Patent Publication Number: US-2023145201-A1

Title: Shading Device and Vehicle Door

Description:
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a shading device for shading the light. The shading device may be applied to such as a vehicle, for example may be applied to a side window, a windshield, a back window or a sunroof of a passenger car. The present invention also relates to a vehicle door having such a shading device. 
     In some known vehicles a shading device is provided and it may be used for shading the light such as the sunlight on a sunny summer day, which may be energy-efficient and may improve the comfort of a passenger. The shading device may have a shading curtain. 
     In the research, the inventors of the present invention found that the shading device may generate interference or may have an instable shading effect due to the external interference such as the vibration of the vehicle in operation or the own gravity of the shading device in some cases. 
     An object of the present invention is to provide an improved shading device. 
     For this purpose, a shading device is proposed, comprising: 
     a retractable and deployable shading curtain that includes at least one shading layer and has a first longitudinal side and a second longitudinal side opposite to the first longitudinal side; 
     a drawing device configured to deploy the shading curtain; and 
     a first guide rail having a groove configured to receive and guide the first longitudinal side of the shading curtain; 
     wherein a deployed section of the first longitudinal side of the shading curtain is at least partially received in the groove when the shading curtain is in a partially or finally deployed state; 
     wherein the first longitudinal side has a support member, by way of which the first longitudinal side is receivable and guidable in the groove. 
     In such a shading device, in a way that the first longitudinal side of the shading curtain is received and guided in the groove of the first guide rail, a relatively stable shading effect may be obtained, or the disturbing noise caused by collision of components of the shading device may be at least reduced, or the possible light leakage in the first longitudinal side may be at least reduced. 
     In some embodiments, the groove may be U-shaped. 
     In some embodiments, the shading curtain may include a first shading layer made of a flexible material such as fabric. 
     In some embodiments, the shading curtain may further include a second shading layer made of a flexible material such as fabric. 
     In some embodiments, the first shading layer may have a first support member. 
     In some embodiments, the second shading layer may have a second support member. 
     In some embodiments, a winding axis of the shading curtain may be substantially in a vertical line. Therefore, the shading curtain can be pulled laterally, or to say can be deployed and rolled up in a direction substantially vertical to the vertical line. 
     In some embodiments, the winding axis of the shading curtain may form an angle of no more than 30 degrees, for example about 5 degrees, about 10 degrees or about 15 degrees, with a vertical line. 
     In some embodiments, the first longitudinal side may be an upper longitudinal side and the second longitudinal side may be a lower longitudinal side. 
     In comparison, in a well known shading device, a winding axis of a shading curtain is in a horizontal line, and thus this shading curtain can be pulled up and down. 
     In some embodiments, the support member is configured for sliding along the groove. 
     In some embodiments, a width of the groove and a width of the first longitudinal side of the shading curtain together with the support member may be adapted to each other, so that the first longitudinal side of the shading curtain together with the support member may form a clearance fit with the groove. 
     In the research, the inventors of the present invention found, in comparison with a shading curtain that can be pulled up and down, an upper longitudinal side of a shading curtain that can be pulled laterally may be easily affected by external interference such as vehicle vibration and so on. In addition, the inventors found, reinforcement measures for the upper longitudinal side of the shading curtain may be unfavorable to the shape stability of the shading curtain during a deployment process and in a finally deployed position due to the increase of gravity. It is surprising that the shape stability of the shading curtain during the deployment process and in the finally deployed position can be improved by way of the appropriate reception and guidance of the support member in the first guide rail. With the aforementioned clearance fit, the shape stability of the shading curtain can be further enhanced. For example, the shading curtain may be kept in good flatness and stable shading performance during the deployment process and in the finally deployed position. 
     In some embodiments, the support member may be arranged on a side surface of a first longitudinal side of the respective shading layer. 
     In some embodiments, the support members may form an edge of a first longitudinal sides of the respective shading layer. 
     In some embodiments, the support member and the first guide rail may generate a magnetic attractive force and/or a magnetic repulsive force. 
     In the case where the shading curtain can be pulled laterally, especially in a combination of the magnetic force with the aforementioned clearance fit, it may be further ensured that the shading curtain is always kept in good flatness and stable shading performance during the deployment process and in the finally deployed position. 
     In some embodiments, the support member may be configured to generate a magnetic attractive force and/or a repulsive force with at least one side wall and/or a bottom of the first guide rail. 
     In some embodiments, the support member has magnet or is at least partially made of a magnetic material, and the first guide rail has a magnet or is at least partially made of a magnetic material. 
     In some embodiments, the first support member may be configured to generate a magnetic attractive force with a first groove wall of the first guide rail. 
     In some embodiments, the second support member may be configured to generate a magnetic attractive force with a second groove wall of the first guide rail opposite to the first groove wall. 
     In some embodiments, the first support member may be configured to generate a magnetic attractive force with the bottom of the first guide rail. 
     In some embodiments, the second support member may be configured to generate a magnetic attractive force with the bottom of the first guide rail. 
     In some embodiments, the first and the second support member may be configured to maintain a spacing between deployed sections of the first and the second shading layer during the movement of the shading curtain and/or in the stationary state of the shading curtain. 
     In some embodiments, the shading device may comprise a second guide rail having a groove. 
     In some embodiments, the groove of the second rail may be configured to receive and guide a second longitudinal side of the shading curtain. 
     In some embodiments, the second longitudinal side may have a support member, by which the second longitudinal side can be received and guided in the groove of the second guide rail. 
     In some embodiments, the support member of the second longitudinal side and the second guide rail can generate a magnetic attractive force and/or a magnetic repulsive force. 
     In some embodiments, the support member of the second longitudinal side may be configured to maintain a spacing between the deployed sections of the first and the second shading layer during the movement of the shading curtain and/or in the stationary state of the shading curtain, in particular in cooperation with the support member of the first longitudinal side. 
     In some embodiments, the shading device may be configured for a vehicle, such as a road vehicle, for example a passenger car. 
     In some embodiments, the shading device may be configured for a side window of a motor vehicle, for example for a side window of a front door or a rear door of a motor vehicle. 
     In some embodiments, the shading curtain may be configured to be deployed from one side to the other side of a front side and a rear side of the side window, wherein the first longitudinal side is an upper longitudinal side, and the second longitudinal side is a lower longitudinal side. 
     In some embodiments, the first and the second shading layer may move relative to each other in a deployment direction of the shading curtain, and thus the shading curtain has an adjustable light transmission property in dependence on a relative position of the first and the second shading layer. 
     In some embodiments, the support member may be a member extending continuously on the first longitudinal side of the shading curtain, or may be a plurality of members distributed on the first longitudinal side of the shading curtain. 
     In some embodiments, the support member may be an integral part of the respective longitudinal side, or may be attached to the respective longitudinal side as a separate attachment. 
     In some embodiments, the light transmission property of the shading curtain may be adjusted as required. For example, it is possible that the shading curtain is switched to a maximum light transmission state, so as to obtain the external light in an inner room of the vehicle or observe the outside from the inside of the vehicle. For example, it is also possible that the shading curtain is switched to a minimum light transmission state such as an opaque state, so as to shield the hot sunlight or to obtain good privacy. 
     In some embodiments, the drawing device may be configured to draw the shading curtain from the inactive retracted state to the active deployed state. 
     In some embodiments, a deployment direction of the shading curtain may be identical to a movement direction of the first and the second drawing member relative to each other. This is particularly friendly in the deployment operation and in the switching operation of the light transmission states of the shading curtain. 
     In some embodiments, the shading device may comprise a driving device configured to drive the drawing device. For example, the driving device may be an electric motor or a hydraulic driving device. 
     In some embodiments, the driving device may be configured to drive the drawing device, so that the drawing device moves as a whole to deploy and/or retract the shading curtain. Alternatively or additionally thereto, the driving device may be configured to drive the drawing device, so that the first and the second drawing member linearly move relative to each other. 
     In some embodiments, the driving device can drive the drawing device by way of a support rod. 
     In some embodiments, the support rod can move in a plane. 
     In some embodiments, the shading device may include a second guide rail configured to receive and guide the support rod. 
     In some embodiments, the driving device can drive the support rod by way of a Bowden cable. 
     In some embodiments, each individual shading layer may have distributed first and/or second light transmission areas. For example, the first and second light transmission areas may be arranged alternately and periodically, and preferably an extension direction of the first and second light transmission areas are orthogonal to the deployment direction of the shading curtain. 
     In some embodiments, it is possible that in the first relative position, the first light transmission areas of the first and the second shading layer overlap, and the second light transmission areas of the first and the second shading layer overlap. 
     In some embodiments, it is possible that in the second relative position, the first light transmission areas of the first shading layer overlap with the second light transmission areas of the second shading layer, and the second light transmission areas of the first shading layer overlap with the first light transmission areas of the second shading layer. 
     In some embodiments, the shading device may comprise a return spring acting on the shading curtain in a winding direction. 
     In some embodiments, the first and the second shading layer may be respectively provided with a reel and a return spring acting on the reel in the winding direction. 
     In some embodiments, the shading device may have a housing, into which the shading curtain may be rolled, and in which the reel and the return spring for the shading curtain may be accommodated. 
     In some embodiments, one of the first and the second shading layer of the shading curtain may have a support member on its first longitudinal side, while the other shading layer may have no support member on its first longitudinal side. At least one of the first and the second shading layer can be received and guided in the groove of the second guide rail by way of the support member. 
     In some embodiments, the second guide rail and the second longitudinal side may have the same or similar magnet arrangement as the first guide rail and the first longitudinal side. 
     A vehicle door for a motor vehicle is also proposed, the vehicle door having a side window, where the vehicle door is provided with a shading device according to any one of the embodiments according to the present invention, wherein the shading curtain of the shading device is configured to be deployed from one side to the other side of a front side and a rear side of the side window, and the first guide rail of the shading device extends along an upper edge of the side window. 
     It should be pointed out, individual technical features mentioned above, individual technical features to be mentioned below and individual technical features that can be obtained in the drawings can be arbitrarily combined with each other, as long as the technical features to be combined are not contradictory. 
     Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIGS.  1 A to  1 C  are perspective views of a vehicle door equipped with a shading device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIGS.  2 A and  2 B  are partial cross-sectional views of shading devices according to two different embodiments in a region of a guide rail. 
         FIGS.  3 A and  3 B  are partial cross-sectional views of shading devices according to two different embodiments in a region of a guide rail. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In order to make the object, features and advantages of the present invention more understandable, specific embodiments of the present invention are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, specific details are set forth in order to provide thorough understanding of the present invention. However, the present invention may be implemented in other ways different from those described here, and those skilled in the art may make modifications without leaving away the sense of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed below. 
     It should be pointed out, the singular form in the texts also includes the plural form, unless excluded explicitly. Furthermore, as used herein, components, steps, operations and elements referring to “comprising” or “including” mean that at least one other component, step, operation and element may be present or added. The terms “first” and “second” in the texts are used for the convenience of describing and distinguishing different components having the same name, and do not indicate the order or a primary and secondary relationship of these components. 
       FIGS.  1 A to  1 C  are perspective views of a vehicle door  1  equipped with a shading device  20  according to an embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the inside of a vehicle, wherein an inactive retracted state (e.g. a predetermined finally rolled up state) of the shading device  20  is shown in  FIG.  1 A , an intermediate state of the shading device  20  during a deployment process is shown in  FIG.  1 B , and an active deployed state (a predetermined finally deployed state) of the shading device  20  is shown in  FIG.  1 C , in which the shading device  20  may at least partially shield the light from the outside of the vehicle window into an inner room of the vehicle. 
     The vehicle door  1  has a side window  2  having a window frame  3  and a window glass  4  mounted in the window frame. The side window  2  is provided with the shading device  20  that may be arranged in an inner room of the vehicle, in other words, in the inside of the side window  2 . The shading device  20  includes a shading curtain  24 . The shading device  20  may include a housing  21  that may be mounted for example in a rear end region of the side window  2 , wherein the shading curtain  24  may be rolled up and accommodated in the housing  21 , and may be pulled out from the housing  21  by a drawing device  22  until reaching a front end region of the side window  2  opposite to the rear end region, i.e. reaching an active deployed state. The shading curtain  24  has two longitudinal sides opposite to each other, wherein a first upper longitudinal side may have an extension substantially identical to that of an upper edge of the window frame in a predetermined finally deployed state, and therefore extend substantially in the deployment direction. A second lower longitudinal side may have an extension substantially identical to that of a lower edge of the window frame, and thus extend substantially straight in the deployment direction. 
     The shading device  20  may further include a driving device  23  that may be arranged for example on a sheet metal part of the vehicle door, and may be covered by a door trim panel. The driving device  23  may be for example an electric motor. The driving device  23  may be configured to drive the drawing device  22  so as to move the drawing device  22  as a whole to deploy and/or retract the shading curtain  24 . The transmission between the driving device  23  and the drawing device  22  may be suitably designed as required. For example, the driving device  23  may drive a Bowden cable that can drive an operation rod  5 , which can operate the drawing device  22 . For example, it is also possible that the driving device  23  drives an endless wire rope transmission that can drive an operation element such as the operation rod  5 , which can operate the drawing device  22 . 
     The shading device may have a first guide rail  25  configured for a first longitudinal side of the shading curtain  24  (an upper longitudinal side of the shading curtain in  FIGS.  1 A to  1 C ). Details of shading devices  20  according to various embodiments in a region of the first guide rail  25  and the first longitudinal side will be described in more detail later with reference to  FIGS.  2 A and  2 B  and  FIGS.  3 A and  3 B . The first guide rail  25  and its groove may have an extension substantially identical to that of the upper edge of the window frame. 
     The shading device may have a second guide rail  26  in which the operation element such as the operation rod  5  and/or the Bowden cable may be guided. To this end, for example, the second guide rail  26  may have a groove. The driving device  23  drives the operation element such as the operation rod  5  to move in the groove of the second guide rail. It is advantageous that the operation rod  5  can move in a plane. It is particularly advantageous that the operation rod  5  can be deflected by a predetermined angle from the inactive retracted position, i.e. from a substantially vertical position, in a predetermined deployment displacement of the shading curtain  24 , and then the angular position of the operation rod  5  can be kept unchanged in the following deployment displacement of the shading curtain  24 . Additionally, a second longitudinal side of the shading curtain  24  (a lower longitudinal side of the shading curtain in  FIGS.  1 A to  1 C ) may also be received and guided in the groove of the second guide rail  26 . 
     The usage of the shading device  20  shown in  FIGS.  1 A to  1 C  is exemplary. In an alternative usage, a deployed length of the shading curtain  24  may correspond to a part of the length of the side window  2 , for example, a half length thereof. In an alternative usage, the housing of the shading device may be arranged in a lower end region of the side window  2 , and the shading curtain may be deployed in an upward direction toward an upper end region of the side window  2 . In an alternative usage, the shading device  20  may be permanently kept in the finally deployed state. 
     The shading curtain  24  may be configured with a single layer, i.e. have exact one shading layer  241 , as shown in  FIGS.  2 A and  2 B . The shading curtain  24  may also be configured with two layers, i.e. have a first shading layer  241  and a second shading layer  242 , as shown in  FIGS.  3 A and  3 B . For example, the first and the second shading layer  241 ,  242  may respectively have at least two types of light transmission areas with different light transmission properties, and may move relative to each other, so that the shading curtain  24  may have an adjustable light transmission property. For example, it may be switched between a maximum light transmission state and a substantially opaque state. The shading curtain  24  may also be configured with more layers. 
     Now, shading devices  20  according to two different embodiments are described with reference to  FIGS.  2 A and  2 B , which are partial cross-sectional views in a region of a first guide rail  25  and a first longitudinal side, wherein a single shading layer  241  is partially illustrated in a height direction vertical to a deployment direction. The first guide rail  25  may be configured to receive and guide the first longitudinal side of the shading curtain  24  or to say a first longitudinal side of the shading layer  241 . The first guide rail  25  may have a groove  251 . The first longitudinal side of the shading curtain  24  may be at least sometimes, at least partially received and guided in the groove  251  in a deployment process and in a retraction process of the shading curtain. The shading layer  241  may be provided with a support member  243  on a first longitudinal side and may be guided in the groove  251  by way of the support member. For example, the support member can slide along the first guide rail  25 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG.  2 A , the support member  243  is arranged on a side surface of the first longitudinal side of the shading layer  241 , while in the embodiment shown in  FIG.  2 B , the support member  243  is arranged at an end of the first longitudinal side of the shading layer  241 . 
     It is advantageous that a width of the groove  251  and a width of the first longitudinal side of the shading curtain together with the support member  243  is adapted to each other, so that the first longitudinal side of the shading curtain together with the support member may form a clearance fit with the groove. 
     It is advantageous that the support member  243  may be a magnet or made of a magnetic material, and the guide rail  25  may include a magnet or be made of a magnetic material, so that the support member  243  and the first guide rail  25  can generate a magnetic attractive force and/or a magnetic repulsive force. 
     Through the aforementioned clearance fit, or through the aforementioned magnetic force, especially through a combination of both, it may be ensured that the shading curtain is always kept in good flatness and stable shading performance during the deployment process and in the finally deployed position, and has good resistance to external interference such as vehicle vibration. 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG.  2 A , the first guide rail  25  has a magnet  252  arranged in a groove wall of the first guide rail and can generate a magnetic attractive force with the support member  243 . It is also possible that an additional magnet is provided in the other groove wall, which can generate a magnetic repulsive force with the magnet  243 , which may be beneficial for holding the support member  243  on the groove wall having the magnet  252 . In an embodiment not shown, alternatively or additionally thereto, an additional magnet is provided on the other side surface of the first longitudinal side, and an additional magnet is provided in the other groove wall, which can generate a magnetic repulsive force. 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG.  2 B , the first guide rail  25  has a magnet  254  at its bottom, which can generate a magnetic attractive force with the support member  243 . The first longitudinal side of the shading curtain  20  or to say the first longitudinal side of the shading layer  241  can be well received and guided in the groove  251  of the guide rail  25  through the interaction of the magnets. When the motor vehicle equipped with the shading device  20  drives, vibration may occur. Through the interaction of the magnets, the shading curtain  20  may be not obviously affected by the vibration of the motor vehicle and thus can be kept in good optical performance. 
     In addition, it is possible that the embodiment shown in  FIG.  2 A  may be combined with the embodiment shown in  FIG.  2 B , and thus the first longitudinal side can be magnetically attracted to one of the groove walls as well as the bottom of the first guide rail  25 . 
     Shading devices  20  according to two different embodiments are described with reference to  FIGS.  3 A and  3 B  that are partial cross-sectional views in a region of a first guide rail  25  and a first longitudinal side, wherein two shading layers  241 ,  242  are partially illustrated in a height direction perpendicular to a deployment direction. The first guide rail  25  may be configured to receive and guide the first longitudinal side of the shading curtain  24  of the shading curtain device  20 . The first guide rail  25  may have a groove  251 . First longitudinal sides of the two shading layers  241 ,  242  of the shading curtain  20  can be at least sometimes, at least partially received and guided in the groove  251  in a deployment process and in a retraction process of the shading curtain. The two shading layers  241 ,  242  may be respectively provided with a support member  243 ,  244  on the first longitudinal sides, and may be guided in the groove  251  by way of the support members. In the embodiment shown in  FIG.  3 A , the support members  243 ,  244  are arranged on outer side surfaces of the first longitudinal sides of the shading layers  241 ,  242 , while in the embodiment shown in  FIG.  3 B , the support members  243 ,  244  are arranged at the ends of the first longitudinal sides of the shading layers  241 ,  242 . 
     It is advantageous that a width of the groove  251  and a width of the first longitudinal side of the shading curtain together with the support members  243  and  244  are adapted to each other, so that the first longitudinal side of the shading curtain together with the support members can form a clearance fit with the groove. 
     It is advantageous that the support members  243 ,  244  may be magnets or made of a magnetic material, and the first guide rail  25  may include a magnet or made of a magnetic material, so that the support members  243 ,  244  and the first guide rail  25  can generate a magnetic attractive force and/or a magnetic repulsive force. 
     Through the aforementioned clearance fit, or through the aforementioned magnetic force, especially through a combination of both, it may be ensured that the shading curtain is always kept in good flatness and stable shading performance during the deployment process and in the finally deployed position, and has good resistance to external interference such as vehicle vibration. 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG.  3 A , the guide rail  25  has two magnets  252 ,  253  that are respectively arranged in one of the groove walls of the first guide rail  25  and can respectively generate a magnetic attractive force with one of the support members  243 ,  244 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG.  3 B , the first guide rail  25  has a magnet  254  at the bottom thereof, which is common for the two support members, and can generate a magnetic attractive force with the two support members  242 ,  244 . The first longitudinal side of the shading curtain  20  or to say the first longitudinal sides of the two shading layers  241 ,  242  can be well received and guided in the groove  251  of the guide rail  25  through the interaction of the magnets. Alternatively thereto, another possibility is that the support member  243  and the magnet  252  can generate a magnetic attractive force, and the support member  244  and the magnet  253  can generate a magnetic repulsive force, and the support member  244  is arranged on an inner side surface of the first longitudinal side of the second shading layer  242  facing the first shading layer  241 . 
     In addition, it is possible that the embodiment shown in  FIG.  3 A  may be combined with the embodiment shown in  FIG.  3 B , and thus the first longitudinal side of the first shading layer can be magnetically attracted to one of the groove walls as well as the bottom of the first guide rail  25 , and the first longitudinal side of the second shading layer can be magnetically attracted to the other groove wall as well as the bottom of the first guide rail  25 . 
     It is advantageous that the first support member  243  and the second support member  244  may be configured to maintain the spacing between the deployed sections of the first and the second shading layer  241  and  242  during the movement of the shading curtain  24  and/or in the stationary state of the shading curtain  24 . 
     In addition, the second guide rail  26  may be identically or similarly formed with a groove, and the second guide rail  26  and the second longitudinal side of the shading curtain  24  may be identically or similarly provided with a magnet arrangement. In order to avoid repetition, references may be made to the above description of the first guide rail  25  and the first longitudinal side, unless otherwise stated differently. For example, the second longitudinal side may also have the same or similar first and second support member, which are configured to maintain the spacing between the deployed sections of the first and second shading layers, in cooperation with the first and the second support member of the first longitudinal side, during the movement of the shading curtain and/or in the stationary state of the shading curtain. 
     Furthermore, each support member may be a member extending continuously on the first or the second longitudinal side of the shading curtain, or may be a plurality of members distributed, for example uniformly distributed, on the first or the second longitudinal side of the shading curtain. 
     In an embodiment not shown, the first guide rail and/or the second guide rail may have two separate parallel grooves for the first longitudinal side and/or the second longitudinal side of the two shading layers. Here, the configuration of one of the two shading layers and one of the two grooves may be similar to the configuration of the single-layer shading curtain and the one groove in the aforementioned embodiments. 
     It may be understood that the present invention is described with the aid of the above specific embodiments, but is not limited thereto. Those skilled in the art may make modifications on the basis of the disclosure in the present application, all of which do not leave away from the protection scope of the present invention. Individual technical features introduced in the present application, even if they are introduced in different paragraphs of the description or in different embodiments, may be arbitrarily combined with each other, as long as they are not contradictory.