Sunshade device for motor-vehicles, with shape memory actuator

Abstract

A sunshade device comprises a sunshade in the form of a roller blind forming part of a roller-blind device, comprising a supporting structure, a shaft for rolling of the sunshade blind, mounted so that it can rotate on the aforesaid supporting structure, and a shape-memory actuator device for causing displacement of the blind from the rolled-up condition to the distended condition.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge from the ensuing description with reference to the annexed plate of drawings, which are provided purely by way of non-limiting example and in which:

FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of a motor vehicle equipped with a sunshade shape-memory-actuator device according to the known art;

FIG. 2 is a view corresponding to that of FIG. 1, which shows a motor vehicle provided with a device according to the invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of the device according to the invention, in the inoperative condition;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the device of FIG. 2, in the operative condition;

FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, 8 illustrate the aforesaid inoperative and operative conditions of the device of FIGS. 3 and 4 in a front view and in a side view, respectively;

FIGS. 9 and 10 are perspective views of a second embodiment of the device according to the invention in the inoperative condition and in the operative condition, respectively; and

FIGS. 11, 12 and 13, 14 show the aforesaid two operative conditions of the device of FIGS. 9 and 10 in a front view and in a side view, respectively.

Claims

1. A sunshade device for motor vehicles, comprising a sunshade that can be displaced between an inoperative position and an operative position with respect to a supporting structure, and a shape-memory actuator for controlling displacement of the sunshade from its inoperative position to its operative position, said device being characterized in that said sunshade is constituted by a blind of a roller-blind device, comprising a supporting structure and a shaft for rolling-up of the blind, mounted so that it can rotate in the supporting structure.

2. The sunshade device according to claim 1, wherein the shape-memory actuator is provided for controlling movement of the sunshade only from its inoperative position to its operative position, said device further comprising: engagement means for withholding the sunshade in its operative position once this has been reached so as to enable de-activation of the shape-memory actuator element; means for de-activation of the aforesaid engagement means; and elastic means that bring back the sunshade into its inoperative position.

3. The sunshade device according to claim 1, wherein a first shape-memory actuator element and a second shape-memory actuator element are provided for controlling movement of the sunshade into its operative position and into its inoperative position, respectively.

4. The sunshade device according to claim 1, wherein the shape-memory actuator is of a bistable type, designed to cause at each successive activation a movement of the sunshade from the inoperative position to the operative position, or vice versa.

5. The sunshade device according to claim 1, wherein the shape-memory actuator comprises: a shape-memory element wound around a rotatable disk, having one end connected to said rotatable disk and the opposite end connected to a fixed structure; means for electrical supply of said shape-memory element, designed to cause a heating of said shape-memory element beyond the transition temperature so as to bring about shortening thereof, with a consequent rotation of the aforesaid disk-like body on which the shape-memory element is wound; and a gear transmission for transmitting rotation of the aforesaid disk of the shape-memory actuator element to the shaft for rolling-up of the blind.

6. The sunshade device according to claim 1, wherein said shape-memory actuator comprises a pair of shape-memory wires that can be activated for controlling rotation of two oscillating arms, each having one end supported in a rotatable way by the supporting structure of the roller-blind device and the opposite end connected in an articulated way to a slider that can slide along a cross member fixed to the free edge of the blind, in such a way that said oscillating arms are displaceable between an aligned retracted condition, corresponding to the rolled-up condition of the blind, and a condition where they are rotated outwards, in which they cause unrolling of the blind.

7. The sunshade device according to claim 1, wherein said blind is made of fabric or of flexible plastic material and has two longitudinal edges englobing two metal wires or strips sufficiently flexible to enable rolling-up within the casing of the roller-blind device in the rolled-up condition of the blind, but sufficiently rigid to bestow upon the blind a rigid and self-bearing condition, in the distended condition of the blind.

8. The sunshade device according to claim 1, wherein the supporting structure of the roller blind is connected to a bracket to be recured the structure of the motor vehicle via a ball-and-socket joint.

9. The sunshade device according to claim 8, wherein the aforesaid articulated joint is provided in such a way as to maintain the casing of the roller-blind device clamped in any selected orientation and is in particular shaped in such a way as to enable an adjustment of the inclination of the plane of the blind in the distended condition.

10. The sunshade device according to claim 1, wherein it comprises means for activation of the shape-memory actuator, comprising a control pushbutton, an electronic control unit, which activates a circulation of electric current through the shape-memory actuator following upon operation of the control pushbutton.