Granted Patent B2

US 7,055,884 · App. 10/904,123 · Granted Jun 6, 2006

Abstract

Claims (36)

1. A low-friction sleeve insert for a visor assembly of a vehicle, comprising:

a one-piece construction having a cylindrical portion disposed within a hole of a bearing member for the visor assembly, said cylindrical portion having an inner surface with a substantially low coefficient of friction for sliding an arm member of the visor assembly through said one-piece construction;

said cylindrical portion at least one of insert molded within said bearing member and sonically welded to said bearing member.

2. The low-friction sleeve insert recited in claim 1 wherein said one-piece construction is comprised of a plastic material.

3. A low-friction sleeve insert for a visor assembly of a vehicle, comprising:

a one-piece construction having a cylindrical portion disposed within a hole of a bearing member for the visor assembly, said cylindrical portion having a first end, a second end, and an inner surface extending therebetween, said inner surface having a substantially low coefficient of friction for sliding an arm member of the visor assembly thereacross;

wherein said one-piece construction further includes at least one detent flange extending from an end portion of said cylindrical portion for engaging said bearing member.

4. The low-friction sleeve insert recited in claim 3 wherein said at least one detent flange comprises:

at least one rigid protrusion extending from said first end of said cylindrical portion, said at least one rigid protrusion utilized for contacting at least one seat portion of said bearing member and preventing said one-piece construction from passing through said hole of said bearing member.

5. The low-friction sleeve insert recited in claim 3 wherein said at least one detent flange comprises:

at least one rigid protrusion extending from said first end of said cylindrical portion, said at least one rigid protrusion utilized for contacting a first side of said bearing member and preventing said one-piece construction from passing through said hole of said bearing member.

6. The low-friction sleeve insert recited in claim 3 wherein said at least one detent flange comprises:

at least one resilient snap-fit fastener extending from said second end of said cylindrical portion for contacting a seat portion of said bearing member and preventing said one-piece construction from passing through said hole of said bearing member.

7. The low-friction sleeve insert recited in claim 3 wherein said at least one resilient snap-fit fastener extending from said second end of said cylindrical portion for contacting at least one second side of said bearing member and preventing said one-piece construction from passing through said hole of said bearing member.

8. The low-friction sleeve insert recited in claim 3 wherein said cylindrical portion is insert molded within said bearing member.

9. The low-friction sleeve insert recited in claim 3 wherein said cylindrical portion is sonically welded to said bearing member.

10. The low-friction sleeve insert recited in claim 3 wherein said one-piece construction is comprised of a plastic material.

11. A visor assembly for a vehicle, comprising:

a visor housing;

a bearing member coupled to and enclosed within said visor housing;

said bearing member having a hole formed therethrough;

a low-friction sleeve insert coupled to said bearing member within said hole of said bearing member;

said low-friction sleeve insert having a one-piece construction with a cylindrical portion and at least one detent flange extending from an end portion of said cylindrical portion;

said cylindrical portion disposed within said hole of said bearing member;

said cylindrical portion having an inner surface with a substantially low coefficient of friction;

said at least one detent flange engaging said bearing member; and

an arm member disposed within said low-friction sleeve insert for rotatably and slidably coupling said arm member to said bearing member.

12. The low-friction sleeve insert recited in claim 11 wherein said at least one detent flange comprises:

at least one rigid protrusion extending from said end of said cylindrical portion, said at least one rigid protrusion utilized for contacting at least one seat portion of said bearing member and preventing said one-piece construction from passing through said hole of said bearing member.

13. The low-friction sleeve insert recited in claim 11 wherein said at least one detent flange comprises:

at least one rigid protrusion extending from said end of said cylindrical portion, said at least one rigid protrusion utilized for contacting a first side of said bearing member and preventing said one-piece construction from passing through said hole of said bearing member.

14. The low-friction sleeve insert recited in claim 11 wherein said at least one detent flange comprises:

at least one resilient snap-fit fastener extending from said end of said cylindrical portion for contacting at least one seat portion of said bearing member and preventing said one-piece construction from passing through said hole of said bearing member.

15. The low-friction sleeve insert recited in claim 11 wherein said at least one resilient snap-fit fastener extending from said end of said cylindrical portion for contacting a second side of said bearing member and preventing said one-piece construction from passing through said hole of said bearing member.

16. The low-friction sleeve insert recited in claim 11 wherein said cylindrical portion is insert molded within said bearing member.

17. The low-friction sleeve insert recited in claim 11 wherein said cylindrical portion is sonically welded to said bearing member.

Assignments (18)