Abstract:
A daytime and nighttime light filtering device for the front seat of an automobile includes an outer frame, two winding mechanisms, a daytime strong light-preventing soft screen, a nighttime strong light-preventing soft screen and a positioning mechanism. By mutual action and cooperation of the position mechanism and the winding mechanism, the daytime strong light-preventing soft screen or the nighttime strong light-preventing soft screen can be wound in the winding mechanism or pulled down and unwound for use if necessary, able to effectively filter strong light and taking little space.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    This invention relates to a daytime and nighttime light filtering device for the front seat of an automobile, particularly to one able to be conveniently and quickly positioned on the windshield of an automobile for preventing strong light, having effects of obstructing sunlight and protecting eyes. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0004]    Generally, one of the troubles a driver encounters is that the sun projects strong light upon the eyes directly and makes a driver unable to open his eyes, rendering a driver impossible to drive with safety. To solve such a problem, a driver usually has to wear sunglasses for blocking off the strong sunlight. However, when a driver forgets to bring sunglasses with him, or if driver is near sighted or farsighted and already has such eyeglasses on but has to additionally wear dark glasses, it will surely cause much trouble to the driver. Although each automobile is provided with visors over the front seat for blocking off the sunlight, yet the visor that is opaque may also obstruct a driver&#39;s eyesight. In another case, if the driver is short-statured, and when the sun just rises or is to set and horizontally projects light to the interior of an automobile, the visor above the front seat will become useless and the driver has to wear sunglasses in order to block off the sunlight, thus resulting in much trouble to a driver. 
         [0005]    To solve foresaid problems caused by the opaque visor that may block off a driver&#39;s eyesight, a sunlight-obstructing device for an automobile has been researched and developed, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,183,033, No. 6,328,371, No. 4,171,845, No. 3,584,910, No. 5,076,633 and No. 6,318,789, and No. 11/351,960 filed by the applicant of this invention. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The objective of this invention is to offer a daytime and nighttime light filtering device for the front seat of an automobile, convenient in operation and practical in use. 
         [0007]    The characteristics of the inventions are an outer frame, two winding mechanisms, a daytime strong light-preventing soft screen, a nighttime strong light-preventing soft screen and a position mechanism. The daytime and the nighttime strong light-preventing soft screen can be wound in or pulled down from the winding mechanisms so that strong light may be filtered during daytime or nighttime to enable the driver of an automobile to drive safely without using sunglasses. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    This invention will be better understood by referring to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a daytime and nighttime light filtering device for the front seat of an automobile in the present invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the light filtering device for the front seat of an automobile in the present invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a schematic view illustrating a strong light-preventing soft screen pulled down and unwound for use in the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a schematic view illustrating the strong light-preventing soft screen being wound up by the ratchets in the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is another schematic view illustrating the strong light-preventing soft screen being wound up by the ratchets in the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a schematic view illustrating a nighttime strong light-preventing soft screen used in the present invention; and 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a schematic view illustrating that a daytime strong light-preventing soft screen is used in the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0016]    A preferred embodiment of a daytime and nighttime light filtering device for the front seat of an automobile in the present invention, as shown in  FIGS. 1 to 7 , includes an outer frame  1 , two winding mechanisms  2 ,  3 , a nighttime strong light-preventing soft screen  4 , a daytime strong light-preventing soft screen  5  and a positioning mechanism  6  as main components combined together. 
         [0017]    The outer frame  1  is formed with two circular arc surfaces  10 ,  11 , and has one side provided with an insert groove  12  and a positioning threaded hole  120  and another side mounted thereon with a combining seat  13  and a cap  14 . The combining seat  13  is disposed with engage slots  130  and positioning slots  131 , while the cap  14  is disposed with insert projections  140  to be respectively engaged with the engage slots  130  of the combining seat  13 . The outer frame  1  further has its back side provided with positioning grooves  15  and sucking disks  16 . 
         [0018]    The two winding mechanisms  2 ,  3  are respectively fitted in the two circular arc surfaces  10 ,  11  of the outer frame  1 , respectively consisting of a winding tube  20 ,  30 , an elastic member  21 ,  31 , and a braking rod  22 ,  32 . The winding tube  20 ,  30  is formed with a fitting member  200 ,  300  at one end and an insert member  201 ,  301  at another end, and further cut with a notch  202 ,  302 . The elastic member  21 ,  31  respectively received in the interior of the winding tube  20 , is provided with an engage member  210 ,  310  and an insert groove  211 ,  311 . The braking rod  22 ,  32  to be inserted in the interior of the elastic member  21 ,  31  has one end formed with an insert recess  220 ,  320  and another end fixed with a positioning projection  221 ,  321 . 
         [0019]    The daytime strong light-preventing soft screen  4  wound on a first winding tube  20  has one end engaged and positioned in the notch  202  of the first winding tube  20  and then wound around the surface of the first winding tube  20 . Further, the daytime strong light-preventing soft screen  4  has its outer end provided with a gravitational member  40  and a pull member  41 . Preferably, the daytime strong light-preventing soft screen  4  is made of dark brown-colored filtering material. 
         [0020]    The nighttime strong light-preventing soft screen  5  wound around a second winding tube  30  has one end engaged and positioned in the notch  302  of the second winding tube  30  and then wound around the surface of the second winding tube  30 , further having its outer end fixed with a gravitational member  50  and a pull member  51 . The nighttime strong light-preventing soft screen  5  is made of yellow-colored filtering material. 
         [0021]    The positioning mechanism  6  to be fitted on the insert groove  12  of the outer frame  1  is composed of a fitting base  60 , elastic members  61 ,  61 ′, braking ratchet wheels  62 ,  62 ′, engage ratchet wheels  63 ,  63 ′ and actuating rods  64 ,  64 ′. The fitting base  60  is bored with two fitting round holes  600 ,  600 ′, two insert holes  601 ,  601 ′ and a positioning threaded hole  602 , with the elastic members  61 ,  61 ′ respectively received in the two fitting round holes  600 ,  600 ′. The two braking ratchet wheels  62 ,  62 ′ are respectively fitted in the interior of the two fitting round holes  600 ,  600 ′ of the fitting base  60  and extended out the insert holes  601 ,  601 ′, respectively having one end provided with a braking engage surface  620 ,  620 ′ and another end extended out to form a connecting rod  621 ,  621 ′ with an insert hole  6210 ,  6210 ′ at the end. The engage ratchet wheels  63 ,  63 ′ are respectively fitted on the fitting member  200 ,  300  of the winding tube  26 ,  30 , respectively having one end formed with a braking engage surface  630 ,  630 ′ and another end disposed with an engage portion  631 ,  631 ′. The actuating rods  64 ,  64 ′ are respectively positioned in front of the insert holes  601 ,  601 ′ of the fitting base  60  and provided with positioning, holes  640 ,  640 ′, resisting surfaces  641 ,  641 ′, actuating members  642 ,  642 ′ and screw members (N). 
         [0022]    In assembling, firstly, the elastic members  21 ,  31  of the winding mechanisms  2 ,  3  are respectively put in the insert recess  220 ,  320  of the braking rods  22 ,  32 , letting the insert recess  220 ,  320  of the braking rods  22 ,  32  fitted with the engage members  210 ,  310  of the elastic members  21 ,  31 . Next, the elastic members  21 ,  31  together with the braking rods  22 ,  32  is inserted in the winding, tubes  20 ,  30  to let the insert members  201 ,  301  of the winding tubes  20 ,  30  engaged and positioned with the insert grooves  211 ,  311  of the elastic members  21 ,  31  and to have the positioning projections  221 ,  321  of the braking rods  22 ,  32  inserted in the engage slots  130  of the combining seat  13  of the outer frame  1  and firmly engaged together. Subsequently, the fitting member  200 ,  300  of the winding tubes  20 ,  30  is fitted with the engage portions  631 ,  631 ′ of the engage ratchet wheels  63 ,  63 ′ and fixed in place and then, the elastic members  61 ,  61 ′ are respectively placed in the fitting round holes  600 ,  600 ′ of the fitting base  60  of the positioning mechanism  6 , and the connecting rods  621 ,  621 ′ of the braking ratchet wheels  62 ,  62 ′ are respectively inserted in the interior of the elastic members  61 ,  61 ′ and extended out of the insert holes  601 ,  601  of the fitting base  60 . Afterward, the actuating rods  64 ,  64 ′ are respectively fixed in place with the braking ratchet wheels  62 ,  62 ′ by screw members (N) that are respectively inserted through the positioning holes  640 ,  640 ′ of the actuating rods  64 ,  64 ′ and also the insert holes  6210 ,  6210 ′ of the connecting rods  621 ,  621 ′ of the braking ratchet wheels  62 ,  62 ′. Then, the positioning mechanism  6  is inserted in the outer frame  1  through the insert groove  12  of the outer frame  1 , letting the braking engage surfaces  620 ,  620 ′ of the braking ratchet wheels  62 ,  62 ′ respectively and mutually engaged with the braking engage surfaces  630 ,  630 ′ of the engage ratchet wheels  63 ,  63 ′, and a screw member (N) is inserted through the positioning threaded hole  602  of the fitting base  60  and screwed with the positioning threaded hole  120  of the outer frame  1 . Lastly, the cap  14  of the outer frame  1  is covered on the combining seat  13  and the sucking disks  16  are respectively fixed in the positioning grooves  15 . 
         [0023]    In using, after the sucking disks  16  of the outer frame  1  are firmly positioned on the windshield of an automobile, when driving an automobile, a driver can optionally use a suitable strong light-preventing soft screen in accordance with the weather conditions. For instance, if the sunlight is strong in the daytime, the daytime strong light-preventing soft screen  4  can be pulled out and unwound for blocking off strong sunlight. At this time, the elastic member  21  will be rotated to make resilience contraction because one end of the elastic member  21  is engaged with the first winding tube  20  and another end has the engage member  210  engaged and secured together with the insert recess  220  of the braking rod that has the positioning projection  221  at one end immovably fixed in place by the engage slot  130  of the outer frame  1 . And, with the help of the gravitational member  40  at the outer end of the daytime strong light-preventing soft screen  4 , the daytime strong light-preventing soft screen  4  can be stabilized not to flutter about. To wind the daytime strong light-preventing soft screen  4 , only pull the actuating member  642  of the actuating rod  64  to have the resisting surface  641  pushing out the braking ratchet wheel  62  due to leverage, letting the braking engage surface  620  of the braking ratchet wheel  62  disengaged from the braking engage surface  630  of the engage ratchet wheel  63 . Simultaneously, by function of contraction resilience of the elastic member  21  in the first winding tube  20 , the daytime strong light-preventing soft screen  4  will be wound in the interior of the first winding tube  20 . When driving at night, simply pull down the nighttime strong light-preventing soft screen  5  for filtering strong light of automobile lamps in opposite direction without affecting a driver&#39;s eyesight, enabling the driver to drive with concentration for insuring driving safety. 
         [0024]    As can be understood from the above description, this invention has the following advantages. 
         [0025]    1. The strong light-preventing soft screen for the front seat of an automobile in the present invention can be optionally employed in the daytime or in the nighttime for obstructing strong light so it is unnecessary for a driver to wear sunglasses. 
         [0026]    2. The strong light-preventing soft screen for the front seat of an automobile of this invention can easily be secured on the windshield of an automobile, extremely convenient in assembly. 
         [0027]    3. The daytime and nighttime strong light-preventing soft screen of this invention respectively have a lower end additionally fixed with a gravitational member so that, after being pulled down and expanded, the daytime and the nighttime strong light-preventing soft screen can be stabilized not to flutter about. 
         [0028]    While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been described above, it will be recognized and understood that various modifications may be made therein and the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications that may fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.