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US4378129A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Sun visor with protected mirror particularly for vehicles

Assignee: Johnson Controls Interiors GmbH and Co KG
•
Filing: 1981-01-21
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Granted: 1983-03-29
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Expires: 2001-01-21
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Abstract

Abstract The invention concerns a sun visor for an automotive vehicle, or the like, which is adapted to safety requirements. The visor body has a frame that is flush with the outer surface of the sun visor body. The sun visor has a mirror in the visor body that is protected by a cover. The cover is swivelably mounted to the visor body frame to swivel between its open and closed conditions. A separately swivelable control knob selectively locks closed and permits opening of the cover. The control knob has a recess for capturing the free edge of the cover and swiveling of the control knob with the edge of the cover in the recess locks the cover closed. A detent locks the knob in the open condition. The cover is an integral unit including a pin that is received in a hole in the frame for supporting the cover, the swiveling cover itself and a hinge between the attached and swiveling portions of the cover.

Inventors

  • 👤 Klaus-Peter Kaiser
  • 👤 Lothar Viertel

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-04 21:06
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60J; B60J3/00; B60J3/02; B60J3/0204; B60J3/0278; B60J3/0282

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim 243 words
A sun visor for automotive vehicles, or the like, comprising: a sun visor body; the body having an outer surface at one side thereof; a frame in the body for supporting a mirror and a mirror supported in the frame to be visible upon looking toward the outer surface of the visor body at one side thereof; the frame being substantially flush with the outer surface at the one side of the visor body; a first recess in the frame which opens outwardly of the outer surface at the one side of the sun visor body; a protective cover for covering over the mirror, the cover being swivelably attached to the frame at a swivel axis and the cover being swivelable between a covering position, where the cover covers over the mirror, and an open position, where the cover exposes the mirror to view; in the covering position, the cover being substantially flush with the outer surface of the body; a control knob positioned to engage the cover at the side of the cover away from the swivel axis of the cover for locking the mirror into the covering position and the control knob being movable for permitting the cover to be swiveled to the open position thereof; the knob is swivelably supported on the frame to swivel between the positions where it locks the cover in the closed position and where it frees the cover to swivel out of the closed position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 243 words
A sun visor for automotive vehicles, or the like, comprising: a sun visor body; the body having an outer surface at one side thereof; a frame in the body for supporting a mirror and a mirror supported in the frame to be visible upon looking toward the outer surface of the visor body at one side thereof; the frame being substantially flush with the outer surface at the one side of the visor body; a first recess in the frame which opens outwardly of the outer surface at the one side of the sun visor body; a protective cover for covering over the mirror, the cover being swivelably attached to the frame at a swivel axis and the cover being swivelable between a covering position, where the cover covers over the mirror, and an open position, where the cover exposes the mirror to view; in the covering position, the cover being substantially flush with the outer surface of the body; a control knob positioned to engage the cover at the side of the cover away from the swivel axis of the cover for locking the mirror into the covering position and the control knob being movable for permitting the cover to be swiveled to the open position thereof; the knob is swivelably supported on the frame to swivel between the positions where it locks the cover in the closed position and where it frees the cover to swivel out of the closed position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 61 words
The sun visor of claim 1, wherein the frame includes an inner, recessed flange in the vicinity of the control knob and placed for the cover to bear against one side of the inner, recessed flange and for the mirror to bear against the opposite side of the inner recessed flange; clip means on the frame for holding the mirror thereto.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 53 words
The sun visor of either of claims 1 or 2, further comprising a first recess in the frame which opens outwardly of the outer surface at the one side of the visor body; the control knob being generally countersunk in the first recess, thereby minimizing protrusion of the knob from the outer surface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 24 words
The sun visor of claim 1, wherein the axis of swivel of the knob is generally parallel to the swivel axis of the cover.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 36 words
The sun visor of either of claims 1 or 4, wherein the control knob has a recess therein placed for overlapping the free edge of the cover for capturing the cover in the closed position thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 57 words
The sun visor of claim 5, wherein the axis of swivel of the knob, the swivel axis of the cover and the recess in the knob are all so placed that the recess in the knob and the free edge of the cover therein can be swiveled over center over the line joining the two swivel axes.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 37 words
The sun visor of claim 6, wherein the swivel support of the knob comprises bearing pins at the sides of the knob and comprises recesses in the frame for rotatably receiving the bearing pins of the knob.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 26 words
The sun visor of claim 5, further comprising detent means on the knob and on the frame for holding the knob in its cover unlocked position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 27 words
The sun visor of claim 1, further comprising detent means on the knob and on the frame for holding the knob in the cover unlocked position thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 43 words
The sun visor of claim 9, wherein the detent means comprise a detent on that side of the knob that is away from the knob recess and comprises an edge defined on the frame for being engaged by the detent on the knob.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 37 words
The sun visor of claim 1, wherein the swivel support of the knob comprises bearing pins at the sides of the knob and comprises recesses in the frame for rotatably receiving the bearing pins of the knob.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 25 words
The sun visor of claim 11, wherein the bearing pin recesses in the frame open toward the mirror, which is located behind the bearing pins.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 55 words
The sun visor of claim 1, wherein the cover is attached to the frame and the cover includes a hinge between the swivelable portion of the cover and the attachment of the cover to the frame, at which hinge the swivel axis is located so that the cover swivels between its closed and open positions.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 15 words
The sun visor of claim 13, wherein the cover including the hinge thereof is integral.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 38 words
The sun visor of either of claims 13 or 14, wherein the attachment of the cover to the frame comprises a pin connected with the cover and comprises a hole defined in the frame for receiving the pin.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 32 words
The sun visor of claim 1, wherein the control knob has a recess therein placed for overlapping the free edge of the cover for capturing the cover in the closed position thereof.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 27 words
The sun visor of claim 16, further comprising detent means on the knob and on the frame for holding the knob in the cover unlocked position thereof.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 240 words
A sun visor for automotive vehicles, or the like, comprising; a sun visor body; the body having an outer surface at one side thereof; a frame in the body for supporting a mirror and a mirror supported in the frame to be visible upon looking toward the outer surface of the visor body at one side thereof; the frame being substantially flush with the outer surface at the one side of the visor body; a protective cover for covering over the mirror, the cover being swivelably attached to the frame and the cover being swivelable between a covering position, where the cover covers over the mirror, and an open position, where the cover exposes the mirror to view; in the covering position, the cover being substantially flush with the outer surface of the body; the cover includes a swivel hinge between the cover and the frame; at the hinge, the cover swivels between its closed and open positions; a control knob for locking the mirror into the covering position and the control knob being movable for permitting the cover to swivel to the open position thereof; the frame includes an inner recessed flange in the vicinity of the control knob and placed for the cover to bear against one side of the inner recessed flange and for the mirror to bear against the opposite side of the inner recessed flange; clip means on the frame for holding the mirror thereto.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 240 words
A sun visor for automotive vehicles, or the like, comprising; a sun visor body; the body having an outer surface at one side thereof; a frame in the body for supporting a mirror and a mirror supported in the frame to be visible upon looking toward the outer surface of the visor body at one side thereof; the frame being substantially flush with the outer surface at the one side of the visor body; a protective cover for covering over the mirror, the cover being swivelably attached to the frame and the cover being swivelable between a covering position, where the cover covers over the mirror, and an open position, where the cover exposes the mirror to view; in the covering position, the cover being substantially flush with the outer surface of the body; the cover includes a swivel hinge between the cover and the frame; at the hinge, the cover swivels between its closed and open positions; a control knob for locking the mirror into the covering position and the control knob being movable for permitting the cover to swivel to the open position thereof; the frame includes an inner recessed flange in the vicinity of the control knob and placed for the cover to bear against one side of the inner recessed flange and for the mirror to bear against the opposite side of the inner recessed flange; clip means on the frame for holding the mirror thereto.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 213 words
A sun visor for automotive vehicles, or the like, comprising; a sun visor body; the body having an outer surface at one side thereof; a frame in the body for supporting a mirror and a mirror supported in the frame to be visible upon looking toward the outer surface of the visor body at one side thereof; the frame being substantially flush with the outer surface at the one side of the visor body; a protective cover supported on the body for covering over the mirror, and the cover being movable between a covering position, where the cover covers over the mirror, and an open position, where the cover exposes the mirror to view; in the covering position, the cover being substantially flush with the outer surface of the body; a control knob for locking the mirror into the covering position and the control knob being movable for permitting the cover to be moved to the open position thereof; the frame includes an inner, recessed flange in the vicinity of the control knob and placed for the cover to bear against one side of the inner, recessed flange and for the mirror to bear against the opposite side of the inner, recessed flange; clip means on the frame for holding the mirror thereto.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 213 words
A sun visor for automotive vehicles, or the like, comprising; a sun visor body; the body having an outer surface at one side thereof; a frame in the body for supporting a mirror and a mirror supported in the frame to be visible upon looking toward the outer surface of the visor body at one side thereof; the frame being substantially flush with the outer surface at the one side of the visor body; a protective cover supported on the body for covering over the mirror, and the cover being movable between a covering position, where the cover covers over the mirror, and an open position, where the cover exposes the mirror to view; in the covering position, the cover being substantially flush with the outer surface of the body; a control knob for locking the mirror into the covering position and the control knob being movable for permitting the cover to be moved to the open position thereof; the frame includes an inner, recessed flange in the vicinity of the control knob and placed for the cover to bear against one side of the inner, recessed flange and for the mirror to bear against the opposite side of the inner, recessed flange; clip means on the frame for holding the mirror thereto.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3926470A Cited
US4068930A Cited
US4174864A Cited
US4203149A Cited
US4275916A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1986-03-28 1986-09-27 1987-03-29 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1990-03-28 1990-09-27 1991-03-29 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1994-03-28 1994-09-27 1995-03-29 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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