Visor with pivoted concealed vanity mirror

• US 4,624,499 A
• Filed: 04/01/1985
• Issued: 11/25/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Prince (Wellman Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Prince (Wellman Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Flowerday, Carl W.
• Primary Examiner(s): SONG, ROBERT
• Application Number:
  US06/718,716
• Time in Patent Office: 603 Days
• Field of Search: 296/97 H, 296/97 C, 296/97 G, 296/97 R, 350/404, 350/406, 362/144
• US Class Current: 296/97.5
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 3/0282 specially adapted for a courtesy mirror

Abstract

A visor includes a body having a recess with an access opening along a lower edge of the visor. A generally rectangular vanity mirror panel assembly is pivotally coupled to the visor body to pivotally move from a stored position within the recess to a use position extending from the recess. The resultant structure provides a useful mirror lowered below the visor in a convenient location for use and having an aspect ratio conforming to that of a person'"'"'s face.

Claims

1. A vehicle visor comprising:

a visor body defining a recess with at least an open edge at the lower edge of said visor body for access to said recess;

a generally rectangular mirror panel having a mirror on one side, said panel shaped to fit within said recess and said panel including pivot means at one corner; and

means for coupling said pivot means of said panel to said visor body with said corner adjacent said open edge for pivotal movement in a plane parallel to the plane of said visor body and between a stored position within said recess and a use position lowered below said visor body with the major axis of said mirror extending in a generally vertical direction.

2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said recess is formed in said visor body to define an enclosed compartment.

3. The apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said panel travels through an arc of about 90°

as it moves between stored and use positions.

5. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said mirror is elongated with a major axis extending generally vertically when in a lowered use position.

6. The apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said mirror is generally rectangular.

7. The apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said vanity mirror panel assembly includes illuminating means positioned adjacent opposite sides of said mirror for directing illumination outwardly therefrom to facilitate use of said mirror in low ambient light conditions.

8. The apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said illumination means are elongated and extend along sides of said mirror which are generally vertical when said mirror is in the use position.

9. The apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein said illumination means includes a plurality of lamps and circuit means for coupling said lamps to a vehicle'"'"'s electrical supply system.

10. The apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein said circuit means includes switch means positioned on one of said visor body or said vanity mirror panel assembly to be actuated when said vanity mirror panel assembly is pivoted to a use position for supplying electrical power to said lamps.

11. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said one of said vanity mirror panel assembly or visor body includes a releasable latch for releasably locking said vanity mirror panel assembly in a stored position within said recess of said visor body.

12. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said vanity mirror panel assembly includes illumination means extending along at least one edge of said mirror for providing illumination therefor.

4. A vehicle visor comprising:

a visor body defining a recess with at least an open edge at the lower edge of said visor body for access to said recess;

a mirror panel having a mirror on one side, said panel shaped to fit within said recess; and

means for pivotally coupling said panel to said visor body for pivotal movement in a plane parallel to the plane of said visor body and between a stored position within said recess and a use position lowered below said visor body, wherein one of said panel or body includes an arcuate slot formed therein and the other of said panel includes a guide pin extending into said slot for guidably controlling the motion of said panel as it moves between said stored and use positions.

13. A vehicle visor comprising:

a visor body defining a recess with at least an open edge at the lower edge of said visor body for access to said recess;

a mirror panel having a mirror on one side, said panel shaped to fit within said recess; and

means for pivotally coupling said panel to said visor body for pivotal movement in a plane parallel to the plane of said visor body and between a stored position within said recess and a use position lowered below said visor body, wherein said mirror panel includes a generally crescent-shaped slot extending between said mirror and said pivot coupling means to provide clearance between said vanity mirror panel assembly and said visor body as said vanity mirror panel assembly is lowered to a use position.

14. A vehicle visor comprising:

a visor body defining a recess with at least an open edge at the lower edge of said visor body for access to said recess;

a mirror panel having a mirror on one side, said panel shaped to fit within said recess; and

means for pivotally coupling said panel to said visor body for pivotal movement in a plane parallel to the plane of said visor body and between a stored position within said recess and a use position lowered below said visor body, wherein said vanity mirror panel assembly includes an arcuate guide slot formed therein in a side opposite said mirror and remote from said pivot coupling means and wherein said visor body includes a guide pin extending in said slot to controllably guide the pivotal motion of said vanity mirror panel assembly.

15. A visor for a vehicle comprising:

a visor body including a compartment formed therein, said body including an opening along a lower edge of said body and communicating with said compartment;

a vanity mirror panel assembly shaped to fit within said compartment, said assembly including a rectangular mirror on one side thereof for facing toward the interior of a vehicle with the major axis of the mirror in a generally vertically extending direction when said vanity mirror panel assembly is in a use position; and

means for pivotally coupling a lower corner of said vanity mirror panel assembly to a lower corner of said compartment of said visor body and slot means formed in said assembly such that said vanity mirror panel assembly can be pivoted downwardly through said opening on an axis orthogonal to the plane of said visor body for use of said mirror.

16. The apparatus as defined in claim 15 wherein said mirror is elongated with a major axis extending generally vertically when said panel assembly is in a lowered use position.

17. The apparatus as defined in claim 16 wherein said mirror is generally rectangular.

18. The apparatus as defined in claim 17 wherein said vanity mirror panel assembly includes illuminating means positioned adjacent opposite sides of said mirror for directing illumination outwardly therefrom to facilitate use of said mirror in low ambient light conditions.

19. The apparatus as defined in claim 18 wherein said illumination means are elongated and extend along sides of said mirror which are generally vertical when said mirror is in the use position.

20. The apparatus as defined in claim 19 wherein said illumination means includes a plurality of lamps and circuit means for coupling said lamps to a vehicle'"'"'s electrical supply system.

21. The apparatus as defined in claim 20 wherein said circuit means includes switch means positioned on one of said visor body or said vanity mirror panel assembly to be actuated when said vanity mirror panel assembly is pivoted to a lowered use position for supplying electrical power to said lamps.

22. The apparatus as defined in claim 15 wherein said one of said vanity mirror panel assembly or visor body includes a releasable latch for releasably locking said vanity mirror panel assembly in a stored position within said visor body compartment.

23. The apparatus as defined in claim 15 wherein said vanity mirror panel assembly includes illumination means extending along at least one edge of said mirror for providing illumination therefor.

24. A visor for a vehicle comprising:

a visor body including a compartment formed therein, said body including an opening along a lower edge of said body and communicating with said compartment;

a vanity mirror panel assembly shaped to fit within said compartment, said assembly including a mirror on one side thereof for facing toward the interior of a vehicle when said vanity mirror panel assembly is in a use position; and

means for pivotally coupling a lower segment of said vanity mirror panel assembly to a lower segment of said compartment of said visor body such that said vanity mirror panel assembly can be pivoted downwardly through said opening on an axis orthogonal to the plane of said visor body for use of said mirror, wherein said vanity mirror panel assembly includes a generally crescent-shaped slot extending between said mirror and said pivot coupling means to provide clearance between said vanity mirror panel assembly and said visor body as said vanity mirror panel assembly is lowered to a use position.

25. A visor for a vehicle comprising:

a visor body including a compartment formed therein, said body including an opening along a lower edge of said body and communicating with said compartment;

a vanity mirror panel assembly shaped to fit within said compartment, said assembly including a mirror on one side thereof for facing toward the interior of a vehicle when said vanity mirror panel assembly is in a use position; and

means for pivotally coupling a lower segment of said vanity mirror panel assembly to a lower segment of said compartment of said visor body such that said vanity mirror panel assembly can be pivoted downwardly through said opening on an axis orthogonal to the plane of said visor body for use of said mirror, wherein said vanity mirror panel assembly includes an arcuate guide slot formed therein in a side opposite said mirror and remote from said pivot coupling means and wherein said visor body includes a guide pin extending in said slot to controllably guide the pivotal motion of said vanity mirror panel assembly.

26. A visor for a vehicle comprising:

a visor body including a panel receiving storage compartment with an opening extending along an edge of said visor body;

a generally rectangular vanity mirror panel assembly shaped to fit within said compartment, said assembly including a mirror on one side thereof facing the interior of a vehicle when said vanity mirror panel assembly is in a use position; and

means for pivotally coupling a corner of said vanity mirror panel assembly to said storage compartment of said visor body such that said vanity mirror panel assembly can be pivoted downwardly through said opening on an axis orthogonal to the plane of said visor body placing said mirror below said visor body for use of said mirror.

27. A visor for a vehicle comprising:

a visor body including a panel receiving recess;

a vanity mirror panel assembly shaped to fit within said recess, said assembly including a mirror on one side thereof facing the interior of a vehicle when said vanity mirror panel assembly is in a use position; and

means for pivotally coupling said vanity mirror panel assembly to said storage compartment of said visor body such that said vanity mirror panel assembly can be pivoted downwardly through said opening on an axis orthogonal to the plane of said visor body placing said mirror below said visor body for use of said mirror, wherein said vanity mirror panel assembly includes an arcuate guide slot formed therein in a side opposite said mirror and remote from said pivot coupling means and wherein said visor body includes a guide pin extending in said slot to controllably guide the pivotal motion of said vanity mirror panel assembly.

28. The apparatus as defined in claim 27 wherein said vanity mirror panel assembly includes a generally crescent-shaped slot extending between said mirror and said pivot coupling means to provide clearance between said vanity mirror panel assembly and said visor body as said vanity mirror panel assembly is lowered to a use position.

29. The apparatus as defined in claim 28 wherein said vanity mirror panel assembly includes illuminating means positioned adjacent opposite sides of said mirror for directing illumination outwardly therefrom to facilitate use of said mirror in low ambient light conditions.

30. The apparatus as defined in claim 29 wherein said illumination means are elongated and extend along sides of said mirror which are generally vertical when said mirror is in the use position.

31. The apparatus as defined in claim 30 wherein said illumination means includes a plurality of lamps and circuit means for coupling said lamps to a vehicle'"'"'s electrical supply system.

32. The apparatus as defined in claim 31 wherein said circuit means includes switch means positioned on one of said visor body or said vanity mirror panel assembly to be actuated when said vanity mirror panel assembly is pivoted to a use position for supplying electrical power to said lamps.

33. The apparatus as defined in claim 32 wherein said one of said vanity mirror panel assembly or visor body includes a releasable latch for releasably locking said vanity mirror panel assembly in a stored position within said visor body storage compartment.

34. The apparatus as defined in claim 33 wherein said mirror is elongated with a major axis extending generally vertically when in a lowered use position.

35. The apparatus as defined in claim 34 wherein said mirror is generally rectangular.