Pivot rod with protective molding sleeve

• US 5,603,547 A
• Filed: 11/13/1995
• Issued: 02/18/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Irvin Automotive Products, LLC
• Original Assignee: James R Jones, Joseph R. Finn, Kirk Jensen
• Inventors: Jensen, Kirk, Finn, Joseph R., Jones, James R.
• Primary Examiner(s): PAPE, JOSEPH
• Application Number:
  US08/557,411
• Time in Patent Office: 463 Days
• Field of Search: 296/97.1, 296/97.5, 296/97.9, 296/97.12
• US Class Current: 296/97.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 3/0278 structure of the body B60J3/0208, B60J3/0213 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 3/0282 specially adapted for a courtesy mirror

Abstract

A sun visor or other accessory for a motor vehicle. The sun visor includes a body made of rigid foam in which various structures (such as a support pin, detent and pivot arm) are insert molded. The foam has a rigidity which is sufficient to support said sun visor without requiring any additional reinforcing structures such as a support frame, support wire or centerboard. The pivot arm and detent are provided within a casing that prevents the foam from affecting the operation of the detent. Also insert molded into the body of the visor are mounts for an illuminated vanity. Terminals from a power supply are mounted in predetermined positions relative to the body so that when the vanity is mounted to the body, contacts coupled to a lamp and mounted to the vanity in predetermined positions, are caused engage the terminals.

Claims

1. A sun visor or other accessory for a motor vehicle, said sun visor or other accessory being movable between a stored position and a deployed position and comprising:

a body made of molded rigid foam, said body having an upper edge and a lower edge, when said sun visor or other accessory is in said deployed position said upper edge being located generally adjacent to a portion of the vehicle and said body extending generally downward and away therefrom;

a pivot arm having first and second ends, said first end having mounting means for mounting said pivot arm and said sun visor or other accessory to the vehicle, said second end molded-in-place at least partially within said body;

detent means engaging said pivot arm for maintaining said sun visor or other accessory in the stored position, the deployed position, or an intermediate position between the stored and deployed positions, said detent means being molded-in-place at least partially within said body; and

a casing encapsulating said detent means and at least partially encapsulating said pivot arm, said casing preventing said foam from contacting said detent means during and after molding and thereby preventing said foam from interfering with the operation of said detent means.

2. A sun visor or other accessory as set forth in claim 1 wherein said casing is plastic.

3. A sun visor or other accessory as set forth in claim 1 wherein said casing is transparent allowing for visual inspection of said pivot arm and detent means.

4. A sun visor or other accessory as set forth in claim 1 wherein said detent means is lubricated with a lubricant, said casing containing said lubricant therein and thereby preventing contamination of said foam with said lubricant and further preventing contact with said lubricant during handling of said detent means and said pivot arm.

5. A sun visor or other accessory as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a pair of wire leads for illumination of said vanity assembly, at least a portion of said lead wires being enclosed within said casing during molding of said body, said casing preventing said foam from contacting said wire leads during molding of said body and enabling said wire leads to be at least partially withdrawn therefrom for further manipulation after molding of said body.

6. A sun visor or other accessory as set forth in claim 1 wherein said casing is formed from a sheet of plastic.

7. A sun visor or other accessory as set forth in claim 6 wherein said sheet of plastic is folded over said detent means and said pivot arms and sealed therearound.

8. A sun visor or other accessory as set forth in claim 7 wherein said casing is sealed by heat sealing.

9. A sun visor or other accessory as set forth in claim 7 wherein said casing is sealed by dielectric welding.

10. A sun visor or other accessory as set forth in claim 1 wherein said second end of said pivot arm is at least partially contained within said body.

11. A sun visor or other accessory as set forth in claim 1 wherein said detent means is at least partially contained within said body.