Light screening device

• US 5,356,192 A
• Filed: 06/21/1993
• Issued: 10/18/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Peter Schierau
• Original Assignee: Peter Schierau
• Inventors: Schierau, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Kramer, Dean J.
• Application Number:
  US08/078,916
• Time in Patent Office: 484 Days
• Field of Search: 296/97.4, 296/97.5, 296/97.6, 296/97.8, 296/97.9, 296/97.11, 248/231.4
• US Class Current: 296/97.6
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 3/0208 combined with auxiliary visor

Abstract

A light screening device is provided with a clamping arrangement for attaching firmly and securely to the sun visor of an automotive vehicle. The clamp comprises two substantially T-shaped members slidably mounted to each other and includes a latching arrangement between the T-shaped members for locking the clamp in a selected size opening for attaching to sun visors of various sizes. The transparent light screen is slidably mounted to a bracket which is hingedly mounted to the clamp through a slider so that the light screen can be pivoted to a storage position juxtaposed to the sun visor or to a selected operative position below the sun visor. The light screen may also slide sideways relative to the sun visor to provide light screening in selected lateral positions.

Claims

1. Alight screening device adaptable to a sun visor in an automotive vehicle comprising,

a mounting means operative for attaching said light screening device to said sun visor, said mounting means having an elongated body portion,

a slider means slidably coupled to said elongated body portion of said mounting means and being operative to locate at a selected position on said elongated body portion, said elongated body portion extending in a downward manner from said sun visor when said light screening device is attached to said sun visor,

a bracket means pivotally mounted to said slider means, said bracket means having an open bottom portion,

transparent sheet member having one lateral side therein slidably mounted to said open bottom of said bracket means,

a latching member formed on said slider means and a plurality of grooves formed on said elongated body portion, said latching member being cooperative with a selected one of said grooves to locate said slider means in a slidable snap-action at said selected position on said elongated body portion,

said mounting means including a clamping means comprising a substantially T-shaped upper member and a substantially T-shaped lower member, said upper member and lower member being slidably coupled to each other to clasp an upper side and lower side respectively of said sun visor for attaching said light screening device to said sun visor.

2. A light screening device according to claim 1 including a locking means for maintaining said lower member and upper member in a selected position relative to each other whereby said clamping means secures the light screening device fixedly and removably on said sun visor.

3. A light screening device according to claim 2 wherein said locking means includes a plurality of ridges formed on said upper member and lower member.

4. A light screening device according to claim 3 including hinge means formed in said slider means, and associated hinge means formed in said bracket means, said hinge means and associated hinge means being coupled together through a friction adjusting means.

5. A light screening device according to claim 4 wherein said friction adjusting means includes a bolt extending through said hinge means and associated hinge means, and a nut coupled to said bolt and cooperative therewith for hingedly securing said slider means and bracket means together.

6. A light screening device according to claim 5 wherein said opening bottom portion of said bracket means has a generally inverted U-shaped cross section, including a downwardly extending front member and a downwardly extending rear member, said front member and rear member being mutually parallel and spaced from one another.

7. A light screening device adaptable to a sun visor an automotive vehicle comprising,

a mounting means in the form of a clamp including a generally T-shaped upper member and a generally T-shaped lower member slidably coupled to one another to clamp onto an upper edge and a lower edge of said sun visor,

said T-shaped lower member having a vertical body portion with a plurality of horizontal grooves formed on a front surface therein and a plurality of horizontal ridges formed on a rear surface therein,

a slider member having a generally C-shaped horizontal cross section and having two generally L-shaped members formed at two opposite sides therein, said L-shaped member being operative to engage slidably with two vertical lateral sides of said vertical body portion of said T-shaped lower member,

a bracket means hingedly secured to said slider member, said bracket means having a substantially inverted U-shaped vertical cross section and provided with an open bottom portion,

a generally transparent light screening sheet lens having one lateral upper side therein slidably mounted to said open bottom portion of said bracket means whereby said sheet lens is slidable sideways with respect to said bracket means.

8. A light screening device according to claim 7 including a latching means comprising a cantilever member formed in a vertical body portion of said T-shaped upper member, said cantilever member having a plurality of associated horizontal ridges formed therein, said associated horizontal ridges being operative slidably engaged with said horizontal ridges on said rear surface of said vertical body portion for maintaining said clamp in a selected open size to secure the light screening device securely on said sun visor.

9. A light screening device according to claim 8 wherein said slider member includes a pivotal locking member therein, said locking member having two arcuate members formed therein, said arcuate members being operative to engage with a selected one of said horizontal grooves in said T-shaped lower member to maintain said slider member in a selected slidably locked position whereby to locate said sheet lens at a selected position below said sun visor.

10. A light screening device according to claim 9 wherein said bottom portion of said bracket means comprises at least two downwardly extending wall members parallel and spaced from one another and a protrusion member formed on an inside surface of one of said wall members, and said sheet lens having a horizontal groove in said sheet lens being operative slidably to engage with said protrusion member to maintain said sheet lens in a secure slidable engagement with said bracket means.

11. A light screening device according to claim 10 wherein said wallmembers includes inwardly extending lips, and said upper edge portion of said sheet lens includes a linear shoulder portion extending the entire horizontal length of said sheet lens, said lips of said wall members being operative to engage with said linear shoulder portion to prevent said sheet lens from accidentally disengage downwardly from said bracket means.

12. A light screening device according to claim 11 including a hinge means formed between said bracket means and said slider member, said hinge means having a friction adjusting means comprising a bolt extending through said hinge means and a securing nut, said bolt and nut being cooperative and adjustably for securing said bracket means and slider member in a selected angular position with respect to one another.

13. A light screening device according to claim 12 including at least two washer means in said hinge means and being operative to provide additional friction in said hinge means.