Abstract:
An endcap for a vehicle shade roller assembly is provided. The end cap includes a cap body having an end face, the cap body being axially reciprocable among a plurality of positions relative to a shade spindle. A knob is fixed to the endcap and protrudes from the end face, and has at least one flange extending substantially parallel to the cap body end face. The knob is extendible into a vehicle trim panel, thereby positioning the at least one flange adjacent a substantially complementary structure in the trim panel such that an axial rotation of the end cap engages the flange with the substantially complementary structure to secure the endcap and its associated roller shade assembly.

Description:
[0001]    (This is a continuation in part of Provisional Application Serial No. 60/282,577) 
     
    
     
       TECHNICAL FIELD  
         [0002]    The present invention relates generally to vehicle roller shade assemblies, and more particularly to such an assembly having a locking end cap.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    Rollers for security shades for covering rear compartments of SUV&#39;s or hatchback vehicles, or for shades for covering automobile windows, or rollers for barrier nets, have long been used in the art. While these rollers are valuable accessories to most consumers, it is often desirable to remove the roller from the vehicle, thus making ease of installation and removal from the vehicle a key feature of the device.  
           [0004]    Another key criteria with respect to such rollers is their ability to accommodate variations in the build of multiple numbers of a single model vehicle. For example, security shades are typically mounted into brackets between the interior trim panels inside the vehicle. If the distance between the two trim panels varies between cars of the same production by tenths of inches, the roller must still be able to fit between the panels and not rattle back and forth.  
           [0005]    A preferred approach to holding the roller in place is to utilize end caps at the ends of the rollers, one or both of which are spring loaded. To install the rollers, the end caps are compressed to fit the roller into the brackets, and, when released, the spring or springs in the end caps exert an axially outward force against the brackets on the trim panels, keeping the roller in place. See for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,464,052, issued to the assignee of this application. This spring loaded design also provides a self-centering action, while allowing for easy installation or removal, even with one hand.  
           [0006]    There have been various attempts to even further secure the roller within the brackets, which have met with relative amounts of success. These devices typically add weight and/or cost to the shade, or limit the advantages of the floating endcaps, or make the shade significantly more difficult to install or remove. For example, one device requires pushing a button to release a lock, which mandates the use of two hands for removal. Another device utilizes a “click-pen” type of locking mechanism, which is also somewhat cumbersome and which detracts from the stabilizing effects of the spring loaded endcaps.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    In one aspect, the present invention provides an endcap for a vehicle shade roller assembly. The end cap includes a cap body having an exterior surface and an end face substantially perpendicular to the exterior surface. A knob extends from the end face and has a shaft portion and at least one flange extending in a substantially perpendicular direction from the shaft portion. The cap body is engageable with a bracket in a vehicle interior, the bracket having a slot substantially complementary with the at least one flange, and matable therewith by twisting the cap body relative to the bracket, thereby locking the cap body and its associated shade assembly.  
           [0008]    In another aspect, the present invention provides a locking assembly for a vehicle roller shade. The locking assembly includes a cap body having a continuous exterior lateral surface and an end surface. a locking member protrudes from the end surface, and has a shaft and at least one flange disposed proximate an end of the shaft. The flange extends from the shaft in a direction substantially parallel to the end surface. A bracket is provided, and is attached to a vehicle trim panel, the bracket being adapted to receive the locking member and including a slot that engages the at least one flange in a complementary fashion. The flange is engageable with the slot by axially rotating the cap member relative to the bracket.  
           [0009]    In yet another aspect, a vehicle roller shade assembly is provided. The roller shade assembly includes a windable shade roller member having an attached flexible shade panel. At least one end cap is provided, and is attached to the roller member. The end cap includes a cap body with a locking knob member extending in an axial direction from an end face, and having at least one flange. The end cap is reciprocable in an axial direction relative to the roller member. A bracket is also provided having a region substantially complementary to the at least one flange. The flange is engageable with the region by inserting the locking knob member into an aperture in the bracket and axially rotating the cap body relative to the bracket. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]    [0010]FIG. 1 is an assembly drawing of endcaps for a shade roller assembly (not shown) in combination with brackets for mounting the roller assembly into a motor vehicle;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 2 is a detail drawing of an endcap according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an endcap according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an endcap mounted into a bracket according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0014]    Referring to FIG. 3, there is shown a perspective view of an end cap  10  according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. End cap  10  has a slotted face  12 , an end face  11 , and a locking knob  14  protruding from end face  11 . End cap  1  is preferably a hollow plastic body formed by injection molding or some other suitable process, although it should be appreciated that it might instead be formed or stamped metal. In a preferred embodiment, end cap  10  is mounted at one or both ends of a conventional roller shade apparatus (not shown) for use in a vehicle storage compartment. End cap  10  preferably positions and secures the roller shade apparatus for deployment of a flexible shade panel over the vehicle cargo area. The slot  13  in slotted face  12  receives an edge of the flexible shade panel so that the winding and unwinding shade panel can pass therethrough, and allows end cap  10  to be axially compressed without disturbing the shade panel. In a preferred embodiment, end cap  10  is fixed to the roller shade apparatus, yet reciprocable between a retracted and an extended position, being biased by a biasing member (not shown) toward its extended position. It should be appreciated, however, that the biasing member is not critical, and embodiments are contemplated in which end cap  10  is not biased.  
         [0015]    At the axial outer face of the end cap  10  is the protruding locking knob  14 . Locking knob  14  preferably includes a pair of locking flanges  16  that extend outwardly from a shaft  17  of the knob. In a preferred embodiment, the flanges  16  are substantially flat and extend parallel to end face  11 , and are positioned on opposite sides of shaft  17 . Thus, knob  14  is preferably symmetrical in an end view. Alternative embodiments are contemplated, however, in which knob  14  has flanges positioned at a right angle, and even a version having only a single flange. Referring now in addition to FIG. 4, installation of end cap  10  (and its associated shade roller assembly) begins by securing a first end of the shade roller to a vehicle interior trim panel  18 , then compressing the opposite end cap  10  toward the first end. Axial compression of end cap  10  preferably retracts knob  14  to provide the clearance necessary to position the locking knob  14  in a bracket on an opposite trim panel. In a preferred embodiment, an end cap  10  is mounted to each end of the roller shade assembly; however, a single end cap may be used if desired. Where only a single end cap  10  according to the present invention is used, the end of the roller shade assembly without the end cap may be secured to the trim panel by other means, for example with a hook. When the compressed end cap  10  is released, the biasing members (preferably at both ends) urge the end caps outward, extending knob  14  into a substantially complementary aperture in the trim panel. In addition, the outward bias on the end caps centers the roller assembly in the cargo compartment and prevents its shifting or rattling during vehicle operation. Because the end caps are preferably spring loaded, they can move axially automatically to accommodate variations in internal widths among different individual vehicles. In an embodiment without biased end caps, the end caps may be moved manually to fit a particular vehicle interior width.  
         [0016]    Once the roller is positioned accordingly, i.e. with knob  14  positioned in the aperture in the mounting bracket, the assembly can be rotated to bring the flanges of the locking knob(s) into engagement with substantially mating vertical slots disposed internally in the trim panels (not shown). The engagement of the flanges with the mating slots locks the assembly in place, and prevents dislodging during shade deployment or vehicle operation. In a preferred embodiment, the slots for receipt of the flanges should be dimensioned to receive the flanges with a relatively snug fit, though not so tight as to make engagement and disengagement difficult. The slots might also be configured to have a tapered internal diameter, allowing the flanges to be brought into gradually tightening engagement therein. Although a preferred embodiment contemplates two flanges symmetrically positioned on opposite sides of the knob  14 , alternative constructions are contemplated. For instance, rather than employing opposing flanges, a single flange might be used. In this embodiment, a trim panel aperture for receiving knob  14  can be shaped such that it can insertably receive the knob only when the knob and flange are oriented in a particular way. Similarly, flanges positioned on the shaft  17  at right angles to one another could only be inserted into the trim panel aperture if appropriately oriented with respect to the aperture. Stated another way, the trim panel aperture may be fashioned substantially complementary to the flanges. The end cap must be axially rotated to the proper position before initial insertion into the aperture. It should be appreciated that separate bracket members may be mounted to the vehicle trim panels; alternatively, the brackets for receipt of the locking knobs may be formed integrally with the trim panel to enhance the appearance of the vehicle when the roller is not installed. Yet another embodiment is contemplated in which the brackets themselves may be rotated to engage the flanges with their respective slots.  
         [0017]    Thus, in the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the roller shade assembly having end cap  10  is initially positioned in a vehicle with its slot  13  facing an upward direction, and its flanges  16  extending in a horizontal direction relative to the vehicle trim panel. Once the end caps are axially compressed, and inserted into the trim panel, the entire assembly is preferably rotated approximately ¼ turn, securing the assembly in place, and rotating slot  13  to face a substantially rearward direction in the vehicle. Thenceforth, the shade can be pulled and retracted from the assembly in a conventional manner. Alternatively, installation might proceed by initially positioning the assembly with slot  13  facing a downward direction, then rotating the assembly to bring the slot upward to face a rearward direction in the vehicle. In either of these techniques, an approximately 180° rotation would bring the slots back into alignment with the insertion aperture, and allow disengagement of the knob. Stated another way, there are two possible axial positions of the knob, separated by 180°, at which it may be inserted or removed from the mounting bracket. So long as the flanges are not aligned with the insertion slot, the assembly is secured. Because this configuration allows removal at two separate positions, it is preferred in applications where the roller shade will be frequently installed and removed. In the aforementioned embodiments in which only one insertion orientation of the knob is possible, less flexibility exists in the possible orientation of the knob for installation and removal. Once installed, however, the assembly (and thus the end cap and knob) may be axially rotated with less risk of bringing the knob back into a position at which it can dislodge from the aperture. Similarly, in this embodiment, during normal, vehicle operation there is a lesser chance that the shade assembly will inadvertently rotation to an orientation where it will dislodge.  
         [0018]    The present invention represents a relatively simple design for rapid installation and removal of a conventional roller shade assembly from a vehicle. Additionally, the use of axially movable end caps facilitates application of the assembly to vehicle models having non-uniform interior dimensions. The present description is intended for illustrative purposes only, and should not be construed to limit the breadth of the present invention in any way. Thus, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications might be made to the presently disclosed embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Other aspects, features, and advantages will be apparent upon an examination of the attached drawing figures and appended claims.