Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60J—WINDOWS, WINDSCREENS, NON-FIXED ROOFS, DOORS, OR SIMILAR DEVICES FOR VEHICLES; REMOVABLE EXTERNAL PROTECTIVE COVERINGS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES
  • B60J3/00—Antiglare equipment associated with windows or windscreens; Sun visors for vehicles
  • B60J3/02—Antiglare equipment associated with windows or windscreens; Sun visors for vehicles adjustable in position
  • B60J3/0204—Sun visors
  • B60J3/0208—Sun visors combined with auxiliary visor
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60J—WINDOWS, WINDSCREENS, NON-FIXED ROOFS, DOORS, OR SIMILAR DEVICES FOR VEHICLES; REMOVABLE EXTERNAL PROTECTIVE COVERINGS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES
  • B60J3/00—Antiglare equipment associated with windows or windscreens; Sun visors for vehicles
  • B60J3/02—Antiglare equipment associated with windows or windscreens; Sun visors for vehicles adjustable in position
  • B60J3/0204—Sun visors
  • B60J3/0278—Sun visors structure of the body

Definitions

• the present inventions relate generally to a visor for a vehicle. More specifically, the present inventions relate to visors for vehicles (or other applications) having nesting portions.
• Visors for use in vehicles to shield an occupant from sunlight are generally known.
• Such visors typically have a "butterfly” or “clamshell” type core portion with generally symmetrical halves that connect together to form a joint or seam about a perimeter edge of the visor.
• the visors may be at least partially covered by a cover material such as a fabric that often "overlaps” or is wrapped over the perimeter edges of the core portion so that when the core portion is "folded" about a midpoint, the perimeter edges of each half of the core portion meet to form an outwardly extending peripheral seam and the cover material is tucked therebetween to create a "tucked edge” appearance.
• edge created about the perimeter of the visor by the joining of the two halves typically results in a relatively small radius of curvature and/or a relatively sharp edge along the seam that is less desirable for mitigating injury in the event of impact with an occupant of the vehicle (e.g. during collisions, etc.).
• a visor for a vehicle having core portions that do not create a separation line (e.g. seam, joint, gap, etc.) along an outer peripheral edge of the visor. It would also be desirable to provide a visor having a relatively wide radius of curvature along the peripheral edge of the visor to improve a head impact performance of the visor. It would also be desirable to provide a visor having portions configured to connect together in a manner that accommodates variations (e.g. molding, tolerance or assembly variations, etc.) to improve manufacturing of the visor. It would be further desirable to provide a visor having portions intended to "nest” together in a manner that provides a gap or seam that is generally concealed when the visor is in a "stored" or non-use position.
• a separation line e.g. seam, joint, gap, etc.
• FIGURE 1 is a front exploded perspective view of a visor according to an exemplary embodiment.
• FIGURE 2 is a rear exploded perspective view of the visor according to the embodiment of FIGURE 1.
• FIGURE 3 is a rear assembled perspective view of the visor according to the embodiment of FIGURE 1.
• FIGURE 4 is a front view of an inside surface of a first portion of the visor according to the embodiment of FIGURE 1.
• FIGURE 5 is a front view of an inside surface of a second portion of the visor according to the embodiment of FIGURE 1.
• FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of a visor having an extendable portion in a first position according to an exemplary embodiment.
• FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of a visor having an extendable portion in a second position according to an exemplary embodiment.
• a visor having a first portion with a generally planar region and walls extending upwardly from the planar region at least partially along a perimeter of the first portion.
• a second portion has a generally planar region that is configured to fit at least partially within the walls and define a seam between the first portion and the second portion on one side of the visor.
• the visor includes connecting structure for connecting the first and second portion.
• the wall may have a curved profile with a radius of curvature of at least 3.2 mm.
• a method of making a visor includes providing a first portion having a floor and side walls; providing a second portion configured to fit within the side walls; and connecting the first and second portions to define a seam therebetween along a face of the visor.
• the portions may be connected by heat plating, adhesive or sonic welding.
• the sides may have a curved profile with a radius of curvature of at least 3.2 mm.
• a visor for a vehicle includes a bucket member having side walls and positioning structure.
• a lid member fits at least partially within the side walls of the bucket member and is supported by the positioning structure to define a gap at least partially between the lid member and side walls on a face of the visor.
• Coupling structure provided on at least one of the bucket member and lid member connects the lid member to the bucket member.
• At least a portion of the side wall has a radius of curvature of at least 3.2 mm.
• FIGURES illustrate an exemplary embodiment of a component or assembly such as a visor for use in a vehicle (e.g., automobiles such as cars, trucks, buses, and the like; airplanes, boats, etc.).
• a vehicle e.g., automobiles such as cars, trucks, buses, and the like; airplanes, boats, etc.
• Such components may be provided in a wide variety of sizes, shapes, materials and configurations according to various exemplary embodiments.
• the illustrated embodiment shows a visor for a vehicle having a first portion that is generally concave (e.g. bucket, shell, dish, etc.) and a second portion that is generally planar (e.g. lid, plate, cover, panel, etc.) configured to nest at least partially within the first portion to provide a generally "flush" fit forming a narrow separation line (e.g.
• the first and second portions may have any suitable shape for nesting together to form a visor assembly for any suitable application.
• the visor 10 includes a two-piece construction having a first portion 20 that is generally concave (e.g. bucket, shell, dish, etc.) and formed to provide a generally planar surface 22 (e.g. "panel” etc.) in the desired outline of the visor body and having upturned walls 24 (e.g. sides, etc.) generally along the perimeter of the first portion 20.
• the visor also includes a second portion 40 that is generally planar (e.g. lid, plate, cover, panel, etc.) having an outline generally corresponding to the outline of the first portion 20 for the visor body.
• the outline of the second portion 40 is shown having a size intended to "fit" or “nest” within the walls 24 of the first portion so that a surface 42 of the second portion is approximately even or "flush” with a surface 26 of the walls 24 of the first portion 20.
• the second portion 40 may be configured to nest with the first portion 20 with surface 42 slightly above surface 26 (e.g. “over-flush” etc.) or with surface 42 slightly below surface 26 (e.g. under-flush, etc.).
• the visor may be provided as a one-piece construction with first and second portions formed as a single piece and joined along their top edges by a "living hinge" formed from a segment (e.g. line, etc.) of reduced material (or the like) so that the second portion may be "folded" about the living hinge into a nesting relationship with the first portion.
• Assembly of the first and second portions 20 and 40 is shown to provide a separation line (e.g. seam, space, etc. - shown as gap 30) between an inner surface 28 of wall 24 of the first portion 20 and an outer surface 44 of the second portion 40, so that the gap 30 is located along one face of the visor, such as the "concealed" face of the visor that is adjacent to a headliner when the visor is moved to a "stored” (e.g. parked, stowed, non- use, etc.) position adjacent to the headliner of the vehicle.
• Location of the gap 30 along the concealed face of the visor is intended to minimize the visibility of a gap or seam to an occupant of the vehicle when the visor is in the stored position.
• Configuring the second portion 40 within the first portion 20 is also intended to accommodate variations (e.g. molding, assembly, tolerances, etc.) in the first portion and second portion so that gap 30 on the concealed face of the visor accommodates (e.g. "absorbs,” etc.) typical molding and assembly tolerances and variation to improve manufacturability of the visor and reduce scrap and rework during assembly of the visor.
• gap 30 may "shrink" or “expand” depending upon the particular variations in production of the first portion and the second portion.
• the width of gap 30 is approximately 1.5 millimeters (mm) (but may be within a range of 0.15 - 2.85 mm) along the lateral ends of the visor, and approximately 0.75 mm (but may be within a range of 0.10 and 1.40 mm) along the top and bottom of the visor.
• the gap may have any suitable dimension for an intended application.
• the gap may remain “open” or the gap may be "filled” (e.g. sealed, etc.) after connecting the first and second portions.
• the gap may be filled with a suitable filler material such as rubber, cloth, leather, a sealant or any other suitable material intended to hide or conceal the gap to provide a more "finished” or aesthetically pleasing appearance (e.g. seamless, etc.) to the concealed face of the visor.
• the gap may also be filled with a material having a decorative of contrasting appearance (e.g. "metallic,” chrome, contrasting color, etc.).
• the outward surfaces (faces) of the first and second portions may be formed or provided with any desirable finish.
• the first and second portions may have the same texture and/or color or be provided with different or "contrasting" textures and/or colors as may be desired to suit a particular vehicle interior trim scheme. In the case where contrasting textures and/or colors are provided on the visor, the gap is intended to provide an aesthetically pleasing "break.”
• the first and/or second portions may also be provided with a suitable covering or coating that provides a desired • appearance and/or "feel" (e.g. leather, wood trim, fabric, vinyl, etc.).
• the first and/or second portions may also be provided with certain labels (e.g. placards, warnings, advisories, informational or promotional messages or displays, etc.) relating to such information as airbags, speed, emergency operation or response, vehicle or manufacturer insignia, etc. (not shown).
• the walls 24 of the first portion 20 along a bottom edge 32 of the visor are shown formed with a profile 34 (e.g. contour, shape, etc.) having a relatively "shallow" radius of curvature.
• the radius of curvature is at least 3.2 millimeters (mm) and more preferably is approximately 3.5 mm.
• the profile 34 of the wall 24 is intended to avoid the relatively sharp edge (i.e. relatively small radius of curvature) that typically exists on conventional visors in order to improve the head impact performance of the visor under standards such as FMVSS 201 and ECE 21.
• the substrate material of the first and second portions 20 and 40 may be made of any suitable material, including any of a variety of polymers (e.g., polypropylene, polyethylene, copolymers, etc.) or other materials such as ABS plastic, etc.
• the first and second portions 20 and 40 may be formed in any suitable operation such as injection molding, blow molding, vacuum forming, etc.
• the substrate may be formed in any of a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and configurations.
• the first and second portions may have an extended section (e.g. wing, such as a "curved" ear section) that is intended to provide additional sun-blocking capability and that conforms to the interior space available within the vehicle at the visor mounting location (e.g.
• Such an ear may be rigidly formed with the first and second portions 20 and 40 or may be movably coupled to the first and second portions for articulation between a position generally planar with the visor body and a position that is "angled" or “bent” with respect to the visor body.
• the first and second portions may also be formed with openings (shown as openings 36 in walls 24) to accommodate clips 56 and brackets 58 for mounting the visor to the vehicle.
• the bracket 58 is shown as an elbow bracket for mounting one end of the visor to the vehicle in a pivoting manner for movement between a forward position (e.g. along a windshield of the vehicle) and a lateral position (e.g. along a side window for lateral sun-blocking, etc.).
• the elbow bracket 58 may also include a pivot rod for pivoting the visor about the pivot rod between a stored (e.g. stowed, parked, raised, non-use) position when sun-blocking is not desired and a sun-blocking (e.g.
• the visor may be longitudinally fixed to the pivot rod, or may be slidably coupled to the pivot rod for extension and retraction along the pivot rod to a variety of sun-blocking positions.
• the visor may also be fitted with a clip 58, shown as a rod (e.g. pin, dowel, Europin, etc.) configured to releasably couple with a bracket along an overhead location above a windshield for securing the visor in the forward position.
• a rod e.g. pin, dowel, Europin, etc.
• the visor is provided with an extendable and retractable auxiliary sun shield (shown for example as an extender blade 50, etc.).
• the extender blade 50 is selectively extendable and retractable from the visor to provide additional sun-blocking capability to a user.
• Blade 50 is formed having a generally planar body portion that is slidably received within the visor (shown as slidably along an inside surface of second portion 40) and includes a handle portion 52 having a shape and contour configured to conform (e.g. fit, etc.) into the wall 24 or first portion 20.
• Second portion 40 may also include a recess 54 intended to permit a user to easily and conveniently access the handle 52 for extending the blade 50 from the
• the first and second portions may be formed to include a variety of other features.
• either of the first and second portions may include a vanity pack (e.g. mirror with or without a hinged or sliding cover, etc.); illumination devices (e.g. vanity lamps, map lamps, reading lamps, conversation lamps, etc.); storage devices such as "ticket clips,” pen/pencil holders, resilient retainer straps, etc.; storage compartments or bins (e.g.
• the first and second portion 20, 40 include connecting structure for connecting the first and second portions together.
• the connecting structure is shown to include posts 60 provided on an inside face of the first and second portions 20, 40 that are configured to abut one another when the second portion 40 in fitted onto the first portion 20.
• the first and second portions 20, 40 are connected by heat-fusing (e.g. melting, welding, etc.) the corresponding posts 60 on each portion to one another (e.g. by heat plating, etc.).
• the connecting structure may have any suitable form, such as ribs (not shown) provided along the inside faces of the first and second portions that are configured to align with one another for heat-plating the ribs on the first and second portions together.
• the connecting structure may be in the form of ledge(s) (not shown) provided along the walls of the first portion configured to support the inner face of the second portion.
• the first and second portions may be connected using any suitable technique, such as adhesive (e.g. hot glue, etc.), snap- fit (e.g. by interconnecting tabs and sockets, etc.), sonic welding, etc.
• the first and second portions 20, 40 also include alignment structure intended to facilitate assembly of the first and second portions into a visor assembly for connecting the first and second portions to one another.
• the alignment structure is shown as a pair of receptacles (shown as sockets 62, etc.) on the first portion 20 and a pair of projections (shown as hollow posts 64, etc.) on the second portion 40.
• One of the sockets is shown as a circular socket for receiving a post 64 and another socket is shown as an elongated socket for receiving another post 64 with a certain tolerance.
• the alignment structure may have any suitable shape, size or location for facilitating assembly of the first and second portions for interconnection by the connecting structure.
• the connecting structure and the alignment structure may be combined into a single structure configured to facilitate alignment and connection of the first and second portions.
• the alignment of the first and second portions may be accomplished by manufacturing and assembly equipment configured to position the portions for assembly with each other.
• the first portion 20 is also shown to include positioning structure (e.g. up/down projections, etc.) shown as generally cylindrical posts 66 having a top surface configured to abut the inner face of the second portion 40 for positioning the second portion 40 on the first portion 20 to controlling the relative position of surface 26 and surface 42 (e.g. flush, over-flush, under-flush, etc.).
• positioning structure e.g. up/down projections, etc.
• the positioning structure may have any suitable shape, size and location for controlling the position of the second portion relative to the first portion.
• the visor may be customized for a desired application by providing a covering, such as a padding (e.g. foam, etc.) and/or a decorative trim material (e.g. vinyl, polyurethane, polyvinylchloride (PVC), a thermoplastic olefin (TPO), Santoprene, etc.) over the first and second portions to create a padded and/or upholstered visor product.
• a covering such as a padding (e.g. foam, etc.) and/or a decorative trim material (e.g. vinyl, polyurethane, polyvinylchloride (PVC), a thermoplastic olefin (TPO), Santoprene, etc.)
• PVC polyurethane
• TPO thermoplastic olefin
• Santoprene etc.
• the visor covering may be a pliable "skin" that is manufactured or produced utilizing a slush molding process, hi a slush molding process, a thermoplastic material in a liquid or powdered form is introduced into a temperature-controlled mold to form a viscous skin adjacent to the mold walls. Once the skin is formed, the excess material is removed from the mold and the skin is allowed to cure and cool, after which the skin is removed from the mold. The skin may be "trimmed” (if necessary) and applied over the first and second portions individually, or as an assembly so that the skin provides a "tucked edge” appearance along the gap between the first and second portions.
• the skin may also be manufactured or produced utilizing a vacuum forming process.
• a vacuum molding process a pre-cut or formed sheet of polymeric material is provided in a mold and heated to soften the material. A vacuum is applied to the mold, which draws the softened polymeric material toward the walls of the mold. The polymeric material then cools and maintains the shape defined by the mold walls.
• Such a skin may also be manufactured according to various other methods. For example, the skin may be formed in an injection molding process, an extrusion process, a casting process (e.g., gravity casting), or any other suitable process for forming a polymeric skin.
• elements shown as integrally formed may be constructed of multiple parts or elements, the position of elements may be reversed or otherwise varied, and the nature or number of discrete elements or positions may be altered or varied (e.g. the connecting structure, alignment structure and positioning structure may be provided in any suitable shape, size and location, or may be combined with one another in any suitable combination).
• the elements and/or assemblies of the visor maybe constructed from any of a wide variety of materials that provide sufficient strength or durability, including any of a wide variety of moldable plastic materials (such as high-impact plastic) in any of a wide variety of colors, textures and combinations.
• Other substitutions, modifications, changes and omissions may be made in the design, operating conditions and arrangement of the preferred and other exemplary embodiments without departing from the scope of the present inventions.
• any means-plus-function clause is intended to cover the structures described herein as performing the recited function and not only structural equivalents but also equivalent structures.
• Other substitutions, modifications, changes and omissions may be made in the design, operating configuration and arrangement of the preferred and other exemplary embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present inventions as expressed ' in the appended claims.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Vehicle Interior And Exterior Ornaments, Soundproofing, And Insulation (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=36337086

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (3)

Family Cites Families (5)

• 2006
  • 2006-01-25 JP JP2007553171A patent/JP2008528371A/ja active Pending
  • 2006-01-25 EP EP06719365A patent/EP1846258A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2006-01-25 WO PCT/US2006/002469 patent/WO2006083623A1/en not_active Ceased

Non-Patent Citations (1)

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events