US 12,103,456 B2
Vehicle headlight aiming device
Scott T. Fladhammer, Caledonia, WI (US); Michael B. Grimm, Antioch, IL (US); Peter F. Schwichtenberg, Kenosha, WI (US); and Paul M. Sutenbach, Highland Park, IL (US)
Assigned to Asyst Technologies L.L.C., Kenosha, WI (US)
Filed by Asyst Technologies L.L.C., Kenosha, WI (US)
Filed on Aug. 2, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/816,744.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/362,162, filed on Mar. 30, 2022.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/260,199, filed on Aug. 12, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0048664 A1, Feb. 16, 2023
Int. Cl. B60Q 1/068 (2006.01)
CPC B60Q 1/0686 (2013.01) 11 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A vehicle headlight aiming device comprising:
A device housing including a screw chamber, an upper housing portion, and a lower housing portion;
an input drive gear;
an output screw having a screw shaft with a threaded portion, a screw first end that is rotationally coupled at least indirectly with the input drive gear, and a screw second end;
a central longitudinal screw axis extending through the output screw;
an indicator nut having a base with a nut indicator mark, a first leg and second leg extending from a base bottom portion, and an expandable threaded opening extending between a first threaded wall of the first leg and a second threaded wall of the second leg, the first threaded wall and the second threaded wall are selectively engageable with the threaded portion of the screw shaft;
wherein the output screw engages with the input drive gear via a screw bevel gear in communication with the screw first end, such that rotation of the input drive gear causes rotation of the output screw;
wherein the upper housing portion includes one or more longitudinal slots and one or more spaced position housing indicator marks for referencing a position of the nut indicator mark relative to the upper housing portion;
wherein the base includes a base top with the nut indicator mark thereon, and wherein the base top is longitudinally translatable along the upper housing portion and adjacent to the one or more spaced position housing indicator marks;
wherein the input drive gear includes an input portion and an output portion extending along a central input drive gear axis, wherein the input portion is engageable to effectuate rotation of the input drive gear, and the output portion is engageable with an adjuster having a ball stud, such that rotation of the input drive gear actuates the adjuster to extend or retract the ball stud and translates the indicator nut along the screw shaft to provide a position indication;
wherein the screw chamber extends between the lower housing portion and the upper housing portion, and includes longitudinally extending inner side wall surfaces that extend between a housing bottom surface and the one or more longitudinal slots;
wherein the upper housing portion further includes a first notch opposite a second notch, wherein the first notch includes a first notch wall and the second notch includes a second notch wall, and wherein the first notch and the second notch are sized to respectively receive the first leg and the second leg partially therein;
wherein the first leg includes a first leg rib extending therefrom and the second leg includes a second leg rib extending therefrom;
wherein the first leg includes a bent first upper leg portion and the second leg includes a bent second upper leg portion; and
wherein in a first installation position, the indicator nut is coupled to the device housing with the first leg received in the first notch and the second leg received in the second notch, and with the first leg rib situated under the first notch wall and the second leg rib situated under the second notch wall, and with the bent first upper leg portion extending above the first notch wall and the bent second upper leg portion extending above the second notch wall.