Visor for a vehicle

• US 4,760,503 A
• Filed: 09/26/1986
• Issued: 07/26/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Prince (Wellman Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Prince (Wellman Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: VandenBerge, Thomas C., Spykerman, Scott A.
• Primary Examiner(s): SONG, ROBERT
• Application Number:
  US06/912,798
• Time in Patent Office: 669 Days
• Field of Search: 362/137, 362/144, 362/74, 362/135, 362/142, 362/61, 362/140, 362/80, 362/141, 362/275, 362/299, 362/270
• US Class Current: 362/492
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 3/0282 specially adapted for a courtesy mirror

Abstract

A visor assembly including a pivoted cover for a vanity mirror which includes camming surfaces on the pivot socket for urging the cover between open and closed positions. In one embodiment, the visor is selectively illuminated by the operation of a cover controlled switch. In another embodiment, the mirror and cover assembly is snap fitted within the visor.

Claims

1. A visor for a vehicle including a visor body having a recess formed in one side for receiving a covered vanity mirror assembly, said covered vanity mirror assembly comprising:

a mirror frame including a mirror receiving central opening and a peripheral flange extending around said opening and extending in a plane generally parallel to the plane of said visor body, said frame including a pair of spaced pivot axles extending adjacent one edge of said flange, said flange including aperture means formed therein adjacent each of said axles;

a wall integrally formed along said one edge of said flange and extending inwardly toward said visor body;

floor means integrally extending from an end of said wall remote from said flange, said floor means extending in spaced generally parallel relationship to said flange;

wherein said flange, wall and floor means define a support surface aligned with said axles and spaced therefrom;

a cover including a pair of semicylindrical open socket means on one edge thereof and aligned with said axles to permit said cover to be snap fitted to said axles and pivot between open and closed positions to selectively cover said mirror, at least one of said socket means including a pair of camming surfaces offset from the axis of rotation of said cover; and

bias means captively mounted to said support surface of said floor means for engaging said camming surfaces of at least one of said socket means for selectively urging and holding said cover in either an open or closed position.

2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said floor means includes means for holding said bias means in position.

3. A visor for a vehicle including a visor body having a recess formed in one side for receiving a covered vanity mirror assembly, said covered vanity mirror assembly comprising:

a mirror frame including a mirror receiving central opening and a peripheral flange extending around said opening and extending in a plane generally parallel to the plane of said visor body, said frame including a pair of spaced pivot axles extending adjacent one edge of said flange, said flange including aperture means formed therein adjacent each of said axles;

a wall integrally formed along said one edge of said flange and extending inwardly toward said visor body;

floor means integrally extending from an end of said wall remote from said flange, said floor means extending in spaced generally parallel relationship to said flange;

a cover including a pair of semicylindrical open socket means on one edge thereof and aligned with said axles to permit said cover to be snap fitted to said axles and pivot between open and closed positions to selectively cover said mirror, at least one of said socket means including a pair of camming surfaces offset from the axis of rotation of said cover; and

bias means captively mounted to said floor means for engaging said camming surfaces of at least one of said socket means for selectively urging and holding said cover in either an open or closed position, wherein said floor means includes means for holding said bias means in position; and

wherein said bias means is a leaf spring.

4. The apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said leaf spring is T-shaped with a central leg coupled to a cross member.

5. The apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said central leg includes an aperture near an end remote from said cross member and wherein said holding means comprises a projection extending into said aperture.

6. The apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein each of said socket means includes camming surfaces and said bias means comprises a pair of T-shaped leaf springs for engaging said camming surfaces of said socket means.

7. The apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said floor means includes segments spaced on opposite sides of said wall and said wall includes access openings through which said central legs of said T-shaped springs extend.

8. A covered illuminated vanity mirror visor comprising:

a visor body including a recess for receiving a covered illuminated vanity mirror assembly;

an illuminated vanity mirror assembly mounted within said recess of said visor body and including means for supporting a mirror and a cover for said mirror, said cover movable between a position covering said mirror and exposing said mirror for use, said cover including a pair of spaced fingers extending therefrom and movable with the movement of said cover; and

illumination means including lamp means and switch means for selectively coupling said lamp means to a supply of electrical power, wherein said switch means includes a movable element extending between said fingers of said cover to be alternately pushed in opposite directions to open and close said switch means when said cover is closed and opened respectively.

9. The apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein said switch means is mounted within said visor body and said vanity mirror assembly includes a mirror frame having aperture means through which said fingers extend to engage said switch means.

10. The apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein said movable element of said switch means comprises a switch arm made of a bendable material.

11. The apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein said illumination means comprises lamp means on opposite sides of said mirror.

12. A visor for a vehicle including a visor body having a recess formed in one side for receiving a covered vanity mirror assembly, said covered vanity mirror assembly comprising:

a mirror frame including a mirror receiving central opening and a peripheral flange extending around said opening and extending in a plane generally parallel to the plane of said visor body, said frame including a pair of spaced pivot axles extending adjacent one edge of said flange, said flange including aperture means formed therein adjacent each of said axles;

a wall integrally formed along said one edge of said flange and extending inwardly toward said visor body;

floor means integrally extending from an end of said wall remote from said flange, said floor means extending in spaced generally parallel relationship to said flange;

a cover including a pair of semicylindrical open socket means on one edge thereof and aligned with said axles to permit said cover to be snap fitted to said axles and pivot between open and closed positions to selectively cover said mirror, at least one of said socket means including a pair of camming surfaces offset from the axis of rotation of said cover;

bias means captively mounted to said floor means for engaging said camming surfaces of at least one of said socket means for selectively urging and holding said cover in either an open or closed position; and

illumination means for said mirror, said illumination means including lamp means and switch means for selectively coupling said lamp means to a supply of electrical power, wherein said switch means comprises a movable element and wherein said cover includes a pair of spaced fingers extending on opposite sides of said movable element to alternately push said movable element in opposite directions in response to movement of said cover for closing said switch when said cover is open and for opening said switch when said cover is in a closed position.

13. The apparatus as defined in claim 12 wherein said visor body includes a body wall extending orthogonally to the plane of said visor body and said mirror frame includes a second wall which extends adjacent and in parallel relationship to said body wall, said body wall including a notch and said second wall including a tab aligned with said notch and extending therein for locking said mirror frame to said visor body.

14. The apparatus as defined in claim 13 wherein said floor means includes means for holding said bias means in position.

15. The apparatus as defined in claim 14 wherein said bias means is a leaf spring.

16. The apparatus as defined in claim 15 wherein said leaf spring is T-shaped with a central leg coupled to a cross member.

17. The apparatus as defined in claim 16 wherein said central leg includes an aperture near an end remote from said cross member and wherein said holding means comprises a projection extending into said aperture.

18. A covered vanity mirror assembly for attachment to a visor, said covered vanity mirror assembly comprising:

a mirror frame including a mirror receiving central opening and a peripheral flange extending around said opening, said frame including pair of spaced pivot axles extending adjacent one edge of said flange, said flange including aperture means formed therein adjacent each of said axles;

a wall integrally formed along said one edge of said flange and extending orhtogonally therefrom;

floor means integrally extending from an end of said wall remote from said flange, said floor means extending in spaced generally parallel relationship to said flange;

wherein said flange, wall and floor means define a support surface aligned with said axles and spaced therefrom;

a cover including a pair of semicylindrical open socket means on one edge thereof and aligned with said axles to permit said cover to be snap fitted to said axles and pivot between open and closed positions to selectively cover said mirror, at least one of said socket means including a pair of camming surfaces offset from the axis of rotation of said cover; and

bias means captively mounted to said support surface of said floor means for engaging said camming surfaces of at least one of said socket means for selectively urging and holding said cover in either an open or closed position.

19. The apparatus as defined in claim 18 and further including means for attaching said assembly to a visor.