Sun visor with illuminated mirror

• US 4,353,592 A
• Filed: 12/19/1980
• Issued: 10/12/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/1980
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gebr. Happich GmbH
• Original Assignee: Gebr. Happich GmbH
• Inventors: Cziptschirsch, Kurt
• Primary Examiner(s): SONG, ROBERT
• Application Number:
  US06/218,170
• Time in Patent Office: 662 Days
• Field of Search: 296/97 B, 296/97 H, 362/135, 362/136, 362/137, 362/142, 362/144, 350/310
• US Class Current: 296/97.5
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 3/0282 specially adapted for a courtesy mirror
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/15 Thermal insulation

Abstract

The disclosure concerns a sun visor having an illuminated mirror supported in a housing in a recesss in the body of the sun visor. A light source is located behind the mirror and it has exposed contacts. A metal heat insulating plate is located between the light source and the mirror and the metal plate has an anodized, electrically non-conductive surface facing into the housing preventing short circuiting of the light source if the contacts touch the metal plate. The metal plate is deformed to produce beads projecting forward into contact with the mirror, thereby defining an insulating air space between the mirror and the metal plate. A translucent frame in the housing supports the mirror and permits emergence of light around the mirror. The frame includes clip connections for holding the mirror and the metal plate and for holding the frame to the sun visor body.

Claims

1. A sun visor with an illuminated mirror, comprising:

a sun visor body;

a recess in a surface of the sun visor body;

a housing defined in the recess;

a mirror supported in the housing toward the surface of the sun visor body, leaving space behind the mirror in the housing;

a light source in the space in the housing behind the mirror;

a metal plate behind the mirror in the housing and between the light source and the mirror;

support means between the housing, on the one hand, and the mirror and the metal plate, on the other hand;

beads protruding from the metal plate to the rear side of the mirror, thereby defining a space between the metal plate and the mirror for serving as a heat insulating layer.

2. The sun visor of claim 1, wherein the support means comprises a clip connection between the housing and the mirror, and a clip connection between the housing and the metal plate.

3. The sun visor of claim 1, wherein the support means comprises a translucent material mirror frame around the mirror and which is mounted in the housing, the frame being shaped and positioned for transmitting light out of the housing.

4. The sun visor of claim 3, including fastening means on the mirror frame for holding the mirror to the frame.

5. The sun visor of claim 4, wherein the mirror frame includes fastening means for holding the metal plate.

6. The sun visor of either of claims 4 or 5, wherein the mirror frame is mounted to the housing by a clip connection, and the fastening means comprise clip connections.

7. The sun visor of claim 1, wherein the metal plate is flat and the beads comprises deformations of the plate.

8. The sun visor of either of claims 1 or 7, further comprising the metal plate having a side facing into the housing and that side having an electrically non-conductive surface thereon.

9. The sun visor of claim 8, further comprising electric contacts to the light source and located behind the metal plate in the housing and being so placed that deformation of the sun visor body which moves the contacts into engagement with the metal plate causes engagement between the contacts and the non-conductive surface.

10. The sun visor of claim 8, wherein the electrically non-conductive surface is coated on the metal plate.

11. The sun visor of claim 10, wherein the metal plate is comprised of aluminum having an anodized surface thereon serving as the non-conductive surface thereof.

12. The sun visor of claim 10, wherein the metal plate is comprised of aluminum alloy having an anodized surface thereon serving as the non-conductive surface thereof.