Abstract:
A sun visor having a tinted insert and a tinted extension. The visor may include slidable covers for covering the tinted insert and for making the visor appear like a regular sun visor. The visor of this construction allows for maximum visibility and protection from the sun for users of various heights.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a sun visor having a tinted insert and extension. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Automobile visors having tinted windows for reducing sun glare are shown in U.S. Pat. No. Des. 334,551, issued on Apr. 6, 1993 to Noel Andres, U.S. Pat. No. 4,384,740, issued on May 24, 1983 to Paul Marrotta, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,890,875, issued on Jan. 2, 1990 to Tanewyuki Takahashi, and German Patent No. 1,127,238, published on Apr. 5, 1962. 
     Sun visors having windows, whose degree of tint can be adjusted are taught in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,915,936 and 2,915,937, both issued on Dec. 8, 1959 to Wesley Winchell, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,938,268, issued on Aug. 17, 1999 to Chia-Hung Wang et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,858,989, issued on Aug. 22, 1989 to Henry Bruckstein, teaches a cover for a tinted window of a sun visor. 
     None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The instant invention is a sun visor having a tinted insert and a tinted extension. The visor may include a slidable cover on either side of the visor for covering the tinted insert and for making the visor appear like a regular sun visor. The visor of this construction allows for maximum visibility and protection from the sun for users of various heights. 
     When a user flips a visor from an automobile ceiling to block the sun, the visor may become an impediment to the user seeing through the front windshield. However, a visor with a tinted insert allows the user to see through the visor, while the glare from the sun is reduced. Further, the extension provides a greater degree of sun protection when extended (particularly for shorter drivers). 
     Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide an automobile sun visor which protects from sun glare and has a portion through which one can see. 
     It is another object of the invention to provide a sun visor which has a tinted extension. 
     It is a further object of the invention to provide a cover for covering the tinted areas so that the sun visor has the appearance of a regular sun visor. 
     It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof in an apparatus for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes. 
     These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an environmental front view of a sun visor having a tinted insert and with its tinted extension retracted. 
     FIG. 2 is an environmental front view of a sun visor having a tinted insert and with its tinted extension extended. 
     FIG. 3 is an environmental front broken-away view showing the movement of the extension using magnetic guides. 
     FIG. 3A is an environmental front broken-away view showing the movement of the extension using spot magnets. 
     FIG. 4 is an environmental front view showing a cover for covering the insert. 
    
    
     Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention relates to an automobile sun visor having a tinted insert and a tinted extension. FIG. 1 shows a visor assembly  10  which includes a visor  12  rotatably mounted on an axle  14 . The visor  12 , which is preferably made of fabric such as cloth material, has a tinted area  16 . This tinted area  16  allows a user to pull down the visor  12  to reduce the blinding impact of the sun while being able to see through a portion of the visor  12 , which may be at eye level. 
     The tinted area  16  includes a fixed tinted insert  18  and a tinted extension  20  (seen in FIGS. 2 and 3) having a pull tab  22 . The extension  20  is behind the tinted insert  18  and is not seen in FIG. 1 because it is in its withdrawn position. It is noted that the extension  20  is shown and described as behind the insert  18  for purposes of explanation. However, the orientation is immaterial and the invention will work as well and provide the same protection if the insert  18  is behind the extension  20 . Both the insert  18  and the extension  20  are light sensitive, i.e. they are made of light-sensitive material or include photosensors. 
     FIG. 2 shows the extension  20  in an extended position, which provides more sun protection (particularly for a shorter driver) with extension section E of the newly defined extended tinted area  16 E. The extension  20  is shown as wider than the insert  18  (however, it is noted that it can be the same width). This greater width results in a wider area of protection provided by the extension  20 . It is noted that the lowering of the extension  20  results in the decrease in the layers of tint in the upper portion of the extended tinted area  16 E (this area where there is a single layer is designated S). The lower portion of the extended tinted area  16 E maintains its double thickness of tint, according to FIG.  2 . However, it is noted that further extension may eliminate the section D. 
     Movement and support of the extension  20  is shown in FIGS. 3 and 3A, which do not show the insert  18 . Movement, according to the embodiment of FIG. 3, is accomplished by magnetic guides or slots  24  and magnets  26 , which slide in the slots  24 , attached to the upper corners of the extension  20 . According to the embodiment of FIG. 3A, movement is by means of magnets  24 A attached to the visor  10  or the upper corners of the insert  18  and mating magnets  26 A attached to the upper corners of the extension  20 . Alternatively, patches of hook and loop fasteners may be used or any other means for facilitating the movement and supporting of the extension  20 . 
     It is noted the extension in these figures is lowered all the way to increase the extent of protection. In the event it is not desired to completely lower the extension  20 , it is adjusted to its desired height and the magnets  26  hold the extension  20  in place. 
     FIG. 4 shows a cover  28  which can slide over the insert  18  to hide it from view when it is not being used. The depiction in FIG. 4 shows that the cover  28  slides to the right and does not slide past the boundary of the visor. However, the instant invention contemplates that the cover  28  can be configured to slide to the left or to extend past the boundary of the visor. The cover  28  includes a thumb grip  30 , which acts as a stop in that its engagement with the fabric of the visor prevents the cover  28  from being opened too far. The cover  28 , which may include a mirror  32 , covers the insert  18  and an identical cover on the reverse of the visor covers the extension and the reverse side of the insert  18 . 
     It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the sole embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.