GB2204290A

GB2204290A - Sun visor for motor vehicles

Info

Publication number: GB2204290A
Application number: GB08807089A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Cebollero Carlo Gabas
Original assignee: Industrias Techno Matic SA
Current assignee: Industrias Techno Matic SA
Priority date: 1987-04-28
Filing date: 1988-03-24
Publication date: 1988-11-09
Anticipated expiration: 2008-03-24
Also published as: FR2614583B1; FR2614583A1; GB8807089D0; GB2204290B; DE3813699A1; IT1219167B; IT8867290A0; JPS63284021A; ES2003279A6; DE3813699B4

Abstract

The sun visor comprises two interconnected parts: a blow moulded plastics basic module 1 and an injection moulded attachment module 2, the basic module 1 being constituted by a unitary, hollow, rigid, structure and the attachment module 2 being constituted by an elongate unitary channel-section structure which can fit over an edge portion 1a of the basic module for connection thereto, possibly by glueing. The attachment module 2 is provided at one end with a housing 7a-7b for a rod 6 for supporting the sun visor in a motor-vehicle and, at its opposite end, with an engagement bar, coaxial with the rod 6, for engagement with a suitable hook in the vehicle. The interconnected modules 1 and 2 are enveloped in, and held together by, a laminar cover 10, with the possible incorporation of a soft, flexible covering between the modules and the laminar cover 10. The basic module 1 can, optionally, be filled with foam padding. <IMAGE>

Description

Sun Visor for Motor Vehicles The present invention relates to motor-vehicle sun visors.

In spite of their apparent unimportance, motor-vehicle sun visors have the essential function of preventing strong sunlight which enters a motor vehicle from dazzling the driver and, if less importantly, a passenger. Moreover, the way in which motor-vehicle sun visors have evolved dictates that they should be light in weight, have a certain softness, and be selectively deformable in some regions while being very rigid in others; they should also be movable without great effort, have a pleasing appearance and should, if possible; communicate a feeling of security and comfort to the occupants of the motor vehicle. Furthermore, the technical and economic importance attached to sun visors is demonstrated by the fact that they are provided in all manufactured vehicles.

The object of the present invention is to modify the structure of a sun visor so as to enable better use to be made of the resources offered by modern materials and technologies.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a motor-vehicle sun visor, comprising two interconnectible modular parts: a basic, modular visor element and an attachment module; the basic element comprising a substantially rigid, blow-moulded plastics body which is generally flat but hollow and has a longitùdinal edge portion which is thinner than the main body portion; and the attachment module comprising an elongate plastics injection moulding having a channel-section on which fits over the narrow edge portion of the basic element, the attachment module defining at one end a housing for a rod and associated retaining elements for supporting the sun visor in a motor vehicle and, at its opposite end, a recess traversed by a bar extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the attachment module for engagement with a cooperating attachment in the vehicle to locate that end of the sun visor.

The formation of the sun visor from two modular parts can facilitate the production process itself and also enables the most suitable materials to be selected for each of the component modules to adapt it to its function, with a consequent improvement in the mechanical properties of the sun visor.

The division of the sun visor into two separate modules also enables a single basic module to be made for connection to various attachment modules which have slightly differing dimensions or shapes, so as to create a range of models adapted to fit different vehicles of the same family, such as are frequently manufactured in the automotive industry. Conversely, any one attachment module can be coupled to different basic modules so that it can be adapted to different car models, or to updated versions of the same car model. This provides for greater economy in manufacture and better rationalisation in the maintenance of stocks.

In preferred embodiments of the sun visor of the invention, the basic element and the attachment module are interconnected by the insertion of the thinner edge portion of the basic element between the walls of the attachment module which retain it resiliently. The assembled basic element and attachment module may be glued together by a suitable adhesive applied to one or more of their contact surfaces.

Although it is not strictly necessary for the two modular parts which make up the sun visor to be glued together in all possible cases, this glueing ensures that the modules are inseparable during their handling in the later stages of manufacture. Once the parts have been fitted together, for example, they are preferably enveloped in a flexible, laminar cover, such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) sheet. This cover, unlike the covers of known sun visors which fulfil a merely secondary and/or decorative function, can have the very basic function of holding the two parts firmly together in use, avoiding the need for alternative connection means.

With precisely the same object indicated above, of covering a wide range of requirements of the automotive market, which is currently accustomed to offer various versions of each model, usually corresponding to a progressive increase in equipment and consequently to a parallel increase in the selling price, the basic visor element of the sun visor of the present invention may be filled with a suitable filler, preferably a plastics foam such as polyurethane foam, in order to increase the density, solidity and sound-damping qualities of the sun visor.

According to the type of vehicle for which the sun visor is intended and the particular mechanical characteristics and aesthetic qualities required, various thermoplastics materials can be used in the blow-moulding of the basic visor element; some examples are high-density polythene, low density polythene and polypropylene. Polypropylene including 20% of powdered calcium carbonate (talc), polypropylene without additives and polyamide without additives are particularly suitable1 but other materials which fulfil the necessary technical requirements of the invention may be used.

A further preferred embodiment of the invention provides a soft flexible covering, constituted by a layer of polyurethane or PVC foam, between the assembled modular parts and the enveloping PVC cover in order to improve the tactile qualities of the sun visor. This gives the sun visor a very high-quality finish which easily distinguishes it from other sun visors which do not have this layer, and which improves its ability to withstand knocks and abrasions.

It will be understood that, given the symmetry of their shapes and situations, the requirements of either the left-hand or the right-hand sun visor in a car can be fulfilled by the sun visor of the invention: this can occupy either of the two possible situations within a vehicle, without the need for substantial modification, by simple rotation through 1800. The optional incorporation of a document-carrying pocket, or a mirror in one of the faces of the sun visor, however, destroys this symmetry.

Several embodiments of the invention will now be more particularly described, by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the appended drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a general elevational view of a sun visor according to the invention; Figure 2 is a view of the sun visor from above, showing its upper profile; Figure 3 shows a detail of an upper corner of the sun visor of Figure 1, partially-sectioned in a longitudinal plane, showing the internal arrangement of various constituent elements on an enlarged scale; Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 but showing an opposite corner of the sun visor; Figure 5 is a partial cross-section taken on the line V-V of Figure 1 corresponding to the corner of the sun visor shown in Figure 4; Figure 6 is a section taken on the line VI-VI of Figure 1; ; Figure 7 is an end view showing the profile of the sun visor from the left-hand side of Figure 1, Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 6 of a variant of the sun visor of Figures 1 to 7; Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 6 showing a sun visor provided with a mirror, Figure 10 is a partial section taken on a line corresponding to line VI-VI of Figure 1, but showing another variant of the sun visor of the invention on an enlarged scale.

With reference to Figure 1 to 7 of the drawings, a sun visor P for motor vehicles is shown comprising a modular visor element 1 and an attachment module 2.

The visor element 1 comprises a generally flat but hollow body, which is roughly trapezoidal in plan, with rounded corners and edges, and which has an upper longitudinal edge portion la, as seen in the orientation shown in the drawings, which is thinner than the remaining part of the body. The visor element 1 is of substantially rigid plastics material and is made by blow-moulding. The corners of the edge portion la are cut away, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, at shoulders 9 and 10 respectively, for reasons which will be clarified below.

The attachment module 2 is made by injection moulding and is generally elongate with an inverted channel section, in the orientation shown in the drawings, the ends of the channel being closed. The module 2 is arranged to fit over the narrow edge portion la of the visor element 1, with the opposite walls 12, 12a of the channel-section in contact with, and possibly gripping, the opposite faces of this portion 1. The contact faces may be glued together to interconnect the element 1 and the module 2 more firmly.

As best seen in Figure 6, the edges of the walls 12, 12a abut the shoulders formed where the element 1 widens from its portion la to its main body part 1.

The outer faces of the module 2 and the body part 1 are substantially flush with each other. The line of abutment of the module 2 with the body 1 is indicated at 3 in Figure 1, and extends around the entire periphery of the module 2.

The attachment module 2 is formed with an integral, internal housing 7 at one end for a support rod 6 for supporting the assembled sun visor in- a motor car in use. As seen in Figure 3, when module 2 is fitted on to the visor element 1, the housing 7 seats within the respective cut-away portion of the element 1, against the shoulder 9 at one end of the edge portion 1'.

The housing 7 includes an elongate portion 7a extending longitudinally of the module 2 which houses the end portion of the rod 6 which extends axially into it through an aperture in the end wall of the module 2.

The housing 7 also widens from the portion 7a to provide a cavity 7b which houses a retaining spring 8 for the rod 6.

At its end opposite the housing 7, the attachment module 2 is formed with a recess 4 defined by a curved wall which, in the assembled visor P, fits within the respective cut away portion at the other end of the element 1, with an end wall portion seated against the shoulder 11. The recess 4 is traversed by a bar 5 formed integrally with the module 2 and coaxial with the housing portion 7a for the rod 6. The bar 5 is narrower than the thickness of the module 2 and is provided to enable the module 2 to be engaged with a hook provided in the motor vehicle to locate and retain that end of the sun visor P opposite the pivot rod 6.

The module 2 and visor element 1, when fitted and possibly glued together, are enveloped in a flexible, P.V.C. covering sheet 10 which covers the entire visible surface of the two parts 1 and 2 and holds the two parts together. The P.V.C. cover 10 is preferably glued to the parts 1 and 2.

With reference to Figure 8 of the drawings, a variant of the sun visor of Figures 1 to 7 is shown in which the hollow visor element 1 is filled with a fairly dense, synthetic material 13, in this case polyurethane foam formed by injection and foaming within the element 1.

With reference to Figure 9 of the drawings, this shows a variant of the sun visor of Figures 1 to 7 in which the visor element 1 has a shallow recess 14 in one face for housing a mirror 15. The mirror 15 is retained within the recess 14 by means of a plastics frame 16.

The mirror 15 would normally be provided in the visor on the passenger's side of the vehicle but since this varies according to the country of use of the motor vehicle, the recess 14 may be in either face of the visor element 1, as appropriate.

With reference finally to Figure 10 of the drawings, this shows a variant of the sun visor of Figures 1 to 7 in which a layer 17 of foamed P.V.C. or polyurethane is provided between the assembled module 2 and visor element 1 and the P.V.C. cover 10 in order to provide the sun visor P with a softer surface with better sound- and vibration-damping characteristics.

Claims

1. A motor-vehicle sun visor, comprising two interconnectible modular parts: a basic, modular visor element and an attachment module; the basic element comprising a substantially rigid, blow-moulded plastics body which is generally flat but hollow and has a longitudinal edge portion which is thinner than the main body portion; and the attachment module comprising an elongate plastics injection moulding having a channel-section which fits over the narrow edge portion of the basic element, the attachment module defining at one end a housing for a rod and associated retaining elements for supporting the sun visor in a motor vehicle and, at its opposite end, a recess traversed by a bar extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the attachment module for engagement with a cooperating attachment in the vehicle to locate that end of the sun visor.

2. A motor-vehicle sun visor as claimed in Claim 1, in which the basic element and the attachment module are interconnected by the insertion of the thinner edge portion of the basic element between the walls of the attachment module which retain it resiliently.

3. A motor-vehicle sun visor as claimed in Claims 1 or Claim 2, in which the basic element and the attachment module are interconnected by the insertion of the thinner edge portion of the basic element between the walls of the attachment module and their glueing together by the provision of adhesive over at least one surface at which they contact each other.

4. A motor-vehicle sun visor as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3, in which the assembly constituted by the two modular parts fitted together is enveloped in a flexible laminar cover which helps to keep the parts together.

5. A motor-vehicle sun visor as claimed in Claim 4, further incorporating a soft, flexible foamed plastics covering between the enveloping flexible laminar cover and the assembled modular parts.

6. A motor-vehicle sun visor as claimed in Claim 5, in which the flexible, laminar element is of polyvinyl chloride and the foamed plastics covering is of polyurethane or polyvinyl chloride.

7. A motor-vehicle sun visor as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 6, in which the hollow basic element is filled with a plastics foam.

8. A motor-vehicle sun visor as claimed in Claim 7, in which the foam filling is a polyurethane foam.

9. A motor-vehicle sun visor as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 5, further incorporating a document pocket in one face thereof.

10. A motor-vehicle sun visor as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 9, further incorporating a mirror mounted in a recess in one face of the basic element 1.

11. A motor-vehicle sun visor substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in, Figures 1 to 7, 8, 9 or 10 of the accompanying drawings.