Patent Publication Number: US-2009230716-A1

Title: Sun visor for vehicle-mounted equipment

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority from Korean Patent Applications No. 10-2008-0022771, filed on Mar. 12, 2008, and No. 10-2008-0083451, filed on Aug. 26, 2008, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein in their entireties by reference. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a sun visor, and more particularly, to a sun visor for vehicle-mounted equipment that blocks light incident on a screen of various vehicle-mounted equipment mounted inside a vehicle. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Recently, vehicle-mounted equipment mounted inside vehicles and providing various functions to passengers is widely used. For example, equipment having a navigation function or equipment combining a navigation function and a digital multimedia broadcasting (DMB) receiving function is often mounted inside vehicles. The navigation function enables easy guiding of a driver to a desired destination and is a big help when driving. Also, the DMB receiving function enables passengers to watch and listen to various multimedia broadcasts while the vehicle is in motion and is widely used together with the navigation function. 
     Such vehicle-mounted equipment is usually installed at a center part in front of the front seat so that passengers can conveniently view a navigation map or broadcasting. A sun visor is detachably combined with vehicle-mounted equipment and functions to block light incident on a screen of the vehicle-mounted equipment from outside. 
     A conventional sun visor is equipped with a visor member and a fixing clip. The visor member is formed to wrap around the screen of the vehicle-mounted equipment such that light from outside is not incident. The fixing clip is combined with one side of the visor member and formed to apply pressure to the backside of the vehicle-mounted equipment. 
     General vehicle-mounted equipment is not made by just one manufacturer and thus can be produced in various forms. When attaching a sun visor to such vehicle-mounted equipment, if the backside of the vehicle-mounted equipment is flat, it is easy to fix the visor member of the conventional sun visor to the vehicle-mounted equipment using the fixing clip. However, when the backside of the vehicle-mounted equipment is not a flat surface, for example, when it is a to curved surface, a gap is created between the backside of the vehicle-mounted equipment and the fixing clip and the sun visor is not securely fixed to the vehicle-mounted equipment. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a sun visor for vehicle-mounted equipment that is easy to attach regardless of the shape of the vehicle-mounted equipment. 
     Additional aspects of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. 
     The present invention discloses a sun visor for vehicle-mounted equipment including a visor member blocking light incident on a screen of vehicle-mounted equipment mounted inside a vehicle, and a fixing wire detachably fixing the visor member to the vehicle-mounted equipment and elastically biased against the vehicle-mounted equipment. 
     It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate exemplary embodiments of the invention, and together with the description serve to explain the aspects of the invention. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a sun visor according to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention attached to vehicle-mounted equipment. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of a sun visor according to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic side view of a sun visor according to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention attached to vehicle-mounted equipment. 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of a sun visor according to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of a sun visor according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIG. 4  attached to vehicle-mounted equipment. 
         FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view of a sun visor according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
     The invention is described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the exemplary embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these exemplary embodiments are provided so that this disclosure is thorough, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. In the drawings, the size and relative sizes of layers and regions may be exaggerated for clarity. Like reference numerals in the drawings denote like elements. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a sun visor according to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention attached to vehicle-mounted equipment, and  FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of a sun visor according to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a sun visor  100  for vehicle-mounted equipment according to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a visor member  110  and a fixing wire  120 . 
     The visor member  110  is arranged at the front of a screen  11  of vehicle-mounted equipment  10 , and is formed to block light incident on the screen. The visor member  110  is preferably made of a material that does not transmit light. Even if light entering the vehicle is incident on the screen side of the vehicle-mounted equipment, the visor member  110  blocks the light so that the visibility of the screen can be improved. Thus, a user can clearly see an image displayed on the screen  11  of the vehicle-mounted equipment  10 . 
     The fixing wire  120  detachably fixes the visor member  110  to the vehicle-mounted equipment  10 . One side of the fixing wire  120  is combined with the visor member  110 . In a state in which the visor member  110  is disposed at the front of the vehicle-mounted equipment, the fixing wire  120  applies elastic force to the vehicle-mounted equipment  10  and prevents the visor member  110  from detaching from the vehicle-mounted equipment  10 . 
     When a conventional sun visor is attached to vehicle-mounted equipment, if the backside of the vehicle-mounted equipment is not a flat surface, the fixing clip does not adhere closely to the backside of the vehicle-mounted equipment and a gap is created so the sun visor is not securely fixed to the vehicle-mounted equipment. 
     However, in the sun visor  100  according to the present invention, since the visor member  110  is fixed to the vehicle-mounted equipment by the fixing wire  120 , no matter whether the shape of the vehicle-mounted equipment is formed to be flat, curved, or something else, the visor member  110  and the vehicle-mounted equipment  10  can be firmly combined. 
     Describing the structure of the fixing wire  120  in detail, the fixing wire  120  may include a fixing part  121  and an elastic part  122 . 
     The fixing part  121  is inserted into and combined with one side of the visor member  110 . 
     The elastic part  122  extends from the fixing part  121  and elastically supports the backside of the vehicle-mounted equipment  110 . The elastic part  122  functions to fix the visor member  110  to the vehicle-mounted equipment  10  by elastic force. The elastic part  122  may be integrally formed with the fixing part  121 . This enables manufacturing cost to be reduced since it is not necessary to make the fixing part  121  and the elastic part  122  separately and then assemble them. 
     A fixing groove  114  is formed in the visor member  110  so that the fixing wire  120  having the above structure can be combined with the visor member  110 . When the fixing wire  120  is combined with the upper side of the visor member  110  as shown in  FIG. 2 , the fixing groove  114  can be formed in the upper side of the visor member  110  to correspond to the fixing wire  120 . The fixing groove  114  opens toward the rear and the fixing wire  120  is combined from the rear toward the front. 
     As one example of the detailed structure of the elastic part  122 , the elastic part  122  is integrally formed with the fixing part  121  and includes a first elastic support part  123  and a second elastic support part  124 . 
     The first elastic support part  123  extends from one end of the fixing part  121  and applies elastic force to the left side of the backside of the vehicle-mounted equipment. 
     The second elastic support part  124  extends from the other end of the fixing part  121  and applies elastic force to the right side of the backside of the vehicle-mounted equipment. 
     The first and second elastic support parts  123  and  124  may have a structure formed as a bent extension of the fixing part  121 . In a state in which the fixing part  121  is combined with the visor member  110 , as shown in  FIG. 3 , the first and second elastic support parts  123  and  124  are bent enough so that they can pass over the top of the vehicle-mounted equipment and apply pressure to the backside of the vehicle-mounted equipment through elastic force. Accordingly, the visor member  110  can be fixed in close contact with the vehicle-mounted equipment  10 . 
     A user combines the fixing part  121  of the fixing wire  120  with the fixing groove  114  of the visor member  110 , and arranges the visor member  110  at the front of the vehicle-mounted equipment. Also, if the fixing wire  120  is made to elastically support the backside of the vehicle-mounted equipment, the visor member  110  can be easily attached to the vehicle-mounted equipment  10 . 
     That is, since the above-described combined structure of the fixing wire  120  and the visor member  110  is a simple structure, it is possible to reduce the time required to manufacture the sun visor  100 . In addition, a user can easily combine the visor member  110  and the fixing wire  120 . 
     Also, in a state in which the visor member  110  is fixed to the vehicle-mounted equipment  10 , if a user only removes the fixing wire  120  from the vehicle-mounted equipment  10 , the visor member  110  can be easily separated from the vehicle-mounted equipment  10 . 
     Meanwhile, referring back to  FIG. 2 , one example of the visor member  110  described above includes an upper visor panel  111 , a left visor panel  112 , and a right visor panel  113 . 
     The upper visor panel  111  is shaped like a plate and disposed at the upper perimeter of the screen, perpendicular to the screen, to block light incident from above the screen. While the upper visor panel  111  may be formed in a shape having a fixed width, it may also be formed in a shape in which its thickness decreases from center toward left and right ends, as shown in the drawings. 
     The left visor panel  112  is formed in the shape of a plate bent downward from the left end of the upper visor panel  111 . Accordingly, the left visor panel  112  is disposed at the left perimeter of the screen, perpendicular to the screen, and can block light incident from the left side of the screen. 
     The right visor panel  113  is formed in the shape of a plate bent downward from the left end of the upper visor panel  111 . Accordingly, the right visor panel  113  is disposed at the right perimeter of the screen, perpendicular to the screen, and can block light incident from the right side of the screen. 
     The vertical lengths of the left and right visor panels  112  and  113  may be shorter than the vertical length of the screen. However, they are preferably set to be the same as or longer than the vertical length of the screen so as to ensure that light is sufficiently blocked. 
     Also, the left and right visor panels  112  and  113  each may be formed in a shape having a fixed width. However, they may also be formed in a shape whose width decreases in the downward direction, as shown in the drawings. 
     Meanwhile, the sun visor  100  of the present invention may further include a rotation prevention means. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the rotation prevention means includes a rotation prevention part  125  and a rotation prevention groove  117 . 
     The rotation prevention part  125  is formed by a bent part of the portion of the fixing part  121  that is inserted into the visor member  110 . In  FIG. 4 , the rotation prevention part  125  is drawn as being bent downward, however it is not limited to this configuration and can also be bent upward. 
     The rotation prevention groove  117  is formed in the backside of the visor member  100  to be indented toward the front and has a shape corresponding to the rotation prevention part  125 . That is, if the rotation prevention part  125  is formed in a downwardly bent shape, the rotation prevention groove  117  is also preferably formed in a downwardly bent indented shape that is the same as the rotation prevention part  125 . 
     In the rotation prevention means having such a structure when the fixing wire  120  and the visor member  110  are combined and attached to the vehicle-mounted equipment  10  (refer to  FIG. 3 ), the rotation prevention part  125  is received in the rotation prevention groove  117  and the fixing wire  120  can be prevented from rotating or shifting with respect to the visor member  110 . 
     Meanwhile, while the rotation prevention part  125  is drawn in  FIG. 4  as though only one was formed, it is not limited to this configuration and it is also possible for a plurality of rotation prevention parts to be formed. In such a structure, the rotation prevention part  125  and the to rotation prevention groove  117  are more securely joined to one another, and even if the size of the visor member  110  increases in proportion to increase in the size of the screen  11  (refer to  FIG. 2 ) of the vehicle-mounted equipment  10  (refer to  FIG. 2 ), the visor member  110  can be securely fastened to the vehicle-mounted equipment  10  (refer to  FIG. 2 ). 
     When there are a plurality of rotation prevention parts  125  like this, it is preferable that a plurality of rotation prevention grooves  117  are formed too, or that one long rotation prevention groove  117  is formed along the length of the fixing part  125 , so that the plurality of rotation prevention parts  125  can be received therein. 
     Meanwhile, as shown in  FIG. 5 , a first elastic support part  223  and a second elastic support part  224  according to another exemplary embodiment can be formed to maintain a fixed gap H with the backside of the vehicle-mounted equipment  10 . In such a structure, when attaching the sun visor  100  to vehicle-mounted equipment, the first elastic support part  223  and the second elastic support part  224  have resistance to deforming stress and can continue to supply elastic force for a long period of time. 
     Also, the elastic part  222  may further be equipped with protective tubes  226  and  227 . The protective tubes  226  and  227  are formed in the shape of hollow tubes and fit onto both ends of the fixing part  121  (refer to  FIG. 4 ) from the ends of the first elastic support part  223  and the second elastic support part  224  up to a meeting point S with the first elastic support part  223  (refer to  FIG. 4 ) or the second elastic support part  224  (refer to  FIG. 4 ). In a state in which the sun visor  100  is combined with the vehicle-mounted equipment  10 , the protective tubes  226  and  227  not only prevent the fixing wire  120  from scratching the vehicle-mounted equipment  10  but also play the role of preventing the fixing wire  120  from detaching from the vehicle-mounted equipment  10 . To this end, the protective tubes  226  and  227  may be formed of rubber or silicone, etc. However, the protective tubes  226  and  227  are not limited to these materials, and any material can be used as long as it does not scratch the vehicle-mounted equipment  10  and has high friction. 
     Also, the visor member  110  may further be provided with a fixing protrusion  116 . The fixing protrusion  116  is combined with the backside of the visor member  110 . A hole is formed in the backside of the visor member  110  and the fixing protrusion  116  can be inserted into the hole. In a state in which the sun visor  100  according to the present invention is attached to the vehicle-mounted equipment  10 , the fixing protrusion  116  combines the visor member  110  with the vehicle-mounted equipment  10  by strong friction so that the visor member  110  does not move from the vehicle-mounted equipment  10  due to external force. To this end, the fixing protrusion  116  may be formed of high-friction rubber or silicone, etc. 
       FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view of a sun visor according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , a sun visor  200  according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of fixing wires  220 . Also, a plurality of pairs of the fixing grooves  214  are formed in an upper portion of the visor member and enable the fixing wires  220  to be combined. 
     When the sun visor  200  of the present invention is attached to vehicle-mounted equipment  10  (refer to  FIG. 2 ) having various sizes of screens  11  (refer to  FIG. 2 ), the above structure enables the visor member  210  to not detach from the vehicle-mounted equipment  10  (refer to  FIG. 2 ) and firmly combine therewith. For example, the size of the screen  11  (refer to  FIG. 2 ) of the vehicle-mounted equipment  10  (refer to  FIG. 2 ) is 4.3 inches, 7 inches, or various larger sizes. As the screen  11  (refer to  FIG. 2 ) of the vehicle-mounted equipment  10  (refer to  FIG. 10 ) increases in size, two, three or more fixing wires  220  are combined with fixing grooves  214  of the visor member  210  as shown in the drawing so that the visor member  210  is strongly fixed to the vehicle-mounted equipment  10  (refer to  FIG. 10 ). 
     As is apparent from the above description, attachment to vehicle-mounted equipment is possible regardless of the shape of the vehicle-mounted equipment. 
     It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.