Abstract: A visor with an illuminated vanity assembly comprising a base with a closable cover. A dimmer switch is provided on the base for controlling the light output of the illuminated vanity assembly. The dimmer switch comprises a slidable switch electrically coupling a light source contact and a resistor whereby the sliding of the switch relative to the resistor changes the resistance in the circuit to control the light output from the light source.

Abstract: A carrying case for a portable computer or other instrument requiring protection from injury during transport includes a body defining an interior recess, a lid for closing the recess, a bladder assembly in the recess including cushioning bladders and a cushioning and displacement bladder at the bottom of the recess and a sheath overlying the bladder. Insertion of an instrument into the recess collapses the cushioning and displacement bladder to pressurize all of the bladders in the assembly to engage and protect the computer from injury due to inertial shocks. The lid includes an insertion member which engages the computer when the lid is closed to move the computer to the final inserted position and increase the pressure in the bladder assembly.

Abstract: A spring clip, an arm assembly including a pivot rod, and a clip housing are provided for a vehicle visor for providing holding torque when the vehicle visor is in its storage position against a headliner of the vehicle. The spring clip includes a bowed leaf-spring member having a crown portion which imposes a force against a flat formed on one side of the pivot rod. An equal opposing force is applied to a pair of spaced flats formed on the opposite side of the pivot rod by tab portions which extend from first and second legs which, in turn, extend from opposite sides of the leaf-spring member. In two embodiments, the pivot rod extends through D-shaped holes formed when the tab portions are bent inwardly from their respective legs to allow the pivot rod to pass through the body of the clip. The tab portions are preferably bent from their legs at approximately 90.degree. to form surfaces which bear against the spaced flats of the pivot rod opposite the crown portion of the leaf-spring member.

Abstract: A mechanism for attaching an outer covering to a molded shell-type vehicle sun visor having a pair of shell halves and an aperture in one shell half. The mechanism includes a stackes attached to or integral with an inner surface of the shell half and a bezel which cooperates with the stakes to sandwich the free edge portions of the covering along an inner surface of a shell half around the aperture to prevent the covering from working loose.

Abstract: A visor extender for use in combination with a vehicle visor which has a visor defining an internal cavity for housing a sheath which defines a channel and an opening. A blade which has a first end and a second end is movable along the channel between a retracted position substantially within the cavity and an extended position outside of the cavity. A grip means is located adjacent the first end of the blade for selectively moving the blade between the retracted position and the extended position. A limiting means is provided which cooperates with an opening in the sheath to limit movement of the blade in the extended position. A guide means is provided on the blade adjacent the second end for guiding movement of the blade on the sheath as the blade moves in the channel between the retracted position and the extended position.

Abstract: The compound p-aminophenol is prepared by catalytically hydrogenating nitrobenzene in an acidic reaction medium containing an amine of the formula (I) ##STR1## wherein R represents an alkyl group having from 6 to about 20 carbon atoms; R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are the same or different, and are represented by the formula --[(CH.sub.2).sub.m O].sub.n H, wherein m is an integer of from 1 to about 5 and n is an integer of from 1 to about 10.

Abstract: A mounting system in combination with a sun visor which is movable between a detented retracted position and an extended position. A pivot shaft with a generally circular cross-section cooperates with the sun visor. The pivot shaft has a flat surface along one side of the shaft which provides a detent position for the sun visor when in the retracted position. An annular groove is provided which is oriented in a plane generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the shaft. A first clip is provided which cooperates with the shaft and sun visor. The first clip has a first leg and a second leg, such that either the first leg or the second leg has a protrusion which cooperates with the annular groove to prevent either the first leg or the second leg from locating the flat surface while allowing the other leg to locate the flat surface to obtain the detent position when the sun visor is in the retracted position.

Abstract: An electrical circuit assembly mechanism for an illuminated vehicle visor having a mirror and a slidable panel for covering and uncovering the mirror. Movement of the slidable panel from the covered position to the uncovered position closes the circuit. Movement of the slidable panel from the uncovered position to the covered position opens the circuit. An electrically conductive member cooperates with the slidable panel and an electrically conductive support member to activate and deactivate the illumination of the mirror on the visor. Movement of the slidable panel results in corresponding movement of the conductive member, which, in turn, results in contact being made or broken between the support member and a ground bar, depending on the position of the slidable panel relative to the mirror.

Abstract: A mechanism and method for attaching a sunvisor to a pivot shaft by providing a generally U-shaped clip having first and second arms within a cooperating clip housing integrally formed within the rear panel of the sunvisor. A conduit is formed by the spring clip enabling the sliding of the pivot shaft into both the clip housing and the spring clip. The clip housing is designed to cooperate with the pivot shaft to pre-stress one arm of the spring clip, thereby eliminating excess play between the spring clip and the sunvisor when the visor is pivoted. The attachment mechanism is designed such that a snap-shut hook is properly received within a receiving hook, thereby effectively securing the sunvisor to the pivot shaft.

Abstract: Mechanism and method for attaching an outer covering to a plastic shell are provided wherein an attachment mechanism is attached or integral with an inner surface of a shell half. The attachment mechanism secures the covering to prevent the covering from working loose prior to and during closure of the upper and lower shell halves. The mechanism is designed to maintain adequate tension on the cover fabric, yet allow fabric to be pulled out as required by a peripheral fabric retention system. The mechanism further includes one or more members which flex to allow an elongated implement and fabric to enter, but which grabs and retains the fabric when the elongated implement is withdrawn prior to and upon closing of the upper and lower shell halves.

Abstract: A sunvisor for an automotive vehicle has a shell or frame with two separate halves foldable along a common edge. The shell halves have juxtaposed notches along the common edge and clamping flanges or ribs on one surface thereof adjacent the notches. A visor body is formed by folding the shell halves along the common edge. After folding, the visor body has an inner cavity. A retainer or support pin is integrally formed with a fabric tucking flange. Before closing the shell halves, the support pin is placed and held so as to force the cover fabric into its final position. Upon closure of the shell halves, the clamping flanges cooperate to retain the support pin and cover fabric. The support pin cooperates with a sunvisor support latch to support the sunvisor with the vehicle.

Abstract: A mechanism for attaching an outer fabric covering to a plastic shell is provided wherein inner and outer walls integrally formed on the inner periphery of a lower shell half define a channel and a locking wall integrally formed on the inner periphery of an upper shell half locks the covering in the channel when the shell is closed. The attachment mechanism secures the covering to prevent the covering from working loose during normal operation of the sunvisor. The mechanism further includes a peripheral lip integrally formed with the locking wall. The covering is secured between the peripheral lip and a free end portion of the outer wall. The lip has a curved outer surface for receiving one free edge portion of the covering thereon. The outer wall also has a curved outer surface for receiving another free edge portion of the covering thereon. The curved outer surfaces of the outer wall and the lip at least partially define a curved outer surface of the shell when closed.

Abstract: A visor bracket for use in a visor assembly includes at least one upwardly extending projection and the outer curved peripheral surface of a central boss which cooperate to prevent misalignment of the boss with a D-shaped opening formed in an inner sheet of the roof of a vehicle during installation of the visor assembly to the vehicle. Preferably, the outer curved peripheral surface is defined by the outer curved surface of a plurality of guide ribs which radially project from and extend around the periphery of the boss. The mounting bracket includes a mounting flange integrally formed with the boss and extending radially therefrom. The mounting flange includes a plurality of spaced mounting holes formed therethrough for alignment with attachment holes formed in the inner sheet of the roof of the vehicle. Preferably, two such projections are adapted to fit within the D-shaped opening at opposite ends of a straight line portion thereof.

Abstract: A viscous flow thermoplastic film is extruded as a variant thickness profile curtain by means of an extrusion die having a flow choke rod extending longitudinally parallel with the die jaws and positioned within one die jaw for chordal projection into the die flow channel. The choke rod is surface relieved by chordal flats at locations corresponding to film zones of greater thickness. A single rod may be provided with as many profile pattern sequences as space and dimension allows chordal segments around the rod circumference. Pattern selection may be changed under die running conditions by rotating the profile rod about its axis to align the flats of the desired pattern within the die flow channel.

Abstract: A container blank is encoded on all flaps thereof in manner providing for presentation of the same coded pattern to a sensing unit irrespective of the flat registered with the sensing unit. The sensing unit is connected through article-designator apparatus to an indicating unit which is energized exclusively when the sensing unit indicates container blank article indication not conforming the article setting of the article-designator apparatus.