Illumination device for vanity mirrors of motor vehicles sun visors

• US 7,416,319 B2
• Filed: 02/14/2006
• Issued: 08/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Grupo Antolin-Ingenieria, S.A.
• Original Assignee: Grupo Antolin-Ingenieria, S.A.
• Inventors: Richard, Stéphane, Bernard, Vincent
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Shea; Sandra L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee; Gunyoung T.
• Application Number:
  US11/353,333
• Publication Number:
  US 20070258256A1
• Time in Patent Office: 924 Days
• Field of Search: 362/492, 362/135, 362/137, 362/141, 362/144, 362/154, 362/156, 362/142, 296/97.1, 296/97.6, 296/1.11, 200/551, 200/533, 200/535
• US Class Current: 362/492
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 3/0282 specially adapted for a courtesy mirror

Abstract

The present invention relates to an illumination device for vanity mirrors of motor vehicle sun visors. The illumination device does not use cables as conducting elements nor external mechanical elements such as switches, simplifying the assembly operations. A conducting laminar element performs all of these functions: in addition to being the conducting means it acts as a switch for the device. This device is actuated by a cover that covers the mirror and is operated at the user'"'"'s will. The device is characterised in that it is only illuminated in one position, in which the cover is not covering the mirror and the visor is in a shading position.

Claims

1. An illumination device for vanity mirrors of motor vehicle sun visors actuated by a sliding cover that covers the mirror at a user'"'"'s will, the illumination device comprising:

a) a rotation shaft about which the sun visor turns to be in a shading position or a storage position, said rotation shaft connecting the sun visor to a vehicle body, said rotation shaft comprising a first conducting track and a second conducting track;

b) a flexible conducting laminar element comprising;

i) a loop configuration having an open part on a top;

said open part of said loop configuration having a first end constantly in contact with said first conducting track and a second end for contacting said second conducting track to close an electric circuit; and

ii) a finger on a lower end of said flexible conducting laminar element that always contacts one of two levels of a stepped upper level of the sliding cover that covers the mirror;

c) an attachment means for attaching said flexible conducting laminar element on a lower side, on a half opposite said finger, to the sun visor; and

d) a support pin disposed on a top of said flexible conducting laminar element and attached to the sun visor, said support pin allowing an upper free end of said flexible conducting laminar element to swivel when the sliding cover is moved, provoking or not a contact between said second end of said flexible conducting laminar element and said second conducting track of said rotation shaft.

2. The illumination device for vanity mirrors of motor vehicle sun visors according to claim 1, wherein said flexible conducting laminar element comprises an essentially rectangular shape.

3. The illumination device for vanity mirrors of motor vehicle sun visors according to claim 1, wherein said first end of said flexible conducting laminar element that is constantly in contact with said first conducting track of said rotation shaft comprises a first gentle bump that is in constant contact with said first conducting track.

4. The illumination device for vanity mirrors of motor vehicle sun visors according to claim 1, wherein said second end of said flexible conducting laminar element, which can contact said second conducting track of said rotation shaft, comprises a second gentle bump that can contact said second conducting track.

5. The illumination device for vanity mirrors of motor vehicle sun visors according to claim 1, wherein said second end of said flexible conducting laminar element comprises a larger safety bump that rests on said rotation the shaft.

6. The illumination device for vanity mirrors of motor vehicle sun visors according to claim 5, wherein said rotation shaft comprises a groove that is placed opposite said safety bump only when the sun visor is in a shading position and wherein said safety bump is allowed to enter said groove when the mirror is not covered by the sliding cover.