Lighted visor mirror assembly and method

• US 6,692,060 B1
• Filed: 09/18/2002
• Issued: 02/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Automotive Components Group North America (Lear Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: Wilson, Douglas J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gordon, Stephen T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MORROW, JASON S
• Application Number:
  US10/246,352
• Time in Patent Office: 517 Days
• Field of Search: 296/97.1, 296/97.5, 362/143, 362/144, 362/492
• US Class Current: 296/97.5
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 3/0282 specially adapted for a courtesy mirror

Abstract

A mirror light assembly and method are provided for illuminating a visor. The visor mirror light assembly includes a visor body. A mirror is slidably disposed relative to the visor body. A source of illumination is disposed adjacent the mirror. An electrical circuit provides electrical power from a power source to the source of illumination. Preferably, the mirror is movable between a first position wherein the electrical circuit is open and the source of illumination is not illuminated, and a second position wherein the electrical circuit is closed and the source of illumination is illuminated.

Claims

1. A visor mirror light assembly comprising:

a visor body;

a mirror slidably disposed relative to said visor body;

a source of illumination adjacent said mirror; and

a door slidably disposed relative to said mirror for selectively covering said mirror.

2. The visor mirror light assembly according to claim 1, wherein said mirror and said source of illumination are fixed relative to one another.

3. The visor mirror light assembly according to claim 1, wherein said mirror is attached to a slide drawer, said slide drawer being slidably disposed relative to said visor body.

4. The visor mirror light assembly according to claim 1 further including an electrical circuit for providing electrical power from a power source to said source of illumination, said mirror being movable between a first position wherein said electrical circuit is open and said source of illumination is not illuminated, and a second position wherein said electrical circuit is closed and said source of illumination is illuminated.

5. The visor mirror light assembly according to claim 1, wherein said visor body is substantially hollow and includes a mirror slide track formed on an inner surface thereof, said mirror being slidably disposed in said mirror slide track of said visor body.

6. The visor mirror light assembly according to claim 1, wherein a slide drawer includes a door track formed on an inner surface thereof, said door being slidably disposed in said door track of said slide drawer.

7. The visor mirror light assembly according to claim 1, wherein said door is movable between a closed position wherein said door is moved to cover said mirror and said source of illumination, an open non-illuminated position, wherein said door is moved to expose said mirror and cover said source of illumination, an open illuminated position, wherein said door and said slide drawer are moved to expose said mirror and expose said source of illumination, said source of illumination being illuminated, and a partially closed illuminated position, wherein said door is moved to cover said mirror and expose said source of illumination, said source of illumination being illuminated.

8. The visor mirror light assembly according to claim 4, wherein said electrical circuit includes a closed position wherein said source of illumination is illuminated, and an open position wherein said source of illumination is not illuminated, said electrical circuit being in said closed position when said door is in said open illuminated position and when said door is in said partially closed illuminated position, said electrical circuit being in said open position when said door is in said closed position and when said door is in said open non-illuminated position.

9. The visor mirror light assembly according to claim 1, further including a frame, said mirror being slidably disposed relative to said frame.

10. The visor mirror light assembly according to claim 1, further including a lens for diffusing the light from said source of illumination.

16. The visor mirror light assembly according to claim 1, wherein said door is movable between a closed position wherein said door is moved to cover said mirror and said source of illumination, an open non-illuminated position, wherein said door is moved to expose said mirror and cover said source of illumination, an open illuminated position, wherein said door and said slide drawer are moved to expose said mirror and expose said source of illumination, said source of illumination being illuminated, and a partially closed illuminated position, wherein said door is moved to cover said mirror and expose said source of illumination, source of illumination being illuminated.

17. The visor mirror light assembly according to claim 7, wherein said electrical circuit includes a closed position wherein said source of illumination is illuminated, and an open position wherein said source of illumination is not illuminated, said electrical circuit being in said closed position when said door is in said open illuminated position and when said door is in said partially closed illuminated position, said electrical circuit being in said open position when said door is in said closed position and when said door is in said open non-illuminated position.

11. A visor mirror light assembly comprising:

a visor body;

a slide drawer slidably disposed relative to said visor body;

a mirror attached to said slide drawer;

a source of illumination adjacent said mirror;

an electrical circuit for providing electrical power from a power source to said source of illumination; and

a door slidably disposed relative to said slide drawer.

12. The visor mirror light assembly according to claim 11, wherein said mirror and said source of illumination are fixed relative to one another.

13. The visor mirror light assembly according to claim 11, wherein said visor body is substantially hollow and includes a slide drawer track formed on an inner surface thereof, said slide drawer being slidably disposed in said slide drawer track of said visor body.

14. The visor mirror light assembly according to claim 11, wherein said slide drawer includes a door track formed on an inner surface thereof, said door being slidably disposed in said door track of said slide drawer.

15. The visor mirror light assembly according to claim 11, further including a lens disposed within said slide drawer, said lens for diffusing the light from said source of illumination.

18. The visor mirror light assembly according to claim 13, further including a frame, said slide drawer track being formed on an inner surface of said frame.

19. A method of illuminating a visor assembly, the method comprising the steps of:

a. providing a visor mirror light assembly comprising visor body, a slide drawer slidably disposed relative to the visor body, a mirror attached to the slide drawer, a source of illumination adjacent the mirror, an electrical circuit for providing electrical power from a power source to the source of illumination, and a door slidably disposed relative to the slide drawer;

c. moving the door to a closed position wherein the door covers the mirror and the source of illumination;

d. moving the door to an open non-illuminated position wherein the mirror is exposed and the source of illumination is covered;

e. moving the door and the slide drawer to an open illuminated position wherein the mirror and the source of illumination are exposed, the source of illumination being illuminated; and

f. moving the door to a partially closed illuminated position wherein the door covers the mirror and the source of illumination is exposed, the source of illumination being illuminated.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the electrical circuit includes a closed position wherein the source of illumination is illuminated, and an open position wherein the source of illumination is not illuminated, the electrical circuit being in the closed position when the door is in the open illuminated position and when the door is in the partially closed illuminated position, the electrical circuit being in the open position when the door is in the closed position and when the door is in the open non-illuminated position.