U.S. patent application number 09/901172 was filed with the patent office on 2002-04-04 for vehicle auxiliary sun visor assembly.
Invention is credited to Bierend, Steven J., Cota, Albert O., Francis, David.
Application Number | 20020038959 09/901172 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26919081 |
Filed Date | 2002-04-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020038959 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Francis, David ; et
al. |
April 4, 2002 |
Vehicle auxiliary sun visor assembly
Abstract
An auxiliary vehicle sun visor assembly (10) adapted to be
attached to a conventional vehicle sun visor (150). The assembly
(10) consists of a pivot rod (12) having a vertical section (14)
and a contiguous horizontal section (30). Attached to the vertical
section (14), by means of a set of vertical hinged brackets (42),
is an inner edge (116) of an auxiliary visor (110). Attached to the
horizontal section (30), by means of a set of horizontal hinged
brackets (56), is a lower edge (114) of the auxiliary visor (110),
the assembly (10) is designed to be placed and secured in a
retraced, stowed position, against the surface of the vehicle sun
visor, or to be rotated around the horizontal section (30) of the
pivot rod (12) and placed in a downward position, or rotated around
the vertical section (14) of the pivot rod (12) and placed in a
side position.
Inventors: |
Francis, David; (Arleta,
CA) ; Bierend, Steven J.; (Van Nuys, CA) ;
Cota, Albert O.; (Granada Hills, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ALBERT O COTA
5460 WHITE OAK AVE
SUITE A-331
ENCINO
CA
91316
US
|
Family ID: |
26919081 |
Appl. No.: |
09/901172 |
Filed: |
July 10, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60224875 |
Aug 14, 2000 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
296/97.6 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60J 3/0208
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
296/97.6 |
International
Class: |
B60J 003/00 |
Claims
1. An auxiliary vehicle sun visor assembly adapted to be attached
to a conventional vehicle sun visor, said auxiliary vehicle sun
visor comprises: a) a pivot rod having a vertical section and a
contiguous horizontal section, b) an auxiliary visor having an
upper edge, a lower edge, an inner edge and an outer edge, c) at
least two vertical hinged brackets having means for being rotatably
attached to the vertical section of said pivot rod and means for
being rigidly attached to the inner edge of said auxiliary visor,
and d) at least two horizontal hinged brackets having means for
being rotatably attached to the horizontal section of said pivot
rod and means for being rigidly attached to the vehicle sun visor
wherein said assembly is designed to be rotatably placed and
secured in a retracted, stowed position, be rotated around the
horizontal section of said pivot rod to be placed in a downward
position or be rotated around the vertical section of said pivot
rod to be placed in a side position.
2. The assembly as specified in claim 2 wherein said vertical
section of said pivot rod further comprises an upper stop pin and a
lower stop pin.
3. The assembly as specified in claim 2 wherein said means for
rotatably attaching each of said at least two vertical hinged
brackets to the vertical section of said pivot rod comprises: said
vertical hinged bracket further having an outer rod attachment
section having a rod bore therethrough that is dimensioned to
rotatably accept the vertical section of said pivot rod, with said
rod bores further having a pin slot therethrough that is
dimensioned to accept the upper and lower stop pins located on the
vertical section of said pivot rod.
4. The assembly as specified in claim 3 wherein said means for
rigidly attaching each of said at least two vertical hinged
brackets to the inner edge of said auxiliary visor comprises: a)
said at least two vertical hinged brackets each further having an
inner auxiliary visor attachment tab further having an inner
surface from where extends upward a set of visor attachment pins,
b) said auxiliary visor having adjacent its inner edge a set of pin
bores in alignment with the visor attachment pins, wherein when the
pin bores are inserted over the visor attachment pins, the pins
protrude above the surface of said auxiliary visor, and c) an inner
visor attachment cap having a set of pin cavities in alignment with
the visor attachment pins, wherein the pin cavities are dimensioned
to allow a friction fit when pressed into the visor attachment pins
at which time said auxiliary visor is attached.
5. The assembly as specified in claim 1 wherein said horizontal
section of said pivot rod further comprises at least two sections
having a larger cross-section which allow the horizontal hinged
brarckets to remain fixed in-place.
6. The assembly as specified in claim 5 wherein said means for
rotatably attaching each of said at least two horizontal hinged
brackets to the horizontal section of said pivot rod comprises: a)
said at least two horizontal hinged brackets each further having:
(1) a vertical tab having an inner surface, an outer surface, an
upper edge having adjacent thereto a front strap slot, and a lower
edge terminating in an outward-extending, vehicle visor clip having
an upper edge and having adjacent thereto a rear strap slot, and
(2) a horizontal rod traversing structure extending outward from
the inner surface of the vertical tab and having a rod bore and an
upper surface from where extends upward an auxiliary visor holding
tab, wherein the rod bore is dimensioned to rotatably accept the
horizontal section of said pivot rod to provide the means for
rotatably attaching each of said horizontal hinged brackets to said
pivot rod, wherein when said horizontal hinged brackets are
inserted over the larger cross-section of the horizontal rod, the
at least two horizontal brackets are firmly held in place.
7. The assembly as specified in claim 6 wherein said means for
rigidly attaching said horizontal hinged brackets to the vehicle
sun visor comprises an inner strap assembly and an outer strap
assembly wherein each strap assembly comprises: a) a front strap
having a first end that is inserted into and attached to the front
strap slot and a second end having attached thereto a first surface
of a hook and loop fastener, and b) a rear strap having a first end
inserted into and attached to the rear strap lot and a second end
having attached thereto a second surface of a hook and loop
fastener, wherein when said front and rear strap assemblies are
wrapped and tightened around said vehicle sun visor, said auxiliary
sun visor is attached.
8. The assembly as specified in claim 6 wherein the horizontal rod
traversing structure further comprises an auxiliary visor holding
tab which is positioned and dimensioned to allow the lower edge of
the auxiliary sun visor to be inserted thereon to secure the
auxiliary sun visor in the stowed position.
9. An auxiliary vehicle sun visor assembly adapted to be attached
to a conventional vehicle sun visor, said auxiliary vehicle sun
visor comprising: a) a pivot rod comprising: (1) a vertical section
having a first and, a second end, an outer surface and an inner
surface, wherefrom the inner surface extends outward an upper stop
pin and a lower stop pin, and (2) a horizontal section having a
first end and a second end, wherein the first end is contiguous
with the second end of the vertical section, and wherein along the
second end are located at least two sections having a larger
cross-section, b) at least two vertical hinged brackets, wherein
each bracket has an outer rod attachment section and an inner
auxiliary visor attachment tab, wherein the rod attachment section
having a rod bore therethrough that is dimensioned to rotatably
accept the vertical section of said pivot rod, wherein said rod
bore further having a pin slot therethrough that is dimensioned to
accept the upper and lower stop pins located on the vertical
section of said pivot rod, c) at least two horizontal hinged
brackets, wherein each bracket comprises: (1) a vertical tab having
an inner surface, an outer surface, an upper edge having adjacent
thereto a front strap slot, a lower edge that terminates in an
outward-extending, vehicle visor clip having an upper edge and
having adjacent thereto a rear strap slot, and (2) a horizontal rod
traversing structure extending outward from the inner surface of
the vertical tab and having a rod bore and an upper surface from
where extends upward an auxiliary visor holding tab, d) an inner
strap asssembly and an outer strap assembly, wherein each strap
assembly comprises: (1) a front strap having a first end that is
inserted into and attached to the front strap slot and a second end
having attached thereto a first surface of a hook and loop
fastener, (2) a rear strap having a first end that is inserted into
and attached to the rear strap slot and a second end having
attached thereto a second surface of a hook and loop fastener, and
e) an auxiliary visor having an upper edge, a lower edge, an inner
edge, and an outer edge, wherein the inner edges are attached, by
an attachment means, to said at least two vertical hinged brackets,
wherein when said inner and outer strap assemblies are wrapped and
tightened and fastened around said vehicle sun visor, said
auxiliary vehicle sun visor is attached, at which time said
auxiliary vehicle sun visor can be rotatably placed and in a
retracted, stowed position and secured by placing the lower edge of
the auxiliary visor into each of the auxiliary visor holding tabs,
or can be rotated around the horizontal section of said pivot rod
to be positioned in a downward position, or rotated around the
vertical section of said pivot rod and placed in a side
position.
10. The assembly as specified in claim 9 wherein said means for
attaching the inner edge of said auxiliary visor to said at least
two vertical hinged brackets comprises: a) the inner auxiliary
visor attachment tab further having an inner surface from where
extend upward a set of visor attachment pins, b) said auxiliary
visor having adjacent its inner edge a set of pin bores in
alignment with the visor attachment pins, wherein when the pin
bores are inserted over the visor attachment pins, the pins
protrude above the surface of said auxiliary visor, and c) an inner
visor attachment cap having a set of pin cavities in alignment with
the visor attachment pins, wherein the pin cavities are dimensioned
to allow a friction fit when pressed into the visor attachment pins
at which time said auxiliary visor is attached.
11. The assembly as specified in claim 9 further comprising an end
cap that is dimensioned to fit into the second end of the
horizontal rod of said pivot rod.
12. The assembly as specified in claim 9 wherein said pivot rod,
said vertical hinged brackets and said horizontal hinged brackets
are made in a color to compliment the interior color of the
vehicle.
13. The assembly as specified in claim 9 wherein the auxiliary
visor is made of a tinted acrylic plastic.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The invention pertains generally to vehicle sun visors and
more particularly to an auxiliary sun visor that is removably
attached to the vehicle sun visor. The auxiliary sun visor can be
moved from a retracted, stowed position to a lower position or a
side position which block the sun's rays from the eyes of a driver
or a passenger.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Previously, many types of sun visors have been used to
provide an effective means for shading a vehicle's driver and
passengers from the sun or other reflective sources. Most
automobiles and trucks available today provide opaque sun visors as
standard equipment. Prior art has attempted to extend the utility
of these standard sun visors by adding a transparent auxiliary
visor beneath or at the side of the existing visors. The reason for
this addition is that while most visors typically perform
adequately, it is sometimes desirable to possess a tinted
transparent visor through which a driver may see but that can also
reduce intense light and bright glare.
[0003] Attempts to achieve this utility have included clip-on glare
screens that pivot or slide downward beneath the visor. Other
devices position a screen inside the visor which can be pulled
down, or add a side section that can slide horizontally from the
visor. These basic attempts fill some of the need, however, they
are for the most part unsightly or too complex in construction and
operation to be satisfactory to the vast majority of users.
[0004] A search of the prior art did not disclose nay patents that
read directly on the claims of the instant invention, however the
following U.S. patents are considered related:
1 U.S. Pat. No. INVENTOR ISSUED 4,323,275 Lutz Apr. 6, 1982
4,792,176 Karford Dec. 20, 1988 5,472,255 Moore Dec. 5, 1995
[0005] The U.S. Pat. No. 4,323,275 patent discloses a housing
attached to a visor with three auxiliary shields that may be
withdrawn from slots in the visor.
[0006] The U.S. Pat. No. 4,792,176 patent discloses a visor
extension unit that is releasably attachable to a standard sun
visor. The unit includes a lateral visor extension panel which is
movable through a horizontal guide passage in the visor extension
unit so as to effectively increase the windshield area blocked on
either side of the sun visor. A glare shield is movable through a
separate pocket formed in the extension unit.
[0007] The U.S. Pat. No. 5,472,255 patent discloses a sun visor
which has a retractable sun screen. The screen is folded or rolled
up into the visor for deployment beside the front window as well as
the windshield.
[0008] For background purposes and as indicative of the art to
which the invention relates reference may be made to the remaining
cited patents.
2 U.S. Pat. No. INVENTOR ISSUED 5,580,117 Goclowski Dec. 3, 1996
5,466,029 Zutterlund Nov. 14, 1995 4,988,139 Yamada Jan. 29,
1991
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
[0009] In its most basic design, the vehicle auxiliary sun visor
assembly is comprised of a pivot rod having a vertical section and
a contiguous horizontal section. The assembly also comprises an
auxiliary visor which has an upper edge, a lower edge, an inner
edge and an outer edge. There are at least two vertical hinged
brackets which have means for being rotatably attached to the
vertical section of the pivot rod, and means for being rigidly
attached to the inner edge of the auxiliary visor. Additionally,
there are at least two horizontal hinged brackets which have means
for being rotatably attached to the horizontal section of the pivot
rod, and means for being rigidly attached to the vehicle sun
visor.
[0010] The auxiliary vehicle sun visor assembly is designed to be
rotatably placed and secured in a stowed position, or the assembly
can be rotated around the horizontal section of the pivot rod to be
placed in a downward position, which would cause the auxiliary
visor to be directly in front of a person using the assembly. If
desired, the assembly can also be rotated around the vertical
section of the pivot rod and placed in a side position, which would
cause the auxiliary visor to be located to the left of a driver.
The assembly can also be attached to the vehicle sun visor located
on the passenger side. This is accomplished by removing the
horizontal hinged brackets from the horizontal section of the pivot
rod, rotating the brackets 180.degree., and re-inserting the
brackets into the horizontal rod.
[0011] In view of the above disclosure, the primary object of the
invention is to provide additional sun/glare blocking ability to
conventional vehicle sun visors. Whereas a conventional visor can
only block the area above the lowest plane of the visor, the
auxiliary vehicle sun visor can cause the area that is blocked to
significantly increase, thereby allowing better visibility when
needed.
[0012] It is also an object to provide an auxiliary vehicle sun
visor that:
[0013] is easy to install and use as an after market vehicle
product,
[0014] can be made in a variety of sizes to fit different
vehicles,
[0015] can be used on either a driver's-side sun visor or a
passenger's side sun visor,
[0016] is maintenance free, and only requires occasional wiping to
clean,
[0017] can be quickly removed and placed in another vehicle,
[0018] can provide a substantial amount of additional safety for
drivers/passengers and pedestrians/other vehicles on the road,
[0019] is cost effective from both a manufacturer's and consumer's
point of view, and
[0020] can be easily packaged, transported and displayed for
sale.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of an auxiliary vehicle
sun visor assembly.
[0022] FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a vertical hinged bracket
showing the relative position of the outer rod attachment section,
the inner auxiliary visor attachment tab and the inner view
attachment cap.
[0023] FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the vertical hinged
bracket.
[0024] FIG. 4 is a right side elevational view of the vertical
hinged bracket.
[0025] FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the inner visor attachment
cap.
[0026] FIG. 6 is a rear elevational view of the horizontal hinged
bracket.
[0027] FIG. 7 is a right side elevational view of the horizontal
hinged bracket. The left side elevational view is a mirror image
thereof.
[0028] FIG. 8 is a front elevational view of the horizontal hinged
bracket.
[0029] FIG. 9 is a front elevational view of the auxiliary vehicle
sun visor assembly strapped to a conventional vehicle sun visor and
placed in a retracted, stowed position.
[0030] FIG. 10 is a front elevational view of the auxiliary vehicle
sun visor assembly strapped to a conventional vehicle sun visor and
placed in a downward position.
[0031] FIG. 11 is a front elevational view of the auxiliary vehicle
sun visor assembly strapped to a conventional vehicle sun visor and
placed in a downward and side position.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0032] The best mode of the invention is presented in terms of a
preferred embodiment for an auxiliary vehicle sun visor 10,
(hereinafter "assembly 10") which is designed to be attached to a
conventional vehicle sun visor 150 to provide additional protection
from the sun or glare.
[0033] The assembly 10, as shown in FIGS. 1-11, is comprised of the
following major elements: a pivot rod 12, a set of vertical hinged
brackets 42, a set of horizontal hinged brackets 56, an inner strap
assembly 88, an outer strap assembly 90 and an auxiliary visor
110.
[0034] As shown in FIG. 1, the assembly 10 is comprised of the
pivot rod 12, which comprises a vertical section 14 having a first
end 16, a second end 18, an outer surface 20 and an inner surface
22. From the inner surface 22 extends outward an upper stop pin 24
and a lower stop pin 26. A horizontal section 30, as also shown in
FIG. 1, has a first end 32 and a second end 34. The first end 32 is
continuous with the second end 18 of the vertical section 14.
Located along the second end 34 are at least two sections having a
larger cross-section 36, as shown in FIG. 1 that allow the
horizontal hinged brackets to remain fixed in-place. The second
end, as shown in FIG. 1, can also be dimensioned to receive an end
cap 38 which eliminates a relatively sharp point and adds to the
aesthetics of the assembly 10.
[0035] There are at least two vertical hinged brackets 42, wherein
each bracket has an outer rod attachment section 44 and an inner
auxiliary visor attachment tab 46, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2-4. The
outer rod attachment section 44 has a rod bore 48 therethrough that
is dimensioned to rotatably accept the vertical section 14 of the
pivot rod 12. The rod bore 48 incorporates a pin slot 50
therethrough, as shown best in FIG. 2, that is dimensioned to
accept the upper and lower stop pins 24, 26 on the vertical section
14 of the pivot rod 12.
[0036] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 6-8, there are at least two
horizontal hinged brackets 56. Each hinged bracket 56 consists of a
vertical tab 58 having an inner surface 60, an outer surface 62, an
upper edge 66 and a lower edge 68. The upper edge 66 has adjacent
thereto a front strap slot 70, as shown best in FIG. 6, and the
lower edge 68 terminates in an outward-extending, vehicle visor
clip 72 having an upper edge 74 and having adjacent thereto a rear
strap slot 76, as best shown in FIG. 8.
[0037] As best shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a horizontal rod traversing
structure 78 extends outward from the inner surface 60 of the
vertical tab 58. The structure 78 incorporates a rod bore 80 and an
upper surface 82 from where extends upward an auxiliary visor
holding tab 84.
[0038] The assembly 10 further comprises the inner strap assembly
88 and the outer strap assembly 90, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 9-11.
Each strap assembly 88, 90 is comprised of a front strap 92 and a
rear strap 100. The front strap 92 has a first end 94 that is
inserted into and attached to the front strap slot 70, and a second
end 96 having attached thereto a first surface of a hook and loop
fastener 98. The rear strap 100, as shown in FIG. 7, has a first
end 102 inserted into and attached to the rear strap slot 76, and a
second end 104 having attached thereto a second surface of a hook
and loop fastener 106.
[0039] As shown in FIG. 1, the auxiliary visor 110, which is
preferably made of a tinted acrylic plastic, has an upper edge 112,
a lower edge 114, an inner edge 116, and an outer edge 118. The
inner edge 116 is attached by an attachment means to the at least
two vertical hinged brackets 42. When the inner and outer strap
assemblies 88, 90 are wrapped and tightened around the vehicle sun
visor 150, the auxiliary visor 110 is attached, as shown in FIGS.
9, 10 and 11. Once attached, the auxiliary visor 110 can be
rotatably placed and secured in a stowed position, as shown in FIG.
9, by placing the lower edge 114 of the auxiliary visor 110 into
each of the auxiliary visor holding tabs 84. The auxiliary sun
visor can also be rotated around the horizontal section 30 of the
pivot rod 12 to be placed in a downward position, as shown in FIG.
10, or rotated around the vertical section 14 of the pivot rod 12
and placed in a side position, as shown in FIG. 11.
[0040] The attachment means 120 for attaching the inner edge 116 of
the auxiliary visor 110 to the at least two vertical hinged
brackets 42 comprises the inner auxiliary visor attachment tabs 46
further having an inner surface 124 from where extends upward a set
of visor attachment pins 126. The auxiliary visor 110 has adjacent
its inner edge 116 a set of pin bores 130, as shwon in FIG. 1, that
are in alignment with the visor attachment pins 126. When the pin
bores 130 are inserted over the visor attachment pins 126, the pins
protrude above the surface of the auxiliary visor 110, as shown in
FIG. 4.
[0041] An inner visor attachment cap 134 has a set of pin cavities
136 that are in alignment with the visor attachment pins 126. The
pin cavities 136 are dimensioned to allow a friction fit when
pressed into the visor attachment pins 126, at which time the
auxiliary visor 110 is attached.
[0042] While the invention has been described in complete detail
and pictorially shown in the accompanying drawings it is not to be
limited to such details, since many changes and modifications may
be made in the invention without departing from the spirit and
scope thereof. Hence, it is described to cover any and all
modifications and forms which may come within the language and
scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *