that directs a laser light at the ground  910  to determine the height  320 . As a non-limiting example, the distance checker  230  may measure the time required for the laser light to be reflected off of the ground  910  and return to the distance checker  230  and may correlate the time with a distance. 
     The tilt mechanism may pivot the swivel bracket  220  responsive to an indication from the controller  262  that the height  320  of the housing  200  above the ground  910  has changed. The tilt mechanism may comprise the right motor  276 , a right belt drive, the left motor  266 , and a left belt drive. 
     The right motor  276  may convert electrical energy into mechanical energy. The right motor  276  may cause rotation of a right motor pulley  280  when electrical energy is applied to the right motor  276 . The direction of the rotation may depend upon the polarity of the electrical potential that is applied by the controller  262 . Rotation of the shaft of the right motor  276  in a first rotational direction  331  may cause the swivel bracket  220  to pivot in a first tilt direction  341 . Rotation of the shaft of the right motor  276  in a second rotational direction  332  may cause the swivel bracket  220  to pivot in a second tilt direction  342 . 
     In some embodiments, the right motor  276  may be a stepper motor. 
     The right belt drive may comprise the right motor pulley  280 , a right swivel pulley  284 , and a right belt  282 . The right motor pulley  280  may be coupled to the shaft of the right motor  276  such that rotation of the right motor  276  causes rotation of the right motor pulley  280 . The right swivel pulley  284  may be coupled to the right pivot  224  such that rotation of the right swivel pulley  284  causes rotation of the swivel bracket  220 . The right motor pulley  280  may be aligned with the right swivel pulley  284  such that the right belt  282  may link the right motor pulley  280  to the right swivel pulley  284 . Rotation of the right motor pulley  280  may result in rotation of the right swivel pulley  284  in the same direction. The left motor  266  may convert electrical energy into mechanical energy. The left motor  266  may cause rotation of a left motor pulley  270  when electrical energy is applied to the left motor  266 . The direction of the rotation may be consistent with the direction of the pivoting caused by the right motor  276 . In some embodiments, the left motor  266  may be a stepper motor. 
     The left belt drive may comprise the left motor pulley  270 , a left swivel pulley  274 , and a left belt  272 . The left motor pulley  270  may be coupled to the shaft of the left motor  266  such that rotation of the left motor  266  causes rotation of the left motor pulley  270 . The left swivel pulley  274  may be coupled to the left pivot  222  such that rotation of the left swivel pulley  274  causes rotation of the swivel bracket  220 . The left motor pulley  270  may be aligned with the left swivel pulley  274  such that the left belt  272  may link the left motor pulley  270  to the left swivel pulley  274 . Rotation of the left motor pulley  270  may result in rotation of the left swivel pulley  274  in the same direction. 
     The controller  262  may control the right motor  276  and the left motor  266  such that the controller  262  may change the elevation angle  300  of the headlight  950 . The controller  262  may receive electrical status signals from the distance checker  230  and from the vehicle such that the controller  262  may be informed of the height  320  of the housing  200  above the ground  910 , the gear that a transmission is in, the speed of the vehicle, or combinations thereof. The controller  262  may originate electrical control signals to the right motor  276  and to the left motor  266  such that the controller  262  may determine the timing and direction of rotation of the right motor  276  and the left motor  266 . 
     Specifically, the controller  262  may read the height  320  from the distance checker  230  when the transmission is in PARK. The controller  262  may adjust the elevation angle  300  of the headlights  950  by energizing the right motor  276  and the left motor  266 . In some embodiments, the controller  262  may lock the elevation angle  300  by refusing to energize the right motor  276  and the left motor  266  once the transmission is moved to any gear other than PARK. In some embodiments, the controller  262  may lock the elevation angle  300  by refusing to energize the right motor  276  and the left motor  266  if the vehicle is moving as determined by the speed of the vehicle. The controller  262  may be powered, either directly or indirectly, by a vehicle battery  902 . 
     The headlight socket  240  may be an electrical coupling for powering the headlight  950 . The headlight socket  240  may removably couple to a connector on the rear of the headlight  950 . 
     In some embodiments, the invention  100  may comprise a switch  290 . The switch  290  may be electrically coupled to the controller  262  such that the controller  262  is aware of the position of the switch  290 . As non-limiting examples, the switch  290  may be accessible on the dashboard of the vehicle or placed elsewhere within the passenger compartment such that the switch  290  is accessible to the operator of the vehicle. The controller  262  may adjust the elevation angle  300  of the headlight  950  when the switch  290  is placed in a first switch position  351 . The controller  262  may lock the elevation angle  300  of the headlight  950  when the switch  290  is placed in a second switch position  352 . 
     In use, the invention  100  may be installed in the vehicle, usually in pairs. The remainder of the ‘in use’ description focuses on a single housing. When the transmission of the vehicle is placed into PARK, or when the switch  290  is placed into the first switch position  351 , the controller  262  may determine the height  320  of the housing  200  by activating the distance checker  230 . If the height  320  of the housing  200  has changed due to the cargo load being placed into or removed from the vehicle, the controller  262  may change the elevation angle  300  of the headlight  950 . The controller  262  may rotate the right motor  276  in the first rotational direction  331  to tilt the headlight  950  in the first tilt direction  341 . The controller  262  may rotate the right motor  276  in the second rotational direction  332  to tilt the headlight  950  in the second tilt direction  342 . While the right motor  276  is energized, the left motor  266  may also be energized such that the right motor  276  and the left motor  266  cooperatively tilt the swivel bracket  220  in the same direction. Once the transmission is moved into a gear other than PARK, or the switch  290  is placed into the second switch position  352 , the controller  262  may stop adjusting the elevation angle  300 . 
     DEFINITIONS 
     Throughout this document the terms “battery”, “battery pack”, and “batteries” may be used interchangeably to refer to one or more wet or dry cells or batteries of cells in which chemical energy is converted into electricity and used as a source of DC power. References to recharging or replacing batteries may refer to recharging or replacing individual cells, individual batteries of cells, or a package of multiple battery cells as is appropriate for any given battery technology that may be used. The battery may require electrical contacts which may not be illustrated in the figures. 
     As used herein, the words “couple”, “couples”, “coupled” or “coupling”, refer to connecting, either directly or indirectly, and does not necessarily imply a mechanical connection. 
     As used herein, “elevation angle” refers to the angle between a line and the horizon. 
     As used herein, “energize” and/or “energization” refer to the application of an electrical potential to a system or subsystem. 
     As used herein, “front” indicates the side of an object that is closest to a forward direction of travel under normal use of the object or the side or part of an object that normally presents itself to view or that is normally used first. “Rear” or “back” refers to the side that is opposite the front. 
     As used in this disclosure, a “headlight” is a lamp that is mounted on a vehicle for the purpose of illuminating the primary direction, also informally referred to as the forward direction, of travel of the vehicle. 
     As used in this disclosure, a “housing” is a rigid casing that encloses and protects one or more devices. 
     As used in this disclosure, the word “lateral” refers to the sides of an object or movement towards a side. Lateral directions are generally perpendicular to longitudinal directions. “Laterally” refers to movement in a lateral direction. 
     As used in this disclosure, a “motor” refers to a device that transforms energy from an external power source into mechanical energy. 
     As used in this disclosure, “orientation” refers to the positioning and/or angular alignment of a first object relative to a second object or relative to a reference position or reference direction. 
     As used herein, “passenger compartment” refers to the area of a vehicle designed and intended for the seating of the driver and passengers. 
     As used herein, the word “pivot” is intended to include any mechanical arrangement that allows for rotational motion. Non-limiting examples of pivots may include hinges, holes, posts, dowels, pins, points, rods, shafts, balls, and sockets, either individually or in combination. 
     As used in this disclosure, a “socket” is an opening or cavity that is configured to receive an inserted component. 
     As used in this disclosure, a “switch” is an electrical device that starts and stops the flow of electricity through an electric circuit by completing or interrupting an electric circuit. The act of completing or interrupting the electrical circuit may be called actuation. Completing or interrupting an electric circuit with a switch is often referred to as closing or opening a switch, respectively. Completing or interrupting an electric circuit is also referred to as making or breaking the circuit, respectively. 
     With respect to the above description, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationship for the various components of the invention described above and in  FIGS. 1 through 6 , include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function, and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the invention. 
     It shall be noted that those skilled in the art will readily recognize numerous adaptations and modifications which can be made to the various embodiments of the present invention which will result in an improved invention, yet all of which will fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined in the following claims. Accordingly, the invention is to be limited only by the scope of the following claims and their equivalents.