Dazzle reducing arrangement for illuminated sun visor, particularly for automotive vehicles

#The present invention relates to a sun visor, particularly for automotive vehicles, wherein the sun visor body is provided with a mirror and at least one source of light.

#Sun visors, and particularly those used in luxury automobiles, are frequently provided with a mirror and an illuminating device for illuminating the object visible in the mirror. The mirror is predominantly a make-up mirror, and it can be used in the dark because of the presence of an illuminating device. In one sun visor, known from German Patent Application DE-OS No. 27 25 430, corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 4,203,149, issued May 13, 1980, the mirror within the body of the sun visor is located between two sources of light which flank it on both sides. In another sun visor, known from German Application DE-OS No. 27 30 926, the mirror is seated in a frame which is recessed in the body of the sun visor and the frame is developed so that it is light transmitting and can be illuminated by sources of light behind it. In these known sun visors, it is only possible to reach a compromise with respect to the dazzle caused by the illuminating device. The choices are between increased or reduced brightness of the source of light. With increased brightness, there is sufficient illumination of the face of the person looking into the mirror, but this is obtained at the expense of increased dazzle. On the other hand, if the brightness of the source of light is reduced, the dazzle is decreased. This has the disadvantage of insufficient illumination of the face. Another possibility for adequately illuminating the face with low dazzle is by a corresponding increase in the area of the light-transmitting frame which contains the mirror. But, this would be prevented by structural limitations as to the sun visor body.

#The object of the present invention is to provide a sun visor with a source of light that sufficiently illuminates the face of a person looking into the mirror and which at the same time avoids dazzling him with light.

#Illustrative examples of the invention will be explained below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

#FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a first embodiment of a sun visor provided with a mirror and source of light according to the invention; and

#FIGS. 2-7 show further embodiments of the sun visor, in each case shown in cross-section approximately along the section line A--A of FIG. 1.

#The sun visor shown in all of the drawings in each embodiment comprises a sun visor body 1 with a swivel bearing 5 arranged at one end region of the upper longitudinal edge 2 of the visor body. The bearing 5 is formed of housing 3 and sun visor shaft 4. There is an outer support shaft 6 arranged in the region of the other end of the upper edge of the visor body. The shaft 6 is adapted to be removably inserted into an outer support housing (not shown) of a mirror 7 and of a source of light 8. The source of light 8 receives electric current from the electrical system of the car, the path or course of the electrical wires not being shown in detail but being known to the art.

#In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, there is a large distance between the source of light 8 and the mirror 7 in use, because the mirror 7 is arranged to be swung downward in the region of the lower longitudinal edge of the sun visor body 1. The mirror surface is hidden from the sight of the viewer when the mirror 7 is in its upward swung position of non-use, shown in solid lines. The mirror is accessible to the sight of the viewer when the mirror 7 is in its downward swung position of use, shown in dot-dash lines. For swingably attaching the mirror 7, a flexible band 10 can be used. The band is fastened on one side to the rear of the mirror, namely in the region of its lower longitudinal edge, and on the other side to the lower longitudinal edge region of the sun-visor body 1, for instance by bonding or welding. The mirror 7 is held in its upward swung position of non-use by cooperating clips, snap buttons or magnets 11 on the sun visor body 1. Swinging down of the mirror 7 is facilitated by a grip trough 12 developed in the sun visor body 1 which provides access to the mirror.

#The embodiment of FIG. 2 shows a sun visor body 1 having a mirror 7 and a source of light 8. The mirror 7 is fastened to one side of a cover 13. The source of light 8 is located in the region of the lower longitudinal edge 9 of the sun visor body 1, referring to the position of use of the sun visor body 1. The cover 13 is developed with small support arms 14, and the cover is pivoted by these arms directly to the sun visor shaft 4. Slits 15 are provided in the sun visor body and they open toward the edge for permitting the swinging of the support arms 14. The cover 13 may consist, for instance, of a plastic injection molding, and may be developed integral with the support arms 14. The cover 13 carries the mirror 7 on the side of the cover facing the sun visor body 1. The mirror may be fastened to the cover 13 by clamps or the like, but is preferably fastened by bonding. The pivot side longitudinal edge of the cover 13 is rounded at 17 and this rounding extends around the upper longitudinal edge 2 of the sun visor body 1 and covers the slits 15. The other free longitudinal edge of the cover 13 is also rounded at 17 which can be clipped over the lower longitudinal edge 9 of the sun visor body 1, when the cover is in the position indicated in dot-dash line.