Automotive windshield screen device

A automotive windshield screen device for keeping an interior of an automobile relatively cool. The automotive windshield screen device includes a rod. The rod is elongate and has a first end and a second end. The first end is rotatably coupled to an inside portion of the automobile and positioned substantially adjacent to a first upper corner of the windshield. A turning mechanism for rotating the rod is mounted to an inside portion of the automobile and positioned substantially adjacent to a second upper corner of the windshield. The second end of the rod is mechanically coupled to the turning mechanism. An actuating mechanism turns on the turning mechanism in a first or second direction. The actuating mechanism is operationally coupled to the turning mechanism. A power supply supplies power to the turning mechanism and is operationally coupled to the actuating mechanism. A panel has a first edge and a second edge. The first edge is fixedly coupled to the rod such that the panel may be wound about the rod.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
 1. Field of the Invention
 The present invention relates to windshield screens and more particularly
 pertains to a new automotive windshield screen device for keeping an
 interior of an automobile relatively cool.
 2. Description of the Prior Art
 The use of windshield screens is known in the prior art. More specifically,
 windshield screens heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist
 basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations,
 notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art
 which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and
 requirements.
 Known prior art includes U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,344,206; 5,042,866; 1,755,734;
 U.S. Des. Pat. No. 375,713; U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,493,192; and 5,720,508.
 While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and
 requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new automotive
 windshield screen device. The inventive device includes a rod. The rod is
 elongate and has a first end and a second end. The first end is rotatably
 coupled to an inside portion of the automobile and positioned
 substantially adjacent to a first upper corner of the windshield. A
 turning means for rotating the rod is mounted to an inside portion of the
 automobile and positioned substantially adjacent to a second upper corner
 of the windshield. The second end of the rod is mechanically coupled to
 the turning means. An actuating means turns on the turning means in a
 first or second direction. The actuating means is operationally coupled to
 the turning means. A power supply supplies power to the turning means and
 is operationally coupled to the actuating means. A panel has a first edge
 and a second edge. The first edge is fixedly coupled to the rod such that
 the panel may be wound about the rod.
 In these respects, the automotive windshield screen device according to the
 present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and
 designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily
 developed for the purpose of keeping an interior of an automobile
 relatively cool.
 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
 In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of
 windshield screens now present in the prior art, the present invention
 provides a new automotive windshield screen device construction wherein
 the same can be utilized for keeping an interior of an automobile
 relatively cool.
 The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described
 subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new automotive windshield
 screen device apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the
 windshield screens mentioned heretofore and many novel features that
 result in a new automotive windshield screen device which is not
 anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the
 prior art windshield screens, either alone or in any combination thereof.
 To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a rod. The rod is
 elongate and has a first end and a second end. The first end is rotatably
 coupled to an inside portion of the automobile and positioned
 substantially adjacent to a first upper corner of the windshield. A
 turning means for rotating the rod is mounted to an inside portion of the
 automobile and positioned substantially adjacent to a second upper corner
 of the windshield. The second end of the rod is mechanically coupled to
 the turning means. An actuating means turns on the turning means in a
 first or second direction. The actuating means is operationally coupled to
 the turning means. A power supply supplies power to the turning means and
 is operationally coupled to the actuating means. A panel has a first edge
 and a second edge. The first edge is fixedly coupled to the rod such that
 the panel may be wound about the rod.
 There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features
 of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that
 follows may be better understood, and in order that the present
 contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional
 features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which
 will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
 In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention
 in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its
 application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the
 components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the
 drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being
 practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood
 that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose
 of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
 As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon
 which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the
 designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the
 several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore,
 that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions
 insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present
 invention.
 Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent
 and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the
 scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar
 with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a
 cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of
 the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention
 of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to
 be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.
 It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new
 automotive windshield screen device apparatus and method which has many of
 the advantages of the windshield screens mentioned heretofore and many
 novel features that result in a new automotive windshield screen device
 which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by
 any of the prior art windshield screens, either alone or in any
 combination thereof.
 It is another object of the present invention to provide a new automotive
 windshield screen device which may be easily and efficiently manufactured
 and marketed.
 It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new automotive
 windshield screen device which is of a durable and reliable construction.
 An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new
 automotive windshield screen device which is susceptible of a low cost of
 manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly
 is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby
 making such automotive windshield screen device economically available to
 the buying public.
 Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new
 automotive windshield screen device which provides in the apparatuses and
 methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while
 simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated
 therewith.
 Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new
 automotive windshield screen device for keeping an interior of an
 automobile relatively cool.
 Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new automotive
 windshield screen device which includes a rod. The rod is elongate and has
 a first end and a second end. The first end is rotatably coupled to an
 inside portion of the automobile and positioned substantially adjacent to
 a first upper corner of the windshield. A turning means for rotating the
 rod is mounted to an inside portion of the automobile and positioned
 substantially adjacent to a second upper corner of the windshield. The
 second end of the rod is mechanically coupled to the turning means. An
 actuating means turns on the turning means in a first or second direction.
 The actuating means is operationally coupled to the turning means. A power
 supply supplies power to the turning means and is operationally coupled to
 the actuating means. A panel has a first edge and a second edge. The first
 edge is fixedly coupled to the rod such that the panel may be wound about
 the rod.
 Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new
 automotive windshield screen device that resists the passage of sunlight
 into an interior of the car through the windshield such that the interior
 temperature remains relatively cooler.
 Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new
 automotive windshield screen device that electrically moves the panel
 between and open and a closed position.
 These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various
 features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with
 particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this
 disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating
 advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should
 be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there
 are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
 With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 5
 thereof, a new automotive windshield screen device embodying the
 principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated
 by the reference numeral 10 will be described.
 As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 5, the automotive windshield screen
 device 10 generally comprises a rod 12 which is rotated by a turning means
 thereby raising and lowering a panel. The rod 12 is elongate and has a
 first end 14 and a second end 16. The first end 14 is rotatably coupled to
 an inside portion of an automobile and positioned substantially adjacent
 to a first upper corner of the windshield of the automobile.
 The turning means 18 rotates the rod 12. The turning means 18 is mounted to
 an inside portion of the automobile and positioned substantially adjacent
 to a second upper corner of the windshield. The second end 16 of the rod
 12 is mechanically coupled to the turning means 18. The turning means 18
 ideally comprises an electric motor. The turning means 18 is a
 conventional electric motor having reverse and forward capabilities,
 hereinafter referred to as a first and second direction. The turning means
 and rod may be mounted within the ceiling of the automobile to keep them
 out of view.
 An actuating means 20 turns on the turning means 18 in a first or second
 direction. The actuating means 20 comprises a pair of switches 22, 24. A
 first switch 22 is for turning on the turning means in the first direction
 and a second switch 24 is for turning on the turning means in the second
 direction. The actuating means 20 is operationally coupled to the turning
 means 18 and can be mounted anywhere within the automobile.
 A power supply 26 supplies power to the turning means. The power supply is
 operationally coupled to the actuating means. The power supply would
 generally be the battery of the automobile.
 The panel 28 has a first edge, not shown, and a second edge 30. The first
 and second 30 edges have a length substantially equal to a length of the
 rod 12. The first edge is fixedly coupled to the rod 12 such that the
 panel 28 may be wound about the rod 12. The panel 28 is substantially
 opaque to block out sunlight. Ideally, the panel 28 comprises a plastic
 which is flexible for being wound about the rod 12.
 A bar 32, which is elongate, is fixedly coupled to the second edge the
 panel. The bar 32 has a first end 34 and a second end not shown. The bar
 32 has a length substantially equal to a length of the panel.
 A pair of guide rails 36 guides the bar 32 with respect to the windshield.
 Each of the guide rails 36 is elongate, and each of the rails has a
 channel 38 therein. The channels 38 extend between a pair of ends of the
 guide rails 36. The channels 38 have a width adapted for receiving an end
 of the bar 32. Each of the guide rails 36 is mounted to an interior of the
 automobile. A first of the guide rails 36 is mounted generally adjacent to
 the first side edge of the windshield and a second of the guide rails is
 mounted generally adjacent to the second side edge of the windshield such
 that the channels 38 are generally facing each other. Each of the ends of
 the bar 32 is slidably mounted in one of the channels.
 A roller assembly rolls the ends of the bar in the channels. The roller
 assembly comprises a pair of rollers 40. The first roller is rotatably
 mounted in the first end 34 of the bar 32 and the second roller is
 rotatably mounted in the second end of the bar 32 such that each of the
 rollers extends away from the bar as in FIG. 5 and each is in
 communication with one of the channels 38.
 A locking assembly 42 locks the panel in a closed position. The locking
 assembly comprising a pair of male members and a pair of female members.
 Each of the male members comprises a lug 44, and each of the lugs 44 is
 integrally coupled to a bottom edge of the bar 32. The lugs 44 are each
 located generally adjacent to one of the ends of the bar 32. Each of the
 female members comprises a block 46 and has an aperture therein 48 for
 removably receiving the lug 44. Each of the blocks 46 has a tab 50 thereon
 has an opening 52 therein for receiving a fastening means such as a screw
 for fastening the female members to a dashboard of the automobile. The
 female members are positioned such that the female members may receive the
 male members.
 In use, the bar 32 is generally adjacent to the top edge of the windshield.
 The user presses the first switch 22 to cause the rod 12 to rotate which
 allows the panel 28 to come down and allows the bar 32 to be guided down
 the guide rails 36. At the bottom the user snaps the lugs 44 into the
 apertures 48 to hold the panel 28 in place. When the driver wants to drive
 again, the second switch 24 is used to pull the bar back up.
 As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the
 present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description.
 Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and
 operation will be provided.
 With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the
 optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to
 include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of
 operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to
 one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those
 illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are
 intended to be encompassed by the present invention.
 Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the
 principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and
 changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired
 to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and
 described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may
 be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.