AU600052B2 - Rear window sun screen - Google Patents

Description

COMMONWEALT ,ST Patents Actf 2P3496P COMPLETE SPECIFICAk

(ORIGINAL)

FOR OFFICE USE: Class Int. Class Application Number Lodged isdo~ii~i~cO"'fins 'he ai inrenfls made lund~r Section 49 and is correct f Or pring.

Complete Application No.

Specification Lodged Published 0 0 9 9 99 o Pariority: o Aelated art: .1 9 0 00 TO BE COMPLETED BY APPLICANT MICHAEL JOHN PANK 0,N ame of Applicant: 0 99 9r, LW Address of Applicant: 57 Dulwich Avenue, Dulwich, State of South Australia, 90 0 0 90 0 90 Commonwealth of Australia 0 Actual Inventor: MICHAEL JOHN PANK 9 0 0 Address for Service: COLLISON a&CO., Patent Attorneys, 117 King William Street, Adelaide, South Complete Specification for the invention entitled: "PREAR WINDOW SUN SCREEN" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of perform\~al~ known to me: LODGED AT

SUB.OFFIE

9 DEC 197 -Adcelaide FEE-S-T-At9l T V d v-ATTACHED MA16 0"1011111 -a 2 This invention relates to shade screens for shading vehicle windows.

The invention will specifically be discussed in relation to fixed iear windows in motor vehicles but it is to be realized it is not restricted to such windows but may be used in any type of fixed window through which it is desired to prevent a proportion of sun passing.

0 0 0 0 0 1o° 0 In the case of a vehicle on sunny days it can be quite a 0"Oo nuisance to have sun entering the vehicle and this can make 00" 0 the interior of the vehicle very hot. With a vehicle in motion many of the solutions for sun shading whik;h are suitable for a stationary vehicle are not suitable. A vehicle can easily act as a hot house on a very hot day and the preferable method of preventing such heating of the vehicle is to cut out as much as 0O,0o possible of the sun from outside the windows of the vehicle. It is known to have rigid shades in the form of louvres on the 0a 0 outside and the inside of motor vehicle rear windows, but 20 these are bulky, difficult to store when not in use and when Stravelling can rattle and in many cases can be unsightly. The o O,0 interior louvres are not so effective because the heat is already through the window before it is deflected by the louvre and then a considerable proportion stays within the vehicle after being reflected by the interior louvre.

Reflective screens are also known. These can be adhered to a window, but these have a disadvantage as they can severely reduce visibility and hence can provide a danger to road users.

In some cases these may also not be permitted due to a problem of reflecting headlights of oncoming vehicles.

Australian Patent Specification No. AU-A-78681/81 describes a window cover assembly which may be fastened around the periphery of the window. The fastening is by means of magnetic strips on a rigid frame around the cover. The magnetic strips and the rigid frame mean that the article cannot easily be folded for storage and restricts its application to the periphery of the windows which are ferromagnetic or requires specific placement of ferromagnetic strips before they can be used. Further in general magnetic strips do not have sufficient attractive force to a ferromagnetic surface to enable fastening of the cover on the exterior of a window of a moving vehicle.

The wind caused by the motion of the vehicle is sufficient to dislodge the ferromagnetic strips. The present invention provides a shade screen which is suitable for the exterior of windows of a moving vehicle.

oO Australian Patent Specification Nos. 6967/66, 284626 and 57956/80 15 provide insect or fly screens for the opening windows of vehicles but o°,S once again the fastening methods used are in that the screens are S0 generally only intended to be used on a stationary vehicle. The screens are of course not intended for fixed windows on vehicles. As 0 00 can be seen from these problems the object of the present invention is to provide a window screen particularly for sun screening which is suitable for placement on the fixed windows of moving vehicles.

e oThe types of windows to which the present invention may be applied o 0 0include those on motor vehicles of all kinds and they can be for 25 installation on side or rear fixed windows of for instance cars, tractors, 0*4 000. caravans and boats.

The problem therefore is to provide a rear window shade or screen 0000 0 which provides effective shading, is relatively easy to fit and remove eooo 30 when not required and can easily be stored when not wanted. Further the shade must be fitted against the rear window surface so that it is not ripped off by action of windage caused by movement of the vehicle.

Shading may be achieved by reduction of from 60 to 75% of solar' radiation, that is the exposed glass of the window is effectively reduced in area by up to three quarters.

p U3 4 The invention can therefore be said to reside in an arrangement providing for some protection against sun passing through a rear fixedglass window of a motor vehicle, wherein the protection is provided by a piiable mesh held to extend across and against the external face of the glass, where the external face is of convex shape and the mesh is secured by being attached at the perimeter of the mesh and within the perimeter of the frame holding the glass, closely to the glass so as to be constrained so that substantially all of the mesh lies adjoining against the external convex surface of the glass.

In one preferred embodiment the loop tape of the hook and loop fastening tapes may be attached to the rear window by means of a o o 15 pressure sensitive adhesive.

In a further preferred embodiment the hook tape of the hook and loop fastening tape may be attached to the screen by means of sewing or by means of heat or ultrasonic welding.

Preferably the hook-and-loop fastening tape combination is such that the tapes providing such fastening extend around the entire periphery of the rear fixed glass window of the motor vehicle and are attached o400 directly to the external convex surface of the glass providing the 25 window.

o Such a screen may have a density sufficient to provide attentuation of solar radiation of between 60 to 75%. The screen may be comprised of oo fibres of vinyl coated fibreglass which may have a little elasticity and a 30 low coefficient of thermal expansion so that a screen once on a window will stay taut.

The i'eleasable hook and loop fastening tapes may comprise the hook and loop fastening systems sold under the Trade Marks "Velcro", "Quicklon" or "Scotch Mate" and may in one embodiment be in a strip of 12 mm wide for each tape.

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I---cz There may be further provided a reinforcing tape around the periphery of the material of the screen to reinforce and assist with strong sewing of the hook tape to the screen.

As in the earlier embodiment the fibres may be comprised of vinyl coated fibreglass and the shade screen may have a density sufficient to provide continuation of solar radiation of between 50 to Such a material may be woven or knitted.

00 0 0 0 0 on o r 0 0 0 0 00 o 0 0000 0 0 6 An example of a suitable woven mesh may be a PVC coated fibreglass mesh having individual mesh strands in a first direction and a plurality of cross strands substantially at right angles in groups with spaces between the groups of fibres.

The fibreglass in the fibres will prevent stretching of the screen with changes in temperature and hence will assist in maintaining the screen taut on a window regardless of temperature.

t: o o.4o The loop strip may be placed onto the glass of a window around the periphery of the window by an adhesive such as a o 49 o:o 5 pressure sensitive adhesive or aggressive polyurethane adhesive. Preferably before mounting the pressure sensitive adhesive to the window surface a suitable cleaner should be used to provide a chemically clean surface to give good o oO 1adhesion of the adhesive to the glass. Such a cleaner may be isopropanol water, methyl/ethyl/ketone or heptane. In 0 particularly difficult applications a glass primer such as that sold under the Trade Mark "Lord AP134" may be applied after o the cleaning agent is used and prior to applying adhesive to oo the glass.

There may also be provided some form of an anti-theft device for the screen. In one form the anti-theft device may comprise a further fastening at the corners of the screen which involves a locking catch requiring a special key or special tool to release. In one form this may include a base adhesively fastened under the loop strip upon the periphery of the window with a post extending through the loop strip and then the screen is mounted on the window with the post extending through a corresponding aperture in the hook strip and the screen and a fastener may releasably engage the post. The fastener may require a special tool to release it from the post.

L _i- It will be seen therefore that by this invention there is provided a shade screen for the windscreen of a motor vehicle which is easy to install and remove, is not unsightly and as it does not have a rigid frame may be easily folded for storage when it is not required such as at night or during winter.

This then generally describes the motor vehicle shade screen of the present invention but to assist with understanding of the invention reference will now be made to the accompanying ,o 10o drawings which show a preferred embodiment of the invention.

o 0Oo A -In the drawings, Fig. 1 shows a general view of the rear of a motor vehicle including a shade screen of the present invention fastened to 0 the rear window, Fig. 2 shows a cross section of a releasable fastening means of the present invention, oooa S Fig. 3 shows one embodiment of a material suitable for a shade :0 screen for the present invention, Fig. 4 shows a detail of a corner fastening of a shade screen according to the present invention, Fig. 5 shows an alternative corner arrangement for fastening the shade screen of the present invention, Fig. 6 shows a schematic solar absorption calculation to show the effectiveness of the screen of the present invention, Fig. 7 shows an anti-theft device which restricts removal of the screen of the present invention in the engaged position, and Fig. 8 shows the anti-theft device in a released position.

Now looking more closely at the drawings it will be seen that a motor vehicle 1 has a rear window 2 mounted by means of a peripheral rubber sealing mounting strip 3. A shade screen 4 is stretched across the window and mounted by means of a releasable fastener 5 around the periphery of the window o o Cimmediately inside the sealing and mounting strip 3.

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o lo As can be seen in the stylized cross section in Fig. 2 the peripheral o0-o sealing and mounting strip 3 supports the glass 2. On the glass is o fastened by means of a pressure sensitive adhesive 6 a loop tape 7 including a plurality of loops 8 of fibrous material which in use are engaged by a plurality of hooks 9 on a hook tape 10 which is sewn by means of lines of sewing 11 onto the screen 4.

00 0 ;000 Fig. 3 shows a preferred embodiment of a material suitable for a shade screen of the present invention slightly enlarged. The 0o screen material includes a plurality of vertical fibres 20 regularly o 20 spaced and a plurality of horizontal fibres 21 in groups 22 with the 0 groups of fibres regularly spaced. The fibres 21 are woven into o°Oo 0 the fibres 20. Interstices 23 are provided between the groups of Sfibres 21 and fibres 20 and through these interstices a certain proportion of solar radiation and light may pass.

A reinforcing tape 11 is folded over the end of the screen material 4 and also stitched in to reinforce the edge of the screen.

In one preferred embodiment the specific material used is a woven vinyl coated fibreglass screening having a filament diameter of 0.2 mm in the warp and 0.3 mm in the woof. This material is non-combustable, non-rusting, rot proof and ultraviolet proof. In a preferred embodiment it has a attenuation of solar radiation of 75% with a mesh arrangement of 53 fibres in the warp and 16 fibres in the woof per linear inch.

It will be realized of course that other densities in the range of to 75% may be usable. Over 75% too much attenuation of light occurs and the mesh is not suitable for night vision. Below a considerable amount of heat enters the vehicle and the screen is not as effective as is desirable.

Fig. 4 shows one method by which the screen may be affixed to the periphery of the window to ensure complete fastening entirely around the periphery.

o°0 C a In Fig. 4 the rubber sealing strip 25 mounting the window 26 o into the body of the vehicle has a sharp corner and the loop strip 27 along the top of the window has a butt joint with the loop strip 28 along the side of the window. The mesh screen 29 is then fastened by means of its complimentary hook tape to o the loop tape to ensure that the screen is fastened around the 00 entire periphery of the window.

o CoC Fig. 5 shows an alternative embodiment where the sealing 0 C 420 strip 30 has a rounded corner. In this embodiment a portion of loop tape 31 cut to the shape of the corner is provided oC 4 between the loop tape 32 along the top of the window and the loop tape 33 along the side of the window. Once again screen 34 is fastened by means of its complimentary hook tape onto the loop tape around the entire periphery of the window.

Fig. 6 shows in schematic arrangement a preferred 2 embodiment of shade screen according to this invention and it's affect on incident solar radiation.

In this example 230 BTU's of solar radiation strikes the screen and of this the screen itself absorbs 137 BTU's and reflects 27 BTU's to allow 64 BTU's to be transmitted through the material to strike the glass 36. Of these 64 BTU's 4 are absorbed in the glass 5 are reflected from the glass and 55 are L c o o o o on 0 nnO O 00a 0 0 009 onn 000 00 0 0 00 0 0s 0 04 00 0 transmitted through the glass. Of the 4 BTU's which are absorbed in the glass 1 BTU is transmitted by heat exchange with the air to the interior and 3 BTU's are transmitted by heat exchange to the outside of the glass. Overall therefore of the 230 BTU's of incident radiation 56 BTU's are absorbed into the vehicle or to put it another way 174 BTU's are prevented from entering the vehicle. This gives a solar reduction of approximately o10 It may be further noted that the use of the shade screen of the present invention will also provide significant advantages at night by preventing dazzle of high beam lights from the rear.

Also when a third brake light is installed on the inside of rear automobile window the contrast of the light effectively 1 5 improves which provides a further safety factor.

Figs. 7 and 8 show one for of anti-theft device of the present invention. Onto the glass 40 is adhered a base 41 of an antitheft device. The base includes a post 42 which extends up 20 through an aperture in the loop tape 43 which passes over the base 41. A corresponding aperture 44 is provided in the screen 45 and hook tape 46 so that the post can pass through it. A fastener 47 including a shaft 48 with detents 49 is adapted to pass through the post and to be rotated to be retained in the bayonet fashion in the base. Rotation of the fastener 47 may be by means of a special tool to be received in a special aperture (not shown) in the head of the fastener, by this means removal of the fastener is restricted so that removal of the screen is made more difficult.

The head of the fastener is of such a size that the removal of the screen with removal of the fastener is prevented unless damage to the screen is done.

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II t I? 00 4 0 0 0 0) 0;0 0 00 *4 0 00 00 0 00 on 4 0000o 0 0 0 515 0 11 The anti-theft fasteners may be placed at any convenient position of positions as desired such as at the four corners of a square or rectangular screen.

Other forms of anti-theft devices such as a fine tough cable secured to the screen and extending into a secure place such as the boot or trunk of a car may also be provided.

It may be further noted that glare and reflected sunlight from o objects on vehicles behind a vehicle fitted with the screen according to the present invention is reduced to a point of vision safety.

It may be further noted that the loop strip to be affixed to the periphery of the window of the vehicle may as discussed above be mounted by means of an acrylic pressure sensitive adhesive backing on the loop tape with a peel-off protection strip which may be removed when the tape is applied to the window or alternatively the loop strip may have a plain backing 20 and a separate foam backed double sided acrylic pressure sensitive transfer tape of equal width to the loop strip may be used. In both cases the substrate surface may be cleaned with a cleaning agent such as isopropanol and water, heptane or methyl/ethyl/ketone.

In general the loop tape may be applied to the glass of the vehicle and the hook tape applied to the screen either by sewing or heat or ultrasonic welding.

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Claims (9)

1. An arrangement providing for some protection against sun passing through a rear fixed-glass window of a motor vehicle, wherein the protection is provided by a pliable mesh held to extend across and against the external face of the glass, where the external face is of convex shape and the mesh is secured by being attached at the perimeter of the mesh and within the perimeter of the frame holding the glass, closely to the glass so as to be constrained so that substantially all of the mesh lies adjoining against the external convex surface of the glass. s 0o 15

2. An arrangement as in Claim 1 wherein the pliable mesh is o o 0 releasably fastened so as to be held substantially against the external convex face of the glass by means of a hook-and-loop fastening tape combination. o,/

3. Arrrangement as in Claim 2 wherein the hook-and-loop fastening tape combination is such that the tapes providing such fastening extend around the entire periphery of the rear fixed glass *window of the motor vehicle and are attached directly to the external 0 ot convex surface of the glass providing the window.

4. An arrangement as in either of the last two preceding claims, further characterized in that the loop tape portion of the hook-and-loop fastening system is attached directly to the glass of the rear fixed-glass window of the motor vehicle by means of a pressure-sensitive 30 adhesive.

An arrangement as in any one of the preceding further characterized in that the pliable mesh is comprised of a mesh woven from strands of plastics-coated fibreglass.

6. An arrangement as in the last preceding claim wherein the plastics material is vinyl.

7. An arrangement as in any one of the preceding claims, wherein a reinforcing tape is provided around the perimeter of the mesh, the reinforcing tape being folded around the periphery of the mesh and the hook tape is 1 0 fastened to a side of the reinforcing tape adjacent said rear fixed-glass window. 0 0 S'

8. A motor vehicle rear window shade-screen substantially as o hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated by the o 15 accompanying drawings.

9. An arrangement for providing some protection against sun passing through a rear window of a motor vehicle wherein the arrangement is subst- 'tially as described in the specification with reference to and as 2 0 illustrated by the accompanying drawings. 0 C0 Dated this 24th day of May 1990. 0 0MICHAEL JOHN PANK By his Patent Attorneys COLLISON CO. 00 0 0 0 .ooo L P/^