Patent Application
20070068638
The present invention relates generally to window shades for automotive vehicles and more particularly to a sun, privacy, and anti-wind buffeting shade.
Wind buffeting noise is caused by wind entering a moving motor vehicle through an open window and can result in pressure changes within the vehicle. It is desired to eliminate or at least substantially reduce or dampen wind buffeting when a vehicle window is open and the vehicle is traveling.
In accordance with the present invention, a sun, privacy, and anti-wind buffeting shade assembly is provided for a window opening in an automotive vehicle. The shade assembly comprises a flexible screen having a multiplicity of perforations, and a holder for storing the screen. The screen is capable of being withdrawn from the holder to an extended position across the window opening. The screen provides shade and privacy and dampens wind buffeting resulting from air entering the vehicle through the window opening when the vehicle is traveling.
Further in accordance with the invention, the holder comprises a roller on which the screen is wound. The screen can be unwound from the roller to the extended position. Preferably a retainer is provided for retaining the screen in the extended position.
In accordance with the specific embodiment about to be described, the window opening is in a rear door of the vehicle and has a window which can be moved up and down to close and open the opening. One or more hooks on the window engage the screen so that when the window is opened, the screen is automatically unwound from the roller and drawn to an extended position closing the opening. Preferably the hook or hooks can be disengaged from the screen so that the screen can be drawn to the extended position independently of the window.
One object of this invention is to provide a sun, privacy, and anti-buffeting shade assembly having one or more of the foregoing features and capabilities.
Other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will become more apparent as this description proceeds.
Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.
The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and accompanying drawings, wherein:
The following description of the preferred embodiments is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses.
Referring now more particularly to the drawings and especially
Across the top of the door 12 is an elongated door frame 26 which extends along the upper edge of the opening 10. The door frame 26 has an elongated window frame 28 of generally inverted U-shape which receives the upper edge of the window 16 when the window is closed. The window frame has weather seals 30 in contact with the window 16 when the window is in the up or closed position.
The door frame 26 also has an elongated roller frame 32 of generally inverted U-shape on the inner side of the window frame 28, that is on the side of the window frame nearer to the inside of the vehicle. The roller frame 32 provides a housing 34 for a roller 36. The roller 36 is an elongated generally horizontal member extending lengthwise within the housing 34 and is rotatably supported on the ends by brackets 38 and 40 secured within the housing.
A sun, privacy, and anti-buffeting shade assembly comprises a screen 42 wound on the roller 36. The roller 36 serves as a holder for the screen 42. The screen can be unwound from the roller 36 and pulled downwardly through a slot 43 in the housing 34 to an extended position in which it fully, or substantially fully, covers the entire window opening 16. The roller 36 is of a type common in all private homes which has a spring 44 to axially rotate the roller in one direction to wind up the screen 42 on the roller. The roller can be axially rotated in the opposite direction against the force of the spring to unwind the screen from the roller by pulling the screen downwardly out of the housing 34 and across the window opening 16. When wound on the roller 36, the screen is fully concealed in the housing 34.
The screen 42 has a multiplicity of small perforations 50 therein. The screen is made of a flexible material which may, for example, be a suitable metal or plastic. Preferably the screen consists of a grid of crossing strands or wires 52 connected at the ends by a border strand or wire 54 around the periphery of the screen. As shown in
A rod 60 extends through a passage along the free edge of the screen 42. The free edge of the screen is cut away at two spaced points 62 and 64 to expose the rod. A screen puller comprises a pair of hooks 66 and 68 that are bonded or permanently secured to the window 16 in laterally spaced relation near its upper edge which engage over the rod 60 where the rod is exposed. Accordingly, when the window 16 is lowered to open the window opening, the hooks unwind the screen 42 from the roller 36 and draw the screen downwardly with the window to fully cover the window opening 10 when the window is in the open position. Likewise when the window 16 is moved up to its closed position, the screen 42 by operation of the spring 44 in the roller, is rewound on the roller and returns inside the housing and out of view.
The hooks 66 and 68 may be disengaged from the rod 60 if desired, so that the screen may be withdrawn from the housing and pulled down across the window opening 10, independently of the window 16. The inner panel 20 has a stationary retainer comprising a pair of hooks 70 and 72 which can be releasably engaged by the rod 60 where the rod is exposed to retain the screen in its extended position when the screen is operated independently of the window. The screen 42 may be drawn over the window opening 10 while the window 16 is closed to shield the passengers from the sun and also to provide a measure of privacy, but not, of course, to have any anti-wind buffeting effect.
When the window 16 is open and the screen 42 has been pulled down to its extended position by the open window, the screen provides not only protection from the sun, and privacy, but also eliminates or substantially eliminates or dampens the effects of wind buffeting resulting from wind entering the vehicle through the open window. Air can still enter the passenger compartment through the perforations 50.
As stated, the screen 42 can be operated independently of the window 16, but it is highly desirable to avail oneself of the automatic operation of the screen by having it close the window opening 10 whenever the window is opened. Then the full benefits of the screen are available. If it is desired to open the window without taking advantage of the screen 42, the screen may be unhooked from the window so that the window may be opened without lowering the screen.
The screen would not be associated with a front door window because it might interfere with the driver's operation of the vehicle. However, the screen may, if desired be associated with a sun roof window to eliminate wind buffeting when the sun roof is open and provide shade.
The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.
