Land vehicles: bodies and tops – Bodies – Glare screen or visor
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-28
2001-10-02
Pape, Joseph D. (Department: 3612)
Land vehicles: bodies and tops
Bodies
Glare screen or visor
C296S097900, C296S097120, C296S097100, C296S097130
Reexamination Certificate
active
06296293
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a motor vehicle auxiliary sun visor which is laterally adjustable and is sufficiently compact to fit between a headliner and a main visor of the vehicle.
BACKGROUND ART
There is a need for an improved sun visor assembly having more simple components to lessen manufacturing costs. Many sun visor assemblies are sufficient, but may be simplified by using more simple components. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,934,734 provides a slidable sun visor assembly having an anti-backlash device. The assembly is laterally adjustable as desired by the passenger.
There is also a need for an improved sun visor assembly having components which are more compact than previous assemblies to improve the aesthetic look. Especially in situations where an auxiliary sun visor is implemented, the auxiliary sun visor assembly should be designed to fit in a headliner pocket between the headliner and a main sun visor of the vehicle. Otherwise, the main sun visor of the vehicle may be biased downwardly due to a relatively thick auxiliary sun visor assembly, resulting in an undesirable aesthetic look.
Thus, what is needed is an improved sun visor assembly for slidable lateral movement. What is also needed is an improved auxiliary sun visor assembly having simple components, resulting in lower manufacturing costs.
What is also needed is an improved auxiliary sun visor assembly having compact components adequate to allow the assembly to fit in a headliner pocket between the headliner and a main visor.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide for an improved sun visor assembly for a vehicle. The sun visor assembly comprises a visor body, a support arm, a detent clip for supporting the visor body and movable pivotably and slidable longitudinally with respect to the support arm, and a unshaped bushing between the detent clip and the support arm. The support arm has first and second ends and a ridge which extends longitudinally between the ends. The first end is adapted to cooperate with the vehicle. The detent clip moves and slides between the first and second ends of the support arm. The unshaped bushing has terminal portions wrapped around the support arm and terminates substantially at opposite sides of the ridge, preventing the bushing from substantial pivotable movement with respect to the support arm. The detent clip has a visor support portion and a detent portion wherein the visor support portion substantially encircles the unshaped bushing and is pivotable with respect to the bushing. The detent portion is pivotably movable between a bridged position when it is pivoted to bridge the terminal portions of the bushing to store the visor body. The detent portion also has an unbridged position when it is pivoted away from the bridged position to maintain a sufficient frictional bias between the bushing and the detent portion in order to hold the visor body in a pivotal position with respect to the bushing.
In another embodiment, the assembly comprises a visor body, a support arm, a housing for supporting the visor body and attached about the support arm, and a detent control attaching to the support arm for pivotal movement thereabout and disposed in the housing. The support arm has first and second ends and a flat extending longitudinally and positioned between the ends wherein the first end is adapted to cooperate with the vehicle. The housing is attached about the support arm for slidable movement across and pivotal movement about the support arm. The detent control has upper and lower regions wherein the upper region attaches to the support arm for pivotal movement thereabout. The upper region is movable to a bridged position when pivoted to engage the flat of the support arm in order to store the visor body and an unbridged position when pivoted away from the bridged position wherein it is configured to maintain a sufficient frictional bias between the support arm and the detent control, holding the detent control longitudinally stationary therealong and allowing the detent control to pivot about the support arm. The lower region is disposed in the housing to store the lower region of the detent in the housing and allow slidable movement of the housing with respect to the detent control.
In a further embodiment, the assembly includes a visor body, a support arm, a detent clip for supporting the visor body and moveable pivotably and slidable longitudinally with respect to the support arm, and a u-shaped bushing between the detent clip and the support arm. The support arm has first and second ends and a ridge which extends longitudinally between the ends. The first end is adapted to cooperate with the vehicle. The detent clip moves and slides between the first and second ends of the support arm. The u-shaped bushing has terminal portions wrapped around the support arm and terminates substantially at opposite ends of the ridge, thereby preventing the bushing from substantial pivotal movement with respect to the support arm. The detent clip has a visor support portion and a detent portion wherein the visor support portion substantially encircles the u-shaped bushing and is pivotable with respect to the bushing. The detent portion is pivotable with the visor support portion and has a bridged position when it is pivoted to bridge the terminal portions of the bushing to store the visor body. The detent portion also has an unbridged position when it is pivoted away from the bridged position and configured to maintain a sufficient frictional bias between the bushing and the detent portion in order to hold the visor body in any pivotal position with respect to the bushing. The u-shaped bushing has a groove formed on an outer surface of the bushing to receive the visor support portion pivotably attached thereabout. The groove defines a pair of opposed end walls which flank the visor support portion in order to hold the visor support portion in slidable longitudinal position with the bushing.
Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the ensuing description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
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Peterson Don M.
Wilson Douglas J.
Brooks & Kushman P.C.
Lear Corporation
Pape Joseph D.
Patel Kiran B.
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