The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 27, 1987
Filed:
Feb. 27, 1986
Kenji Miyazawa, Shizuoka, JP;
Koito Seisakusho Co., Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A vehicular lamp assembly such as a combined fog and cornering lamp has a lamp cover mounted to its housing for pivotal movement between an open position, where the lamp cover uncovers the front lens of the lamp housing, and a closed position where the lamp cover covers the front lens. For pivoting the lamp cover between the open and closed positions a lamp cover drive mechanism comprises a drive shaft protruding from the lamp housing and coupled directly to the lamp cover. The drive shaft is driven by a reversible electric drive motor via a torque limiter which permits the motor to rotate independently of the drive shaft upon jamming of the lamp cover, as by being clogged with snow. Also included is an electric control circuit which controls the drive motor for opening and closing the lamp cover in response to the actuation and deactuation of a hand switch within easy reach of the vehicle driver. The control circuit further turns on the light source of the lamp assembly only when the lamp cover is opened. The lamp cover is further provided with a two way biasing mechanism which makes it unnecessary to hold the drive motor energized throughout the travel of the lamp cover between the open and closed positions.