Abstract:
A support mechanism for a vehicle security shade having one or more axially biased end caps and at least one end cap extension slidingly disposed upon an end cap to adjust the length of the security cover assembly. The end cap has a resilient latch which engages mating recesses in the extension to fix the length of the shade as desired.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0001]     The present invention relates generally to vehicular retractable security covers assemblies and more particularly to the devices that allow such assemblies to be mounted in vehicles.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Security covers, tie downs and nets have been used in vehicles for decades to hide and stabilize the contents of cargo areas of vehicles. Covers or shades particularly are used to obscure the visibility of the contents of cargo areas, which are visible from outside the vehicle. An example is the cargo space of a Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) wherein the cargo area is typically most visible through the rear windows behind the C pillar (the pillar typically located at the back of the second row seats) or the rear window.  
         [0003]     Retractable shades are drawn over the cargo area to obscure at a level below the bottom of the windows and typically somewhat below the highest extent of the second row seats when in the upright position. In many designs it is difficult to gain access to items under the cover without opening the rear of the vehicle.  
         [0004]     When retracted the shades are wrapped on a tube which is coiled by a spring. When extended the shades are pulled against this spring tension to the another interior panel of the vehicle where the shade is temporarily attached by means of clips, snaps, detents and the like. To aide in extension and retraction as well as to provide stiffness, shades likely have handles and/or bars/tubes sewn or molded into the edge that is pulled from the roller tube to another interior panel. Security shades are mounted to be drawn transversely or in the cross-vehicle direction, or they may be mounted to be drawn longitudinally, typically from fore to aft in the vehicle.  
         [0005]     The roller tube assemblies are sometimes intended to be removable from the vehicle. The roller tube assembly may be compressed axially against a resisting force such as a coil spring and then released into mounting fixtures integral to the interior side panel of the vehicle. These fixtures may comprise detents or depressions that the roller assembly expands into. Means to rotate the roller assembly to afford release are sometimes provided.  
         [0006]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,213,387, discloses another security roller shade for a cargo area of a vehicle extending from a passenger seat backward to the rear access opening. In the retracted position, the cover is contained in a roller tube mounted longitudinally (fore and aft direction) on one side of the cargo compartment. The shade may be unwrapped from the tube and extended laterally in the cross-body direction to be affixed on the other side of the cargo compartment.  
         [0007]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,464,052, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, discloses a mounting which can be rotated relative to the roller tube and moved axially toward and away from the roller tube to allow mounting in a vehicle. The subassembly contains a means to rotate the roller to wrap up the shade. This patent further discloses a torsion motor spring to maintain the spring in a pre-wound condition prior to engagement of the subassembly to the roller tube. A trim cover axially larger than the rolled-up roller tube covers the roller tube except for a longitudinal slit through which the shade is wrapped and unwrapped.  
         [0008]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,676,415 discloses a luggage compartment cover with a bearing shaft, which supports a flat structure that can be rolled and unrolled. The bearing shaft extends between two bucket-shaped side parts. At least one of the side parts is movable axially relative to the bearing shaft so the cover to allow it to be released from in a first position or placed into a mount which is integral to the vehicle in a second position relative axially to the bearing shaft. At least one of the side parts has a releasable lock for locking its side part in the released position.  
         [0009]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,813,449, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, discloses a compression loaded end cap for a security shade with a pawl and tooth engagement mechanism allows the end cap to be latched in a plurality of relative axial positions which allows the entire shade assembly to be mounted despite variations in distance between mounts.  
         [0010]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,934,354, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, discloses axially spring biased end caps which may be compressed to be installed within a vehicle, and provide the secure installation force via the outwardly biased end caps.  
         [0011]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,039,105 the disclosure of which is also incorporated by reference, illustrates another method of adjusting the lateral positioning and tensioning of a roller shade. The mounting pockets in the vehicle provide the compressible leeway for the shade when installed.  
         [0012]     A general purpose of adjustable length shade rollers has been to provide a means of installing the shade roller in detented or recessed mounts and secured in place without significant movement or rattle despite spacing variations between the mounting brackets due to build or tolerance variations.  
         [0013]     Although roller shades are extremely useful, they are typically removable. For example, roller shades are typically installed behind the rear seats of an SUV, and are removed when the rear seats are folded to enlarge the cargo space. When removed from its installed position, a roller shade is somewhat awkward to stow, as they are relatively bulky and tend to rattle if not secured. In at least some vehicles, there is room underneath the surface of the cargo area to stow a shade roller, but the space is typically not large enough to accommodate the full length of a standard shade roller.  
         [0014]     Thus, an object of the present invention is to provide a shade roller that can be securely stowed in a reduced length and can still be securely installed in a vehicle.  
         [0015]     It is a particular object to provide an end cap for vehicle security shade roller assemblies that is compressible to facilitate secure mounting within a vehicle and also provides a simple way to shorten the roller tube assembly to fit within a reduced storage area within the vehicle with the same compressibility to allow for secure stowage.  
         [0016]     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a plurality of easily manufactured extension pieces which can be used to adapt a roller shade for a variety of vehicles or models.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0017]     An end cap assembly for vehicle security shade roller assemblies that consist of a molded end cap and an extension sleeve. The end cap assembly is extended by simply sliding the sleeve in or out relative to the longitudinal axis of the roller. The end cap is held in place by a biased latch in the end cap that engages one of a plurality of mating holes in the extension sleeve. The extension sleeve (or sleeves) allow the shade roller to have a reduced width storage condition and an extended condition for mounting and use in a vehicle. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0018]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a vehicle security shade assembly according to the present invention installed in a vehicle.  
         [0019]      FIG. 2  is a left/top perspective view of an end cap assembly in the storage position according to the present invention.  
         [0020]      FIG. 3  is a left/top perspective view of an end cap assembly of  FIG. 2  in the extended/installation position.  
         [0021]      FIG. 4  is a bottom/left perspective view of the end cap of  FIG. 2 .  
         [0022]      FIG. 5  is a bottom/left perspective view of the end cap extension of  FIG. 2 .  
         [0023]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a vehicle security shade assembly according to the present invention installed in three alternate locations in a vehicle. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0024]     The following description of the preferred embodiment is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention or its application or uses.  
         [0025]      FIG. 1  illustrates a vehicle  10  having a cargo area generally indicated at  12 . Cargo area  12  is generally defined as extending from behind rear seat  14  to the rear interior surface (not shown) of vehicle  10 . Cargo shade  16  is shown extending from the rear seat to the rear of the vehicle and generally covers the cargo area from one inner panel  18  to an opposite inner panel (not shown). As generally illustrated in  FIG. 1  and described in more detail in U.S. Pat. No. 5,934,354 cargo shade  16  preferably includes a generally non-compressible roller tube  22 , a shade panel  24  wound about roller tube  22 , and an end cap assembly  26  located on a first end  28  of roller tube  22 . A rotational biasing mechanism is positioned within end cap  26  and acting on first end  28  of roller tube  22 . A wide variety of rotational biasing mechanisms are presently known in the art which would function with equal results as related to the present application. Rotationally biasing mechanisms which could be used include motor springs, clock springs, torsional springs, or other similar devices.  
         [0026]     The present invention may also be implemented with a roller shade with fixed end caps and floating mounting brackets such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,039,105 as generally described herein.  
         [0027]      FIG. 2  illustrates an end cap assembly  26  according to the present invention in the storage position. The end cap assembly  26  includes an end cap  30  slidingly received within an end cap extension  32 . The end cap  30  and end cap  32  are preferably molded plastic parts and are shaped to next along the length of travel between the two so that the access slots  34  and  36  are aligned along the length of travel. The end cap  30  is preferably fixed to the shade roller as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,934,354 so that is axially biased outward from the roller for installation in the vehicle or for storage in the vehicle. The end cap extension is fixed in position by means of a finger latch  38  integrally molded on the end cap  30  radially above an opening  40  which allows the latch  38  to travel radially inwardly to disengage the latch.  
         [0028]     Tab  42  of latch  38  has vertical surfaces  44  and  46  which engage the axial ends of locking slots  48  and  50  in the end cap extension  32  to restrict relative axial movement between the end cap  30  and the end cap extension  32 . When the roller shade  16  is installed in the vehicle or in its storage position, the end cap extension  32  will be restricted from outward axial movement by the vehicle bracket or stowage bracket, and the end cap will be axially outwardly biased, forcing the surface  44  against the axial outward edge of either slot  48  or slot  50 , reducing or eliminating any axial play between the end cap  30  and the extension  32  whether in the storage length or installation length.  
         [0029]     In installation as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,039,105, the bracket will bias the extension  32  axially inwardly, causing surface  46  of the latch to bear against the axial inward edge of either slot  48  or slot  50 , providing the same securing force in the storage length or installation length.  
         [0030]     Assembly is simply achieved by sliding the extension  32  over the end cap  30  and depressing the latch  38  so it clears the axially inward edge of the extension  32 . The extension  32  is easily reciprocated between the storage length ( FIG. 2 ) and the installation length ( FIG. 3 ) by depressing the latch  38  to disengage the latch  38  from the slot  48  or  50  and sliding the extension to the desired location. Because the latch  38  is resilient, it is biased to return to its radially extended position and will engage a slot  48  or  50  when the extension  32  is moved into position.  
         [0031]     As seen in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the end cap  30  has a pair of C-shaped edges  52  and  54  forming the access slot  36 , which provides a pair of generally flat radially extending surface  56  and  58  to support and guide the shade material as it is dispensed and retracted to minimize wear on the material and reduce sound made when the material rubs against an exposed edge. It is preferred that the width of slot  36  is smaller than slot  34  too minimize contact of the shade material against an edge of slot  34 .  
         [0032]     The end cap extension  32  is provided with bracket engaging boss  60  at its axially outward end ( FIG. 5 ) for insertion into a mating installation bracket (not shown) or a similarly shaped mating storage bracket (not shown). The bracket engaging configuration of  FIG. 5  is a preferred shape, but is should be appreciated that the invention can be implemented with a wide range of locking engagement between the end cap extension and brackets. Further, while it is preferred that the storage brackets and installation brackets be identified to reduce the number of different molded parts, the stowage brackets need merely hold the shade roller in place.  
         [0033]     While it is anticipated that one extension end cap shown will provide the necessary length adjustment (approximately ______ inches), with a single latching mechanism to be operated, it should be appreciated that the extension may be longer than shown to provide greater length adjustment or that two end cap extensions may be used.  
         [0034]     It should also be appreciated that more than two locking slots may be provided in the extension to provide for multiple installation locations within the vehicle having varying widths (for example: alternative high or low mounting locations, or (for alternative) mounting behind the second or third row of seats) or even installations between different vehicles.  FIG. 6  illustrates three alternate installation locations for the shade roller, each requiring a different shade width. The roller  22 A is installed in the standard location behind the rear seats, typically the widest trim location available. Roller  22 B is located in a storage bin  60 , in the most reduced condition. Roller  22 C is installed in a reduced trim width location.  
         [0035]     Another embodiment of the present invention is to provide an end cap extension  32  which is configured to adapt a standard roller shade to a particular vehicle or vehicle module. The roller shade  16  and end cap assembly  26  illustrated in  FIGS. 1-5  do not necessarily depict any particular shade model. Vehicle models typically vary in interior dimensions, which would make it impractical to utilize a particular shade in different vehicle models. However, as there are general groups of sizes of cargo area widths, the end cap extension of the present invention may be used to modify a shade of a standard length to fit within a variety of vehicles within a given group of sizes. The use of the extensions may cause an inch or two gap between the deployed shade and interior vehicle side panel, but cargo coverage would still be achieved. Thus, the length of the specific extension  32  can be determined on a vehicle by vehicle basis, and the roller shade can be made in one or two standard lengths and yet accommodate a variety of vehicles by use of the appropriate extension.