Sun shade for vehicles

A sunshade for a vehicle such as an automobile includes a housing that is adapted to be mounted to a vehicle window and a drum member mounted for rotation within the housing about which a flexible, weblike shade element is wound. A retraction mechanism is provided for enabling the shade element to be moved from a first, retracted position wherein most of the shade element is wrapped about the drum member and a second, extended position wherein the shade element is at least partially unwrapped from the drum member. The retraction mechanism includes a biasing mechanism for biasing the drum member so that the shade element is urged toward the first, retracted position, and an arresting mechanism that is constructed and arranged so as to permit the drum member to be stopped when the shade element is in the second, extended position and, in addition, in at least one intermediate position that is between the first, retracted position and the second, extended position. Indicia may be provided on the shade element for informational, educational, entertainment or other purposes, and a number of releasably affixable marker elements may be provided for interaction with the indicia.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to the field of automotive accessories, and more specifically to vehicle sunshades that are attachable to a window of a vehicle for protecting occupants and cargo that are in the vehicle from direct exposure to sunlight.

2. Description of the Related Technology

Prolonged exposure to direct sunlight when in a vehicle may be unpleasant and unhealthy, notwithstanding the fact that the vehicle's windows will tend to filter some of the potentially harmful solar radiation. Direct sunlight may be especially unpleasant for an infant or small child who is confined within a child safety seat and has a limited ability to reposition his or herself. For these reasons, and because there is a growing awareness of the potential danger of overexposure to solar radiation, vehicle sun shades have become a popular automotive accessory.

Unfortunately, some commercially available vehicle sun shades are difficult to position or reposition, as may become desirable depending upon the route of travel and the position of the sun during a long trip. In addition, some designs are such that small fingers may be pinched when operating or playing with the sun shade. A busy parent or other caregiver would be appreciative of any improvements in design for a vehicle sun shade that would minimize the complexity of using and repositioning the sun shade, or that would minimize the potential for injury, no matter how minor.

Additionally, long automobile trips with children are generally more pleasant if activities are available. Keeping this in mind, many parents or other caregivers will be mindful to keep activities such as games, puzzles and books within the vehicle on a long trip. Nevertheless, any additional informational, educational or entertainment activities that may be available on a long trip would be appreciated by most families, particularly if such activities can be made available without consuming a great deal of additional space within the vehicle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved sun shade assembly for use within a vehicle that is safe and convenient to position on the window of a vehicle, and to reposition as the need may be. It is further an object of the invention to provide a sun shade assembly that, in addition to providing effective protection against direct sunlight, presents vehicle occupants with additional informational, educational or entertainment options.

In order to achieve the above and other objects of the invention, a sunshade for a vehicle that is constructed according to a first aspect of the invention may include a housing; first mounting structure for mounting the housing on a vehicle window; a drum member, rotatably mounted with respect to the housing; a flexible, weblike shade element, the shade element being positioned so as to be wrapable about the drum member; and a retraction mechanism for enabling the shade element to be moved from a first, fully retracted position wherein most of the shade element is wrapped about the drum member and a second, extended position wherein the shade element is at least partially unwrapped from the drum member, the retraction mechanism including a biasing mechanism for biasing the drum member so that the shade element is urged toward the first, retracted position, and an arresting mechanism, the arresting mechanism being constructed and arranged so as to permit the drum member to be stopped when the shade element is in the second, extended position and in any of a plurality of predetermined intermediate positions that are between the first, fully retracted position and the second, extended position, the arresting mechanism further comprising controlled retraction structure for permitting a consumer to partially retract said shade element by a controlled predetermined distance; whereby the weblike shade element may be utilized in more than one position wherein it is not being actively biased toward the retracted position.

A sunshade assembly for a vehicle according to a second aspect of the invention includes a flexible, weblike shade element; mounting structure that is constructed and arranged to facilitate mounting of the shade element on a vehicle window; and at least one marker element, the marker element and the shade element being constructed so that the marker element may be affixed to the shade element by a consumer.

A sunshade for a vehicle that is constructed according to a third aspect of the invention includes a housing; first mounting structure for mounting the housing on a vehicle window; a drum member, rotatably mounted with respect to the housing; a flexible, weblike shade element, the shade element being positioned so as to be wrapable about said drum member; a retraction mechanism for enabling the shade element to be moved to any one of a number of different predetermined positions including a first, retracted position wherein most of the shade element is wrapped about the drum member and a second, extended position wherein the shade element is at least partially unwrapped from the drum member; and wherein the housing is shaped and sized so as to preclude a person from being able to touch a portion of the shade element that is wrapped about the drum member, whereby the possibility of the person's fingers being pinched is reduced.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, a sunshade for a vehicle includes a housing; at least two suction cups, attached to the housing, for mounting the sunshade to a vehicle window; a drum member, rotatably mounted with respect to the housing; a flexible, weblike shade element, the shade element being positioned so as to be wrapable about the drum member; a retraction mechanism for enabling the shade element to be moved to any one of a number of different predetermined positions including a first, retracted position wherein most of the shade element is wrapped about the drum member and a second, extended position wherein the shade element is at least partially unwrapped from the drum member; and wherein the housing is shaped so as to obstruct view of the at least two suction cups from within the vehicle when the sunshade is mounted to the vehicle window, whereby small children will be less likely to be tempted to interfere with the suction cups.

According to a fifth aspect of the invention, a sunshade for a vehicle includes a housing; first mounting structure for mounting the housing on a vehicle window; a drum member, rotatably mounted with respect to the housing; a flexible, weblike shade element, the shade element being positioned so as to be wrapable about the drum member; a retraction mechanism for enabling the shade element to be moved to any one of a number of different predetermined positions including a first, retracted position wherein most of the shade element is wrapped about the drum member and a second, extended position wherein the shade element is at least partially unwrapped from the drum member; a gripping member, mounted to a distal end of the shade element, for facilitating gripping of the shade element by a consumer; and second mounting structure, attached to the gripping member, for mounting the gripping member to a vehicle window, and wherein the gripping member and the second mounting structure are constructed and arranged so as to facilitate disengagement of the second mounting structure from the vehicle window by manipulating said gripping structure.

A sunshade for a vehicle having at least one vehicle door and a vehicle window that can be raised and lowered out of and into the door includes, according to a sixth aspect of the invention, a housing; first mounting structure for mounting the housing on a first portion of the vehicle window; a drum member, rotatably mounted with respect to the housing; a flexible, weblike shade element that is positioned so as to be wrapable about the drum member; a retraction mechanism for enabling the shade element to be moved to any one of a number of different positions including a first, retracted position wherein most of the shade element is wrapped about the drum member and a second, extended position wherein the shade element is at least partially unwrapped from the drum member; a gripping member, mounted to a distal end of the shade element, for facilitating gripping of the shade element by a consumer; and second mounting structure, attached to the gripping member, for mounting the gripping member to a second portion of the vehicle window, and wherein the gripping member and the second mounting structure are constructed and arranged so as to facilitate disengagement of the second mounting structure from the second portion of the vehicle window when the second portion of the vehicle window is attempted to be lowered into the vehicle door.

According to a seventh aspect of the invention, a sunshade for a vehicle may include a housing; first mounting structure for mounting the housing on a vehicle window; a drum member, rotatably mounted with respect to the housing; a flexible, weblike shade element, the shade element being positioned so as to be wrapable about the drum member; and a retraction mechanism for enabling a consumer using just one hand to move the shade element to any one of a plurality of different predetermined indexed positions including a first, retracted position wherein most of the shade element is wrapped about the drum member, a second, extended position wherein the shade element is at least partially unwrapped from the drum member and at least one predetermined indexed intermediate position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding structure throughout the views, and referring in particular toFIG. 1, a sun shade10that is constructed according to a preferred embodiment of the invention includes a housing12that is preferably shaped and sized so as to preclude a person from being able to touch a portion of a shade element22that is wrapped about an interior drum member20, both of which will be described in greater detail below, whereby the possibility of the person's fingers being pinched is reduced. As may best be seen inFIGS. 2 and 3, housing12is provided with first mounting structure14for mounting the housing12and thereby the sun shade10to a first portion of a window23on a vehicle door25that is part of a vehicle such as an automobile. In the preferred embodiment, first mounting structure14is embodied as a pair of suction cups16that are shaped and sized to adhere to the first portion of the vehicle window23with a force that is sufficient to support the weight of the sun shade10and, in addition, to resist any forces and accelerations that would be expected during mounting, adjustment and use. Suction cups16are preferably mounted symmetrically to each other along a longitudinal axis of the housing12. As may be seen inFIG. 1, housing12includes for aesthetic and safety purposes a pair of rounded projections18that extend upwardly from the longitudinal axis of the housing12in order to obscure access to and view of the suction cups16when the sun shade10is mounted to a vehicle window. In addition to the aesthetic benefit that is provided by the rounded projections18, their presence makes it harder for little fingers to access the periphery of the suction cups16during use, which could break the vacuum seal of one or more of the suction cups16and cause the sun shade10to swing out of position or to fall.

Referring briefly toFIG. 5, it will be seen that drum member20is rotatably mounted with respect to the housing12and, as may best be seen inFIG. 3, a flexible, weblike shade element22is wrapped about the drum member20. A distal end of the flexible, weblike shade element22is attached to a gripping element24, which in the preferred embodiment is molded from a polymeric material such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polypropylene or polyethylene and which has second mounting structure26provided thereon for mounting the gripping element24to a second portion of the vehicle window23. According to one important aspect of the invention, the second mounting structure26and the gripping element24are together shaped, sized and constructed in such a manner so as to permit a consumer to disengage the second mounting structure26from the vehicle window23by manipulating the gripping element24. Additionally, the second mounting structure26and the gripping element24are sized, shaped and constructed in such manner that the gripping structure24will be engaged by the door25if it is attempted to lower the second portion of the vehicle window23downwardly into the door25. This will result in a prying action that will disengage the second mounting structure26from the vehicle window23, preventing damage to the sunshade10and the vehicle. In the preferred embodiment that is depicted inFIGS. 2 and 3, it will be seen that the second mounting structure26is constructed as a pair of suction cups28, which are preferably molded so as to be unitary with the gripping element24. In this embodiment of the invention, it will be seen that the suction cups28are aligned with each other along an axis29that is generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing12, and that the gripping element24extends outwardly from the housing12so as to define a distance L1between the outermost grippable point of the gripping element24and the axis29along which the suction cups28are situated. This functionally creates a lever arm by which a consumer such as a parent or other caregiver can quickly and easily detach the suction cups28from the vehicle window by grasping the gripping element24and pulling the outer end of the gripping element24away from the vehicle window. Preferably, the distance L1is within a range of about 0.4 in. to about 2.5 in., and more preferably within a range of about 0.5 in. to about 1.5 in. Furthermore, each of the suction cups28are preferably constructed and arranged so as to have an effective force of adhesion to a glass surface that is within a range of about 0.1 lb. of force to about 3.5 lb. of force, and that is more preferably within a range of about 0.5 lb. of force to about 2.8 lb. of force.

An additional benefit of the extended length of the gripping element is that it obscures views of the suction cups28to those, such as small children, within the vehicle. As a result, a small child will be less likely to be tempted to manipulate the suction cups28, which could result in a distraction to the driver of the vehicle. To some extent, it would also interfere with the physical possibility of a small child interfering with the suction cups28.

Looking again toFIG. 5, sun shade10further includes a retraction mechanism30that is constructed and arranged to enable the shade element22to be moved from a first, retracted position, such as is shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, to a second, extended position, as shown inFIG. 3. In the first, retracted position, most of the shade element22is wrapped about the drum member20, while in the second, extended position most of the shade element22is preferably unwrapped from the drum member20and is therefore located outside of the housing12. According to one important aspect of the invention, retraction mechanism30includes a biasing mechanism32for biasing the drum member20so that the shade element22is urged toward the first, retracted position. In the preferred embodiment, biasing mechanism32is constructed as a helical spring40, which also exerts a compressive, axial force on the drum member20, for reasons that will be described in greater detail below.

Retraction mechanism30further preferably includes controlled reaction structure that is embodied as an arresting mechanism34. Arresting mechanism34is constructed and arranged to stop the rotation of the drum member20when the shade element22is positioned in the second, extended position. Advantageously, arresting mechanism34is constructed to permit the drum member to be stopped in at least one and, in the preferred embodiment, in a multiplicity of different, predetermined intermediate positions between the fully retracted position and the fully extended position. This permits the consumer to be able to extend the shade element22to a desired one of a number of possible different degrees of extension, without the need to use the second mounting structure26as an anchor to maintain the position of the shade element22against the force that is provided by the biasing mechanism32. As will become apparent in the more detailed discussion that appears below, arresting mechanism34is further constructed so as to facilitate convenient one-handed adjustment of the sun shade10.

According to another important aspect of the invention that is discussed in greater detail below, indicia36is preferably provided on a visible surface of a shade element22for informational, educational, entertainment or other purposes. As may be seen inFIG. 6, at least one marker element38may be provided as part of the sun shade10so as to permit a consumer such as a parent or caregiver or child to functionally interact with the indicia36for informational, educational, entertainment or other purposes. The marker elements38are preferably removably affixable to the shade element22by any one of a number of different methods of affixation, several of which are discussed in greater detail below with reference toFIGS. 7–13. The marker elements38are preferably shaped, sized and colored so as to be functionally consistent with the intended targets on the indicia36. In the embodiment that is shown inFIG. 6, a license plate game is printed on the visible surface of the shade element22, and the marker element38may be used to place a mark on a state when that state's license plate is spotted by one of the occupants of the vehicle. In this embodiment, a plurality of such marker elements38are provided, and each marker element38is sized and shaped appropriately so that it can be placed in an area that is indicative of a particular state. It will be appreciated that an unlimited number of different types of educational presentations, games, or other activities could be performed or facilitated using this concept. For example, conventional games that could be adapted for use with the shade element22according to the invention would include Tic tac toe, Checkers, Chinese checkers, Backgammon, Chess, and Pin the tail on the donkey. Educational games could be played that teach children how to spell words, learn the alphabet, etc. Family organizational tasks could be planned and recorded using the shade element22.

In an alternative embodiment that is depicted inFIG. 13, the marker element could be embodied as markings that are made by a writing implement, such as a dry erase marker110. In this embodiment, the shade element22would be fabricated and textured so as to have a surface112that is compatible with the selected writing implement. In addition, the housing or the gripping element could be constructed so as to facilitate storage or mounting of the selected writing implement.

Referring now toFIGS. 4 and 5, it will be seen that retraction mechanism30further includes a control element42that is arranged to be actuatable by a consumer for disengaging the arresting mechanism34, whereby the force that is applied by the biasing mechanism32will urge the drum member20to move the shade element22toward the retracted position. In the preferred embodiment, control element42is configured as a button44that is situated for movement parallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing12within a cavity46that is defined within an end cap member48of the housing12. According to one important aspect of the invention, the control element42and the arresting mechanism34are constructed and arranged to permit a consumer such as a parent or caregiver to actuate the control element42in either one of a first manner, which will cause the shade element to be retracted completely to the first, retracted position, or in a second manner, which will cause the arresting mechanism34to reengage after permitting a limited amount of retraction in order to stop the retraction of the shade element22in one of the plurality of different possible intermediate positions. As may be seen inFIGS. 4 and 5, a metal pin54is mounted for movement with the button44and is configured to pass through a hole78that is defined in a lateral interior wall76of the end cap48of the housing12. Metal pin54has a distal end56that is adapted to bear against a starting location68that is defined in an upper face70of a first clutch member58. First clutch member58is ordinarily prevented from rotating with respect to the housing12by means of a stop member72that protrudes from the upper face70and that ordinarily is engaged within a recess74that is defined within the lateral interior wall76. A second clutch member60is rotationally fixed to the drum member20and frictionally engages the first clutch member58so as to preclude rotation of the second clutch member60and, accordingly, drum member20until the second clutch member60becomes axially displaced from the first clutch member58, as will be described below. As may best be seen inFIG. 4, a recess62is defined in the outer periphery of the first clutch member58so as to define a stop surface64that is positioned within a plane that is substantially perpendicular to the upper face70and a sloped surface66that is continuous with the upper face70.

When the sun shade is positioned in full extension, the retraction mechanism30will be positioned as it is shown inFIG. 5, with the first clutch member58securely locked against rotation as a result of the engagement of the stop member72within the recess74of the lateral interior wall76. If the consumer would desire to cause the shade22to retract by a small amount, he or she would depress the button44by a distance D1that is schematically depicted inFIG. 5. This would cause the pin54, with its distal end56to exert force on the start location68that is located on the upper face70of the first clutch member58, causing the first clutch member58together with the second clutch member60and the drum member20to be displaced axially by a small distance to the left, as it would be viewed inFIG. 5. This would occur against the compressive spring bias that is provided by the spring40. As this movement takes place, the stop member72will become disengaged from the recess74, and the clutch members58,60together with the drum member20will begin to rotate in the counterclockwise direction as indicated by the arrow inFIG. 4. As one complete rotation is completed, however, if the consumer has relieved all pressure on the button44stop member72will contact the edge of the recess74and become reseated within the recess74. If the consumer continues to apply pressure on the button44, the stop surface64will contact the side of the pin54, ensuring that motion of the first clutch member58is arrested so as to give the consumer in the option of stopping the shade22in that position. If the consumer desires to further retract the shade element22, the button44must be released and then again depressed.

If, however, the consumer desires to cause full retraction of the shade element22, he or she will depress the button44by a distance D2that, as may be seen inFIG. 5, is greater than the distance D1. When the button44is depressed to this extent, a pushrod50will move axially against a boss51that is part of the second clutch member60, which will cause the second clutch member60to axially separate from the first clutch member58. As this occurs, the second clutch member60together with the drum member20will be permitted to spin freely under the bias that is provided by the biasing mechanism32in order to fully returned the shade element22to the retracted position.

FIGS. 7–12depict alternative embodiments for permitting a marker element such as the marker element38that is depicted inFIG. 6to be releasably attached to the shade element, such as the shade element22also shown inFIG. 6. As a shown inFIG. 7, the face70of the shade element22and the surface of the marker element72may both be constructed from a material and of a surface texture that promotes the marker element72to adhere to the face70by means of static cling. In the embodiment ofFIG. 8, the face74of the shade element22may be provided with a plurality of loop elements76, while one face of the10marker element77may be provided with a plurality of hook elements78to create a hook and loop fastener coupling. Alternatively, the loop elements may be provided on the marker element, while the hook elements may be provided on the face70of the shade element22.

In the embodiment ofFIG. 9, the face80of the shade element22includes a socket82for a snap, while the marker element84is provided with a mating snap element86. In the embodiment ofFIG. 10, a temporary adhesive92(for example a pressure sensitive adhesive such as ethylene vinyl acetate) may be provided on the marker element90and the face88of the shade element22is textured so as to promote temporary adhesion with the marker element90.

In the embodiment ofFIG. 11, a number of holes96are defined in the face94of the shade element22, and the marker element98includes at least one hook element100for engaging a selected one of the holes96. In the embodiment ofFIG. 12, a portion104of the face102of the shade element22may be metallized with a ferrous material, and a magnetic surface108may be provided on the marker element106. It should be understood that the embodiments described herein are exemplary, and that any alternative attachment technology should be considered within the scope of the invention.