Anti-glare system for motor vehicles

Claim 2

In a vehicle having a windshield and a body portion extending peripherally thereof, a glare shield, first means including a first connective member attached to said body portion at one location adjacent said windshield and a second connective member at one end of said glare shield, said first and second members being releasably engageable with each other and providing a first axis about which said glare shield may be pivoted, and second means including a third connective member attached to said body portion at a second location with respect to said windshield and a fourth connective member at the other end of said glare shield, said third and fourth members being releasably engageable with each other and providing a second axis about which said glare shield may be pivoted, whereby said fourth member may be detached from said third member to permit said glare shield to be swung about the first axis provided by said first means into a first angular position relative said windshield or said second member may be detached from said first member to permit said glare shield to be swung about the second axis provided by said second means into a second angular position relative said windshield.

Claim 3

The combination set forth in claim 1 in which said first and second means constitute respective ball and socket joints.

Claim 4

The combination set forth in claim 1 in which said second and fourth connective members are at least partially convex and said first and third connective members are at least partially concave.

Claim 5

The combination set forth in claim 3 in which said glare shield is provided with oppositely projecting shank portions at each end, said second connective member being disposed at the projecting end of one of said shank portions and the fourth connective member being disposed at the projecting end of the other shank portion.

Claim 6

The combination set forth in claim 4 in which said shank portions are portions of a shank extending through said glare shield so that said glare shield can be tilted on an axis provided by said shank.

Claim 7

The combination set forth in claim 5 in whIch said glare shield includes a panel having a rib disposed along one edge thereof, formed with a slot therein, said shank being received in said slot to permit tilting of said shield.

Claim 8

The combination set forth in claim 6 in which said slotted rib is formed with outwardly curving inner wall surfaces resiliently gripping said shank.

Claim 9

The combination set forth in claim 4 in which said shank portions are threadedly attached to said glare shield.

Claim 10

The combination set forth in claim 8 in which said glare shield includes a plastic panel having a rib disposed along one edge thereof, said threaded shank portions projecting from said rib.

Claim 11

The combination set forth in claim 9 in which said second and fourth members are paramagnetic balls and said first and third members are permanent magnets for releasably engaging said paramagnetic balls.

Claim 12

The combination set forth in claim 1 including a second glare shield, third means including a fifth connective member attached to said body portion at a third location adjacent said windshield and a sixth connective member at one end of said second glare shield, said fifth and sixth members being releasably engageable with each other and providing a third axis about which said second glare shield may be pivoted, and fourth means including a seventh connective member attached to said body portion at a fourth location adjacent said windshield and an eighth connective member at the other end of said second glare shield, said seventh and eighth members being releasably engageable with each other and providing a fourth axis about which said second glare shield may be pivoted, whereby said sixth member may be detached from said fifth member to permit said second glare shield to be swung about the fourth axis provided by said fourth means into a first angular position relative said windshield or said eighth member may be detached from said seventh member to permit said second glare shield to be swung about the third axis provided by said third means into a second angular position relative said windshield.

Claim 13

The combination set forth in claim 11 in which said first means includes a member engageable with said eighth connective member to assist in the support of said second glare shield when said first glare shield is in its said first angular position and said second glare shield has been swung about said third axis into a generally planar relation with said windshield, said eighth connective member then being adjacent said first connective member.

Claim 14

The combination set forth in claim 12 in which said fourth means includes a member engageable with said second connective member to assist in the support of said first glare shield when said second glare shield is in its said first angular position and said first glare shield has been swung about said second axis into a generally planar relation with said windshield, said second member then being adjacent said seventh connective member.

Claim 15

The combination set forth in claim 11 including a ninth connective member attached to said body portion adjacent said first connective member on the side thereof nearer said third connective member for releasably engaging said eighth connective member to retain said second glare shield in a generally planar relationship with said windshield when said first glare shield is in its said first angular position, and a tenth connective member attached to said body portion adjacent said seventh connective member on the side thereof nearer said fifth connective member for releasably engaging said second connective member to retain said first glare shield in a generally planar relationship with said windshield when said second glare shield is in its said first angular position.

Claim 16

The combination set forth in claim 14 in which said first and ninth members constitute a first unit attached to said body portion adjacent the upper left-hand portion of said windshield, in which said third and fifth members constitute a second unit attached tO said body portion adjacent the upper central portion of said windshield, and in which said seventh and tenth members constitute a third unit attached to said body portion adjacent the upper right-hand portion of said windshield.

Claim 17

The combination set forth in claim 15 including an eleventh connective member attached to said body portion at a location spaced rearwardly from said windshield along the left side of said vehicle for releasably engaging said fourth connective member when said first glare shield is in its said first angular position, said first glare shield then angling rearwardly in the direction of said eleventh member, and a twelfth connective member attached to said body portion at a location spaced rearwardly from said windshield along the right side of said vehicle for releasably engaging said sixth connective member when said second glare shield is in its said first angular position, said second glare shield then angling rearwardly in the direction of said twelfth member.

Claim 18

The combination set forth in claim 16 including a thirteenth connective member attached to said body portion at a location spaced rearwardly from said windshield centrally of said vehicle for releasably engaging said second connective member when said first glare shield is in its said second angular position, said first glare shield then angling rearwardly in the direction of said thirteenth member for releasably engaging said eighth connective member when said second glare shield is in its said second angular position, said second glare shield then angling rearwardly in the direction of said thirteenth member.

Claim 19

The combination set forth in claim 11 in which said third and fifth connective members are adjacent each other.

Claim 20

The combination set forth in claim 18 including a ninth connective member adjacent said first connective member to permit said eighth connective member to be releasably engaged with said ninth connective member and a tenth connective member adjacent said seventh connective member to permit said second connective member to be releasably engaged with said tenth connective member.

Claim 21

The combination set forth in claim 19 in which said first and fourth means each includes a base, said first and ninth connective members being mounted on the base of said first means, and said seventh and tenth connective members being mounted on the base of said fourth means.

Claim 22

The combination set forth in claim 20 in which said second and third means includes a common base, said third and fifth connective members being mounted on said common base.

Claim 23

The combination set forth in claim 21 in which the base of said first means is attached to said body portion adjacent the upper left-hand corner of said windshield, in which the base of said fourth means is attached to said body portion adjacent the upper right-hand corner of said windshield, and said common base is attached to said body portion adjacent the upper central portion of said windshield, the combination additionally including an eleventh connective member attached to the left side of said body portion at a location spaced rearwardly from said windshield for releasably engaging said fourth connective member when said first glare shield is in its said first angular position, and a twelfth connective member attached to the right side of said body portion at a location spaced rearwardly from said windshield for releasably engaging said sixth connective member when said second glare shield is in its said first angular position.

Claim 24

The combination set forth in claim 22 including a thirteenth connective member attached centrally to said body portion at a location spaced rearwardly from said windshield for releasably engaging said first connective member when said first glare shield is in its said second angular position or for releasably engaging said eighth connective member when said second glare shield is in its said second angular position.

Claim 25

The combination set forth in claim 11 in which saId first, third, fifth and seventh connective members provide sockets and said second, fourth, sixth and eighth connective members form balls receivable in said sockets.

Claim 26

The combination set forth in claim 24 in which each member containing a socket is magnetic and said balls are paramagnetic.

Claim 27

The combination set forth in claim 25 including three additional magnetic socket members located in a rearwardly spaced relation with said windshield, two of said additional members being attached to the sides of said body portion and the third of said additional members being attached to the center of said body portion.

Claim 28

The combination set forth in claim 24 including a resilient O-ring in each socket of a size to permit said balls to pass therethrough.

Claim 29

The combination set forth in claim 27 in which each O-ring has an internal diameter less than that of the ball receivable therein.

Claim 30

The combination set forth in claim 27 including respective means for compressing each O-ring to vary the size of its said internal diameter.

Claim 31

The combination set forth in claim 29 in which each compressing means includes a compression nut threadedly attached to its said connective member.

Claim 32

In a vehicle having a windshield and body means extending peripherally thereof, a glare shield having shank means projecting from opposite ends thereof, first ball means on one projecting end of said shank means, second ball means on the other projecting end of said shank means, first socket means attached to said body means at a first location adjacent said windshield for releasably receiving therein at least a portion of said first ball means, second socket means attached to said body portion at a second location adjacent said windshield for releasably receiving therein at least a portion of said second ball means, said first and second socket means facing in the same general direction and being located at substantially the same elevation with respect to said windshield so as to maintain said glare shield substantially horizontal when said first ball means is received in said first socket means and said second ball means is received in said socket means, means for maintaining said glare shield substantially horizontal when said first ball means is released from said first socket means and said glare shield has been positioned at an angle to said windshield, and additional means for maintaining said glare shield substantially horizontal when said second ball means is released from said second socket means and said glare shield has been positioned at a different angle to said windshield.

Claim 33

In a vehicle having a windshield and body means extending peripherally thereof, a glare shield having shank means projecting from opposite ends thereof, first ball means on one projecting end of said shank means, second ball means on the other projecting end of said shank means, first socket means attached to said body means at a first location adjacent said windshield for releasably receiving therein at least a portion of said first ball means, second socket means attached to said body portion at a second location adjacent said windshield for releasably receiving therein at least a portion of said second ball means, said first and second socket means facing in the same general direction and being located at substantially the same elevation with respect to said windshield so as to maintain said glare shield substantially horizontal when said first ball means is received in said first socket means and said second ball means is received in said socket means, means for maintaining said glare shield substantially horizontal when said first ball means is released from said first socket means and said glare shield has been positioned at an angle to said windshield, and additional means for maintaining said glare shield substantially horizontal when said second ball means is released from said second socket means and said glare shield has been positioned at a different angle to said windshield.

Claim 34

The combination set forth in claim 31 in which each socket means includes a magnet for releasably retaining one of said ball means therein.

Claim 35

In a vehicle having a windhsield and body means extending peripherally thereof, first and second elongated visor panels, each panel having oppositely extending shank portions, a ball member carried at the free end of each shank portion, a first socket member attached to said body means adjacent the upper left-hand corner of said windshield, a second socket member attached to said body means above a central portion of said windshield and spaced from said first socket member a distance corresponding to the distance between the ball members on said first visor panel, a third socket member attached to said body means adjacent said second socket member and slightly to the right thereof, a fourth socket member attached to said body means adjacent the upper right-hand corner of said windshield, said third and fourth socket members being spaced apart a distance corresponding to the distance between the ball members on said first and second visor panels, the ball member on said first visor panel being received in said first and second socket members and the ball members on said second visor panel being received in said third and fourth socket members, whereby when the ball member recived in said second socket member is detached therefrom and said first visor panel is swung into a rearwardly directed position along the left side of the vehicle the ball member on said second visor panel which is received in said fourth socket member can be detached therefrom and said second visor panel swung through approximately 180* so that it assumes a second generally planar relationship with said windshield, or when the ball members on said first visor panel remain in said first and second socket members and the ball member on said second visor panel which is received in said fourth socket member is detached therefrom so said second visor panel can be swung into a centrally located position so that it assumes a generally perpendicular relationship with said windshield, or when the ball member on said second visor panel which is received in said third socket member is detached therefrom and said second visor panel is swung into a rearwardly directed position along the right side of the vehicle, the ball member on said first visor panel which is received in the first socket member can be detached therefrom and said first visor panel swung through approximately 180* so that it assumes a second generally planar relation with said windshield, or when the ball members on said second visor panel remain in said third and fourth socket members and the ball member on said first visor panel which is received in said first socket member is detached therefrom said visor panel can be swung into a centrally located position so that it assumes a generally perpendicular relationship with said windshield.

Claim 36

In a vehicle having a windhsield and body means extending peripherally thereof, first and second elongated visor panels, each panel having oppositely extending shank portions, a ball member carried at the free end of each shank portion, a first socket member attached to said body means adjacent the upper left-hand corner of said windshield, a second socket member attached to said body means above a central portion of said windshield and spaced from said first socket member a distance corresponding to the distance between the ball members on said first visor panel, a third socket member attached to said body means adjacent said second socket member and slightly to the right thereof, a fourth socket member attached to said body means adjacent the upper right-hand corner of said windshield, said third and fourth socket members being spaced apart a distance corresponding to the distance between the ball members on said first and second visor panels, the ball member on said first visor panel being received in said first and second socket members and the ball members on said second visor panel being received in said third and fourth socket members, whereby when the ball member recived in said second socket member is detached therefrom and said first visor panel is swung into a rearwardly directed position along the left side of the vehicle the ball member on said second visor panel which is received in said fourth socket member can be detached therefrom and said second visor panel swung through approximately 180* so that it assumes a second generally planar relationship with said windshield, or when the ball members on said first visor panel remain in said first and second socket members and the ball member on said second visor panel which is received in said fourth socket member is detached therefrom so said second visor panel can be swung into a centrally located position so that it assumes a generally perpendicular relationship with said windshield, or when the ball member on said second visor panel which is received in said third socket member is detached therefrom and said second visor panel is swung into a rearwardly directed position along the right side of the vehicle, the ball member on said first visor panel which is received in the first socket member can be detached therefrom and said first visor panel swung through approximately 180* so that it assumes a second generally planar relation with said windshield, or when the ball members on said second visor panel remain in said third and fourth socket members and the ball member on said first visor panel which is received in said first socket member is detached therefrom said visor panel can be swung into a centrally located position so that it assumes a generally perpendicular relationship with said windshield.

Claim 37

The combination set forth in claim 33 in which said shank portions are portions of a single shank in each instance, said first panel being pivotally supported on one shank and said second panel being pivotally supported on the other shank.

Claim 38

The combination set forth in claim 34 in which said shanks have right angled end sections, said ball members being integrally attached to the ends of said right angled sections.

Claim 39

The combination set forth in claim 35 in which each socket member is tubular and vertically oriented with the entrance to its socket facing downwardly, and said end sections extend upwardly to provide swivel means permitting each panel to be swung about selected vertical axes provided by said swivel means.

Claim 40

The combination set forth in claim 36 including a resilient O-ring in each socket member for releasably retaining a ball member therein with a portion of each end section projecting downwardly through its particular O-ring, and an annular compression nut on each socket member for varying the internal diameter of said O-ring in relation to the diameter of the ball member retained therein.

Claim 41

In a vehicle having a windshield and body means extending peripherally thereof, first and second elongated visor panels, each panel having oppositely extending shank portions, a ball member carried at the free end of each shank portion, a first socket member attached to said body means adjacent the upper left-hand corner of said windshield, a second socket member attached to said body means above a central portion of said windshield and spaced from said first socket member a distance corresponding to the distance between the ball members on said first visor panel, a third socket member attached to said body means adjacent said second socket member and slightly to the right thereof, a fourth socket member attached to said body means adjacent the upper right-hand corner of said windshield, said third and fourth socket members being spaced apart a distance corresponding to the distance between the ball members on said first and second visor panels, the ball members on said first visor panel being received in said first and second socket members and the ball members on said second visor panel being received in said third and fourth socket members, a fifth socket member attached to said body means adjacent said first socket member and spaced from said third socket member a distance equal to the distance between the ball members on said second visor panel, a sixth socket member attached to said body means adjacent said fourth socket member and spaced from said second socket member a distance equal to the distance between the ball members on said first visor panel, whereby when the ball member received in said second socket member is detached therefrom and said first visor panel is swung into a rearwardly directed position along the left side of the vehicle the ball member on said second visor panel which is received in said fourth socket member can be detached therefrom and said second visor panel swung through approximately 180* so that it assumes a second generally planar relationship with said windshield with the ball member that has been detached from said fourth socket member then being in position to be received in said fifth socket member, or when the ball members on said first visor panel remain in said first and second socket members and the ball member on said second visor panel which is received in said fourth socket member is detached therefrom so said second visor panel can be swung into a centrally located position so that it assumes a generally perpendicular relationship with said windshield, or when the ball member on said second visor panel which is received in said third socket member is detached therefrom and said second visor panel is swung into a rearwardly directed position along the right side of the vehicle, the ball member on said first visor panel which is received in the first socket member can be detached therefrom and said first visor panel swung through approximately 180* so that it assumes a second generally planar relation with said windshield with the ball member that has been detached from said first socket member then being in position to be received in said sixth socket member, or when the ball members on said second visor panel remain in said third and fourth socket members and the ball member on said first visor panel which is received in said first socket member is detached therefrom said visor panel can be swung into a centrally located position so that it assumes a generally perpendicular relationship with said windshield.

Claim 42

In a vehicle having a windshield and body means extending peripherally thereof, first and second elongated visor panels, each panel having oppositely extending shank portions, a ball member carried at the free end of each shank portion, a first socket member attached to said body means adjacent the upper left-hand corner of said windshield, a second socket member attached to said body means above a central portion of said windshield and spaced from said first socket member a distance corresponding to the distance between the ball members on said first visor panel, a third socket member attached to said body means adjacent said second socket member and slightly to the right thereof, a fourth socket member attached to said body means adjacent the upper right-hand corner of said windshield, said third and fourth socket members being spaced apart a distance corresponding to the distance between the ball members on said first and second visor panels, the ball members on said first visor panel being received in said first and second socket members and the ball members on said second visor panel being received in said third and fourth socket members, a fifth socket member attached to said body means adjacent said first socket member and spaced from said third socket member a distance equal to the distance between the ball members on said second visor panel, a sixth socket member attached to said body means adjacent said fourth socket member and spaced from said second socket member a distance equal to the distance between the ball members on said first visor panel, whereby when the ball member received in said second socket member is detached therefrom and said first visor panel is swung into a rearwardly directed position along the left side of the vehicle the ball member on said second visor panel which is received in said fourth socket member can be detached therefrom and said second visor panel swung through approximately 180* so that it assumes a second generally planar relationship with said windshield with the ball member that has been detached from said fourth socket member then being in position to be received in said fifth socket member, or when the ball members on said first visor panel remain in said first and second socket members and the ball member on said second visor panel which is received in said fourth socket member is detached therefrom so said second visor panel can be swung into a centrally located position so that it assumes a generally perpendicular relationship with said windshield, or when the ball member on said second visor panel which is received in said third socket member is detached therefrom and said second visor panel is swung into a rearwardly directed position along the right side of the vehicle, the ball member on said first visor panel which is received in the first socket member can be detached therefrom and said first visor panel swung through approximately 180* so that it assumes a second generally planar relation with said windshield with the ball member that has been detached from said first socket member then being in position to be received in said sixth socket member, or when the ball members on said second visor panel remain in said third and fourth socket members and the ball member on said first visor panel which is received in said first socket member is detached therefrom said visor panel can be swung into a centrally located position so that it assumes a generally perpendicular relationship with said windshield.

Claim 43

In a vehicle having a windshield and body means extending peripherally thereof, a glare shield having shank means projecting from opposite ends thereof, first ball means on one projecting end of said shank means, second ball means on the other projecting end of said shank means, first socket means attached to said body means at a first location adjacent said windshield including a resilient O-ring for releasably retaining therein said first ball means, and secod socket means attached to said body portion at a second location adjacent said windshield including a resilient O-ring for releasably retaining therein said second ball means, said first and second socket means facing in the same general direction.

Claim 44

In a vehicle having a windshield and body means extending peripherally thereof, a glare shield having shank means projecting from opposite ends thereof, first ball means on one projecting end of said shank means, second ball means on the other projecting end of said shank means, first socket means attached to said body means at a first location adjacent said windshield including a resilient O-ring for releasably retaining therein said first ball means, and secod socket means attached to said body portion at a second location adjacent said windshield including a resilient O-ring for releasably retaining therein said second ball means, said first and second socket means facing in the same general direction.