GB2572399A

GB2572399A - The butterfly sun shade visor

Info

Publication number: GB2572399A
Application number: GB1805108.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Cornel Smith Niel
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2018-03-28
Filing date: 2018-03-28
Publication date: 2019-10-02
Anticipated expiration: 2038-03-28
Also published as: GB201805108D0; GB2572399B

Abstract

A bidirectional double automobile sun shade visor for blocking sun from a vehicle occupant’s eyes from two directions simultaneously, i.e. the windscreen or front windshield and another direction, such as a passenger or driver side angle, which may comprise two overlapping visors 3a, 6a, which may flip onto each other or rotate both horizontally and vertically via dual supporting rods 2a, 5a. The visor may also comprise a dual purpose anchor and swivel point 1a, 4a, hinging mechanism, or a dual purpose aperture allowing the lower supporting rod to rotate horizontally, and double end clips 7a, 8a, or other holding mechanisms or fasteners, allowing the visor to be attached, detached or held in place as required. The secondary visor may also include a telescopic end point (6b, Fig. B5) making it extendable.

Description

The Butterfly Sun Shade Visor

This invention relates to an automobile sun shade visor that is able to provide occupants of a powered vehicle, with shade cover for the eyes, from two sides or directions at the same time.

Currently, automobile sun shade visors are designed to shield the eyes from direct sunlight, from one side only. In their normal position, shade cover is provided to the front windscreen but by rotating the visor, it is possible to provide shade cover to an adjacent side. However, by repositioning the visor to provide shade cover to the side, the occupant is forced to sacrifice shade cover to the front. This means that if the vehicle changes direction to once again face the sun, then the visor must be rotated back to its original position. While this is just an inconvenience for a passenger of the vehicle, it can be a real problem for the driver, who has to take one hand off the steering wheel to perform the manoeuvre. Such an action is necessary to be able to see the road ahead more clearly but it also means that full control of the vehicle may be momentarily compromised at a crucial time.

This invention overcomes the problem of standard automobile sun visors only providing shade cover in one direction at a time. While current sun shade visors can be repositioned with relation to the sun, they have the disadvantage of only providing unidirectional cover.

This invention combines two sun shade visors into a single integrated unit.

This invention has the advantage of providing bidirectional sun shade cover and it utilises current vehicle design, by incorporating a single anchor point and end point clips for helping to hold the bidirectional visor in place.

This invention has two methods for a bidirectional sun shade visor to work. Method A is shown in Diagram 1, where two visors overlap and can rotate around a shared anchor point. Method B is shown in Diagram 2, where a secondary visor is built into the main visor and which operates through a hinging mechanism.

This invention will now be described in more detail by referencing the two accompanying drawings. However, before proceeding, it should be noted that both drawings follow the same format, whereby illustrations with an odd number (e.g. Figure Al), represent the front facing view, and adjacent illustrations with an even number (e.g. Figure A2), represent the right hand side view for the same configuration of parts. It should also be noted that the drawings assume that we are dealing with a vehicle with a right hand side drive.

Method A

Diagram 1 illustrates how Method A works. Figures Al and A2 show two integrated and overlapping sun shade visors (3a and 6a), in the up and closed position. Sun shade visor 6a is joined to rod 5a, around which it can rotate vertically (up and down). Rod 5a has a bend that points it upwards, so that it can be joined to rod 2a at aperture/swivel point 4a, which then allows the attached sun shade visor 6a, to rotate horizontally (left and right). Sun shade visor 3a is joined to rod 2a, around which it can rotate vertically (up and down). It also has a bend that points upward and attaches to shared anchor/swivel point la, around which sun shade visor 3a can rotate horizontally (left and right). Visor 3a can use its connection to rod 2a to attach to end point clip 7a, which acts as a holding point and provides extra stability. This is also the case for visor 6a, which can use its connection to rod 5a, to attach to end point clip 8a. It should be noted that the system has a certain degree of rigidity built into it, which enables the visors to hold their position, without necessarily being reliant upon the additional support that the end point clips provide.

Figures A3 and A4 show visors 3a and 6a in the down and closed position and this provides forward facing sun shade cover for sunlight entering through the main windscreen. This is achieved by pushing down on visor 3a, which simultaneously pushes down visor 6a, as their proximity to each other is so close that they can touch. The result is that both visors are in the down position, with visor 3a overlapping visor 6a.

Figures A5 and A6 show visors 3a and 6a in the down and open position so that visor 3a is perpendicular to visor 6a. This configuration allows visor 6a to continue to provide shade cover for sunlight entering through the main windscreen, while visor 3a provides shade cover for sunlight entering through the driver side window. This is achieved by releasing rod 2a from end point clip 7a. Then, visor 3a is rotated through its attachment to rod 2a, around anchor/swivel point la. While this is happening, visor 6a is able to retain its position because of its attachment to rod 5a, which allows it to rotate around aperture/swivel point 4a, on the underside of rod 2a. It should also be noted that although the system has the rigidity for the visors to hold their position, this could be augmented by having another clip or holding mechanism, to secure visor 3a to its position alongside the driver.

Method B

Diagram 2 illustrates how Method B works. Figures Bl and B2 show two combined and overlaid sun shade visors (3b and 5b) in the up and closed position. Both visors are connected to each other by a hinging mechanism 4b, which allows the visors to lie up against each other or to open up and act as separate but connected parts. This is possible because it is only visor 5b that is joined to rod 2b, around which it can rotate vertically (up and down), but only if the integrated unit is in the closed position. Rod 2b has a bend that points upwards and attaches to anchor/swivel point lb, for rotating the unit horizontally (left and right). Visor 5b can use its connection to rod 2b to attach to end point clip 7b for extra stability. Visor3b is slightly longer than its counterpart (although this is not essential) and incorporates 6b, which is an optional telescopic extension for lengthening the shade cover as required.

Figures B3 and B4 show visors 3b and 5b in the down and closed position and this provides forward facing shade cover for sunlight entering through the main windscreen. This is achieved by pushing down on visor3b, which causes visor 5b to move in unison. It happens because hinge 4b has the rigidity to hold the visors together as visor 5b rotates around rod 2b to achieve the new vertical alignment.

Figures B5 and B6 show visors 3b and 5b in the down and open position so that the visors are perpendicular to each other. This arrangement allows visor 5b to continue to provide shade cover for sunlight entering through the main windscreen, while visor 3b provides shade cover for sunlight entering through the driver's side window. This is achieved by pulling visor 3b away from visor 5b so that they open like two book covers or wings, until visor3b is at a right angle to its counterpart and able to provide shade cover to the driver's side. It should be noted that hinge 4b would have the rigidity to hold the two visors apart but this could be augmented by having another optional clip or holding mechanism to secure visor 3b to its position alongside the driver. Section 6b then provides an optional telescopic extension to visor 3b, to add to the shade cover provided to the driver's side window, as needed.

This method could also incorporate optional fastenings to more securely hold the two visors together, for when the unit is not in a bidirectional mode.

Claims

1. A bidirectional automobile sun shade visor that is able to provide occupants of a powered vehicle, with shade cover for the eyes, from two sides or directions at the same time.

2. A bidirectional automobile sun shade visor, according to claim 1, which integrates two overlapping visors into a single unit, by connecting their supporting rods.

3. A bidirectional automobile sun shade visor, according to claim 2, with upper and lower supporting rods, around which the attached visors can rotate vertically (up and down).

4. A bidirectional automobile sun shade visor, according to claim 2, with a dual purpose anchor and swivel point, around which both supporting rods can jointly rotate horizontally (left and right).

5. A bidirectional automobile sun shade visor, according to claim 2, in which the upper supporting rod has a dual purpose aperture on its underside, through which the lower supporting rod is connected and can separately rotate horizontally (left and right).

6. A bidirectional automobile sun shade visor, according to claim 2, in which the supporting rods can be held in place, through the use of end point clips, or other holding mechanism.

7. A bidirectional automobile sun shade visor, according to claim 1, which incorporates a secondary overlapping visor into the primary visor, through a hinging mechanism.

8. A bidirectional automobile sun shade visor, according to claim 7, with a supporting rod, around which the primary visor can rotate vertically (up and down).

9. A bidirectional automobile sun shade visor, according to claim 7, with a dual purpose anchor and swivel point, around which the primary visor can rotate horizontally (left and right).

10. A bidirectional automobile sun shade visor, according to claim 7, in which the secondary visor incorporates a telescopic end point, thereby making the secondary visor extendable.

11. A bidirectional automobile sun shade visor, according to claim 7, in which the supporting rod can be held in place, through the use of end point clips, or other holding mechanism.

12. A bidirectional automobile sun shade visor, according to claim 7, in which there is a fastening to hold the primary and secondary visors together.