GB2235233A

GB2235233A - Mesh screen for a sunroof

Info

Publication number: GB2235233A
Application number: GB9013246A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Dorothy Mary Edwards
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1989-06-13
Filing date: 1990-06-13
Publication date: 1991-02-27
Also published as: GB8913558D0; GB9013246D0

Abstract

A screen (1), constructed from a mesh formed of a material which is permeable to air but impervious to light particulate matter, is adapted to cover and uncover an opening (2), formed for a sunroof, in the roof panelling (3) of a vehicle. The screen may be slidable on rollers over the opening, fixed as a roller blind or rigidly fastened to the opening. <IMAGE>

Description

DESCRIPTION A Screen for a Sunshine Roof This invention relates to a screen for a sunshine roof of a motorized vehicle.

In order to improve ventilation, vehicles can be fitted with a sunshine roof, which is a panel formed in a roof panelling of the vehicle which is moveable in relation to the panelling, such that the interior of the vehicle is opened to the environment, thereby making possible an exchange of air between the environment and the interior of the vehicle.

Sunroofs can be constructed from the same material as the exterior of the vehicle or can be formed from a transparent material, usually laminated glass.

They can be moved into an open position and into a closed position by electrical and/or mechanical means.

They can be opened in a variety of ways. Some sunroofs are retractable into the roof panelling of the vehicle.

Others open by sliding parallel to the surface of the roof panelling whilst others open obliquely to the roof panelling. It is also possible to have sunroofs which can be adapted to open alternatively both obliquely or by sliding.

However, conventional sunroofs can have the following drawbacks: When the sunroof is open, light particulate matter, for example, insects, leaves and litter can find its way into the vehicle through the open sunroof. This of course litters the interior of the vehicle and causes discomfort to occupants of the vehicle but could also cause an accident if for instance a driver of the vehicle is momentarily distracted by a wasp or by something going in his eye.

In the case when the sunroof is open, it is possible that the sun can beat down onto the heads of the occupants causing sunburn or sunstroke. Also on a hot sunny day the effect of the sun through a transparent or open sunroof can help to keep the interior temperature of the vehicle unnecessarily high.

In the case of transparent sunroofs, if the vehicle is parked in direct sunlight, the closed sunroof can act as a suntrap, such that the interior temperature of the vehicle is raised to an uncomfortable level for occupants of the vehicle or for occupants entering the vehicle after the vehicle has been parked for some time.

The same effect can occur in slow moving traffic, if the air is relatively still.

Tinted transparent sunroofs have been developed which reduce the amount of direct sunlight entering the vehicle through the roof of the vehicle, but this is only effective when the sunroof is closed, the sun still heating the interior of the vehicle once the sunroof is open. On cold days, when it may be advantageous to have the interior of the vehicle heated by the sun through the sunroof, this method has the further disadvantage that the tinting is permanent and therefore reduces the level of the sunlight through the sun roof. Sunroofs of this nature are also ineffective against light particulate matter entering the vehicle.

Screens have been developed for use in conjunction with sunroofs, which lie over the opening forming the sunroof in the roof panelling of the vehicle. These screens are adapted so as to be openable with respect to the opening over which they lie. These screens are rigid structures comprising slats between which air can enter the vehicle when the sunroof is open and the screen is covering the opening in the roof panelling. Whilst these structures do cut down on the level of sun entering the vehicle, they are not totally effective against all positions of the sun in the sky, it being possible for the sun to shine between the slats at certain times of the day. Also, these structures are not very effective against light particulate matter which can still enter the vehicle between the slats in the screen.Also, due to the rigid structure of this particular type of screen, it can act as a windbreak thereby severely reducing the amount of air entering the interior of the vehicle and thereby reducing the effectiveness of the sunroof. This particular screen also requires a complicated moulding, thereby adding to the cost of the screen.

The present invention seeks to provide a screen which is easy to produce and which can provide an effective barrier against light particulate matter entering the vehicle as well as acting as an effective shade against direct sunlight.

In accordance with the present invention a screen for a sunshine roof is formed from a mesh which is permeable to air but impervious to light particulate matter.

In some embodiments, the mesh may also be impermeable to water.

The screen can be adapted such that it can move over an opening for the sunroof in a roof panelling of a vehicle.

The screen can be adapted such that it covers the opening in the roof panelling of the vehicle.

The screen can be held in a frame having a substantially rectangular shape and moveable in runners provided in the vicinity of the opening.

The screen can be provided on a roller adapted to be fastened to the roof panelling in the vicinity of the opening, the screen being unwindable from the roller in order to cover the opening and the screen being detachably secured to a fastening in order that the screen remains in place over the opening. Additionally, the screen may be detachable from the fastening in order that the screen can rewind around the roller and uncover the opening.

In another embodiment, the screen can be provided in a substantially rectangular shape with first fastening means provided thereon, the roof panelling of the vehicle being adapted such that second fastening means are provided for coupling with the fastening means of the screen. This arrangement can be such that when the fastening means of the roof panelling and the screen engage, the opening in the roof panel is covered by the screen, and when the fastening means are uncoupled the opening is uncovered.

The screen and screen arrangements of the present invention have the advantage that when in place, that is when covering the opening, light particulate matter such as insects cannot enter- the vehicle through the sunroof, whilst at the same time substantially no obstacle is presented to the passage of air for the ventilation of the vehicle. The screen also acts as a shade against the direct rays of the sun and therefore can reduce the suntrap effect of an open or transparent sunrdof. The screen is also preferably not permanent, so can be drawnback away from the sunroof in order to allow the passage of direct sunlight if so desired.

The invention will be described further hereinafter, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows a first embodiment of an arrangement of a screen for a sunshine roof constructed in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 2 shows a second embodiment of an arrangement of a screen for a sunshine roof; and Fig. 3 shows a third embodiment of an arrangement of a screen for a sunshine roof.

A screen 1 is constructed from a mesh, the mesh being formed from a material which is permeable to air but impervious to light particulate matter such as insects.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, the mesh can be fitted in a frame in order to form a substantially rectangular screen 1. This screen 1 can be fitted in an opening 2, formed for a sunroof, in a roof panelling 3 of a vehicle. The screen I can be adapted so as to be moveable in the opening 2, wherein the screen 1, is mounted for example, in runners such that the screen can be moved to a position in which it completely covers the opening 2 formed in the roof panelling 3, or can be moved such that the screen 1 retracts into the roof panelling 3, thereby uncovering the opening 2. It is possible that the screen 1 can be adapted so as to be moveable mechanically by operation of a handle 4 or an electric motor, or simply moved by hand.

As illustrated in Fig. 2, a substantially rectangular length of screen la can be provided wrapped around a roller 6, such that the roller 6 can be easily mounted via fastening means on an interior of the roof panelling 3 in the vicinity of the opening 2. A string 5 attached to a free end of the screen la can be pulled in order that the screen la unwinds from around the roller 6 and can be drawn over the opening 2 in order to cover the opening 2, string 5 being wrapped around a fixture 7 in order to secure the screen la in position.

The roller 6 is provided with return means such that when string 5 is unwrapped from around fixture 7, the screen la automatically rewinds around the roller 6 uncovering the opening 2. This particular arrangement of the screen on a roller is easy to fit to vehicles already having a sunroof, since the roller can easily be fitted by simple fastening means to the interior of the roof panelling.

As illustrated in Fig. 3, a further arrangement of the mesh in which the mesh forms a substantially rectangular screen lb is illustrated. The screen Ib is of sufficient size so as to completely cover the opening 2 in the roof panelling 3. In each of the four corners of the screen Ib first fastening means 8 are provided which are adapted to mate with second fastening means which can be provided around the opening 2 in the roof panelling 3. This arrangement can be attached to the roof panelling in order to completely cover the opening 2 or can be unfastened so as to uncover the opening 2.

This arrangement can easily be adapted so as to fit vehicles already fitted with sunroofs, due to the simple fastening means required, such as simple snap lock fastening or releasable screw fastening whereby simple rotation by hand of a male connector rotatably secured to the screen 1b can mate with a female socket secured to the roof panelling thereby securing the screen Ib to the roof panelling 3 and by rotation in the opposite direction can once again release the screen lb.

The mesh forming the screen 1, la, Ib can also be made of a material which is not only permeable to air and impervious to light particulate matter, but which is also impermeable to water, thereby also forming a water resistant covering over the opening 2 which permits airing of the vehicle even during wet conditions. Thus, the mesh may be made, for example, of metal, plastics, carbon fibres or a combination of these, and can be flexible or stiff.

Preferably, the mesh is made in a colour which matches or complements the colour of the vehicle and/or its upholstery.

Advantageously, commercially available, so-called "Solar Screen Fabric" is used to construct the mesh which can have all of these latter qualities and, in addition, will effectively eliminate a large proportion of the sun's heat and harmful U.V. incident on the mesh.

Such a "Solar Screen Fabric" comprises a mesh at least one side of which is chemically treated so as to increase the ability of the mesh material to reflect the sun's rays. Such materials can be made effectively to reflect up to 70% of the sun's heat and 70% of the sun's harmful U.V. rays.

In some embodiments, the screen containing the mesh can be adapted to be releasably fitted to the vehicle roof, inside or outside (but preferably inside) by the use of a plurality of adhesive suct-ion cups attached to the screen frame. In most cases, one such suction cup would be attached to each of the four corners of the screen.

Although the invention is not limited to such a size, a typical convenient mesh size is of the order of 0.01" x 0.01" (0.25mm x 0.25mm).

Claims

1. A screen for a sunshine roof formed from a mesh which is permeable to air but impervious to light particulate matter.

2. A screen as claimed in claim 1, in which the screen is impermeable to water.

3. A screen as claimed in claim 1 or 2, which is adapted such that it can move over an opening for the sunroof in a roof panelling of a vehicle.

4. A screen as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, which is adapted to cover the sunroof opening in the roof panelling of a vehicle.

5. A screen as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the screen is held in a frame having a substantially rectangular shape and is moveable in runners provided in the vicinity of the opening of a vehicle sunshine roof.

6. A screen as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the screen is disposed on a roller adapted to be fastened to the roof panelling of a vehicle in the vicinity of the sunroof opening, the screen being unwindable from the roller in order to cover the opening and the screen being detachably secured to a fastening in order that the screen remains in place over the opening.

7. A screen as claimed in claim 6, in which the screen is detachable from the fastening in order that the screen can rewind around the roller and uncover the opening.

8. A screen as claimed in claim 1 or 2, which is rectangular in shape and has fastening means provided thereon, and the roof panelling of a vehicle is adapted such that further fastening means are provided for coupling with the fastening means of the screen, wherein, when the fastening means of the roof panelling and the screen engage, an opening for the sunshine roof in the roof panelling is covered by the screen, and when the fastening means are uncoupled the opening is uncovered.

9. A screen as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the mesh size is of the order of 0.25mm x 0.25mm.

10. A screen as claimed in any preceding claim, in which at least one side of the mesh material is treated so as to increase the ability of that side of the mesh material to reflect incident radiation from the sun.

11. A screen for a sunshine roof, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.