Sun visor assembly to be used with an overhead airbag
First Claim
1. A sun visor assembly for a vehicle to be used in conjunction with an overhead airbag, comprising:
- a visor panel;
a rod member that is attached to the visor panel;
a first mount for interconnecting the rod member and the vehicle wherein the rod member is pivotably connected to the first mount so the visor panel can be disposed in a first deployed position and a retained position; and
a deflecting element comprising a releasable catch mechanism for allowing the visor panel to be deflected out of a trajectory of the overhead airbag upon activation without fragmenting the visor panel or separating the sun visor assembly from the vehicle, wherein the first deployed position of the visor panel covers an upper portion of a side of a windshield of the vehicle, and wherein the visor panel can be disposed in a second deployed position that covers an upper portion of a side window of the vehicle.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A sun visor assembly for a vehicle to be used in conjunction with an overhead airbag is disclosed. The sun visor assembly includes a visor panel, a pivot rod, and a mount for securing the sun visor assembly to the vehicle. The sun visor assembly also has a deflecting element for allowing the visor panel to be deflected out of the path of an inflating overhead airbag. The deflecting element could be a detachable catch mechanism that holds the visor panel in an operational position until the airbag deploys. The deflecting element could also be a spring loaded pivot or crease disposed within the body of the visor panel. The deflecting element could further be a tear seam or flexible fabric for channeling the trajectory of the overhead airbag.
34 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A sun visor assembly for a vehicle to be used in conjunction with an overhead airbag, comprising:
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a visor panel;
a rod member that is attached to the visor panel;
a first mount for interconnecting the rod member and the vehicle wherein the rod member is pivotably connected to the first mount so the visor panel can be disposed in a first deployed position and a retained position; and
a deflecting element comprising a releasable catch mechanism for allowing the visor panel to be deflected out of a trajectory of the overhead airbag upon activation without fragmenting the visor panel or separating the sun visor assembly from the vehicle, wherein the first deployed position of the visor panel covers an upper portion of a side of a windshield of the vehicle, and wherein the visor panel can be disposed in a second deployed position that covers an upper portion of a side window of the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A sun visor assembly for a vehicle to be used in conjunction with an overhead airbag, comprising:
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a visor panel having an outboard and inboard edge, and a top and bottom edge;
a rod member having a first portion that extends adjacent and is rotatably connected to the bottom edge of the visor panel, and a second portion that extends adjacent and is detachably connected to the outboard edge of the visor panel;
a mount interconnecting the rod member and the vehicle such that the rod member is pivotably connected to the mount so the visor panel can be disposed in a first deployed position and a retained position; and
wherein the visor panel is capable of detaching from the second portion of the rod member and rotating along an axis collinear with the first portion of the rod member out of a trajectory of the overhead airbag when a force is applied against the visor panel upon activation of the overhead airbag. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A sun visor assembly for a vehicle to be used in conjunction with an overhead airbag, comprising:
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a visor panel;
means for supporting the visor panel in a retained position and a first deployed position;
a first mount for attaching the sun visor assembly adjacent a roof of the vehicle, wherein the supporting means is pivotably connected to the first mount so the visor panel can be disposed in the retained position and the first deployed position; and
means comprising a releasable catch mechanism for allowing the visor panel to be deflected out of a trajectory of the overhead airbag upon activation without fragmenting the visor panel or separating the sun visor assembly from the vehicle, wherein the first deployed position of the visor panel covers an upper portion of a side of a windshield of the vehicle, and wherein the visor panel can be disposed in a second deployed position that covers an upper portion of a side window of the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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19. A sun visor assembly for a vehicle to be used in conjunction with an overhead airbag, comprising:
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a visor panel;
a rod member that is attached to the visor panel;
a first mount for interconnecting the rod member and the vehicle wherein the rod member is pivotably connected to the first mount so the visor panel can be disposed in a first deployed position and a retained position;
a deflecting element for allowing the visor panel to be deflected out of a trajectory of the overhead airbag upon activation without fragmenting the visor panel or separating the sun visor assembly from the vehicle;
wherein the visor panel has an outboard and inboard edge, and a top and bottom edge and the rod member having a first portion that extends adjacent to and is rotatably connected to the bottom edge of the visor panel, the rod member further having a second portion that extends adjacent to and is detachably connected to the outboard edge of the visor panel and wherein the visor panel detaches from the second portion of the rod member and rotates along an axis collinear with the first portion of the rod member out of the path of the overhead airbag when a force is applied against the visor panel upon activation of the overhead airbag.
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Specification