Illumination device for vanity mirrors of motor vehicles sun visors

• US 20070258256A1
• Filed: 02/14/2006
• Published: 11/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Grupo Antolin-Ingenieria, S.A.
• Original Assignee: Grupo Antolin-Ingenieria, S.A.
• Inventors: Bernard, Vincent, Richard, Stephane
• Granted Patent: US 7,416,319 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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. Illumination device for vanity mirrors of motor vehicle sun visors of those actuated by a sliding cover (1.2) that covers the mirror (1.1) at the user'"'"'s will, such that the sun visor (1) has a rotation shaft (3) about which it can turn to be in a shading and a storage position and which connects it to the vehicle body, wherein an end of a flexible conducting laminar element is constantly in contact with a conducting track of the sun visor rotation shaft (3) and wherein the other end of the laminar element, can contact a second conducting track of the rotation shaft (3) to close the electric circuit characterised in that the flexible conducting laminar element (2) which can close the electric circuit has a loop configuration open on the top, wherein the laminar element (2) has a finger (2.1) on a lower end that always contacts one of the two levels (1.2.1, 1.2.2) of the stepped upper level of the cover (1.2) that covers the mirror (1.1);

and on the top one of the ends (2.2) of the open part of the laminar element (2), or first end (2.2), is constantly in contact with a first conducting track(3.1) of the visor rotation shaft (3) and wherein the other end (2.3) of the open end of the laminar element(2), or second end (2.3), can contact a second conducting track (3.2) of the rotation shaft (3) to close the electric circuit wherein the laminar element (2) is attached on its lower side, on the half opposite the finger (2.1), to the visor (1) by attachment means (4) and is provided on its top with a support pin (5) attached to the visor (1) meant to allow the upper free end of the laminar element to swivel when the cover (1) is moved, provoking or not the contact between the second end (2.3) of the laminar element and the second conducting track (3.2) of the shaft (3) of the sun visor.

2. Illumination device for vanity mirrors of motor vehicle sun visors as claimed in claim 1 characterised in that the flexible laminar element (2) has an essentially rectangular shape.

3. Illumination device for vanity mirrors of motor vehicle sun visors as claimed in claim 1 characterised in that the open end (2.2) of the laminar element (2) that is constantly in contact with the first conducting track (3.1) of the visor shaft (3) is provided with a first gentle bump (2.2.1) that is in constant contact with the first conducting track (3.1).

4. Illumination device for vanity mirrors of motor vehicle sun visors as claimed in claim 1 characterised in that the second end (2.3) of the laminar element, which can contact the second conducting track (3.2) of the visor rotation shaft, is provided with a second gentle bump (2.3.1) that can contact the second conducting track (3.2).

5. Illumination device for vanity mirrors of motor vehicle sun visors as claimed in claim 1 characterised in that the second end (2.3) of the laminar element is provided with a larger safety bump (2.3.2) that rests on the visor shaft (3).

6. Illumination device for vanity mirrors of motor vehicle sun visors as claimed in claim 5 characterised in that the visor shaft (3) is provided with a groove (3.3) that is placed opposite the safety bump (2.3.2) only when the visor (1) is in a shading position and that allows the safety bump (2.3) to enter the groove (3.3) when the mirror (1.1) is not covered by the cover (1.2).