Abstract
An auxiliary vehicle sun visor system is provided for use in a vehicle having a window and a front windshield. The system is a simple design and does not involve sophisticated or elaborate mechanism or device. The auxiliary sun visor is formed in J-shape view from a side in one piece. It is mounted to a main sun visor adjacent to the distal end of a main sun visor. It is rotatable at the pivotal axis in the same plane as the main sun visor and position it as needed by one hand. This allows the auxiliary sun visor to be placed between a user and an unwanted light source while operating a vehicle in a normal and safe manner.
Claims
1. A sun visor system for use in a vehicle comprising: an auxiliary sun visor having a J-shape configuration formed in one piece as seen in a side view and comprising an internal wall shape that partially hugs a main sun visor when the main sun visor is in retracted position while conforming to shape of the main sun visor; wherein the auxiliary sun visor is firmly and tightly held onto the main sun visor, yet rotatable by one hand in a plane parallel to the plane defined by the main sun visor at a pivotal axis that is adjacent to a distal end of the main sun visor that is opposite from a main sun visor mount location on the vehicle body structure; and wherein said auxiliary sun visor is directly mounted on the main sun visor by a pivotal pin which is penetrating through the thickness of the main sun visor and capped by flanges.
2. The sun visor system of claim 1, wherein said auxiliary sun visor has enough frictional resistance to stay in one place, yet is one hand operable while operating the vehicle normally and without stopping the vehicle for its operation.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
(1) FIG. 1 shows an isometric exploded view of the auxiliary sun visor mounted on a main sun visor.
(2) FIG. 2 shows a front view of the auxiliary sun visor mounted on a main sun visor.
(3) FIG. 3 shows a rear view of the auxiliary sun visor mounted a main sun visor.
(4) FIG. 4 shows a top view of auxiliary sun visor.
(5) FIG. 5 shows the cross section A-A in FIG. 3.
(6) FIG. 6 shows various positions of the auxiliary sun visor.
(7) FIG. 7 shows a front view of the alternate auxiliary sun visor design.
(8) FIG. 8 shows the cross section B-B in FIG. 7.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
(9) FIG. 1 shows an isometric exploded view of the main sun visor (1) and attached auxiliary sun visor (3). The auxiliary sun visor (3) is mounted on the main sun visor (1) adjacent to a distal end of the main sun visor (1). The mounting hardware is comprised of a pivotal axis mounting pin (6) through the pin hole (5) on the main sum visor (1). The pivotal pin (6) is secured by a flange (7) at each end external to the auxiliary sun visor (3). A friction washer (8) is mounted on the pivotal pin (6) and between the walls of the main sun visor (1) and the auxiliary sun visor (3).
(10) FIG. 2 shows a driver view of said auxiliary sun visor (3) of FIG. 1 when the main sun visor (1) is positioned against the driver side window. In this drawing, the auxiliary sun visor (3) is not yet deployed.
(11) FIG. 3 shows said aux. sun visor (3) when looking through a driver side window of a vehicle. For illustration purposes, an installed mirror (9) is shown in the main sun visor (1) to show the clearance to the auxiliary sun visor (3).
(12) FIG. 4 shows a top view of the auxiliary sun visor (3) with mounting hardware.
(13) FIG. 5 shows the cross section A-A in FIG. 3, envisioning the J-shaped auxiliary sun visor (3).
(14) FIG. 6 shows various positions of the aux. sun visor (3) of FIG. 1 when deployed and rotated out of the main sun visor (1).
(15) FIG. 7 shows a front view of an alternate auxiliary sun visor (11) housed in the cavity (10) of the main sun visor (1) with an external pull tab (19).
(16) FIG. 8 shows the cross section B-B in FIG. 7 showing a flat auxiliary sun visor (11) stowed in the cavity of the main sun visor (1).
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
(17) Referring to the drawings, an auxiliary sun visor system of the present invention is indicated in FIG. 1. The system includes said aux. sun visor (3) and its mounting and pivotal pin (6) configured to penetrate the thickness of the main sun visor (1) through a pivotal pin hole (5) in the main sun visor (1). The pivotal pin hole (5) is located adjacent to a distal end, opposite to the proximal end of the main sun visor mount (2) to the vehicle structure. Securing means of flanges (8) are shown for the mounting and pivotal pin (6). The flanges (8) firmly and tightly hold the auxiliary sun visor (3) to the main sun visor (1), yet the auxiliary sun visor (3) can be rotatable and positioned by one hand where needed and stay in place. A set of two friction washers (8) is inserted between the walls of the main sun visor (1) and the auxiliary sun visor (3). The friction spacers (8) provide enough friction to hold the auxiliary sun visor (3) in place when it is deployed and rotated to a downward or a horizontal position as shown in FIG. 6. In addition, the friction washers (8) act as spacers between the main sun visor (1) and the auxiliary sun visor (3).
(18) As shown in FIG. 5, the auxiliary sun visor (3) is formed in a J-shape from a sheet of plastic. The J-shape conforms partly to the exterior shape of the main sun visor (1). This shape also provides stiffness to the auxiliary sun visor (3).
(19) Referring to FIG. 3, this rear view shows the shorter leg side of the J-shaped auxiliary sun visor (3) provides enough clearance to a mirror (9) installed in the main sun visor (1).
Alternate Embodiments
(20) Either a longer or a shorter flat plane defined in the side view of a J-shaped aux. sun visor (3) or a flat plane of substantially rectangular in shape can be housed internally to the main sun visor cavity (10).
(21) For an example, referring to FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, said alternate auxiliary sun visor (11) is housed internally in the cavity (10) of the main sun visor (1). The aux. sun visor (11) is mounted similarly by a pivotal pin (16) through the thickness of the main sun visor (1). In this case, said auxiliary sun visor (11) is rotated out from the main sun visor cavity (10) by means of, an externally located pull tab (19).
(22) The friction washers (8 or 18) can be eliminated depending on the material and surface texture of the main sun visor (1) or the auxiliary sun visor (3 or 11).
(23) The auxiliary sun visor (3) can be mounted on the main sun visor (1) by a secure adhering means such as a clip or a hook and loop tape in lieu of the hole (5) and the pin (6) in the main sun visor (1).
(24) While the present invention has been shown and described with reference to the foregoing preferred and alternate embodiments, it is to be understood by those skilled in the art that other changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.
