GB1567083A - Automobile sun visor assembly - Google Patents

Description

(54) AN AUTOMOBILE SUN VISOR ASSEMBLY (71) I. FRED COLLINS WHITE, a citizen of the United States of America, of 912 S.W. 3rd Place, Renton, Washington 98055, United States of America, do hereby declare the invention, for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be par ticularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to a transparent glarereducing automobile sun visor assembly Various transparent plastics sun visors are known. One danger in using a transparent glare-reducing visor is that it can shatter upon impact causing injury to an occupant of the automobile. In addition, known visors have used a single glare-reducing layer which, while adequate for one level of incoming glare, is inadequate for a greater amount of glare.

If the visor material were to be darkened or otherwise made adequate for rhe greater amount of glare, lit would then necessarily reduce visibility when there was a lesser amount of incoming glare.

It is an object of this invention to provide a transparent glare-reducing sun visor assembly that may be releasably attached to the vehicle so that a forwardly directed impact on the visor will release it. Also the invention may provide an attachment for a transparent glare reducing visor assembly in which the atrachment provides selective further reduction in glare.

According to this invention an automobile visor assembly for reducing glare, comprises:- an elongated rod which in use is horizontally disposed; a transparent glare-reducing visor; releasable means securing the visor to the rod for providing release of the visor from the rod during a forward impact on the visor, the releasable securing means including a plurality of spaced curved friction clips each having an open side in use facing rearwardly and pressed over the rod whereby a forward impact on the visor will force open the clips to release the visor from the rod; an auxiliary transparent glare reducing plate releasably secured to the rod with the auxiliary glare reducing plate adapted to overlie the visor in parallel relationship; and a plurality of clips mounting the auxiliary plate on the rod in such manner that a forward impact on the auxiliary plate will force open the clips to release the auxiliary plate from the rod.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the drawing, in which: Figure 1 is a fragmentary elevation of a visor assembly; and Figure 2 is a fragmentary vertical section on plane 2-2 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawing, a visor 10 includes a first plate 12 of well known transparent glare-reducing plastics material, for example that manufactured under the Registered Trademark "Plexiglas." The first plate 12 is secured to a rod 14 by a plurality of spaced curved friction clips 16. While the rod 14 is shown connected to the vehicle body, the rod normally so provided can be cut off and rod 14 spliced onto the remaining stub.

As shown in Figure 2, each clip has an open side 18 facing rearwardly. The clips are pressed onto the rod but with a forwardly directed impact on the plate the clips will release the plate from the rod. A resilient bead 20 is secured along the edge of the plate to provide protection against the sharp edges of the plate.

As shown in Figure 2, an attachment 30 includes an auxiliary transparent glarereducing second plate 32 again of plastics and preferably of a glare-reducing capability greater than that of the first plate. Clips 1 6a attach the second plate to the rod 14. The clips 1 6a are substantially identical to the clips 16 of the first plate with rhe exception that the former each have an elongated leg 36 which spaces the second plate 32 rearwardly of the first plate so that the second plate can be disposed parallel to the first plate.

While the clips 16 and 16Q hold the plates on the rod they also allow the plates to be swung upwardly either together or one at a time out of the vision of the viewer. The second plate also has its edge covered by a protective resilient bead 34.

As is readily apparent, with one level of glare coming in through the windscreen, the first plate (which is substantially larger in surface area than plate 32) is moved down in front of it. If there is a temporary increase in the glare such as when the vehicle is being driven into low ssnlight the second plate 32 can be swung down. In the event of an accident, both plates will break free of the rod prior to shattering.

WHAT I CLAIM IS: 1. An automobile visor assembly for re ducing glare, comprising: an elongated rod which in use is horizontally disposed; a transparent glare-reducing visor; releasable means securing the visor to the rod for providing release of the visor from the rod during a forward impact on the visor, the releasable securing means including a plurality of spaced curved friction clips each having an open side in use facing rearwardly and pressed over the rod whereby a forward impact on the visor will force open the clips to release the visor from the rod; an auxiliary transparent glare reducing plate releasably secured to the rod with the auxiliary glare reducing plate adapted to overlie the visor in parallel relationship; and a plurality of clips mounting the auxiliary plate on the rod in such manner that a forward impact on the auxiliary plate will force open the clips to release the auxiliary plate from the rod.

2. A visor assembly according to claim 1 including a resilient material secured along the edges of the visor and auxiliary plate.

3. A visor assembly according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein rhe auxiliary plate has greater glare reducing properties than the visor.

4. A visor assembly according to any preceding claim wherein the visor is substantially larger in surface area than the auxiliary plate.

5. An automobile visor assembly constructed and arranged substantially as herein described and shown in the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (5)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. second plate also has its edge covered by a protective resilient bead 34. As is readily apparent, with one level of glare coming in through the windscreen, the first plate (which is substantially larger in surface area than plate 32) is moved down in front of it. If there is a temporary increase in the glare such as when the vehicle is being driven into low ssnlight the second plate 32 can be swung down. In the event of an accident, both plates will break free of the rod prior to shattering. WHAT I CLAIM IS:

1. An automobile visor assembly for re ducing glare, comprising: an elongated rod which in use is horizontally disposed; a transparent glare-reducing visor; releasable means securing the visor to the rod for providing release of the visor from the rod during a forward impact on the visor, the releasable securing means including a plurality of spaced curved friction clips each having an open side in use facing rearwardly and pressed over the rod whereby a forward impact on the visor will force open the clips to release the visor from the rod; an auxiliary transparent glare reducing plate releasably secured to the rod with the auxiliary glare reducing plate adapted to overlie the visor in parallel relationship; and a plurality of clips mounting the auxiliary plate on the rod in such manner that a forward impact on the auxiliary plate will force open the clips to release the auxiliary plate from the rod.

2. A visor assembly according to claim 1 including a resilient material secured along the edges of the visor and auxiliary plate.

3. A visor assembly according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein rhe auxiliary plate has greater glare reducing properties than the visor.

4. A visor assembly according to any preceding claim wherein the visor is substantially larger in surface area than the auxiliary plate.

5. An automobile visor assembly constructed and arranged substantially as herein described and shown in the accompanying drawings.