Vehicle sun visor providing luminescent lighting

• US 9,457,712 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2014
• Issued: 10/04/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Salter, Stuart C., Gardner, Cornel Lewis
• Primary Examiner(s): HAN, JASON
• Application Number:
  US14/579,016
• Publication Number:
  US 20150138813A1
• Time in Patent Office: 652 Days
• Field of Search: 362/492, 362509-510
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/252 Sun visors
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/745 using lighting panels or mats, e.g. electro-luminescent panels, LED mats

Abstract

A sun visor is provided herein. The sun visor includes a visor body and a lid coupled to the visor body. The lid is moveable between a closed and an open position. A photoluminescent structure is coupled to the lid and a light source is configured to emit light based on the position of the lid. The photoluminescent structure luminesces in response to excitation by light emitted from the light source.

Claims

1. A sun visor comprising:

a visor body;

a lid coupled to the visor body and movable between a closed and an open position;

a photoluminescent structure coupled to the lid; and

a light source remotely located away from the photoluminescent structure and configured to emit light based on the position of the lid, wherein the photoluminescent structure luminesces in response to excitation by light emitted from the light source.

2. The sun visor of claim 1, wherein the lid is hingedly coupled to the visor body.

3. The sun visor of claim 1, wherein the photoluminescent structure is located on an underside of the lid and is concealed when the lid is in the closed position.

4. The sun visor of claim 1, wherein the light source emits light when the lid is closed.

5. The sun visor of claim 4, wherein the lid covers a vanity mirror when in the closed position.

6. The sun visor of claim 5, wherein the vanity mirror is configured to reflect at least a portion of the light emitted from the light source when uncovered.

7. The sun visor of claim 1, wherein the light source comprises a plurality of blue light emitting diodes.

8. The sun visor of claim 1, further comprising a control mechanism for controlling the intensity of the light emitted from the light source.

9. A sun visor comprising:

a visor body;

a lid hingedly coupled to the visor body and movable between a closed and an open position;

a photoluminescent structure coupled to the lid;

a light source remotely located away from the photoluminescent structure and configured to emit light based on the position of the lid, wherein the photoluminescent structure luminesces in response to excitation by light emitted from the light source.

10. The sun visor of claim 9, wherein the photoluminescent structure is located on an underside of the lid and is concealed when the lid is closed.

11. The sun visor of claim 9, wherein the light source emits light when the lid is moved away from the closed position.

12. The sun visor of claim 11, wherein the lid covers a vanity mirror when in the closed position.

13. The sun visor of claim 12, wherein the light source is disposed on the visor body such that the vanity mirror redirects at least a portion of the light emitted from the light source when uncovered.

14. The sun visor of claim 9, wherein the light source comprises a plurality of blue light emitting diodes.

15. The sun visor of claim 9, further comprising a control mechanism for controlling the intensity of the light emitted from the light source.

16. A sun visor comprising:

a visor body;

a lid hingedly coupled to the visor body and movable between a closed and an open position;

a photoluminescent structure located on an underside of the lid and concealed when the lid is closed;

a light source remotely located away from the photoluminescent structure and configured to emit light when the lid is moved away from the closed position, wherein the photoluminescent structure luminesces in response to excitation by light emitted from the light source.

17. The sun visor of claim 16, wherein the lid covers a vanity mirror when in the closed position.

18. The sun visor of claim 17, wherein the vanity mirror is configured to reflect at least a portion of the light emitted from the light source when uncovered.

19. The sun visor of claim 16, wherein the light source comprises a plurality of blue light emitting diodes.

20. The sun visor of claim 16, further comprising a control mechanism for controlling the intensity of the light emitted from the light source.