Patent Application
20220080062
This invention relates invention relates to automotive accessories. More particularly, it relates to a sunshade for a vehicle that can be used to disinfect and illuminate the interior of a vehicle.
Sunshades for placing within the windshields and other windows of automobiles and protecting the interiors of those automobiles against solar heating and sun damage have become popular, particularly in geographic regions such as the American southwest where the searing desert summer sun can quickly raise the interior temperature of a parked automobile to well over 120° F. This type of heating can prematurely age, fade, and otherwise damage the interior of an automobile. Folding sunshades made of cardboard, sometimes covered with a reflecting outer surface such as Mylar and plastic bubble wrap, are popular, but these are single function items. A number of more elaborate sunshades have also been proposed and/or sold.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,649,584 discloses a sunshade for vehicle windshields which includes a plurality of hinge sections which are foldable relative to one another to form a compact unit for storage and which are horizontally extendible when deployed across a substantial width of the vehicle windshield. Each section includes a fixed base panel member and a vertical sliding member which is extendible outwardly relative to the fixed member so that the sunshade is effectively adjustable for the height of a particular vehicle windshield.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,252,321 discloses a car sunshade includes: a pair of curtain members each hung to a hanger and operatively driven by a driving device to be upwardly unwound for shielding the windshield of the car from being exposed to sun light along a pair of guiding devices respectively mounted on (or juxtapositioned to) two pillars adjacent to the windshield; or the curtain members being downwardly wound to unveil the windshield of the car, without removing a factory-installed rear-view mirror and without obstructing a driver's head.
While these and other prior art sunshades are generally effective for their intended purposes, they are singular in their utility.
The present invention is directed to a sunshade for vehicles which has both a disinfecting and illuminating function. The sunshade includes a reflective outer surface and is foldable for stowing purposes. The inner surface includes at least a pair of UV lamps positioned thereon.
The lamps, which may use UV-C radiation are preferably powered by both an attached solar cell array, and the vehicles' electrical system. When the vehicle is parked, the sunshade may be deployed within the windshield and electrically connected to the vehicle's battery. The UV lamps give off radiation which disinfects the vehicle while unoccupied. The lamps also give off colored radiation which has a pleasing aspheric, especially at night.
The present invention is directed to a sunshade for vehicles which has both a disinfecting and illuminating function. The sunshade includes a reflective outer surface and is foldable for stowing purposes. The inner surface includes at least a pair of UV lamps positioned thereon. The lamps, which may use UV-C radiation are preferably powered by either an attached solar cell array, or the vehicles' electrical system. When the vehicle is parked, the sunshade may be deployed within the windshield and electrically connected to the vehicle's battery. The UV lamps give off radiation which disinfects the vehicle while unoccupied. The lamps also give off colored radiation which has a pleasing aesthetic, especially at night.
It is a major object of the invention to provide an improved automotive sunshade.
It is another object of the invention to provide an improved automotive sunshade that can disinfect the vehicle interior.
It is another object of the invention to provide an improved automotive sunshade that uses UV lighting to disinfect a vehicle interior.
It is another object of the invention to provide an improved disinfecting automotive sunshade that can be powered by the electrical system of the vehicle.
It is another object of the invention to provide an improved disinfecting automotive sunshade that can be solar powered.
It is another object of the invention to provide an improved disinfecting automotive sunshade that can be self powered.
Referring now to the drawings,
Ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) is a disinfection method that uses short-wavelength ultraviolet (UV-C) light to kill or inactivate microorganisms. One mechanism by which UV-C deactivates microorganisms is by destroying nucleic acids and disrupting their DNA, leaving them unable to perform vital cellular functions. The administration of UV-C radiation is becoming widely adopted by many hospitals as a more effective and reliable means of surface disinfection, as compared to the use of chemical cleaning agents alone. The effectiveness of germicidal UV-C irradiation depends on factors such as the length of time a microorganism is exposed to UV-C, the intensity and wavelength of the UV-C radiation, the presence of particles that can protect the microorganisms from UV, and a microorganism's ability to withstand UV-C during its exposure. In air and surface disinfection applications, a UV-C radiation source will disinfect the air and surfaces of the vehicle 12 interior which receive the radiation. In light of the Covid-19 pandemic, there is now a great need to disinfect all areas and surfaces that are exposed to people (or objects), especially in an enclosed environment like a vehicle interior.
Accordingly, the present invention is directed to an apparatus for disinfecting a vehicle 12 interior, which apparatus functions to provide both a sunshade and a uniquely aesthetic auxiliary interior light arrangement. The apparatus preferably uses UV-C radiation, but may also use UV-B or UV-A radiation.
As can be seen more clearly in
Positioned on the outer side 26 are one or more solar panels 32, preferably of the lightweight “flexible” type so as not to add too much weight or bulk to the sunshade 20. The solar panels 32 are electrically connected to at least a pair of spaced UV light strips 36 by wires 34. Preferably, there is enough solar panel 32 square footage to provide enough wattage for the strips 36 to provide some disinfection, assuming a sufficient amount of ambient sunlight is available when deployed. Space is provided on the outer side 26 for warning indicia regarding the dangers of being irradiated by the UV radiation from strips 32. The space may also be used for advertising or other indicia.
The light strips 36 are regularly spaced regardless of number, so that the radiation emitted therefrom is distributed evenly throughout the interior of the vehicle. Optionally, 3 or more UV light strips 36 may be used, with one or more centrally positioned strips 36 illuminating the rear of the interior of the vehicle 12. As shown, both light strips 36 are positioned on the third panel 24 from their respective edges, but any number and positioning of the strips 36 that allows for an even distribution of UV radiation is contemplated by the invention. A warning label may be positioned on the sunshade 10 regarding the dangers of being irradiated with UV light.
The strips 36, which are preferably UV-C, are mounted onto the sunshade by overlying clear tape 37 through which the UV radiation is emitted. The tape is preferably UV resistant. The strips 36 may be positioned upon appropriately sized strips of highly reflective material 39 such as a reflective foil which is adhesively secured to the sunshade 20.
When in full power mode, the strips 36 must be connected to the vehicle battery 31 or electrical system as shown most clearly in
As UV lamps give off very bright and unusually colored light, the strips 36 may also be used to present an aesthetically pleasing interior lighting option. As can be seen especially in
An additional disinfecting UV source may be combined with the sunshade 20. The source is in the form of a mat 50 which can be self powered or preferably electrically connected to battery 31 via processor 30. The mat 50 may be connected to processor 30, which may include an on/off switch 51 in addition to the activation sensor 39 as described above, can be used to selectively power the mat 50 whenever power is applied to sunshade 20. If one or more mats 50 are used they may all be connected to battery 31 through processor 30, this allowing processor 30 to control power to the sunshade 20 and all mats 50 simultaneously. Each mat 50 includes one or more light strips 36 positioned about the edges of the mat 50, so as to give the best possible light distribution, the strips held in place using clear tape as explained above. The mat 50 may be positioned as desired upon the floor, seat, or even the interior of the roof of the vehicle, with more than one mat 50 used if necessary or desired to disinfect the entire interior of the vehicle. The mat 50 may be used as a floormat exclusively, all floormats in a given vehicle may be replaced by the inventive floormat. The mats 50 may use non UV lighting for an aesthetic effect.
In use, the vehicle operator can unfold and position the sunshade 20 as shown in
It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the sole embodiment described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims:
