GPS visor

Abstract

A GPS device comprises a GPS unit, a visor, and an optional attachment means to attach the visor to the GPS unit to improve the viewing of the visual display screen under bright light and/or to eliminate the reflection of the lighted display screen of the GPS unit from a vehicle's windshield during nighttime driving; a visor set comprising said visor and said attachment means; said visor or visor set optionally comprising a GPS antenna for stronger reception and/or a faster acquisition of satellite GPS signals; a method for improving the viewing of the display screen under bright light, for eliminating reflection of the display screen from the vehicle's windshield, and for providing improved satellite GPS signals by using the GPS device or the visor set hereinabove; and an article of manufacture comprising the GPS device or the visor set hereinabove, in association with instructions for use.

1 . A GPS device comprising a GPS unit comprising a visual display screen, a visor, and an optional attachment means, as required, to attach the visor to the GPS unit to prevent bright light such as originates from an external source from shining onto the visual display screen of said GPS unit, to improve the viewing of the information that is displayed on the display screen and/or to keep the light emitted by the visual display screen from reflecting from surfaces around the visual display screen, including the front windshield of a vehicle, to avoid the distraction to the viewer. 
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the visor is a flat piece made of plastic film, polymeric film, molded plastic, polymeric foam, paper, cardboard, composite materials, or laminated materials. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2  wherein the visor has a length of from about 3 cm to about 20 cm and width of from about 3 cm to about 15 cm. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 2  wherein the visor surface has a matte finish. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 2  wherein the visor has a dark color. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5  wherein the color is black, dark blue, dark red, dark purple, crimson, dark green, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 2  wherein the visor further comprises two side shields. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the visor is removable from the GPS unit and is temporarily attached to the GPS unit. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8  wherein the attachment means comprises one or more lip and groove pairs, one or more clip and receptacle pairs, one or more Velcro strips, and/or one or more rib-and-groove Ziploc-type fasteners. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 8  wherein the attachment means is the GPS mounting means that is connected to both the GPS unit and the visor, wherein said visor can be positioned to shield the bright light from shining onto the visual display screen of the GPS unit. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the visor is an integral part of the GPS unit and is not readily removable from the GPS unit. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11  wherein the attachment means comprises hinges allowing the visor to be swiveled with respect to the vertical sides of the GPS unit, wherein the visor serves as a light shield when the visor is in the open position and as a protector shield for the display screen when the visor is in the closed position. 
     
     
         13 . The devise of  claim 11  wherein the visor is retractable inside the GPS unit when not in use. 
     
     
         14 . The GPS device of  claim 1  which is mounted inside a motor vehicle having a windshield wherein the visor eliminates or reduces the reflection of the lighted display screen from the front windshield of said motor vehicle during nighttime driving. 
     
     
         15 . The GPS device of  claim 1  wherein the visor additionally comprises a GPS antenna. 
     
     
         16 . The GPS device of  claim 15  wherein the GPS antenna is a supplemental GPS antenna that connects to the GPS unit to provide an improved reception of GPS satellite signals. 
     
     
         17 . A GPS visor set for use with a GPS unit to create the GPS device of  claim 1  comprising a visor member and a connecting member that is used to attach the visor member to the GPS unit, wherein the connecting member is permanently or temporarily affixed to the GPS unit and the visor member is attached to the connecting unit. 
     
     
         18 . The GPS visor set of  claim 17  wherein the connecting member is permanently affixed to the GPS unit by an adhesive layer, and the visor member is attached to the connecting member by one or more hook and/or loop strips, one or more rib-and-groove Ziploc-type strips, or similar means of attachment. 
     
     
         19 . The GPS visor set of  claim 17  wherein the connecting member is a strap that is temporarily affixed to the GPS unit by an attachment means, and the visor member is permanently or temporarily attached to the connecting member. 
     
     
         20 . The GPS visor set of  claim 17  wherein the visor additionally comprises a supplemental GPS antenna that connects to the GPS unit comprising an external antenna jack to provide improved an reception of GPS satellite signals. 
     
     
         21 . An article of manufacture comprising the GPS device of  claim 1  in association with instructions for use of the visor to improve the viewing of the information that is displayed on the display screen of a GPS unit under bright light and/or to eliminate or reduce the reflection of the lighted display screen of the GPS unit from the motor vehicle's front windshield during nighttime driving. 
     
     
         22 . The article of  claim 21 , wherein the visor carries one or more indicia, and where said indicia can be in light color, dark color, multicolor, and/or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         23 . An article of manufacture comprising the GPS device of  claim 15  in association with instructions for use of the visor to improve the viewing of the information that is displayed on the display screen of a GPS unit under bright light and/or to eliminate or reduce the reflection of the lighted display screen of the GPS unit from the motor vehicle's front windshield during nighttime driving and/or to provide a stronger reception and/or a faster acquisition of satellite signals. 
     
     
         24 . An article of manufacture comprising the visor set of  claim 17  in association with instructions for use of the visor to improve the viewing of the information that is displayed on the display screen of a GPS unit under bright light and/or to eliminate or reduce the reflection of the lighted display screen of the GPS unit from the motor vehicle's front windshield in nighttime driving. 
     
     
         25 . The article of  claim 24 , wherein the visor carries one or more indicia, where said indicia can be in light color, dark color, multicolor, and/or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         26 . An article of manufacture comprising the visor set of  claim 20  in association with instructions for use of the visor to improve the viewing of the information that is displayed on the display screen of a GPS unit under bright light and/or to eliminate or reduce the reflection of the lighted display screen of the GPS unit from the motor vehicle's front windshield during nighttime driving and/or to provide a stronger reception and/or a faster acquisition of satellite signals. 
     
     
         27 . A method for improving the viewing of the information that is displayed on the display screen of a GPS unit under bright light and/or for eliminating or reducing the reflection of the lighted display screen of the GPS unit from the motor vehicle's front windshield in nighttime driving by using the visor of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         28 . A method for improving the viewing of the information that is displayed on the display screen of a GPS unit under bright light and/or for eliminating or reducing the reflection of the lighted display screen of the GPS unit from the motor vehicle's front windshield in nighttime driving by using the visor set of  claim 17 . 
     
     
         29 . A method for providing stronger reception and/or a faster acquisition of satellite GPS signals by using the GPS device of  claim 15 . 
     
     
         30 . A method for providing stronger reception and/or a faster acquisition of satellite GPS signals by using the GPS visor set of  claim 20 .