Patent Publication Number: US-2020290437-A1

Title: Shade apparatus for use with vehicles

Description:
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     This disclosure relates generally to vehicles and, more particularly, to shade apparatus for use with them. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Motor vehicles typically employ shade system to protect passengers including the driver from sunlight. Some vehicles having sunroof functionality utilize a shade positioned on a top of a vehicle. For example, passengers use a sunroof to take in the sunlight into the vehicle. On the other hand, the passenger uses a shade system to block the sunlight poured through the sunroof that is transparent. 
     SUMMARY 
     An example shade apparatus for a vehicle windshield includes a shade movable along the windshield in a front-rear direction of the vehicle. The shade apparatus also includes a drive unit to move the shade. The shade includes a groove portion to accommodate a room mirror mounted on the windshield and the groove portion extends from a front end of the shade toward a rear of the shade. 
     The foregoing paragraphs have been provided by way of general introduction and are not intended to limit the scope of the following claims. The described embodiments, together with further advantages, will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A more complete appreciation of the disclosure and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a view of an example vehicle in which examples disclosed herein can be implemented; 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram of the example shade apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a detailed view of an example shade apparatus at position A in accordance with the teachings of this disclosure; 
         FIG. 4  is a detailed view of an example shade apparatus at position B in accordance with the teachings of this disclosure; 
         FIG. 5A  is a detailed view of the example closing mechanism when it is closed; 
         FIG. 5B  is a detailed view of the example closing mechanism when it is opened; 
         FIGS. 6A and 6B  are detailed views of the magnet of the example closing mechanism; 
         FIG. 7  is an operation diagram of the example closing mechanism; 
     
    
    
     The figures are not to scale. In general, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawing(s) and accompanying written description to refer to the same or like parts. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Some known shade apparatuses for a sunroof or panoramic windshield of a vehicle include a shade (e.g., a roll shade) that is protect from sunlight. In recent years, the shape of the windshield changes according to the change in the shape of the vehicle, and the shade system is expected to expand the covering range. To extend covering range (e.g., beyond a room mirror of the vehicle, etc.), some known shade apparatuses have the method for avoiding the room mirror. 
     For example, a shade apparatus of U.S. Pat. No. 6,857,693 has is provided with a shade device for a driver and a shade device for a passenger, and there is a problem that the number of parts increase and it is not possible to sufficiently shield the sunlight (For example, a gap is generated between the shades). In addition, a shade apparatus of U.S. Pat. No. 6,857,693 realizes the movement of the shade by changing the position of the room mirror. Accordingly, effectiveness of these known shade apparatuses is dependent on changing in specifications of the vehicle and increasing the number of parts. 
     Shade apparatus for a vehicle windshield is disclosed. Examples disclosed herein provide an example shade apparatus that is configured the shade including a groove portion (e.g. extending from a front end of the shade toward a rear of the shade.) to movable along the windshield in a front-rear direction of the vehicle. Since the groove portion can accommodate the room mirror, the shade can move beyond the room mirror. As a result, a shade is enabled to extend beyond the room mirror and it is possible to sufficiently shield the sunlight. 
       FIG. 1  is a view of an example vehicle (e.g., a car, a van, a truck, a sport utility vehicle (SUV), etc.)  100  in which examples disclosed herein can be implemented. According to the illustrated example of  FIG. 1 , the vehicle  100  includes a panoramic windshield  111 , which is located the front side of the vehicle, and a sunroof  112 , which is located the rear side of the vehicle  100 , that are mounted between vehicle frames  120  and a center frame  130 . Further, in some examples, the vehicle  100  also includes a room mirror  140  that is mounted on the panoramic windshield  111 . In addition, the vehicle  100  includes a shade apparatus  200  for covering the panoramic windshield  111  and a roof shade apparatus  300  for covering the sunroof  112 . These shade apparatuses  200 ,  300  are stored in the center frame  103 . 
     Although  FIG. 1  depicts the shade apparatus  200  for covering the panoramic windshield  111 , in some example, the shade apparatus  200  is implemented using for covering a general windshield. 
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram of the shade apparatus  200  of  FIG. 1 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the shade apparatus  200  includes a shade  210  for the panoramic windshield  101   a,  a drive unit  220  for movable the shade  210 , a microcomputer  230  and a switch  240 . Further, the shade  210  is roll shade and includes a groove portion  211 . The groove portion  211  extends from a front end of the shade  210  toward a rear of the shade  210 . The drive unit  220  is comprised of a shade roller  221  on which the shade  220  is wound, two shade cables  222  to move shade  210  and a motor  223  to push the shade cables  222  toward the front of the vehicle  100 . The shade roller  221  includes spring mechanism to wind the shade  210 . One end of the shade cables  222  are provided at the front end of the shade  210  and the other end is connected to the motor  223 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , when user push the switch  240 , the microcomputer  230  catch the signal from the switch  240 . Then, the microcomputer  230  send the signal for drive to the motor  223  and the motor  223  rotates and push the shade cables  222  toward the front of the vehicle  100 . Therefore, the shade  210  can move the front of the vehicle  100 . In the occasion of shade cables  222  is pulled rearward by the motor  223 , the shade roller  221  rotated will retract the shade  210  back with spring mechanism to keep tension on the shade  210 . Accordingly, the shade  210  can move the vehicle front-rear direction. 
       FIG. 3  is a detailed view of an example shade apparatus at position A in accordance with the teachings of this disclosure. The shade  210  of the shade apparatus  200  is stored in the center frame  130  and is located as initial position IP (indicated the broken line) at the front end of the shade  210  before driving the drive unit  220 . Then, the front end of the shade  210  moves to a position A by the drive unit  220  driving. The position A is that the front end of the shade  210  contacts the room mirror  140  and is indicated by a solid line in  FIG. 3 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the shade  210  includes two leading edge bars  212   a,    212   b  which are divided at an opening portion of the groove portion  211  provided at the front end of the shade  210 . In addition, when shade  210  move from the initial position IP to the position A, the shade  210  moves along a shade rail  121  which extend in the vehicle front-rear direction on the vehicle flame  120  and is formed along the panoramic windshield  111 . Further, the shade rail  121  supports the shade  210  via attached portions of the shade cables  222 . The shade cables  222  runs along the shade rail  121 . Accordingly, the shade  210  can move to the position A while maintaining the shape by merely rotating the Shade roller  221  of the driving unit  220 . At ends of the leading edge bars  212   a,    212   b  divided, a closing mechanism  213  to close the opening portion of the groove portion  211  is provided. 
       FIG. 4  is a detailed view of an example shade apparatus at position B in accordance with the teachings of this disclosure. The shade  211  of the shade apparatus  200  can extend from the position A to a position B by the drive unit  220  driving. The position B is further located on the vehicle front side than the room mirror  140 . when the front end of the shade  210  achieved to the position A, the opening portion of the groove portion  211  opens. Then, the shade  210  is moved to the position A. At this time, the room mirror  140  go through the opening portion of the groove portion  211  and is accommodated in the groove portion  211 . The length of the groove portion  211  in the vehicle front-rear direction needs at least a length corresponding to the distance between the position A and the position B in the vehicle front-rear direction. The range of extension from the position A to the position B depends on the vehicle shape (especially the design of the pillar). 
       FIG. 5A  is a detailed view of the example closing mechanism when it is closed and  FIG. 5B  is a detailed view of the example closing mechanism when it is opened. The shade  210  is provided two ends of the leading edge bars  212   a,    212   b  that are divided for formed the opening portion of the groove portion  211 . As show in  FIG. 5A , the shade  201  includes a closing mechanism  213  at two ends of the leading edge bars  212   a,    212   b.  The closing mechanism  213  is comprised of a magnet member  213   a  (or  213   b ) provided on at least one of both ends of the leading edge bars  212   a  (or  212   b ) and a magnet member  213   b  (or  213   a ), or a steel member  213   b  (or  213   a ), provided on the other end of the leading edge bar  212   b  (or  212   a ). The closing mechanism  213  can close when a magnet member  213   a  sticks, for example, a magnet member  213   b.  As show in  FIG. 5B , the closing mechanism  213  can automatic or manual open when a magnet member  213   a  is prevented from sticking, for example, a magnet member  213   b.    
       FIGS. 6A and 6B  are detailed views of the magnet of the example closing mechanism. Ends of the two leading edge bars  212   a,    212   b  each mount a magnet  213   a,    213   b.  The magnet  213   a  (or  213   b ) are formed a notch  213   c  ( 213   d ) at the front end of the shade  210  and recessed toward an inside of the shade  210 . In addition, the closing mechanism  210  includes a surface  213   e  to be detached and attached formed in the front-rear direction of the vehicle. The surface  213   e  is to stick the magnets  213   b,    213   c.  The surface  213   e  coincides with an apex of the notches  213   c.  As show  FIG. 6A , a periphery of the groove portion  211   a  is reinforced by reinforcing members. Accordingly, the groove portion  211  can improve durability. 
       FIG. 7  is an operation diagram of the example closing mechanism. The rear mirror  140  includes a mirror base  141  mounted on the windshield  111 , a support portion  142  provided the mirror base  141  and a mirror portion  143  is mounted at an end of the support portion  142 . The mirror base  142  include mirror grooves  144   a,    144   b  extended in the front-rear direction of the vehicle  100  and formed on both right and left sides. A rear end portion  145  of the base portion  141  in the front-rear direction of the vehicle has a convex shape. A front end portion  146  of the base portion  141  in the front-rear direction of the vehicle also has a convex shape. The rear end portion  145  includes an enter gate  147  of the mirror grooves  144   a,    144   b  and the front end portion  146  includes an exit gate  148  of the mirror grooves  144   a,    144   b.    
     As show  FIG. 7 , when the closing mechanism  213  achieved the rear mirror  140 , the front end of the shade  210  contacts the rear end portion  145 . Since the rear end portion  145  has the convex shape and the magnet  213   a  (or  213   b ) includes the notch  213   c  ( 213   d ) at the front end of the shade  210 , that the magnet  213   a  is prevented from sticking the magnet  213   b  by the rear end portion  145 . Accordingly, the closing mechanism  213  open. Then, the magnets  213   a,    213   b  enter mirror grooves  144   a,    144   b  from the enter gate  147  and move along mirror grooves  144   a,    144   b  with the movement of the shade  210  to the exit gate  148  of mirror grooves  144   a,    144   b.  Since the front end portion  146  has the convex shape, a distance between the magnets  213   a,    213   b  decrease as the magnets  213   a,    213   b  move to the exit gate  148 . When the magnets  213   a,    213   b  move beyond the exit gate  148 , the magnets  213   a,    213   b  can stick again. Accordingly, the closing mechanism  213  close and the groove portion  211  accommodate the rear mirror  140 . 
     It will be appreciated that shade apparatus for use with vehicles disclosed in the foregoing description provide numerous advantages. Examples disclosed herein provide a shade apparatus including a groove portion and a closing mechanism provided on a shade. Disclosed examples effectively extend a shade beyond room mirror while maintaining effectiveness of the shade. 
     Although certain example apparatus has been disclosed herein, the scope of coverage of this patent is not limited thereto. Obviously, numerous modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. 
     Thus, the foregoing discussion discloses and describes merely exemplary embodiments of the present invention. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. Accordingly, the disclosure of the present invention is intended to be illustrative, but not limiting of the scope of the invention, as well as other claims. The disclosure, including any readily discernible variants of the teachings herein, defines, in part, the scope of the foregoing claim terminology such that no inventive subject matter is dedicated to the public.