Sliding sun visor

• US 7,384,088 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2005
• Issued: 06/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Grupo Antolin-Ingenieria, S.A.
• Original Assignee: Grupo Antolin-Ingenieria, S.A.
• Inventors: Remy, Dominique
• Primary Examiner(s): PAPE, JOSEPH
• Application Number:
  US11/261,501
• Publication Number:
  US 20060113819A1
• Time in Patent Office: 953 Days
• Field of Search: 296/97.11, 296/97.5, 296/97.8
• US Class Current: 296/97.11
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 3/0278 structure of the body B60J3/0208, B60J3/0213 take precedence

Abstract

A sliding sun visor having: a pivot rod (2); a conductor (3) for supplying power to at least one electrical device included in the sun visor structure (1). The conductor (3) has a second portion having at least a length to enable the sun visor structure (1) be positioned in the most extended use-position. The sun visor structure (1) has conductor housing elements (4) for housing the second portion of the conductor. The conductor housing elements (4) are parallel to the pivot rod (2). The conductor housing elements (4) are provided with a longitudinal groove (40), the conductor (3) has continuous conductor cables from the first end to the at least one electrical device and the conductor (3) is transversally folded.

Claims

1. A sliding sun visor having:

a pivot rod having

a first end arranged to be articulated to a headliner of a vehicle,

a second end opposite to the first end, and

a hollow space extending from the first end to the second end;

a sun visor structure coupled to the pivot rod in a manner so as to enable the sun visor structure to be placed in a use-position by pivoting around said pivot rod from a raised storage position to a lowered use-position, wherein when the sun visor is in said lowered use-position the sun visor can slide along said pivot rod guaranteeing power supply when the sun visor is not extended, partially extended or totally extended;

a conductor for supplying power to at least one electrical device included in the sun visor structure, said conductor comprising;

a first portion defined between the first end of the pivot rod and the second end of the pivot rod, said first portion being housed in the hollow space of the pivot rod and

a second portion having at least a length to enable the sun visor structure be positioned in the totally extended use-position;

said sun visor structure further comprising conductor housing means for housing the second portion of the conductor, said conductor housing means being parallel to the pivot rod, wherein the conductor housing means are provided with a longitudinal groove;

said conductor further comprising a third portion which is transversally folded when said conductor runs from the pivot rod to the conductor housing means, connecting said first portion and said second portion, wherein

the conductor comprises continuous conductor cables from said first end to said at least one electrical device in the sun visor structure.

2. The sliding sun visor of claim 1 further comprising guiding means fixed to the pivot rod for guiding a sliding movement of the sun visor structure along the pivot rod, the guiding means being in turn guided in the sliding movement of the sun visor structure by the conductor housing means.

3. The sliding sun visor of claim 2, wherein said conductor is a flexible tape.

4. The sliding sun visor of claim 3, wherein said flexible tape is a flexible printed circuit.

5. The sliding sun visor of claim 1, wherein said conductor housing means has an essentially U-shaped cross section.

6. The sliding sun visor of claim 5, wherein said guiding means has a protuberance for matching the longitudinal groove of the conductor housing means to prevent relative turning there between.

7. The sliding sun visor of claim 1, further comprising a first micro-switch for detecting when said sun visor structure is in a pivoted use-position.

8. The sliding sun visor of claim 7, wherein said pivot rod comprises a flap for activating the first micro-switch.

9. The sliding sun visor of claim 1 further comprising a domotic module.

10. The sliding sun visor of any of claim 7 further comprising:

a vanity mirror provided with a cover;

a second micro-switch for detecting the position of the cover;

lighting means for lighting the vanity mirror according to the state of the first micro-switch and the state of the second micro-switch.