Vanity mirror lamp assembly with replaceable battery

• US 6,499,868 B1
• Filed: 01/17/2001
• Issued: 12/31/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Prestolite Wire LLC (General Cable Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Prestolite Wire LLC (General Cable Corporation)
• Inventors: Kerul, Joseph A. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso, Laura K.
• Application Number:
  US09/764,008
• Time in Patent Office: 713 Days
• Field of Search: 362/492, 362/511, 362/551, 362/521
• US Class Current: 362/492
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 3/0282 specially adapted for a courtesy mirror
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/20 for lighting specific fittings of passenger or driving compartments; mounted on specific fittings of passenger or driving compartments lighting for dashboards B60Q3/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/252 Sun visors
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/64 for a single lighting device

Abstract

A sun visor includes a visor assembly having an illumination device. The visor assembly further includes a trim bezel tray, backplate, and lamp/mirror lid. The trim bezel tray has a battery holder and at least one receiving portion molded as an integral part of the bezel. Access to the trim bezel tray is made possible by hingedly opening the trim bezel tray and backplate of the visor. A replaceable battery is placed within the battery holder. In a preferred embodiment, the illumination device includes an illumination source and a lightpipe with a lens attached to each end. The lightpipe assembly eliminates wiring from the installation and the replaceable battery eliminates the need for a remote power source. In another embodiment, the illumination device includes at least one illumination source positioned in the receiving portions of the bezel. The illumination source is in communication with the battery through electrically conductive wires.

Claims

1. A lamp assembly for a vehicle sun visor, comprising:

a lightpipe assembly including a lightpipe flanked at each end by an illumination transmitter, said lightpipe having an opening in a central portion thereof;

a visor assembly including a trim bezel tray, a backplate hingedly attached to said trim bezel tray, and a lamp/mirror lid hingedly attached to said trim bezel tray;

an illumination source positioned within said opening of said lightpipe; and

a removable power source electrically connected to said illumination source to activate said illumination source.

2. The vanity lamp of claim 1, wherein said trim bezel tray includes a molded portion for intercepting each illumination transmitter.

3. The vanity lamp of claim 1, wherein said trim bezel tray includes means for receiving said opening of said lightpipe.

4. The vanity lamp of claim 1, wherein said trim bezel tray includes means for receiving said removable power source.

5. The vanity lamp of claim 1, wherein said illumination transmitters are lenses.

6. The vanity lamp of claim 1, wherein said illumination source is a light bulb.

7. The vanity lamp of claim 1, wherein said removable power source is a battery.

8. The vanity lamp of claim 1, further including a mirror mounted to said trim bezel tray.

10. The vanity lamp of claim 1, wherein said illumination device further includes an illumination source positioned within said opening of said lightpipe.

11. The vanity lamp of claim 10, wherein said illumination source is a light bulb.

12. The vanity lamp of claim 10, wherein said illumination source is a light emitting diode.

9. A vanity lamp for use in a visor of a passenger vehicle, comprising:

a trim bezel tray including a selectively operable illumination device electrically connected to a local power source separate from the vehicle power source, said trim bezel tray further including at least one receiving portion and wherein said illumination device includes a lightpipe having an opening in a central portion thereof;

a mirror mounted to said trim bezel tray; and

a mirror lid hingedly attached to said trim bezel tray.

13. The vanity lamp of claim 9, wherein said removable power source is a battery.

14. The vanity lamp of claim 9, wherein said illumination device includes at least one illumination source positioned within said receiving portion.

15. The vanity lamp of claim 14, wherein said illumination source is one or more light emitting diodes.

16. The vanity lamp of claim 14 further including at least one transmission lens positioned over said illumination source to protect said illumination source and to promote dispersion of the light.

17. The vanity lamp of claim 9 wherein said local power source is replaceable.