Ford Global Technologies now holds the patent for a sun visor that gives vehicle occupants an option for breaking glass in case of an emergency. The initial application for a sun visor with an incorporated impact point was filed in September 2021 and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office granted the patent two years later.
Published on October 10, the paperwork for patent number US 11,780,302 B2 describes a sun visor that includes “a guide rod having a first portion that includes a head and a second portion with a terminal end is operably coupled to the mount via the head. The guide rod and impact point are configured for use as a window breaker tool in a disassembled position.”
When the guide rod is assembled, the sun visor otherwise operates as any other would, and the visor “includes a channel defined within the visor that is configured to receive the guide rod.”
Designed by Adam Weyrauch, Rohit Telukunta, Steven Frank and Michael J. Gardynik, having a window breaker tool in the sun visor assembly allows vehicle occupants to keep an emergency egress tool available in a “more efficient use of the confined space” of the passenger compartment rather than in “locations proximate to the window[s].”
Tempered glass – Yes. Laminated glass – Doubtful.