Retractable head-light device for automobiles

Claim 2

A retractable head-light device for automobiles comprising head lamp means mounted on an automobile body for movement between an extended position wherein the head lamp means is projected through opening means in the automobile body and directed substantially forwards and a retracted position wherein the head lamp means is retracted within the body, head lamp cover means having a rear end portion mounted on the body for vertical swingable movements between an extended position wherein the lamp cover means uncovers said opening means in the body and a retracted position wherein the lamp cover means closes said opening means to provide a substantially flush body surface, lamp driving means for driving said head lamp means between said extended and retracted positions of the head lamp means, cover driving means for driving said lamp cover means between said extended and retracted positions in response to movements of the head lamp means, said cover driving means including a pair of cover driving links disposed at the opposite sides of the lamp cover means, each of said cover driving links having one end connected with said lamp cover means and the other end with said lamp driving means so that the lamp cover means is driven together with the head lamp means, cover hinge means for pivoting the lamp cover means, said cover hinge means twisting when the lamp cover means is driven from the retracted position to the extended position to thereby maintain a front edge of the lamp cover means substantially horizontally.

Claim 3

A retractable head-light device for automobiles comprising head lamp means mounted on an automobile body for movement between an extended position wherein the head lamp means is projected through opening means in the automobile body and directed substantially forwards and a retracted position wherein the head lamp means is retracted within the body, head lamp cover means having a rear end portion mounted on the body for vertical swingable movements between an extended position wherein the lamp cover means uncovers said opening means in the body and a retracted position wherein the lamp cover mean closes said opening means to provide a substantially flush body surface, lamp driving means for driving said head lamp means between said extended and retracted positions of the head lamp means, cover driving means for driving said lamp cover means between said extended and retracted positions in response to movements of the head lamp means, said cover driving means including a pair of cover driving links disposed at the opposite sides of the lamp cover means, each of said cover driving links having one end connected with said lamp cover means and the other end with said head lamp means so that the lamp cover means is driven together with the head lamp means, cover hinge means for pivoting the lamp cover means, said cover hinge means twisting when the lamp cover means is driven from the retracted position to the extended position to thereby maintain a front edge of the lamp cover means substantially horizontally.

Claim 4

A retractable head-light device for automobiles comprising head lamp means mounted on an automobile body for movement between an extended position wherein the head lamp means is projected through opening means in the automobile body and directed substantially forwards and a retracted position wherein the head lamp means is retracted within the body, head lamp cover means having a rear end portion mounted on the body for vertical swingable movements between an extended position wherein the lamp cover means uncovers said opening means in the body and a retracted position wherein the lamp cover mean closes said opening means to provide a substantially flush body surface, lamp driving means for driving said head lamp means between said extended and retracted positions of the head lamp means, cover driving means for driving said lamp cover means between said extended and retracted positions in response to movements of the head lamp means, said cover driving means including a pair of cover driving links disposed at the opposite sides of the lamp cover means, each of said cover driving links having one end connected with said lamp cover means and the other end with said head lamp means so that the lamp cover means is driven together with the head lamp means, cover hinge means for pivoting the lamp cover means, said cover hinge means twisting when the lamp cover means is driven from the retracted position to the extended position to thereby maintain a front edge of the lamp cover means substantially horizontally.

Claim 5

A retractable head-light device for automobiles comprising head lamp means mounted on an automobile body at an area where the body has a contour inclined downwards toward laterally outwards for movement between an extended position wherein the head lamp means is projected through an opening means in the automobile body and directed substantially forwards and a retracted position wherein the head lamp means is retracted within the body, head lamp cover means having a rear end portion mounted on the body for vertical swinging movement between a projected position wherein the lamp cover means uncovers said opening means in the body and a retracted position wherein the lamp cover means closes said opening means to provide a substantially flush body surface, lamp driving means for driving said head lamp means between said extended and retracted positions of the head lamp means, lamp cover driving means including a pair of cover driving links disposed at the opposite sides of the lamp cover means, each of said cover driving links having one end connected with said lamp cover means through lug means and the other end with said lamp driving means so that the lamp cover means is driven together with the head lamp means, said pair of cover driving links being substantially parallel with each other in the retracted position of the head lamp means and having different length, said lug means for the respective links having complementarily different length, cover hinge means for pivoting the lamp cover means, said cover hinge means twisting when the lamp cover means is driven from the retracted position to the extended position to thereby maintain a front edge of the lamp cover means substantially horizontally.

Claim 6

A retractable head-light device for automobiles comprising head lamp means mounted on an automobile body at an area where the body has a contour inclined downwards toward laterally outwards for movement between an extended position wherein the head lamp means is projected through an opening means in the automobile body and directed substantially forwards and a retracted position wherein the head lamp means is retracted within the body, head lamp cover means having a rear end portion mounted on the body for vertical swinging movement between a projected position wherein the lamp cover means uncovers said opening means in the body and a retracted position wherein the lamp cover means closes said opening means to provide a substantially flush body surface, lamp driving means for driving said head lamp means between said extended and retracted positions of the head lamp means, lamp cover driving means including a pair of cover driving links disposed at the opposite sides of the lamp cover means, each of said cover driving links having one end connected with said lamp cover means through lug means and the other end with said lamp driving means so that the lamp cover means is driven together with the head lamp means, said pair of cover driving links being substantially parallel with each other in the retracted position of the head lamp means and having different length, said lug means for the respective links having complementarily different length, cover hinge means for pivoting the lamp cover means, said cover hinge means twisting when the lamp cover means is driven from the retracted position to the extended position to thereby maintain a front edge of the lamp cover means substantially horizontally.

Claim 7

A retractable head-light device for automobiles comprising head lamp means mounted on an automobile body at an area where the body has a contour inclined downwards toward laterally outwards for movement between an extended position wherein the head lamp means is projected through an opening means in the automobile body and directed substantially forwards and a retracted position wherein the head lamp means is retracted within the body, head lamp cover means having a rear end portion mounted on the body for vertical swinging movement between a projected position wherein the lamp cover means uncovers said opening means in the body and a retracted position wherein the lamp cover means closes said opening means to provide a substantially flush body surface, lamp driving means for driving said head lamp means between said extended and retracted positions of the head lamp means, lamp cover driving means including a pair of cover driving links disposed at the opposite sides of the lamp cover means, each of said cover driving links having one end connected with said lamp cover means through lug means and the other end with said head lamp means so that the lamp cover means is driven together with the head lamp means, said pair of cover driving links being substantially parallel with each other in the retracted position of the head lamp means and having different length, said lug means for the respective links having complementarily different length, cover hinge means for pivoting the lamp cover means, said cover hinge means twisting when the lamp cover means is driven from the retracted position to the extended position to thereby maintain a front edge of the lamp cover means substantially horizontally.

Claim 8

A retractable head-light device for automobiles comprising head lamp means mounted on an automobile body at an area where the body has a contour inclined downwards toward laterally outwards for movement between an extended position wherein the head lamp means is projected through an opening means in the automobile body and directed substantially forwards and a retracted position wherein the head lamp means is retracted within the body, head lamp cover means having a rear end portion mounted on the body for vertical swinging movement between a projected position wherein the lamp cover means uncovers said opening means in the body and a retracted position wherein the lamp cover means closes said opening means to provide a substantially flush body surface, lamp driving means for driving said head lamp means between said extended and retracted positions of the head lamp means, lamp cover driving means including a pair of cover driving links disposed at the opposite sides of the lamp cover means, each of said cover driving links having one end connected with said lamp cover means through lug means and the other end with said head lamp means so that the lamp cover means is driven together with the head lamp means, said pair of cover driving links being substantially parallel with each other in the retracted position of the head lamp means and having different length, said lug means for the respective links having complementarily different length, cover hinge means for pivoting the lamp cover means, said cover hinge means twisting when the lamp cover means is driven from the retracted position to the extended position to thereby maintain a front edge of the lamp cover means substantially horizontally.

Claim 9

A retractable head-light device for automobiles comprising head lamp means mounted on an automobile body for movement between an extended position wherein the head lamp means is projected through opening means in the automobile body and directed substantially forwards and a retracted position wherein the head lamp means is retracted within the body, head lamp cover means having a rear end portion mounted on the body for vertical swingable movements between an extended position wherein the lamp cover means uncovers said opening means in the body and a retracted position wherein the lamp cover means closes said opening means to provide a substantially flush body surface, lamp driving means for driving said head lamp means between said extended and retracted positions of the head lamp means, cover driving means for driving said lamp cover means between said extended and retracted positions in response to movements of the head lamp means, said cover driving means including a pair of cover driving links disposed at the opposite sides of the lamp cover means, each of said cover driving links having one end connected with said lamp cover means and the other end with said lamp driving means so that the lamp cover means is driven together with the head lamp means, said cover driving links having different lengths, cover hinge means for pivoting the lamp cover means, said cover hinge means twisting when the lamp cover means is driven from the retracted position to the extended position to thereby maintain a front edge of the lamp cover means substantially horizontally.

Claim 10

A retractable head-light device for automobiles comprising head lamp means mounted on an automobile body for movement between an extended position wherein the head lamp means is projected through opening means in the automobile body and directed substantially forwards and a retracted position wherein the head lamp means is retracted within the body, head lamp cover means having a rear end portion mounted on the body for vertical swingable movements between an extended position wherein the lamp cover means uncovers said opening means in the body and a retracted position wherein the lamp cover means closes said opening means to provide a substantially flush body surface, lamp driving means for driving said head lamp means between said extended and retracted positions of the head lamp means, cover driving means for driving said lamp cover means between said extended and retracted positions in response to movements of the head lamp means, said cover driving means including a pair of cover driving links disposed at the opposite sides of the lamp cover means, each of said cover driving links having one end connected with said lamp cover means and the other end with said lamp driving means so that the lamp cover means is driven together with the head lamp means, said cover driving links having different lengths, cover hinge means for pivoting the lamp cover means, said cover hinge means twisting when the lamp cover means is driven from the retracted position to the extended position to thereby maintain a front edge of the lamp cover means substantially horizontally.

Claim 11

A retractable head-light device in accordance with claim 5 in which said head lamp means is mounted on the automobile body through said lamp driving means which includes a parallel link mechanism so that the head lamp means is maintained at a forwardly directed position both in the retracted and extended positions.

Claim 12

A retractable head-light device in accordance with claim 5 in which said head lamp cover means is mounted at an intermediate portion of the rear end portion thereof on the body through said means hinge comprising ball means attached to the lamp cover means and ball receptacle means attached to the body.

Claim 13

A retractable head light device in accordance with claim 5 in which said cover driving links includes a laterally outboard link and a laterally inboard link, the outboard link being larger in length than the inboard link, said outboard and inboard links being connected to said lamp cover means through outboard and inboard lugs, respectively, said outboard lug being smaller in length than said inboard lug.

Claim 14

A retractable head light device in accordance with claim 8 in which said outboard and inboard links are at substantially the same level with each other at said other ends, said outboard and inboard links being substantially parallel with each other in the retracted position.

Claim 15

A retractable head-light device for automobiles comprising head lamp means mounted on an automobile body for movement between an extended position wherein the head lamp means is projected through opening means in the automobile body and directed substantially forwards and a retracted position wherein the head lamp means is retracted within the body, head lamp cover means having a rear end portion mounted on the body for vertical swingable movements between an extended position wherein the lamp cover means uncovers said opening means in the body and a retracted position wherein the lamp cover means closes said opening means to provide a substantially flush body surface, lamp driving means for driving said head lamp means between said extended and retracted positions of the head lamp means, cover driving means for driving said lamp cover means between said extended and retracted positions in response to movements of the head lamp means, said cover driving means including a pair of cover driving links disposed at the opposite sides of the lamp cover means, each of said cover driving links having one end connected with said lamp cover means and the other end with said head lamp means so that the lamp cover means is driven together with the head lamp means, said cover driving links having different lengths, cover hinge means for pivoting the lamp cover means, said cover hinge means twisting when the lamp cover means is driven from the retracted position to the extended position to thereby maintain a front edge of the lamp cover means substantially horizontally.

Claim 16

A retractable head-light device for automobiles comprising head lamp means mounted on an automobile body for movement between an extended position wherein the head lamp means is projected through opening means in the automobile body and directed substantially forwards and a retracted position wherein the head lamp means is retracted within the body, head lamp cover means having a rear end portion mounted on the body for vertical swingable movements between an extended position wherein the lamp cover means uncovers said opening means in the body and a retracted position wherein the lamp cover means closes said opening means to provide a substantially flush body surface, lamp driving means for driving said head lamp means between said extended and retracted positions of the head lamp means, cover driving means for driving said lamp cover means between said extended and retracted positions in response to movements of the head lamp means, said cover driving means including a pair of cover driving links disposed at the opposite sides of the lamp cover means, each of said cover driving links having one end connected with said lamp cover means and the other end with said head lamp means so that the lamp cover means is driven together with the head lamp means, said cover driving links having different lengths, cover hinge means for pivoting the lamp cover means, said cover hinge means twisting when the lamp cover means is driven from the retracted position to the extended position to thereby maintain a front edge of the lamp cover means substantially horizontally.

Claim 17

A retractable head-light device in accordance with claim 10 in which said head lamp means is mounted on the automobile body through said lamp driving means which includes a parallel link mechanism so that the head lamp means is maintained at a forwardly directed position both in the retracted and extended positions.

Claim 18

A retractable head-light device in accordance with claim 10 in which said head lamp cover means is mounted at an intermediate portion of the rear end portion thereof on the body through said hinge means comprising ball means attached to the lamp cover means and ball receptacle means attached to the body.

Claim 19

A retractable head light device in accordance with claim 10 in which said cover driving links includes a laterally outboard link and a laterally inboard link, the outboard link being larger in length than the inboard link, said outboard and inboard links being connected to said lamp cover means through outboard and inboard lugs, respectively, said outboard lug being smaller in length than said inboard lug.

Claim 20

A retractable head light device in accordance with claim 13 in which said outboard and inboard links are at substantially the same level with each other at said other ends, said outboard and inboard links being substantially parallel with each other in the retracted position.