Visor mounting assembly

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6719352
  • Patent Number
    6,719,352
  • Date Filed
    Wednesday, August 14, 2002
    21 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, April 13, 2004
    20 years ago
Abstract
A visor mounting assembly includes a detent spring extending over an end of a visor rod projecting through a mounting bracket and engaging a detent on an end of the visor rod to detent the visor when moved from a front windshield position to a side window position at a location allowing clearance of a side curtain air bag. A detent spring includes a pair of orthogonally integrally joined U-shaped members defining vertically spaced horizontally extending floors, each having apertures aligned for receiving a visor rod end and vertically extending walls coupled to the horizontally extending floors for engaging the sides of a visor rod extending through apertures. One assembly includes a visor rod with a keyed end for lockably receiving a stop member which cooperates with a visor mounting bracket when the visor is moved from a front windshield position to a side window position, limiting its movement.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




The present invention relates to vehicle visors and particularly to a mounting assembly for attaching a visor to a vehicle.




Visors typically are conventionally mounted to a vehicle by an elbow mounting bracket which couples one end of the visor pivot rod to the vehicle. Such elbow brackets are secured to the sheet metal or other framework of the vehicle roof by fastening screws, snap-in fasteners, or, in some instances, twist on bayonet-type fasteners. Visors include a visor body into which the other end of the visor pivot rod extends with a torque fitting extending between the visor body and rod to allow the visor to rotate on the pivot rod from a stored position adjacent the vehicle headliner to various adjusted lowered use positions. The elbow bracket allows the visor to be pivoted to a side window position for blocking incoming sunlight from the side of the vehicle. Frequently such visors include illuminated vanity mirrors and/or accessories, such as garage door opening transmitters, memo recorders, or other electrical accessories.




Side curtain air bags are mounted within the vehicle headliner adjacent and above the side windows of the vehicle and extend downwardly when actuated. With such conventional visor mounting assemblies, it is possible for a vehicle operator to adjust a visor to a side window sun-screening position which could interfere with or inhibit the operation of a side curtain air bag. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/754,494, entitled VISOR MOUNTING ASSEMBLY filed on Jan. 4, 2001, provides one solution to the problem by providing detent and/or stops at the interface between the visor rod elbow and its elbow mounting bracket.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




This invention addresses the problem of misaligning a visor in a side window sun-blocking position which could interfere with the operation of a side curtain air bag by structure which is not located at the interface between the visor rod elbow and its elbow mounting bracket.




The visor mounting assembly of the present invention provides a system in which a visor rod is mounted to a visor rod mounting bracket with a detent spring mounted to the mounting bracket and engaging a detent on an end of the visor rod projecting through the mounting bracket on a side opposite the finished surface of the vehicle headliner. The spring detents the visor when moved from a front windshield position to a side window position at a location which allows clearance of the side curtain air bag, thereby providing the user with a tactile detent allowing positioning of the visor when in a side window position at a location which does not interfere with or inhibit the operation of a side curtain air bag.




According to another aspect of the invention, a detent spring is provided which includes a pair of orthogonal integrally joined U-shaped members defining vertically spaced horizontally extending floors, each having apertures aligned for receiving a visor rod end and vertically extending walls coupled to the horizontally extending floors and between the floors for engaging the sides of a visor rod extending through the apertures.




In another embodiment of the present invention, the visor mounting assembly includes a visor rod with a keyed end for lockably receiving a stop member which cooperates with a visor mounting bracket such that when the visor is moved from a front windshield position to a side window position, its movement is limited to locate the visor in a position spaced to provide clearance in the zone of operation of a side curtain air bag if deployed. Accordingly, a visor mounting assembly of the present invention provides an improved visor mounting system by which the vehicle operator can either tactilely locate or is limited in locating a visor in a safe side window sun-blocking position for use in a vehicle equipped with a side curtain air bag.




These and other features, objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following description thereof together with reference to the accompanying drawings.




BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

is a fragmentary perspective view of a vehicle including a visor embodying the present invention, shown with the visor in a first position;





FIG. 2

is a fragmentary perspective view of a vehicle including a visor embodying the present invention, shown with the visor in a second lowered use position;





FIG. 3

is a fragmentary perspective view of a vehicle including a visor embodying the present invention, shown with the visor in a side window sun-blocking position;





FIG. 4

is an enlarged end elevational view of the visor as shown in

FIG. 3

, shown with a side curtain air bag in a deployed position;





FIG. 5

is an enlarged exploded perspective view of one embodiment of the visor mounting assembly of the present invention;





FIG. 6

is a perspective view of the structure of

FIG. 5

once assembled;





FIG. 7

is an exploded perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the invention;





FIG. 8

is an enlarged fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view of the assembled structure of

FIG. 7

; and





FIG. 9

is a perspective view of an alternative element of the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS.


7


and


8


.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT




Referring initially to

FIGS. 1-3

, there is shown a vehicle


10


, such as an automobile, sport utility vehicle, van, truck or the like, which includes a roof


12


typically including a sheet metal support covered by a headliner


14


which can be integrally molded and attached to provide a sound absorptive and decorative interior finish to the vehicle. A visor


20


is mounted above the windshield


16


of the vehicle by means of a visor mounting assembly


30


described in greater detail below.




The visor


20


can be moved from a raised stored position adjacent the vehicle headliner


14


, as shown in

FIG. 1

, to a lowered windshield sun-blocking position, as shown in

FIG. 2

, adjacent the rearview mirror


13


, which is mounted to the windshield


16


or alternatively to the edge of the vehicle roof


12


adjacent windshield


16


. The visor


20


may include a covered illuminated vanity mirror assembly


22


of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,685,629, which allows the vehicle operator to use the vanity mirror contained in the visor under low ambient light conditions. Visor


20


can be pivoted, using the visor mounting assembly


30


, from a front windshield sun-blocking position, as shown in

FIG. 2

, around the A-pillar


17


of the vehicle to a side window sun-blocking position, as seen in FIG.


3


.




Many vehicles now include a side curtain air bag, which is mounted in the headliner


14


in the area above and adjacent side window


15


. With such an installation, the possibility exists that a visor could be located in a position to block the deployment of the side curtain air bag or otherwise interfere with its proper operation. The visor mounting assembly


30


of the present invention prevents such a possibility and allows the side curtain air bag


25


, illustrated in a deployed position in

FIG. 4

, to properly deploy downwardly in a position adjacent the driver seat


26


. As seen in

FIG. 4

, the vertical zone below the headliner


14


and between the side window


15


and visor


20


is clear to allow deployment of the side curtain air bag. Although the driver's side is shown in

FIGS. 1-4

, it is to be understood that the visor assembly of the present invention can be used on either one or both of the driver and passenger sides of a vehicle. The details of the visor pivot rod and torque control internal to the visor body are not shown in detail but can be of a construction as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,569,552, which utilizes a torque control of the type also disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,500,131. One embodiment of the visor mounting assembly


30


is now described in detail with reference to

FIGS. 5 and 6

.




The visor mounting assembly


30


(

FIGS. 5 and 6

) includes a visor rod


32


having alternately staggered and spaced flats


34


which cooperate with a torque control (not shown) within the visor body for allowing the visor to be held in a detented stored position, as shown in

FIG. 1

, and to rotate downwardly to a desired adjusted position. Assembly


30


includes a mounting bracket


50


and detent spring clip


70


which cooperate with the visor rod


32


to allow the visor


20


to be moved in a controlled manner to the side window position, as shown in

FIGS. 3 and 4

. The visor rod


32


is generally L-shaped including a tip end


36


(FIG.


5


), which extends upwardly through central aperture


52


in mounting bracket


50


which, in turn, is secured to the vehicle roof


12


by a plurality of fastening screws


56


extending through apertures


55


on opposite sides of central aperture


52


in bracket


50


. The visor rod


32


is surrounded at the junction of tip


36


and the elongated generally horizontally extending end of visor rod


32


by an elbow


40


made of a suitable polymeric material, such as polycarbonate or a thermoplastic resin, which is injection molded over rod


32


. The elbow


40


includes a conically tapered upper end


42


which cooperates with the mating conically tapered aperture


52


in bracket


50


to provide lubricious smooth pivoting of the visor.




Bracket


50


is also integrally molded of a suitable polymeric material, such as polycarbonate, thermoplastic resin, or the like and includes a peripheral decorative flange


51


extending on the outer periphery thereof which engages the finished (inwardly facing side) of headliner


14


when bracket


50


and visor


20


mounted thereto is assembled to the vehicle. Bracket


50


includes on its upper side a pair of mounting bosses


60


,


62


through which apertures


55


are formed. Bosses


60


,


62


each include a plurality of spaced radially extending ribs


61


, which extend from a pair of vertically extending mounting shoulders


64


,


66


, respectively, which define a socket for receiving and lockably holding in fixed relationship therein a detent spring clip


70


. Clip


70


engages a cam surface comprising a flat


38


(

FIG. 5

) on visor rod end


36


for detenting the visor in a side window position as illustrated in

FIGS. 3 and 4

. Thus, visor rod end


36


extends through aperture


52


with the conical tapered section


42


of elbow


40


matingly fitting within aperture


52


in bracket


50


, and end


36


extending above bracket


50


through spring clip


70


. The visor rod is held in relationship thereto by a washer


80


over which the tip end


39


of visor rod


32


is roll formed, as seen in

FIG. 6

, upon assembly.




Detent spring clip


70


is integrally formed by stamping and bending of a suitable spring steel material treated for the automotive environment and includes a lower floor


72


with an aperture


71


formed therethrough for receiving visor rod end


36


. Extending upwardly from the floor by bridging section


73


are U-shaped side walls defined by integral spring arms


74


and


75


. Walls


74


,


75


engage the end


36


of visor rod


32


including flat


38


which is angularly aligned for detenting the visor in the position shown in

FIGS. 3 and 4

when moved to a side window position. Spring clip


70


also includes a bridging section


76


coupled to spring arms


74


,


75


and an upper floor


77


vertically spaced from floor


72


. Floor


77


also includes an aperture


78


for receiving visor rod end


36


. Thus, spring clip


70


is supported on visor rod end


36


through aligned apertures


71


in floor


72


and aperture


78


in spaced upper floor


77


to vertically position the clip when washer


80


is placed over end


39


of the visor, which is conventionally roll-formed over to complete the assembly to provide both the spring detenting of the visor through the compression forces of spring arms or walls


74


and


75


as well as tension in a vertical direction by the spring force provided by resilient floors


72


and


77


due to the bridging sections


73


,


76


. The floors


72


,


77


joined by bridging sections


73


,


76


and U-shaped side walls


74


,


75


are also generally U-shaped and aligned orthogonally to the U-shaped integral side walls. This clip construction performs the dual function of eliminating the necessity for a separate compression spring typically employed in visor mounting assemblies while at the same time providing the desired detent control of the visor when moved to a side window position, allowing deployment of a side window air curtain.




As seen in

FIG. 6

, the outer edges


79


of floor


72


engage shoulders


64


and


66


of mounting bosses


60


,


62


to anchor the spring clip in fixed relationship with respect to bracket


50


while washer


80


and the rolled end


39


of rod


32


holds the spring clip


70


in fixed vertical relationship to visor rod end


36


. Thus, spring clip


70


defines generally a pair of orthogonally related U-shaped vertical and horizontal members comprising floors


72


and


77


oriented in a horizontal, vertically spaced relationship and coupled by bridge sections


73


and


76


to side walls or spring arms


74


and


75


, which are vertically oriented and horizontally spaced and which compressibly engage the rod end


36


and its detent


38


. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, spring clip


70


also integrally includes a downwardly depending wall


79


′ which extends downwardly from the forward edge of upper floor


77


opposite bridge section


76


to surround and captively hold visor rod end


36


within the cylindrical opening defined by the apertures


71


,


78


in floors


72


and


77


and walls


74


,


75


, and


79


′.




In an alternative embodiment of the invention shown in

FIGS. 7 and 8

, the detent spring clip


70


is replaced with a stop member


90


comprising, as best seen, a generally flat washer-like member which is generally circular and disk-shaped with a keyed central aperture


92


shaped to conform to a keyed end


36


′ of an alternative embodiment of the visor rod


32


which can be otherwise of substantially the same construction as that shown in the first embodiment. Visor rod end


36


′ in the embodiment shown in

FIGS. 7 and 8

is substantially square in cross section, as is aperture


92


which allows stop member


90


to extend over visor rod end


36


′ and rest upon annular surface


43


of rod elbow


40


′, which is integrally molded and is of substantially similar construction to member


40


shown in the first embodiment. Stop member


90


will, due to being keyed to pivot rod


32


, rotate as the visor


20


is moved from the front windshield toward the side window.




The mounting bracket


50


′ of the alternative embodiment includes a conically raised end


80


into which elbow


40


′ extends with rod end


36


′ extending above the upper edge


82


of the conical opening


84


which matingly receives the similarly conically tapered end of elbow


40


′. End


80


includes a stop shoulder


86


having ends


88


and


89


. Shoulder


86


extends within an arcuate peripheral recess


94


of stop member


90


keyed to end


36


′ of visor rod


32


, as best seen in

FIG. 8

, such that shoulder


86


will be selectively engaged by the end walls


91


and


93


of stop member


90


as the visor is rotated to limit the motion of visor


20


, preventing its movement into a zone which would prevent deployment of air bag


25


as seen in FIG.


4


. In this embodiment, a compression spring


100


extends above stop member


90


to hold the stop member in position against the annular shoulder


82


of mounting bracket end


80


and the top


39


′ of the pivot rod end


36


′ is rolled or peened over, as shown in

FIG. 8

, to hold spring


100


in compression and hold the assembly together. The mounting bracket


50


′ is secured to the vehicle roof by conventional mounting screws, such as screws


56


′, extending through apertures


55


in the mounting bracket. The annular recess


94


of stop member


90


circumscribes and arc α of approximately 120°, although a typical range will run from about 110° to 140° depending on a given vehicle. The arcuate length of stop shoulder


86


is approximately 30° and can be varied, in which case the arcuate length of recess


94


is correspondingly varied to allow the desired range of motion of the visor


20


between the front windshield position and a limited side window position, allowing deployment of the side air curtain


25


.




Other keyed mounting arrangements of a stop member, such as stop washer


90


, can be employed as illustrated in FIG.


9


. In

FIG. 9

, a stop member


90


′ is provided with a generally rectangular opening


92


′ which receives a visor rod end having a similarly configured, generally rectangular cross section. Thus, in the embodiment shown in

FIGS. 7-9

, a positive stop member extends from the visor rod end and cooperates with arcuately spaced shoulders on the mounting bracket, thereby limiting the movement of the visor from a front windshield to a side window position. In each of the embodiments disclosed here in, the vehicle operator is either provided with tactile feedback for limiting movement of the visor where spring


70


in the first embodiment provides sufficient compression against the visor rod end flat


38


to essentially prevent over-swinging of the visor to the side window position or, in the case of the alternate embodiment shown in

FIGS. 7-9

, excess side window visor movement is prohibited.




It will become apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications to the preferred embodiment of the invention as described herein can be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.



Claims
  • 1. A visor rod mounting system for securing a visor rod to a mounting bracket of a vehicle for attaching a visor to a vehicle roof comprising:a visor rod having an end for extending into a visor mounting bracket, said end including a cam surface; a visor mounting bracket for receiving said end of said visor rod; and a detent spring extending over said end of said visor rod and including a spring member engaging said visor rod cam surface end for detenting said visor rod at a side window position which permits deployment of a side window air curtain.
  • 2. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein said cam surface comprises a flat formed on said end of said visor rod.
  • 3. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein said mounting bracket includes a socket for holding said detent spring.
  • 4. The system as defined in claim 3 wherein said socket is defined by a pair of spaced mounting bosses having spaced-apart opposed facing shoulders which engage said detent spring.
  • 5. The system as defined in claim 3 wherein said detent spring comprises a pair of orthogonally, integrally joined U-shaped members defining vertically spaced horizontally extending floors, each having apertures aligned for receiving said visor rod end and wherein said spring member is defined by vertically extending walls coupled to said horizontally extending floors for engaging the end of said visor rod.
  • 6. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein said detent spring comprises a pair of orthogonally, integrally joined U-shaped members defining vertically spaced horizontally extending floors, each having apertures aligned for receiving a visor rod end and wherein said spring member is defined by vertically extending walls coupled to said horizontally extending floors for engaging the end of said visor rod.
  • 7. A visor rod mounting detent spring comprising:a pair of orthogonally, integrally formed U-shaped spring steel members defining vertically spaced horizontally extending floors, each having apertures formed therein aligned for receiving a visor rod end and vertically extending walls coupled to said horizontally extending floors for engaging the end of a visor rod extending through said apertures.
  • 8. The detent spring as defined in claim 7 wherein said floors are coupled to said walls by bridging sections.
  • 9. The detent spring as defined in claim 8 wherein said floors provide a biasing force for holding a visor rod in a visor mounting bracket.
  • 10. The detent spring as defined in claim 9 wherein said walls define spring arms for compressibly engaging an end of a pivot rod extending in a visor mounting bracket.
  • 11. A visor rod mounting detent spring comprising:a pair of orthogonally, integrally joined U-shaped members defining vertically spaced horizontally extending floors, each having apertures formed therein aligned for receiving a visor rod end and vertically extending walls coupled to said horizontally extending walls for engaging the end of a visor rod extending through said apertures, wherein said floors are coupled to said walls by bridging sections and said floors provide a biasing force for holding a visor rod in a visor mounting bracket, and wherein said walls define spring arms for compressibly engaging an end of a pivot rod extending in a visor mounting bracket, and further including an additional wall integrally extending from one of said floors to enclose the end of a pivot rod.
  • 12. A visor rod mounting system comprising:a visor rod having an end with a cross section allowing keying of said rod end to a stop member; a stop member having an aperture shaped to lockably position said stop member on said end of said visor rod, said stop member including at least one shoulder for cooperating with a mounting bracket; and a visor mounting bracket for receiving said visor rod and stop member, said bracket including a shoulder which engages said shoulder of said stop member for limiting the motion of the visor to a side window position, which permits deployment of a side window air curtain.
  • 13. The system as defined in claim 12 wherein said stop member is generally washer-shaped.
  • 14. The system as defined in claim 13 wherein said stop member includes a peripheral recess.
  • 15. The system as defined in claim 14 wherein said peripheral recess circumscribes an arc of from about 110° to about 140°.
  • 16. The system as defined in claim 15 wherein said recess defines stop shoulders at opposite ends.
  • 17. The system as defined in claim 16 wherein said shoulder of said mounting bracket is arcuate.
  • 18. The system as defined in claim 17 wherein said shoulder of said mounting bracket circumscribes an arc of about 30°.
  • 19. The system as defined in claim 18 wherein said end of said visor rod is square and said aperture in said stop member is square.
  • 20. The system as defined in claim 18 wherein said end of said visor rod is rectangular and said aperture in said stop member is rectangular.
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