GB2316924A

GB2316924A - Visor extension for motor vehicle sun visors

Info

Publication number: GB2316924A
Application number: GB9618829A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Heinrich Fritz Liebrecht
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1996-09-10
Filing date: 1996-09-10
Publication date: 1998-03-11
Anticipated expiration: 2016-09-10
Also published as: GB2316924B; GB9618829D0

Abstract

An extension adapted to be fitted to a sun visor 1 in a motor vehicle, the extension comprising a generally oblong plate 3 provided with attachment means 4, 5 which, in use, enables the plate to be slidably moved from a first position, in which it is substantially coextensive with the sun visor to a second position, in which at least a portion of the plate extends from at least one side of the sun visor. The extension provides additional protection from glare in driving conditions where the sun is low in the sky, or where the driver sits low in his or her seat.

Description

VISOR EXTENSION FOR MOTOR VEHICLE SUN VISORS The present invention relates to sun visors of the type usually mounted above the windscreen on the interior of a motor vehicle, and in particular, but not exclusively, to an extension which may be fitted retrospectively to existing visors of this type.

It is a well-known problem for motorists to be blinded by sunlight when driving at such times of the day when the sun is low on the horizon. Hitherto, this problem has been addressed by motor vehicle manufacturers through the provision of generally oblong visors mounted above the windscreen in such a way that the visors may be folded down when necessary. While such visors can provide protection from glare in many conditions, this is not always the case, particularly in winter and/or when the driver sits low in his or her seat. This is a particular problem for drivers of shorter stature whose needs are often not taken into account by motor manufacturers.

According to the present invention, there is provided an extension adapted to be fitted to a sun visor in a motor vehicle, the extension comprising a generally oblong plate provided with attachment means which, in use, enables the plate to be slidably moved from a first position, in which it is substantially coextensive with the sun visor to a second position, in which at least a portion of the plate extends from at least one edge of the sun visor.

In a first embodiment of the present invention, two slots are provided in the plate, one in each of the two shorter edges. Advantageously, the slots are provided generally opposite each other in the upper halves of the two shorter edges and extend generally parallel to the longer edges of the plate. The plate may then be attached to the sun visor by way of two elastic bands or the like, each of which is fitted about one of the two shorter edges of the sun visor and passes through one of the slots provided in the plate such that the upper edge portions of the plate are slidably held against the sun visor.

In a second embodiment, the attachment means may comprise at least one slot provided in a region of the upper half of the plate spaced from the shorter edges, and at least one elastic band which, in use, is fitted around the shorter dimension of the sun visor and which passes through the at least one slot so as slidably to hold the plate against the sun visor. In this embodiment, the at least one elastic band is preferably in the form of an elastic strip provided at its ends with attachment means, such as Velcro (registered trade mark), which enables the strip to be threaded about the sun visor and through the at least one slot before the ends of the strip are connected together so as to form an elastic band.

In a third embodiment of the present invention, the plate may be attached to the sun visor by way of one or more clips, preferably spring-loaded clips, which serve to clip the shorter edges of the plate to the sun visor so as to allow the plate to slide relative to the sun visor in a direction generally parallel to the shorter edges of the plate.

In a fourth embodiment of the present invention, at least one slot, extending generally parallel to the shorter edges of the plate, is provided in the plate.

The plate may then be slidably attached to the sun visor by way of a pin or pins which are affixed to the sun visor through said at least one slot.

Advantageously, the pin or pins may be fitted with clips, preferably spring-loaded clips, which serve to press the plate onto the sun visor.

Other means of attachment which permit the plate to be slid from a first position in which it is substantially coextensive with the visor to a second, extended position may also be employed.

The visor extension of the present invention may be fitted without tools to an existing sun visor in a matter of minutes, and is unobtrusive when not in use, since it may be folded up to the ceiling of the motor vehicle with the sun visor. The extension may be freely moved up and down and angled in order to provide glare protection for the user.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the plate of the visor extension may further include a side portion which may be deployed to shield the user from light coming from the side of the motor vehicle. This side portion may take the form of a flap or other hinged extension provided on a shorter edge of the plate. In the second embodiment of the present invention, the side portion may be of the same height as the main body of the plate, thereby providing improved protection from light coming from the side.

The plate of the visor extension of the present invention may be made of cardboard, plastics or any other suitable material.

For a better understanding of the present invention and to show how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 shows a plate mounted on a sun visor in a first, coextensive position; and FIGURE 2 shows the plate of Figure 1 in a second, extended position.

In Figure 1, there is shown a standard-type sun visor 1, which is attached to the ceiling (not shown) of a motor vehicle by way of hinges 2. A generally oblong plate 3, of similar size to the visor 1, is provided with two slots 4 in the upper half of each of its shorter edges1 and slidably attached to the visor 1 by means of two elastic bands 5 which pass around the shorter edges of the visor 1 and over the portions 6 of the upper parts of the shorter edges of the plate 3 defined by the slots 4. It will be seen that the plate 3, in this configuration, does not extend beyond the edges of the visor 1, which may therefore continue to be used in a normal manner.

In driving conditions where the sun is very low in the sky, or where the driver of the vehicle is low in his or her seat, the plate 3 may be pulled down as shown in Figure 2. When the plate 3 is pulled down to its lowermost position, the slots 4 will be generally level with the lower edge of the visor 1. The distance of the slots 4 from the top of the plate 3 is determined by the need to provide a sufficiently large surface 6 upon which the elastic bands 5 can act so as to hold the plate 3 securely, yet slidably, against the visor 1.

As shown in broken lines in Figure 2, a hinged side extension 7 may be provided, which side extension 7 can be positioned so as to shield the user from light coming from the side.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. An extension adapted to be fitted to a sun visor in a motor vehicle, the extension comprising a generally oblong plate provided with attachment means which, in use, enables the plate to be slidably moved from a first position, in which it is substantially coextensive with the sun visor to a second pOsitiOn, in which at least a portion of the plate extends from at least one edge of the sun visor.

2. An extension as claimed in claim 1, wherein the attachment means comprises a pair of slots provided generally opposite each other in the upper halves of the shorter edges of the plate, and a pair of elastic bands which, in use, are fitted around the shorter edges of the sun visor and which each pass through one of the slots so as slidably to hold the plate against the sun visor.

3. An extension as claimed in claim 1, wherein the attachment means comprises at least one slot provided in a region of the upper half of the plate spaced from the shorter edges, and at least one elastic band which, in use, is fitted around the shorter dimension of the sun visor and which passes through the at least one slot so as slidably to hold the plate against the sun visor.

4. An extension as claimed in claim 3, wherein the at least one elastic band is in the form of an elastic strip provided at its ends with attachment means, such as Velcro (registered trade mark), which enables the strip to be threaded about the sun visor and through the at least one slot before the ends of the strip are connected together so as to form an elastic band.

5. An extension as claimed in claim 1, wherein the attachment means comprises one or more clips which, in use, serve to clip the shorter edges of the plate to the sun visor.

6. An extension as claimed in claim 1, wherein the attachment means comprises at least one slot provided in the plate and extending generally parallel to the shorter edges of the plate, and at least one pin which, in use, is affixed to the sun visor through said at least one slot.

7. An extension as claimed in claim 6, wherein the at least one pin is provided with a clip which, in use, serves to press the plate onto the sun visor.

8. An extension as claimed in claims 5 or 7, wherein the clip or clips are spring-loaded.

9. An extension as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the plate is further provided with a side portion which may be extended from a shorter edge of the plate.

10. An extension as claimed in claim 9, wherein the side portion is hingedly attached to a shorter edge of the plate.

11. An extension adapted to be fitted to a sun visor in a motor vehicle, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to or as shown in the accompanying drawings.