Sun visor for motor vehicles

• US 5,076,634 A
• Filed: 02/05/1991
• Issued: 12/31/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hermann-Frank Muller, Pflanz, Tassilo
• Original Assignee: Hermann-Frank Muller, Pflanz, Tassilo
• Inventors: Pflanz, Tassilo, Muller, Hermann-Frank
• Primary Examiner(s): SONG, ROBERT
• Application Number:
  US07/651,428
• Time in Patent Office: 329 Days
• Field of Search: 296/97.5, 296/97.2, 296/97.1, 296/97.13, 296/97.9, 296/97.12, 136/245, 136/9
• US Class Current: 296/97.5
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 3/0278 structure of the body B60J3/0208, B60J3/0213 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/90 Energy harvesting concepts as power supply for auxiliaries' energy consumption, e.g. photovoltaic sun-roof
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 136/291 Applications

Abstract

A sun visor for motor vehicles is provided that can be pivoted about its upper longitudinal rim. On that side that in a folded-down position faces toward the outside, the sun visor is provided with solar modules that are connected to at least one storage cell disposed in a recessed portion on the inner side of the sun visor. A pivot mounting of the sun visor can be snapped into and out of a catching device on the vehicle so that current stored from solar energy while driving can also be used outside of the vehicle. The sun visor can be supplemented with additional sun shields of appropriate construction.

Claims

1. A sun visor for a motor vehicle, with said sun visor having an upper longitudinal rim through which extends a rod, one end of which is pivotably connected to catching means of said vehicle, and an opposite end of which is exposed and is detachably connected to a holding means of said vehicle, said sun visor further comprising:

at least one solar module disposed on a side of said sun visor that in a folded-down position thereof faces toward the outside; and

at least one storage cell disposed in a recessed portion provided in a side of said sun visor that in a folded-down position thereof faces toward the inside, with said at least one storage cell being conductively connected with said at least one solar module for being charged thereby, and with said one end of said rod being removable from and insertable into said catching means.

2. A sun visor according to claim 1, in which said solar module is a monocrystalline solar cell.

3. A sun visor according to claim 1, in which said solar module is a polycrystalline solar cell.

4. A sun visor according to claim 1, in which said solar module is a thin-layer solar module.

5. A sun visor according to claim 1, which includes at least one additional sun shield for augmenting said sun visor, whereby on a side that in an operating position faces toward the outside said sun shield is provided with at least one solar module, and on a side that faces toward the inside said sun shield is provided with a recessed portion having at least one storage cell that is connected with said at least one solar module of said sun shield and is connectable to said at least one storage cell of said sun visor proper.

6. A sun visor according to claim 5, in which said additional sun shield is removable from said sun visor in a downward direction.

7. A sun visor according to claim 5, in which said additional sun shield is removable from said sun visor in a lateral direction.

8. A sun visor according to claim 5, which includes means for pivotably interconnecting said additional sun shield to an outer edge of said sun visor.

9. A sun visor according to claim 8, which includes means for adjusting a pivot position of at least one of said sun visor and said additional sun shield.

10. A sun visor according to claim 9, in which said adjusting means automatically adjust said pivot position.

12. A sun visor according to claim 5, which includes means for connecting at least some of said storage cells of said sun visor and said sun shield to a current-consuming device.

13. A sun visor according to claim 5, in which each of said recessed portions for said storage cells is provided with a cover for sealing out dust and moisture.

14. A sun visor according to claim 13, in which said cover is provided with means for receiving a plug contact of a current-consuming device.

15. A sun visor according to claim 5, which is disposed on the rear window of said vehicle, with an electrically conductive connection being provided between said at least one solar module thereof and said at least one storage cell of at least one of said sun visor and said removable sun shield.

16. A sun visor according to claim 1, in which said one end of said rod of said sun visor is provided with an annular recess that is engaged by spring-loaded arresting means of said catching means of said vehicle.

17. A sun visor according to claim 16, in which said arresting means are balls.

18. A sun visor according to claim 1, which includes means for winding up said sun visor into or onto a roof position of said vehicle.

19. A sun visor according to claim 18, which includes a flexible carrier material that is provided with solar cells in a laminar manner.

20. A sun visor according to claim 18, which includes a flexible carrier material having a light-absorbing coating.

11. A sun visor according to claim 11, in which said automatic adjustment is a function of the position of the sun.