Repositionable As A Unit Patents (Class 362/144)
  • Patent number: 5577791
    Abstract: A sun visor for a motor vehicle has a mirror housing disposed in a depression in a surface of the sun visor body. A mirror is supported in the mirror housing. A sliding cover over the mirror is slidable to cover or expose the mirror. The visor body has a covering section over the sliding cover when it has moved to expose the mirror to view. The cover is automatically operable by a spring connected between the mirror housing and the cover for moving the cover to the mirror exposed position. The cover is locked against opening by a push button operated unlocking mechanism which normally locks the cover closed and which opens it upon the push button being operated. A card or ticket holder is held in a separate depression in the covering section of the visor body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1996
    Assignee: Gebr. Happich GmbH
    Inventors: Lothar Viertel, Patrick Welter
  • Patent number: 5560704
    Abstract: A vanity mirror assembly includes a flexible circuit which extends between a movable cover and a vanity mirror frame and provides circuit capabilities for mounting lamps on either the cover or vanity mirror frame. Other circuit elements such as control switches, dimming controls, and the like can be mounted on the opposite side of the vanity mirror package so that a relatively thin visor with spaced-apart circuit elements can be provided. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the circuit comprises a flexible insulative substrate which comprise first and second circuit panels integrally interconnected by a bridge. Conductive elements are screen printed on the first and second circuit panels and on the bridge which extends across the pivot connection of the cover to the mirror frame while coupling the first and second circuit panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1996
    Assignee: Prince Corporation
    Inventors: David L. Hiemstra, Paul T. Vander Kuyl
  • Patent number: 5528470
    Abstract: An illuminated vanity mirror assembly is provided for snap mounting in a vehicular sun visor. A cover is hinged to a base member carrying the mirror for opening rotation along an axis parallel to the swinging axis of the visor with the cover containing the lighting. In a preferred embodiment the assembly has a round compact shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1996
    Assignee: Jay Roberts Company
    Inventor: Jay R. White
  • Patent number: 5486033
    Abstract: An L-shaped support shaft for a sun visor body including a first support arm received in a mounting bracket on the vehicle body and a second longer support arm that extends into a mounting housing of a sun visor body and is held there by detent spring. The support shaft may comprise a metal or steel tube. A flat on the longer second arm receives the detent spring of the mounting housing. The free end region of the first short arm has a smaller diameter than the rest of the support shaft. A sprayed on plastic body over the bend of the L-shaped support shaft and extending up both of the arms, toward but not over the free end region of the first arm and toward but not over the flat of the second arm. At the first arm, the plastic body defines a mounting shank terminating in a mushroom head toward the free end. Electrical connection contacts are disposed over the long arm. A conductor wire extends through the support shaft from the free end region of the first arm to the contact on the second arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 23, 1996
    Assignee: Gebr. Happich GmbH
    Inventors: Rene Lecorvaisier, Christian Buchheit
  • Patent number: 5453915
    Abstract: A lighted adjustable mirror with clamp is disclosed. The device consists of a illuminated two-surfaced mirror--one surface without magnification, the other surface with magnification. The mirror, housed within a frame, is pivitolly attached to a bracket. The bracket is pivitolly attached to a flexible column. The mirror is free to pivot about mutually perpendicular axes with the column adding further multi-directional adjustment. The column is attached to a clamp for easy securement to a variety of surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 26, 1995
    Inventor: Raymond L. Bradley, III
  • Patent number: 5438491
    Abstract: A vehicular sun visor having a lighted vanity-mirror and sliding door is provided with a fixed lens aligned with a lamp at one end of the mirror and a lens which moves with the door into alignment with the lamp at the other end of the mirror. An automatic brightening intensity circuit is provided. Automatic motor drive is also provided for the sliding door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 1, 1995
    Assignee: Jay Roberts Company
    Inventor: Jay R. White
  • Patent number: 5428513
    Abstract: A vanity (mirror assembly includes a flexible circuit which extends between a movable cover and a vanity mirror frame and provides circuit capabilities for mounting lamps on either the cover or vanity mirror frame. Other circuit elements such as control switches, dimming controls, and the like can be mounted on the opposite side of the vanity mirror package so that a relatively thin visor with spaced-apart circuit elements can be provided. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the circuit comprises a flexible insulative substrate which comprise first and second circuit panels integrally interconnected by a bridge. Conductive elements are screen printed on the first and second circuit panels and on the bridge which extends across the pivot connection of the cover to the mirror frame while coupling the first and second circuit panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1995
    Assignee: Prince Corporation
    Inventors: David L. Hiemstra, Paul T. Vander Kuyl
  • Patent number: 5357376
    Abstract: A vanity mirror with a pivotally mounted front cover that can be kept opened and closed via a coil spring force. A coil spring and a sliding piece are installed in the main casing of the vanity mirror, and the coil spring presses the sliding piece against a mounting lug of the front cover, thus the pivot-opened front cover is kept opened by the coil spring and the pivot-closed front cover is kept closed by the coil spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1994
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshihide Yoshida
  • Patent number: 5331518
    Abstract: A covered vehicle accessory such as a vanity mirror visor includes a socket for receiving at least one pivot axle of the cover. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a generally C-shaped spring compressibly engages a mirror frame on one side and a cam extending from the cover on a side opposite the front of the frame. The C-shaped spring includes first and second legs which respectively engage the frame and cover. The spring is locked in place in part by a tab formed in the frame and an aperture formed in the spring for receiving the tab and mating inclined walls of the frame and leg segment of the spring. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, also, the cover includes at least one pivot axle having an extension with an electrical contact which engages an electrical contact associated with the frame to define a switch which allows the application of operating power to a lamp associated with the illuminated vanity mirror structure upon opening of the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1994
    Assignee: Prince Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey O. Roark, Peter V. Styke, Robert L. Mattingly, Drew G. Jelgerhuis
  • Patent number: 5329430
    Abstract: A dimming control circuit for use in an illuminated vanity mirror includes a surface formed variable resistor on a conductive circuit substrate and wiper contacts engaging the resistor. One of the resistor and wiper contacts is movably mounted to a mirror frame with the other of the resistor and wiper contacts being stationary such that the resistance can be varied to control the light intensity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1994
    Assignee: Prince Corporation
    Inventors: Michael L. Lanser, Paul T. Vander Kuyl
  • Patent number: 5299106
    Abstract: A mounting shaft for a car visor having a lighting fixture. The mounting shaft includes an inner L-shaped preform and an outer L-shaped supplementary body surrounding it. The preform and the supplementary body are plastic injection-molded parts. Two electric connecting wires and two contact pins are incorporated in the preform. The preform includes an end part to which the contact pins are attached by direct extrusion coating to be connectable to the lighting fixture. Two half shells are integrally formed on the end part and connected to it by two hinge connection. Each half shell includes an open cavity for receiving an electric wire and can be swung together to be fastened with the inclusion of the electric connecting wires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1994
    Assignee: Gebr. Happich GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Buchheit, Jean-Luc Avez
  • Patent number: 5278736
    Abstract: Electric circuity (45) in a lighted vanity mirror module (5) for an automobile sun visor (40) is mounted on the backside of an appearance bezel (10), thereby obviating the necessity for a separate housing. A wire wound resistor (80) is employed in a lamp dimmer (37) and, with the bezel, retains a sliding contact which controls lamp intensity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1994
    Assignee: United Technologies Automotive, Inc.
    Inventors: Monte L. Falcoff, George Boguszewicz, John Swiatocha, Leonard E. Moriconi
  • Patent number: 5274532
    Abstract: A removable mirror device for motor vehicle interior has a fixed outer frame, a removable mirror unit snugly housed in the fixed outer frame, electric illumination element provided in the mirror unit, dry cells located in the mirror unit, and a switching element operative for supplying the electric illuminating element of the mirror unit either from the drive cells located in the mirror unit from a battery of a motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1993
    Assignee: Industrias Techno-Matic, S.A.
    Inventor: Carlos Gabas
  • Patent number: 5207501
    Abstract: A vanity mirror of the type including a mirror, an illuminating portion having a lamp, and a cover for covering and exposing the front surface of the mirror, with the lamp being turned on and off in response to opening and closing of the cover, and particularly adapted for incorporating in a sun visor of an automobile. A lens covering the front side of the lamp is displaceable in fore and aft directions, and there is provided a bias mechanism for biasing forward the lens and a mechanism for displacing the lens in response to the closing of the cover. The lens is displaced forward in response to the opening of the cover and by the bias mechanism, thus, the affect of the heat of the lamp on the lens can be minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1993
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toranosuke Sakuma, Atsushi Yamada
  • Patent number: 5203623
    Abstract: A sun visor for motor vehicles has a trough in one large surface which supports a mirror and an illuminating device for the mirror. A swing cover over the trough exposes or hides the mirror. A light transmissive light panel in the trough is connected with the swing cover to selectively be moved over the electric illuminating device in the trough when the cover is opened and to be moved away from the illuminating device when the swing cover is closed down over the light panel. The light panel is swingably attached to the light cover and is slidingly guided in guide slots in the trough to both swing with respect to the trough and to translate with respect to the trough. A switch on the trough is activated by the translation of the light panel to turn on and off the electric illuminating device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1993
    Assignee: Gebr. Happich GmbH
    Inventors: Lothar Viertel, Patrick Welter
  • Patent number: 5188446
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1993
    Assignee: Plasta Fiber Industries Corp.
    Inventor: Douglas C. Miller
  • Patent number: 5160203
    Abstract: A sun visor for motor vehicles has a flat sun visor body of foam material which has a recess on one main surface to receive a trough which holds a mirror cassette. A frame, in which the trough is clipped is inserted into the recess. The frame has claws which can be swung to be anchored in the foam body at the recess sidewalls. A cover over the body is also held in the recess by the installed frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1992
    Assignee: Gebr. Happich GmbH
    Inventors: Lothar Viertel, Patrick Welter
  • Patent number: 5143678
    Abstract: An angled support arm for a sun-visor which is electrically powered by at least two conductors passing inside the support arm. The support arm is made by molding a plastic material over at least a portion of the conductors in such a manner as to cause the plastic material to constitute a block with the conductors. In the method of the invention, overmolding takes place in two stages: a first stage in which a plastic material is molded over the conductors in such a manner as to obtain a support arm blank having at least a portion which is smaller in section than the corresponding section of the support arm; and a second stage during which the blank is itself overmolded to obtain the finished support arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1992
    Assignee: Rockwell ABS - France
    Inventor: Charles B. Prillard
  • Patent number: 5117337
    Abstract: A vanity mirror of the type including a mirror, an illuminating portion having a lamp, and a cover for covering and exposing the front surface of the mirror, with the lamp being turned on and off in response to opening and closing of the cover. A lens covering the front side of the lamp is displaceable in fore and aft directions, and a mechanism is provided for displacing the lens in response to opening and closing of the cover, such that when the cover is opened the lens displaces forward and the lamp is turned on, and that when the cover is closed the lens retracts and the lamp is turned off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1992
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toranosuke Sakuma
  • Patent number: 5067764
    Abstract: An automotive visor includes a visor body with a slot for slidably receiving a panel which may include an illuminated vanity mirror. The panel is slidably mounted to the visor body and stabilizing structure assures that the panel moves smoothly between a stored position within the visor body and a use position extended from the visor body. In one embodiment the stabilizing structure includes cords which extend through the panel to opposite corners of the visor body. In another embodiment the stabilizing structure includes guide tracks and followers on the panel which are made of material to magnetically attract the followers to the tracks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1991
    Assignee: Prince Corporation
    Inventors: Michael L. Lanser, Steven E. VanderVeen, David J. Becker
  • Patent number: 5039153
    Abstract: A vanity mirror assembly includes a housing which is adapted to be mounted to the roof structure of a vehicle and a generally L-shaped pivot rod with one end locked to the housing and an opposite end pivotally mounted to a vanity mirror frame. The pivot rod includes an offset portion defining a cam which engages a cam surface on the frame to control the pivotal motion of the frame with respect to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1991
    Assignee: Prince Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth M. Lindberg, Craig Robbins
  • Patent number: 5029052
    Abstract: A vanity mirror for mounting in a vehicle sun visor including a housing and an external connector provided in the sun visor, a lamp section including a tubular electric lamp provided in a recess formed in the housing and an internal connector provided in the housing. Two contact members for supporting the bases on both sides of the electric lamp are provided and the end of one extremity of these contact members are formed into electric lamp supporting portions. The other end of at least one of these contact members is made into a connecting piece for connecting the external connector thereto. Also, the internal connector is formed by placing a connecting piece connected to the other end of the other contact member in parallel with the connecting piece of the first contact. With this construction use of vehicle as a ground is avoided so that the supporting structure of the mirror with the lamp may be formed of a nonmetallic lightweight material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1991
    Assignee: Koito Seisakusho Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toranosuke Sakuma, Yoshihide Yoshida
  • Patent number: 5022699
    Abstract: A covered illuminated vanity mirror including includes a mirror body, a mirror supported on the mirror body, and a cover for exposing and covering the front surface of the mirror and being pivotally mounted on the mirror body. A mounting lug is formed on the cover, and the mirror body is formed to define a space for receiving therein pivotally and movably the mounting lug of the cover. The mounting lug is further formed to have an end surface which is faced faces toward the a rear direction in the open exposed condition of the cover and another end surface which is faced toward the a rear direction in the closed covered condition of the cover. A spring member is received in a space in the mirror body and resiliently selectively engages with corresponding end surfaces of the mounting lug selectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1991
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshihide Yoshida
  • Patent number: 5011212
    Abstract: A sun visor includes a sun visor body. A swivel mounting block and an outer support block, which respectively receive a swivel arm from one end of the visor body and a support part from the other end of the visor body, are joined by and are one piece with a connecting member which bridges over at least a part of the sun visor body and is disposed above the upper longitudinal edge of the visor body. The connecting member is also in one piece with a housing for an electrical illuminating unit and has an illumination window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1991
    Assignee: Gebr. Happich GmbH
    Inventors: Lothar Viertel, Patrick Welter
  • Patent number: 5003438
    Abstract: A vanity mirror including a mirror body formed of a synthetic resin material, a mirror supported on the mirror body, and a lamp supported on the mirror body. The lamp is supported on a lamp body which is supported in an opening formed in the mirror body. The lamp body is also formed of a synthetic resin material, but the temperature of heat resistant thereof is higher than that of the material of the mirror body. A lens formed of a synthetic resin material covers the front opening of the lamp body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1991
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshihide Yoshida
  • Patent number: 4999746
    Abstract: Sun visor for vehicles with a lighting unit (4), which is flush-mounted in the sun visor (1) on one longitudinal side (2). The lighting unit is symmetrical relative to the central plane of the sun visor in order to direct light in both directions from the plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1991
    Assignee: Autopart Sweden AB
    Inventor: E. Gunnar Svensson
  • Patent number: 4984137
    Abstract: To improve the usability of a vanity mirror of a sun visor for an automotive vehicle, the vanity mirror is removably housed within a mirror accommodating hollow space formed in a sun visor body, and further locked to or unlocked from the hollow space via a locking mechanism when the vanity mirror unit is a little pushed into the hollow space. Further, the removable vanity mirror unit comprises a storage cell (charged by a car battery when the mirror unit is housed in the sun visor body) and an illumination lamp, so that the removed mirror unit can be used as a portable illumination mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 8, 1991
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenichiro Maemura
  • Patent number: 4979079
    Abstract: To maximize the areas of a vanity mirror and an illumination lid and to allow the illumination lid to be adjustably pivoted to obtain a desirable illumination angle, a vanity mirror is attached to a bottom surface of a square recess formed in the sun visor body, and an illumination lid provided with a lamp is slidably fitted to and moved away from the square recess to expose the vanity mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 18, 1990
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Makoto Tawaraya
  • Patent number: 4953064
    Abstract: A sun visor body has at one end region of one of its longitudinal edges an outer-support pin which is surrounded by a sleeve and is detachably engageable in the mounting recess of an outer-support mount. The sleeve is comprised of two half-shells. Each shell has two longitudinal edges and each has a radially inwardly directed extension. The outer-support pin is provided with two diametrically opposite, axially extending grooves into which the extensions are snapped and held, secured against twisting and in non-losable fashion by engagement. The outer support pin may have an electrically conductive wire core. A rivet through the pin acts to electrically connect the core to the periphery of the pin where the rivet can connect to a contact in an outer support mount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 28, 1990
    Assignee: Gebr. Happich GmbH
    Inventors: Lothar Viertel, Patrick Welter
  • Patent number: 4947296
    Abstract: To prevent the driver from being dazzled by the light emitted from a lamp unit of a sun visor provided with a vanity mirror. The vanity mirror and the lamp unit are covered by a folding light cover disposed between upper edges of the vanity mirror and the lamp unit and an upper edge of the mirror cover. When the mirror cover is pivoted open, the folding light cover is unfolded perpendicular to the flat surface of the sun visor body to partially cover the vanity mirror and the lamp unit from above and beside. When the mirror cover is pivoted closed, the folding light cover is folded down between the mirror cover and the vanity mirror or the lamp unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 7, 1990
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuo Takeuchi, Masamitsu Matsuki
  • Patent number: 4926295
    Abstract: To maximize the area of a vanity mirror and improve external appearance of a sun visor under consideration of safety, the sun visor comprises an upper sun visor element, a mirror unit whose upper end is supported by the upper sun visor element, and a lower sun visor element slidably fitted to the mirror unit. In out of use of the mirror, the lower sun visor element is vertically slid to its uppermost position into contact with the upper sun visor element to cover the mirror. In use, the lower sun visor element is vertically slid to its lowermost position with a click feeling to expose the mirror. Further, a lamp unit and a lamp switch are housed within the upper sun visor element for illumination. Further, it is preferable to automatically turn on the lamp whenever the mirror is exposed with the lamp switch set to "AUTO" position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 15, 1990
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Makoto Tamuraya
  • Patent number: 4922391
    Abstract: A vanity mirror package for a visor includes a sliding cover having a handle which includes a light for providing illumination for use of the mirror in low ambient light conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 1, 1990
    Assignee: Prince Corporation
    Inventor: Steven P. Dykstra
  • Patent number: 4908740
    Abstract: An integral composite structure having predetermined electrically conductive networks on a non-conductive planar or non-planar support structure produced by the combination of a slurry of electrically conductive materials having a fluid carrier which includes an evaporative fluid and an elastomeric substance in which particles of an electrically conductive material are contained, the fluid carrier being chemically reactive with the material forming the relatively non-conductive support structure to secure one to the other, and upon evaporation of the evaporative portion of the fluid carrier, the unevaporated portion of the slurry formed of the elastomeric substance and the electrically conductive particles form a solid which is both flexible and electrically conductive and a method for producing same, including the steps of introducing the slurry into a container, the container having at least a portion of the wall forming the container consisting of an elastomeric material having at least one normally closed
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 13, 1990
    Inventors: Richard D. Hudgins, Scott Carr
  • Patent number: 4879637
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 7, 1989
    Assignee: Prince Corporation
    Inventors: Russell L. Clark, Kim L. Van Order, Michael J. Suman, Todd A. Zandbergen
  • Patent number: 4866579
    Abstract: A vanity mirror package for a visor includes snap-fastening connectors extending from the mirror frame toward a recess formed in the visor body. The visor body includes a floor with connectors which cooperate with the snap-fastening connectors of the mirror frame such that the vanity mirror package is self-aligning during assembly and can be inserted and removed by flexing one of the connectors without contacting the visor upholstered material or deforming the mirror frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 12, 1989
    Assignee: Prince Corporation
    Inventors: Roger G. Miller, Robert J. Clark
  • Patent number: 4847737
    Abstract: A light intensity control includes a current control device which delays the application of the maximum level of current to one or more lamps of an illuminated vanity mirror. In the preferred embodiment, the current responsive control device comprises a negative temperature coefficient thermistor coupled in series with the lamps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 11, 1989
    Assignee: Prince Corporation
    Inventors: Kim L. Van Order, Steven P. Dykstra, Ted A. Dekker
  • Patent number: 4830424
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a vehicle sun visor comprising a lighted mirror and at least one pivoted cover which in its closed position covers at least a portion of the mirror. According to the invention, the cover is pivotally supported by the diffuser plates, which are included in the mirror lighting. This makes it possible to easily remove the diffuser plates by using the cover as a handle to snap the diffuser plates out of engagement with the walls of the cavities in which the diffuser plates are held.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 16, 1989
    Assignee: Autopart Sweden AB
    Inventor: E. Gunnar Svensson
  • Patent number: 4809137
    Abstract: Present invention relates to car back-mirror fitted with illumination light. In the conventional cars, forward and backward driving in the night time face no problems with the aid of head lights and rear lamps mounted at the front and rear ends of the car, but sighting of objects approaching from dark right and left side direction of the car or from up or down direction is very difficult due to no side lights. In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides car back-mirror fitted with illumination light which can be rotated in all directions so that dark side directions of the car may be irradiated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1989
    Inventor: Kiyoshi Yamada
  • Patent number: 4807093
    Abstract: A visor having a body with a central opening extending through the body. A cover selectively encloses the opening on one side of the visor. Pivotally mounted to the visor is a mirror and frame with the mirror facing the cover and movable between a position co-planar with and enclosing the opposite side of the opening for storage to a lowered use position in which the mirror is exposed for use when the visor is in a raised stored position. When the visor is in a lowered sun blocking position and the mirror frame is in its stored position, the cover can be opened for exposing the mirror from the rear facing surface of the visor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1989
    Assignee: Prince Corporation
    Inventor: Bruce W. Cisler
  • Patent number: 4794497
    Abstract: The invention relates to a sun visor for motor vehicles with an illuminated mirror (6) and a cover (7). The lighting (8) is arranged in the cover and is turned on and off as the cover is opened and closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1988
    Assignee: Autopart Sweden AB
    Inventors: Mats Jonsas, E. Gunnar Svensson
  • Patent number: 4764852
    Abstract: A vanity mirror mounted to a vehicular visor via a mirror frame of electrically insulating material has a pair of illuminating lamps on its opposite sides. The lamps have their opposite polarity terminals electrically coupled to, and mechanically supported by, a pair of sheet-metal power conductors and a pair of sheet-metal ground conductors. The sheet-metal power conductors are electrically interconnected and coupled to a power line via an on-off switch. The sheet-metal ground conductors are secured, each by a threaded fastener element of electrically conducting material, to a visor frame of conducting material which is to be held at ground potential. The fastener elements serve the purpose of both grounding the required lamp terminals and mounting the complete vanity mirror assembly to the visor. No wiring is required for grounding the lamps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1988
    Assignee: Koito Seisakusho Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toranosuke Sakuma
  • Patent number: 4760503
    Abstract: A visor assembly including a pivoted cover for a vanity mirror which includes camming surfaces on the pivot socket for urging the cover between open and closed positions. In one embodiment, the visor is selectively illuminated by the operation of a cover controlled switch. In another embodiment, the mirror and cover assembly is snap fitted within the visor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 26, 1988
    Assignee: Prince Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas C. VandenBerge, Scott A. Spykerman
  • Patent number: 4744645
    Abstract: A vanity mirror assembly, which can be lighted, and which can be built into a sun visor for an automobile or other motor vehicle. Electrical components including a heat-dissipative component are screen-printed on a polymeric film substrate mounted adhesively to the back face of a glass mirror, which serves as a heat sink for such components. Shards of the mirror tend to be adhesively retained by the substrate if the mirror happens to shatter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1988
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Larry L. Sharp
  • Patent number: 4734831
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1988
    Assignee: Prince Corporation
    Inventors: Michael T. Keyser, Russell L. Clark
  • Patent number: 4720132
    Abstract: A sun visor for vehicles is formed of a sun visor body constructed of plastic foam which is stiffened by a two section stiffening wire. The sun visor is supported by a mounting housing, located at one corner of the sun visor body. The mounting housing receives a sun visor support shaft. An outer support pin which can be detachably connected to a support member of the vehicle is located longitudinally opposite of the mounting housing. The mounting housing defines a first insertion opening into which is plugged one end of one of the stiffening wires and a second insertion opening which accommodates a leaf spring which bears on the sun visor support shaft. The outer support pin and the mounting housing have additional insertion holes which enable rapid connection of the stiffening wire sections to the outer support pin and to the mounting housing by plugging of the components into one another. The two stiffening wire sections are further utilized to conduct electrical power to a sun visor lamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1988
    Assignee: Gebr. Happich GmbH
    Inventors: Charles Ebert, Hermann Krehl, Lothar Viertel, Bernard Hilbert, Rudiger Walter
  • Patent number: 4648011
    Abstract: An insertable mirror package for a visor which includes at least one panel defining a mirror frame and integrally including a lateral extension which defines at least in part guide means for a sliding cover extending and movable in a plane parallel to and in front of the mirror for selective movement between a first position covering the mirror and a second position uncovering the mirror. In the preferred embodiment, lamps are positioned behind lenses mounted adjacent the mirror in the mirror frame and a switch is mounted to cooperate with a cam on the cover such that as the cover is moved to an open position, the lamps are illuminated to provide illumination for the mirror for use in low, ambient light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1987
    Assignee: Prince Corporation
    Inventors: Carey J. Boote, Craig Robbins, Scott A. Spykerman
  • Patent number: 4624499
    Abstract: A visor includes a body having a recess with an access opening along a lower edge of the visor. A generally rectangular vanity mirror panel assembly is pivotally coupled to the visor body to pivotally move from a stored position within the recess to a use position extending from the recess. The resultant structure provides a useful mirror lowered below the visor in a convenient location for use and having an aspect ratio conforming to that of a person's face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1985
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1986
    Assignee: Prince Corporation
    Inventor: Carl W. Flowerday
  • Patent number: 4591956
    Abstract: A sun visor for an automotive vehicle having a swivel bearing at one upper longitudinal edge region. The swivel bearing includes a non-metallic, plastic bearing part having a bearing borehole for the metallic sun-visor shaft and a parallel plug opening for an electric contact element. The electric contact element in the plug opening is connected to one of the wires from the light source which illuminates the mirror on the sun-visor body. A passage channel between the bearing borehole and the plug opening has a contact projection on the contact element biased through it to project into the bearing borehole and contact the shaft therein. The shaft has a recess extending partially around it at a region along it such that the contact projection will or will not make electric contact with the visor shaft depending upon the swivel position of the visor body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1984
    Date of Patent: May 27, 1986
    Assignee: Gebr. Happich GmbH
    Inventor: Roland Majchrzak
  • Patent number: 4541663
    Abstract: A sun visor, particularly for automotive vehicles, includes a sun visor body which is equipped with a mirror in which a passenger may view himself and with a source of light for illuminating the passenger. The source of light is positioned above the mirror. The mirror and/or the source of light are swingable with respect to the sun visor body or is supported on respective covers swingable with respect to the sun visor body that the mirror and the source of light are spaced at relatively great vertical distances away from each other in their respective positions of use to thereby reduce dazzling of the viewer due to the source of light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1983
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1985
    Assignee: Gebr. Happich GmbH
    Inventors: Konrad Schwanitz, Gert Mahler
  • Patent number: 4511954
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1982
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1985
    Assignee: Prince Corporation
    Inventors: Konrad H. Marcus, Michael J. Cody