Abstract: A visor has a curvilinear extruded panel with end caps and is pivotally mounted to the header rail of a vehicle and, when in a stored position, conforms closely to the geometry of the header rail. It is mounted to allow the visor to pivot away from the windshield toward the driver or passenger, lowering the visor to provide sun-blocking protection. The curvilinear visor body may also include a glare shield which can be extended from the lower edge of the visor to provide additional sun-blocking protection.

Abstract: A visor is provided which pivots downwardly away from the windshield and includes a movable pivot axis that moves the visor toward the vehicle windshield and away from the operator as the operator lowers the visor. This moves the visor to a comfortable and functional position for the operator.

Abstract: A visor system is mounted to a vehicle such that it pivots from a pocket in a vehicle headliner adjacent the windshield downwardly away from the windshield from a stored position to a use position. The system includes a primary visor which remains in the front windshield position and an auxiliary visor panel pivotally mounted to the vehicle for pivoting downwardly and then upwardly to a side window position without encroaching in a user's space. The primary visor includes a pivoted extendable glare shield which can be deployed from an edge of the primary visor to increase sun blocking or filtering.

Abstract: A visor is mounted to a vehicle such that it pivots from a pocket in a vehicle headliner adjacent the windshield downwardly away from the windshield from the stored position to a use position. A mounting bracket coupled to the visor and mounting clip coupled to the vehicle cooperate to hold the visor in a stored position and allow its pivoting to a lowered use position and movement in connection with a pivot rod assembly on the opposite end of the visor to a side window position. The pivot rod assembly includes a cam mechanism for lowering the visor as it pivots from the front window position to the side window position. A push-push spring-loaded pivoted extender panel can be deployed from an edge of the visor to increase sun blocking.

Abstract: A visor system is mounted to a vehicle such that it pivots from a pocket in a vehicle headliner adjacent the windshield downwardly away from the windshield from a stored position to a use position. The system includes a primary visor which remains in the front windshield position and an auxiliary visor panel pivotally mounted with respect to said primary visor for pivoting to a side window position regardless of the position of the primary visor.

Abstract: A visor is mounted to a vehicle such that it pivots from a pocket in a vehicle headliner adjacent the windshield downwardly away from the windshield from the stored position to a use position. A mounting bracket coupled to the visor and mounting clip coupled to the vehicle cooperate to hold the visor in a stored position and allow its pivoting to a lowered use position and movement in connection with a pivot rod assembly on the opposite end of the visor to a side window position. The pivot rod assembly includes a cam mechanism for lowering the visor as it pivots from the front window position to the side window position. A push-push spring-loaded pivoted extender panel can be deployed from an edge of the visor to increase sun blocking.

Abstract: A vehicle proximity sensing system for sensing vehicle activity rearward of a driver of a vehicle comprises a proximity sensor, an information display and a control. The proximity sensor senses vehicle activity rearward of the driver of a subject vehicle to detect an approach of a rearwardly approaching vehicle. The information display alerts the driver of the subject vehicle that the rearwardly approaching vehicle is within a threshold distance. The control is operable to generate an alert on the information display in response to the proximity sensor.

Abstract: An information display system for a vehicle includes a reverse image display and a rearview mirror. The reverse image display is positioned rearwardly of a driver of the vehicle such that an image of the message being displayed is reflected from the rearview mirror and received in reverse order and thus readable by the driver. A control may be included which activates the reverse image display in response to an input and may vary the intensity, color and/or frequency of repeat of the display in response to other inputs. The control may convey multiple messages through a single reverse image display or through multiple displays.

Abstract: An information display system for a vehicle includes a reverse image display and a rearview mirror. The reverse image display is positioned rearwardly of a driver of the vehicle such that an image of the message being displayed is reflected from the rearview mirror and received in reverse order and thus readable by the driver. A control may be included which activates the reverse image display in response to an input and may vary the intensity, color and/or frequency of repeat of the display in response to other inputs. The control may convey multiple messages through a single reverse image display or through multiple displays.

Abstract: An information display system for a vehicle includes a reverse image display and a rearview mirror. The reverse image display is positioned rearwardly of a driver of the vehicle such that an image of the message being displayed is reflected from the rearview mirror and received in reverse order and thus readable by the driver. A control may be included which activates the reverse image display in response to an input and may vary the intensity, color and/or frequency of repeat of the display in response to other inputs. The control may convey multiple messages through a single reverse image display or through multiple displays.

Abstract: A vehicle visor includes a frame member having a mirror mounted thereto and a flexible cover for the mirror. A guide and support structure is mounted to the frame for guidably supporting the flexible cover to permit movement of the cover between a position covering the mirror and a position exposing the mirror for use.

Abstract: A visor rod mounting bracket has a base with a collar having an opening therein for receiving a rod. The collar integrally includes a sidewall having an aperture extending therethrough and communicating with the opening and locking means mounted to either the base or collar and extending into the opening for lockably securing the visor rod therein. In one embodiment, the locking means comprises a leaf spring made of a conductive material which electrically engages the visor rod to provide an electrical contact thereto permitting the application of electrical operating power to the visor through the rod serving as one conductor.

Abstract: An auxiliary visor light includes a visor body coupled to a vehicle and including a light housing coupled to the visor body and movable between a stored position substantially flush with the visor body and a use position projecting from the visor body and which is laterally directable to provide selective illumination to the interior of a vehicle.

Abstract: A visor actuating mechanism includes a bias spring coupled to the visor's moveable control elements tending to urge the visor body into a lowered position and a releasable catch for holding the visor in a stored position against the force provided by the bias spring. In one embodiment of the invention, the releasable catch was an electrically actuated solenoid coupled to a locking arm which, when the solenoid is actuated by an electrical push-button switch, effects release of the latching mechanism to permit the bias spring to urge the visor downwardly from the stored position.

Abstract: A panel includes a mirror surrounded on three sides by a generally U-shaped light source for providing illumination of the mirror for use as a vanity mirror under low ambient light conditions. The panel, in one embodiment of the invention is an integral portion of a body of a visor or a panel which is slidably extended from a visor. The U-shaped light and mirror panel can be pivoted when in an extended position such that the light and mirror can be utilized while the visor is in a raised, stored position or in a lowered use position. The panel is, in one embodiment, coupled to an X-shaped bracket with the legs forming the bracket pivotally coupled to one another. One end of each leg is pivotally coupled to one of an anchoring member or the visor panel and the opposite end pivotally and slidably mounted to one of the anchoring member or the visor panel.

Abstract: A storage system includes a housing secured to the ceiling of an automobile behind the windshield and has one or more recesses having hinged covers defining one or more storage receptacles for receiving and storing sunglasses or other small personal items. The housing can be conveniently aligned to extend between the vehicle operator and passenger seats such that the storage compartments are readily accessible. In one embodiment, hinge means coupling the cover and housing are curvilinear to permit the cover to swing downwardly in an arcuate path of approximately 100 degrees to facilitate the insertion and removal of items from a receptacle formed in the cover.

Abstract: Visors embodying the present invention include a mounting structure secured to the headliner of a vehicle above a side window and a pair of parallel spaced arms, each pivotally coupled at one end to the mounting structure secured to the vehicle headliner and having opposite ends pivotally secured to a sun shield such that the shield can be pivoted by rotation of the parallel arms between a raised or stored position above the side window downwardly to a lowered use position.

Abstract: A housing for a transmitter is adapted to be mounted to a rearview mirror. The housing includes a switch and a battery for momentarily actuating the transmitter to activate a remotely positioned device. The housing for the transmitter, power supplying battery and switch forms a relatively compact package which can be secured to or integrally formed with the rearview mirror of a vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle hanger support includes a downwardly pivoted U-shaped member which pivots on a frame between a stored position within a recess in the vehicle headliner and a lowered use position. In one embodiment, a sliding door encloses the U-shaped member when in the stored position. This construction provides a sturdy hanger support which can accommodate several clothes hangers and yet, one which can be retracted to a recessed position when not in use.

Abstract: The present invention incorporates a flux-gate sensor for a vehicle compass. The sensor is mounted in association with the mounting system for a rearview mirror mounted to the vehicle windshield. In one embodiment of the present invention, the flux-gate sensor is contained in the mounting bracket for the rearview mirror. This location isolates the sensor from the undesired effects of the metallic mass of the vehicle as well as the dashboard, typically housing the vehicle's wiring.