Sun visor lamp

• US 5,564,813 A
• Filed: 03/30/1994
• Issued: 10/15/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lear Automotive Dearborn, Incorporated (Lear Corporation)
• Original Assignee: United Technologies Automotive, Inc. (Lear Corporation)
• Inventors: Curtindale, Edward G.
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Assistant Examiner(s): Raab, Sara Sachie
• Application Number:
  US08/219,984
• Time in Patent Office: 930 Days
• Field of Search: 362/135, 362/137, 362/74, 362/83.1
• US Class Current: 362/492
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 3/0282 specially adapted for a courtesy mirror
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/252 Sun visors
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/76 for spotlighting, e.g. reading lamps spotlighting on or for specific fittings B60Q3/20; spotlighting in mass transit vehicles B60Q3/44
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/80 Circuits; Control arrangements for dashboards B60Q3/16; for mass transit vehicles B60Q3/47

Abstract

A sun visor lamp provides courtesy illumination when the sun visor is in its stowed position.

Claims

1. A lamp disposed in a sun visor, a first surface of said sun visor stowable substantially adjacent to a header of an automotive vehicle, a second surface of said sun visor substantially exposed to view by an occupant of said automotive vehicle when said first surface of said sun visor is positioned in a stowed position, said lamp comprising an illumination source supported upon a substantially nonconductive member separate and displaced from a substrate upon which a reading illumination switch is mounted, said illumination source providing illumination from a plane defined by said second surface of said sun visor, a courtesy illumination switch electrically coupled to said illumination source, said illumination source providing courtesy illumination, reading illumination and vanity mirror illumination, said courtesy illumination actuable through energizing courtesy circuit means at least partially disposed within said sun visor to supply electrical current to said illumination source, said reading illumination actuable through energizing reading circuit means at least partially disposed within said sun visor including said reading illumination switch actuable to cause energization of said illumination source.

2. The lamp of claim 1 further comprising:

a first lens disposed on said first surface of said sun visor; and

said illumination source juxtaposed substantially between said first lens and said plane defined by said second surface of said sun visor;

whereby illumination created by said illumination source can substantially pass through said first lens.

3. The lamp of claim 2 further comprising:

a vanity mirror juxtaposed adjacent to said first lens proximate with said plane of said first surface of said sun visor.

4. The lamp of claim 3 further comprising:

an electrical circuit selectively providing electrical current from a power source to said illumination source, said electrical circuit including a vanity mirror illumination switch.

5. The lamp of claim 4 further comprising:

a lid movably covering said vanity mirror.

6. The lamp of claim 5 wherein:

said vanity mirror illumination switch allows said electrical current to pass therethrough by opening said lid.

7. The lamp of claim 1 further comprising:

an electrical circuit selectively providing electrical current from a power source to said illumination source, said electrical circuit including said courtesy illumination switch.

8. The lamp of claim 7 wherein:

said electrical circuit further includes said reading illumination switch.

9. The lamp of claim 1 further comprising:

a second lens disposed on said plane defined by said second surface of said sun visor; and

said illumination source juxtaposed substantially between said second lens and a plane defined by said first surface of said sun visor;

whereby said illumination created by said illumination source can substantially pass through said second lens.

10. The lamp of claim 9 further comprising:

shutter means for blocking said illumination through said second lens when said sun visor is moved to a second position thereof substantially adjacent a window of said automotive vehicle.

11. The lamp of claim 1 further comprising:

an electrical circuit selectively providing electrical current from a power source to said illumination source, said electrical circuit including said reading illumination switch.

12. The lamp of claim 11 wherein:

said reading illumination switch is defined as a push-push electrical mounted on said sun visor.

13. The lamp of claim 1 wherein:

said automotive vehicle has a retractable convertible roof.

14. The lamp of claim 1 wherein:

said automotive vehicle has a sunroof.

15. A lamp disposed completely on a blade of a sun visor, a first surface of said sun visor stowable substantially adjacent to a header of an automotive vehicle, a second surface of said sun visor substantially exposed to view by an occupant of said automotive vehicle when said first surface of said sun visor is positioned in a stowed position, said lamp comprising an illumination source positioned on said sun visor for selectively providing downwardly directed illumination when said sun visor is in said stowed position and without activation of a sun visor mounted switch, said illumination source also selectively providing downwardly directed illumination upon operation of a reading switch directly mounted to a pliable material covered substrate of said sun visor blade, an aesthetic bezel disposed against said pliable material and surrounding a button of said reading switch.

16. The lamp of claim 15 further comprising:

a first lens disposed on said first surface of said sun visor; and

said illumination source juxtaposed substantially between said first lens and a plane defined by said second surface of said sun visor;

whereby illumination created by said illumination source can substantially pass through said first lens.

17. The lamp of claim 16 further comprising:

a vanity mirror juxtaposed adjacent to said first lens proximate with said plane of said first surface of said sun visor.

18. The lamp of claim 17 further comprising:

a vanity mirror illumination switch allowing electrical current to illuminate said illumination source upon opening a lid movably covering said vanity mirror.

19. The lamp of claim 15 further comprising:

a second lens disposed on a plane defined by said second surface of said sun visor; and

said illumination source juxtaposed substantially between said second lens and a plane defined by said first surface of said sun visor;

whereby said illumination created by said illumination source can substantially pass through said second lens.

20. A lamp disposed in a sun visor, a first surface of said sun visor stowable substantially adjacent to a header of an automotive vehicle, a second surface of said sun visor substantially exposed to view by an occupant of said automotive vehicle when said first surface of said sun visor is positioned in a stowed position, said lamp comprising:

an illumination source positioned on a blade of said sun visor;

a first lens disposed on said first surface of said sun visor;

a second lens disposed on said second surface of said sun visor;

said illumination source juxtaposed substantially between said first lens and said second lens, whereby illumination created by said illumination source can pass through said first lens and whereby illumination created by said illumination source can pass through said second lens;

said illumination source actuable to provide downwardly directed illumination due to actuation of a courtesy switch remotely disposed from said sun visor;

a vanity mirror juxtaposed adjacent to said first lens and being proximate with a plane defined by said first surface of said sun visor;

a lid movably covering said vanity mirror;

a variable dimming switch mounted upon a vanity mirror bezel, said variable dimming switch being accessible from said first surface of said sun visor and being electrically connected to said illumination source;

said illumination source also actuable to provide downwardly directed illumination upon operation of a reading switch disposed on a surface of said sun visor other than that containing said vanity mirror, said reading switch being electrically connected to said illumination source; and

said illumination source further actuable to provide illumination directed toward an occupant'"'"'s face.

21. The lamp of claim 20 further comprising:

a vanity mirror illumination switch allowing electrical current to illuminate said illumination source upon opening said lid movably covering said vanity mirror.

22. A sun visor lamp comprising:

a blade of said sun visor having a first surface and an opposite generally flat second surface;

a vanity mirror unit mounted to said blade and being accessible from said first surface of said blade, a first lens mounted to a portion of said vanity mirror unit, an illumination source mounted to said vanity mirror unit;

a second lens directly attached to said second surface of said blade; and

an electrical circuit selectively providing electrical current to said illumination source, said electrical circuit including a vanity mirror illumination switch and a separate reading illumination switch mounted on said blade of said sun visor so as to be exposed when said sun visor is in a stowed position.

23. The lamp of claim 22 wherein:

said electrical circuit further includes a courtesy illumination switch.

24. The lamp of claim 22 further comprising:

said illumination source juxtaposed substantially between said first lens and said second lens;

whereby illumination created by said illumination source can selectively and substantially pass through said first lens and second lens.

25. The lamp of claim 22 further comprising:

said vanity mirror illumination switch allowing electrical current to illuminate said illumination source upon opening a lid movably covering a vanity mirror.