TWO-WAY VANITY MIRROR VISOR

Abstract: A visor (10) has a body (20) with a central opening (28,29) extending through the body. A cover (60) selectively encloses the opening on one side of the visor. Pivotally mounted to the visor (10) is a vanity mirror assembly (70) with the mirror (74) facing the cover (60) and movable between a position co-planar with the opening for storage and a lowered use position in which the mirror is exposed for use when the visor is in a raised stored position. When the visor (10) is in a lowered sun-blocking position and the assembly (70) is in its stored position, the cover (60) can be opened for exposing the mirror (74) from the rear facing surface of the visor.

Description: The present invention pertains to vehicle visors and particularly to visors which include vanity mirrors. Visors having illuminated and/or covered vanity mirrors have become an increasingly popular vehicle accessory and standard equipment on many vehicles which may include one or more visors of the type shown in US-A-4,227,241 and US-A-4,652,982. The features of the precharacterising portion of Claim 1 are disclosed in US-A-4,652,982. To use the mirror in these visors, and other vanity mirror visors, it is necessary first to lower the visor from a stored position adjacent the roof of the vehicle, and in the case of a covered vanity mirror, uncover the mirror for use. The inconvenience of this two-step process is in addition to the distraction to the driver of a passenger manipulating the passenger-side visor through multiple steps. According to the present invention, a visor is provided where characterising features are set out in the characterising portion of Claim 1. The visor of the present invention alleviates or overcomes the problems of the vanity mirror visors of the prior art by providing a visor having a body with an opening extending through the entire body. Preferably mounted to the body on one side is a cover which moves between opened and closed positions. Preferably, pivotally mounted to the opposite side of the visor body within the opening is a vanity mirror and in the preferred embodiment, an illuminated mirror. In the preferred embodiment the mirror faces the cover and pivots between a position co-planar with and enclosing one side of the opening for storage to a lowered use position through an arc of at least 90° to expose the mirror for use when the visor is in a raised stored position. Thus, in this embodiment when the visor is in a lowered sun blocking position with the mirror stored, the cover can be opened for exposing the mirror from the rear facing surface of the visor. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, illumination means are provided for illuminating the vanity mirror and switch means are provided and are actuated upon opening of the cover and/or pivoting of the mirror from a stored position to a use position for illuminating the lamps included in the illumination means. In the preferred embodiment, also a side opposite the mirror defines a second cover which is finished to conform to the visor appearance. The structure of the preferred embodiment therefore provides a compact visor having a mirror assembly therein which can be easily used when the visor is in either a stored position against the vehicle headliner or in a lowered used position. The unique multiple cover construction with an illuminated vanity mirror mounted inside one of the covers provides flexibility for use of the illumination means also for map reading or other related functions. These and other features, objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following exemplary description thereof together with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a driver side visor embodying the present invention and shown in a raised stored position; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the visor shown in Fig. 1 with an illuminated vanity mirror assembly opened to a use position while the visor remains in a stored position; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the visor shown in Figs. 1 and 2 moved to a lowered use position; Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the visor in the same position shown in Fig. 3 with the illuminated vanity mirror exposed for use; Fig. 5 is a enlarged vertical cross-sectional view taken along section lines V-V of Fig. 3; Fig. 6 is a right side view of the visor shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 7 is a right side view of the visor shown in Fig. 4; Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevational view partially in cross-section of a cover hinge shown in the encircled area in Fig. 4; Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevational view of the pivot mounting structure shown in the encircled area of Fig. 2; Fig. 10 is an electrical circuit diagram in schematic form of the illumination means for the vanity mirror shown in Figs. 1-9; Fig. 11 is a right side view of the visor shown in Figs. 1-10 with both covers open to provide an open window through the visor; and Fig. 12 is a right side view of the visor shown in Figs. 1-10 showing a position of use for providing a map reading light. The visor 10 of the embodiment illustrated in the figures is a driver side visor mounted to the roof 12 of a vehicle by means of a pivot mounting bracket 14 above the vehicle windshield 16 and adjacent the driver side A-pillar 18. A hollow visor pivot rod 15 (Fig. 4) extends from the mounting bracket 14 into the body of the visor near the top edge 11 thereof for supporting the visor for rotation to a lowered use position illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 from the raised stored position shown in Figs. 1 and 2. For such purpose, an internal torque device such as that shown in US-A-4,500,131 may be employed for coupling the visor body to the pivot rod. Rod 15 is hollow to serve as an electrical conduit for at least one conductor for supplying operating power for lamps in the illuminating means as described below in connection with Fig. 10. Before describing the construction of the visor in detail, a brief description of the visor and its operation is presented in connection with the operational sequence shown in Figs. 1-4. The visor 10 includes an illuminated vanity mirror assembly 70 (Figs. 1 and 2) which defines a cover which is pivotally mounted to a frame 50 (Fig. 4). The assembly 70 pivots downwardly from one side of the visor when the visor is in a raised stored position as shown in Fig. 1, to a lowered use position illustrated in Fig. 2 exposing an illuminated vanity mirror 74 for use. The illuminated vanity mirror assembly 70 on the other hand can remain in its stored position illustrated in Fig. 1 and the visor 10 lowered to a use position as illustrated in Fig. 3 in which a cover 60, enclosing a relatively large rectangular opening 28 formed in the visor core to receive and support frame 50, is opened as illustrated in Fig. 4, to expose the illuminated vanity mirror assembly 70. This allows the user to use mirror 74 with the visor in either a raised stored position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 or in a lowered use position shown in Figs. 3 and 4. Other use positions are illustrated in Figs. 11 and 12 described below. The visor body 20 (Fig. 5) comprises an internal core 22 moulded in a clam shell configuration of a suitable polymeric material such as polypropylene which includes core halves 24 and 26 joined at a hinge line near the top 11. The visor body is substantially planar defining front and rear major facing surfaces 23 and 25 respectively through which there is formed an opening defined by the first relatively large rectangular opening 28 in core half 24 and a second smaller rectangular opening 29 in core half 26. The first generally rectangular frame 50 (Figs. 4 and 5) is mounted within opening 28. Pivotally mounted to one side of frame 50 is the illuminated vanity mirror assembly 70 including a subframe 72 supporting mirror 74 therein. Cover 60 is pivotally mounted to the other side of frame 50 for selectively enclosing aperture 28 as seen in Fig. 3. The visor core 22 is covered by a suitable upholstery material 21 such as a cushioned fabric as seen in Fig. 5. Cover 60 and the outside cover of assembly 70 may also include decorative fabric panels 61 and 71 surrounding their moulded polymeric bodies. As seen in Figs. 1 and 5, assembly 70 fits within frame 50. Thus, visor core 22 includes a generally rectangular opening extending through the entire visor body 20 with opening 29 having a smaller dimension than opening 28 since subframe 77 is significantly smaller than the frame 50 to which it is pivotally secured. Frame 50 is generally rectangular having sidewalls 52 (Figs. 2 and 4) and integral upper and lower walls 54 (Figs. 4 and 5). Frame 50 is secured within aperture 28 and the inner surface of core member 26 surrounding aperture 29 by a suitable bonding method such as an adhesive or welding as best seen in Fig. 5. The top 54 of frame 50 includes a pair of spaced pintles 56 (Figs. 4 and 8) which define pivot axles and include camming surfaces thereon to cooperate with a pair of spaced resilient C-shaped pivot hinges 66 of snap-on cover 60. This hinge construction is substantially the same as that disclosed in US-A-4,213,169. Thus, cover 60 will snap fit onto frame 50 and be biased open to its use position shown in Figs. 4 and 7 and biased to a closed position shown in Fig. 3. Upon opening, cover 60 actuates a switch 90 (Fig. 10) mounted within the visor core in the upper portion thereof and actuated by a cam 92 (Fig. 5 and shown schematically in Fig. 10) for activating illumination means comprising lamps 100 and 102 mounted within assembly 70 behind lenses 104 and 106 (Fig. 4) for providing illumination for use of mirror 74. The electrical coupling of lamps 100 and 102 to the vehicle's electrical system is explained in greater detail below in connection with Fig. 10. The mirror 74 and its subframe 77 are thus pivotally mounted within frame 50 to face rearwardly in the vehicle when the visor is in a lowered use position and the mirror and its illumination means exposed through the open frame 50 for use when cover 60 is opened as seen in Fig. 4. Assembly 70 includes a generally rectangular subframe 77 having integral flanges 73 (Fig. 5) holding mirror 74 against the edges of a central opening 75 of the subframe 77 and a pair of rectangular openings on opposite sides of opening 75 for receiving snap-in lenses 104 and 106. The mounting construction of the lenses, lamps and mirror in subframe 77 is conventional per se and well-known in the art. Assembly 70, including subframe 77, is pivotally mounted to the inner sides 52 of frame 50 by means of a pair of pivot axles 78 shown in Figs. 5, 9 and 10. Axles 78 are each secured to subframe 77 by a suitable mounting boss 79 and are allowed to pivot with a predetermined torque within sidewalls 52 of frame 50. Subframe 77 is enclosed at its side opposite mirror 74 by a cover panel 72 as best seen in Fig. 5 which can be covered with upholstery material 71 as seen in Figs. 1 and 5 to match the appearance of the larger cover 60, if desired. Subframe 77 actuates a second electrical switch 94 when pivoted open as seen in Fig. 2 to illuminate the lamps. Switch 94 (Figs. 5 and 10) is mounted in frame 50 with its actuating button engaging the upper side 75 of subframe 77, such that when assembly 70 is in its stored position, illustrated in Fig. 5, switch 94 will be in an open position. However, when subframe 77 is pivoted downwardly, as illustrated in Fig. 6, the spring loaded push-button switch 94 will close to supply electrical operating power to lamps 100 and 102. Axles 78 are frictionally fit within mounting bosses 79 to hold the illuminated vanity mirror assembly 70 in any lowered use position desired as well as hold the structure in a stored position as illustrated in Figs. 1, 3 and 4. It is possible to open both cover 60 and assembly 70, if desired to provide an open window 96 through the visor body 20 as seen in Fig. 11. Window 96 has approximately the size of opening 29 and is bordered by frame 50. Also, the illuminated vanity mirror package 70 can be pushed to an open position illustrated in Fig. 6 with the visor 10 in a lowered use position as shown in Fig. 4 with cover 60 closed such that the illumination means can provide a light directed downwardly as shown by arrows A in Fig. 12 for map reading and like functions. The electrical circuit for supplying electrical power to lamps 100 and 102 is shown in Fig. 10. The source of operating power 105 for the vehicle, typically comprises its battery which is coupled to lamps 100 and 102 through switches 90 and 94, axles 78, which are made of a conductive material, and slip ring contacts 107 and 109. The interconnecting electrical conductors 110 and 114 constitute the normal vehicle wiring harness with a ground conductor from source 105 coupled to contact 109, axle 78 and through a second contact 111 to one terminal of lamps 100 and 102. The positive terminal of the power supply is coupled through one of the two switches 90 or 94 through slip ring contact 107 axle 78 and through a second contact 112 to the remaining terminal of lamps 100 and 102. Thus, the actuation of either switch 90 or 94 will cause lamps 100 and 102 to be activated for providing illumination through the lens 104 and 106 positioned in front of the lamps. Conductor 110 from the vehicle power supply extends through the hollow pivot axle 15 to the body of the visor while the ground conductor 114 can include the sheet metal of the vehicle, bracket 14 and rod 15. Thus, it is seen with the unique visor construction of the present invention, the illuminated vanity mirror of the preferred embodiment can be used in any position of the visor and can be used for providing either light for use of the mirror directly or for directing light downwardly towards the user's lap for use of the illumination means for map reading or the like under low ambient light conditions.

Claims: 1. A vehicle visor (10) comprising: a visor body (20) having forwardly and rearwardly facing major surfaces (23, 25) and a vanity mirror assembly (70) including a mirror (74), the assembly being pivotally mounted to the visor body (20); characterised by an aperture extending through the visor body and through the said surfaces to define an opening through the visor; the assembly being movable from a position substantially parallel with the facing surfaces (23, 25) of the visor and facing rearwardly when the visor is in a lowered use position such that the mirror (74) is exposed through the opening, to a position pivoted from the visor body (20) so that the mirror (74) can be used as a vanity mirror when the visor (10) is in a raised stored position against a vehicle headliner. 2. A visor as defined in Claim 1 including cover means (60) mounted to the body (20) on a side of the visor body opposite the vanity mirror assembly for selectively covering the mirror (74). 3. A visor as defined in Claim 2 wherein the cover means (60) is pivotally mounted to the visor body (20). 4. A visor as defined in Claim 3 wherein the cover means (60) is pivoted about an axis (66) proximate an upper edge (11) of the visor body (20), the vanity mirror (74) being mounted to pivot about an axis (78) parallel to and on the same side of the opening of the visor (10) as the cover pivot axis (66). 5. A visor as defined in any one of Claims 1 to 4 including means (100,102) for providing illumination for the mirror (74). 6. A visor as defined in Claim 5 wherein the illumination means (100, 102) is arranged to direct light outwardly from adjacent the mirror (74). 7. A visor as defined in Claim 6 wherein the illumination means (100, 102) is mounted to the vanity mirror assembly (70) adjacent the mirror (74) for further serving as a map lamp when the visor (10) is in a lowered use position and the vanity mirror assembly is pivoted from the visor body (20). 8. A visor as defined in any one of Claims 5 to 7, when dependent on Claim 2, including switch means (90, 94) actuated by the cover (60) and by the vanity mirror assembly (70) for actuating the illumination means (100, 102) when either the cover means (60) is opened or the vanity mirror assembly (70) is pivoted from the visor body. 9. A visor as defined in any one of Claims 5 to 8 when dependent on Claim 2, including switch means (90, 94) actuated by the cover (60) and by the vanity mirror assembly (70) for actuating the illumination means (100, 102) when either the cover means (60) is opened or the vanity mirror assembly (70) is pivoted from the visor body. 10. A visor as defined in any preceding claim wherein the assembly (70) comprises a further cover (71) on the inside surface of which the mirror (54) is mounted, which is pivotally mounted on the visor body (20). 11. A visor as claimed in Claim 10 wherein the said further cover (71) includes the said illuminating means.

Inventors: CISLER, BRUCE WILLIAM
Applicants: PRINCE CORPORATION
Application year: 1988
Main classification: B60J3
IPC codes: B60J3