Vanity for a vehicle

• US 7,217,017 B2
• Filed: 07/30/2004
• Issued: 05/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Smith, Nels R.
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Shea; Sandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): Choi; Jacob Y.
• Application Number:
  US10/903,778
• Publication Number:
  US 20050047159A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,019 Days
• Field of Search: 362/492, 362/494, 362/516, 362/136, 362/135, 362/144, 362/328, 362/359, 362/351, 296/97.5, 296/153, 296/97.1, 296/97.6, 359/838
• US Class Current: 362/492
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 3/0282 specially adapted for a courtesy mirror

Abstract

A vanity is disclosed having a mirror and a light source adjacent the mirror to illuminate an object to be viewed in the mirror. A cover panel is coupled adjacent to the light source for movement to an open position to reveal the mirror and a closed position to conceal the mirror. The vanity includes a switch device to activate and deactivate the light source and a positioning device to maintain the cover panel in the open or closed position. The switch device and the positioning device cooperate to activate the light source when the cover panel is in the open position and to deactivate the light source when the cover panel is not in the open position. The cover panel is configured for rotational movement between the open and closed position in a plane generally parallel to a plane of the mirror.

Claims

1. A vanity for a visor in a vehicle, comprising:

a mirror fixed to the visor;

a light source coupled to the visor adjacent the mirror;

a panel coupled to the visor for rotational movement in a plane substantially parallel to a plane of the mirror and between a first position where the mirror is substantially covered by the panel and a second position where the mirror is substantially uncovered; and

a switch configured to interface with the light source and the panel to prevent illumination of the light source in the first position and to permit illumination of the light source in the second position.

2. The vanity of claim 1 wherein the panel includes a circular aperture arranged to surround and rotate about the light source.

3. The vanity of claim 2 wherein the light source is fixed to the visor and further comprising a lens configured to cover the light source and rotationally interface with the aperture in the panel.

4. The vanity of claim 3 wherein the visor and the panel and the lens are configured for interconnection by a snap fit arrangement.

5. The vanity of claim 1 wherein the switch comprises a first conductive member coupled to the panel and a second conductive member coupled to the light source.

6. The vanity of claim 1 wherein the first conductive member is resiliently biased into contact with a generally circular track.

7. The vanity of claim 1 further comprising at least one stop member configured to limit the rotational movement of the panel within a predetermined range.

8. A vanity for a visor in a vehicle, comprising:

a mirror fixed to the visor;

a light source coupled to the visor adjacent the mirror;

a panel coupled to the visor for rotational movement in a plane substantially parallel to a plane of the mirror and between a first position where the mirror is substantially covered by the panel and a second position where the mirror is substantially uncovered.

9. The vanity of claim 8 wherein the light source is fixed to the visor and disposed within a circular lens.

10. The vanity of claim 9 wherein the panel includes a circular aperture arranged to surround and rotate about the circular lens between the first position and the second position.

11. The vanity of claim 8 further comprising a switch configured to interface with the light source and the panel to prevent illumination of the light source in the first position and to permit illumination of the light source in the second position.

12. A vanity for a visor in a vehicle, comprising:

a mirror fixed to the visor;

a light source adjacent the mirror;

a cover having a size and a shape configured to substantially cover the mirror;

a positioning system for rotating the cover about the light source and in a plane substantially parallel to a plane of the visor;

a switch interacting with the positioning system to control illumination of the light source, so that rotation of the cover in a first direction exposes the mirror and energizes the light source and rotation of the cover in a second direction conceals the mirror and de-energizes the light source.

13. The vanity of claim 12 wherein the light source is fixed to the visor and the cover includes an aperture that substantially surrounds the light source and is configured to pivot about the light source as the cover is moved in the first direction or the second direction.

14. The vanity of claim 12 wherein the positioning system comprises a resilient member biased to engage a track adjacent the light source.

15. The vanity of claim 14 wherein the track comprises at least one recess configured to receive the resilient member to form a detent for maintaining the cover in a predetermined position.

16. The vanity of claim 14 wherein the switch comprises at least one contact on the track and the resilient member comprises a conductive material configured to engage the contact upon rotation of the cover.