Patent Application
20160264044
The present disclosure relates to sun visors for vehicles.
In order prevent sunlight from distracting drivers, vehicles often include sun visors.
A vehicle sun visor is provided. The vehicle sun visor includes a base portion, a vanity mirror detachably coupled to the base portion, and a lighting arrangement. The lighting arrangement includes a power source that is detachably coupled to the base portion. The lighting arrangement and vanity minor are each separately detachable from the base portion.
A vehicle sun visor is provided. The sun visor includes a base portion, a vanity mirror, a lighting arrangement, and an inductive charger. The lighting arrangement includes a power source and is detachably coupled to the base portion. The inductive charger is configured to recharge the power source of the lighting arrangement when the lighting arrangement is coupled to the sun visor.
A detachable vanity case for a vehicle sun visor is provided. The detachable vanity case includes a lighting arrangement and an electrical circuit. The lighting arrangement includes a power source and is detachably coupled to the vanity case. The electrical circuit is configured to electrically connect with the detachable lighting arrangement. The electrical circuit also includes a secondary inductive charge coil configured to electrically couple with a primary inductive charge coil of the sun visor when energized to enable charging of the power source.
Embodiments of the present disclosure are described herein. It is to be understood, however, that the disclosed embodiments are merely examples and other embodiments may take various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale; some features could be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention. As those of ordinary skill in the art will understand, various features illustrated and described with reference to any one of the figures may be combined with features illustrated in one or more other figures to produce embodiments that are not explicitly illustrated or described. The combinations of features illustrated provide representative embodiments for typical applications. Various combinations and modifications of the features consistent with the teachings of this disclosure, however, could be desired for particular applications or implementations.
Referring to
The sun visor 10 may also include a vanity mirror 20 and a lighting device 22. The vanity mirror 20 may include a backing portion 24 that supports a mirror portion 26. The vanity mirror 20 may also include a cover portion 28. The cover portion 28 may be configured to transition between an open position and a closed position. The cover portion 28 may be configured to cover the mirror portion 26 when in the closed position and expose the minor portion 26 when in the open position.
The lighting device 22 includes a lighting portion 40 and an on/off switch 42. The light may be generated by any conventional lighting source including incandescent lighting sources, fluorescent lighting sources, and LED (light emitting diode) lighting sources. The on/off switch 42 is configured to turn the lighting device 22 on or off. The on/off switch 42 may be any type of electrical switch. An additional switch may be provided that is configured to illuminate the lighting device 22 when the cover portion 28 transitions from the open position to the closed position.
The vanity mirror 20 may be configured to detachably couple to a backing portion 30 of the sun visor 10. A back side of the vanity mirror 20 may include one or a series of clips, hooks, snaps, or other attachment mechanisms that are configured to couple with a least one engagement mechanism 32 located on the backing portion 30 of the sun visor 10. The attachment mechanisms on the back side of the vanity mirror 20 may be configured to engage and disengage the engagement mechanisms 32 with a release mechanism 34. The release mechanism 34 may include a spring loaded release button. A user may disengage the attachment mechanism from the engagement mechanisms 32 with the release button in order to remove the vanity mirror 20 from the backing portion 30 of the sun visor 10. And, the spring in the release button may bias the attachment mechanism so that it remains coupled to the engagement mechanisms 32 when the vanity mirror 20 is coupled to the backing portion 30 of the sun visor 10.
The lighting device 22 may also be configured to detachably couple to the backing portion 30 of the sun visor 10. A back side of the lighting device 22 may include one or a series of clips, hooks, snaps, or other attachment mechanisms that are configured to couple with at least one engagement mechanism 36 located on the backing portion 30 of the sun visor 10. The attachment mechanism on the back side of the lighting device 22 may be configured to engage and disengage the engagement mechanism 36 with a release mechanism 38. The release mechanism 38 may include a spring loaded release button. A user may disengage the attachment mechanism from the engagement mechanism 36 with the release button in order to remove the lighting device 22 from the backing portion 30 of the sun visor 10, and the spring in the release button may bias the attachment mechanism so that it remains coupled to the engagement mechanisms 36 when the lighting device 22 is coupled to the backing portion 30 of the sun visor 10.
The backside of the lighting device 22 may also include an electrical connector 44 that is configured to engage an electrical outlet 46 located on the backing portion 30 of the sun visor 10 in order to provide power to the lighting device 22 or to recharge a power source of the lighting device 22 when the lighting device 22 is coupled to the backing portion 30 of the sun visor 10. Alternatively, an inductive charging device 48 may be utilized to provide power to the lighting device 22 or to recharge the power source of the lighting device 22. The inductive charging device 48 may include a primary coil 50 connected to the backing portion 30 of the sun visor 10 that is configured to induce electrical current into a secondary coil 52 connected to the lighting device 22 in order to provide power to the lighting device 22 or recharge the power source of the lighting device 22.
The backing portion 30 of the sun visor 10 may also include a storage pouch 51 located behind the vanity mirror 20 when the vanity mirror 20 is coupled to the backing portion 30 of the sun visor 10. The storage pouch may be made from a transparent material.
Referring now to
In the alternative embodiment in
The vanity minor 20 may in turn include an electrical connector that is configured to engage an electrical outlet 58 located on the backing portion 30 of the sun visor 10. Electrical power may then pass through an electrical circuit located in the vanity mirror 20 in order to provide power to the lighting device 22 through the electrical outlet 54 or inductive charging device 56. Alternatively, an inductive charging device 60 may be utilized to energize the electrical circuit located in the vanity mirror 20 in order to provide power to the lighting device 22 through the electrical outlet 54 or inductive charging device 56. The inductive charging device 60 may include a primary coil connected to the backing portion 30 of the sun visor 10 that is configured to induce electrical current into a secondary coil connected to the vanity minor 20 in order to energize the electrical circuit located in the vanity minor 20.
Referring now to
It should be further understood that the electrical diagrams in
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
The words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. As previously described, the features of various embodiments may be combined to form further embodiments of the invention that may not be explicitly described or illustrated. While various embodiments could have been described as providing advantages or being preferred over other embodiments or prior art implementations with respect to one or more desired characteristics, those of ordinary skill in the art recognize that one or more features or characteristics may be compromised to achieve desired overall system attributes, which depend on the specific application and implementation. These attributes may include, but are not limited to cost, strength, durability, life cycle cost, marketability, appearance, packaging, size, serviceability, weight, manufacturability, ease of assembly, etc. As such, embodiments described as less desirable than other embodiments or prior art implementations with respect to one or more characteristics are not outside the scope of the disclosure and may be desirable for particular applications.
