Patent ID: 7896058

Claim:
A side window roller blind for automobiles ( 1 ) having a side window ( 14 ) with a lower window edge ( 28 ) and an upper window edge comprising: a winding shaft ( 31 ) rotatably supported underneath the lower window edge ( 28 ), a shade ( 29 ) that has a shape corresponding to the shape of the side window ( 14 ), said shade being fastened at one edge to the winding shaft ( 31 ) and having a second edge remote from the winding shaft, an elongated pull rod ( 34 ) mounted on the second edge of the shade remote from the winding shaft ( 31 ) for movement with said shade ( 29 ) between shade retracted and extended positions, at least one elongated support rod ( 35 ) having an upper end and a lower end and being vertically moveable in its entirety with movement of the pull rod between said shade retracted and extended positions, said support rod having a non-circular cross section, a lifting device for raising the support rod, pull rod and shade to the extended position, said lifting device including a linear actuating member coupled to said support rod, and a spring motor operatively acting on said linear actuating member for moving said support rod in a direction for extending said shade from said winding shaft, a linear guide rail elongated in a direction parallel to the support rod and separate from the lifting device ( 40 ) disposed in depending relation to the winding shaft underneath the lower window edge ( 28 ), said guide rail having a guide groove with a non-circular cross section that conforms with the cross section of said support rod ( 35 ), for receiving a lower portion of the support rod ( 35 ), said guide rail extending a distance below the winding shaft corresponding to the length of a lower end of the support rod below said winding shaft when the window shade is in a retracted position for receiving and supporting the lower end of the support rod ( 35 ) along the entire length of said guide rail for guiding the support rod ( 35 ) for straight linear vertical movement transverse to the lower window edge ( 28 ) during movement of said pull rod ( 34 ) between said shade retracted and extended positions, a hinge connection ( 36 ) intermediate opposed ends of said elongated pull rod ( 34 ) connecting the upper end of said support rod ( 35 ) to said pull rod ( 34 ) for relative pivotal movement of said pull rod ( 34 ) with respect to said support rod ( 35 ) as an incident to vertical movement of said pull rod ( 34 ) and support rod ( 35 ), and a drive mechanism ( 46 ) for rotating the winding shaft ( 31 ).