Vehicle visor assembly with illuminating check assembly

• US 9,463,735 B1
• Filed: 10/06/2015
• Issued: 10/11/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2015
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Dunham, Scott Holmes, Huelke, David R., Stakoe, John Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): HAN, JASON
• Application Number:
  US14/876,233
• Time in Patent Office: 371 Days
• Field of Search: 362/492, 362509-510
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 3/023 Additional support bracket releasably holding the sun visor
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/252 Sun visors
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/64 for a single lighting device
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/68 using ultraviolet light

Abstract

A visor assembly of a vehicle is provided herein. A visor body is pivotally coupled to a vehicle roof structure and has a securing portion. A bracket of a check assembly is coupled to the vehicle roof structure and has a clasp for removably engaging the securing portion. A tab of the check assembly extends from the bracket for holding an informational item and has a luminescent portion adapted to luminesce in response to excitation light.

Claims

1. A visor assembly of a vehicle, comprising:

a visor body pivotally coupled to a vehicle roof structure and having a securing portion; and

a check assembly comprising;

a bracket coupled to the vehicle roof structure and having a clasp for removably engaging the securing portion; and

a tab extending from the bracket for holding an informational item and having a luminescent portion adapted to luminesce in response to excitation light.

2. The visor assembly of claim 1, further comprising a light source for supplying excitation light to the luminescent portion.

3. The visor assembly of claim 2, wherein the light source is located within the bracket.

4. The visor assembly of claim 3, wherein the luminescent portion of the tab is front lit by excitation light supplied from the light source.

5. The visor assembly of claim 3, wherein the luminescent portion of the tab is backlit by excitation light supplied from the light source.

6. The visor assembly of claim 1, wherein the luminescent portion comprises a substantial entirety of the tab.

7. The visor assembly of claim 1, wherein the tab is snappedly engaged to the bracket.

8. A visor assembly of a vehicle, comprising:

a visor body pivotally coupled to a vehicle roof structure and having a securing portion; and

a check assembly comprising;

a bracket coupled to the vehicle roof structure and having a clasp for removably engaging the securing portion;

a tab extending from the bracket for holding an informational item and having a luminescent portion adapted to luminesce in response to excitation light; and

a light source for supplying excitation light to the luminescent portion.

9. The visor assembly of claim 8, wherein the luminescent portion of the tab is front lit by excitation light supplied from the light source.

10. The visor assembly of claim 8, wherein the luminescent portion of the tab is backlit by excitation light supplied from the light source.

11. The visor assembly of claim 8, wherein the luminescent portion comprises a substantial entirety of the tab.

12. The visor assembly of claim 8, wherein the luminescent portion is integrated with the tab via a molding process.

13. The visor assembly of claim 8, wherein the tab is snappedly engaged to the bracket.

14. A check assembly for removably engaging a visor, comprising:

a bracket coupled to a vehicle roof structure and configured to engage the visor;

a tab extending from the bracket for holding an informational item and having a luminescent portion adapted to luminesce in response to excitation light; and

a light source for supplying excitation light to the luminescent portion.

15. The visor assembly of claim 14, wherein the luminescent portion of the tab is front lit by excitation light supplied from the light source.

16. The visor assembly of claim 14, wherein the luminescent portion of the tab is backlit by excitation light supplied from the light source.

17. The visor assembly of claim 14, wherein the luminescent portion comprises a substantial entirety of the tab.

18. The visor assembly of claim 14, wherein light source is disposed to emit excitation light into the tab.

19. The visor assembly of claim 18, wherein the tab is configured to internally reflect the excitation light such that it is eventually received by the luminescent portion.

20. The visor assembly of claim 14, wherein the tab is snappedly engaged to the bracket.