Maneuverable sun visor arm

Details Maneuverable sun visor arm Maneuverable sun visor arm

1999-08-06

2001-07-24

Dayoan, D. Glenn (Department: 3612)

Land vehicles: bodies and tops

Bodies

Glare screen or visor

C296S097900, C296S097130

Reexamination Certificate

active

06264263

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to improvements in devices for shielding vision from sunlight and glare and shielding the face from ultra violet radiation.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In vehicles, the restriction in movement of current sun visors can create both dangerous and uncomfortable situations.
Although sun visors are regularly remodelled in shape and size, the maneuvrability of sun visors remains limited. This is particularly problematic for drivers during the morning or evening with the sun low in the sky. Current vehicle sun visors cannot generally be extended to low enough positions to shield the eyes of many drivers from sunlight and glare extending through front windows thereby causing driver discomfort and reducing driver safety. This may also cause discomfort for passengers such as front seat passengers.
Additionally, drivers' and front seat passengers' faces are exposed to sunlight, glare and ultra violet radiation entering through side windows of vehicles. Current vehicle sun visors are not generally capable of being extended laterally to shield the face from this sunlight, glare and ultra violet radiation.
In research on sun visors having telescopic arms, issues have arisen concerning how to ensure these telescopic arms do not unexpectedly extend or change their position under normal driving conditions. Under such conditions the components of vehicles must have minimal or no rattle and the vibratory condition experienced when the vehicle goes over adverse terrain must be catered for.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention accordingly provides in one embodiment a maneuvrable sun visor arm having a first end to be mounted in a predetermined location and a second arm which is adapted to be connected to a sun visor wherein the second arm is movable substantially universally with respect to that location, the arm further characterized as including a telescopic section having two or more telescoped sub arms adapted to releasably engage each other at a plurality of predetermined locations relative to one another.
Preferably, the telescoped sub arms are provided with complementary grooves and ridges adapted to inter engage. More preferably, openings or castellations are provided adjacent to the ridges to permit the ridges to be flexed to disengage the ridges from any of the grooves.
The complementary ridges and grooves may be provided on the inner surface or outer surface of respective sub arms.
In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the sub arms are prevented from disengaging one another by the provision of a rim or lug(s) located adjacent the ends of the sub arms.
The telescoped sub arms of the telescopic section of the visor arm are typically connected together at respective ends. Such connection permits the sub arms to be moved relative to each other.
Typically both sub arms are axially extendible. In this embodiment the sub arms may be a pair of rods with either one of the rods or both rods containing telescopic elements, enabling an attached sun visor to be maneuvred into various positions by extension and retraction of the telescopic rod or rods.
In one typical embodiment of the invention, keys may be provided so as to prevent the sub arms from rotating relative to one another.
The telescopic rod or rods may be shaped cylindrically or comprise one or more flat or curved sides. The downwardly oriented rod may be adapted to be attached at its first end to a rotational mounting. The rotational mounting may be flush with the surface to which it is attached or set back into a cavity.
The laterally oriented rod may be attached to a bar onto which a sun visor is placed via the sun visor's rotational mounting, or any other device suitable for fixing a sun visor.
The maneuvrable sun visor arm may be made of any suitable sturdy material.
The present invention provides in another separate embodiment a sun visor for a vehicle, the sun visor having a maneuvrable sun visor arm according to the invention connected thereto.


REFERENCES:
patent: 1275311 (1918-08-01), Schumacher Schmalz
patent: 1461289 (1923-07-01), Primrose
patent: 4925233 (1990-05-01), Clark
patent: 5380057 (1995-01-01), Wevers
patent: 5499854 (1996-03-01), Crotty, III et al.
patent: 5645308 (1997-07-01), Fink
patent: 5653490 (1997-08-01), Fink et al.
patent: 5871252 (1999-02-01), Gute
patent: 4210972 (1992-04-01), None
patent: 2309678 (1997-05-01), None
patent: WO 93/08998 (1993-05-01), None

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