VEHICLE SUN VISOR

• US 20140286028A1
• Filed: 03/18/2014
• Published: 09/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyowa Sangyo Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Kyowa Sangyo Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Haraguchi, Takashi
• Granted Patent: US 9,469,245 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/492
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 3/0282 specially adapted for a courtesy mirror
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/252 Sun visors
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/82 Switches specially adapted for vehicle interior lighting, e.g. switching by tilting the lens

Abstract

An automobile sun visor includes: a sun visor body; and a mirror unit. The mirror unit includes: a mirror; a mirror retaining member to keep the mirror in place; and a mirror cover attached to the mirror retaining member and with a lighting apparatus provided in it. Power is supplied to the lighting apparatus when the mirror cover is moved from a closed position to an open position, and the power supply to the lighting apparatus is shut off when the mirror cover is moved from the open position to the closed position.

Claims

1. An automobile sun visor comprising:

a sun visor body; and

a mirror unit provided in the sun visor body including;

a mirror;

a mirror retaining member to keep the mirror in place; and

a mirror cover attached to the mirror retaining member to be movable between a closed position for covering the mirror and an open position for exposing the mirror, with a lighting apparatus provided in it, wherein power is supplied to the lighting apparatus when the mirror cover is moved from the closed position to the open position, and the power supply to the lighting apparatus is shut off when the mirror cover is moved from the open position to the closed position.

2. The automobile sun visor according to claim 1, wherein

the mirror cover has a first cover and a second cover stacked in a thickness direction, and

the lighting apparatus is disposed between the first cover and the second cover to be fixed to at least one of the first cover and the second cover.

3. The automobile sun visor according to claim 2, wherein

the mirror cover has a first metal terminal and a second metal terminal,

the mirror retaining member has a third metal terminal corresponding to the first metal terminal, and a fourth metal terminal corresponding to the second metal terminal,

the first metal terminal and the second metal terminal are connected to the lighting apparatus,

the third metal terminal and the fourth metal terminal are connected to a power source,

the power is supplied to the lighting apparatus when the mirror cover is moved from the closed position to the open position, since the first metal terminal comes in contact with the third metal terminal, and at the same time the second metal terminal comes in contact with the fourth metal terminal, and

the power supply to the lighting apparatus is shut off when the mirror cover is moved from the open position to the closed position, since the first metal terminal is separated from the third metal terminal and at the same time the second metal terminal is separated from the fourth metal terminal.

4. The automobile sun visor according to claim 3, wherein

the third metal terminal and the fourth metal terminal are formed into a platy shape,

when the mirror cover is in an opening process of moving from the closed position to the open position, the third metal terminal is bent due to the contact with the first metal terminal, and the fourth metal terminal is bent due to the contact with the second metal terminal, and

the third metal terminal and the fourth metal terminal are extending in the thickness direction of the mirror unit.

5. The automobile sun visor according to claim 3, wherein

the third metal terminal and the fourth metal terminal are formed into a platy shape,

when the mirror cover is in an opening process of moving from the closed position to the open position, the third metal terminal is bent due to the contact with the first metal terminal, and the fourth metal terminal is bent due to the contact with the second metal terminal, and

the third metal terminal and the fourth metal terminal are extending in the longitudinal direction of the mirror unit,

6. The automobile sun visor according to claim 2, wherein

the mirror cover has a first metal terminal and a second metal terminal,

the sun visor body has a third metal terminal corresponding to the first metal terminal, and a fourth metal terminal corresponding to the second metal terminal,

the first metal terminal and the second metal terminal are connected to the lighting apparatus,

the third metal terminal and the fourth metal terminal are connected to a power source,

the power is supplied to the lighting apparatus when the mirror cover is moved from the closed position to the open position, since the first metal terminal comes in contact with the third metal terminal, and at the same time the second metal terminal comes in contact with the fourth metal terminal, and

the power supply to the lighting apparatus is shut off when the mirror cover is moved from the open position to the closed position, since the first metal terminal is separated from the third metal terminal and at the same time the second metal terminal is separated from the fourth metal terminal.

7. The automobile sun visor according to claim 6, wherein

the third metal terminal and the fourth metal terminal are formed into a platy shape,

when the mirror cover is in an opening process of moving from the closed position to the open position, the third metal terminal is bent due to the contact with the first metal terminal, and the fourth metal terminal is bent due to the contact with the second metal terminal, and

the third metal terminal and the fourth metal terminal are extending in the thickness direction of the mirror unit.

8. The automobile sun visor according to claim 6, wherein

the third metal terminal and the fourth metal terminal are formed into a platy shape,

when the mirror cover is in an opening process of moving from the closed position to the open position, the third metal terminal is bent due to the contact with the first metal terminal, and the fourth metal terminal is bent due to the contact with the second metal terminal, and

the third metal terminal and the fourth metal terminal are extending in longitudinal direction of the mirror unit.

9. An automobile sun visor comprising:

a sun visor body;

a mirror provided in the sun visor body; and

a mirror cover movable between a closed position for covering the mirror and an open position for exposing the mirror, with a lighting apparatus provided in it, wherein

the mirror cover has a movable terminal connected to the lighting apparatus,

the sun visor body has a fixed terminal connected to a power source end,

power is supplied to the lighting apparatus when the mirror cover is moved from the closed position to the open position, since the movable terminal comes in contact with the fixed terminal,

power to the lighting apparatus is shut off when the mirror cover is moved from the open position to the closed position, since the movable terminal is separated from the fixed terminal, and

the contact between the movable terminal and the fixed terminal is maintained by the elastic force generated by the elastic deformation of at least one of the movable terminal and the fixed terminal.

10. The automobile sun visor according to claim 9, wherein

at least one of the movable terminal and the fixed terminal is platy terminal fixed at one end with the other end being a free end,

11. The automobile sun visor according to claim 10, wherein

the fixed terminal is a platy terminal fixed at one end with the other end being a free end.

12. The automobile sun visor according to claim 11, wherein

the fixed terminal is extended in the thickness direction of the sun visor body.

13. The automobile sun visor according to claim 11, wherein

the fixed terminal is extended in the longitudinal direction of the sun visor body.

14. The automobile sun visor according to claim 9, wherein

the sun visor body has a mirror retaining member to keep the mirror in place, and

the fixed terminal is provided in the mirror retaining member.

15. The automobile sun visor according to claim 14, wherein

at least one of the movable terminal and the fixed terminal is platy terminal fixed at one end with the other end being a free end.

16. The automobile sun visor according to claim 15, wherein

the fixed terminal is platy terminal fixed at one end with the other end being a free end.

17. The automobile sun visor according to claim 16, wherein

the fixed terminal is extended in the thickness direction of the sun visor body.

18. The automobile sun visor according to claim 16, wherein

the fixed terminal is extended in longitudinal direction of the sun visor body.