Abstract: Described here are devices, systems, and methods for closing the left atrial appendage. The methods described here utilize a closure device for closing the left atrial appendage and guides or expandable elements with ablation or abrading elements to ablate or abrade the left atrial appendage. In general, these methods include positioning a balloon at least partially within the atrial appendage, positioning a closure assembly of a closure device around an exterior of the atrial appendage, inflating the balloon, partially closing the closure assembly, ablating the interior tissue of the atrial appendage with the inflated balloon, removing the balloon from the atrial appendage, and closing the atrial appendage with the closure assembly.

Abstract: A molded finished part includes a finish insert (172) with a finish disposed upon a front insert side and a body portion of the molded part. The insert (172) has a substantially rigid yet resilient layer of moldable material. The layer has opposing front and back insert sides. The part body portion has a body surface that corresponds to the back insert side. The body portion is also formed of moldable material. Further, the body surface and the back insert side are melded together in a substantially indistinguishable interface.

Abstract: A vanity console is provided with a housing having a mirror mounted therein made of a material providing both reflectivity and transmissivity characteristics. A source of illumination such as a peripheral fluorescent tube extends behind the outer periphery of the mirror and directs light through the two-way mirror for use of the vanity mirror in low ambient light conditions. The mirror preferably is shaped to conform to the shape of a user's face. In one embodiment of the invention, positioned centrally behind the mirror is a video image source, such as an LCD display, which is supplied with video information from a variety of sources such as vehicle mounted cameras that the vanity console can serve the function of video imaging as well.

Abstract: A vanity mirror assembly includes a relatively thin panel which can slide out from a vehicle support housing. The panel supports a mirror illuminated by a fiber-optic lighting assembly. The fiber-optic lighting assembly comprises a light source which is fixedly positioned within a vehicle housing and to which at least one or more fiber-optic cables are optically coupled and extend to the panel for directing illumination therefrom. The fiber-optic cables have a length and are flexible to allow the panel to be moved from a stored position within the vehicle housing to an extended use position. Also in the preferred embodiment of the invention, the widened ends of the fiber-optic cables have a rectangular surface textured to direct illumination outwardly in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the fiber-optic cables.

Abstract: A sliding visor includes a visor body with a slide extending within a track extending along the upper edge of the door frame and downwardly into the A-pillar. A storage pocket located at the end of the track receives the visor body for the unobtrusive storage of the visor when not in use. In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, a windshield mounted track visor is employed and includes a track concealably mounted behind the vehicle headliner above the windshield. The headliner includes a recess formed therein for receiving the visor for storage.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a mirror mounted near the roof for reflecting an image generated by a display source. The display source and mirror are shaped and positioned to provide a virtual image of the image generated by the display source which is focused at infinity.

Abstract: A temperature compensated fluid filled damper is provided which in a preferred embodiment is a rotary damper which includes a housing for receiving a rotor having a surface for engaging a viscous fluid sealed within the housing. The housing includes a temperature compensating member positioned adjacent the rotor surface and which is made of a material which has a coefficient of thermal expansion different than that of the rotor to provide a varying gap width between the surface of the rotor and the temperature compensating member such that as the temperature changes the drag provided to the rotor by the gap change varies inversely to the drag provided by the viscous fluid.

Abstract: A universal connector mechanically couples any one or more of a variety of accessories to a vehicle. The universal connector comprises a first mounting member, which can extend along a section of a vehicle such as a door panel, instrument panel or the like and can be mounted in recessed relationship to the vehicle. The universal connector also includes a second mounting member associated with each accessory and shaped to lockably and removably engage the first mounting member. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, at least one of the mounting members is made of a resilient material to allow a snap-fit interconnection of the two members.

Abstract: An illuminated vanity mirror assembly for a sun visor includes a resistor screen-printed on a polymeric film substrate mounted adhesively to the back face of a glass mirror. A wiper arm is coupled to the resistor for providing a variable resistance to control the illumination from a lamp coupled to the variable resistance.

Abstract: A visor body includes a guide for receiving a slide member having an auxiliary shield made of a flexible material which can be moved from a collapsed stored position to an extended position when the slide member is moved from its retracted position within the visor body to an extended use position increasing the width of the visor. In an alternative embodiment, the visor body itself is split into two sections which are slidably interfitted to allow them to extend away from one another for providing an increased width visor for added sunblocking capability.

Abstract: A visor system includes a visor panel which is concealed in a vehicle headliner and can be extended from the headliner and pivoted downwardly to an adjusted use position. The visor includes an auxiliary pivoted panel which as the visor is extended from its stored position, pivots outwardly to provide additional visor coverage to one side of the main visor panel.

Abstract: A visor includes a visor control for coupling the visor panel to the visor pivot rod for slidable movement along the pivot rod and for snap-up storage of the visor on the pivot rod against the vehicle headliner. In the preferred embodiment, the visor control includes a torque control fixed to the visor pivot rod and a guide for slidably coupling the visor pivot rod and torque control to the visor panel. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the guide is a pair of stationary guide blocks with guide rods extending on opposite sides of the pivot rod and through which the visor torque control slidably mounts to provide stability of the visor pivot rod and control as the visor panel moves with respect to the pivot rod.

Abstract: A console assembly for a vehicular rearview mirror having breakway capabilities includes a base adapted for attachment to an interior portion of a vehicle, a panel structure mounting the rearview mirror and an overcenter spring for securely, but releasably, holding the panel structure to the base. The base, panel structure and spring are constructed to cooperatively interact such that an impacting force acting on the mirror and having a magnitude above a predetermined level will cause said overcenter spring to release the panel structure from the base and thereby permit the rearview mirror to break away.

Abstract: A vehicular parking brake is incorporated within and operates in conjunction with a centrally mounted armrest. The parking brake is actuated by swinging the armrest upwardly. The locking components are fashioned such that the armrest may be returned to its rest position without effecting the release of the parking brake which is accomplished by pressing an easily reached release lever mounted to the armrest.

Abstract: A dimming control circuit for use in an illuminated vanity mirror includes a surface formed variable resistor on a circuit board and wiper contacts engaging the resistor. One of the resistor or wiper contacts is movably mounted to a mirror frame with the other of the resistor or wiper contacts being stationary such that the resistance can be varied to control the light intensity.

Abstract: A visor for a vehicle includes a vanity mirror assembly which is movable from a stored position within a compartment formed in the visor body to a first use position attached to but extended from the visor body. The vanity mirror assembly can also be detached from the visor for remote use. In the preferred embodiment, the mirror is illuminated by one or more lamps powered by a self-contained rechargeable power source in the vanity mirror assembly.

Abstract: A headrest includes a unidirectional clutch permitting adjustment of the headrest from a reference position to any desired selected position and resists motion in a rearward direction except upon release of the clutch. In one embodiment of the invention, a spring return mechanism is provided to automatically return the headrest to a reference position upon release of the clutch.

Abstract: A visor mounting structure includes a visor rod having a locking member secured to the rod to provide a predetermined rotational torque between the rod and the locking member. The locking member includes tabs extending outwardly for engaging one side of the sheet metal roof of a vehicle when installed. The assembly also includes a cover plate extending over the visor rod and axially spaced from the locking member and including tabs engaging an opposite side of the roof. When the locking member is inserted in the sheet metal roof and rotated to an engaging position, the cover plate is secured thereto to compressibly clamp the assembly in position in the vehicle, thereby mounting the visor attached to the visor rod to the vehicle.

Abstract: Mounting structure for a flux-gate sensor used in electrical digital compass for a vehicle includes a cradle assembly for pivotally mounting the sensor for adjustable movement in a vertical plane aligned with the longitudinal axis of a vehicle. A housing includes an arm engaging the cradle assembly for automatically pivoting the sensor to a horizontal position when installed in different vehicles.