Sun visor for vehicles

• US 4,203,149 A
• Filed: 05/11/1978
• Issued: 05/13/1980
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gebr. Happich GmbH
• Original Assignee: Gebr. Happich GmbH
• Inventors: Nowak, Manfred, Viertel, Lothar, Mahler, Gert
• Primary Examiner(s): Peters, Jr., Joseph F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mar, Michael
• Application Number:
  US05/904,760
• Time in Patent Office: 733 Days
• Field of Search: 296/97 R, 296/97 B, 296/97 C, 296/97 H, 296/97 J, 362/135, 362/136, 362/137, 362/144, 362/155
• US Class Current: 362/144
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 3/0282 specially adapted for a courtesy mirror

Abstract

A sun visor, including a mirror which can be lighted: there is an outer frame secured in the visor body and an inner frame which can be snapped into and out of the inner frame between two pivot positions; an electric contact on the inner frame engages a contact on the outer frame when the inner frame is flipped out; a spring biased latch holds the inner frame in the outer frame; when the latch is released, a spring biases the inner frame to be flipped out.

Claims

1. A sun visor for vehicles, or the like, comprising:

a sun visor body;

a mirror;

frame means for holding said mirror to the exterior of said visor body whereby said mirror is always exposed at the exterior of said visor body and for enabling said mirror to be flipped into and out of said visor body;

said frame means comprising an outer frame in said visor body and comprising an inner frame which is flippably mounted in said outer frame, such that said inner frame may be flipped partially out of said outer frame;

said mirror being supported on and flippable with said inner frame;

an electric contact in said outer frame;

a cooperating electric contact on said inner frame and placed such that with said inner frame flipped into said outer frame, said electric contacts are disengaged and with said inner frame flipped out of said outer frame, said electric contacts are in engagement;

a light source attached to and movable with said inner frame and connected to said inner frame electric contact for being energized by said contacts being in engagement said inner frame has a chamber therein in which said light source is located;

said inner frame chamber having a ventilating hole communicating into said inner frame chamber, wherein said ventilating hole is so placed on said inner frame that when said inner frame is flipped into said outer frame, said ventilating hole is covered and when said inner frame is flipped out of said outer frame, said ventilating hole is uncovered.

2. The sun visor of claim 1, wherein said inner frame chamber has a socket therein for mechanically receiving a light bulb and for electrically connecting a light bulb with said inner frame electric contact;

said inner frame electric contact being connected with said socket.

3. The sun visor of claim 1, wherein said inner frame electric contact projects beyond the edge of said inner frame for engaging said outer frame contact.

4. The sun visor of claim 3, wherein said inner frame is connected, in hinge-like manner, to said outer frame, along one respective side of each of said inner and said outer frames.

5. The sun visor of claim 1, wherein said inner frame is connected, in hinge-like manner, to said outer frame, along one respective side of each of said inner and said outer frames;

said ventilating hole being on a side of said inner frame away from the side of said inner frame which is hingedly joined to said outer frame.

6. The sun visor of claim 1, wherein said inner frame is connected, in hinge-like manner, to said outer frame, along one respective side of each of said inner and said outer frames.

7. The sun visor of either claims 1 or 6, further comprising limiting means for limiting the extent to which said inner frame may flip out of said outer frame.

8. The sun visor of claim 7, wherein said limiting means comprises a pin on said inner frame and a hole in said outer frame, said hole being elongated in the direction of flipping movement of said inner frame.

9. The sun visor either of claims 1 or 6, further comprising retaining means for normally retaining said inner frame flipped into said outer frame.

10. The sun visor of claim 9, further comprising releasing means for releasing said retaining means, enabling said inner frame to flip out of said outer frame.

11. The sun visor of claim 10, further comprising inner frame biasing means for normally biasing said inner frame to flip out of said outer frame.

12. The sun visor of claim 11, wherein said inner frame biasing means comprises a generally U-shaped spring, with one leg of said spring connected with said pin for urging said pin and said inner frame out of said outer frame.

13. The sun visor of claim 9, wherein said retaining means comprises a pin projecting from said inner frame and comprises means on said outer frame for retaining said pin against moving in a manner which would enable said inner frame to flip out of said outer frame.

14. The sun visor of claim 13, wherein said means on said outer frame comprises a spring plate which engages said pin;

spring plate biasing means for biasing said spring plate to retain said pin.

15. The sun visor of claim 14, further comprising releasing means for releasing said retaining means, enabling said inner frame to flip out of said outer frame.

16. The sun visor of claim 15, further comprising inner frame biasing means for normally biasing said inner frame to flip out of said outer frame.

17. The sun visor of claim 16, wherein said inner frame biasing means comprises a generally U-shaped spring, with one leg of said spring connected with said pin for urging said pin and said inner frame out of said outer frame.

18. The sun visor of claim 14, wherein said spring plate includes an undercut catch opening which traps said pin and said spring plate biasing means holding said pin normally trapped.

19. The sun visor of claim 18, further comprising releasing means for releasing said retaining means, enabling said inner frame to flip out of said outer frame.

20. The sun visor of claim 18, further comprising limiting means for limiting the extent to which said inner frame may flip out of said outer frame.

21. The sun visor of claim 20, further comprising releasing means for releasing said retaining means, enabling said inner frame to flip out of said outer frame.

22. The sun visor of claim 21, further comprising inner frame biasing means for normally biasing said inner frame to flip out of said outer frame.

23. The sun visor of claim 22, wherein said inner frame biasing means comprises a generally U-shaped spring, with one leg of said spring connected with said pin for urging said pin and said inner frame out of said outer frame.

24. The sun visor of claim 20, wherein said limiting means comprises said pin on said inner frame and a hole in said outer frame, said hole being elongated in the direction of flipping movement of said inner frame.

25. The sun visor of claim 18, wherein said spring plate includes an oblique surface thereon;

said releasing means comprises a button movable transversely to the path of motion of said spring plate, to move toward and away from trapping said pin;

said button including a cooperating surface for engaging said spring plate oblique surface.

26. The sun visor of claim 25, further comprising inner frame biasing means for normally biasing said inner frame to flip out of said outer frame.

27. The sun visor of claim 26, wherein said inner frame biasing means comprises a generally U-shaped spring, with one leg of said spring connected with said pin for urging said pin and said inner frame out of said outer frame.

28. A sun visor for vehicles, or the like, comprising:

a sun visor body;

a mirror;

frame means for holding said mirror to the exterior of said visor body whereby said mirror is always exposed at the exterior of said visor body and for enabling said mirror to be flipped into and out of said visor body;

said frame means comprising an outer frame in said visor body and comprising an inner frame which is flippably mounted in said outer frame, such that said inner frame may be flipped partially out of said outer frame;

retaining means for normally retaining said inner frame flipped into said outer frame;

releasing means for releasing said retaining means, enabling said inner frame to flip out of said outer frame;

inner frame biasing means for normally biasing said inner frame to flip out of said outer frame;

said retaining means comprises a pin projecting from said inner frame and comprises means on said outer frame for retaining said pin against moving in a manner which would enable said inner frame to flip out of said outer frame;

said means on said outer frame comprises a spring plate which engages said pin;

spring plate biasing means for biasing said spring plate to retain said pin.

29. The sun visor of claim 28, further comprising limiting means for limiting the extent to which said inner frame may flip out of said outer frame.

30. The sun visor of claim 29, wherein said limiting means comprises a pin on said inner frame and a hole in said outer frame, said hole being elongated in the direction of flipping movement of said inner frame.

31. The sun visor of claim 28, wherein said spring plate includes an undercut catch opening which traps said pin and said spring plate biasing means holding said pin normally trapped.

32. The sun visor of claim 31, further comprising inner frame biasing means for normally biasing said inner frame to flip out of said outer frame.

33. The sun visor of claim 32, further comprising limiting means for limiting the extent to which said inner frame may flip out of said outer frame.

34. The sun visor of claim 33, wherein said limiting means comprises said pin on said inner frame and a hole in said outer frame, said hole being elongated in the direction of flipping movement of said inner frame.

35. The sun visor of claim 34, wherein said spring plate includes an oblique surface thereon;

said releasing means comprises a button movable transversely to the path of motion of said spring plate, to move toward and away from trapping said pin;

said button including a cooperating surface for engaing said spring plate oblique surface.

36. The sun visor of claim 33, wherein said inner frame biasing means comprises a generally U-shaped spring, with one leg of said spring connected with said pin for urging said pin and said inner frame out of said outer frame.