GB1567710A

GB1567710A - Sun visor with snap hinge for motor vehicles

Info

Publication number: GB1567710A
Application number: GB5292177A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: IAO Industrie Riunite SpA
Current assignee: IAO Industrie Riunite SpA
Priority date: 1977-01-11
Filing date: 1977-12-20
Publication date: 1980-05-21
Also published as: ES233209Y; IT1116698B; ES233209U; DE2757973A1; FR2376767B3; FR2376767A1

Description

(54) SUN VISOR WITH SNAP HINGE FOR MOTOR VEHICLES (71) We, IAO INDUSTRIE RIUNITE SPA, a joint stock company organised under the Laws of Italy of Via S. Giacomo, 2-10092 Beinasco (Torino), do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to sun visors with snap hinges for motor vehicles.

Visors are known of the type in which a hinge element consists of the support arm of the visor, whilst the other element of the hinge consists of a sheet metal plate, folded in the form of a book with the formation of a tubular spine into which is rotatably inserted the said support arm, and in which moreover the said spine has a gap through which a flat spring supported by the said plate engages the arm with a resilient pressure transverse to the axis of the arm so as to snap in to a depression formed on the side of the arm. The flat spring seizes the arm in the manner of pliers, gripping the arm resiliently between its jaws. Various disadvantages derive from this.

Firstly, in order to obtain both a high engagement pressure (gripping force) and a high elasticity it is necessary to lengthen the jaws of the spring and to join its free ends by means of a clip or the like, and this involves complications in manufacture and assembly.

Attempts have been made to make the clip in one piece with the spring, but in practice a fabrication of this type only slightly simplifies assembly, whereas it complicates even further the manufacture of the single spring-clip.

Moreover, the arm being diametrically clasped between the jaws of the spring, the latter does not contribute to any extent to the friction engagement between the support arm and the tubular spine formed by the said plate; it follows therefore, that if, for any reason whatsoever, the arm is relatively slack within the said spine, then the spring cannot in any way remedy this defect.

According to the present invention there is provided a sun visor with a snap hinge, of which one hinge element comprises a support arm for the visor while the other hinge element comprises a piece of sheet material folded like a book to form a tubular spine with two leaves extending therefrom, the said support arm being located in the spine in such a manner that the spine and leaves can rotate about the arm, the spine having a gap through which a leaf spring supported by the folded piece of sheet material engages the arm resiliently with a force directed transverse to the axis of the arm, and can snap into a depression formed on the side of the arm, wherein the said leaf spring has a generally elliptical shape and is compressed between said arm and the bottom of said gap, the minor axis of said generally elliptical shape being substantially on the longitudinal plane of said folded piece of sheet material.

An embodiment of the invention is described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: figure 1 is a view of the sun visor; figure 2 is an enlarged view of the hinge; figure 3 is a cross-section taken along the line III-III of figure 2, and figure 4 is a perspective view of the spring in its free condition.

The sun visor or glare shield illustrated consists, in a known way, of a padded flat body 10 supported by a support arm 12.

The arm 12 is a rigid rectilinear metal rod, and the body 10 can orientate angularly around the geometrical longitudinal axis of the arm 12. The outer end 121 is bent relative to the rest of the arm 12 and rotates in a support 14 meant to be affixed to the bodywork of a motor vehicle. The arm 12 constitutes the shaft of a hinge for the body 10 of the visor. The female element of the hinge consists of a plate 16 which is folded book-wise (figure 3) in such manner as to form a tubular spine 16A, circular in section, from which there extend two flat leaves 16B, symmetrically parallel to a longitudinal medial plane P passing through the geometrical axis X of the spine 16A. Between the leaves 16B there are inserted, and spot welded to them, the extremities of a metal wire 18 constituting in a known form reinforcement for the body 10.

The diameter of this wire 18 is generally from 25-3mm and thisvaluecorresponds therefore tothe mutual spacing of the leaves, whereas the inner diameter of the spine 1 6A is generally in the order of 8mm.

The arm 12 is inserted with light friction (or in fact relatively slackly) into the spine 1 6A and it has a pointed exteremity 12A. In order to prevent accidental slipping off of the arm, the spine 1 6A has a first gap 20,-in correspondence with which there is upsetwelded (or applied) on to the arm 12 a detent 12B. The spine 16A has also a second gap 22, 15-2cm long, whichextendsalso into thetwo leaves 16bur to a depth of 7-8mm. The edges 16C of the two leaves, constituting the bottom of the gap 22, are parallel to the axis X and are turned outwards (figure 3) so as to form a V-shaped seating.

In the space between the arm 12 and the edges 16C there is precompressed in the plane P a spring 24. This latter (see figure 4) is formed from a rectangular sheet of steel curved in such a manner as to form abody24A of elliptical cross-section, the minor axis of the ellipse being situated on the plane P.

Preferably, the elliptical profile is open in correspondence with one end of the said minor axis to terminate in two wings 24B, directed outwards. With the spring assembled in the fastener the wings 24B are inserted between the edges 16C so as to constitute stop members against an accidental slipping out of the spring from its seating, to one side or the other of the plane P. The minor axis of the spring is so proportioned that in the absence of the arm 12 in the spine 16A the back of the spring stands proud of the proximate inner surface of the said spine.

Thus, upon assembly, with the spring situated in its seating the arm. 12 is thrust axially forwards inside- of the spine 1 6A and the point 12A of the arm allows the latter to move above the spring, squashing, somewhat, the said spring, whereby, as has been previously stated, the spring is prestressed between the arm. and the bottom (edges 16C) of the gap 22. It is evident that in these circumstances the spring 24 applies to the arm 12 a diametrical thrust (upwards in figure 3), thus intensifying the frictional engagement between the arm and the spine 16A.

The spacing A between the wings 24B of the spring in the free position (figure 4) isadvantageously greater than the corresponding spacing in the assembled position (figure 3). Therefore, in order to insert the wings 24B between the edges 1 6C it is necessary to bring these together, as shown by the arrows F in figure. 4, which induces an upward shear of the spine of the spring, as shown by the arrow Ft in figure 4. It is evident that- in this manner4 and all other conditions being equal, the pressure exerted by the spring 24 upon the arm 12 is higher, and the characteristic of the spring is more rigid.

Moreover, preferably the length of the minor axis of the elliptical profile of the spring. amounts to at least the half of the major axis, to such extent that, in the extreme the elliptical profile may very closely approach the circular form. In this way, the deformations of the spring in operation of the hinge are more uniformly distributed over the whole perimeter of the spring. The click stop positions are determined, by a known method, by one or more fiats, or grooves 26 impressed into the arm 12, at least for the whole length of the spring 24. Shown in the drawing are two of these grooves (figure 3), situated in positions corresponding to a desired angle of the travel of the body 10 of the visor around the arm 12 between one click stop position and the other. It is evident that the body 10 may assume any angular position around the arm 12, not clickstopped; in order to maintain this position for at least a negligible period of time one has obviously to depend upon the frictional engagement between the arm 12 and the spine 16A, produced by the spring 24, and upon the frictional engagement between the said arm and the spring. Preferably the wings 24B are hooked on to the leaves 16B. In the case illustrated, a pair of teeth 24C is punched into each wing 24B, and these snap-engage,.

upon insertion. of the wings between the sides, into corresponding windows 16D formed in the leaves.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:- 1. A sun visor with a snap hinge, of which one hinge element comprises a support arm for the visor while the other hinge element comprises a piece of sheet material folded like a book to form a tubular spine with two leaves extending therefrom, the said support arm. being Iocated in the spine in such manner that the spine and leaves can rotate about the arm,. the spine having a gap through which a leaf spring supported by the folded piece of sheet material engages the arm resiliently with a force directed transverse to the axis of the arm, and can- snap into a depression formed on the side of the arm, wherein the said leaf spring has a generally elliptical shape and is compressed between said arm and the bottom of said gap, the minor axis ofsaid generally elliptical shape being substantially on the longitudinal plane of said folded piece of sheet material.

2. A visor according to- claim 1, in which those edges of the two leaves which form- the base of said gap are bent outwards to form a seat of substantial surface area for said spring.

3. A visor according to claim 1 or 2 in which said generally elliptical shape is open

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

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. known form reinforcement for the body 10. The diameter of this wire 18 is generally from 25-3mm and thisvaluecorresponds therefore tothe mutual spacing of the leaves, whereas the inner diameter of the spine 1 6A is generally in the order of 8mm. The arm 12 is inserted with light friction (or in fact relatively slackly) into the spine 1 6A and it has a pointed exteremity 12A. In order to prevent accidental slipping off of the arm, the spine 1 6A has a first gap 20,-in correspondence with which there is upsetwelded (or applied) on to the arm 12 a detent 12B. The spine 16A has also a second gap 22, 15-2cm long, whichextendsalso into thetwo leaves 16bur to a depth of 7-8mm. The edges 16C of the two leaves, constituting the bottom of the gap 22, are parallel to the axis X and are turned outwards (figure 3) so as to form a V-shaped seating. In the space between the arm 12 and the edges 16C there is precompressed in the plane P a spring 24. This latter (see figure 4) is formed from a rectangular sheet of steel curved in such a manner as to form abody24A of elliptical cross-section, the minor axis of the ellipse being situated on the plane P. Preferably, the elliptical profile is open in correspondence with one end of the said minor axis to terminate in two wings 24B, directed outwards. With the spring assembled in the fastener the wings 24B are inserted between the edges 16C so as to constitute stop members against an accidental slipping out of the spring from its seating, to one side or the other of the plane P. The minor axis of the spring is so proportioned that in the absence of the arm 12 in the spine 16A the back of the spring stands proud of the proximate inner surface of the said spine. Thus, upon assembly, with the spring situated in its seating the arm. 12 is thrust axially forwards inside- of the spine 1 6A and the point 12A of the arm allows the latter to move above the spring, squashing, somewhat, the said spring, whereby, as has been previously stated, the spring is prestressed between the arm. and the bottom (edges 16C) of the gap 22. It is evident that in these circumstances the spring 24 applies to the arm 12 a diametrical thrust (upwards in figure 3), thus intensifying the frictional engagement between the arm and the spine 16A. The spacing A between the wings 24B of the spring in the free position (figure 4) isadvantageously greater than the corresponding spacing in the assembled position (figure 3). Therefore, in order to insert the wings 24B between the edges 1 6C it is necessary to bring these together, as shown by the arrows F in figure. 4, which induces an upward shear of the spine of the spring, as shown by the arrow Ft in figure 4. It is evident that- in this manner4 and all other conditions being equal, the pressure exerted by the spring 24 upon the arm 12 is higher, and the characteristic of the spring is more rigid. Moreover, preferably the length of the minor axis of the elliptical profile of the spring. amounts to at least the half of the major axis, to such extent that, in the extreme the elliptical profile may very closely approach the circular form. In this way, the deformations of the spring in operation of the hinge are more uniformly distributed over the whole perimeter of the spring. The click stop positions are determined, by a known method, by one or more fiats, or grooves 26 impressed into the arm 12, at least for the whole length of the spring 24. Shown in the drawing are two of these grooves (figure 3), situated in positions corresponding to a desired angle of the travel of the body 10 of the visor around the arm 12 between one click stop position and the other. It is evident that the body 10 may assume any angular position around the arm 12, not clickstopped; in order to maintain this position for at least a negligible period of time one has obviously to depend upon the frictional engagement between the arm 12 and the spine 16A, produced by the spring 24, and upon the frictional engagement between the said arm and the spring. Preferably the wings 24B are hooked on to the leaves 16B. In the case illustrated, a pair of teeth 24C is punched into each wing 24B, and these snap-engage,. upon insertion. of the wings between the sides, into corresponding windows 16D formed in the leaves. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:-

1. A sun visor with a snap hinge, of which one hinge element comprises a support arm for the visor while the other hinge element comprises a piece of sheet material folded like a book to form a tubular spine with two leaves extending therefrom, the said support arm. being Iocated in the spine in such manner that the spine and leaves can rotate about the arm,. the spine having a gap through which a leaf spring supported by the folded piece of sheet material engages the arm resiliently with a force directed transverse to the axis of the arm, and can- snap into a depression formed on the side of the arm, wherein the said leaf spring has a generally elliptical shape and is compressed between said arm and the bottom of said gap, the minor axis ofsaid generally elliptical shape being substantially on the longitudinal plane of said folded piece of sheet material.

and terminates in two wings insertable between the two leaves.

4. A visor according to claim 3, in which the distance between the two wings in the unstressed condition of the spring is larger than the corresponding distance when the spring is in position.

5. A sun visor with a snap hinge substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.