Patent Publication Number: US-9890586-B2

Title: Sunshade structure

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present invention relates generally to an indoor device used for blocking out light from outside, and more particularly to a sunshade structure which has a shading member to prevent light form leaking in through the gaps formed between a window covering and a window frame. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Conventional sunshade structures used in windows of buildings are mostly window coverings. A common seen window covering typically includes a headrail, a covering assembly, and a bottom rail, wherein the headrail is installed above the upper side of a window frame, and the covering assembly is respectively connected to the headrail and the bottom rail with two opposite ends thereof. According to its structure, the covering assembly can be classified as a window blind with multiple slats, a roller shade or a Roman shade with a drapery, or other kinds of blinds. The bottom rail is controllable to move up and down between two positions which are near or away from the headrail to expand or retract the covering assembly. 
     Generally, a little gap is intentionally left between each lateral side of the covering assembly and the window frame to avoid improper contact between the bottom rail and the lateral wall of the window frame while moving the bottom rail up and down. In this way, the installation can be easier, and the covering assembly can be expanded or retracted more smoothly. In addition, there is another gap formed between the headrail and the upper edge of the window frame. However, light from outside may leak in through these gaps, and such problem must be quite bothersome for those require perfect light-blocking effect. Furthermore, the leaked-in light tends to form a strip of light, which may produce an uncomfortable strong light and shade contrast in the room. What&#39;s worse, a user would definitely be annoyed if the strip of light happens to cast on the display or monitor which he or she is currently using. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the above, the primary objective of the present invention is to provide a sunshade structure, which shades the gaps between the covering assembly and the window frame to provide excellent light-blocking effect. 
     The present invention provides a sunshade structure, which is installed on a window frame of a building, and includes a main shading member and an auxiliary shading member. The main shading member includes a headrail, a bottom rail, and a covering assembly connecting the headrail and the bottom rail, wherein the headrail is installed at a top portion of the window frame; the bottom rail is controllable to move between a first position, which is away from the headrail, and a second position, which is near the headrail. The auxiliary shading member is fixed on the window frame, and includes at least one movable plate. When the bottom rail is at the first position, the movable plate is driven to approach the covering assembly to cover a gap formed between the covering assembly and one of two lateral surfaces of the window frame; when the bottom rail is moved to leave the first position and toward the second position, the movable plate is driven to pivot. 
     Whereby, the gaps between the covering assembly and the window frame can be shaded by providing the at least one movable plate in the present invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention will be best understood by referring to the following detailed description of some illustrative embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which 
         FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  are perspective views of a first preferred embodiment; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the first preferred embodiment; 
         FIG. 4  is a front view of the first preferred embodiment, showing there are gaps between the window frame and the main shading member; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the first preferred embodiment, showing the structure of the auxiliary shading member; 
         FIG. 6  is a front view, showing the covering assembly is fully extended; 
         FIG. 7  is a back view of  FIG. 6 , further showing the second magnetic member is attracted by the first magnetic member; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view, showing the relation between the external light and the first preferred embodiment; 
         FIG. 9  is a front view similar to  FIG. 6 , showing the covering assembly is fully retracted; 
         FIG. 10  is a back view similar to  FIG. 7 , further showing the third magnetic member is repelled outwardly by the first magnetic member; 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view, showing a part of the blocking plate of the auxiliary shading member extends downwardly and forwardly; 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a second preferred embodiment, showing the covering assembly is fully extended; 
         FIG. 13  is a partial enlarged view of  FIG. 12 ; 
         FIG. 14  is a perspective view of the second preferred embodiment, showing the covering assembly is fully retracted; 
         FIG. 15  is a partial enlarged view of  FIG. 14 ; 
         FIG. 16  and  FIG. 17  are partial enlarged views, showing the first movable plate is pivotable with the shaft inserted into the blocking plate; 
         FIG. 18  is a partial enlarged view, showing the first movable plate is pivotable through the two pivot ears fixed on the columns of the window frame; and 
         FIG. 19  is a partial enlarge view, showing the first movable plate is pivotable through the two pivot ears fixed on the frame. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     As shown in  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 3 , a sunshade structure of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention is installed on a window frame  100  of a building, wherein the window frame  100  includes an upper beam  101  and two columns  102 , which are connected to two ends of the upper beam  101 . The sunshade structure includes a main shading member  10  and an auxiliary shading member  20 . 
     The main shading member  10  is a kind of window covering, which includes a headrail  12 , a bottom rail  14 , and a covering assembly  16  connecting the headrail  12  and the bottom rail  14 . The headrail  12  is installed between the two columns  102  of the window frame  100 , and is near the upper beam  101 . The bottom rail  14  is controllable to move up and down relative to the headrail  12 . In the first preferred embodiment, the headrail  12  is a rotatable roller, which can be rotated by a bead chain  18 . The bottom rail  14  is mainly used to provide weight. The covering assembly  16  is a drapery. With such design, when the headrail  12  is rotated, the bottom rail  14  is indirectly driven to move. As shown in  FIG. 4 , just as the situation that a conventional window covering has, there is a gap S 1  formed between the headrail  12  and the upper beam  101  after the main shading member  10  is installed. Furthermore, a gap S 2  is also formed between each lateral side of the covering assembly  16  and the corresponding column  102 . By definition, the gap formed between each lateral side of the bottom rail  14  and the corresponding column  102  is considered part of the gap S 2  at the same side. 
     In order to solve the problem of leaking light through the aforementioned gap S 1  and gaps S 2 , the auxiliary shading member  20  is installed behind the main shading member  10  in the first preferred embodiment. In other words, for someone who is in the room and looking outside, he or she sees the main shading member  10  first, and the auxiliary shading member  20  is hidden therebehind. 
     The auxiliary shading member  20  includes three movable plates, two fixing plates  23 , two blocking plates  24 , and a driving assembly, wherein the three movable plates include a first movable plate  21  and two second movable plates  22 . In the first preferred embodiment, the first movable plate  21  is a light, thin, and elongated plate, which is connected to a bottom surface of the upper beam  101  of the window frame  100  through two pivot members  28 , and a pivoting angle thereof can be appropriately adjusted. A length of the first movable plate  21  is proximately the same as the length of the headrail  12 , and a portion of the first movable plate  21  extends downwardly to a rear side of the covering assembly  16  to slightly abut against the covering assembly  16 . The first movable plate  21  naturally droops due to the gravity, with a bottom portion thereof abutting against the headrail  12 . The first movable plate  21  is pushed and naturally pivoted by the covering assembly  16  rolled around the headrail  12 . The first movable plate  21  covers the gaps S 1  between the headrail  12  and the upper beam  101 . 
     The driving assembly includes two first magnetic member  25 , two second magnetic members  26 , and two third magnetic members  27 . For the purpose of explanation, here we take one of the second movable plates  22 , one of the fixing plates  23 , one of the blocking plates  24 , one of the first magnetic members  25 , one of the second magnetic members  26 , and one of the third magnetic members  27  as a set of components. As shown in  FIG. 5 , the second movable plate  22  and the fixing plate  23  are actually formed by bending one single plate, i.e., a long edge of the second movable plate  22  is integrated connected to a long edge of the fixing plate  23 . As shown in FIG.  2 , the fixing plate  23  is codirectionally fixed on a vertical lateral surface of one of the columns  102  of the window frame  100 , with the opening of the bent plate facing the outside of the room. In the first preferred embodiment, the fixing plate  23  is fixed on the corresponding column  102  through a plurality of bolts  29  which pass through the fixing plate  23  and get locked in the corresponding column  102 . Different means for achieving the same purpose, such as adhesion, are considered to be included in the present invention. Since the second movable plate  22  is connected to the fixing plate  23  with the long edge thereof, the second movable plate  22  can be pivoted relate to the fixing plate  23 . 
     In addition, the first magnetic member  25  is disposed at a side of the bottom rail  14 , the second magnetic member  26  is fixedly disposed near a bottom end of the second movable plate  22 , and the third magnetic member  27  is fixedly disposed near a top end of the second movable plate  22 . It is worth mentioning that the second magnetic member  26  and the third magnetic member  27  are both magnets in the first preferred embodiment, wherein the second magnetic member  26  and the first magnetic member  25  are arranged with opposite poles facing each other, while the third magnetic member  27  and the first magnetic member  25  are arranged with the same pole facing each other. With such arrangement, when the bottom rail  14  is moved to a first position P 1  which is away from the headrail  12 , as shown in  FIG. 6  to  FIG. 8 , the second magnetic member  26  is attracted by the first magnetic member  25 , and therefore the second movable plate  22  is pivoted inwardly to contact a rear surface of the covering assembly  16 . As a result, the gap S 2  formed between one of the lateral sides of the covering assembly  16  and the corresponding column  102  of the window frame  100  can be covered. Similarly, the other gap S 2  at the opposite side formed between the covering assembly  16  and the other column  102  of the window frame  100  is also covered by the second movable plate  22  of the other set of components.  FIG. 8  shows the relation between an external light source S and the sunshade structure in the first preferred embodiment. 
     On the contrary, when the bottom rail  14  is moved to leave the first position P 1  and toward a second position P 2  near the headrail  12  as illustrated in  FIG. 9  and  FIG. 10 , the third magnetic members  27  are pushed outwardly, for each of the first magnetic members  25  is repelled by the corresponding third magnetic member  27  while passing by. Therefore, each of the second movable plates  22  is pivoted to contact the corresponding fixing plate  23  and, of course, to leave the covering assembly  16 , so that the second movable plates  22  and the fixing plates  23  are respectively folded together on the columns  102  at both sides. As a result, light from outside can get into the room without being blocked out by the second movable plates  22 . 
     In other preferred embodiments, the aforementioned first movable plate  21  and the second movable plates  22  could be omitted to meet different requirements. For example, if the gap S 1  between the headrail  12  and the upper beam  101  is so small that it is actually not necessary to be covered, or there is already other object to cover the gap S 1 , the first movable plate  21  surely can be omitted, with only the second movable plates  22  to be installed. 
     Again, here we take the set of components mentioned above for explanation. The blocking plate  24  is fixed at where the upper beam  101  of the window frame  100  and the corresponding column  102  are connected, wherein the blocking plate  24  covers potential gaps which may be formed between the headrail  12 , the upper beam  101 , the column  102 , and the outwardly folded second movable plate  22  to ensure excellent light-blocking effect. It is worth mentioning that a part of the blocking plate  24  extends downwardly and forwardly, as shown in  FIG. 11 . When the second movable plate  22  is folded outwardly, this part of the blocking plate  24  is located between the second movable plate  22  and the covering assembly  16 , i.e., a front side of the top end of the second movable plate  22 . Such design also ensures excellent light-blocking effect. 
     In short, perfect sunshade effect can be achieved with the aforementioned design, for the gap S 1  between the headrail  12  and the upper beam  101  is covered by the first movable plate  21 , and the gaps S 2  between the covering assembly  16  and the columns  102  of the window frame  100  are covered by the second movable plates  22 . At the same time, by utilizing the physical effect of attraction or repulsion between each of the magnetic members, the second movable plates  22  can be automatically pivoted inwardly or outwardly without the need of manual operation. 
     It should be clarified that, if necessary, there can be one or more magnetic members other than the aforementioned second magnetic members  26  and third magnetic members  27  fixed on the second movable plates  22 . By arranging the attraction/repulsion relation between each of these magnetic members and the first magnetic member  25 , the second movable plate  22  can be gradually pivoted, whether inwardly or outwardly, along with the movement of the bottom rail  14 . 
     In the aforementioned first preferred embodiment, the second movable plate  22  is controlled to pivot inwardly or outwardly through the forces of magnetic attraction and repulsion. However, in a second preferred embodiment, the driving assembly of the auxiliary shading member can also include a light sensor  30  and an electric motor  32  at each side as shown in  FIG. 12  to  FIG. 15 , wherein the light sensor  30  is disposed at a bottom end of one of the columns  102  of the window frame  100 , i.e., near the first position P 1 . The electric motor  32  is a micro electrical device coupled with the light sensor  30 , wherein the electric motor  32  is fixed on the window frame  100  and under the upper beam  101 . The electric motor  32  is controllable to swing a lever  34 , wherein the lever  34  has an end extending into an elongated guide groove  36   a  of a guide block  36 , which is fixedly connected to a side of the corresponding second movable plate  22 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 12  and  FIG. 13 , when the bottom rail  14  passes by the light sensor  30  and stays at the first position P 1 , the electric motor  32  drives the lever  34  to pivot the corresponding second movable plate  22  through the guide block  36 , wherein the corresponding second movable plate  22  is pivoted inwardly to contact the rear surface of the covering assembly  16 . In this way, the objective of covering the gaps S 2  formed between the sides of the covering assembly  16  and the columns  102  can be also achieved. On the contrary, as shown in  FIG. 14  and  FIG. 15 , when the bottom rail  14  is moved toward the second position P 2  and passes by the light sensor  30 , the electric motor  32  drives the lever  34  to swing in an opposite direction. Similarly, each of the second movable plates  22  is pivoted by the corresponding guide block  36  again to contact the corresponding fixing plate  23 , and therefore the second movable plates  22  leave the covering assembly  16 . As a result, light from outside can get into the room without being blocked out by the second movable plates  22 . 
     In the aforementioned first preferred embodiment, the first movable plate  21  is connected to the upper beam  101  of the window frame  100  through the pivot members  28  to cover the gap S 1  between the headrail  12  and the upper beam  101 . However, in practice, the first movable plate  21  can also provide the same function without the pivot members  28 . Here we provide several examples of implementation in the following paragraphs. 
     As shown in  FIG. 16  and  FIG. 17 , each of the blocking plates  24 ′ (only one of the blocking plate  24 ′ is shown) has a pre-designed bore  24   a  provided on a top thereof, wherein the first movable plate  21  is pivotally connected to each of the blocking plates  24 ′ through the fixing plate  40  which is fixed at a corner of a top edge thereof at the corresponding side. Each of the fixing plates  40  has a shaft  40   a  to be inserted into the corresponding bore  24   a . Whereby, the first movable plate  21  is naturally pivoted by the covering assembly  16  rolled around headrail  12 , and the light-blocking effect is not affected. 
     The auxiliary shading member shown in  FIG. 18  does not have the aforementioned blocking plates, but has two pivot ears  42  and at least one pivot shaft  44  instead. Each of the two pivot ears  42  is respectively fixed on the upper beam  101  of the window frame  100 , and contacts an inner surface (not shown) of one of the columns  102 . The headrail  12  is provided between the two pivot ears  42  in a rotatable way. The number of the at least one pivot shaft  44  is two, and each of which is respectively fixed on one of the two pivot ears  42 . In the current preferred embodiment, the first movable plate  46  (shown in doted lines) has a pre-designed rolled section on the top edge thereof, wherein the rolled section has a perforation  46   a , which communicates with outside with both ends. An end of each of the two pivot shafts  44  is respectively inserted into the perforation  46   a  of the first movable plate  46  through one of the ends of the perforation  46   a . In this way, the first movable plate  46  is provided at a top portion of the window frame  100  through the two pivot ears  42 . Similarly, the first movable plate  21  can be naturally pivoted by the covering assembly  16  rolled around headrail  12  without affecting the light-blocking effect. 
     To prevent the first movable plate  46  from deforming at a middle portion thereof, the first movable plate  46  can be further provided with at least one notch at the rolled section to communicate with the perforation  46   a . At the same time, at least one support member  48  is installed on the bottom surface of upper beam  101  of the window frame  100 , wherein the at least one support member  48  has two corresponding extending ends  48   a , which are respectively inserted into the perforation  46   a  through the notch to provide additional support. 
     In another embodiments, the at least one pivot shaft can be a thin and long single rod which directly goes through the perforation  46   a , with two ends thereof fixed on the two pivot ears  42 . In this way, the first movable plate  46  can be pivoted as described above. Similarly, in order to prevent the single rod from bending or deforming, there can be at least one notch provided at the rolled section of the first movable plate  46  to communicate with the perforation  46   a , so that at least one part of the single rod is exposed to be hooked by at least one support member (not shown) installed on the upper beam  101 , or alternatively, the single rod can also pass through a bore of the at least one support member. 
     The main shading member shown in  FIG. 19  includes an extruded aluminum frame  50 , wherein a side of the frame  50  is fixed to an inner surface of the upper beam  101  of the window frame  100 , while each of two ends on another side thereof is respectively connected one of two pivot ears  52  (only one pivot ear  52  is shown). The headrail  12  is provided between the two pivot ears  52  in a rotatable way, and is provided at the top portion of the window frame  100  through the frame  50 . In the current preferred embodiment, the first movable plate  54  is fixed to the frame  50  through two pivot plates  56 , wherein the first movable plate  54  can be naturally pivoted by the covering assembly  16  rolled around the headrail  12 . 
     It must be pointed out that the embodiments described above are only some preferred embodiments of the present invention. All equivalent structures which employ the concepts disclosed in this specification and the appended claims should fall within the scope of the present invention.