Abstract:
An anti-dazzle sun visor for use in the upper part of a windshield of a motor vehicle. The anti-dazzle sun visor is characterized by a screen which is hinged to a suspension, mounted so as to be movable to be displaced along the windshield, and a curtain which is extensible below a part of the windshield considered to be shadable, the curtain extending between the mobile suspension and the upper edge of the windshield.

Description:
This application is a 35 U.S.C. §371 National Stage entry of PCT/DE2007/000620, filed Apr. 5, 2007, which claims priority from French Patent Application No.: FR 06/03015, filed Apr. 6, 2006, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to an anti-dazzle sun visor intended for use in the upper part of a windshield of a motor vehicle. 
   The invention is used particularly advantageously, but not exclusively, in the field of vehicles which are provided with windshields extending above the front seats. 
   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   In the field of motor vehicles it is known per se to use anti-dazzle sun visors in the region of the upper part of a windshield, in order to be protected from light sources which are too intense. In particular, direct solar radiation is referred to in this case but also glare from the headlights of other road users. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The principle is to arrange a screen between the eyes of each front occupant of the vehicle and the relevant light source, the aforementioned screen ideally having to be positioned directly above the field of vision actually used by the aforementioned occupant. The object of the invention is naturally to limit the risk of glare, which is capable of distracting the driver and/or disturbing the passenger. 
   Nowadays, anti-dazzle sun visors which are used generally consist of light-impermeable screens, which are articulated in the region of the roof lining of the vehicle, so that in the region of the upper part of the windshield they may be aligned mainly to the front and, if required, accordingly to the side in the region of an upper part of a front side window. 
   In practice, a motor vehicle is generally provided with two screens which are arranged at both lateral ends of the interior fittings which clad the roof lining, and which are respectively able to black out parts of the windshield located on both sides of the internal rear view mirror. Moreover, each screen is generally of a height which is restricted to approximately ten centimeters and of a width which substantially corresponds to half of the windshield. 
   Based upon the fact that only the main function is essential, i.e. the blacking out of the upper part of the windshield, each screen is generally movably mounted for a horizontal pivoting movement between, on the one hand, a passive position in which it is arranged flat on the internal cladding of the vehicle and, on the other hand, an active position, in which it extends more or less parallel with the upper part of the windshield. 
   This type of anti-dazzle sun visor, however, has the drawback that it is particularly poorly suited to windshields of great height and, in particular, those which extend into the roof lining above the front seats. Due to their large dimensions, such glass surfaces are in fact particularly subjected to light radiation, in particular in the upper region. As a result, it is imperative to have sufficiently large screens in order to be able to black out relatively large parts of the windshields, if required. 
   Oversized screens, however, prove to be particularly difficult to use as their dimensions are excessively large, which requires a corresponding space, in particular for the tilting movement. Due to the design of the interior and/or the height of the user, this fundamental drawback may even be insuperable when the movement of the screen requires a movement of the head of the aforementioned user. 
   Whilst screens with large dimensions are acceptable for utility vehicles, they are nevertheless additionally unattractive and thus less suitable for passenger vehicles of the monospace type and/or recreational vehicles. In this case, a problem is encountered which substantially corresponds to the difficulty of having to use the external rearview mirrors. 
   Thus the problem to be solved by the subject-matter of the present invention is to propose an anti-dazzle sun visor which is intended to be used in the upper part of a windshield of a motor vehicle, the aforementioned anti-dazzle sun visor allowing the problems of the prior art to be avoided, in practice in particular by substantially improved comfort being provided during use and at the same time an aesthetically advantageous design being made possible. 
   The solution of the technical problem set forth according to the invention consists in that the anti-dazzle sun visor has a screen which is articulated to a suspension device movably mounted for displacement along the windshield, as well as a blind which is capable of being extended below a part of the windshield, denoted as being able to be blacked out, and extending between the movable suspension device and the upper edge of the aforementioned windshield. 
   In a particularly advantageous manner, the mobility of the suspension device makes it possible to adjust the position of the screen along the windshield according to the height in the best possible manner, whilst the blind makes it possible to cover the part of the windshield extending thereover. The mobility of the screen accordingly makes it possible to adjust accurately the blackout effect of the anti-dazzle sun visor. 
   It is understood that the screen may be configured in absolutely any manner, in particular with regard to the structure and/or the shape and/or the dimensions. 
   Moreover the same applies to the blind, said blind equally being able to adopt a plurality of positions or not, being able to have a motorized drive or not, and being able to be accommodated in any manner, in particular by rolling up or folding. 
   The fact that the screen has articulated joints simply means that it is capable of being moved into a plurality of different positions which may extend three-dimensionally within the space. 
   The invention thus defined provides the advantage of being perfectly suited to windshields of large height. 
   As the blackout capacity of a screen is combined with that of a blind, such an anti-dazzle sun visor is actually able to cover a large surface area in the upper part of the windshield. 
   The mobility of the suspension device of the screen permits in turn a precise adjustment of the size of the anti-dazzle sun visor according to the relative position of the respective light source relative to the eyes of the user. 
   The presence of the blind makes it possible, moreover, to use a screen of limited height, i.e. a screen of which the handling does not require the space available in the interior to be excessively used up, which increases the comfort of the vehicle occupant. 
   Finally, overall the reduced space requirement of the anti-dazzle sun visor both in the extended position and in the received position has a significant advantage from a purely aesthetic point of view. 
   The present invention also relates to features which are revealed in the course of the present description and which respectively have to be considered individually or with all their possible technical combinations. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The above description is given by way of non-limiting example and is intended to make it easier to understand what the invention consists of and how it may be achieved. Moreover, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
       FIG. 1  shows in perspective from above an anti-dazzle sun visor according to a first embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 2  shows the structure of the anti-dazzle sun visor according to  FIG. 1  in more detail; 
       FIG. 3  shows a perspective view from above of a sun visor of a motor vehicle, which is provided with two anti-dazzle sun visors according to  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; each anti-dazzle sun visor is in this case respectively shown in the extended state; 
       FIG. 4  shows a similar view to  FIG. 3 , but with the anti-dazzle sun visors folded up; 
       FIG. 5  shows a view similar to  FIG. 4  but in perspective from below; 
       FIG. 6  shows in perspective from above an anti-dazzle sun visor according to a second embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 7  shows the structure of the anti-dazzle sun visor according to  FIG. 6  in more detail; 
       FIG. 8  shows a diagram which illustrates the operation of the anti-dazzle sun visor according to  FIGS. 6 and 7 ; 
       FIG. 9  shows a perspective view from above of a sun visor of a motor vehicle which is provided with two anti-dazzle sun visors according to  FIGS. 6 to 8 ; the aforementioned anti-dazzle sun visors are respectively shown in the completely folded up state and the fully extended state; 
       FIG. 10  shows a view similar to  FIG. 9  but with the two anti-dazzle sun visors partially used; 
       FIG. 11  shows a bottom view of the windshield according to  FIGS. 9 and 10  with the anti-dazzle sun visors completely folded up; 
       FIG. 12  shows a view similar to  FIG. 11  but with the two partially retracted anti-dazzle sun visors. 
   

   For reasons of clarity, the same components are denoted by identical reference numerals. Moreover, only the components which are essential for understanding the invention have been shown and namely in schematic form and respectively without being to scale. 
   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIGS. 1 and 2  show an anti-dazzle sun visor  100  which is intended to be mounted in the upper part of a windshield  10  of a motor vehicle  1  in order to be able to be operated from inside the interior by at least one occupant on the front seats. 
   According to the subject-matter of the present invention, the aforementioned anti-dazzle sun visor  100  is provided with a screen  110  which is articulated to a suspension device  120  which in turn is movably mounted for displacement along the windshield  10 , as well as a blind  130  which may be extended below a part of the windshield  10 , which is denoted as a part  11  to be blacked out and which extends between the suspension device  120  and the upper edge of the aforementioned windshield  10 . 
   According to a feature of the invention, the blind  130  is movably mounted for displacement between an open position in which it is received in the vicinity of the part  11  to be blacked out of the windshield  10  and a closed position in which it extends below the aforementioned part  11  to be blacked out. 
   According to a first embodiment of the invention, the blind  130  in the open position is received in the region of a fixed part of the anti-dazzle sun visor  100  which forms a receiver region. 
   It is intended in this case and in the entire text of the description that the term “receiver region” also relates to a component and the part of a component, which is an integral component of the anti-dazzle sun visor  100 , or a component of the motor vehicle  1  or a part of a component, which serves as the suspension device and thus is indirectly part of the structure of the aforementioned anti-dazzle sun visor  100 . A reinforcing element of the bodywork, such as for example the upper pillar of the windshield, or an internal fittings part for cladding the roof lining and even the actual windshield  10 , for example, are understood as parts of the motor vehicle  1 . 
   According to an advantageous feature of the aforementioned first embodiment which may be seen in  FIGS. 3 to 5 , the receiver region of the anti-dazzle sun visor  100  is intended to be positioned in the vicinity of the upper edge of the windshield  10 . 
   The object is to position the receiver region of the blind  130  in an optimal manner in the interior of the vehicle, i.e. as close as possible to the part  11  to be blacked out of the windshield  10 . Such a design makes it possible to limit the maximum length of the blind, and thus the space requirement of the anti-dazzle sun visor  100  in the open position. The ultimate goal is naturally not to impair the spatial comfort of the motor vehicle  1 . 
   According to a feature of the invention present in the first embodiment, the use of the blind  130  is associated with the displacement of the movable suspension device  120 . 
   In this type of arrangement, the blind  130  connects the receiver region to the movable suspension device  120  in a continuous manner, i.e. it permanently covers a space which extends between the upper edge of the windshield  10  and the part of the anti-dazzle sun visor  100  bearing the screen  110 . As, however, the receiver region in this case is fixed, this means that the use of the blind  130  is systematically controlled by the movement of the movable suspension device  120  along the windshield  10 . 
   In the case of the particular example shown in  FIGS. 1 to 5 , the end of the blind  130  is fixedly connected to the movable suspension device  120 , as it is received in the region of a fixed part of the anti-dazzle sun visor  100  i.e. in this case the receiver region. Accordingly, the blind  130  is extended when the movable suspension device  120  is removed from the receiver region whilst it is folded up when the movable suspension device  120  is brought closer to the aforementioned receiver region. 
   If, however, according to a variant of the invention the blind  130  were intended to be received in the region of the movable suspension device  120 , this might mean that one end of the aforementioned blind  130  would be fixedly connected to a fixed part of the anti-dazzle sun visor  100 . 
   According to a further feature of the invention used in this first embodiment, the blind  130  is designed such that it may adopt a plurality of positions. 
   In this particular embodiment, selected merely as an example, the blind  130  in practice consists of a light-permeable canvas  131  of which two opposing ends are respectively fixedly connected to a rolling tube  132 , on the one hand, which is movably mounted in axial rotation in the vicinity of the part  11  to be blacked out of the windshield  10  and, on the other hand, a drawbar  133  which in turn is movably mounted for displacement along the aforementioned part  11  to be blacked out. The whole assembly is designed such that the canvas  131  in the open position is rolled up around the rolling tube  132  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ), and such that the aforementioned canvas  131  in the closed position extends below the part  11  to be blacked out of the windshield  10  ( FIG. 3 ). 
   It is noteworthy that in this embodiment the drawbar  133  and the movable suspension device  120  due to the permanent coupling during displacement between the blind  130  and the aforementioned movable suspension device  120  merely form one and the same piece. 
   Irrespective thereof, however, the anti-dazzle sun visor  100  is provided with means  150  which are capable of connecting the movement of the drawbar  133  to the axial rotation of the rolling tube  132 , when the canvas  131  is driven for displacement between the open position and the closed position, in order to be able to have a plurality of possibilities for positioning. 
   From the structural point of view, the aforementioned coupling means  150  schematically consist of a combination of conical rollers  151  and drive cables  152  which are guided by deflection rollers  153 ,  154 . 
   As may be seen more clearly in  FIG. 3 , each end of the rolling tube  132  carries a conical roller  151  to which a drive cable  152  extending in the direction of the front part of the anti-dazzle sun visor  100  is fastened and is able to be rolled up thereon or unrolled therefrom. Each drive cable  152  is then passed back to the receiver region due to the presence of a first deflection roller  153 , before it is diverted at right angles via a second deflection roller  154  into the region of the drawbar  133 , to which it is fastened via a tension spring  155 . The aforementioned elastic return means  155  has, in a manner known per se, the purpose of compensating possible deviations between the displacement distance of the drawbar  133  and the unrolling length and rolling-up length of the canvas  131  and thus keeping the aforementioned canvas  131  under constant tension between the aforementioned drawbar  133  and the rolling tube  132 . 
   Such coupling means according to the prior art are known per se and are not disclosed here with reference to the operation thereof. 
   Naturally, a plurality of mechanisms exist which are able to fulfill the coupling function, as has been disclosed above. For this reason, in principle all known coupling means  150  may be used in an equivalent manner within the scope of the invention. 
   In a further feature of the invention implemented in the aforementioned first embodiment, the movable suspension device  120  is advantageously slidably mounted along two guide rails  140 ,  141 , which are intended to be arranged on both sides of the part  11  to be blacked out of the windshield  10  according to  FIGS. 3 to 5 . 
   According to a further feature of the invention used in the first embodiment and in particular seen in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the screen  110  is movably mounted for pivoting, on the one hand, according to a first axis substantially parallel to the movable suspension device  120  and, on the other hand, in a second manner substantially perpendicular to the aforementioned first pivot axis. 
   The first mobility allows the screen  110  to be aligned to the front in the region of the upper part of the windshield  10  or to be pressed against the internal cladding  30  of the roof lining  20  for the purpose of being received. The second pivotability allows, in turn, a positioning of the screen  110  at the side in the region of the upper part of the corresponding side window (not shown) of the vehicle  1 . 
     FIGS. 3 to 5  show different examples of the embodiment, which may be obtained by two anti-dazzle sun visors  100  corresponding to the above description being used in the interior of a motor vehicle  1 . 
     FIG. 3  shows the two blinds  130  as well as the two screens  110  respectively in the extended position. 
   In the second case of  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the right-hand anti-dazzle sun visor  100  (viewed from the interior of the passenger compartment) is shown completely folded up, i.e. its blind  130  is rolled up in the receiver region whilst its screen  110  is accommodated flat and parallel to the roof lining  20 . 
     FIGS. 6 to 8  show an anti-dazzle sun visor  200  which corresponds to a second embodiment of the invention, but is nevertheless also intended to be used in the upper part of a windshield  11  of a motor vehicle  1 . 
   The aforementioned second embodiment differs substantially, however, from the disclosed first embodiment in the fact that in this case the blind  230  in the open position is received on the movable suspension device. 
   According to a feature of the invention used in the aforementioned second embodiment, the use of the blind  230  is independent of the displacement of the movable suspension device. 
   In this type of embodiment the blind  230  is not connected permanently and simultaneously to the upper part of the windshield and the movable suspension device  220 , i.e. the space extending between the upper edge of the aforementioned windshield  10  and the part of the anti-dazzle sun visor  200  bearing the screen  210  is not systematically covered. This also means that the blind  230  is operated completely autonomously and in particular independently of the displacement of the movable suspension device  220 . 
   According to a further feature of the invention used in the aforementioned second embodiment, the movable suspension device  220  is slidably mounted along two guide rails  240 ,  241  which, as is visible in  FIGS. 9 to 12 , are intended to be arranged on both sides of the part  11  to be blacked out of the windshield  10 . 
   In this second embodiment, the blind  230  consists of a canvas  231 , the two opposing ends thereof respectively being fixedly connected, on the one hand, to a rolling tube  232  which is movably mounted in axial rotation in the vicinity of the part  11  to be blacked out of the windshield  10  and, on the other hand, a drawbar  233  which is movably mounted for displacement along the aforementioned part  11  to be blacked out. Accordingly, the extension or the folding up of the blind  230  takes place by specific action on the drawbar  133  of the anti-dazzle sun visor  200  which in this case is completely separate from the movable suspension device  220 . 
   Moreover, the drawbar  233  is preferably movably and slidably mounted along two guide rails, which are intended to be mounted along both sides of the part  11  to be blacked out of the windshield  10 . 
   In this embodiment, the drawbar  233  and the movable suspension device  220  are formed by two completely separate parts. Accordingly, it proves particularly advantageous that the two guide rails  240 ,  241 , which ensure the sliding of the movable suspension device  220 , are the same as those which ensure the sliding of the drawbars  233 . 
   In a similar manner to the first embodiment described above, the blind  230  of the aforementioned second embodiment is of the type which is able to adopt a plurality of positions. 
   The anti-dazzle sun visor  200  is, moreover, also provided with means  250  which are able to couple the displacement of the drawbar  233  with the axial rotation of the rolling tube  232 , when the canvas  231  is driven for displacement between the open and the closed position. 
   The aforementioned coupling means  250  are, however, configured slightly differently from the equivalent coupling means of the first embodiment. 
   As may be seen in particular in  FIG. 8 , each end of the rolling tube  232  bears a conical roller  251  to which a drive cable  252  is fastened, which may be rolled up or unrolled and extended in the direction of the front part of the anti-dazzle sun visor  200 . Each drive cable  252  is then passed back to the rear due to the presence of a first deflection roller  253  before it is again deflected to the front via a second deflection roller  254 . The drive cable  252  is then steered over a third deflection roller  255  perpendicular to the drawbar  233 , to which it is fastened via a tension spring  256 . Also in this case, the aforementioned elastic return means  156  have the purpose of compensating for possibly different dimensions in the transmission chain which ensures the coupling of the drawbar  233  and the rolling tube  232  for displacement; the object in this case is again to keep the tension of the canvas  231  constant. 
   In a similar manner to the case of the first embodiment of the invention, in this case the coupling means  250  are also known per se according to the prior art and neither the structure nor the function thereof are described in more detail here. 
   Naturally, a plurality of mechanisms exist which are able to fulfill the coupling function as has been described above. For this reason, in principle all known coupling means  250  may be used in the equivalent manner within the scope of the invention. 
   In the event that the blind  230  is not of the type which allows a plurality of positions, a variant may consist in providing the anti-dazzle sun visor  200  with temporary connection means which are able to connect the free end of the blind  230  to at least one fixing point in a disconnectable manner. 
   Two different embodiments therefore have to be considered in principle. 
   The first corresponds to the case in which it is provided to receive the blind in the region of a fixed part of the anti-dazzle sun visor  200 . A fastening point may then advantageously be arranged on the movable suspension device  220 . 
   The second embodiment corresponds to the situation in which the whole assembly is designed such that the blind  230  is received in the region of the movable suspension device  220 . The anti-dazzle sun visor  220  may then advantageously have a fastening point and, in particular, the receiver region at a fixed part of the anti-dazzle sun visor. 
     FIGS. 9 to 12  show different examples of the embodiment which may be obtained by two anti-dazzle sun visors  200  being used in the interior of a motor vehicle  1  according to the above description. 
   In  FIG. 9  the right-hand anti-dazzle sun visor  200  (viewed from the inside of the passenger compartment) is shown as completely folded up whilst the left-hand anti-dazzle sun visor is shown as completely extended. 
     FIG. 10  shows the two anti-dazzle sun visors  200  in the same state, i.e. with both blinds  230  in the open position and both screens  210  in the folded up position. 
   In  FIG. 11 , the two anti-dazzle sun visors  200  are also shown in an identical state, i.e. completely folded up. 
     FIG. 12  finally shows a further example of the embodiment in which the two blinds  230  are located in the open position, and the two screens  210  are in the folded up position. 
   Naturally the invention generally relates to any motor vehicle which as described above is provided with at least one anti-dazzle sun visor  100 ,  200 .