U.S. patent application number 11/161371 was filed with the patent office on 2005-11-17 for non handed plastic sunvisor.
This patent application is currently assigned to LEAR CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Tiesler, John M.
Application Number | 20050253412 11/161371 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34652617 |
Filed Date | 2005-11-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050253412 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Tiesler, John M |
November 17, 2005 |
Non Handed Plastic Sunvisor
Abstract
Disclosed is a vehicle visor that may be used on either the
right side or the left side of a vehicle without the need for side
specific parts. The vehicle visor has a textured outer surface
requiring no additional finishing covering. The vehicle visor may
also provide for the mounting of a vanity mirror or a vanity mirror
and light. Thus, the vehicle visor of the present invention is
non-handed resulting in cost savings and simplified assembly.
Inventors: |
Tiesler, John M; (Harrison
Twp, MI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Bruce E. Harang
PO BOX 872735
VANCOUVER
WA
98687-2735
US
|
Assignee: |
LEAR CORPORATION
21557 Telegraph Road
Southfield
MI
|
Family ID: |
34652617 |
Appl. No.: |
11/161371 |
Filed: |
August 1, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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11161371 |
Aug 1, 2005 |
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10707428 |
Dec 12, 2003 |
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6951362 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
296/97.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60J 3/0278
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
296/097.1 |
International
Class: |
B60J 003/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A non-handed visor for use on a left or right side of a vehicle
in cooperative combination comprising: a frame upper, and a frame
lower permanently fixed together; having a panel mounted between
said frame upper and said frame lower; and an ear moveably mounted
on one end of the frame upper; thereby producing a vehicle visor
that may be used on either of said sides of a vehicle without the
need for side specific parts.
7. A non-handed visor for use on either side of a vehicle in
cooperative combination comprising: a frame upper, and a frame
lower permanently fixed together; having a panel mounted between
said frame upper and said frame lower, said panel having an opening
for mounting a vanity mirror assembly; and an ear moveably mounted
on one end of the frame upper; thereby producing a vehicle visor
that may be used on either side of a vehicle without the need for
side specific parts.
8. The non-handed visor as claimed in claim 7 wherein, said frame
upper and said frame lower are heat welded together.
9. The non-handed visor as claimed in claim 8 wherein, said panel
is fixed between the frame upper and the frame lower during said
heat welding.
10. The non-handed visor as claimed in claim 7 wherein, said panel
has a plurality of perforations therein.
11. The non-handed visor as claimed in claim 19 wherein, said
plurality of perforations are from about 1.5 mm to about 2 mm in
diameter and are spaced about 4 mm apart.
12. The non-handed visor as claimed in claim 7 wherein, said visor
frame and said panel have a textured outer surface.
13. A non-handed visor for use on a left or right side of a vehicle
in cooperative combination comprising: a frame upper, and a frame
lower permanently fixed together; having a panel mounted between
said frame upper and said frame lower, said panel having an opening
for mounting a vanity mirror and vanity light assembly; and an ear
moveably mounted on one end of the frame upper; thereby producing a
vehicle visor that may be used on either of said sides of a vehicle
without the need for side specific parts.
14. The non-handed visor as claimed in claim 13 wherein, said frame
upper and said frame lower are heat welded together.
15. The non-handed visor as claimed in claim 14 wherein, said panel
is fixed between the frame upper and the frame lower during said
heat welding.
16. The non-handed visor as claimed in claim 13 wherein, said panel
has a plurality of perforations therein.
17. The non-handed visor as claimed in claim 16 wherein, said
plurality of perforations are from about 1.5 mm to about 2 mm in
diameter and are spaced about 4 mm apart.
18. The non-handed visor as claimed in claim 13 wherein, said visor
frame and said panel have a textured outer surface.
19. The non-handed visor as claimed in claim 13 wherein, said
opening in said panel is positioned such that the bottom edge of
the mounted vanity mirror light assembly is located against the
upper edge of the opening in the frame allowing for the concealed
routing of electrical wiring.
Description
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention generally relates to a vehicle visor
and particularly to a non-handed vehicle visor. More particularly
the present invention relates to a non-handed vehicle visor
allowing for a single set of components to be utilized to produce a
vehicle visor for use on either side of a vehicle.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] A significant portion of the cost of a vehicle visor is the
blank visor members being specific for use on one side of a vehicle
or the other, i.e., handed visor members. This requires two sets of
parts and part dies to provide a visor on both sides of a vehicle.
A significant savings would be realized if one set of dies and one
set of components would suffice to provide visors that would be
suitable for both sides of a vehicle.
[0005] For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,997,228 issued Mar. 5, 1991 to
Kempkers teaches an upholstery covered sun visor core suitable for
use with or without a mirror or mirror/vanity light assembly.
[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 5,011,212 issued Apr. 30, 1991 to Viertel et
al teaches a sun visor assembly having a light mounted in a bracket
which is separate from the visor body.
[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 5,340,186 issued Aug. 23, 1994 to Aymerich et
al teaches a sun visor body having a physical attachment means for
fixedly attaching a vanity mirror housing to said sun visor
body.
[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 5,678,879 issued Oct. 21, 1997 to Mailander et
al teaches a foam core sandwich construction sun visor substrate
for producing an upholstery covered sun visor assembly.
[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 5,727,837 issued Mar. 17, 1998 to Viertel
teaches a sun visor assembly having a body and an insert containing
both the vanity mirror and the sun visor arm attachment means.
[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 6,513,855 issued Feb. 4, 2003 to Zenisek
teaches a glare shield for use between the left and right sun
visors that attaches to the rear view mirror mounting arm.
[0011] Thus, there remains a need for a non-handed visor that would
be suitable for use on both sides of a vehicle without the need for
having two separate sets of components.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
[0012] The present invention provides advantages and alternatives
over the prior art by providing a non-handed vehicle visor
utilizing a single set of parts which may be assembled to provide
either a right-handed or a left-handed visor. This invention is
particularly suitable for visors in which no cover is employed.
[0013] A further aspect of the present invention provides for
visors with no vanity mirror, visors with a vanity mirror, and
visors with both a vanity mirror and one or more vanity lights.
[0014] According to yet another aspect of the present invention
there is provided a vehicle visor particularly suited to having a
textured plastic outer surface requiring no covering.
[0015] According to a yet further aspect of the present invention
there is provided a vehicle visor having a lighted vanity where the
top edge of the vanity bezel is positioned against the bottom of
the upper edge of the opening of the frames such that the
electrical wiring may be easily hidden between the frames.
[0016] According to still another aspect of the present invention
there is provided a non-handed visor for use on either side of a
vehicle in cooperative combination comprising a frame upper, and a
frame lower permanently fixed together; having panel mounted
between said frame upper and said frame lower; and an ear moveably
mounted on one end of the frame upper; thereby producing a vehicle
visor that may be used on either side of a vehicle without the need
for side specific parts.
[0017] According to still yet another aspect of the present
invention there is provided a non-handed visor for use on either
side of a vehicle in cooperative combination comprising a frame
upper, and a frame lower permanently fixed together; having a panel
mounted between said frame upper and said frame lower, said panel
having an opening for mounting a vanity mirror assembly; and an ear
moveably mounted on one end of the frame upper; thereby producing a
vehicle visor that may be used on either side of a vehicle without
the need for side specific parts.
[0018] According to still yet further aspect of the present
invention there is presented a non-handed visor for use on either
side of a vehicle in cooperative combination comprising a frame
upper, and a frame lower permanently fixed together; having a panel
mounted between said frame upper and said frame lower, said panel
having an opening for mounting a vanity mirror and vanity light
assembly; and an ear moveably mounted on one end of the frame
upper; thereby producing a vehicle visor that may be used on either
side of a vehicle without the need for side specific parts.
[0019] The present invention thus advantageously provides for a
non-handed vehicle visor that is economical to produce and requires
fewer parts to provide both right-handed and left-handed
visors.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0020] FIG. 1 shows an exploded perspective view of one preferred
embodiment of the present invention.
[0021] FIG. 2 show a plan view of a preferred embodiment of the
flexible ear end piece of the visor of the present invention.
[0022] FIG. 3 shows an exploded perspective view of another
embodiment of the present invention having a vanity mirror assembly
mounted therein.
[0023] FIG. 4 shows an exploded perspective view of yet another
embodiment of the present invention having a vanity mirror assembly
also having provision for two vanity mirror lights.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0024] Reference will now be made to the drawings, wherein to the
extent possible like reference numerals are utilized to designate
like components throughout the various views. Referring to FIG. 1,
which presents an exploded view of one preferred embodiment of the
present invention having a frame upper 1 having an opening 11, a
frame lower 2 having an opening 12 with a panel 3 located there
between.
[0025] As further shown in FIG. 1 there is a moveable ear 4 having
mounting cavities 20 and 23, moveably mounted to frame upper 1 by
way of mounting pins 21 and 22 located on one end of said frame
upper 1. The components comprising the vehicle visor once assembled
provide a visor that may be used on either side of the vehicle
without modification, i.e., the visor is non-handed. By non-handed
is meant that the article so described may be use on either the
right side or the left side of a vehicle without the requirement of
side specific parts.
[0026] FIG. 2 shows a plan view of the moveable ear 4 mounted in a
partial section of frame upper 1. Frame upper 1 have mounting pins
21 and 22 located therein for snapping into corresponding cavities
20 and 23 located in the edge of moveable ear 4.
[0027] Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown an exploded view of
one preferred embodiment of the present invention having a frame
upper 1 having an opening 11, a frame lower 2 having an opening 12
with a panel 3 located there between. The panel 3 has an
appropriately sized opening 10 located in a desired position for
mounting a vanity mirror assembly. The mirror assembly may be any
of those well known in the art. A preferred vanity mirror assembly
is shown comprising a mirror cover 5 having a mirror 6 mounted
therein, a mirror bezel 7 framing said mirror 6 and a mirror lid 8
moveably mounted over said mirror 6 such that it may be positioned
in either an open or a closed position. Also shown is ear 4
mountable on one end of frame upper 1. As shown in FIG. 3 the visor
becomes a left-hand visor due to the direction of the mirror. To
make it a right-hand visor the mirror assembly would be assembled
with the mirror facing frame lower 2. The visor members themselves
however need no modification in either configuration or
assembly.
[0028] Turning now to FIG. 4, there is shown an exploded view of
one preferred embodiment of the present invention having a frame
upper 1 having an opening 11, a frame lower 2 having an opening 12
with a panel 3 located there between. The panel 3 has an
appropriately sized opening 10 located in a desired position for
mounting a vanity mirror assembly. The vanity mirror/lamp assembly
may be any of those well known in the art. A preferred vanity
mirror/lamp assembly is shown comprising a mirror cover 5 having a
mirror 6 mounted therein, a mirror bezel 7 framing said mirror 6
and having provision for mounting a pair of vanity lamps (not
shown) and mounting over said vanity lamps lamp lenses 9, and a
mirror lid 8 moveably mounted over said mirror 6 and said lamp
lenses 9 such that it may be positioned in either an open or a
closed position. Also shown is ear 4 mountable on one end of frame
upper 1. As shown in FIG. 4 the visor becomes a left-hand visor due
to the direction of the mirror. To make it a right-hand visor the
mirror assembly would be assembled with the mirror facing frame
lower 2. The visor members themselves however need no modification
in either configuration or assembly.
[0029] The panel 3 may be a solid form but preferably is perforated
with a pattern of small holes. The presently preferred panel 3 is a
molded perforated plastic having perforations of from about 1.5 mm
to about 2 mm with a perforation spacing of about 4 mm. It is also
to be understood that panel 3 may be a separate component as shown
in the Figures or it may be molded as an integral portion of either
frame upper 1 or frame lower 2. The panel 3 is preferably a
separate component that is locked between frame upper 1 and frame
lower 2 when said frame members are heat welded together.
[0030] Frame upper 1, frame lower 2 and ear 4 may be composed of
any suitable material well known in the art. Presently preferred is
molding said components of polypropylene, high-density
polypropylene, ABS, and similar engineered plastics.
[0031] Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention
has been disclosed, various changes and modifications may be made
without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in
the appended claims.
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