EP1650398A1

EP1650398A1 - Sunshade assembly

Info

Publication number: EP1650398A1
Application number: EP05109014A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Erwin Jacobus Christian Leonardus Hermsen
Original assignee: Inalfa Roof Systems Group BV
Current assignee: Inalfa Roof Systems Group BV
Priority date: 2004-10-25
Filing date: 2005-09-29
Publication date: 2006-04-26
Also published as: DE202004016493U1

Abstract

There is provided a sunshade assembly, comprising a shading member movable to and fro in guide members, a driving means for pre-loading the shading member in a first direction and further with abutment means cooperating with the shading member for defining an end position of the shading member in said first direction. The abutment means are provided with stationary magnetic means for cooperation with movable magnetic means provided on the shading member, wherein the magnetic means are positioned such that of each pair of cooperating magnetic means the north or south poles of the separate magnetic means face each other.

Description

The invention relates to a sunshade assembly, comprising a shading member movable to and fro in guide members, a driving means for pre-loading the shading member in a first direction and further with abutment means cooperating with the shading member for defining an end position of the shading member in said first direction.
When the driving means (which also may be the hand of a user) moves the shading member towards said end position, the abutment means may contact each other with a considerable impact, negatively influencing the constructive integrity, life span and the creation of disturbing noises.
Thus, the invention seeks to mitigate or even eliminate the above disadvantages.
Therefore, in accordance with the present invention a sunshade assembly is provided, comprising a shading member movable to and fro in guide members, a driving means for pre-loading the shading member in a first direction and further with abutment means cooperating with the shading member for defining an end position of the shading member in said first direction, characterized in that the abutment means are provided with stationary magnetic means for cooperation with movable magnetic means provided on the shading member, wherein the magnetic means are positioned such that of each pair of cooperating magnetic means the north or south poles of the separate magnetic means face each other.
These magnetic means will reach their operative magnetic range when the shading member approaches said end position. Within said operative magnetic range the north poles, or south poles, of the separate magnetic means belonging to the same pair repel each other, thus cushioning the impact between the shading member and the abutment means. Ideally, the magnetic force is that strong that a physical contact between the shading member and cooperating abutment means will be prevented entirely.
The invention preferably relates to a sunshade assembly wherein the shading member comprises a flexible sunscreen movable to and fro in guide members, with a spring-loaded winding cylinder for winding on and off the sunscreen which at a free end is provided with a pulling beam, and wherein the movable magnetic means are provided on the pulling beam for, together with the stationary magnetic means, defining the complete wound-on position of the sunscreen onto the winding cylinder.
Prior art sunshade assemblies of the type referred to above come in many shapes. In some sunshade assemblies the pulling beam has two opposite ends which cooperate with the guide members for defining the position of the sunscreen, and in some sunshade assemblies even longitudinal edges of the sunscreen are guided in the guide members. The abutments means, which define the complete wound-on position of the sunscreen onto the winding cylinder under influence of the spring load of the winding cylinder could, in one simple constructional manner, comprise the pulling beam itself and a housing in which the winding cylinder is positioned. However, it is also possible that abutment means are provided which are separate from such a housing, for example abutment means being attached to or integrated into the guide members. Further, prior art sunshade assemblies often comprise means for regulating (reducing) the velocity of the sunscreen under influence of the spring loaded winding cylinder, such as friction shoes attached to the pulling beam and cooperating with the guide members.
Because the spring load of the winding cylinder will increase when the sunscreen is increasingly wound off of the winding cylinder, a substantial force is acting on the sunscreen when it is in a wound-off position. In such a position releasing the sunscreen (for example by deactivating locking means) will accelerate the sunscreen towards the winding cylinder until it comes to a standstill against the abutment means. Due to the acceleration the impact of the pulling beam with the abutment means will be substantial. Such an impact is, however, disadvantageous, both from a view of constructional integrity of the sunshade assembly, as well as from a view of the production of noises.
According to the principles of the present invention a sunshade assembly of the type referred to above, is improved too.
When, as stated above with respect to the prior art, the pulling beam has two opposite ends cooperating with the guide members, according to a preferred embodiment of the sunshade assembly according to the present invention the magnetic means are provided near to said outer ends of the pulling beam and the guide members, respectively.
In such a manner, it can be prevented that the pulling beam can tilt (with the magnetic means acting as a pivot) such that an impact would occur between the pulling beam and abutment means or any other constructional part of the sunshade assembly. With the magnetic means positioned at the opposite ends of the pulling beam and at the guide members such a tilting motion is effectively prevented.
When, also as mentioned before with respect to the prior art, the winding cylinder is positioned in a housing, it is possible that one of each pair of cooperating magnetic means is positioned on said housing. According to such an embodiment the housing is used in an effective manner as a constructional part for mounting the respective magnetic means. It even might be possible to magnetise corresponding parts of the housing, such that those parts of the housing will operate as said magnetic means (the same may apply for some parts of the pulling beam).
Finally it is preferred, that the magnetic means comprise permanent magnets. Permanent magnets do not need any power, such that a very reliable operation of the sunshade assembly is obtained.
Hereinafter the invention will be elucidated while referring to the drawing, in which an embodiment of a sunshade assembly according to the present invention is illustrated.
The only figure shows, schematically, a top plan view of a sunshade assembly according to the present invention.
The illustrated sunshade assembly comprises a flexible sunscreen 1 movable to a fro in guide members 2 and 3. In the illustrated embodiment a free end of the sunscreen is provided with a pulling beam 4 with grip 5.
The opposite end of the sunscreen 1 can be wound-on and off a winding cylinder 6 which is spring loaded 7 into a direction for winding on the sunscreen 1.
As illustrated, the winding cylinder 6 is positioned in a housing 8. Not shown is an opening in the housing 8 for passing the sunscreen 1.
At the opposite ends of the pulling beam 4 permanent magnets 9 are provided. Likewise, on housing 8, at corresponding positions, permanent magnets 10 are positioned. In the illustrated embodiment the north poles of each pair of corresponding permanent magnets 9, 10 face each other. As a result, when the pulling beam 4 will reach the housing 8 (under influence of the spring load 7 acting on the winding cylinder 6) the permanent magnets 9, 10 of each pair of cooperating permanent magnets will come into each others operational magnetic range, such that the north poles will repel each other. As a result the impact of the pulling beam 4 with the housing 8 is cushioned or even prevented entirely.
Of course the permanent magnets 10 also could be attached to the guide members 2 and 3 or any other stationary part of the sunshade assembly or surrounding construction, to which the sunshade assembly may be attached (such as a roof of a vehicle in which the sunscreen assembly may be integrated).
The number of pairs of magnetic means may be different from the two pairs illustrated here. Further the position of the magnetic means may be different, as long as a cushioning effect will occur when the sunscreen 1 moves towards its fully wound on position.
As a result of the sunshade assembly described here tear and wear of the assembly will be reduced dramatically, whereas further disturbing noises as a result of an impact can be limited or even prevented.
The invention is not limited to the embodiment described before, which may be varied widely within the scope of the invention as defined by the appending claims.

Claims

Sunshade assembly, comprising a shading member movable to and fro in guide members, a driving means for pre-loading the shading member in a first direction and further with abutment means cooperating with the shading member for defining an end position of the shading member in said first direction, characterized in that the abutment means are provided with stationary magnetic means for cooperation with movable magnetic means provided on the shading member, wherein the magnetic means are positioned such that of each pair of cooperating magnetic means the north or south poles of the separate magnetic means face each other.
Sunshade assembly, according to claim 1, wherein the shading member comprises a flexible sunscreen movable to and fro in guide members, with a spring-loaded winding cylinder for winding on and off the sunscreen which at a free end is provided with a pulling beam, and wherein the movable magnetic means are provided on the pulling beam for, together with the stationary magnetic means, defining the complete wound-on position of the sunscreen onto the winding cylinder.
Sunshade assembly according to claim 2, wherein the pulling beam has two opposite ends cooperating with the guide members and wherein the magnetic means are provided near to said outer ends of the pulling beam and at the guide members, respectively.
Sunshade assembly according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the winding cylinder is positioned in a housing and wherein one of each pair of cooperating magnetic means is positioned on said housing.
Sunshade according to one of the previous claims, wherein the magnetic means comprise permanent magnets.