Vanity for a vehicle

• US 20050047159A1
• Filed: 07/30/2004
• Published: 03/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Smith, Nels R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,217,017 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/492
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 3/0282 specially adapted for a courtesy mirror

Abstract

A vanity is disclosed having a mirror and a light source adjacent the mirror to illuminate an object to be viewed in the mirror. A cover panel is coupled adjacent to the light source for movement to an open position to reveal the mirror and a closed position to conceal the mirror. The vanity includes a switch device to activate and deactivate the light source and a positioning device to maintain the cover panel in the open or closed position. The switch device and the positioning device cooperate to activate the light source when the cover panel is in the open position and to deactivate the light source when the cover panel is not in the open position. The cover panel is configured for rotational movement between the open and closed position in a plane generally parallel to a plane of the mirror.

Claims

1. A vanity assembly for use within a vehicle comprising a mirror, a light source having a lens disposed adjacent to the mirror, a cover panel configured for rotational movement between a first position where the mirror is concealed and a second position where the mirror is revealed, a positioning system coupled to the cover panel and configured to maintain the cover panel in one of a plurality of positions, and a switch device configured to provide electricity to the light source when the cover panel is in the second position.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the cover panel is configured for rotation about the light source.

3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the cover panel is configured for rotation about the light source in a plane that is generally parallel to a plane of the mirror.

4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the lens is generally circular and the cover panel at least partially surrounds the lens.

5. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the cover panel has an opening and the lens is configured to extend at least partially through the opening.

6. The assembly of claim 5 wherein the opening is generally circular and the lens is generally circular and the lens is captured within the opening by a snap-fit engagement.

7. The assembly of claim 5 wherein the lens has at least one projection configured to substantially restrict movement of the cover panel relative to the lens along an axis of the opening.

8. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the positioning system further comprises a conductive member coupled to the cover panel and biased for engagement with a track portion of the lens.

9. The assembly of claim 8 wherein the track portion comprises a plurality of recesses.

10. The assembly of claim 9 wherein the plurality of recesses are provided on the track portion at positions corresponding to one or more of the first position, the second position and at least one intermediate position between the first position and the second position.

11. The assembly of claim 8 wherein the conductive member is a ball that is captured in the cover panel and spring biased for engagement with the track portion.

12. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the switch device includes a first contact and a second contact spaced from the first contact by a gap so that a conductive member of the positioning system bridges the gap when the cover panel is moved to the second position to reveal the mirror.

13. The assembly of claim 12 wherein the first contact and the second contact and the gap are provided on the track portion.

14. The assembly of claim 13 wherein the first contact and the second contact are attached to the track portion by a press fit.

15. The assembly of claim 12 wherein the first contact and the second contact are insert molded with the lens.

16. The assembly of claim 12 wherein the gap is associated with a detent for maintaining the cover panel in at least one of the first position and the second position.

17. The assembly of claim 12 wherein the first contact is electrically interconnected with a first circuit for the light source and the second contact is configured for interconnection with a second circuit associated with an electrical power source from the vehicle.

18. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the vanity is configured for attachment to a panel in the vehicle by a snap fit.

19. The assembly of claim 18 wherein the panel is a visor.

20. The assembly of claim 18 wherein the switch device is configured to interconnect with a circuit from the vehicle when the vanity is attached to the panel.

21. The assembly of claim 18 wherein the lens has at least one projection configured to engage at least one corresponding aperture in the panel to secure the vanity to the panel.

22. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the light source is an incandescent bulb.

23. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the light source is at least one LED.

24. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the cover panel and the lens are made of a plastic material.

25. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the light source is coupled to a conductive bracket member that is configured to attach to the lens so that one end of the bracket member electrically engages the switch device.

26. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising a track portion having a first stop configured to limit rotation of the cover member beyond the first position and a second stop configured to limit rotation of the cover member beyond the second position.

27. The assembly of claim 26 wherein the track member is at least partially circular.

28. A vanity for a visor in a vehicle, comprising:

a mirror coupled to the visor;

a light source coupled to the visor adjacent the mirror;

a panel coupled to the panel for rotational movement in a plane substantially parallel to a plane of the mirror;

a switch device configured to interface with the light source and the panel;

so that the mirror is capable of rotation from a first position where the mirror is substantially covered by the panel and the switch device prevents illumination of the light source and a second position where the mirror is substantially uncovered and the switch device permits illumination of the light source.

29. The vanity of claim 28 wherein the panel is coupled to the visor for rotational movement about the light source.

30. The vanity of claim 28 wherein the switch device comprises a first conductive member coupled to the panel and a second conductive member coupled to the light source.

31. The vanity of claim 28 wherein the first conductive member is resiliently biased into contact with a generally circular track.

32. The vanity of claim 28 further comprising a lens configured to cover the light source and rotationally coact with the panel.

33. The vanity of claim 32 wherein the visor and the panel and the lens are configured for interconnection by a snap fit arrangement.

34. The vanity of claim 28 further comprising at least one stop member configured to limit the rotational movement of the panel within a predetermined range.

35. A vanity for use on a panel in a vehicle, comprising:

a mirror coupled to the panel;

a light source adjacent the mirror;

a cover having a size and a shape configured to substantially cover the mirror;

a positioning system configured to permit rotation of the cover in a plane substantially parallel to a plane of the panel;

a switch device interacting with the positioning system to control illumination of the light source;

so that rotation of the cover in a first direction exposes the mirror and energizes the light source and rotation of the cover in a second direction conceals the mirror and de-energizes the light source.

36. The vanity of claim 35 wherein the cover substantially surrounds the light source and is configured to pivot about the light source.

37. The vanity of claim 35 wherein the positioning system comprises a resilient member biased to engage an arcuate track adjacent the light source.

38. The vanity of claim 37 wherein the track comprises at least one recess configured to receive the resilient member to form a detent for maintaining the cover in a predetermined position.

39. The vanity of claim 37 wherein the switch device comprises at least one contact on the track and the resilient member comprises a conductive material configured to engage the contact upon rotation of the cover.

40. The vanity of claim 37 further comprising a lens disposed over the light source and wherein the track is located along a section of the lens.

41. The vanity of claim 35 wherein the positioning system comprises at least one stop to limit rotational movement of the cover within a predetermined range.