A sunshade stopper is provided at a housing connecting a pair of guide rails that slidably supports a sunshade on a ceiling of a vehicle interior. The sunshade stopper includes a corresponding portion arranged at a position corresponding to an end portion of the sunshade during the sunshade is at the closed position, at least one contact portion provided on the corresponding portion that makes contact with at least a portion of the end portion of the sunshade during the sunshade is at the closed position, the contact portion formed with a form fitting the end portion of the sunshade that makes contact with the contact portion, and an attaching portion configured to be fixed to a vehicle, provided at a position in a direction opposite to where the ceiling is provided relative to the corresponding portion and extending in a direction in which the sunshade opens.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based on and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to Japanese Patent Application 2011-233291, filed on Oct. 24, 2011, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure generally relates to a sunshade stopper.

BACKGROUND DISCUSSION

At an opening formed on a roof of a vehicle, a transparent panel is fixed or a transparent movable panel is provided. A sunshade apparatus is provided at a vehicle interior side of the opening. A sunshade apparatus is an apparatus including guide rails and a sunshade that slides along the guide rails. By opening and closing the sunshade relative to the opening, an amount of light in the vehicle interior is adjusted.

In a sunshade apparatus in JP2005-297774A, hereinafter referred to as Reference 1, sunshade stoppers are provided within guide rails. The sunshade stoppers are provided for stopping a sunshade at a closed position on closing the sunshade.

In a sunshade apparatus in JPH6-320956A, hereinafter referred to as Reference 2, sunshade stoppers where end portions of a sunshade come into contact are provided on portions of a vehicle body.

In the sunshade apparatus in Reference 1, each of the sunshade stoppers is provided within the guide rail. Accordingly, a contact area between the sunshade stopper and the sunshade is limited to a small area. With an arrangement where the contact area between the sunshade stopper and the sunshade is small, stopping the sunshade stably at the closed position may become difficult.

In the sunshade apparatus in Reference 2, the sunshade stoppers are provided on the vehicle body. Accordingly, an amount of the contact area between the sunshade stopper and the sunshade varies depending on a form of the vehicle body. Providing an adequate contact area is not a consideration for the sunshade, the sunshade stopper or other arrangements in the sunshade apparatus in Reference 2. Accordingly, the sunshade and the sunshade stopper may make contact with each other in a point or in a line instead of making surface contact with each other. As with Reference 1, the arrangement described in Reference 2 is difficult in stopping the sunshade stably at the closed position.

A need thus exists for a sunshade stopper, which is not susceptible to the drawback mentioned above.

SUMMARY

A sunshade stopper is provided at a housing connecting a pair of guide rails that supports a sunshade to slide between its open and closed positions relative to a ceiling of a vehicle interior and provides an open position and a closed position of the sunshade. The sunshade stopper is arranged at a position to make contact with an end portion of the sunshade during the sunshade is at the closed position. The sunshade stopper includes a corresponding portion arranged at a position corresponding to the end portion of the sunshade during the sunshade is at the closed position. The sunshade stopper also includes at least one contact portion provided on the corresponding portion that makes contact with at least a portion of the end portion of the sunshade during the sunshade is at the closed position, the contact portion formed with a form fitting the end portion of the sunshade that makes contact with the contact portion31. The sunshade stopper further includes an attaching portion configured to be fixed to a vehicle, provided at a position in a direction opposite to where the ceiling is provided relative to the corresponding portion and extending in a direction in which the sunshade opens.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A sunshade stopper according to a first embodiment will be described referring toFIGS. 1 to 8. AsFIG. 1illustrates, a roof opening2formed in a substantially quadrilateral is provided on a roof1of a vehicle. In the roof opening2, a movable panel3is installed. The movable panel3allows sunlight, or lights from other sources, to penetrate through. At a portion in a vehicle interior corresponding to the roof opening2, a sunshade apparatus10is arranged so that the sunlight, or the lights from other sources, penetrated through the movable panel3is blocked.

AsFIG. 2illustrates, the sunshade apparatus10includes guide rails11, a front housing20, which serves as a housing, and a sunshade12. The guide rails11, each of which is formed by extrusion of an aluminum alloy, or formed by similar method and material, extend in a frontward and rearward direction of the vehicle. The guide rails11are arranged in a pair such that each of the guide rails11is at a position opposing each other in a vehicle width direction. The front housing20attaches to a front end portion of each of the guide rails11such that the front housing20is connecting between the front end portion of each of the guide rails11.

The sunshade12is formed, for example, with a multiple layer of resin materials. The sunshade12moves along the guide rails11in a frontward and rearward direction of the vehicle. More specifically, the sunshade12moves to and from a closed position that covers the roof opening2and an open position that exposes the roof opening2.

The front housing20is internally provided with a motor21. The motor21in an activated state moves a belt, which extends in the front housing20and the guide rails11, and functional parts, which are connected to the belt, along a direction along which the guide rails11extend. The functional parts are connected to the movable panel3such that the movable panel3tilts upward from a totally closed position in a state where the motor21is driven in one direction. By driving the motor21in the other direction, the movable panel3makes a tilt down movement from the totally closed position and then slides in the rearward direction. The arrangement described herewith works to open or close the movable panel3. The functional parts are connected with a rain channel R. The rain channel R moves in the rearward direction of the vehicle together with the movement of the movable panel3in the rearward direction. At a rearward portion of the sunshade12, a projected portion12A projecting in an upward direction of the vehicle is provided such that the rearward portion R1of the rain channel R may contact with the projected portion12A. Accordingly, at an occasion at which the movable panel3makes the tilt down movement from the totally closed position and then slides in the rearward direction of the vehicle, the sunshade12slides in the rearward direction simultaneously so that the sunshade12is automatically opened.

At an inner surface of the sunshade12, which is the surface in the vehicle interior side, a handle19is formed. The sunshade12is manually moved to and from between the closed position and the open position through the usage of the handle19.

AsFIG. 5illustrates, a front end portion12aof the sunshade12, the front end portion12awhich serves as an end portion of the sunshade12, is formed such that the front end portion12ais rolled back and heading in the upward direction relative to the upper surface of the sunshade12. In other words, the front end portion12ais formed along a line in a vehicle height direction.

AsFIGS. 3 and 4illustrate, the front end portion12aof the sunshade12is formed with curved surfaces12b, which are the curved surfaces provided on the sunshade12. Each of the curved surfaces12bis formed at an end portion of the front end portion12a, the end portion in a direction of each of the guide rails11. Each of the curved surfaces12bis formed such that a distance between the curved surface12band the front housing20increases as a position in the curved surface12bas being closer to the guide rail11nearby.FIG. 3is a top view illustrating the sunshade12in a state where the sunshade12is at the closed position.FIG. 4is a top view illustrating the sunshade12in a state where the sunshade12is opened slightly.

AsFIG. 2illustrates, a sunshade stopper30is provided at the front housing20. The sunshade stopper30is integrally formed with other portions of the housing20that is made of resin by injection molding. The sunshade stopper30is formed with a form corresponding to the front end portion12aof the sunshade12.

More specifically, the sunshade stopper30includes a corresponding portion32and an attaching portion34. AsFIG. 6illustrates, the corresponding portion32extends in the vehicle width direction to correspond with the front end portion12aof the sunshade12. At opposing end portions of the corresponding portion32, curved surfaces31, which are the curved surfaces provided on the sunshade stopper30, fitting the curved surfaces12b, which are the curved surfaces provided on the sunshade12. The curved surface31serves as a contact portion. AsFIGS. 3 and 8illustrate, in a state where the sunshade12is at the closed position, each of the curved surfaces12band the corresponding curved surface31make surface contact with each other.

AsFIG. 5illustrates, the attaching portion34is provided at a position below the corresponding portion32and extends in a direction in which the sunshade12opens, which is in a right direction of the drawing. The attaching portion34attaches to a trim15provided on a ceiling of the vehicle interior, attached by using bundling members16. Accordingly, the sunshade stopper30, furthermore the front housing20, is retained to the vehicle. As an arrow indicating a line of sight inFIG. 5illustrates, the attaching portion34arranged between the corresponding portion32and the vehicle interior restrains a user in the vehicle interior from sighting and recognizing the corresponding portion32with naked eyes.

AsFIG. 8illustrates, the corresponding portion32is formed with a curved portion33, the portion formed with a form that increases a distance between the curved portion33and the front end portion12aof the sunshade12as a position in the curved portion33as being closer to the central portion in the vehicle width direction. In other words, a clearance L, which is a separation distance between the curved portion33and the front end portion12aof the sunshade12, becomes maximum at the central portion of the curved portion33. The clearance L becomes smaller as a position in the curved portion33as being closer to each of the guide rails11. The clearance L becomes zero when the position in the curved portion33reaches the curved surface31.

AsFIG. 6illustrates, the curved portion33is formed with an upper surface portion33a. A height of the upper surface portion33abecomes gradually lower as the position in the curved portion33as being closer to the central portion in the vehicle width direction away from each of the guide rails11.

The arrangement described herewith operates as follows. AsFIG. 7illustrates, by using the handle19, the sunshade12in a state at the open position is manually moved in a direction in which the sunshade12closes. AsFIG. 8illustrates, the sunshade12that reached the closed position provides a state in which each of the curved surfaces12band the corresponding curved surface31make surface contact with each other. Accordingly, a movement of the sunshade12in the closing direction is restrained.

The sunshade stopper according to the first embodiment is advantageous in following respects. The curved surfaces31provided on the sunshade stopper30in the corresponding portion32, each of the curved surfaces31that serves as a contact portion, is formed with a form fitting the corresponding curved surface12bprovided at the front end portion12aof the sunshade12. Accordingly, an amount of contact area between the sunshade12at the closed position and the sunshade stopper30is increased. As a result, the sunshade stopper30stably stops the sunshade12at the closed position.

The sunshade stopper30, furthermore the front housing20, is retained to the trim15at the attaching portion34. The attaching portion34is provided at a position in a direction opposite to where the ceiling is provided relative to the corresponding portion32and extends in the direction in which the sunshade12opens. Accordingly, the attaching portion34restrains the corresponding portion32from being sighted and recognized from the vehicle interior. In other words, the attaching portion34functions as a blinder. As a result, a look of the sunshade stopper30viewed from the vehicle interior is enhanced.

Increasing the amount of contact area between the sunshade stopper30and the sunshade12decreases a noise generating at the time the sunshade12comes into contact with the sunshade stopper30. Increasing the amount of contact area between the sunshade stopper30and the sunshade12also decreases a force that applies per unit area applied on the sunshade stopper30, so that a durability of the sunshade stopper30is increased. Decreasing the force that applies per unit area is advantageous in forming a portion serving as the curved surface31provided on the sunshade stopper30to be formed thinner and provides the sunshade stopper30with a simpler configuration.

The sunshade stopper30is made of resin and is formed by injection molding. Accordingly, the sunshade stopper30may be provided with a form fitting the front end portion12aof the sunshade12with less effort compared with the case with which the sunshade stopper30is provided with other manufacturing method requiring cutting processes, or similar manufacturing method.

Upon arrangement described herewith, the sunshade stopper30according to the first embodiment provides the sunshade stopper30that stops the sunshade12stably at the closed position with less manpower relative to a sunshade stopper arrangement that provides sunshade stoppers in the guide rails. In a state where the sunshade12is at an open position, the central portion of the sunshade stopper30, which is the central portion of the corresponding portion32, is relatively easy to sight and recognize from the vehicle interior. The sunshade stopper30is formed with the curved portion33formed such that the distance between the curved portion33and the front end portion12aof the sunshade12increases as the position in the curved portion33as being closer to the central portion. Accordingly, even in a state where the sunshade12is at the open position, the attaching portion34provides a state where the curved portion33is at a position restrained from being sighted and recognized by the user in the vehicle interior. Accordingly, the look of the sunshade stopper30viewed from the vehicle interior is enhanced.

The curved portion33is formed with the upper surface portion33awhere the height of the upper surface portion33abecomes gradually lower as the position in the upper surface portion33aas being closer to the central portion in the vehicle width direction away from each of the guide rails11. Accordingly, even in a state where the sunshade12is at the open position, the attaching portion34provides a state where the curved portion33is at a position restrained from being viewed and recognized by the user in the vehicle interior. Accordingly, the look of the sunshade stopper30viewed from the vehicle interior is enhanced.

Each of the curved surfaces31provided on the sunshade stopper30is formed at each of the opposing end portions of the corresponding portion32. Accordingly, the sunshade12is restrained from being in a state in which the contact with the sunshade stopper30as being at one end only. The sunshade12makes contact with each of the curved surfaces31so that the sunshade stopper30stably stops the sunshade12at the closed position.

The curved surfaces31provided on the sunshade stopper30is configured so that each of the curved surfaces31is formed in a form that increases extending length in the direction in which the sunshade12opens as a position in each of the curved surfaces31as being closer to the guide rail11nearby. Each of the curved surfaces31restrains the sunshade12at the closed position from misalignment in the vehicle width direction. Accordingly, the sunshade stopper30stably stops the sunshade12at the closed position.

The front end portion12aof the sunshade12including the curved surfaces12bprovided on the sunshade12is rolled back such that the front end portion12aincluding the curved surfaces12bheads in the upward direction of the vehicle. Accordingly, outward surfaces of the rolled back portion of the curved surfaces12band the corresponding curved surfaces31provided on the sunshade stopper30make surface contact with each other during the sunshade12is at the closed position. As a result, the amount of contact area between the sunshade12and the sunshade stopper30is increased. Accordingly, the sunshade stopper30stably stops the sunshade12at the closed position.

The sunshade stopper30according to the first embodiment may be modified in following manners. The front housing20where the sunshade stopper30according to the first embodiment is provided is arranged at a position in the frontward direction of the vehicle relative to the guide rails11in the sunshade stopper30according to the first embodiment, however, the front housing20may be arranged at a position in the rearward direction of the vehicle relative to the guide rails11. In the arrangement described herewith, the sunshade12closes in the rearward direction of the vehicle.

The motor21in the detailed description of the sunshade stopper30according to the first embodiment is arranged at a position in the frontward direction of the vehicle relative to the guide rails11, however, the motor21may be retained on a rear housing arranged at a position in the rearward direction of the vehicle relative to the guide rails11. In other words, the component that retains the motor21is not limited to the front housing20if the component that retains the motor21is a component that connects between the guide rails11. In the arrangement described herewith, the sunshade12closes in the frontward direction of the vehicle.

The sunshade12in the detailed description of the sunshade stopper30according to the first embodiment is the sunshade12that opened and closed manually, however, the sunshade12may be opened or closed by driving a motor for the sunshade12, or using a similar device. In the arrangement described herewith, the front housing20may retain the motor for the sunshade12. The front housing20retaining the motor for the sunshade12may or may not retain the motor21.

The guide rails11in the detailed description of the sunshade stopper30according to the first embodiment are components that movably support the sunshade12and the movable panel3, however, the guide rails11may be components that movably support the sunshade12and not the components that movably support the movable panel3.

The sunshade stopper30according to the first embodiment is provided with a pair of curved surfaces31provided on the sunshade stopper30, however, these curved surfaces31may be formed as flat surfaces instead. In the arrangement described herewith, the curved surfaces12bprovided on the sunshade12is also formed as flat surfaces.

The curved portion33may be omitted so that the corresponding portion32is formed in a straight line form extending in the vehicle width direction. In the arrangement described herewith, the front end portion12aof the sunshade12makes contact with the entire portion of the corresponding portion32. Accordingly, the amount of contact area between the corresponding portion32and the sunshade12increases. The upper surface portion33aof the curved portion33may be formed as a flat surface.

The front end portion12aof the sunshade12in the detailed description of the sunshade stopper30according to the first embodiment is rolled back and heading in the upward direction, however, the front end portion12amay be formed without a portion being rolled back. The front end portion12amay be formed in a flat form as an extension of the flat form of the sunshade12.

The sunshade stopper30and the front housing20may be formed as separate units.

According to an aspect of this disclosure, the sunshade stopper30is provided at the front housing20connecting the pair of guide rails11that slidably supports the sunshade12on the ceiling of the vehicle interior and provides the open position and the closed position of the sunshade12. The sunshade stopper30is arranged at the position to make contact with the front end portion12aof the sunshade12during the sunshade12is at the closed position. The sunshade stopper30includes the corresponding portion32arranged at the position corresponding to the front end portion12aof the sunshade12during the sunshade12is at the closed position. The sunshade stopper30also includes at least one curved surface31provided on the sunshade stopper30provided on the corresponding portion32that makes contact with at least a portion of the front end portion12aof the sunshade12during the sunshade12is at the closed position, the curved surface31formed with a form fitting the front end portion12aof the sunshade12that makes contact with the curved surface31. The sunshade stopper30further includes the attaching portion34configured to be fixed to the vehicle, provided at the position in the direction opposite to where the ceiling is provided relative to the corresponding portion32and extending in the direction in which the sunshade12opens.

Accordingly, the sunshade stopper30, furthermore the front housing20, is retained to the vehicle at the attaching portion34. The attaching portion34is provided at the position in the direction opposite to where the ceiling is provided relative to the corresponding portion32and extending in the direction in which the sunshade12opens. As a result, the attaching portion34functions as a blinder, which restrains the corresponding portion32from being sighted and recognized from the vehicle interior. The curved surface31provided on the sunshade stopper30of the corresponding portion32is provided with a form fitting the front end portion12athat makes contact with the sunshade stopper30. Accordingly, the amount of contact area is increased between the sunshade stopper30and the sunshade12during the sunshade12is at the closed position, so that the sunshade stopper30stably stops the sunshade12at the closed position.

According to another aspect of this disclosure, the corresponding portion32of the sunshade stopper30includes the central portion in the direction orthogonal to the direction the sunshade12slides formed with lower height in the vehicle height direction relative to opposing end portions of the corresponding portion32.

In the state in which the sunshade12is at the open position, sighting and recognizing the central portion of the corresponding portion32from the vehicle interior is relatively easy relative to sighting and recognizing the opposing end portions of the corresponding portion32. In the arrangement described herewith, the central portion of the corresponding portion32is formed with lower height relative to the opposing end portions of the corresponding portion32. Accordingly, the attaching portion34reliably restrains, or limits, the corresponding portion32from being sighted and recognized from the vehicle interior even in a situation where the sunshade12is at the open position.

According to further aspect of this disclosure, the contact portion31of the sunshade stopper30is formed at each of the opposing end portions of the corresponding portion32in the direction orthogonal to the direction that the sunshade12slides. The portion of the corresponding portion32between the contact portions31is formed to increase distance between the corresponding portion32and the sunshade12as the position in the portion of the corresponding portion32between the contact portions31as being closer to the central portion in the direction orthogonal to the direction that the sunshade12slides.

In the arrangement described herewith, each of the curved surfaces31provided on the sunshade stopper30is formed at each of the opposing end portions of the corresponding portion32. Accordingly, the sunshade12is restrained from being in a state in which the contact with the sunshade stopper30as being at one end only. The sunshade12makes contact with each of the curved surfaces31, so that the sunshade stopper30stably stops the sunshade12at the closed position. The sunshade stopper30is formed such that the distance between the sunshade stopper30and the sunshade12increases as the position between each of the corresponding portions32as being closer to the central portion in the vehicle width direction. Accordingly, even in the state where the sunshade12is at the open position, the attaching portion34provides the state where the corresponding portion32is further restrained from being sighted and recognized from the vehicle interior.

According to another aspect of this disclosure, the curved surfaces31of the sunshade stopper30are formed as surfaces that increase extending length in the direction in which the sunshade opens as a position in the curved surfaces31as being closer to the guide rails11.

In the arrangement described herewith, the curved surfaces31provided on the sunshade stopper30are formed as surfaces such that extending length in the direction in which the sunshade12opens increase as a position in the curved surfaces31as being closer to the guide rails11. Accordingly, each of the curved surfaces31restrains the sunshade12at the closed position from misalignment in the direction orthogonal to the direction the sunshade12slides. Accordingly, the sunshade stopper30stably stops the sunshade12at the closed position.

According to further aspect of this disclosure, the sunshade stopper30makes contact with the end portion12aof the sunshade12rolled back and heading in the vehicle height direction.

In the arrangement described herewith, the front end portion12aof the sunshade12is formed such that the front end portion12ais rolled back and heading in the height direction of the vehicle. As a result, the amount of contact area between the front end portion12aand the curved surfaces31provided on the sunshade stopper30is increased. Accordingly, the sunshade stopper30stably stops the sunshade12at the closed position.