Patent Description:
It is conventionally known in the field of technology involving a vehicular headlight that the vehicular headlight is provided with a movable shade mechanism to control light distribution of light from a light source. For example, <CIT> discloses a vehicular headlight provided with movable shade, solenoid to rotate the movable shade, and link member to transmit power of the solenoid to the movable shade.

In the movable shade mechanism for such a vehicular headlight as disclosed in <CIT>, a solenoid is fixed on a piece part made by bending a flat bracket. However, the solenoid is a heavy component with copper wires and steel plates. Therefore, when it is attached to the above mentioned piece made by bending the bracket, the bracket becomes likely to be deformed by vibration and impact, etc. Therefore, it is necessary to increase the thickness of the bracket to enhance rigidity, so that this makes it difficult to reduce the weight of the movable shade mechanism.

<CIT> relates to a vehicle lighting unit and vehicle headlight. A movable shade is capable of being pivoted about a pivot shaft, to switch a shielded amount of light emitted from a light source in accordance with a pivot amount. A solenoid has an output shaft capable of being axially moved. A link member is connected to the output shaft, and is displaced in conjunction with a movement of the output shaft. A projection is provided on the movable shade. A sliding contact portion is provided on the link member, and abutted against the projection. The movable shade is configured in such a manner as to be pivoted about the pivot shaft when the projection slides on the sliding contact portion in accordance with a displacement of the link member. A surface of the projection is formed as a curved surface.

<CIT> relates to a lamp for a vehicle that that can make a beam pattern even if a shield unit is thermally expanded or is displaced. The lamp for a vehicle includes: a light source unit; a shield assembly positioned in front of the light source unit to block a part of a light emitted from the light source unit in accordance with a beam pattern; and a lens unit on which the light passing the shield assembly projects. The shield assembly has a shield unit which is positioned in front of the light source unit and is able to rotate around a rotational shaft, a driving unit for rotating the shield unit, and a bracket support the shield unit and the driving unit. The shield unit is formed with an aligning groove to which an aligning boss is inserted, when any one of beam patterns is produced.

In light of the foregoing, we have appreciated that it would be desirable to provide a movable shade mechanism for a vehicular headlight and a vehicular headlight capable of reducing the entire weight of the mechanism while enhancing rigidity of a bracket.

A movable shade mechanism for a vehicular headlight according to the present invention includes: a shade member rotating around a rotary shaft and being adapted to adjust a shielding amount of light from a light source; a drive unit to generate power to drive the shade member; a transmission member to transmit power of the drive unit to the shade member; and a plate bracket to hold the rotary shaft and the drive unit, wherein the bracket is a plate member in which a front portion and a rear portion are bent downwardly and upwardly, respectively in a vehicle mounted state, and includes: a base that is a portion which is disposed between the front portion and the rear portion along a horizontal plane in a vehicle-mounted state and which supports the drive unit; and a shade support that is the rear portion bent from a rear end of the base upwardly and which supports the rotary shaft, and a reinforcement part that is the front portion bent from a front end of the base downwardly.

In the above mentioned movable shade mechanism for a vehicular headlight, the base may have an attachment part extending outwardly in a left-right direction in the vehicle-mounted state.

In the above mentioned movable shade mechanism for a vehicular headlight, the base may have opening that penetrates through the base in an up-down direction in the vehicle-mounted state, and the transmission member may pass through the opening in the up-down direction to be disposed.

The above mentioned movable shade mechanism for a vehicular headlight may further include a cover member that is mounted on the base and covers the opening.

In the above mentioned movable shade mechanism for a vehicular headlight, the drive unit may have a case, the case may have a shape that a plate member is bent in a front-rear direction and a left-right direction in the vehicle-mounted state, and has a plurality of protrusions to be mated with the base on a top of the case in an up-down direction, at least one or more of the plurality of protrusions may be provided at a position where the front-rear direction is a plate thickness direction as well as a position where the left-right direction is the plate thickness direction, on the top of the base, and the base may have mating holes which the plurality of protrusions are inserted into.

A vehicular headlight according to the present invention includes: a light source; and the above-described movable shade mechanism for a vehicular headlight, which controls light distribution of light from the light source.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a movable shade mechanism for a vehicular headlight and a vehicular headlight capable of reducing the entire weight while enhancing rigidity of a bracket.

Now, a movable shade mechanism for a vehicular headlight and a vehicular headlight according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described bellow with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the present invention is not limited by this embodiment. In addition, constituent elements in the following embodiment include such an element that can be easily substituted by those skilled in the art or is substantially the same. In the following explanation, each of directions, front, rear, up, down, left, and right, is defined as a direction in a vehicle-mounted state where the vehicular headlight is attached to the vehicle, which is the same direction as viewed from a driver's seat to a traveling direction of the vehicle. In this embodiment, it is also defined that the up-down direction is parallel to a vertical direction, and the left-right direction is a horizontal direction.

<FIG> is a cross-sectional view illustrating a vehicular headlight <NUM> provided with a movable shade mechanism according to the present embodiment. As shown in <FIG>, the vehicular headlight <NUM> includes light source <NUM>, reflector <NUM> and a lens <NUM>, attachment member <NUM>, and movable shade mechanism <NUM>. The light source <NUM>, the reflector <NUM>, the lens <NUM>, the attachment member <NUM>, and the movable shade mechanism <NUM> constitute a so-called projector-type lamp unit.

The vehicular headlights <NUM> are mounted on the left and right sides of a front face of the vehicle, respectively. When mounted on a vehicle, the vehicular headlight <NUM> is housed in a light chamber formed with a lamp housing (not shown) and a lamp lens (such as an outer lens to go through) and connected to an optical axis adjustment mechanism (not shown). The optical axis adjustment mechanism is capable of performing optical axis adjustment in the up-down and left-right directions. An example of the vehicular headlight <NUM>, which is mounted on the right side of a vehicle, is described bellow. In this case, with respect to the vehicular headlight <NUM>, the right side of the vehicle in the left-right direction indicates the outside of the vehicle, and the left side of the vehicle in the left-right direction indicates the inside of the vehicle. The vehicular headlight mounted on the left side of the vehicle is configured to have a left-right symmetry with the vehicular headlight <NUM>, so that a similar explanation can be applied.

In addition to the above mentioned lamp unit, there may be arranged in the light chamber clearance lamp unit, turn signal lamp unit, daytime running lamp unit, etc., for example. Furthermore, there may be arranged in the light chamber inner panel (not shown), inner housing (not shown), inner lens (not shown), etc..

In this embodiment, the light source <NUM> is a semiconductor-type light source such as an LED or an OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode), for example. The light source <NUM> has a light emitting surface <NUM>. When the vehicular headlight <NUM> is mounted on a vehicle, the light emitting surface <NUM> is directed upwardly in parallel with a horizontal plane, for example. The light source <NUM> is fixed to an attachment member <NUM>. The light source <NUM> is disposed below an optical axis AX of the lens <NUM> as described later.

Reflector <NUM> reflects light from the light source <NUM> toward the lens <NUM>. The reflector <NUM> is disposed above the light source <NUM> and is made of a heat-resistant and light non-transmissible material, such as a resin material. The reflector <NUM> is fixed to the attachment member <NUM> by means of a fixing member such as a screw or the like.

Lens <NUM> is positioned on the front side of the vehicle relative to the reflector <NUM>. The lens <NUM> is supported by a lens holder <NUM>, for example. Lens <NUM> has a focal point (not shown) and the optical axis AX. The optical axis AX of the lens <NUM> aligns with or substantially aligns with an optical axis of the reflector <NUM>. The lens <NUM> emits reflection light from reflector <NUM> and direct light from the light source <NUM> forward of the vehicle.

To the attachment member <NUM>, light source <NUM>, reflector <NUM>, lens <NUM>, and movable shade mechanism <NUM> described later are attached. The attachment member <NUM> also radiates heat caused by the light source <NUM>.

The movable shade mechanism <NUM> is located between the light source <NUM> and the lens <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the movable shade mechanism <NUM> is provided with shade member <NUM>, solenoid (drive unit) <NUM>, transmission member <NUM>, bracket <NUM>, and cover member <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the movable shade mechanism <NUM> is a mechanism which adjusts a shielding amount of light emitted from the light source <NUM> and reflected with the reflector <NUM> by rotating the shade member <NUM> within a range between a first position P1 (see a solid line) and a second position P2 (see a broken line).

With reference to <FIG>, a configuration of the movable shade mechanism <NUM> is described in detail. <FIG> is a perspective view illustrating an example of the movable shade mechanism <NUM>. <FIG> is an exploded perspective view illustrating the example of the movable shade mechanism <NUM>. <FIG> is a front view illustrating the example of the movable shade mechanism <NUM> viewed from the front side. <FIG> is a side view illustrating the example of the movable shade mechanism <NUM> viewed from the left side. <FIG> is a side view illustrating an example of the bracket <NUM> of the movable shade mechanism <NUM>. In <FIG>, the fixing member such as a screw to secure each part is omitted in order to depict.

The shade member <NUM> has a shade body 51a and two attachment pieces 51b. The shade body 51a is a plate member to shield a portion of light from the light source <NUM>. One of the attachment pieces 51b is each formed for each of sides of the shade body 51a. As shown in <FIG>, the attachment pieces 51b have through holes 51c which are coaxially aligned, respectively. A rotary shaft <NUM> is rotatably inserted into the through holes 51c. The rotary shaft <NUM> passes through the inside of a spring <NUM> (see <FIG>, etc.) which is a torsion coil spring. One end and the other end of the spring <NUM> are fixed to the shade member <NUM> and to the bracket <NUM>, respectively. The spring <NUM> energizes the shade member <NUM> to the bracket <NUM> in a direction toward a first position P1.

The solenoid <NUM> generates power to rotate the shade member <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the solenoid <NUM> includes solenoid coil (drive source) 52a, case 52b, and plunger 52c. The solenoid coil 52a is connected to a power supply unit (not shown) via a connector C and functions as a drive source.

The solenoid coil 52a is housed inside the case 52b. The case 52b is formed in such a way that a metal plate with uniform thickness is cut, drilled, bend processed and the like, for example. The case 52b is bent so as to be in a rectangular shape when viewed from above. There are formed at a top of the case 52b three protrusions 52f, <NUM>, and <NUM> which upwardly protrude. The protrusions 52f, <NUM> and <NUM> are provided on three different sides at the top of the case 52b, respectively. In this embodiment, the protrusion 52f is located at a side being backward in the front-rear direction, the protrusion <NUM> is located at a side being forward in the front-rear direction, and the protrusion <NUM> is located at a side being left in the left-right direction. The protrusions 52f through <NUM> are respectively inserted into mating holes 61a through 61c of the bracket <NUM>, which are described later. Since the case 52b is formed using the metal plate with uniform thickness, dimensions in a direction of thickness of the three protrusions 52f through <NUM> are identical or substantially identical. Namely, dimensions in the front-rear direction of the protrusions 52f, <NUM> and dimension in the left-right direction of the protrusion <NUM> are identical or substantially identical.

The plunger 52c is inserted into the solenoid coil 52a through an aperture 52d formed in the case 52b. The plunger 52c is linearly movable according to power generated by the solenoid coil 52a. The plunger 52c has a groove 52e which is provided over the entire circumference of the same.

The transmission member <NUM> transmits power generated by the solenoid <NUM> to the shade member <NUM>. The transmission member <NUM> is made of a resin material, for example. As shown in <FIG>, the transmission member <NUM> has shaft part 53a, action part 53b, and engagement part 53c. The transmission member <NUM> has substantially L-shape so that the action part 53b and the engagement part 53c, which extend outwardly from the shaft part 53a, make an angle of approximately <NUM>°.

The shaft part 53a is formed to be cylindrical and is provided with a housing part 53d to house a support shaft <NUM> inside. The support shaft <NUM> is a shaft-like member separate from the transmission member <NUM>. The support shaft <NUM> has base 58a and inserting part 58b. The support shaft <NUM> is housed in the housing part 53d with the inserting part 58b being rotatable.

A pressing part 53e is formed at a tip of the action part 53b. The pressing part 53e is located under a pressed part 51e so that when the movable shade mechanism <NUM> is driven, the pressing part can press the pressed part 51e which is formed in the shade member <NUM> (see <FIG> and <FIG>). The engagement part 53c is formed in a feather-like shape so that it expands as getting away from the shaft part 53a. As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the engagement part 53c is engaged with the groove 52e formed in the plunger 52c of the solenoid <NUM>. This makes it possible to connect the transmission member <NUM> to the solenoid <NUM>.

The bracket <NUM> is a plate support member to support the shade member <NUM> and the solenoid <NUM>. The bracket <NUM> is formed in such a way that a metal plate is cut, drilled, bend processed and the like, for example. As shown in <FIG>, the bracket <NUM> has base <NUM>, shade support <NUM>, reinforcement part <NUM>, and attachment part <NUM>.

The base <NUM> is disposed horizontally in a vehicle-mounted state. The base <NUM> supports the solenoid <NUM>. The base <NUM> has mating holes 61a, 61b, and 61c for supporting the solenoid <NUM>. The mating holes 61a, 61b have an elongated shape in the left-right direction and are aligned with each other in the front-rear direction. The mating hole 61c has an elongated shape in the front-rear direction and is located at one side (e.g., left side) in the left-right direction with respect to positions where the mating holes 61a, 61b are located. The protrusions 52f through <NUM> provided in the case 52b of the solenoid <NUM> are inserted into the mating holes 61a through 61c, respectively. Regarding two protrusions 52f and <NUM> which are to be inserted into the mating holes 61a and 61b among three protrusions 52f through <NUM>, after they are respectively inserted into the mating holes 61a and 61b, their upper ends are caulked and fixed. This allows the case 52b to be engaged with the base <NUM>.

In this configuration, positioning in the front-rear direction is performed in the thickness direction of the protrusions 52f, <NUM>. Furthermore, positioning in the left-right direction is performed in the thickness direction of the protrusion <NUM>. Namely, by inserting protrusions 52f through <NUM> into the mating holes 61a through 61c, respectively, it is possible to perform positioning of the case 52b in a plate-thickness direction. Therefore, by forming a metal plate so as to have uniform thickness, which is the material for the case 52b, it is possible to perform positioning between the base <NUM> and the solenoid <NUM> precisely. In addition, since the protrusions 52f through <NUM> and the mating holes 61a through 61c can secure a large margin associating with dimensional accuracy in the longitudinal direction, this makes it possible to cut the case 52b and drill the bracket <NUM> easily.

The base <NUM> has an opening 61d through which the transmission member <NUM> is disposed. The opening 61d is located according to a position where the transmission member <NUM> is disposed. In this embodiment, the opening 61d is provided in the base <NUM> at a position which is displaced from a center to one side (e.g., to the left side) in the left-right direction, for example. The transmission member <NUM> is located so that it passes through the opening 61d in the up-down direction.

The shade support <NUM> is provided by being bent from a rear end 61r of the base <NUM> upwardly. The base <NUM> and the shade support <NUM> are orthogonal or substantially orthogonal to each other (see <FIG>). The shade support <NUM> has base 62a and rotary shaft holding portion 62b. The rotary shaft holding portions 62b are located in the base 62a at positions which are shifted away from the shade body 51a to both sides in the left-right direction, for example. The rotary shaft holding portion 62b is formed substantially in a L-shape by protruding it to the front side from the base 62a and then to bend upwardly. The rotary shaft holding portion 62b holds the rotary shaft <NUM> by sandwiching the rotary shaft <NUM> between the shade member <NUM> and the base 62a. This allows the shade member <NUM> to be supported rotatably around the rotary shaft <NUM> by the bracket <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, a stopper 51d capable of abutting on the bracket <NUM> is formed in the shade member <NUM>. The stopper 51d makes it possible to cause the shade member <NUM> to rotate until it exceeds the first position P1. In addition, another stopper (not shown), which restricts that the shade member <NUM> rotates until it exceeds a second position P2, is provided in the bracket <NUM>.

The reinforcement part <NUM> is provided by being bent from a front end 61f of the base <NUM> downwardly (see <FIG>). The base <NUM> and the reinforcement part <NUM> are orthogonal or substantially orthogonal to each other. The reinforcement part <NUM> has openings 63a and notch part 63b. The openings 63a are arranged side by side in the left-right direction, for example. The openings 63a serve as an indicator to identify the bracket <NUM> by differentiating positions in the left-right direction and the number of the same, for example. The notch part 63b is provided so as to be opened at a position which corresponds to the connector C when viewed from the front side. The openings 63a and the notch part 63b may not be provided.

In this way, by bending the rear end 61r and the front end 61f of the base <NUM> upwardly and downwardly, respectively, the base <NUM> of the bracket <NUM> has a greater sectional secondary moment than that being of a plate type. Namely, the bracket <NUM> is suppressed from being deformed due to vibration, shock, or the like because the base <NUM> has greater rigidity than that being of the plate type. This allows to suppress the bracket <NUM> from being deformed, while reducing a gap between the bracket <NUM> and peripheral components, so that it is possible to miniaturize the movable shade mechanism <NUM> and the vehicular headlight <NUM>. Furthermore, by bending the rear end 61r and the front end 61f, the base <NUM> the bracket <NUM> has greater rigidity, so that the thickness of a metal plate used as its material can be reduced. Thus this make it possible to reduce component costs and reduce weight of the bracket <NUM> of the movable shade mechanism <NUM>.

The attachment parts <NUM> is provided so as to extend from the base <NUM> outwardly in the left-right direction. The attachment parts <NUM> are fixed to the attachment member <NUM> with a fixing member or the like (not shown). Since the attachment member <NUM> is fixed to the attachment parts <NUM> extending from the base <NUM> which has greater rigidity, it is possible to attach the bracket <NUM> to the attachment member <NUM> in a stable state.

The cover member <NUM> is mounted on the base <NUM>. The cover member <NUM> is located at a position covering the opening 61d. The cover member <NUM> prevents external light such as sunlight from being incident on the opening 61d by covering the opening 61d. Therefore, since this suppresses external light from irradiating, for example, the transmission member <NUM> located inside the opening 61d, it is possible to suppress a thermal deformation, etc. of the transmission member <NUM>.

Next, operation of the movable shade mechanism <NUM> according to this embodiment is described. As mentioned above, when the solenoid <NUM> is not activated, the spring <NUM> energizes the shade member <NUM> to the bracket <NUM> in a direction toward the first position P1. As a result, as shown in <FIG>, the shade member <NUM> is restricted to move with respect to the bracket <NUM> by the stopper 51d and positioned in the first position P1. At this time, the shade member <NUM> shields a part of light from the light source <NUM> reflected by the reflector <NUM>. This allows for a low beam light distribution pattern as the light distribution pattern of light emitted from the lens <NUM>.

On the other hand, by electrifying the solenoid <NUM> and generating magnetic force in the solenoid coil 52a, the plunger 52c linearly moves to the solenoid coil 52a side. Accordingly, the transmission member <NUM> which is engaged with the groove 52e of the plunger 52c rotates around the support shaft <NUM>. As a result, the pressing part 53e presses up the pressed part 51e of the shade member <NUM> via the engagement part 53c of the transmission member <NUM>. Thereby, the shade member <NUM> rotates against biasing force of the spring <NUM> around the rotary shaft <NUM> in a direction toward the second position P2. Then the shade member <NUM> is restricted to move by the stopper (not shown) provided on the bracket <NUM> and positioned in the second position P2. At this circumstance, light from the light source <NUM> reflected by the reflector <NUM> is emitted from the lens <NUM> without being shielded by the shade member <NUM>, and thereby forming a high-beam light distribution pattern. Then the solenoid coil <NUM> stops working when the solenoid <NUM> is de-electrified. As a result, biasing force of the spring <NUM> allows the shade member <NUM> to be positioned in the first position P1, so that the plunger 52c is returned to its original position.

As mentioned above, the movable shade mechanism <NUM> for a vehicular headlight <NUM> according to this embodiment includes: a shade member <NUM> rotating around a rotary shaft <NUM> and adjusting a shielding amount of light from a light source <NUM>; a solenoid <NUM> to generate power to drive the shade member <NUM>; a transmission member <NUM> to transmit power of the solenoid <NUM> to the shade member <NUM>; and a plate bracket <NUM> to hold the rotary shaft <NUM> and the solenoid <NUM>, wherein the bracket <NUM> includes: a base <NUM> that is disposed along a horizontal plane in a vehicle-mounted state and supports the solenoid <NUM>; and a shade support <NUM> that is bent upwardly from a rear end 61r of the base <NUM> in the vehicle-mounted state and supports the rotary shaft <NUM>.

According to this configuration, the rear end 61r and the front end 61f of the base <NUM> of the bracket <NUM> are bent upwardly and downwardly, respectively, so that the base <NUM> has greater rigidity than that being of a plate type. In this way, since the solenoid <NUM> is held on the base <NUM> with enhanced rigidity, deformation due to vibration, shock or the like can be suppressed. By enhancing rigidity of the bracket <NUM>, the thickness of the metal plate used as its material can be reduced. This makes it possible to reduce component costs and weight of the movable shade mechanism <NUM>.

In the movable shade mechanism <NUM> of the vehicular headlight <NUM> according to this embodiment, the bracket <NUM> has the reinforcement part <NUM> which is bent downwardly from the front end 61f of the base <NUM>. This makes it possible to further enhance rigidity of the base <NUM>.

In the movable shade mechanism <NUM> of the vehicular headlight <NUM> according to this embodiment, the base <NUM> has attachment parts <NUM> extending outwardly in the left-right direction in a vehicle-mounted state. Since the attachment member <NUM> is fixed to the attachment parts <NUM> extending from the base <NUM> which has greater rigidity, it is possible to attach the bracket <NUM> to the attachment member <NUM> in a stable state.

In the movable shade mechanism <NUM> of the vehicular headlight <NUM> according to this embodiment, the base <NUM> has the opening 61d which penetrates through the base in the up-down direction in a vehicle-mounted state, and the transmission member <NUM> passes through the opening 61d in the up-down direction to be disposed. Since rigidity of the base <NUM> is enhanced, it is possible to provide the opening 61d in the base <NUM> without increasing a plate thickness of the bracket <NUM>.

The movable shade mechanism <NUM> of the vehicular headlight <NUM> according to this embodiment further includes the cover member <NUM> which is mounted on the base <NUM> and covers the opening 61d. Since the cover member <NUM> covers the opening 61d, it can prevent external light such as sunlight from being incident on the opening 61d. Thereby, since this suppresses external light from irradiating, for example, the transmission member <NUM> located inside the opening 61d, it is possible to suppress a thermal deformation, etc. of the transmission member <NUM>.

In the movable shade mechanism <NUM> for a vehicular headlight <NUM> according to this embodiment, the case 52b has a shape that a plate member is bent in an up-down direction and a front-rear direction in the vehicle-mounted state, and has a plurality of protrusions 52f through <NUM> to be mated with the base <NUM> on a top of the case 52b in an up-down direction, at least one or more of the plurality of protrusions 52f through <NUM> are provided at a position where the up-down direction is a plate thickness direction as well as a position where the front-rear direction is a plate thickness direction, and the base <NUM> has mating holes 61a through 61c which the plurality of protrusions 52f through <NUM> are inserted into. This configuration allows to perform the positioning in the thickness direction of the protrusions 52f through <NUM>, so that, for example, by forming a metal plate so as to have uniform thickness, which is the material for the case 52b, dimensional variation can be suppressed. This allows to perform reliable positioning in the front-rear and left-right directions.

The vehicular headlight <NUM> according to this embodiment includes the movable shade mechanism <NUM> which controls light distribution of light from the light source <NUM>. This allows to suppress the movable shade mechanism <NUM> from having influences such as deformation due to vibration, shock, etc., while reducing a gap between the movable shade mechanism <NUM> and peripheral components, so that it is possible to miniaturize the vehicular headlight <NUM>. In addition, since the bracket <NUM> can be made lighter, this makes it possible to provide a lightweight vehicular headlight <NUM>.

The technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the above mentioned embodiment, and changes may be made as appropriate without departing from the scope of the appended claims, which limit the present invention. For example, in the above mentioned embodiment, although an example is given of a configuration in which at least one or more of the plurality of protrusions 52f through <NUM> are located at a position in which the front-rear direction is the plate thickness direction as well as at a position in which the left-right direction is the plate thickness direction. The present invention is not limited to this configuration. The plurality of protrusions 52f through <NUM> may be provided at any positions where they can mate with the base <NUM>.

Furthermore, in the above mentioned embodiment, although a configuration in which the cover member <NUM> is provided is described as an example, the present invention is not limited thereto. No cover member <NUM> may be provided, for example. Also, it may be configured so that a portion of the bracket <NUM> or other component covers the opening 61d in place of the cover member <NUM>.

In the above mentioned embodiment, although an example is given of a configuration in which the opening 61d is provided in the base <NUM> and the transmission member <NUM> is disposed so as to pass through the opening 61d, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, in the configuration where the transmission member <NUM> is disposed on the base <NUM>, it may be located at the notch part or the like other than the opening 61d if possible.

Claim 1:
A movable shade mechanism (<NUM>) for a vehicular headlight (<NUM>) comprising:
a shade member (<NUM>) rotating around a rotary shaft (<NUM>) and being adapted to adjust a shielding amount of light from a light source (<NUM>);
a drive unit (<NUM>) to generate power to drive the shade member (<NUM>);
a transmission member (<NUM>) to transmit power of the drive unit (<NUM>) to the shade member (<NUM>); and
a bracket (<NUM>) to hold the rotary shaft (<NUM>) and the drive unit (<NUM>),
characterized in that
the bracket (<NUM>) is a plate member in which a front portion and a rear portion are bent downwardly and upwardly, respectively in a vehicle mounted state, and includes:
a base (<NUM>) that is a portion which is disposed between the front portion and the rear portion along a horizontal plane in the vehicle-mounted state and which supports the drive unit (<NUM>); and
a shade support (<NUM>) that is the rear portion bent from a rear end (61r) of the base (<NUM>) upwardly and which supports the rotary shaft (<NUM>),
and a reinforcement part (<NUM>) that is the front portion bent from a front end (61f) of the base (<NUM>) downwardly.