GB2173752A

GB2173752A - Apparatus for covering a window of a vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB2173752A
Application number: GB08509786A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Yee Tok Leung
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1985-04-17
Filing date: 1985-04-17
Publication date: 1986-10-22
Also published as: GB2173752B; GB8509786D0; JPS61287814A

Abstract

The apparatus comprises, in a preferred arrangement, four covering surfaces in the form of blinds (3,4,5) for covering the back, side and front windows of a car. Each of the blinds (3,4,5) is connected to a respective travelling gear (15) which engages with a drive gear arrangement driven by a drive motor so that, upon actuation of the drive motor by means of a switch on the dashboard of the vehicle (1), the travelling gears (15) are driven to move the blinds (3,4,5) between a position of use in which each blind is disposed to cover a respective window of the vehicle and a retracted position in which the blinds are received within a space defined between a top surface of the vehicle and a cover plate. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Apparatus for covering the window of a vehicle This invention relates to apparatus for covering the window of a vehicle.

It has previously been proposed to mount manual.

ly movable curtains on curtain rails fixed above the windows of a vehicle such as a car to enable the interior of the vehicle to be shielded from, for example, sunlight, orto prevent passer-by looking into the passenger compartment of the vehicle.

However, such curtains when not in use may reduce visibility through the vehicles windows and in particular may distract the driver of the vehicle.

It is an object of the present invention to provide apparatus for covering a window of a vehicle window which overcomes or at least mitigates the above-mentioned problems.

According to the present invention, there is provided apparatus for covering a window of a vehicle, which apparatus comprises means for defining a space within the roof of a vehicle, means for supporting one or more covering surfaces in a position of use in which a or a respective covering surface at least partially covers a window of the vehicle and means for moving the covering surface(s) from the position of use into the space within the roof of the vehicle.

It should be understood that the term "covering surface" as used herein is intended to include curtains blinds (for example roller or venetian blinds) or any other form of surface which when positioned to cover a window obstructs or at least partially obstructs the passage of light through the window.

For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show how the same may be put into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure lisa side elevational view of a car incorporating apparatus in accordance with the present invention showing blinds for covering the windows of the car retracted into a space within the roof of the car; Figure 2 is a top plan view of the car of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a side elevational view similar to Figure 1 but showing the blinds in a position of use; Figure 4 is a top plan view of the car shown in Figure 3; Figure 5is a part-sectional enlarged side elevational view of part of the car showing the blinds in the position of use;; Figure 6 is a top plan view of the roof of the car of Figure 1 with the blinds in the use position of use and with part of the car roof cut-away; Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6, but showing the blinds in the retracted position; Figure 8 is an enlarged top plan view, part cut-away, of part of the roof of the car of Figure 1 with the blinds in the in use position and illustrating means for moving the blinds into the space within the roof of the vehicle; Figure 8A is a sectional view taken along the line X-X of Figure 8; Figure 8B is an enlarged view of part A shown in Figure 8; Figures 9A and 9B are top plan views of a blinds and associated guiding means showing the blind in the retracted position within the roof of the car and in the use position, of use respectively;; Figures lOA and 10B are side elevational views of the blinds and associated guiding means showing the blinds in the retracted and in the in use position, respectively; Figure 11 illustrates on an enlarged scale part of transmission means of the apparatus; Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A of Figure 11; Figure 13 is a plan view showing a detail of the engagement between a travelling or worm gear and a driven gear of the transmission means; Figure 14 is a part-sectional view showing a detail of the engagement between a driven and a driving gear of the transmission means; Figure 15 is a side elevational view of part of the transmission means showing a push-rod and ratchet arrangement;; Figure 16 is a plan elevational view, partly in section, of the push-rod and ratchet arrangement shown in Figure 15; and Figure 17 is a top plan view of the roof of the vehicle of Figure 1 part cut away to illustrate a manual changeover device of the apparatus.

Referring now to the drawings, Figure 1 to 5 illustrate a vehicle 1, in the arrangement shown a car, incorporating apparatus 2 in accordance with the invention for covering a window of a vehicle.

As shown in Figure 6, the apparatus comprises four covering surfaces in the form of blinds; a rear window blind 3, two side window blinds 4 and a front window blind 5. Each of the blinds is formed of a flexible sheet material such as, for example, thin soft plastics sheet or thin metal alloy sheet.

The blinds are movable between a position of use in which the interior surface of the windows 6 of the vehicle are covered as shown in Figures 3 to 5 so that the passage of light through the windows is obstructed or at least partially obstructed and a retracted position in which, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the blinds are retracted into a space defined between a top surface 7 of the vehicle and a cover plate 8 of the apparatus, which cover plate 8 is secured by appropriate means to the top surface 7 of the vehicle.

A drive motor and transmission means 9 is provided for moving the blinds 3, 4, 5 between the position of use and the retracted position. The transmission means also serves to support the blinds in the position of use As shown in Figures 6 and 7 in particular, the drive shaft of a motor (not shown) is connected via a transmission shaft 10 to a driving worm gear 11 which, as shown most clearly in Figure 14, meshes with a first driven gear 12.

A respective smaller second driven gear 13 is mounted to each face of the first driven gear 12 and is fixed for rotation therewith. The three driven gears 12, 13 are mounted on a shaft which is rotatably mounted to the cover plate 8 or the top surface 7 of the vehicle.

Each of the second smaller driven gears 13 meshes with two travelling orworm gears 15which are arranged parallel to one another at opposite ends of a diameter of the respective second driven gear 13. The two pairs oftravelling gears 15 are arranged so as to be mutually perpendicular.

The end of each travelling gear 15 remote from the driven gears 12,13 is pivotally fixed to a respective bline 3,4 or 5 as shown in Figure 6 so that, when the motor rotates in one direction, the travelling gear 15 retract the blinds and when the motor rotates in the other direction the blinds are extended to the position of use. A respective spring-biased ratchet gear 16 (Figures 15 and 16) is provided adjacent each end of each travelling gear 15 to limit the degree of movement of the travelling gears and the blinds connected thereto.

As shown in Figure 6, a manual override or changeover device 17 is provided for controliing the movement of each blind. The manual override for a single blind will now be described. It should, of course, be understood that the manual override for each of the other blinds is the same or substantially similar to the one which will now be described.

Referring now to Figures 6, 15, 16 and 17, each travelling gear 15 is connected to a respective push-rod 18. Each push-rod 18 is mounted in a respective sliding guide 19 and is spring biased toward the respective travelling gear 15. Each pushrod 18 is connected via a respective wire and pulley 20 arrangement to a manual pull switch 21 so that.

when the manual switch is pulled, the associated travelling gear 15 is pulled out of engagement with the respective driven gear 13 so preventing the blind connected to the travelling gear from being moved when the drive motor is actuated.

As shown in Figures 9A and 9B, each blind 3,4 or 5 is substantially trapezoidal in shape and is formed in a plurality of parts, a main rectangular section 3a, 4a, 5a and two parallelopipedal side or 'wing' sections 3b, 4b, 5b, so that in the position of use thereof each blind adopts a substantially trapezoidal shape covering the respective window of the vehicle. Movement of each blind 3,4, 5 is controlled by a respective guiding means. As shown in Figures 8 to 1 OB, each guiding means comprises two pairs of rollers 23 rotatably mounted to the cover plate 7 so that two rollers 23 are positioned beneath and guide the movement of each side section 3b, 4b or 5b of the associated blind.A respective separating or parting plate 24 is mounted spaced above each pair of rollers 23 to separate the main section 3a, 4a or 5a, of the associated blind from the corresponding side sections 3b, 4b or 5b. Each guiding means also comprises a respective pair of parallel rectangular cross-section guide channels 25 mounted above each parting plate 24 to each receive a respective edge of the main section of the associated blind to guide the movement of the associated blind.

The operation of the apparatus will now be described. The electric motor controlling the apparatus is preferably operated by means of a switch (not shown) provided on the dashboard of the vehicle, although, of course, a separate switch for the driver and each of the passengers could be provided. When the switch is actuated to bring the blinds into the position of use covering the windows of the vehicle, the driven gears 12,13 cause the travelling gears 15 to move outwardly from the centre of the vehicle roof so that the blinds, guided by their respective guiding means, move downwardly to cover the interior surfaces of the car window and at least partially obstruct the passage of light therethrough.

Of course, if the manual override has been actuated for any one of the blinds, that blind will- remain retracted because the associated travelling gear 15 will not be in driving engagement with the driven gear. Movement of the travelling gears 15 is limited by the spring-biased ratchet gears 16 which are positioned so that movement stops when the blinds are covering the windows of the vehicle. The main section of each blind and corresponding side sections are linked together so that movement thereof is also limited by the parting plates.

In order to retract the blinds into the space within the roof of the vehicle, the switch on the dashboard is again pressed and rotation of the motor is reversed to cause the travelling gears 15 to move toward the middle of the roof, so retracting the blinds (which are guided as described above) into the space defined between the cover plate 8 and the top surface of the vehicle. Of course, if the manual override device 17 has been acutated for one of the blinds, then that curtain blind will remain in the position of use covering the associated window.

Although in the arrangement described above, the cover plate 7 is added to an already completed vehicle to form a false roof, it should of course, be appreciated that the apparatus could be instalied between the top surface of the metal shell of the vehicle and the interior upholstery during manufacture.

Further, although the arrangement described the covering surfaces are blinds any other form of covering surface such as the curtains, roller or venetian blinds could be provided and the covering surfaces could alternatively be arranged such that, in the position of use, the covering surfaces coverthe exterior, rather than interior, surfaces of the vehicle windows.

Claims

1. Apparatus for covering a window of a vehicle, which apparatus comprises means for defining a space within the roof of a vehicle, means for supporting one or more covering surfaces in a position of use in which a or a respective covering surface at least partially covers a window of the vehicle and means for moving the covering surface(s) from the position of use into the space within the roof of the vehicle.

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the moving means is also arranged to move the covering surface(s) from the space within the roof of the vehicle to the position of use.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the moving means comprises a drive motor and transmission means.

4. Apparatus according to Claim 3, wherein the transmission means comprises a gear arrangement.

5. Apparatus according to Claim 4, wherein the gear arrangement comprises a drive gear arrangement and a or a respective worm gear connectable to the or each covering surface and movable by the drive gear arrangement for moving the covering surface between the position of use and the space within the roof of the vehicle.

6. Apparatus according to Claim 5, wherein the drive gear arrangement comprises a drive gear meshing with a driven gear for driving the or each worm gear.

7. Apparatus according to Claim 5, wherein the drive gear arrangement comprises two first driven gears each meshing with two work gears, each worm gear being connecable to a respective covering surface.

8. Apparatus according to Claim 7, wherein the two first driven gears are mounted on respective opposite sides of a second driven gear so as to be rotatable therewith, the second driven gear meshing with the drive gear.

9. Apparatus according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the two worm gears meshing with a first driven gear are disposed at opposite ends of a diameter of the first driven gear so as to be parallel to another.

10. Apparatus according to Claim 9, wherein the two worm gears meshing with one of the first driven gears extend perpendicularly of but in substantially the same plane as the two worm gears meshing with the other of the first driven gears.

11. Apparatus according to any one of Claims 5 to 10, wherein the or each worm gear is provided with limit means defining the extent of travel thereof.

12. Apparatus according to Claim 11,wherein the limit means comprises two spring-biased rachets mounted to each worm gear.

13. Apparatus according to any one of Claims 5 to 12, wherein means are provided for biasing the or each worm gear into driving engagement with the drive gear arrangement.

14. Apparatus according to any one of claims 3 to 13, wherein the supporting means comprises the transmission means.

15. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein means are provided for overriding the operation of the moving means for a selected covering surface or covering surfaces.

16. Apparatus according to any one of Claims 5 to 14, wherein a means are provided for disengaging a selected worm gear or gears from the drive gear arrangement.

17. Apparatus according to Claim 16, wherein the disengaging means comprises a plurality manually operable pull and/or push rod arrangements, each pull and/or push rod arrangement being operable to move a respective worm gear out of engagement with the drive gear arrangement.

18. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein means are provided for guiding the movement of the or each covering surface.

19. Apparatus according to Claim 18 wherein the guiding means comprises, for the or a respective covering surface having a main section and two side sections, first guiding means for guiding for movement of a main section and second guiding means for guiding movement of side sections of the covering surface.

20. Apparatus according to Claim 19, wherein the or each first guide means comprises two guide channels for each receiving a respective edge of the or the associated main covering surface section.

21. Apparatus according to Claim 19 or 20, wherein the or each second guide means comprises respective roller means for guiding each associated side covering surface section.

22. Apparatus according to claim 19,20 or 21, wherein means are provided for separating the main section and the side sections of the or each covering surface when the or each covering surface is moved into the space within the roof of the vehicle.

23. Apparatus according to Claim 21, wherein a plate is positioned spaced above the roller means so that, in use, as a covering surface is moved into the space within the roof of the vehicle, each side section passes over the respective roller means and beneath the plate and the main section passes over the plate so that the main section is separated from the side sections as the covering surface is moved into the space within the roof of the vehicle.

24. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, further comprising a cover member for forming part of the roof of a vehicle and for defining with a top surface of the vehicle the space into which the covering surface(s) is (are) movable.

25. Apparatus according to any preceding claim further comprising one or more covering surfaces.

26. Apparatus according to any one of claims 19 to 23, further comprising one or more covering surfaces, the or each covering surface comprising a main section and and two side sections, the side section being capable of at least limited movement relative to the main section of the covering surface.

27. Apparatus according to claim 25 or 26, wherein the or each covering surface is formed of a plastics material.

28. Apparatus according to 25 or 26, wherein the or each covering surface is formed of metal alloy sheet.

29. Apparatus for covering a window of a vehicle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.

30. A vehicle roof whenever incorporating apparatus in accordance with any one of the preceding claims.

31. A vehicle whenever incorporating apparatus in accordance with any one of Claims 1 to 29.

32. Any novel feature or combination of features described herein.