SUN VISOR FOR MOTOR VEHICLE
THIS INVENTION relates to a motor vehicle visor.
It is known that most motor vehicles are provided with at least one visor that is displaceable between an inoperative configuration, in which it is "folded" away, and an operative configuration, in which it serves as a sun shield for a vehicle driver. Insofar as the general configuration of these vehicle visors is well known, this is not described in further detail herein.
Although vehicle visors of the above type are generally effective for blocking the sun's rays from a driver's eyes, they do not serve the purpose when the sun is very low, e.g. immediately after the sun rises and immediately prior to the sun setting, insofar as they would then also block road visibility. Visors also cannot protect a driver against oncoming vehicles' headlights during night driving. Both the above situations constitute danger situations and it is thus an object of this invention to at least ameliorate the danger associated with these situations. As such, the invention relates particularly also to an accessory for a motor vehicle visor with the use of which the danger situations identified are at least ameliorated.
According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided an accessory for a motor vehicle visor, which includes a tinted, transparent sheet element; and
mounting means for mounting the sheet element on a vehicle visor in a configuration in which, for use of the accessory, the sheet element is displaceable from a first position, in which it is located generally within the perimeter of the vehicle visor, to a second position, in which it extends from the edge of the vehicle visor remote from the edge that coincides substantially with the axis about which the vehicle visor is pivotally displaceable and, with the vehicle visor in an operative configuration thereof, is located to serve as a shield for the eyes of a vehicle driver against the rays of a light source, while retaining road visibility through and around the sheet element.
When referring to the rays of a light source, reference is particularly made to the rays of a setting/rising sun and the rays of the lights of oncoming vehicles. With the accessory located as defined and with the sheet element in its second position, the driver of an associated vehicle can look through and around the sheet element when viewing the road ahead of his vehicle during driving, the sheet element being positioned to serve to effectively shield his eyes form the direct rays of the sun, particularly when very low, or from the rays of the lights of an oncoming vehicle.
The sheet element particularly may be formed of a material such as Perspex, a polycarbonate material, or any other suitable transparent synthetic plastics material, tinting of the material being such that it is effective in shielding the eyes of a vehicle driver against the rays of the sun, or another vehicle's lights, while still permitting at least limited road vision.
The overall dimensions and the shape of the sheet element may be greatly variable and, in particular, may be determined by the requirements of a vehicle driver, for fulfilling its desired purpose. It is particularly envisaged in this regard that the width of the sheet element will equal between one quarter and one third of the width of a vehicle visor of the type commonly provided on a motor vehicle. Also, in the second position of the sheet element, the sheet element will be dimensioned to extend between 30mm and 50mm
from the edge of the vehicle visor from which it will operatively extend when disposed in its second position.
The mounting means of the accessory of the invention may be configured to permit slidable displacement of the sheet element along the width of a vehicle visor in the operative configuration of the sheet element mounted on a vehicle visor by the mounting means.
More particularly, the mounting means may include an elongate strip-like element that is securable to a vehicle visor on either side thereof in a configuration in which it extends across the width of the visor, and an elongate rod carried by the strip-like element in a configuration in which it extends along the length thereof, the sheet element being located on the rod in a configuration in which it is pivotally displaceable between its first position and its second position and in which it is slidable along the length of the rod. To facilitate securing of the strip-like element to a vehicle visor, the mounting means may include double-sided adhesive tape that permits the attachment of the strip-like element to a vehicle visor. Clearly, alternative securing means also may be provided for this purpose.
The accessory of the invention may be provided for mounting on various different particular vehicle visors, although it is envisaged also that a vehicle visor may be provided in a configuration in which it includes an accessory as part thereof. As such, the invention extends also to the combination of a motor vehicle visor, a tinted, transparent sheet element and mounting means whereby the sheet element is mounted on the vehicle visor in a configuration in which it is displaceable from a first position, in which it is located generally within the perimeter of the vehicle visor, to a second position, in which it extends from the edge of the vehicle visor remote from the edge that coincides substantially with the axis about which the vehicle visor is pivotally displaceable and, with the vehicle visor in an operative position, is located to serve as a shield for the eyes of a vehicle driver against the rays of a light source, while retaining at
least limited road visibility through the sheet element and complete visibility around the sheet element.
It is envisaged still further in this regard that the above combination can be provided as an integrated unit, particularly as original equipment on a vehicle and, as such, the invention extends also to such a motor vehicle visor. It will be understood that the configuration of such a motor vehicle visor again will be greatly variable.
Further features of the invention are described hereafter with reference to an example of the accessory for a motor vehicle, in accordance with the invention, that is illustrated in the accompanying diagrammatic drawings. In the drawings:
Figure 1 shows a three-dimensional view of an accessory for a motor vehicle visor, in accordance with the invention;
Figure 2 shows an elevational view of the mounting means part of the accessory of Figure 1 ;
Figure 3 shows an end view of the mounting means part of the accessory as shown in Figure 2;
Figure 4 shows an elevational view of the sheet element part of the accessory of Figure 1 ; Figure 5 shows an end view of the sheet element part of the accessory as shown in Figure 4;
Figure 6 illustrates schematically in elevational view the operative configuration of the accessory of Figure 1 , mounted on a motor vehicle visor; and
Figure 7 illustrates schematically in end view the operative configuration of the accessory of Figure 1 , mounted on a motor vehicle visor.
Referring to the drawings, an accessory for a motor vehicle visor, in accordance with the invention, is designated generally by the reference numeral 10. The accessory 10 includes a tinted, transparent sheet element 12 that is pivotally located on a mounting means whereby it can be mounted on a motor vehicle visor in the configuration described hereafter. The mounting means includes an elongate strip-like element 14 that has double sided adhesive tape (not shown) applied to the operative rear side thereof, the sheet element 12, in the configuration as shown in Figure 1 , being displaced onto the operative top side thereof.
The length of the strip-like element 14 is approximately equal to the conventional width of a motor vehicle visor, permitting the strip-like element to be attached to either side of a motor vehicle visor, particularly adjacent the operative free edge thereof, i.e. the edge thereof remote from the edge that coincides substantially with the axis about which the vehicle visor is pivotally displaceable (as is explained in more detail hereafter). The striplike element can be formed of any suitable synthetic plastics material which is sufficiently flexible to permit effective attachment to a motor vehicle visor in the manner described.
The strip-like element has an elongate rod 16 located along one longitudinal edge thereof, the rod 16 defining opposite flat faces provided for the purpose described hereafter. The opposite ends of the rods particularly are located within formations 18 provided in the locations shown on the strip-like element 14.
The sheet element 12 defines four clipping formations 20 that permit the sheet element to clip onto the rod 16 in a configuration in which it is pivotally displaceable on the rod, while also being slidably displaceable along the length of the rod 16. A lug formation 22 also extends from the sheet element 12 as shown and in the configuration of the sheet
element as shown, bears against a flat face of the rod 16, thereby serving to retain the sheet element 12 in the position as shown.
The inherent flexibility of the material forming the sheet element 12 and particularly the formations 20 and 22, permit pivotal displacement of the sheet element on the rod 16 from the position as shown in Figure 2 to a position in which it extends away from the strip-like element 14, substantially parallel thereto, the lug formation 22 then bearing against the opposite flat face of the rod 16, for holding the sheet element in that position. The position of the sheet element 12 as shown in Figure 1 is hereinafter referred to as the first position of the sheet element, whereas the pivotally displaced position as described is hereinafter referred to as the second position of the sheet element.
Referring particularly to Figures 6 and 7 of the drawings, the accessory 10 is illustrated in these figures in its operative configuration attached to a motor vehicle visor 30, the visor in its operative configuration mounted on a motor vehicle being pivotal about an axis defined by a shaft 32. As shown, the strip-like element 14 is attached to the visor 30 along the edge 34 of the visor that is remote from the pivotal axis defined by the shaft 32, the strip-like element thus extending across the width of the visor 30. When so disposed, the sheet element 12 is displaceable between its first position as shown in dotted lines and its second position, in which it projects beyond the edge 34 of the visor in the configuration illustrated.
For use, with the accessory 10 mounted as described, when driving into, for example, a setting sun, the visor will be displaced into its operative configuration and the sheet element 12 will be displaced into its second position, the position of the sheet element 12 on the rod 16 further being slidably adjusted so that the sheet element will serve as an effective shield for the vehicle driver's eyes against the direct rays of the setting sun. Being transparent but tinted, at least limited road visibility through the sheet element will still be permitted, a vehicle driver thus viewing the road through the sheet element 12 and around the sides of the sheet element 12, to enable normal driving. The limited
visibility particularly will permit the driver to set the sheet element in a position in which the sun is centrally located with respect thereto, thus not requiring continuous adjustment when the vehicle only deviates slightly from its path of travel. The degree of tinting must be such that when driving into a setting sun, the driver should be able to continue driving without being unduly affected by the sun.
It is well known in the above regard that when driving into a low setting/rising sun, or towards the lights of an oncoming vehicle, the motor vehicle visor cannot serve as a shield for a driver's eyes insofar as it will then also block off road vision, the accessory of the invention thus serving to ameliorate this problem by shielding the driver's eyes against the direct rays referred to, particularly when disposed in its second position as described.
It is envisaged that the sheet element of the accessory of the invention will be formed of any suitable synthetic plastics, tinted, transparent material, Perspex and a polycarbonate material being considered particularly suitable.
It will be appreciated also that the accessory of the invention can be configured in many different forms and that its sheet element can be rendered displaceable between a first and a second position in many different modes, including different modes of pivotal displacement, sliding displacement, and the like. The configuration of the accessory as described is considered particularly suitable because it provides simultaneously for displacement of the sheet element thereof between first and second positions and along the width of a visor, to be accurately positionable into a position in which it can serve as a shield as required.
It is further envisaged that a motor vehicle visor can be provided in a combination with an accessory as described, or any other accessory, while it is also envisaged that a motor vehicle visor can include the equivalent of the accessory of the invention as an
integral part thereof, thus being provided as original equipment for a motor vehicle. The invention extends also to such motor vehicle visors as envisaged.