Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention refers to a sun visor attachment designed for use in a motor vehicle.

BACKGROUND ART

Many vehicles have a standard front sun visor installed above the vehicle's windshield. It is customary to have two sun visors on the vehicle's windshield: one for the driver and one for the passenger sitting beside the driver. Standard vehicle sun visors are made of materials and colors that are dictated by the general design of the interior of the vehicle, and they are customarily made of materials that are impervious to sunlight. When the driver or passenger flips the standard sun visor down in order to block the direct sunlight, the driver's field of vision is restricted. In addition, this action does not always block the full range of sunlight, posing a risk in terms of driving of the vehicle. The present invention offers an efficient and appropriate solution to this problem. DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Drawing Nos. 1 and 2 depict the base plate (2) and its components.

Drawing Nos. 3 and 4 depict the reflector (3), the magnet (9), and the rough surfaces

(31).

Drawings Nos. 5 and 6 depict the base plate (2) connected to the existing sun visor (5). Drawing No. 7 depicts the sun visor (1).

Drawings Nos. 8 - 10 depict the base plate (2) connected to the existing sun visor (5). THE INVENTION

The main objective of the present invention is to provide a sun visor that attaches to the vehicle's existing sun visor and is made from materials that protect the driver from being blinded by sunlight, from heat generated by infra-red rays, and from the sun's UV rays, while on the other hand enabling the driver to see the road through it. Another objective of the present invention is to provide a sun visor, as mentioned, that can be purchased separately and easily and simply attached to the existing sun visors in any standard vehicle without having to remove or modify the standard sun visors already installed in the vehicle. The present invention refers to a sun visor (1), designed to be attached to an existing sun visor on the vehicle windshield, consisting of a base plate (2) and reflector (3).

The base plate (2) is made from a magnetic material such as iron. The base plate (2) is flat, very thin, and has the general shape of a rectangle. The inventor maintains that the optimum measurements of the base plate should be 240 mm long, 130 mm wide, and 0.7 mm thick, although the invention and the patent application relate to and cover other measurements as well.

Attaching device (4): An attaching device (4) designed to attach the base plate (2) to the vehicle's existing sun visor (5) is located at the top of the base plate (2). The attaching device depicted in the drawings is designed as a clip (4). The clip, as depicted in the drawings, is actually a tongue-like projection that extends from the top of the base plate (2) and bends downward so that it is parallel to the base plate (2). It is desirable and recommended that the tongue-like projection comprising the clip (4) and the base plate (2) be connected as an integral unit.

Fastening strap (6): The base plate (2) also includes a fastening strap (6) designed to fasten the sun visor to the existing sun visor (5). One end of the fastening strap (6) is attached to the bottom of the base plate (2) and the other end is attached to the top of the base plate (2). The two ends of the fastening strap (6) can and should be attached, respectively, to an upper loop (71) and a bottom loop (72) on the base plate (2). The loops (71) (72) can and should be an integral part of the base plate (2) and are in fact two elongated holes in the base plate (2). The fastening strap (6) can be made from two pieces that are connected using Velcro or an elastic band with Velcro.

Peripheral rim (8): The base plate (2) also has a peripheral rim (8) that wraps around the base plate's perimeter. The peripheral rim is somewhat raised from the front plane of the base plate (2), for reasons to be explained henceforth. The peripheral rim has the same shape as the base plate (2) perimeter except for the upper part that forms the tongue-like projection, which constitutes the attaching device (4). The peripheral rim (8) has protrusions (81) around its perimeter that fit into corresponding holes (21 ) in the base plate (2), fastening the peripheral rim (8) to the base plate (2).

The reflector (3) is made of a transparent (or partially transparent) plastic material, and should be coated with an anti-glare, anti-radiation material. The reflector (3) is made of a very thin, flat material and has the general shape of a rectangle. The inventor believes that the plate should be 340 mm long, 140 mm wide, and 3mm thick, although the invention and the patent application relate to and cover other measurements as well. The reflector (3) includes a relatively small magnet (9) (or any other magnetized material), which can and should be 40 mm long, 5 mm wide, and 5 mm high, although the invention and the patent application cover other measurements as well. The magnet (9) is attached to the reflector (3) and protrudes from it both inward (towards the interior of the vehicle) and outward (towards the front windshield). The magnet (9) is used to attach the reflector (3) to the base plate (2) and serves also as a handle for moving the reflector (3) on the base plate (2). The reflector (3) can include several small rough surfaces (31) to help the driver position the reflector (3) on the base plate (2).

Drawing No. 1 depicts the base plate (2), including a double clip (4) attaching device, a peripheral rim (8) with protrusions designed to be inserted into holes (21), and a fastening strap (6) whose ends are attached to an upper loop (71) and a lower loop (72). Drawing No. 2 depicts the same base plate (2). Drawings Nos. 3 and 4 depict the reflector (3) with a magnet (9) and two roughened surfaces (31).

Connecting the base plate (2) to the existing sun visor (5) is easy, quick, and very simple. The user folds down the existing sun visor (5) and attaches the base plate (2) to it, so that the base plate is parallel to the existing sun visor and faces the interior of the vehicle with the clip tongues (4) attached to the top of the existing sun visor (5), as depicted in

Drawing No. 5. In order to fasten the base plate (2) to the existing sun visor (5), the fastening strap (6) is closed so that it creates a closed loop and tightens around the existing sun visor (5), as depicted in Drawing No. 6.

Using the sun visor (1): First, the user connects the base plate (2) to the existing sun visor (5) and tightens the strap (6), as explained above. Then, the user attaches the reflector (3) to the base plate (2). The reflector (3) attaches to the base plate (2) thanks to the magnet (9) on the reflector (3), which sticks to the base plate (2).

7 2012/000049

When the user wishes to protect him or herself from direct sun radiation, the existing sun visor (5) can be flipped downward and the reflector (3) can be slid downwards or sideways on the base plate (2) to extend the area blocking the direct sunlight. The fact that the reflector (3) is transparent (either totally or partially) enables the user to see the road well and at the same time prevents glare, heat, and UV radiation. The reflector (3) can also be used when the existing sun visor (5) is turned sideways (over the driver's side window or the front seat passenger's side window). Drawing No. 7 depicts the reflector (3) attached to the base plate (2) and turned sideway and down.

The sun visor (1), subject of the present invention, offers the driver (and passenger) protection from sun glare and at the same time enables them to see clearly the road. Furthermore, it is easy and simple to install on the existing sun visor.

The second embodiment of the invention refers to a sun visor (1) as described above, whereby the base plate (2) is an integral part of the vehicle's existing sun visor and the reflector (3) can be attached to it directly. In such a case, vehicle companies can manufacturer the vehicle with the base plate (2) already attached to the existing sun visor. The base plate (2) may also be an integral part of the existing sun visor. The reflector (3), which has a magnetic strip, is attached to the said base plate (2). An additional possibility is that the reflector plate (3) itself be attached permanently to the existing sun visor in such a way that the user can slide it over the base plate (2) to block the sun. Such implementation of the invention will save the need for attaching devises or fastening straps to attach the base plate (2) to the existing sun visor.

While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.