Lighted visor mirror assembly providing variable light intensity

• US 5,906,424 A
• Filed: 02/07/1997
• Issued: 05/25/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Automotive Components Group North America (Lear Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: Peterson, Don Mangas
• Primary Examiner(s): Sember, Thomas M.
• Application Number:
  US08/797,775
• Time in Patent Office: 837 Days
• Field of Search: 362/135, 362/140, 362/141, 362/142, 362/144, 362/83.1, 296/97.2, 296/97.5
• US Class Current: 362/135
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 3/0282 specially adapted for a courtesy mirror

Abstract

A lighted visor mirror assembly is provided. The lighted visor mirror assembly includes a mirror having a first side, a light source, and a door. The light source is located adjacent to the first side of the mirror. The door has a translucent portion and an opaque portion. As the door is moved from a closed position covering the mirror and the light source, to an open position uncovering the mirror, the translucent portion of the door is positioned with respect to the light source such that the intensity of the light from the light source passing through the translucent portion of the door is increased by progressively uncovering the light source.

Claims

1. A lighted visor mirror assembly comprising:

a mirror having a first side;

a light source adjacent the first side of the mirror; and

a door having a translucent portion and an opaque portion, the door being movable with respect to the light source between a closed position covering the mirror and the light source, and an open position uncovering the mirror,

the opaque portion of the door cooperating with the first side of the mirror as the door moves to the open position to progressively position the translucent portion of the door with respect to the light source so that the intensity of the light from the light source passing through the translucent portion of the door is increased by progressively uncovering the light source.

2. The lighted visor mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein the translucent portion of the door is a lens for diffusing the light as the light source is progressively uncovered.

3. The lighted visor mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein the translucent portion of the door comprises a transparent portion.

4. The lighted visor mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein the light source comprises an electric bulb.

5. The lighted visor mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein the light source is spaced from the first side of the mirror to form a gap, and the opaque portion uncovers the gap as the door moves to the open position.

6. The lighted visor mirror assembly of claim 5, including means for energizing the light source before the opaque portion uncovers the gap.

7. The lighted visor mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein the opaque portion of the door defines a frame for receiving the translucent portion, the translucent portion being removable from the frame for accessing the light source.

8. The lighted visor mirror assembly of claim 7, wherein the frame includes a grasp portion for manually moving the door.

9. The lighted visor mirror assembly of claim 7, wherein the opaque portion of the door is a unitary plastic piece.

10. The lighted visor mirror assembly of claim 1 further comprising a second light source adjacent a second side of the mirror opposite the first side of the mirror, and a second door having a translucent portion and an opaque portion, the second door being movable with respect to the second light source between a closed position covering the mirror and the second light source, and an open position uncovering the mirror, the opaque portion of the second door cooperating with the second side of the mirror as the second door moves to the open position to progressively position the translucent portion of the second door with respect to the second light source so that the intensity of the light from the second light source passing through the translucent portion of the second door is increased by progressively uncovering the second light source.

11. The lighted visor mirror assembly of claim 10, including intercoupling means for both doors such that movement of either door synchronously moves the other door in an opposite direction and through the same distance.

12. A lighted visor mirror assembly comprising:

a mirror;

a light source adjacent a first side of the mirror, the light source emitting light of a predetermined wavelength at a constant intensity; and

a door having a translucent portion and an opaque portion, the door being movable with respect to the light source between a closed position covering the mirror and the light source, and an open position uncovering the mirror,

the opaque portion of the door cooperating with the first side of the mirror as the door moves to the open position to progressively position the translucent portion of the door with respect to the light source so that the intensity of the light from the light source passing through the translucent portion of the door is increased by progressively uncovering the light source.

13. The lighted visor mirror assembly of claim 12, wherein the translucent portion of the door is a lens for diffusing the light as the light source is progressively uncovered.

14. The lighted visor mirror assembly of claim 12, wherein the translucent portion of the door is a transparent portion.

15. The lighted visor mirror assembly of claim 12 wherein the light source is an electric bulb.

16. The lighted visor mirror assembly of claim 12, wherein the light source is spaced from the first side of the mirror to form a gap and the opaque portion uncovers the gap as the door moves to the open position.

17. The lighted visor mirror assembly of claim 16, including means for energizing the light source before the opaque portion uncovers the gap.

18. The lighted visor mirror assembly of claim 12, wherein the opaque portion of the door defines a frame for receiving the translucent portion, the translucent portion being removable from the frame for accessing the light source.

19. The lighted visor mirror assembly of claim 18, wherein the frame includes a grasp portion for manually moving the door.

20. The lighted visor mirror assembly of claim 18, wherein the opaque portion of the door is a unitary plastic piece.

21. The lighted visor mirror assembly of claim 12, including a second light source adjacent a second side of the mirror opposite the first side of the mirror, and a second door having a translucent portion and an opaque portion, the second door being movable with respect to the second light source between a closed position covering the mirror and the second light source, and an open position uncovering the mirror, the opaque portion of the second door cooperating with the second side of the mirror as the second door moves to the open position to progressively position the translucent portion of the second door with respect to the second light source so that the intensity of the light from the second light source passing through the translucent portion of the second door is increased by progressively uncovering the second light source.

22. The lighted visor mirror assembly of claim 21, including intercoupling means for both doors such that movement of either door synchronously moves the other door in an opposite direction and through the same distance.

23. A lighted visor mirror assembly comprising:

a mirror;

a first light source adjacent a first side of the mirror;

a first door having a translucent portion and an opaque portion, the first door being movable with respect to the first light source between a closed position covering the mirror and the first light source, and an open position uncovering the mirror,

the opaque portion of the first door cooperating with the first side of the mirror as the first door moves to the open position to progressively position the translucent portion of the first door with respect to the first light source so that the intensity of the light from the first light source passing through the translucent portion of the first door is increased by progressively uncovering the first light source;

a second light source adjacent a second side of the mirror opposite the first side of the mirror;

a second door having a translucent portion and an opaque portion, the second door being movable with respect to the second light source between a closed position covering the mirror and the second light source, and an open position uncovering the mirror,

the opaque portion of the second door cooperating with the second side of the mirror as the second door moves to the open position to progressively position the translucent portion of the second door with respect to the second light source so that the intensity of the light from the second light source passing through the translucent portion of the second door is increased by progressively uncovering the second light source; and

intercoupling means for the first door and the second door such that the movement of either door synchronously moves the other door in an opposite direction and through the same distance.