GB2358846A

GB2358846A - Sun visor assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2358846A
Application number: GB0002384A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Tidbury
Original assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG; MG Rover Group Ltd
Current assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG; MG Rover Group Ltd
Priority date: 2000-02-03
Filing date: 2000-02-03
Publication date: 2001-08-08
Also published as: GB0002384D0

Abstract

A sun visor assembly is disclosed comprising a track 8 and at least one visor 4 having a connecting means 6. The visor 4 is moveable along the track 8 to a desired position such that the visor 4 can be moved to an optimum position to block unwanted light incident upon a vehicle occupant. The track may be secured within a headliner 10. The connecting means 6 may comprise a follower 12 that moves along the tracks. The sun visor may be pivotally connected to the follower 12.

Description

1 2358846 Motor Vehicle Assemhly The present invention relates to an

improved motor vehicle assembly, and in particular to an iniproved sun visor assembly for use in a motor vehicle.

It is known to provide a fold down sun visor in a motor vehicle. Typically, such a visor is secured to a vehicle headliner to the front of a driver's position and to the front of a front passenger's position. The sun visor is normally stored in a plane substantially parallel to the headliner and may be moved to a deployed position by rotation about a fixed generally horizontal axis to occlude or otherwise obscure sunlight or other incident light that would otherwise impede or impinge upon the occupant's view of the road.

Since such light is not always directed directly at a driver from directly in front of the occupant, it is known to construct a sun visor such that the generally horizontal axis about which the visor is moved between a stored position and a deployed position is defined by a releasable clip and a rod by which the sun visor is connected the vehicle headliner. This enables the deployed sun visor to be released and rotated about the rod such that the sun visor can be moved between a front sunlight obscuring position and a lateral sunlight obscuring position. In the lateral sunlight obscuring position the sun visor is able to intercept light incident to the side of the occupant.

However, it is clear that light incident upon a motor vehicle may also impinge from a direction other than in front of or directly to the side of the motor vehicle. For example sunlight may impinge about an A-post of the motor vehicle or to one side of the normal deployed position of the sun visor. It is an advantage of the present invention that it provides a solution to this problem.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a sun visor assembly comprises a track and at least one visor having a connecting means to slidably connect the sun visor to the track.

Preferably, the track is secured within a headliner of a motor vehicle.

Preferably, the visor is pivotally connected to the connecting means.

Preferably, the connecting means comprises at least one follower adapted for movement along the track. More preferably, the at least one follower comprises a first member to which is connected a connecting pin. In addition, the first member is conveniently cylindrical in shape.

The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a side section through an assembly in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 shows a diagrammatic perspective view of the assembly of Figure 1; and Figure 3 shows a view of the assembly in use in a motor vehicle.

Referring first to Figure 1, there may be seen an assembly in accordance with the present invention. A sun visor assembly 2 comprises a visor 4, a connecting means 6 and a track 8. The track 8 is secured to or within a headliner 10 of a motor vehicle. The track 8 may be secured to or within the headliner 10 by any suitable means.

The connecting means 6 comprises at least one follower 12 adapted for movement along the track. In Figure 2, the visor is shown with connections for two such followers, only one of which is illustrated.

The follower 12 comprises a connecting pin 14 extending from a first member 16. The first member 16 is located within and adapted for movement along the track 8. The first member 16 is conveniently cylindrical in shape.

The visor 4 is provided with means 18 to receive and be pivotally connected to the connecting pin 14 of each follower 12. The pivotal connection is such that the visor 4 can be moved between a stored position adjacent the headliner and a deployed position (shown in ghost in Figure 2). In the illustrated embodiment, the axis about which the visor 4 pivots is defined outside of the body of the visor 4. However, the pivot means 18 may alternatively lie within the body of the sun visor 4, thereby defining the pivot axis within the body of the visor 4.

The track 8 defffies a path along a forward region of the headliner 10, such that it extends to the front and side of a front occupant of a motor vehicle to which the headliner 10 is fitted. This path conveniently extends from the vicinity of a rear view mirror 20 toward a A-post 22 of the vehicle before curving to the side of the vehicle toward a B-post. In other words, the track 8 can be seen to follow the respective header and cant rails.

Since the first members 12 of each follower are cylindrical, they can move freely within the track 8, allowing the visor 4 to be moved around a curve defined by the track 8. The weight of the visor 4, together with the frictional engagement of the first member 12 with the track 8, will normally be sufficient to prevent unwanted movement of the visor 4 during use of the motor vehicle.

It can be seen that this construction allows the sun visor 4 to be moved to any position along the path defined by the track 8 to optimise shading from undesired incident light, such as across the top of the A-post 22 or to eliminate gaps between the sun visor 4 and the rear view mirror 20.

If the track 8 extends across the full width of a windscreen 24, then it will be possible for both the driver and passenger visors to be moved to a position adjacent one another to provide a broad coverage from incident light. This has advantage where the relative position of the occupant and the incident light varies intermittently over time as may happen when driving along a winding road.

Claims

1. A sun visor assembly comprising a track and at least one visor having a connecting means to slidably connect the sun visor to the track.

2. A sun visor assembly according to claim 1, characterised in that the track is secured within a headliner of a motor vehicle.

3. A sun visor assembly according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterised in that the visor is pivotally connected to the connecting means.

4. A sun visor assembly according to any previous claim, characterised in that the connecting means comprises at least one follower adapted for movement along the track.

5. A sun visor assembly according to claim 4, characterised in that the at least one follower comprises a first member to which is connected a connecting pin.

6. A sun visor assembly according to claim 5, characterised in that the first member is conveniently cylindrical in shape.

7. A sun visor assembly, substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying Figures.