Abstract:
A sunshade for use in a vehicle is provided including a core having at least one opening extending there through. A layer of material is positioned adjacent at least a first surface of the core. The sunshade also includes a light generation system arranged to direct light through the at least one opening.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/764,074 filed Feb. 13, 2013, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference thereto. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Embodiments of the invention relate to a sunroof or moonroof system of a vehicle, and more particularly, to a movable sun shade of the sunroof or moonroof system. 
         [0003]    Sunroofs are desirable features to many vehicle consumers. The sunroof is typically located above an occupant seating area, and as a result, may affect the available headroom to the occupants. Sunroofs typically move forward to rearward between a closed and an open position. The sunroof may be stored in the open position on the exterior of the vehicle, or alternatively, the sunroof may be stowed between the roof and a headliner of the passenger compartment. 
         [0004]    Sun shades are commonly used with vehicle sunroofs to block sunlight when the sunroof is in the closed position. Because the sun shade is intended to block sunlight from entering into the interior of the vehicle, the sun shade has a generally solid construction that does not allow light to pass there through. Due to ongoing desires to improving the aesthetics within the passenger compartment of a vehicle, it is desirable to provide aesthetically pleasing, functional alternatives to conventional sun shades. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    According to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a sunshade for use in a vehicle is provided including a core having at least one opening extending there through. A layer of material is positioned adjacent at least a first surface of the core. The sunshade also includes a light generation system arranged to direct light through the at least one opening. 
         [0006]    According to another embodiment of the invention, a sunshade for use in a vehicle is provided including a core having at least one opening extending through the thickness of the core to define a pattern. A layer of material is positioned adjacent at least a first surface of the core. Light from a light source is configured to illuminate the pattern such that the pattern is visible through the layer of material. 
         [0007]    According to yet another embodiment of the invention, a sun shade for use in a vehicle is provided including a core having a pattern formed as an indentation on a first surface thereof. A layer of material is positioned adjacent at least the first surface of the core. A light emitting mechanism is arranged within the indentation of the first surface. The light emitting mechanism is configured to illuminate the image such that the pattern is visible through the layer of material. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    The present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is a partial perspective view of a vehicle having a sliding roof system; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is cross-sectional view of an exemplary sun shade of the sliding roof system shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a partial cross-sectional view of another exemplary sun shade of the sliding roof system shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a bottom view of a sun shade according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a top view of a core of a sun shade including a light generation system according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a top view of a core of a sun shade including a light generation system according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a bottom view of a core of a sun shade including a light generation system according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  is a bottom view of a core of a sun shade including a light generation system according to an embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
       [0017]    The above-described and other features and advantages of the present application will be appreciated and understood by those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, drawings, and appended claims. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
       [0018]    In accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention, a sun shade having a light generation system for displaying an image visible to an occupant in a vehicle is provided. In one embodiment, the light generation system uses natural light to illuminate the image. In another embodiment, the light generation system uses an electrical light source to illuminate the image. 
         [0019]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , the roof  10  of a vehicle  2  having an opening  12  is illustrated. Although, the vehicle illustrated in  FIG. 1  is an automobile and is used as one non-limiting example, it is also understood that this invention may be applicable to any type of vehicle requiring or configured to have a sun shade, non-limiting examples include but are not limited to aircraft, marine or water vessels, boats, recreational vehicles, land based vehicles, trucks, trains, SUVs, airplanes, jets, etc. A cover  16  of a sliding roof system  14  is associated with the opening  12  and is configured to move between a closed position where the cover  16  closes the opening  12 , and an open position illustrated in the FIG. A sun shade  20  is arranged underneath the cover  16  and the opening  12 . The sun shade  20  is movable generally forward and backward toward the front  4  and rear  6 , respectively, of the vehicle  2 . If the sun shade  20  is retracted, or moved completely toward the rear  6  of the vehicle  2 , the opening  12  will be entirely exposed and sunlight can enter the vehicle interior space  8  freely. If the sun shade  20  is extended, or moved completely toward the front  4  of the vehicle  2 , the opening  12  is covered by the sun shade  20 , thereby blocking sunlight from entering the interior space  8  of the vehicle  2 . Although the sun shade  20  is described as part of a sliding roof system  14  in the illustrated and disclosed non-limiting embodiment, other configurations, such as adjacent another opening, a non-sliding roof window, or side window of a vehicle  2  for example, are within the scope of the present invention. 
         [0020]    The sun shade  20  generally includes a core  22  at least partially surrounded by an aesthetically pleasing material  24 . In embodiments where the sun shade  20  translates substantially linearly relative to the opening  12 , the core  22  is generally made from a rigid material. One non-limiting example is illustrated in  FIG. 2 . Alternatively, in embodiments where the sun shade  20  coils about a winding body  26 , the core  22  of the sun shade  20  is a substantially flexible material ( FIG. 3 ). For example, the core  22  may be made from a substrate, such as polyurethane or cardboard for example, and the aesthetically pleasing material  24  may consist of a fabric arranged to cover a surface  28  of the core  22  adjacent the interior space  8  of the vehicle  2 . In the illustrated embodiment, a handle  30  is disposed adjacent the front edge  32  of the sun shade  20  and is configured to be gripped by a vehicle occupant to translate the sun shade  20  between the retracted and extended positions ( FIG. 2 ). 
         [0021]    Referring now to  FIGS. 4-8 , the sun shade  20  includes a light generation system  40  configured to illuminate an image or pattern  42  of the sun shade  20  so that the image  42  is visible from the interior space  8  of the vehicle  2 . An exemplary image  42  of the sun shade  20 , visible from the interior  8  of the vehicle  2  is shown in  FIG. 4 . In one embodiment, the image  42  to be illuminated is formed into the core  22  of the sun shade  20  by removing or cutting away portions to create openings  48  extending through the thickness of the core  22  (see  FIGS. 5 &amp; 6 ). When the sun shade  20  is in an extended or closed position, external ambient light, such as natural light passing through the substantially transparent cover  16  of the vehicle roof  10  for example, may transmit through the openings  48  in the core  22 . As the light passes through the openings  48  in the core  22 , the image  42  formed therein is illuminated. In one embodiment, the aesthetically pleasing material  24  at least partially allows light to pass there through. As a result, the light illuminating the image  42  in the core  22  appears on the exterior surface  44  of the material  24 , visible to an occupant within the interior space  8  of the vehicle  2 . 
         [0022]    In another embodiment shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , one or more light emitting mechanisms  50  are coupled to a light source  52 , such as an LED light or a light pipe for example. These light emitting mechanisms  50  are positioned within the openings  48  formed in the core  22  such that the light emitting mechanisms  50  are generally arranged about the periphery of the image  42 . Exemplary light emitting mechanisms  50  include, but are not limited to, fiber optic cables, strip lights and rope lights for example. As shown in  FIG. 5 , the light emitting mechanism  50  may be wound about the periphery of the image  42  such that light is emitted along the length of the light emitting mechanism  50 . Alternatively, a plurality of light emitting mechanisms  50  may extend from a light source  52  toward the openings  48  formed in the core  22 . As illustrated, the light source  52  includes six light emitting diodes (LEDs)  53 ; however, any number of LEDs or an alternative light source  52  may be used. The free ends  54  of the light emitting mechanisms  50  are positioned about the openings  48  that form the image  42  such that the light emitted from the plurality of free ends  54  illuminates the image  42 , making it visible from the interior space  8  of the vehicle. 
         [0023]    Referring now to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , another embodiment is shown where the image  42  may alternatively be formed as an indentation in the surface  28  of the core  22 . In such instances, one or more light emitting mechanisms  50  are positioned within the indented portions  60  of the surface  28  between the core  22  and the aesthetically pleasing material  24 . In one embodiment, the light emitting mechanism  50  includes a glow in the dark material, such as a tape or paint for example, configured to release stored light energy in the absence of ambient light ( FIG. 7 ). In another embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the light emitting mechanism  50  positioned within the indented portion  60  of the surface  28  is an electroluminescent material. A selectively operable power source  62  is coupled to the electroluminescent light emitting material  50  such that when a current is applied to the electroluminescent light emitting material  50 , a light is generated. In one embodiment, the power source  62  may be coupled to an electrical system of the vehicle  2 , such as the lighting system for example. 
         [0024]    Inclusion of the light generation system  40  in a sun shade  20 , allows a desired image, logo, or pattern  42 , to be illuminated, and therefore visible from the interior of the vehicle  2 , whenever the sun shade  20  is in a closed or retracted position. By using natural light or light from an electrical light source, the image may be illuminated both day and night. 
         [0025]    While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the present application.