Patent Application
20120086941
The present invention generally relates the adjustment of the focus of a light or lamp, and more particularly to the adjustment of vehicular and automobile headlights.
Devices to physically rotate a headlight are known including U.S. Pat. No. 5,285,360 to Kanner and U.S. Pat. No. 5,779,343 to Denley. Devices to guide the amount or degree of headlight rotation or adjustment, vertically and horizontally, are known including U.S. Pat. No. 2,314,559 to Schilling; U.S. Pat. No. 6,183,118 to Toda et al; U.S. Pat. No. 6,573,860 to Winter et al; Snap-on Equipment-Cartec-PLA 20-DR-LET-Professional Headlight adjusting device; American Aimers Hoppy v25 and v100 (Hoppy systems may have a track in the floor, requiring a dedicated stall, and use an optical device); Canbuilt OPT 5405.
The patents and publications referred to herein are provided herewith in an Information Disclosure Statement in accordance with 37 CFR 1.97.
Disclosed and claimed herein is an apparatus for the alignment of headlight beams and the method of use of the apparatus. A headlight alignment stand (100) positions one or more alignment panels (200) for calibration of the apparatus relative to the levelness of the surface on which the vehicle rests and for calibration or adjustment of one or more vehicle headlights.
The foregoing and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more readily appreciated as the same become better understood by reference to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
The preferred embodiment of the apparatus this disclosure is seen in
Also seen in
In each embodiment of the headlight alignment stand (100) casters (190) may be used for mobility.
A tube bushing (180), generally composed of plastic and formed in a molding process, is shaped and sized, at a tube bushing second edge (189), to be pressed or friction fit to the panel and laser support bracket tube (212). The shape at the tube bushing second edge (189) matches the shape of the panel and laser support bracket tube (212). The stand upright member (120) or stand cross member (140) slides into the panel and laser support bracket tube (212). The tube bushing (180), at a tube bushing first edge (187), is shaped and sized to friction secure the panel and laser support bracket (210) while allowing the panel and laser support bracket (210) to be slid horizontally or vertically to a new desired position. The shape of the tube bushing (180) at the tube bushing first edge (187) is irregular, as seen in
The laser system is comprised of a laser (360) moveably affixed, for horizontal and vertical adjustment, and positioned to direct a laser beam (387), through a panel laser aperture (240) in said panel (200), primarily orthogonal to the panel (200). An adjustment required by the inclination of the surface on which the vehicle rests is realized by use of a front level calibration device (510) positioned proximal a front vehicle wheel (410) and a rear level calibration device (520) positioned proximal a rear vehicle wheel (410). A preferred embodiment of the front level calibration device (510) is upstanding and composed of transparent material, including plastics, bearing at least one level calibration line (540) and supported by a level calibration device stand (560). A preferred embodiment of the rear level calibration device (520) is upstanding and composed of opaque, including plastics, bearing at least one level calibration line (540) and supported by a level calibration device stand (560). Adjustment for the inclination of the surface is accomplished by the headlight alignment stand (100) being positioned proximal a vehicle (400) thereby positioning the panel primarily orthogonal to a vehicle axis (405), generally from vehicle center front to center rear, and aligning the laser (360) and laser beam (387) with the front level calibration device (510) and with the rear level calibration device (520). The front level calibration device (510) and the rear level calibration device (520) are primarily parallel to the vehicle axis (405) and each have at least one level calibration line (540) equally positioned. The laser (360) and laser beam (387) is position adjusted to contact the at least one level calibration line (540) on both the front level calibration device (510) and the rear level calibration device (520).
Laser (360) vertical or horizontal adjustment is accomplished by the laser bracket system (310) which comprises brackets including “L” brackets which position the laser (360) to present a laser beam (387) through a panel laser aperture (240). A laser vertical adjustment knob/bolt (320) is inserted into a laser horizontal adjustment aperture (340) and then into a vertical adjustment slot (324) and secured by a laser vertical adjustment bolt nut (322). Vertical movement of the laser (360) is accomplished by loosening the laser vertical adjustment knob/bolt (320) and pivoting the “L” bracket about a laser vertical adjustment pivot (326) comprised of a bolt/nut through laser vertical adjustment pivot (326) apertures in the “L” bracket. A horizontal adjustment is made by “L” bracket interconnection with a laser horizontal adjustment bolt/nut (344) with horizontal movement made by loosening the adjustment bolt/nut (344) and rotating the laser (360). The laser (360) is affixed at the “L” bracket through a laser bracket aperture (364) by laser affixing means usually made by nut/thread connection. Seen in
The figures show a 9 v laser power supply (380) affixed to the headlight alignment stand (100) with laser power cables (384) connecting with the at least one laser (360). Power of the laser power supply (380) is with a single 9 v battery.
With the leveling adjustment accomplished the apparatus continues in use for adjustment of the headlights. The head light alignment stand (100) is repositioned proximal the vehicle (400), approximately 2″ from the a headlight (415), to position the at least one panel (200) proximal to a headlight (415) and orthogonal to the vehicle axis (405). A position adjustment of the height and horizontal position of the panel and laser support bracket (210) will position the laser beam (387) to be co-incident with a headlight axis (420) of the headlight (415). For most headlights (415) a raised dot or depression is seen generally central to the headlight (415). The laser beam (387) will be focused on the dot or depression in the center of the head light. With the headlight (415) turned on the headlight (415) beam will shin on the panel (200).
A spot is marked, with a sticky round tab or such other marking device, on the panel (200) indicating the primary focus, which is the center focal point of the headlight (415). The head light alignment stand (100) is then repositioned distal from the vehicle by a headlight calibration distance (430) which is generally 6′, 12′ or 25′ as determined by standards J599 and J600 set by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE). The casters (190) are locked, the headlight (415) turned on dim with the headlight beam (425) striking the panel (200). The headlight (415) dim beam strikes the panel (200) and is then adjusted to strike the panel (200) at the indicated headlight beam calibration point (427). The indicated headlight beam calibration point (427) is 1″ drop from center and 1″ right of center at 12′ or 2″ drop and 2″ right at 25′ in accordance with the SAE standards. The headlight beam (425) is adjusted, by vehicle (400) headlight adjustment means, to strike the panel (200) at the indicated headlight beam calibration point (427) by use of headlight adjustment devices within the vehicle.
While various embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it should be understood that other modifications, substitutions and alternatives are apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art. Such modifications, substitutions and alternatives can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, which should be determined from the appended claims. Various features of the invention are set forth in the appended claims.
