Actuator for manually adjusting headlamp elevation angle

In an automobile having two front headlamps mounted in respective holders for pivotable motion of the headlamps relative to the automobile, an actuator coupled to the holders for transforming translational movement of the actuator to pivotable movement of the headlamps, the actuator comprising:

• an activating rod coupled to the holders;
• a manipulable operator connected to the activating rod such that the operator can be grasped by an occupant of the automobile and manipulated to translate the activating rod to thereby pivot the headlamps relative to the automobile;
• a spool threadably engaged with the activating rod, the spool having a body portion with a front radially protruding flange and longitudinally spaced rear radially protruding flange each extending from said body portion;
• and
• a dashboard attached to the automobile, the dashboard defining an overture through which the activating rod extends, the dashboard further defining a front surface and a rear surface, wherein:
• the spool is positioned on the activating rod with the aperture of the dashboard intermediate the flanges of the spool, such that the operator can be manipulated to cause the front flange of the spool to abut the front surface of the dashboard to thereby establish a first position of the actuator, the first position corresponding to a first orientation of the headlamp, and the operator can be manipulated to cause the rear flange of the spool to abut the rear surface of the dashboard to thereby establish a second position of the actuator, the second position corresponding to a second orientation of the headlamp.

A method for selectively establishing a high beam orientation for a single filament headlamp relative to an automobile having a passenger compartment and a low beam orientation of the headlamp, comprising the steps of:

• pivotally coupling the headlamp to the automobile;
• coupling a manipulable actuator with the headlamp such that translational motion of the actuator causes pivotable motion of the headlamp;
• attaching a manipulable operator to the actuator inside the passenger compartment;
• surroundingly engaging a spool with the actuator between the operator and the headlamp, the spool being longitudinally movable along with the actuator when the operator is pushed and pulled to thereby move the headlamp between the orientations, the spool having a body portion with a front radially protruding flange and a longitudinally spaced rear radially protruding flange each extending from said body portion and configured for engaging the automobile to establish limits of translational motion of the actuator.

An actuator for selectively establishing the elevation angle of at least one headlamp of an automobile, the headlamp having a high beam orientation and a low beam orientation, the actuator maintaining a mechanical memory of a difference between the orientations and comprising:

• an activating rod having a front segment coupled to the at least one headlamp such that translational motion of the activating rod causes pivotal motion of the headlamp relative to the automobile, the activating rod having a threaded rear end segment;
• a hollow plastic sheath surrounding at least a bent segment of the activating rod to support the bent segment;
• a manipulable operator connected to the rear end segment of the activating rod such that the operator can be grasped by an occupant of the automobile and manipulated to move the activating rod to thereby cause pivotal motion of the headlamp relative to the automobile;
• and
• a spool threadably engaged with the rear end segment of the activating rod between the operator and the headlamp, the spool having a front radially protruding flange and a rear radially protruding flange for establishing the mechanical memory, the spool with activating rod being reciprocatingly movable in a longitudinal direction without rotating the spool relative to the activating rod to thereby move the headlamp between the high beam orientation and low beam orientation.

In an automobile having two front headlamps mounted in respective holders for pivotable motion of the headlamps relative to the automobile, an actuator coupled to the holders for transforming translational movement of the actuator to pivotable movement of the headlamps, the actuator comprising:

• an activating rod coupled to the holders;
• a hollow plastic sheath surrounding at least a bent segment of the activating rod to support the bent segment;
• a manipulable operator connected to the activating rod such that the operator can be grasped by an occupant of the automobile and manipulated to translate the activating rod to thereby pivot the headlamps relative to the automobile;
• spool threadably engaged with the activating rod, the spool having a front radially protruding flange and a rear radially protruding flange;
• and
• a dashboard attached to the automobile, the dashboard defining an aperture through which the activating rod extends, the dashboard further defining a front surface and a rear surface, wherein
• the spool is positioned on the activating rod with the aperture of the dashboard intermediate the flanges of the spool, such that the operator can be manipulated to cause the front flange of the spool to abut the front surface of the dashboard to thereby establish a first position of the actuator, the first position corresponding to a first orientation of the headlamp, and the operator can be manipulated to cause the rear flange of the spool to abut the rear surface of the dashboard to thereby establish a second position of the actuator, the second position corresponding to a second orientation of the headlamp.

A method for selectively establishing a high beam orientation for a single filament headlamp relative to an automobile having a passenger compartment and a low beam orientation of the headlamp, comprising the steps of:

• (a) pivotably coupling the headlamp to the automobile;
• (b) coupling a manipulable actuator with the headlamp such that translational motion of the actuator causes pivotable motion of the headlamp;
• (b1) surrounding at least a bent segment of the actuator with a plastic sheath to support the bent segment;
• (c) attaching a manipulable operator to the actuator inside the passenger compartment;
• (d) surroundingly engaging a spool with the actuator between the operator and the headlamp, the spool being longitudinally movable along with the actuator when the operator is pushed and pulled to thereby move the headlamp between the orientations, the spool being configured for engaging the automobile to establish limits of translational motion of the actuator.