Illuminated visor vanity

• US 7,534,018 B2
• Filed: 03/16/2007
• Issued: 05/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Automotive Components Group North America (Lear Corporation)
• Original Assignee: International Automotive Components Group SA (Lear Corporation)
• Inventors: Carpenter, Joel D., Nicola, Kirk M., Hobson, James J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Jong-Suk (James)
• Assistant Examiner(s): MACCHIAROLO, LEAH SIMONE
• Application Number:
  US11/686,978
• Publication Number:
  US 20080225515A1
• Time in Patent Office: 795 Days
• Field of Search: 362/492, 362/137, 362/136
• US Class Current: 362/492
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 3/0282 specially adapted for a courtesy mirror
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/252 Sun visors
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/80 Circuits; Control arrangements for dashboards B60Q3/16; for mass transit vehicles B60Q3/47
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/82 Switches specially adapted for vehicle interior lighting, e.g. switching by tilting the lens
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

A visor vanity for use in a vehicle includes a vanity mirror, a light source for providing illumination to the user of the mirror or for other purposes, an energy source independent of the vehicle'"'"'s electrical system for energizing the light source, a switch for causing light source to be energized by the independent power source or de-energized, and a timer for de-energizing the light source after a certain time period has passed so as to minimize depletion of the independent energy source. The light source may comprise one or more LEDs.

Claims

1. A visor vanity for a vehicle having an electrical system, the visor vanity comprising:

a visor body, the visor body including;

a vanity mirror;

a light source;

an energy source independent of the electrical system of the vehicle for energizing the light source;

a switch for causing the light source to be energized by the energy source; and

a timer powered by the energy source and configured to cause the light source to be de-energized after a period of time has passed;

wherein the visor body includes a removable lens overlying the light source and the energy source such that the energy source is capable of being accessed and replaced by removing the removable lens.

2. The visor vanity of claim 1 wherein the visor body includes a mirror cover for covering or uncovering the vanity mirror.

3. The visor vanity of claim 2 wherein movement of the mirror cover into the uncovering position causes the switch to energize the light source.

4. The visor vanity of claim 3 wherein movement of the mirror cover into the covering position causes the switch to discontinue energizing the light source.

5. The visor vanity of claim 4 wherein the mirror cover is a sliding cover.

6. The visor vanity of claim 4 wherein the mirror cover is a hinged cover.

7. The visor vanity of claim 1 wherein the switch discontinues to energize the light source after a predetermined amount of time has passed.

8. The visor vanity of claim 1 wherein the light source is an LED.

9. The visor vanity of claim 8 including a lens overlying the light source.

10. The visor vanity of claim 1 wherein the energy source is accessible such that it may be removed and replaced when necessary.

11. The visor vanity of claim 1 wherein the visor body includes a removable lens overlying the light source and the energy source.

12. The visor vanity of claim 1 further comprising a user switch positioned about the vanity mirror and operably coupled to the energy source for energizing the light source for an additional period of time.

13. A visor vanity for a vehicle having an electrical system, the visor vanity comprising:

a visor body, the visor body including;

a vanity mirror;

a light source;

a battery energy source independent of the electrical system of the vehicle for energizing the light source;

a switch for causing the light source to be energized by the energy source;

a timer powered by the energy source and configured to cause the light source to be de-energized after a period of time has passed; and

a mirror cover for covering or uncovering the vanity mirror and cooperating with the switch such that movement of the mirror cover into the uncovering position causes the switch to energize the light source and movement of the mirror cover into the covering position causes the switch to discontinue energizing the light source;

wherein the visor body includes a removable lens overlying the battery energy source such that the battery energy source is accessed and replaced by removing the removable lens.

14. The visor vanity of claim 13 wherein the light source is an LED.

15. The visor vanity of claim 13 further comprising a user switch positioned about the vanity mirror and operably coupled to the energy source for energizing the light source for an additional period of time.

16. A visor vanity for a vehicle having a electrical system, the visor vanity comprising:

a visor body having a vanity mirror/light assembly, the vanity mirror/light assembly including;

a bezel;

a vanity mirror having a reflective surface, the vanity mirror being mounted to the bezel such that the reflective surface may be used by a user of the visor vanity;

a light source mounted to the bezel;

a battery energy source for energizing the light source, such battery energy source being independent of the electrical system of the vehicle;

a switch for allowing or disallowing the energy source to energize the light source;

a mirror cover mounted to the bezel for covering or uncovering the vanity mirror, wherein movement of the mirror cover into the uncovering position causes the switch to energize the light source; and

a removable lens overlaying the battery energy source such that the battery energy source is capable of being accessed and removed by removing the removable lens.

17. The visor vanity of claim 16 further comprising a circuit board for mounting at least one of the light source, the battery energy source, and the switch thereon.

18. The visor vanity of claim 17 wherein the bezel includes a bezel light recess positioned about the removable lens and adjacent to the light source and wherein the circuit board includes a first portion for mounting the battery energy source thereon such that the first portion of the circuit board is extended into the bezel light recess to facilitate access and removal of the battery energy source upon removing the removable lens.