Abstract:
The present invention provides a sun visor system comprising: a main visor system assembly for mounting on a motor vehicle; a visor guide assembly; a visor extension arm having a first end that pivotally engages the main visor system assembly and a second end including an opening therethrough; a sun visor having an visor guide bar extending through and pivotally engaging the opening and slidably engaging the visor guide assembly, wherein the main visor system assembly includes driving means for moving the visor extension arm between an extended and retracted position, and wherein when the visor extension arm is moved between the extended and retracted positions to cause the visor guide to bar travel along the visor guide assembly, thereby moving the visor between a side window sun protecting position and a visor retracted position.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention broadly relates to a sun visor system (e.g., an automatic sun visor system) for a motor vehicle (e.g., an automobile). 
   2. Related Art 
   Because of the problems of glare from the sun impacting the driver (and/or passenger(s)), sun visor systems are often provided as standard equipment for motor vehicles such as automobiles, trucks, etc. Many of these sun visor systems are in the form of fold down visors, which may be articulated for pivotal movement downwardly into position, and may also be articulated for movement sideways so that the visor may be used to protect the driver (and passenger(s)) from the sun and/or resulting glare either through the front windshield or side windows. 
   Many of these sun visor systems require a user to manually engage and position the visor which may be difficult to achieve in certain instances depending on the height, reach, etc., of the user, as well as whether the user is, for example, occupied in driving the motor vehicle. In the case of users in the front seat, each manual visor may also only cover at any one time the front windshield, or a front side window, but not both. These manual sun visor systems may also obstruct a substantial portion of the viewing area of the user. Tinting of the front windshield may also be provided, but this is may be limited to the upper edges of the front windshield, thus providing no benefit against the sun and/or the resulting glare to the front or back side windows on the driver and/or passenger sides. Manual curtains may also be provided, but may not be practical for the front windshield or slanted sides of windows. 
   Automated or powered sun visor systems may be provided to achieve protection against the sun and the glare resulting therefrom. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,720,508 (Mohammed), issued Feb. 14, 1998; U.S. Pat. No. 6,279,984 (Reina, Jr.), issued Aug. 28, 2001. Many of these automated or powered sun visor systems are made to address protecting against sun and the resulting glare through the front windshield, but not the front or back side windows. Providing automated or powered sun visor systems for the front or back side windows may create challenges because of difficulties in locating the system so that it is convenient to use, hidden from view when not deployed, installable with many different types of motor vehicles (e.g., automobile, truck, etc.) designs, etc. 
   Accordingly, there still exists a need for an automated sun visor system which: (1) may be used with the front and/or side windows; (2) may be relatively easy for the user to control; (3) may be hidden from view when not deployed; and (4) may be installed with many different motor vehicle (e.g., automobile, truck, etc.) designs. 
   SUMMARY 
   According to a first broad aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sun visor system comprising:
         a main visor system assembly for mounting on a motor vehicle;   a visor guide assembly;   a visor extension arm having a first end that pivotally engages the main visor system assembly and a second end including an opening therethrough;   a visor guide bar extending through and pivotally engaging the opening and slidably engaging the visor guide assembly;   a sun visor connected to the visor guide bar   wherein the main visor system assembly includes drive means for moving the visor extension arm between an extended and retracted position;   wherein when the visor extension arm is moved between the extended and retracted positions to cause the visor guide to bar travel along the visor guide assembly, thereby moving the visor between a side window sun protecting position and a visor retracted position.       

   According to a second broad aspect of the present invention, there is provided an automatic sun visor system comprising:
         a main visor system assembly for mounting on a motor vehicle;   a visor extension arm which is movable between an extended position and a retracted position;   means associated with the main visor system assembly and connected to the visor extension arm for controllably moving the visor extension arm between extended and retracted positions;   a visor guide assembly;   a visor guide bar connected to the visor extension arm and comprising means for engaging the visor guide assembly for guided movement between visor guide bar extended and retracted positions in response to movement of the visor extension arm between visor extension arm extended and retracted positions;   a visor for protecting an occupant of the motor vehicle from sun and/or glare, which is attached to the visor guide bar for movement between a side window sun protecting position and a retracted position in response to movement of the visor guide bar between visor guide bar extended and retracted positions.       

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a side view of an upper portion of an automobile viewed from an angle above the driver side with an embodiment of an automatic visor system of the present invention, showing a sun visor in an extended (protecting) or operative position or configuration; 
       FIG. 2  is planar view of the automatic visor system of  FIG. 1  with the cover of the main visor system assembly and other components removed to better illustrate the features thereof; and 
       FIG. 3  is a sectional view of a portion of an automobile with a sectional view of the automatic visor system of  FIG. 1 , showing the sun visor in a retracted or inoperative position or configuration. 
       FIG. 4  is an end view of the visor taken along  4 - 4  of  FIG. 2 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   It is advantageous to define several terms before describing the invention. It should be appreciated that the following definitions are used throughout this application. 
   Definitions 
   Where the definition of terms departs from the commonly used meaning of the term, Applicant intends to utilize the definitions provided below, unless specifically indicated. 
   For the purposes of the present invention, directional terms such as “top”, “bottom”, “above”, “below”, “left”, “right”, “up”, “down”, etc. are merely used for convenience in describing the various embodiments of the system of the present invention. 
   For the purposes of the present invention, the term “motor vehicle” may refer to an automobile, car, truck, van, bus, etc. 
   For the purposes of the present invention, the term “occupant” may refer to a driver, one or more passengers, or the driver and one or more passengers, of a motor vehicle. 
   For the purposes of the present invention, the term “user” refers to an occupant of a motor vehicle using an embodiment of the system of the present invention. 
   For the purposes of the present invention, the term “visor” refers to an element, component, etc., that may shade, screen, protect, etc., a user from the sun and/or the resulting or associated glare therefrom coming through or at the window. 
   For the purposes of the present invention, the term “side window sun protecting position” refers to a positioning of the sun visor relative to a side window of a motor vehicle such that the user is shaded, screened, protected, etc., against the sun and/or the resulting or associated glare therefrom coming through or at the window. 
   For the purposes of the present invention, the terms “operative position” or “operative configuration” refer interchangeably to an element, component, member, assembly, system, etc., that is in a usable, working functioning, etc., position or configuration. 
   For the purposes of the present invention, the terms “inoperative position” or “inoperative configuration” refer interchangeably to an element, component, member, assembly, system, etc., that is not in an operative position or configuration. 
   For the purposes of the present invention, the terms “extended position” or “extended configuration” refer interchangeably to an element, component, member, assembly, etc., that is in a stretched out, expanded, pulled out, lengthened, etc., position. 
   For the purposes of the present invention, the terms “retracted position” or “retracted configuration” refer interchangeably to an element, component, member, assembly, etc., that is in a contracted, withdrawn, drawn in, pulled in, etc., position. 
   For the purposes of the present invention, the term “arcuate slot” refers to a slot that follows a generally curved or arched shape. 
   For the purposes of the present invention, the term “positioned at” refers to the positioning of an element, component, member, assembly, etc., along, on, in, proximate, near, etc., another stated element, component, member, assembly, etc. 
   For the purposes of the present invention, the term “pivotally connected to” refers to a first element, component, member, assembly, etc., being coupled, connected, secured, attached, fixed, etc., to a second element, component, member, etc., so as to allow pivotal movement of the first element, component, member, assembly, etc., about an axis defined by the first element, component, member, etc. 
   Description 
   The present invention is directed broadly at embodiments of a sun visor system (e.g., an automatic or powered sun visor system) for use with a motor vehicle, such as an automobile, truck, etc. Embodiments of the sun visor system may be used with front and/or back side windows of the motor vehicle, on the driver side, the passenger side(s) or the driver and passenger side(s) to provide protection to the user from the sun and glare resulting therefrom or associated therewith. Embodiments of the sun visor system may be easily controlled by the user for moving the sun visor between protecting position and retracted positions, such that the sun visor may be hidden from view when in the retracted position. Embodiments of the sun visor system may be installed with many different motor vehicle designs, types, etc. 
   An embodiment of the automatic sun visor system of the present invention is illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 3 . Referring to  FIG. 1 , an embodiment of an automatic or powered sun visor system of the present invention is indicated generally as  10 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , visor system  10  may be used in connection with a motor vehicle, for example, an automobile indicated generally as  18 , and with respect to a side window, such as, for example, the driver side window, indicated as  26 , to protect the driver from the sun and especially glare associated with side window  26 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , visor system  10  may be positioned in various positions, locations, etc., along the interior of automobile  18 , as further described below. Visor system  10  may include a visor, indicated generally as  42 , a generally L-shaped visor extension arm, indicated generally as  50 , a visor guide assembly, indicated generally as  66 , a main visor system assembly, indicated generally as  84 , and a visor guide bar, indicated generally as  100 . 
   In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 , visor  42  may of any suitable shape (e.g., generally rectangular as shown in  FIG. 1 ) and may be made from any suitable material, such as, for example, plastic, rubber, textile, metal, etc. Such materials may additionally have sun absorbing or reflecting properties in order to enhance the functionality of sun visor  42 . In certain embodiments, visor  42  may comprise a single integrally molded element, while in other, alternative embodiments, visor  42  may comprise a plurality of connected or attached elements. In still other embodiments, visor  42  may comprise one more elements covered, wrapped, surrounded, etc., by an additional suitable material. For example, visor  42  may comprise a first integrally molded plastic element covered by a suitable material such as, for example, cloth, fabric, felt, leather, nylon, etc., for, for example, aesthetic reasons, functional reasons, etc. Such suitable covering materials may provide sun absorbing, sun reflecting, etc., capabilities for sun visor  42 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 1 , visor  42  may be connected or attached (e.g., fixedly attached) to visor guide bar  100 . Visor guide bar  100  may be configured to engage visor guide assembly  66  and may be pivotally coupled or connected to visor extension arm  50  for movement between extended and retracted positions in response to the movement of extension arm  50 . Extension arm  50  may be appropriately configured and operated for movement between extended and retracted positions by main visor system assembly  84 , as described below. 
   Referring to  FIG. 2 , visor guide bar  100  may comprise means for engaging visor guide assembly  66  in the form of, for example, a cylindrical portion, indicated generally as  108 , which may be inserted through a pivot hole, indicated as  116 , within and proximate to or at one end of visor extension arm  50 , for pivotal movement of cylindrical portion  108  about the longitudinal axis defined by cylindrical portion  108 . One end of cylindrical portion  108 , indicated as  124 , may be fixedly secured, attached, etc., at or proximate to one end, indicated as  128 , of visor  42 . Visor guide bar  100  may further comprise means for engaging visor guide assembly  66  in the form of, for example, a generally L-shaped portion, indicated as  132 , which may be connected to, attached to, integral with, etc., cylindrical portion  108 . The other guide end of cylindrical portion  108 , indicated as  140 , as well as the guide end of L-shaped portion  132 , indicated as  148 , together provide two spaced apart guide portions which may be slidably received and engaged by a visor bar guide member in the form of, for example, arcuate slot  156  in visor guide assembly  66 . Guide ends  140  and  148  move within slot  156 , to thereby guide the movement of visor guide bar  100  as it travels along slot  156  between an extended and operative configuration or position, and a retracted and inoperative configuration or position, thus causing visor  42  to move in response thereto between a side window sun protecting and operative configuration or position, and a retracted and inoperative configuration or position. 
   In an alternative embodiment of system  10 , visor guide bar  100  may comprise a solely cylindrical portion  108  (i.e., L-shaped portion  132  is absent). In such an alternative embodiment, visor guide bar  100  may function similar to visor guide bar  100  shown in  FIG. 2 , i.e., cylindrical portion  108  may be inserted through an opening in one end of a visor extension arm  50 , for example, a pivot hole, indicated as  116 , to allow for pivotal movement of visor guide bar  100 , with one end of cylindrical portion  108  being attached to visor  42 , while the other end of cylindrical portion  108  may be slidably received by and engage arcuate slot  156  for guiding the movement of visor guide bar  100  as it travels along slot  156  between the extended and operative configuration, and a retracted and inoperative configuration, thus causing visor  42  to move in response thereto between a side window sun protecting and operative configuration or position, and a retracted and inoperative configuration or position. In an alternate embodiment of visor guide bar  100 , portion  132  may also have configurations other than L-shaped. 
   In certain embodiments of the present invention, guide end  140  of cylindrical portion  108 , and guide end  148  of L-shaped portion  132  may be received by arcuate slot  156 , and may be frictionally engaged therewith. In alternative embodiments, guide end  140  of cylindrical portion  108 , and guide end  148  of L-shaped portion  132  may be engaged by arcuate slot  156  such that guide ends  140  and  148  may be mechanically locked therein. For example, arcuate slot  156  may comprise a generally triangular cross-section, with a greater width at the portion of slot  156  opposite the opening, and a smaller cross-section at the opening of slot  156 , i.e., slot  156  narrows in width from the opening to the portion of slot  156  opposite the opening. In order to provide the desired locking configuration, guide end  140  of cylindrical portion  108 , and guide end  148  of L-shaped portion  132  may also have a generally triangular cross-section such that guide ends  140  and  148  have the greatest width at their respective ending points. In such embodiments, guide ends  140  and  148  may be firstly engaged by arcuate slot  156  by sliding the end portions of guide ends  140  and  148  into arcuate slot  156  from one end of slot  156  which mechanically prevents guide ends  140  and  148  from being disengaged from slot  156 . It may also be appreciated that arcuate slot  156  and guide ends  140  and  148  may have cross-sections other than generally triangular, such as a generally T-shaped cross-sections, square cross-sections, etc., without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
   Returning again to the embodiment of visor system  10  illustrated in  FIG. 2 , visor extension arm  50  may be generally L-shaped and may comprise an elongated extension portion, indicated as  164 , which may include pivot hole  116  at one end thereof, and which may be connected or integral at the other end thereof with a pivot portion, indicated as  180 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , pivot portion  180  may be associated and operable with main assembly  84 . Main assembly  84  may be provided or associated with a drive assembly, indicated generally by  194 . Drive assembly  194  may include a slide assembly, for example, in the form of a guide rod follower member, indicated generally as  196 . Guide rod follower member  196  has an opening in the form of a hole, indicated as  204 , which may be formed therein through which pivot portion  180  is received for pivotal movement of visor extension arm  50  about the longitudinal axis defined by pivot portion  180 . (Although not shown in  FIG. 2 , the end of pivot portion  180  opposite where pivot portion  180  is inserted through hole  204  may be received by, for example, a circular or cylindrical-shaped recess formed in guide rod follower member  196  so that pivot portion  180  may pivot in a stable and consistent manner about the longitudinal axis defined by pivot portion  180 .) Means for biasing or urging visor extension arm  50  upwardly and into a retracted position may be provided by a biasing element in guide rod follower member  196 , and is indicated generally as  212  in  FIG. 3 . In embodiments of the present invention, biasing element  212  may comprise, for example, a torsion spring, which may be provided with guide rod follower member  196 . 
   Guide rod follower member  196  may be further provided with at least one guide receiving member (e.g., at least two guide receiving members), for example, in the form of a first pair of guide rod receiving members, indicated as  220  and  228 , and a second pair of guide rod receiving members, indicated as  236  and  244 . Guide rod receiving members  220  and  228  are provided with appropriately sized holes (not shown) for slidably receiving respective guide rod  252 , while guide rod receiving members  236  and  244  may also be provided with appropriately sized holes (not shown) for slidably receiving respective guide rod  260  which is laterally spaced apart from guide rod  252 . Alternatively, guide rod follower member  196  may be provided with or have formed therein, for example, arcuate or semicircular indentations or recesses in place of receiving members  220 / 236  and receiving members  228 / 244  for receiving respective guide rods  252  and  260  which may be laterally spaced apart such that assembly  196  may slidably move therebetween without falling off of guide rods  252  and  260 . In one such alternative embodiment, guide rods  252  and  260  may be frictionally held by or in the arcuate or semicircular indentations. In still other alternative embodiments, guide rods  252  and  260  may be locked by or in such arcuate or semicircular indentations. In yet another alternative embodiment, one guide rod such as  252  (or  260 ) may be provided, where the one guide rod  252  (or  260 ) has a cross-section (e.g., square-shaped, rectangular-shaped, etc.) for receiving assembly  196  for slidable movement. As shown in  FIG. 3 , guide rods  258  and  260  may be secured, attached, etc., to the roof of automobile  18 , indicated as  268 . 
   Referring again to  FIG. 2 , main assembly  84  may also be provided with a motor and switch assembly, indicated generally as  272 , for controlling the operation of system  10 . Assembly  272  may include a motor (e.g., a pancake motor such as may be used with automatic motor vehicle windows, a stepper motor, a torque motor, a linear motor, etc.), indicated as  276 , a flexible but sufficiently stiff or rigid connector or link, indicated as  284 , which may be connected to and extend from motor  276  and which may be connected to guide rod follower member  196 , and which is capable of causing lateral and reciprocal movement of guide rod follower member  196  along guide rods  252  and  260  in response to the action of motor  276 . As would be appreciated by one skilled in the art, link  284  may comprise any material that is sufficiently flexible and rigid to enable movement of guide rod follower member  196 . In certain embodiments, link  284  may comprise a nylon cog strap. 
   Assembly  272  may further include a switch (e.g., an up-down switch), indicated generally as  300 , for controlling the action of motor  276 . As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , assembly  272  may be attached or secured to guide rods  252  and  260 . Main assembly  84  may also be provided with a cover, indicated generally as  316 , and having one or more cover retainers or clips (often four clips proximate each corner thereof), two of which are indicated as  324 , which may be used to secure, couple, connect, attach, etc., cover  316  to guide rods  252  and  260  in such a manner so as to also hide or cover rods  252  and  260 . In an alternative embodiment, clips  324  may secure cover  316  directly to the interior of automobile  18 . Cover  316  may be shaped or configured to allow engagement of switch  300  while covering or hiding substantially all other components of main assembly  84 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , cover  316  may be provided with an elongated slot  332  to permit and guide the movement of pivot portion  180  of visor extension arm  50  as it travels along the length of slot  332 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 3 , cover  316  may cover the interior components of main assembly  84 . In other embodiments not shown, cover  316  may also be shaped or configured to cover or hide visor guide assembly  66 . In such embodiments, when system  10  is in a retracted configuration, visor  42  would be retracted entirely into cover  316 . Also in such embodiments, when system  10  is in the extended configuration, only visor  42 , visor guide bar  100  and/or portions of visor extension arm  50  may extend from cover  316 , thereby allowing substantially all components of system  10  to remain covered or hidden. It should also be appreciated that cover  316  may comprise two or more sections to allow for sectionalized repair or maintenance of visor system  10 . 
   If a user desires to actuate or operate visor system  10  to change system  10  from the retracted or inoperative configuration of  FIG. 3  to the extended or operative configuration shown in  FIG. 1 , the user may push or engage switch  300 , e.g., by pushing an on-off button. In one embodiment, the user may press switch  300  once, thus causing visor system  10  to change to the extended or operative configuration. When system  10  is in the extended or operative configuration, the user may also press switch  300  once, thus causing system  10  to change to the retracted or inoperative configuration, or to any position between fully operative and fully inoperative positions. In another embodiment, the user may push and hold switch  300  until visor  42  reaches a desired, operative position. In such an embodiment, when the user releases switch  300  the visor may remain in the desired, operative position. The user may also push and hold switch  300  until to cause visor  42  to move into a retracted and inoperative position, or any position between fully operative and fully inoperative positions. 
   In operation, when the user pushes or otherwise actuates or operates switch  300  while system  10  is in the inoperative position, motor  276  is engaged. The engagement of motor  276  causes link  284  to move guide rod follower member  196  away from motor  276  along guide rods  252  and  260 . The movement of guide rod follower member  196  away from motor  276  causes visor extension arm  50  to move and extend away from main assembly  84 . As visor extension arm  50  moves and extends from main assembly  84 , visor guide bar  100  is engaged and guided by arcuate slot  156  in visor guide assembly  66  to move from a retracted to an extended positions, thus causing visor  42  to move from a retracted and inoperative position or configuration, to an extended protecting and operative position or configuration. 
   It should be appreciated that in alternative embodiments, assembly  272  may include additional switches to control other operations of visor system  10 . In one such embodiment, assembly  272  may include a switch to control the extended (protecting) and/or retracted (hidden) position of visor  42 . In such embodiments, if a user wishes to stop visor  42  before it reaches the fully extended (protecting) position, the user may engage the additional switch to automatically stop the extension of visor  42 . Visor  42  would then stay in this desired position until the user actuates system  10  to retract visor  42  or chooses another position for visor  42 . 
   In embodiments of visor system  10 , once visor  42  has reached a desired position, visor  42  may be configured to pivot about the axis of cylindrical portion  108  of visor guide bar  100 , thereby allowing the user to adjust the orientation of visor  42 . In one such embodiment, the user may adjust the orientation of visor  42  manually. In other such embodiments, assembly  272  may further comprise additional switches that enable a use to change the orientation of visor  42  to a desired orientation automatically. 
   In other embodiments of the present invention, visor system  10  may be configured such that, when system  10  is actuated or operated so as to be converted or changed to its extended or operative configuration, system  10  may automatically place visor  42  in both a preselected or predetermined position and orientation in accordance with preselected or predetermined settings of the user. In such embodiments, assembly  272  may include programming, circuitry, etc., to which a user of system  10  may program preferred, favorite or desired positions and orientations for visor  42 . 
   In still other embodiments of the present invention, visor system  10  may further include an apparatus or device for detecting the level of sunlight and/or glare incident on a window or windows of automobile  18 . In such embodiments, if the level of sunlight and/or glare detected by the device exceeds a predetermined level, control hardware, software, etc., in or associated with system  10  may automatically deploy visor  42  into a sun protecting position. Similarly, once visor  42  is in a protecting position, if the level of sunlight and/or glare detected by the device falls below a certain predetermined level system,  10  may retract visor  42  in response thereto. In such situations, system  10  may retract visor  42  immediately, or system  10  may only retract visor  42  after the level of sunlight and/or glare remains below the predetermined level for a predetermined amount of time. As would be appreciated by those skilled in the art, in these alternative embodiments, system  10  may include mechanisms, devices, etc., such that the user may override or deactivate the automatic deployment or retraction of visor  42  in response to sunlight and/or glare levels. 
   In still another embodiment, system  10  may also include hardware, software, etc., to control the deployment or retraction of visor  42  in response to oral, body movement (e.g., hand signals), etc., commands given by the user in automobile  18 . 
   In yet other embodiments of system  10 , when the user desires to change visor system  10  from the extended (and protecting or operative) configuration shown in  FIG. 1  to the retracted (and inoperative) configuration of  FIG. 3 , the user may again push switch  300 . The engagement of switch  300  may actuate or cause motor  276  to retract link  284 . The retraction of link  284  may cause guide rod follower member  196  to move towards motor  276  along guide rods  252  and  260 . As guide rod follower member  196  moves towards motor  276 , visor extension arm  50  may also move towards motor  276 . The movement of visor extension arm  50  towards motor  276  may cause visor guide bar  100  to be guided by arcuate slot  156  towards main assembly  84  until visor  42  reaches the desired retracted (and hidden or inoperative) position. 
   It should be appreciated that the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 3  is provided to illustrate the teachings of the present invention. Alterations or modifications within the skill of the art of the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1 through 3  are considered within the scope of the present invention, so long as these alterations or modifications operate in a same or similar manner, function, etc. 
   All documents, patents, journal articles and other materials cited in the present application are hereby incorporated by reference. 
   Although the present invention has been fully described in conjunction with several embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that various changes and modifications may be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications are to be understood as included within the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims, unless they depart therefrom.