Visor with an electrically controlled vanity mirror cover

• US 4,988,140 A
• Filed: 12/08/1989
• Issued: 01/29/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Prince (Wellman Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Prince (Wellman Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Van Order, Kim L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Focarino, Margaret A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HOGE, GARY CHAPMAN
• Application Number:
  US07/447,824
• Time in Patent Office: 417 Days
• Field of Search: 296/97.1, 296/97.2, 296/97.5, 362/74, 362/135, 362/136, 362/137, 362/140, 362/144
• US Class Current: 362/492
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 3/0282 specially adapted for a courtesy mirror

Abstract

A visor body includes a mirror and an electrically controlled light controlling member positioned in front of the mirror. It also includes a control circuit for the light control member for selectively rendering the member either light transmissive or opaque for selectively blocking the mirror from view. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, lights are provided behind the light control member which includes selective controlled zones in front of the lights for allowing illumination from the lights to be directed outwardly for use of the mirror in low ambient light conditions.

Claims

1. A visor for a vehicle comprising:

a visor body including means for mounting said visor to a vehicle for movement between a raised stored position and a lowered use position, said body including a mirror mounted therein;

an electrically operated stationary cover for said mirror for selectively exposing said mirror for use and blocking said mirror when not in use, said cover fixedly mounted to said visor body adjacent and in front of said mirror; and

electrical control means for operating said cover.

2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said visor body is generally planar and includes a core having a recess formed therein for receiving at least said mirror.

3. The apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said electrically operated cover is mounted within said recess of said core.

4. The apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said cover is a planar light transmission controlling member.

5. The apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said cover is made of a material which responds to electrical control signals for changing states from a generally opaque condition for covering said mirror to a generally transparent condition uncovering said mirror.

6. The apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said material for said cover comprises an LCD panel.

7. The apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said cover comprises a panel of electrochromic material.

8. The apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said control means comprises a switch for applying a control signal to said light transmission controlling member.

9. The apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein said switch is mounted to said light controlling member.

10. A visor for a vehicle comprising:

a generally planar visor body including a core having a recess for receiving a mirror mounted therein;

an electrically operated cover for said mirror for selectively exposing said mirror for use and blocking said mirror when not in use, said cover mounted within said recess of said core adjacent and in front of said mirror, wherein said cover is a planar light transmission controlling member made of a material which responds to electrical control signals for changing states from a generally opaque condition for covering said mirror to a transparent condition uncovering said mirror; and

electrical control means comprising a membrane-type switch mounted to said light transmission controlling member for applying a control signal to said light transmission controlling member for operating said cover.

11. The apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein said light transmission controlling member comprises an LCD panel.

12. The apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein said light transmission controlling member comprises a panel of electrochromic material.

13. A visor for a vehicle comprising:

a generally planar visor body including a core having a recess for receiving a mirror mounted therein;

an electrically operated cover for said mirror for selectively exposing said mirror for use and blocking said mirror when not in use, said cover mounted within said recess of said core adjacent and in front of said mirror, wherein said cover is a planar light transmission controlling member made of a material which responds to electrical control signals for changing states from a generally opaque condition for covering said mirror to a transparent condition uncovering said mirror and further including light means positioned adjacent said mirror and behind said light transmission controlling member and wherein said light transmission controlling member is divided into separately controlled zones with one zone in front of said mirror and another zone in front of said light means.

14. The apparatus as defined in claim 13 wherein an electrical control means is provided comprising a plurality of membrane-type switches mounted behind said light transmission controlling member wherein a first switch is continuously visible through a window in said light transmission controlling member and is employed to operate said one zone, and a second switch is positioned behind said one zone and is visible when said mirror is optically uncovered to allow operation of said light means.

15. The apparatus as defined in claim 13 wherein said light transmission controlling member comprises an LCD panel.

16. The apparatus as defined in claim 13 wherein said light transmission controlling member comprises a panel of electrochromic material.

17. A visor for a vehicle comprising:

a visor body including means for mounting said visor to a vehicle for movement between a raised stored position and a lowered use position, said body further including a mirror mounted therein;

an electrically operated light transmission control member defining a cover for said mirror for selectively exposing said mirror for use when said light transmission control member is transparent and covering said mirror when said light transmission control member is opaque when said mirror is not in use, said light transmission control member fixedly mounted to said visor body in front of said mirror; and

electrical control means for operating said light transmission control member.

18. The apparatus as defined in claim 17 wherein said light transmission control member comprises an LCD panel.

19. The apparatus as defined in claim 17 wherein said light transmission control member comprises an electrochromic panel.

20. The apparatus as defined in claim 17 wherein said visor body is generally planar and includes a core having a recess formed therein for receiving at least said mirror.

21. The apparatus as defined in claim 20 wherein said electrically operated light transmission control member is mounted to said visor body in front of said mirror.

22. The apparatus as defined in claim 21 wherein said control means comprises a switch for applying a control signal to said light transmission control member.

23. The apparatus as defined in claim 22 wherein said switch is mounted to said light transmission control member.

24. A visor for a vehicle comprising:

a visor body including a mirror mounted therein;

an electrically operated light transmission control member defining a cover for said mirror for selectively exposing said mirror for use when said light transmission control member is transparent and covering said mirror when said light transmission control member is opaque when said mirror is not in use, said light transmission control member mounted to said visor body in front of said mirror;

electrical control means for operating said light transmission control member; and

light means mounted to said visor for providing illumination for use of said mirror in low ambient light conditions.

25. The apparatus as defined in claim 24 wherein said light transmission member is divided into zones with one zone extending in front of said mirror and at least another zone extending to a side of said mirror, and wherein said electrical control means selectively operates said zones independently.

26. The apparatus as defined in claim 25 wherein said light means is mounted behind said another zone to allow said light transmission control member to cover said light means by being opaque when said light means is off and for being transparent to uncover said light means when said light means is activated.

27. The apparatus as defined in claim 26 wherein said light transmission member comprises an LCD panel.

28. The apparatus as defined in claim 26 wherein said light transmission member comprises an electrochromic panel.

29. A visor for a vehicle comprising:

a visor body including a mirror mounted therein, wherein said visor body is generally planar and includes a core having a recess formed therein for receiving at least said mirror;

an electrically operated light transmission control member defining a cover for said mirror for selectively exposing said mirror for use when said light transmission control member is transparent and covering said mirror when said light transmission control member is opaque when said mirror is not in use, said light transmission control member mounted to said visor body in front of said mirror; and

electrical control means including a switch mounted to said light transmission control member for applying a control signal to said light transmission control member wherein said switch comprises a membrane-type switch for operating said light transmission control member and wherein said electrically operated light transmission control member is mounted to said visor body in front of said mirror.

30. The apparatus as defined in claim 29 and further including light means positioned adjacent said mirror and behind said light transmission control member and wherein said light transmission control member is divided into separately controlled zones with one zone in front of said mirror and another zone in front of said light means.

31. The apparatus as defined in claim 30 wherein said control means comprises a plurality of membrane-type switches mounted behind said light transmission control member wherein a first switch is continuously visible through a window in said light transmission control member and is employed to actuate said one zone, and second switch is positioned behind said one zone and is visible when said mirror is optically uncovered to allow actuation of said light means.

32. The apparatus as defined in claim 31 wherein said light transmission control member comprises an LCD panel.

33. The apparatus as defined in claim 31 wherein said light transmission control member comprises a panel of electrochromic material.

34. A visor for a vehicle comprising:

a visor body including a mirror mounted therein;

an electrically operated cover for said mirror for selectively exposing said mirror for use and blocking said mirror when said mirror is not in use, said cover comprising a light transmission control panel responsive to electrical control signals to change between an opaque condition blocking said mirror to a transparent condition exposing said mirror, and wherein said panel is divided into a plurality of separate zones with one zone covering said mirror and another zone adjacent said mirror, said cover being mounted to said visor body in front of said mirror;

light means positioned behind said another zone for selectively providing illumination for the use of said mirror; and

electrical control means for operating said zones of said control panel to selectively expose said mirror and selectively expose said light means.

35. The apparatus as defined in claim 34 wherein said light transmission control panel comprises an LCD panel.

36. The apparatus as defined in claim 34 wherein said light transmission control panel comprises a panel of electrochromic material.

37. The apparatus as defined in claim 34 wherein said control means includes a switch for applying a control signal to said light transmission control member.

38. The apparatus as defined in claim 37 wherein said switch is mounted to said light transmission control panel.

39. The apparatus as defined in claim 38 wherein said switch comprises a membrane-type switch.

40. The apparatus as defined in claim 39 wherein said light transmission control panel comprises an LCD panel.

41. The apparatus as defined in claim 39 wherein said light transmission control panel comprises a panel of electrochromic material.