Glare cutter device

A glare control device for attachment to the inside of a vehicle windshield by a suction cup. An elongated plastic strip is pivotally mounted from the suction cup and attached thereto by a thumbscrew with washer shoulder thereon for ease of maneuvering and adjustment of the device. The end of the strip near the pivotal mount is permanently formed with a twist thereto in the range of 30.degree. to 55.degree. so that when the suction cup is mounted inside a windshield of approximately a 40.degree. to 45.degree. slant, the main portion of the glare cutter device will be substantially perpendicular to the line of sight of a driver of the vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention relates generally to devices for cutting glare from the 
lights of oncoming vehicles and the like for use on the windshield of a 
motor vehicle. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
A common problem with known types of shielding devices for use with motor 
vehicles and the like is that they oftentimes are large and bulky and 
substantially reduce the scope of vision of a driver of the vehicle more 
than they should. 
Another problem with known type glare reducing devices is that they are not 
only unduly bulky and cumbersome, but they also are not easily detached 
and removed and/or are not easily adjusted. 
Existing prior patents which may be pertinent to the present invention are 
as follows: 
3,254,435--6/ 766--Rix 
2,715,043--8/ 9/55--Schewel 
2,632,669--3/24/53--Piwczynski et al 
1,953,877--4/ 3/34--Chase 
1,610,305--12/14/26--Muncie 
These patents generally show glare shields for use with the windshields of 
motor vehicles and the like; however, they all have the problems already 
set forth. None of the known prior art devices offer the new and novel 
features of the present invention. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
An object of the present invention is to provide a glare cutter device for 
detachable mounting upon the sloping windshield of a motor vehicle which 
is designed so that the main portion of the device will when in use be 
substantially perpendicular to the line of sight of a driver of the 
vehicle. 
Another object of the present invention is to provide an easily installed 
and adjusted glare cutter for windshields of vehicles. 
A further object of this invention is to provide an easily and quickly 
installed glare cutter device having a suction cup for mounting upon a 
sloping windshield of a vehicle, which device can be easily adjusted to 
various angles during use thereof, and which will have the bulk of the 
working area of the device traverse to the line of sight of the vehicle 
driver. 
Another further object of the present invention is to provide a glare 
cutter device which will effectively block unwanted light from reaching 
the eyes of a user, but not substantially interfere with the overall 
vision of the driver. 
The present invention has a number of new and novel features. An elongated 
member of plastic composition having a substantial tint thereto is 
pivotally mounted on a suction cup support attachment for mounting of the 
overall device inside the sloping windshield of a motor vehicle or the 
like. An important feature of this device is that adjacent the pivotal 
mounting the elongated member is substantially and permanently twisted so 
that the operating portion of the glare cutting elongated member will be 
substantially traverse to, or perpendicular to, the line of sight of the 
vehicle driver. This is very important for maximum effectiveness and 
performance. Also, by this arrangement, the glare of oncoming lights, road 
reflections and the like can be substantially reduced without impairing 
the overall visibility and vision of the driver of the majority of the 
road ahead. A thumbscrew with shoulder on the fastener stud for the 
pivotal mount also provides easy control and movability of the suction cup 
on the windshield. 
These together with other objects and advantages which will become 
subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation 
as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to 
the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals 
refer to like parts throughout.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawing, reference numeral 10 indicates in 
general the glare cutter of the present invention. FIGS. 2-5 show the 
device of the present invention in greater detail. 
An elongated member 12 has a short mounting portion 14 at one end thereof. 
Between the mounting portion 14 and the main portion of member 12 is a 
permanently deformed or twisted portion TP. The range of usable angles for 
this twist is preferably from 30.degree. to 55.degree. as depicted in FIG. 
5. However, the majority of windshields of late model vehicles in use 
today have a slope of 40.degree. to 45.degree.. Therefore, the twist 
preferably is in this more limited range. However, for certain sports 
vehicles and other specialty applications, a different angle may be 
desired. Preferably, the corners 16 of the elongated member 12 are rounded 
with similar rounded corners 18 for the mounting portion 14. An aperture 
19 is provided in the mounting portion 14 for receiving the pivot screw 
32. 
A suction cup 20 is provided for attachment and mounting of the overall 
device to a sloping windshield. Preferably, this suction cup has a screw 
receiving friction head 22 opposite the cup portion 21 thereof. This head 
22 will function to frictionally retain the mounting portion 14 in 
adjusted position when the glare cutter device is mounted on pivot screw 
32 which is then attached to the suction cup. Thumbscrew 32 has threads 
which are screwed into aperture 23 in the suction cup. An enlarged flat 
head 30 can be easily gripped by a user's fingers. Preferably, the 
thumbscrew has a shoulder 31 therewith for frictional engagement with 
washer 34 for frictionally holding portion 14 of the glare cutter. 
As best seen in FIG. 5, when the glare cutter is mounted on the windshield 
and in position for use, the bulk of the operating area of portion 12 will 
be traverse to the line of sight of a driver. However, when the device is 
swung up or down to be adjacent the vehicle door pillar DP, then the edge 
view which is substantially flat will be viewed as seen in the dotted line 
portion of FIG. 5. 
This strip can also be used to block glare from the sun on the highway (see 
FIG. 6). The strip only extends from the left side of the driver to the 
center of the highway so that it does not block the view of the driver on 
the right side of the road. The suction cup can be mounted a little higher 
horizontally in order for the strip to be angled down about 20.degree.. 
This enables the driver to see under the strip when turning to the left. 
This strip can also be used when driving in the rain, as it cuts out the 
glare from the lights on the windshield. This makes this item good for day 
or night, rain or shine. When not needed, the strip can be moved down or 
up out of the way. Since the strip is narrow, it does not interfere with 
long range or short range vision. It simply cuts out the glare from 
headlights in the exact distance that would bother one. Since this strip 
is movable in all directions, it can be used by any person on any vehicle. 
The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the 
invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily 
occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the 
invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and 
accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to 
falling within the scope of the invention.