Force assist for sunshade closing slide mechanism

An automotive vehicle sunshade assembly for controlling light entering a vehicle interior is provided having an elongated rotatable member, a flexible shade wrapped around the elongated rotatable member having a first edge connected to the rotatable member, and a second edge connected to an elongated extension member. Two support arms extend between the elongated extension member and the base profile and are operable to unroll the flexible shade from a elongated rotatable member thereby covering a vehicle window. Furthermore, an end cap is affixed to at least the first end of the elongated extension member. The elongated extension member further having at least one channel or track disposed therein. A biasing member is positioned within the at least one channel between the support arm and the end cap operable to force movement of the support arm during retraction of the flexible shade.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to automotive vehicle sunshade assemblies. More particularly, this invention relates to automatic rolling automotive vehicle sunshade assemblies for motor vehicles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Automatic and electronically operated sunshade assemblies are more frequently being used in motor vehicles as a means to block out unwanted sun within a vehicle interior. Such sunshade assemblies commonly include a gear which drives two arms to rotate a shade up a window. The arms have a sliding member which slide along a track during actuation. The shade stops in the fully open position when the sliding members hit the end cap within the track. When closing the shade, the gear reverses direction rotating the arms to retract the shade to a closed position. The arms actuate the sliding member within the track as the shade retracts. However, the length of the shade and angle of the arms in the extended position create difficulty when closing or retracting the shade. The sliding members therefore do not slide smoothly within the track. Accordingly, it is highly desirable to provide a fix to this problem wherein the sliding member and the arms are able to smoothly travel within the track.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An automotive vehicle sunshade assembly for controlling light entering a vehicle interior is provided having an elongated rotatable member, a flexible shade wrapped around the elongated rotatable member having a first edge connected to the rotatable member, and a second edge connected to an elongated extension member. Two support arms extend between the elongated extension member and the base profile and are operable to unroll the flexible shade from a elongated rotatable member thereby covering a vehicle window. Furthermore, an end cap is affixed to at least the first end of the elongated extension member. The elongated extension member further having at least one channel or track disposed therein. A biasing member, typically a spring, is positioned within the at least one channel between the support arm and the end cap operable to force movement of the support arm during retraction of the flexible shade.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides for an automotive vehicle sunshade assembly for controlling light entering a vehicle providing a force assist for closing or retracting the sunshade assembly. The force assist mechanism uses a biasing member or a spring to force retraction of the sunshade assembly.

An automotive vehicle10is provided having a sunshade assembly20operable to smoothly retract from an open position to a closed position.FIG. 2shows the movement of the sunshade assembly from an open position to a closed position. The sunshade assembly20includes an elongated rotatable member located within the base profile13, a flexible shade18and an elongated extension member12. The flexible shade18has a first edge17and a second edge19. The first edge17is connected to the elongated rotatable member wherein the flexible shade18is operable to wrap around the elongated rotatable member. The second edge19is connected to the elongated extension member12wherein the elongated extension member12travels up and down along a vehicle window56.

The elongated extension member12moves by means of the support arms14. In this embodiment, the sunshade assembly20includes just two support members14. The two support members14connect to the base profile13at the pivot point15. The support arms14rotate about the pivot point15by means of the rotating gear motor assembly30,33. The arms14rotate about the pivot point15thereby pushing the elongated extension member12along the window56. When the support arms14are pushing the elongated extension member12up the window56, the flexible shade18is unrolling about the elongated rotatable member. Once the arms14are at a position substantially perpendicular to the base profile13, the sunshade assembly20and flexible shade18are substantially covering the vehicle window56. In the present embodiment, the support arms14do not cross in the closed position, as shown inFIG. 2. In an alternative embodiment, the support arms require the use of multiple channels and cross when the support arms14are in a closed position.

Support arms14dand elongated extension member12depict the current positioning of the prior art. From the positioning of support arm14dand elongated extension member12, the sunshade assembly shows difficulty and unsmooth retracting and closing of the flexible shade18and the sunshade assembly20.

The force assist mechanism operable to create smooth travel for retraction and closing of the flexible shade18includes an end cap54, a biasing member50, connector66and a sliding member22slidable within a channel62,64of the elongated extension member12. The prior art showed sliding member22coming into contact with the end cap54when the sunshade assembly20and the flexible shade18was in a fully open position. The biasing member50, typically a spring, acts as a spacer and as an additional force mechanism to push closed the sunshade assembly20by means of pushing the sliding member22thereby forcing the sunshade assembly20to a retracted or closed position.

The sliding member22is slidable within the channel or track62or the channel or track64. The elongated extension member12includes at least one track62,64. At either end of the extension member12, an end cap54is positioned. The sliding member22is pivotally attached to the support arm14at pivot point60. The support arm14moves the sliding member22and thereby forces the elongated extension member12upwards to open the sunshade assembly20to an open position whereby the flexible shade18covers the vehicle window56. Upon retraction of the flexible shade18, the support arms14move the sliding member22to lower the extension member12to a retracted and closed position. The biasing member or spring50adds extra force to a first end23of the sliding member22. The extra force provided by the biasing member50is needed to overcome the moment due to the friction of the slider22moving from an open position to a closed position. In the open position the sliding member22contacts the biasing member50which contacts a support surface68of the end cap54. Upon retraction, the biasing member50pushes on the first surface23of the sliding member22and on the support surface68of the end cap54to assist pushing the sliding member22to force retraction and closing of the sunshade assembly20. The gear is the main source of force on the sliding member22, however, the biasing member50acts significantly to overcome the friction of the sliding member22within the track to facilitate smoother movement of the sliding member22.

As shown inFIG. 2, the support arms14move the elongated extension member12from an open position to a closed position (32,34). Decreased travel distance16a,16bdepicts the space added by the biasing member50. In an alternative embodiment, a spacer70is positioned within the channels62,64between the sliding member22and the end cap54. In this embodiment, the spacer70has a circular cross section. In an alternative embodiment, the spacer has a cross section which mimics the shape of the channel64. The spacer70is depicted inFIGS. 7 and 8. The spacer70increases the distance between the sliding member22and the end cap54thereby decreasing the required travel distance of the sliding member22within the elongated extension member12during closing or retraction of the sunshade assembly20.

The spacer70also decreases the angle of the arms14thereby decreasing the required travel distance of the sliding member22within the elongated extension member12during closing or retraction of the sunshade assembly20. The increased distance16a,16bprovided by the spacer70overcomes the moment required to retract the sunshade assembly20. The added distance16a,16bprovided by the spacer70eliminates the sticking or stubborn movement of the sliding member22within the channels62,64thereby providing smooth movement of the sliding member22within the tracks or channels62,64.

FIG. 2shows the various positions of the elongated extension member12, the sliding member22, and the support arms14during opening and closing of the sunshade20and flexible shade18. Position A shows the sunshade assembly20in the opened position wherein a biasing member50or a stopper70is in position. Upon closing, position B shown by support arm14b, sliding member22b, and elongated extension member12bwherein the sunshade assembly20is in a half closed position. Position C is shown by the placement of support arm14c, sliding member22c, and elongated extension member12c. Position C is shown at a position wherein the sunshade assembly20is near a fully retracted or closed position.

The invention is not restricted to the illustrative examples and embodiments described above. The embodiments are not intended as limitations on the scope of the invention. Methods, apparatus, compositions, and the like described herein are exemplary and are not intended as limitations on the scope of the invention. Changes therein and other uses will occur to those skilled in the art. The scope of the invention is defined by the scope of the appended claims.