Patent Description:
In the state of the art, shade assemblies are known, which are used in vehicles and allow the shade to be retracted. In such shade assemblies, the number of parts in the mechanisms for retracting the shade is rather high, and hence its assembly is difficult and the cost of manufacture is high. Further, the costs are much higher in these mechanisms, in the case that the rotational movement required for retracting the shade is provided by drive members. Therefore, there is a need for solutions which have lesser parts, is easy to assembly and have reduced cost of manufacture such that the shade is enabled to retract in the vehicles.

Patent Application <CIT> discloses a roller shade assembly a cylindrical tube having an inner surface defining an axial bore; a spindle including an outer threaded portion defining a helical groove, the spindle being configured to be received in the axial bore of the cylindrical tube for axial movement in the cylindrical tube at one end of the cylindrical tube; and at least one tracking element operatively associated with the cylindrical tube, the at least one tracking element being configured for riding in the helical groove to convert axial rotation of cylindrical tube into axial movement of the cylindrical tube on the support tube. The tracking element engages the helical groove from a position proximal to one end of the cylindrical tube. The starting axial position of the cylindrical tube in relation to the support tube is configured to be adjustable by manually rotating the spindle without rotating the support tube.

Patent Application <CIT> discloses a wind-shield blind system to thermally insulate the windshield of a car. The system includes a spindle tube with a spindle tube mechanism which allows the blind to extend only, preventing the blind from being accidentally rewound by locking the spindle tube in a stationary position at any of a plurality of positions in its range of extension. The spindle tube mechanism includes a push block which, when activated, causes the blind to be automatically rewound.

Patent Application <CIT> discloses a sheet winding device and an assembling method of a sheet winding part capable of preventing or suppressing the occurrence of abnormal sound caused by the striking of a coil spring to a winding pipe via a silencer.

The object of the invention is to provide a shade assembly which allows the shade to be retracted, has less number of parts and is easy to assembly.

Another object of the invention is to provide a shade assembly having a reduced cost of manufacture.

The following second assembly and further embodiment are not according to the invention and are present for illustration purposes only.

In this detailed description, three different shade assemblies used in vehicles are described by way of examples only for better understanding the subject matter without limitation.

<FIG> is an exploded view of a first assembly (<NUM>). The first assembly (<NUM>) generally has a tube (<NUM>) for winding a shade used in vehicles, a rod (<NUM>) disposed linearly within the tube (<NUM>), a first mounting member (<NUM>) through which said rod (<NUM>) is passed, a first spring (<NUM>) wound onto the rod (<NUM>), and opposing caps (<NUM>, <NUM>) at which the ends of the tube (<NUM>) are located. A first cap (<NUM>) shown in the <FIG> has a geometrically cylindrical shape. A first cap recess (<NUM>) is present on the first cap (<NUM>). Said first cap recess (<NUM>) has a second cap groove (<NUM>). In a preferred embodiment, said first cap recess (<NUM>) and the second cap groove (<NUM>) is provided in the form of a circle. The first cap (<NUM>) has at least one cap flange (<NUM>) thereon, which is configured to be away from the cap. At least one connecting hole (<NUM>) is present on the first cap flange (<NUM>). <FIG> is representative and sectional views of a guiding member (<NUM>) in the first and second shade assembly. The guiding member (<NUM>) is generally cylindrical. The guiding member (<NUM>) is formed by a first body (<NUM>) and a second body (<NUM>), which have cylindrical shapes. In a more detailed embodiment, the guiding member (<NUM>) is formed by end-to-end joining the first body (<NUM>) and the second body (<NUM>), which have different diameters. A guiding member channel (<NUM>) is present on the front surface (<NUM>) of the first body (<NUM>) in the guiding member (<NUM>). In a preferred embodiment, said guiding member channel (<NUM>) has a "C" shape. Also, the first body (<NUM>) of the guiding member (<NUM>) has a guiding member hole (<NUM>). <FIG> shows a head (<NUM>) comprised in the first assembly (<NUM>). Said head (<NUM>) has a generally conical surface (<NUM>). A groove (<NUM>) is located at the middle of the head (<NUM>). <FIG> show a first spring (<NUM>) in the first assembly (<NUM>). The first spring (<NUM>) has a first helical portion (<NUM>) of a circular shape and a first hook portion (<NUM>) at both ends of the first helical portion (<NUM>). <FIG> are views of a first mounting member (<NUM>) in the first assembly (<NUM>). The first mounting member (<NUM>) comprises a first cylindrical mounting member body (<NUM>), a first mounting member recess (<NUM>) provided within said first mounting member body (<NUM>), and a spindle (<NUM>) extending horizontally away from the first mounting member (<NUM>) through the first mounting member recess (<NUM>). A first mounting member channel (<NUM>) extends through said spindle (<NUM>). A first grooved portion (<NUM>) is provided at one end of the spindle (<NUM>). A tab (<NUM>) is provided on an inner wall of the first mounting member body (<NUM>) facing the first mounting member recess (<NUM>). Said tab (<NUM>) is defined as an extension extending from the inner wall of the first mounting member body (<NUM>) to the spindle (<NUM>). <FIG> are views of a second cap (<NUM>) in the first assembly (<NUM>). The second cap (<NUM>) is cylindrical in shape. A second cap recess (<NUM>) is provided on the second cap (<NUM>). In a preferred embodiment, said second cap recess (<NUM>) is circular in shape. Said second cap recess (<NUM>) has a second cap groove (<NUM>). At least one second cap flange (<NUM>) configured to be away from the cap is provided on the second cap (<NUM>). At least one second connecting hole (<NUM>) is provided on the second cap flange (<NUM>). <FIG> are views of a circular linear rod (<NUM>) in the first assembly (<NUM>). A first protrusion (<NUM>) is provided proximal to one end of the rod (<NUM>). A second protrusion (<NUM>) is provided at the other end of the rod (<NUM>). Said second protrusion (<NUM>) is conical in shape.

<FIG> and <FIG> are exploded and sectional views of a second assembly (<NUM>). The second assembly (<NUM>) comprises generally a tube (<NUM>) for winding a shade used in vehicles, a second spring (<NUM>) disposed linearly within the tube (<NUM>), a third cap (<NUM>) having an extension located at the opposing ends of the tube (<NUM>) and extending through the tube (<NUM>) and a spring fixing member (<NUM>) located fixedly within the tube (<NUM>) for fastening the second spring (<NUM>). The second spring (<NUM>) in the second assembly (<NUM>) shown in <FIG> has a second circular helical portion (<NUM>) and at least one second hook portion (<NUM>) at both ends of the second helical portion (<NUM>). In a preferred embodiment, said second hook portion (<NUM>) has a "C" shape. <FIG> are views of the spring fixing member (<NUM>). The spring fixing member (<NUM>) has a rectangular shape and has a first slot (<NUM>) thereon. In a preferred embodiment, said first slot (<NUM>) is inclined downwardly from an upper surface (<NUM>) of the spring fixing member (<NUM>). There is provided a second spindle (<NUM>) extending horizontally from a side surface (<NUM>) of the spring fixing member (<NUM>). <FIG> are views of a tube guiding member (<NUM>) in the second assembly (<NUM>). Said tube guiding member (<NUM>) has a circular shape. The tube guiding member (<NUM>) has a tube guiding member channel (<NUM>) therethrough and a second grooved portion (<NUM>) on a lateral surface (<NUM>) thereof. Also, said lateral surface (<NUM>) has a protrusion (<NUM>). The tube guiding member (<NUM>) has a tube guiding member extension (<NUM>) on one end thereof, and a first circular ridge (<NUM>) and a second circular ridge (<NUM>) on the other end thereof, in an opposite direction. <FIG> are views of a third cap (<NUM>) in the second assembly (<NUM>). The third cap (<NUM>) has generally a cylindrical shape. There is provided a third cap recess (<NUM>) on the third cap (<NUM>).

In a preferred embodiment, said third cap recess (<NUM>) is circular in shape. At least one third cap flange (<NUM>) configured to be away from the cap is provided on the third cap (<NUM>). At least one third connecting hole (<NUM>) is provided on the third cap flange (<NUM>). There is provided a third cap extension (<NUM>) configured to be away from the third cap recess (<NUM>) and a circular wall (<NUM>) in said third cap recess (<NUM>). In a preferred embodiment, said wall is provided in a "C" shape. Further, a second slot (<NUM>) is provided on the third cap extension (<NUM>).

<FIG> shows a housing (<NUM>) used in the first assembly (<NUM>) and second assembly (<NUM>). Said housing (<NUM>) has a housing channel (<NUM>) thereon in which the tube (<NUM>) is accommodated. In a preferred embodiment, said housing channel (<NUM>) is a hollow cylinder. Said housing channel (<NUM>) has a housing aperture (<NUM>) which communicates with outside and allows the shade to pass through.

<FIG> shows views of the cylindrical tube (<NUM>) used in the first assembly (<NUM>) and second assembly (<NUM>). Said cylindrical tube (<NUM>) has a longitudinal aperture (<NUM>) thereon. In a more detailed embodiment, the tube (<NUM>) is in the form of "C" shape.

Assembly and operation of the first assembly (<NUM>) is as follows: The first spring (<NUM>) is wound onto the rod (<NUM>), and the first spring (<NUM>) is attached to the second protrusion (<NUM>) of the rod (<NUM>) from one side thereof and is fixed to the head (<NUM>). The first spring (<NUM>) is attached to the first grooved portion (<NUM>) from the other side thereof. The first protrusion (<NUM>) of the rod (<NUM>) is passed through the first mounting member channel (<NUM>). The rod (<NUM>) is disposed within the tube (<NUM>) along with the first spring (<NUM>) thereon. The rod (<NUM>) is placed in the second cap groove (<NUM>) of the second cap (<NUM>) from one side thereof such that it will not rotate and is positioned in the guiding member (<NUM>) from the other side thereof. The guiding member (<NUM>) is positioned in the first cap groove (<NUM>) of the first cap (<NUM>). One end of the tube (<NUM>) is located within the guiding member channel (<NUM>). The system thus mounted is placed in the housing channel (<NUM>) and fixed by at least one connecting member (<NUM>) through the connecting holes (<NUM>, <NUM>) on the first cap (<NUM>) and second cap (<NUM>), and the housing hole (<NUM>). In the first assembly (<NUM>) thus mounted, energy is accumulated in the first spring (<NUM>) by the rotational movement of the tube (<NUM>). The energy accumulated in the first spring (<NUM>) is used to retract the shade by rotating the tube (<NUM>) in the opposite direction.

Assembly and operation of the second assembly (<NUM>) is as follows: The second spring is positioned between the spring fixing member (<NUM>) and the third cap (<NUM>) on the tube. The second spring (<NUM>) is fixed by being attached to the first slot (<NUM>) on the spring fixing member (<NUM>) from one end thereof and to the second slot (<NUM>) on the third cap (<NUM>) from the other end thereof. The tube guiding member (<NUM>) is provided at both ends of the tube (<NUM>) and the third cap extension (<NUM>) of the third cap (<NUM>) is passed through the tube guiding member channel (<NUM>). The protrusion (<NUM>) is located at the aperture of the tube. The tube (<NUM>) is located at the second slot (<NUM>) by the circular wall (<NUM>) from both ends thereof. The system thus mounted is placed in the housing channel (<NUM>) and fixed by at least one connecting member (<NUM>) through the third cap connecting holes (<NUM>) on the third caps (<NUM>), and the housing hole (<NUM>). In the first assembly (<NUM>) thus mounted, energy is accumulated in the second spring (<NUM>) by the rotational movement of the tube (<NUM>). The energy accumulated in the second spring (<NUM>) is used to retract the shade by rotating the tube (<NUM>) in the opposite direction.

A further embodiment of the invention comprises generally a tube (<NUM>) for winding a shade, a rod (<NUM>) disposed linearly within the tube (<NUM>), a first mounting member (<NUM>) through which said rod (<NUM>) is passed, a first spring (<NUM>) wound onto the rod (<NUM>), and opposing first cap (<NUM>) and fourth cap (<NUM>) at which the ends of the tube (<NUM>) are located. <FIG> is an exploded view of mentioned further embodiment of the invention and <FIG> is an sectional view of said further embodiment. <FIG> are views of the fourth cap (<NUM>). The fourth cap (<NUM>) is cylindrical in shape. A fourth cap recess (<NUM>) is provided on the fourth cap (<NUM>). In a preferred embodiment, said fourth cap recess (<NUM>) is circular in shape. A circular ridge (<NUM>) is provided in said fourth cap recess (<NUM>). There is provided a fourth cap channel (<NUM>) extending along the fourth cap (<NUM>) from the ridge (<NUM>). In addition, a corresponding threaded portion (<NUM>) is provided on said ridge (<NUM>) on which a corresponding thread is present. At least one fourth cap flange (<NUM>) configured to be away from the cap is provided on the fourth cap (<NUM>). At least one fourth connecting hole (<NUM>) is provided on the fourth cap flange (<NUM>). <FIG> are views of the second mounting member (<NUM>) in the further embodiment of the invention. The second mounting member (<NUM>) comprises a second cylindrical mounting member body (<NUM>) and a threaded portion (<NUM>) with at least one thread provided on a first surface (<NUM>) of said second mounting member body (<NUM>). Said threaded portion (<NUM>) is configured to correspond to the threaded portion (<NUM>) on the fourth cap (<NUM>). In a more detailed embodiment, the threaded portion (<NUM>) and the corresponding threaded portion (<NUM>) are complementary to each other. On the other hand, there is provided an extension (<NUM>) extending horizontally away from the second mounting member (<NUM>) on the first surface (<NUM>). There is provided a second mounting member channel (<NUM>) on a second surface (<NUM>) corresponding to the first surface (<NUM>). In a preferred embodiment, said second mounting member channel (<NUM>) has a "C" shape. There is provided a hole (<NUM>) which is located on the second surface (<NUM>) of the second mounting member (<NUM>) and is extended along at least part of the second mounting member body (<NUM>).

Claim 1:
A shade assembly comprising a tube (<NUM>) for winding a shade used in vehicles, an aperture (<NUM>) extending longitudinally on the tube (<NUM>), a rod (<NUM>) disposed linearly within the tube (<NUM>), a first mounting member (<NUM>) through which the rod (<NUM>) is passed, a first spring (<NUM>) that has helical form wound onto the rod (<NUM>) and a first hook portion (<NUM>) formed on both ends of the first helical portion (<NUM>), and opposing first and second caps (<NUM>, <NUM>) at which ends of the tube (<NUM>) are located, a first protrusion (<NUM>) which is formed on one end of the rod (<NUM>) and fixed to a second cap groove (<NUM>) of the second cap (<NUM>) by passing through a first mounting member channel (<NUM>) of the first mounting member (<NUM>), such that it prevents a rotational movement of the rod (<NUM>), a guiding member (<NUM>) which one end is located in a first cap groove (<NUM>) of the first cap (<NUM>) such that it allows a rotational movement of the tube (<NUM>), characterized by the shade assembly further comprising;
- a second protrusion (<NUM>) which is formed in conical shape on an other end of the rod (<NUM>), configured to receive the first hook portion (<NUM>), and a conical shaped head (<NUM>) configured to be placed onto the second protrusion (<NUM>),
- a first grooved portion (<NUM>) that is formed on the first mounting member (<NUM>) and configured to mount an other side of the first spring (<NUM>) to the first mounting member (<NUM>),
- the guiding member (<NUM>) comprising a guiding member channel (<NUM>) configured to receive one end of the tube (<NUM>).