WO2025076627A1

WO2025076627A1 - Magnetic sun visor

Info

Publication number: WO2025076627A1
Application number: PCT/CA2024/051344
Authority: WO
Inventors: John BERRYMAN
Original assignee: Lekker Enterprises Inc
Current assignee: Lekker Enterprises Inc
Priority date: 2023-10-13
Filing date: 2024-10-11
Publication date: 2025-04-17
Anticipated expiration: 2026-04-13

Abstract

A sun visor assembly is provided. The sun visor assembly includes: a bracket fixed to a headliner; a rod comprising a bent portion and a straight portion, wherein the bent portion is pivotally connected to the bracket; a visor comprising: a proximal long edge along which the straight portion at least partially extends; a visor magnetic element extending along the proximal long edge and integral with, disposed on, or adjacent to, the straight portion; wherein the visor is pivotable between a windshield position and a window position, and rotatable about an axis of the rod in a stowed position flat against the headliner and in a deployed position angled away from the headliner; and a headliner magnetic element extending along the headliner in a location facing the visor magnetic element when the visor is in the windshield position; and wherein the visor magnetic element and/or the headliner magnetic element is elongated.

Description

MAGNETIC SUN VISOR

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates generally to automobile accessories and, more particularly, to an improved automobile sun visor.

Background

[0002] Sun visors in automobiles serve a crucial function of blocking sunlight and glare from entering a driver's or passenger's field of vision, thus promoting safer driving and ensuring comfort. Traditionally, sun visors consist of a flap, typically made of a firm but flexible material, which can be rotated down into a deployed position from its stowed position against the vehicle's headliner.

[0003] With the advancement of technology and increasing focus on driver and passenger convenience and comfort, there have been various improvements and innovations in the field of sun visors. One area of focus is the securing of the sun visors in their stowed and deployed positions.

[0004] Sun visors are attached to the headliner using a bracket-and-arm mechanism. The sun visor itself has an arm that extends from one end. This arm goes into a pivot bracket that is securely fixed to the vehicle’s headliner. The mechanism allows the visor to pivot and swivel so that it can be positioned as required. On the side opposite of the bracket-and-arm mechanism many sun visors have a pin that attaches by friction fit to a hook mounted on the headliner. This allows the visor to be secured against the headliner when not in use.

[0005] Magnetic retention offers potential advantages over traditional hook-and-pin systems since it allows for easier and more varied disengagement directions, is less prone to breakage, and has more lenient manufacturing tolerances, thus preventing potential issues like vibration or squeaking.

[0006] US 2017/0225546 to Corona discloses a sun visor assembly with a magnetic attachment mechanism: the sun visor has mounted thereon a first attachment with a magnet, and there is a second attachment mounted on the vehicle's headliner. This second attachment consists of spaced supports and a pin that is rotatable and has another magnet. The two magnetic ends are designed to be selectively attached, allowing the visor's angle to be adjusted while attached by rotating the pin. [0007] US2011/0163568 to Li et al. discloses a sun visor assembly that also uses a magnetic attachment mechanism. The sun visor has a cylindrical pin, which, when the visor is in the stowed position, aligns with an arcuate opening in a mount affixed to the vehicle's headliner. This pin is held in the mount primarily by magnetic attraction. The mechanism can have various configurations: the pin could be a magnet and the mount ferromagnetic, vice versa, or both could be magnets with aligned polarity.

[0008] However, there are drawbacks to these known assemblies. These assemblies incorporates multiple and specialized parts, each of which increase cost and can wear down, break, or dislodge over time, thereby diminishing functionality.

Additionally, while the magnetic field aids in guiding the components together, the engagement and disengagement process still requires some level of precision from the user in joining discrete attachment mechanisms together, which may not always be convenient or feasible, especially while driving. Also, the magnetic force provided by a discrete attachment point may not be as secure as a traditional hook-and-pin system, resulting in possible unintended release of the visor in certain scenarios such as high acceleration events. Finally, these assemblies, as well as the traditional hook-and-pin system, require attachment mechanisms to be visible on the visor and headliner, which could be considered unsightly or obtrusive by some users. Modern vehicle interiors often prioritize sleek, minimalistic designs, and an external mechanism on the headliner and/or the interruption of the visor perimeter by an attachment mechanism can disrupt this clean appearance.

[0009] It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an improved sun visor for automobiles that addresses the aforementioned disadvantages while enhancing driver and passenger comfort and safety.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0010] In drawings which illustrate non-limiting embodiments of the invention: [0011] FIG. 1 shows a cutaway interior view of a vehicle including a sun visor assembly according to an embodiment.

[0012] FIG. 2 shows a cutaway interior view of a vehicle including a sun visor assembly according to an embodiment. [0013] FIG. 3 shows a cutaway interior view of a vehicle including a sun visor assembly according to an embodiment.

[0014] FIG. 4A shows a cutaway partial interior view of a vehicle including a sun visor assembly according to an embodiment.

[0015] FIG. 4B shows a cross-sectional partial views of the sun visor according of FIG. 4A with the visor in a stowed position.

[0016] FIG. 5 shows a cutaway partial interior view of a vehicle including a sun visor assembly according to an embodiment.

[0017] FIG. 6 shows a cutaway partial interior view of a vehicle including a sun visor assembly according to an embodiment.

[0018] FIG. 7A shows a cross-sectional partial views of a sun visor according to an embodiment with the visor in a stowed position.

[0019] FIG. 7B shows a cross-sectional partial view of the sun visor assembly of FIG. 7A with the visor in a vertical deployed position.

[0020] FIG. 7C shows a cross-sectional partial view of the sun visor assembly of FIG. 7A with the visor in an angled deployed position.

[0021] FIG. 8 shows a cross-sectional partial view of a sun visor assembly according to an embodiment with the visor in a stowed position.

[0022] FIG. 9 shows a cross-sectional partial view of a sun visor assembly according to an embodiment with the visor in a stowed position.

[0023] FIG. 10 shows a cross-sectional partial view of a sun visor assembly according to an embodiment with the visor in a stowed position.

[0024] FIG. 11 shows a cross-sectional partial view of sun visor assembly according to an embodiment with the visor in a stowed position.

[0025] FIG. 12 shows a rod of a sun visor assembly according to an embodiment, wherein the rod doubles as an emergency escape safety tool.

[0026] FIG. 13 shows a partial view of a rod of a sun visor assembly according to an embodiment, wherein the rod doubles as an emergency escape safety tool.

Description

[0027] Throughout the following description specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding to persons skilled in the art. However, well known elements may not have been shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the disclosure. Accordingly, the description and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative, rather than a restrictive, sense.

[0028] The term “elongated” as used herein with reference to magnetic elements refers to a magnetic element with an aspect ratio of 4:1 or greater.

[0029] The term “shortened” as used herein with reference to magnetic elements refers to a magnetic element with an aspect ratio of 2:1 or less.

[0030] The term “horizontally” as used herein with reference to magnetic elements refers to a magnetic element extending generally in a side to side direction relative to the vehicle.

[0031] The term “vertically” as used herein with reference to magnetic elements refers to a magnetic element extending generally in a front and back direction relative to the vehicle.

[0032] Figure 1 show a sun visor assembly 100 according to an embodiment. Sun visor assembly 100 includes a bracket 104 fixed to headliner 112. Sun visor 102 is attached to bracket 104 by a rod 106. Rod 106 has a bent portion 108 and a straight portion 110.

[0033] One end of bent portion 108 pivotally connects to bracket 104. The other end of bent portion 108 is continuous with one end of straight portion 110. The other end of straight portion 110 extends into visor 102 along its proximal long edge 114. In some embodiments straight portion 110 is a single rod that extends substantially along the entire length of proximal long edge 114 (as shown in Figure 1).

[0034] In some embodiments, straight portion 110 may be in two sections, e.g., a first section is continuous with bent portion 108 and a second section defining a proximal long edge portion of a substantially rectangular peripheral inner frame of visor 102 (not shown).

[0035] In some embodiments, straight portion 110 may be in two sections, e.g., a first section is continuous with bent portion 108 and a second section that is an additional tube or rod added to provide a substrate for a visor-embedded magnetic element as variously described herein.

[0036] In some embodiments, straight portion 110 may be in two sections, i.e., a first section that is continuous with bent portion 108 and a second straight section detachably attached to the first section. The connection between the first and second sections may be a strong magnetic connection. The magnets provided for such connection could synergistically supplement the magnetic connection between the visor and headliner (in embodiments where the headliner has an elongated magnetic element), as described further below.

[0037] As known in the art, the connection between straight portion 110 and visor 102 is such that visor 102 is rotatable about a longitudinal axis of straight portion 110. Frictional connection or other known means as between straight portion 110 and visor 102 facilitates controlled rotation whereby visor 102 can remain stationary in any rotated position selected by the user. Visor 102 is thus rotatable about an axis of straight portion 110 between a stowed position flat against headliner 112, as shown for a similar embodiment in Figure 7A, and one or more deployed positions angled away from headliner 112, as shown for a similar embodiment in Figures 7B and 7C.

[0038] Also as known in the art, visor 102 is pivotable between a windshield position for blocking incoming light from windshield WS, and a window position for blocking incoming light from window W.

[0039] Figure 1 shows visor 102 pivoted to the windshield position and rotated to a deployed position.

[0040] A visor-embedded elongated magnetic element 116 extends along proximal long edge 114. A corresponding headliner elongated magnetic element 118 extends horizontally along headliner 112 in a location facing visor-embedded elongated magnetic element 116 when visor 102 is in the windshield position. Headliner elongated magnetic element 118 may be a generally planar magnetic strip, for example ! to 1 inch in width, 0.025 to 1 inch in thickness, and at least 2 inches, 3 inches, 4 inches, 5 inches, or 6 inches in length. In the embodiment shown in Figure 1 , headliner elongated magnetic element 118 is fixed to the outside surface of headliner 112. In such embodiments headliner elongated magnetic element 118 may be provided in, or coated in, a color matching the rest of headliner 112. In some embodiments, headliner elongated magnetic element 118 is embedded inside headliner 112, as shown for example in Figures 7A to 7C.

[0041]The magnetic attraction between visor-embedded elongated magnetic element 116 and headliner elongated magnetic element 118 holds visor 102 in place while maintaining a minimalist attractive appearance. The elongated shape of visor- embedded elongated magnetic element 116 and headliner elongated magnetic element 118 ensures sufficient magnetic attraction, and greater tolerance when positioning between windshield and window positions, compared to the use of discrete magnetic mechanisms mounted on the visor and headliner. This is particularly advantageous when a user, especially a driver, moves visor 102 from the window position to the windshield position during or immediately after a turn that results in bright sunlight entering from windshield WS, i.e. , avoids the distraction of ensuring precise engagement of discrete magnetic or hook-and-pin mechanisms.

[0042] In some embodiments visor-embedded elongated magnetic element 116 is integral with straight portion 110 as illustrated in Figures 7 A to 7C. Visor-embedded elongated magnetic element 116 may consist of two or more elongated elements each having a width defined by an arc of a cross-section of straight portion 110, such as elongated magnetic elements 116A, 116B, 116C. Each arc of such elongated elements may be about 20 to 40 degrees, or about 25 to 35 degrees, or about 30 degrees. These elongated elements may be separated by two or more elongated non-magnetic or weakly magnetic elements, such as non-magnetic or weakly magnetic elements 117A and 117B.

[0043] In Figure 7A, magnetic attraction between headliner-embedded elongated magnetic element 118 and elongated magnetic element 116A facilitates holding visor 102 in the illustrated stowed position. In Figure 7B, magnetic attraction between headliner-embedded elongated magnetic element 118 and elongated magnetic element 116B facilitates holding visor 102 in a vertical deployed position. In Figure 7C, magnetic attraction between headliner-embedded elongated magnetic element 118 and elongated magnetic element 116C facilitates holding visor 102 in a deployed position angled toward windshield WS. Each of the plurality of elongated magnetic elements 116A, 116B and 116C thus defines magnetically facilitated radial positions of visor 102, from the stowed position to one or more deployed positions.

[0044] The angle A1 between the centers of elongated magnetic element 116A and 116B is about 90 degrees. The angle A2 between the centers of elongated magnetic element 116A and 116C is about 160 degrees. In some embodiments elongated magnetic element 116B is absent. In some embodiments more than three elongated magnetic elements are provided. In some embodiments the angles as between the elongated magnetic element may differ.

[0045]Also as shown in Figures 7A to 7C, headliner-embedded elongated magnetic element 118 abuts an interior surface of board layer 120 of headliner 112, ensuring maximum proximity to visor-embedded elongated magnetic element 116. Headliner 112 may further comprise a polyurethane foam layer 122 that is sprayed on board layer 112 and headliner-embedded elongated magnetic element 118 during vehicle manufacture.

[0046] Figure 8 shows an alternative embodiment similar to the embodiment shown in Figures 7A to 7C, except the headliner elongated magnetic element is fixed on the outer surface of the headliner as in the embodiment shown in Figure 1 .

[0047] Figure 9 shows an alternative embodiment similar to the embodiment shown in Figures 8, except instead of separate elongated magnetic elements there is a single elongated magnetic element. The single elongated magnetic element has a width defined by an arc of a cross-section of the straight portion. The arc may be 200 to 240 degrees or about 210 to about 230 degrees, or about 220 degrees. The remaining portion may be non-magnetic or weakly magnetic.

[0048] Figure 10 shows an alternative embodiment similar to the embodiment shown in Figures 7A to 7C, except the headliner elongated magnetic element is fixed on the outer surface of the headliner as in the embodiment shown in Figure 1 , and the elongated magnetic elements are disposed on the interior surface of the visor instead of integral with the straight portion.

[0049] Figure 11 shows an alternative embodiment similar to the embodiment shown in 10, except instead of separate elongated magnetic elements there is a single elongated magnetic element.

[0050] In some embodiments, the elongated magnetic elements may be disposed on the interior surface of the visor and also be integral with the straight portion.

[0051] Returning to Figure 1 , visor assembly 100 also has a side headliner elongated magnetic element 124, to which visor-embedded elongated magnetic element 116 is attracted when visor 102 is in the window position. Side headliner elongated magnetic element 124 is similar to headliner elongated magnetic element 118, except embedded in headliner 112. In some embodiments side headliner elongated magnetic element 124 may be fixed on the outside of headliner 112. In some embodiments, the side headliner magnetic element may be a shortened rather than elongated. In some embodiments, whether elongated or shortened, the side headliner magnetic element may be wider than headliner elongated magnetic element 118, for example 2 inches wide. Where a grab handle is present, side headliner-embedded elongated magnetic element 124 may be located slight above or slightly below the grab handle.

[0052] Figure 2 shows a sun visor assembly 200 according to an embodiment. Sun visor assembly 200 is similar to sun visor assembly 100 except additionally includes a secondary visor-embedded elongated magnetic element 228 adjacent a distal long edge 230 of visor 202, and a secondary headliner-embedded elongated magnetic element 226 extending along headliner 212 in a location corresponding to secondary visor-embedded elongated magnetic element 228 when visor 202 is in the stowed position. An advantage of magnetic attraction of visor-embedded elongated magnetic element 228 and secondary headliner-embedded elongated magnetic element 226 is that it secures visor 202 in the stowed position, even when there is loss of frictional rotational engagement between rod 206 and visor 202 and visor 202 becomes “floppy” and otherwise drops to the vertical due to gravity.

[0053] Figure 3 shows a sun visor assembly 300 according to an embodiment. Sun visor assembly 300 is similar to sun visor assembly 100 except instead of a single headliner elongated magnetic element, a plurality of spaced apart headliner magnetic elements 318 are provided. Also, instead of a single side headliner elongated magnetic element, a plurality of spaced apart side headliner magnetic elements 324 are provided. In the embodiments shown, elements 318 and 324 are fixed on the surface of headliner 312. In some embodiments, elements 318 and 324 are embedded inside headliner 312. In some embodiments, a single element 318 and/or element 324 is provided. In some embodiments more than two elements 318 and/or 324 are provided.

[0054] Figures 4A and 4B shows a sun visor assembly 400 according to an embodiment. Sun visor assembly 400 includes a visor-embedded shortened magnetic element 416 at a proximal long edge 414 of visor 402. In the illustrated embodiment, visor embedded magnetic element 416 is adjacent distal short edge 432 of visor 402. In some embodiments, visor-embedded shortened magnetic element 416 is spaced away from distal short edge 432 of visor 402, but still along proximal long edge 414 of visor 402.

[0055] Sun visor assembly 400 also includes a headliner elongated magnetic element 418 running vertically along headliner 412, and vertically aligned with visor- embedded shortened magnetic element 416. In the illustrated embodiment headliner elongated magnetic element 418 is fixed on an outer surface of headliner 412. In some embodiments headliner elongated magnetic element 18 is embedded inside headliner 412. In the illustrated embodiment headliner elongated magnetic element 418 has a central strong magnetic portion 418’ with weak magnetic portions 418” extending from either end thereof. The position of central strong magnetic portion 418’ coincides with where visor 402 is aligned horizontally and thus in the windshield position. Thus returning from a side window position (or other position) to the windshield position is facilitated by the initial magnetic attraction to weak magnetic portions 418” and then strongly attracted to strong magnetic portion 418’. The strength of strong magnetic portions 418 is calibrated to readily permit a driver of any strength to pull visor 402 away from the windshield position but otherwise maintain visor 402 in the windshield position. In some embodiments, the force required to detach strong magnetic portions is approximately equivalent to the force required to detach pin and hook attachments used in traditional visors. Weak magnetic portions 418” have less magnetic strength than strong magnetic portion 418.

[0056] Figure 5 shows a sun visor assembly 500 according to an embodiment. Sun visor assembly 500 is similar to sun visor assembly 100 except straight portion 510 of rod 506 is telescopically extendible, and headliner elongated magnetic element 518 and side headliner elongated magnetic element 524 each extend further by a length corresponding to the telescopic extension of straight portion 510. An advantage of this embodiment is the resulting adjustability of visor 502 to block incoming light at a wider range of positions. In some embodiments, telescopic extension can be up to 4 to 8 inches in distance.

[0057] Figure 6 shows a sun visor assembly 600 according to an embodiment. Sun visor assembly 500 is similar to sun visor assembly 600 except headliner magnetic element 618 is not elongated but rather shortened (which may be on the surface of headliner 612 or embedded therein). Also, the visor embedded magnetic element side comprises a first strong magnetic element 616’ that aligns with headliner magnetic element 618 when visor 602 is not telescoped, a second strong magnetic element 616” that aligns with headliner magnetic element 618 when visor 602 is telescoped (as shown in Figure 6). Intervening weak magnetic elements 616” and 616”” facilitate alignment of visor 602 as straight portion 610 of rod 606 is moved between telescoped and non-telescoped positions. In some embodiments headliner magnetic element 618 may be elongated in a vertical direction as shown for example in Figure 4A with headliner magnetic element 418.

[0058] For sun visor assemblies 100, 200, 300, 400, 500 and 600 in some embodiments the visor magnetic element and the headliner magnetic element may be magnetized ferromagnetic materials of opposite polarities. In other embodiments, the visor magnetic element may be a magnetized ferromagnetic material and the headliner magnetic element may be a non-magnetized ferromagnetic material attracted to the magnetized ferromagnetic material. In yet other embodiments the headliner magnetic element may be a magnetized ferromagnetic material and the visor magnetic element may be a non-magnetized ferromagnetic material attracted to the magnetized ferromagnetic material.

[0059] For sun visor assemblies 100, 200, 300, 400, 500 and 600 in some embodiments the rod of the visor may double as an emergency escape safety tool for breaking a window and/or cutting a seatbelt. Figure 12 shows an embodiment of emergency escape safety tool 110’. Tool 110’ has a pointed end 126 for window breaking. Pointed end 126 releasably connects to a suitably modified bracket 104 (not shown) for example by magnetism, frictional engagement, or the like. In an emergency, a user detaches tool 110’ from bracket 104 and withdraws tool 110’ from the visor. Pointed end 126 may be made of a solid metallic material. Tool 110’ also has cutter 128 with an angled blade 130 for cutting a seatbelt. Cutter 128 may be U- shaped as shown in Figure 12. Rounded edge 132 of tool 110’ ensures safe and smooth engagement of cutter 128 with a seatbelt. In some embodiments cutter 128 may be on the headliner side of tool 110’, i.e. , on the same side as pointed end 126; after removal from the visor and bracket, tool 110’ can then be readily slid under the seat belt and the straight side of tool 110’ (the side opposite pointed end 126 and cutter 128) would slide along the user’s body until the seat belt was sliced by cutter 128. [0060] Figure 13 shows an emergency safety tool 110” according to another embodiment. Tool 110” is similar to tool 110’ except for the cutter. In tool 110”, a scissor cutter 128’ is located at the opposite end of pointed end 126. Cutter 128’ has a fixed arm 129 with a rounded end 132, and a pivoting arm 129’ with a rounded end 132’. Arms 129, 129’ have opposing blades 130. Arms 129, 129’ are pivotally engaged at pivot point 131. In some embodiments pivot point 131 may be biased by biasing means (for example by a spring) to urge cutter 128’ into an open position upon withdrawal of tool 110’ from the visor. Bumps 133 may be provided to frictionally hold tool 110’ to corresponding depressions (not shown) in the visor.

[0061] In some embodiments, emergency safety tools 110’, 110” may be provided independently of the visor assembly herein described, i.e., tools 110’, 110” may be modifications applied to prior art, standard visor rods.

[0062] While a number of exemplary aspects and embodiments have been discussed above, those of skill in the art will recognize certain modifications, permutations, additions and sub-combinations thereof. In some embodiments, visor magnetic element and/or the headliner magnetic element is ! to 1 inch in width and 0.025 to 1 inch in thickness. In some embodiments the elongated magnetic elements may be fixed on the surface of the visor and/or on the surface of the headliner, rather than embedded in the visor and headliner. It is therefore intended that the following appended claims and claims hereafter introduced are interpreted to include all such modifications, permutations, additions and sub-combinations as are consistent with the broadest interpretation of the specification as a whole.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A sun visor assembly comprising: a bracket fixed to a headliner; a rod comprising a bent portion and a straight portion, wherein the bent portion is pivotally connected to the bracket; a visor comprising: a proximal long edge along which the straight portion at least partially extends; a visor magnetic element extending along the proximal long edge and integral with, disposed on, or adjacent to, the straight portion; wherein the visor is pivotable between a windshield position and a window position, and rotatable about an axis of the rod in a stowed position flat against the headliner and in a deployed position angled away from the headliner; and a headliner magnetic element extending along the headliner in a location facing the visor magnetic element when the visor is in the windshield position; and wherein the visor magnetic element and/or the headliner magnetic element is elongated.

2. A sun visor assembly according to claim 1 wherein the visor magnetic element comprises an elongated continuous element.

3. A sun visor assembly according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the headliner elongated magnetic element comprises a horizontally extending elongated continuous element.

4. A sun visor assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the headliner magnetic element is fixed on an outer surface of the headliner and/or the visor magnetic element is fixed on an outer surface of the visor.

5. A sun visor assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the headliner magnetic element is embedded within the headliner and/or the visor magnetic element is embedded within the visor.

6. A sun visor according to any one of claims 1 or 2 wherein the visor magnetic element is elongated and the headliner magnetic element comprises at least one shortened element.

7. A sun visor according to claim 1 wherein the visor magnetic element is embedded within the visor and comprises a shortened element and the headliner magnetic element comprises a vertically extending elongated element, wherein the vertically extending elongated element comprises a strong magnetic portion between two weak magnetic portions.

8. A sun visor assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the straight portion is telescopically extendible

9. A sun visor assembly according to claim 8, wherein the visor magnetic element and the headliner magnetic element each horizontally extend to lengths corresponding to the telescopic extension of the straight portion.

10. A sun visor assembly according to claim 8, wherein the visor magnetic element comprises a horizontally extending elongated element, wherein the horizontally extending elongated element comprises two strong magnetic portions between two weak magnetic portions, the first strong magnetic portion aligning with the visor magnetic element when the visor is nontelescoped position, and the second strong magnetic portion aligning with the visor magnetic element when the visor is telescoped position.

11. A sun visor assembly according to any of claims 1 to 10 further comprising a side headliner-embedded magnetic element in a location facing the visor- embedded elongated magnetic element when the visor is in the window position.

12. A sun visor assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the visor magnetic element is embedded within the visor and comprises a plurality of elongated elements each having a width defined by an arc of a cross-section of the straight portion, wherein the elongated elements are separated by elongated non-magnetic elements or weak magnetic portions, and wherein magnetic connection between the headliner-embedded magnetic element and each of the plurality of elongated elements defines positions of the visor from the stowed position to one or more deployed positions.

13. A sun visor assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the visor magnetic element is embedded within the visor and comprises a single elongated element having a width defined by an arc of a cross-section of the straight portion, wherein the remainder of the cross-section is an elongated non-magnetic element, to facilitate positioning of visor in the stowed configuration and one or more deployed positions.

14. A sun visor assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 13 wherein the visor comprises adjacent a distal long edge thereof a secondary visor magnetic element, and the assembly further comprises a secondary headliner- embedded magnetic element extending along the headliner in a location adjacent the secondary visor magnetic element when the visor is in the stowed position.

15. A sun visor assembly according to any one claims 1 to 14 wherein the visor magnetic element and the headliner magnetic element comprise magnetized ferromagnetic materials of opposite polarities

16. A sun visor assembly according to any one claims 1 to 14 wherein the visor magnetic element comprises a magnetized ferromagnetic material and the headliner magnetic element comprises a non-magnetized ferromagnetic material attracted to the magnetized ferromagnetic material, or the headliner magnetic element comprises the magnetized ferromagnetic material and the visor magnetic element comprises the non-magnetized ferromagnetic material attracted to the magnetized ferromagnetic material.

17. A sun visor assembly according to any one claims 1 to 16 wherein an end at which the rod connects to the bracket comprises a pointed end configured to break glass, wherein the pointed end and the bracket are configured to releasable connect.

18. A sun visor assembly according to claim 17 wherein, adjacent the pointed end, the rod further comprises a U-shaped cutter comprising a blade edge.

19. A sun visor assembly according to claim 18 wherein the pointed end and the

U-shaped cutter are on the same side of the rod, or opposite sides of the rod.

20. A sun visor assembly according to claim 17 wherein, opposite the pointed end, the rod further comprises a scissor cutter, the scissor cutter comprising a fixed arm and a pivoting arm, each arm comprising a blade edge, wherein the arms are pivotally engaged at a pivot point and biased away from each other by biasing means, and wherein the arms are lockable together by locking means.