MXPA04005095A - Improved extensible sun visor for motor vehicle. - Google Patents

Abstract

The visor has a skid sliding with respect to a visor body (1) displaced with respect to a support axle, which allows passage of cables, of an inner lighting device, in its interior. The skid connects axle legs when the visor opens and on any visor's extension position since the skid displaces to contact with tracks (18, 19) of a frame (2). The tracks are connected together by a switch (20) activated by displacing a mirror cover (22).

Description

EXTENSIBLE PARASOL PERFECTED FOR VEHICLES The present application for Patent of Invention consists, as indicated in its statement, in a "EXTENSIBLE PARASOL PERFECTED FOR VEHICLES", whose new construction, conformation and design characteristics fulfill the mission for which it has been specifically designed, with maximum safety and efficiency and providing numerous advantages as will be detailed herein.

The extendable type parasols for vehicles known to date basically comprise a sun visor body which is formed essentially by two pieces coupled in the manner of a sandwich between which a reinforcement armor is disposed. The body of the parasol can rotate around an axis and move along it. The turning movement allows the parasol to be opened or closed for its use, while the sliding movement allows it to be moved backwards when it is open and arranged on one side of the vehicle next to the window.

Inside the upper part of the armor of the body of the parasol there is a metal profile inside which said shaft is mounted. This metallic profile is conventionally a closed contour profile.

The axis of the sun visor comprises a contact end disposed inside the sun visor body and a folded end disposed on the outside thereof and which is provided with means for coupling the sun visor to the car, for example to the roof. This coupling is an articulated coupling so as to allow the body of the parasol to rotate about a vertical axis. At the opposite end, the body of the sun visor has a coupling area to a support element fixed to the car (for example to the roof thereof) which has a staple-like configuration. This makes it possible to uncouple the body of the sun visor from the roof so that it turns and can be arranged in a lateral position, as has been explained above.

Parasols that activate certain devices associated with the automobile when they open are also known in the state of the art. To do this, the body of the parasol must be adapted to allow the passage of cables in the area of the axis. This is done conventionally by winding the cable around the outer surface of the shaft in a spiral fashion. Patent No. DE 10017046 of Johnson Controls Interiors GmbH &Co describes one of these vehicle sun visors. This sun visor is constituted by a body that can rotate around a hollow shaft and can also move longitudinally relative to it. The body of the sun visor is provided with at least one switching device for switching on and off a lighting device; a remote control unit for controlling an automatic door opening and closing device; for example, of a garage or the like, and an electric cable for the power supply that is connected to at least one switching device and a power unit; remote control . The main drawback of this parasol resides in the fact that, as indicated above, the cable is wound around the shaft inside the hollow body to ensure the conduction of electric current in the movement of the body when it extends into said position side next to the vehicle window.

M ° DE Patent No. 4,328,890 to Gebr. Happich GmbH describes a vehicle sunshade consisting of a rotating body movable on a shaft on which a slider is mounted, without possibility of rotation but with axial displacement, in a hollow body inserted in the area of the longitudinal edge of the body . The hollow body is closed at the ends with plugs, one of which has a guide hole for the passage of the shaft, while the other plug is provided with a charging device to prevent an undesired axial displacement of the body outside the body. the normal position. Said locking device comprises contact springs arranged in the plug and isolated from each other connected to electrical cables leading to a lighting device arranged in the body of the sun visor. 7Ameas, one of the contact springs can be locked in an annular cavity of a contact socket, while the other contact spring can be locked in an annular cavity in the final area of the axis, with respective projections that adapt to the interior of the cavities annular The shaft consists of a metal tube that acts as a ground conductor and through it an insulated connection cable is passed to which the contact socket is connected, which protrudes from the end of the shaft with a part with the annular cavity and is fixed at the end of the shaft with the other part with intercalation of an insulating cover.

This parasol uses an electrical connection device of the type used in audio systems called "Jack". The main drawback of this connection path is the generation of electrical intermittences, which negatively affects the operation of the assembly in what refers to the electrical connection.

The present invention has been developed in order to solve the drawbacks of conventional sun visors, by presenting a new extendable parasol perfected for vehicles with which important advantages are achieved, especially in terms of cost reduction, as will be described continuation.

The sun visor object of the invention is basically formed by a parasol body and an axis around which it can rotate. The body of the parasol can also slide along the axis in order to be able to extend it.

The axis of the parasol is mounted inside the body of the parasol inserted inside a metallic profile, for example of aluminum, which is mounted horizontally inside said body of the parasol, in the upper part thereof.

The shaft comprises a contact end arranged inside a contact body inserted inside the said metal profile of the sun visor body. Said shaft is adapted to allow the passage of cables through its interior destined to conduct the electric current that drives a first electrical device associated with the automobile, such as a lighting device. Said contact element has an inner zone adapted to receive the contact end of the shaft. According to the invention, said contact element comprises a sliding shoe mounted inside the profile of the sun visor body. Said skate can slide with respect to the body of the parasol and inside it. Said contact area of the skate is internally provided with internal metal tongues which are arranged coinciding with respective metal pins disposed at the contact end of said axis in a certain rotational position thereof. These inner metal tabs are extended according to contact elements which are suitably adapted to remain in permanent electrical contact by sliding on at least two metal tracks. These contact tracks are arranged spaced apart from each other, and said electrical contact is independent of the relative longitudinal position of the skate with respect to the frame of the parasol body. The sliding of the skate with respect to the body of the parasol occurs when the user pulls the body of the parasol to extend it making it slide with respect to the hollow axis.

In a first embodiment of the invention, said contact elements are contact tabs in the manner of a metal strip that make flexible contact with two metal tracks arranged in the lower part of the profile of the sun visor.

In a second alternative embodiment, said contact elements are contact blocks, for example of cylindrical shape. At one end of said contact blocks are springs that push each of said contact blocks against the surface of said two metal tracks. In this embodiment, three metal tracks formed in a printed circuit are used. Two of them correspond to the cited tracks previously configured as a strip (positive and negative poles of the current) and the third is a track for control signals to other devices (for example a register box, and other additional services).

The use of a printed circuit board makes it possible to reduce space and make possible the inclusion of said third track in the sun visor mechanism that is described. In addition, the configuration of the spring-loaded contact blocks guarantees a constant and efficient electrical contact in any condition. The use of springs makes it possible to regulate, by modifying the spring constant, the sensitivity when sliding the sunshade.

According to the invention, the extendable parasol includes a switch designed to electrically connect or disconnect the metallic tracks from each other. This switch is formed, according to the invention, by a metallic contact sheet in substantially V-shape which is mounted attached at one of its ends to the lower part of one of said metal tracks. The opposite end of said switch sheet is disposed separately from the inside of the metal profile but with the possibility of contacting the other of the tracks when the second device associated with the automobile makes contact with said metal sheet electrically connecting both tracks to each other. According to the above, the connection and disconnection of the passage of the cable current is made at two points, which correspond, respectively, to the contact area of the skate and said switch. This results in the fact that the first device associated with the car is only connected if both elements close the electric circuit, that is to say if, on the one hand, the metal tongues of the contact area of the skate are arranged in contact with the pins. of the contact end of the shaft (situation that occurs when the sun visor body is in open or unfolded position, that is, in a substantially vertical position), and on the other hand the said switch is connected, a situation that occurs when the second associated device, such as the sliding window that conceals a mirror mounted on the body of the parasol, is arranged in the open position.

Advantageously, the metallic profile of the armor of the parasol body has a cross section that can be of open profile or of closed profile.

If it is of open profile it can preferably have an inverted U-shaped cross section with a narrowing in the lower part of its branches. The branches have, in their lower ends, respective opposing projections intended to prevent the bending of said tracks by the action of the metal tongues of the skate. It will be understood that said opposing projections may be arranged projecting inwards or outwards of the open profile. In any case, the skate will present a complementary cross section.

As indicated, the switch is activated by the second device associated with the car to connect or disconnect the metal tracks. This switch allows, in the position of connection of the skate contact zone, the first electrical device (in one example, the courtesy light inside the vehicle) to activate. As stated above, according to an embodiment of the invention, the first electrical device associated with the automobile can be a lighting device connected to the sun visor by means of said cables, while the second device (operated by said switch) is , for example, the sliding lid of a mirror mounted on said sun visor.

Among the many advantages offered by the extendable parasol of the present invention, it is particularly important to reduce manufacturing costs by eliminating the cable winding operation around the outer surface of the cable. This is very important since the parasol body comprises two pieces of plastic that are welded together by their peripheral edges, the reinforcing reinforcement described above being disposed between them. The joining of said two pieces is conventionally carried out by high frequency welding. This operation always supposes the delicate elimination of the excess plastic scrap adhered to the edge of the welded piece. The operation of eliminating the excess scrap is normally done by pulling the scrap itself outwards and this can cause serious problems in the upper area of the parasol body where the shaft is arranged. This is so given that, in the sun visors of the prior art, the welding is done with the shaft already coupled inside the sun visor body, damaging said operation of eliminating the excess scrap. On the other hand, with the present invention, the arrangement of the cables inside the shaft makes it possible to inject the shaft with a plastic material based on polyamide with the cables already arranged therein and their corresponding connectors arranged at their ends. Another aspect related to the reduction of costs, always without losing effectiveness in the operation, is the elimination of the micro switches used in the conventional sun visors which suppose a considerable increase in the final cost of the set. The invention replaces said micro switches by a sliding shoe with a contact area with the metal plates of the contact end of the shaft in a certain rotational position thereof. It is estimated that the costs arising from the manufacture of an extendable parasol for vehicles according to the invention can be a quarter of the manufacturing costs of the parasols of the same type that have been manufactured up to now.

It should also be noted that the electrical transmission of the extendable parasol of the present invention is carried out through metal plates; Bronze solves the problem. of the electrical flashes generated in the sun visors that include "Jack" type connectors.

A preferred embodiment of an improved extendable parasol for automobiles according to the present invention will be described in detail and by way of non-limiting example, from which the characteristics and advantages thereof will become clearer. The description that follows is given with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure No. 1 is an elevation view of an extendable parasol according to the invention where some interior elements thereof can be appreciated; Figure No. 2 is a perspective view of the sliding shoe arranged inside the aluminum profile of the parasol; Figure No. 3 is a profile view of the sliding shoe of the parasol body shown in Figure No. 2; Figure No. 4 is a profile view of the axis of the extendable parasol of the invention; Figure No. 5 is a sectioned elevation view of the contact end of the shaft which is disposed inside the skate; Figure No. 6 is a front elevational view of the axis of the extendable parasol of the invention; and Figure No. 7 is a perspective view of the sliding skid of an alternative embodiment of the extendable parasol of the invention.

The various references that have been used to describe the preferred embodiment of the device of the present invention are listed below: (1) body of the parasol; (2) - inner reinforcement; (3) - outer shell of the parasol body; (4) - parasol body axis; (5) - aluminum profile of the body of the parasol; (6) - outer plastic layer of the shaft; (7) - articulated end of the shaft clamping; (8) - longitudinal axis; (9) - contact end of the shaft (10) - sliding shoe; (11) - stopper; (12) - metal pins of the shaft contact end; (13) - tube passes the shaft cables; (14) - internal cylindrical passage of the shaft; (15) - skate contact area; (16) - inner metal tabs of the skate; (17) - outer metal tongues of the skate; (18, 19) - longitudinal metal tracks; (20) - mobile contact switch; (21) - metallic contact plate of the switch; (22) - sun visor mirror lid, - (23, 24) - switch ends; (25) - Longitudinal projection of separation of the metal tracks; (26) - lateral narrowing of the aluminum profile.

An embodiment of an extendable parasol according to the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the figures appended hereto. Said parasol is formed by a body of parasol (1) that includes an inner reinforcement over injected (2) which is covered externally by a plastic material (3). The body of the parasol (1) can rotate around a hollow shaft (4) which is shown in figures No. 4 and 5. The rotation of the body of the parasol. (1) around the aforementioned axis (4) allows it to be arranged in a vertical or opening position and a horizontal or closing position. The body of the sun visor (1) can also slide relative to the axis (4) to prevent the sun's rays from hitting the user in a position in which the sun visor is in an upright position next to the window of the vehicle. Returning again to Figure No. 1, the armor (2) the body of the parasol (1) is formed by a rigid frame of substantially rectangular shape in the upper part of which an aluminum profile (5) is disposed, which can also be seen in the perspective view of Figure No. 2 The interior of this metal profile (5 is adapted to accommodate the shaft (4) inside.) The shaft (4) supporting the parasol body (1) has an outer layer of injected polyamide (6) and is provided with one end (7) inclined substantially 90 ° with respect to the longitudinal axis (8), as seen in figures No. 4 and 5. The end (7) is fixed in an articulated manner in some suitable place of the vehicle, for example in the ceiling by means of a support (not shown). The opposite end (9) of the shaft (4) is a contact end that is disposed inside the profile (5) through a sliding shoe (10). The contact end (9) of the shaft (4), which is shown in detail in Figure 3, comprises a plug (11) inside which a connection terminal provided with metal pins (12) is arranged. protruding from the ends (9) of the shaft (4). These metal pins (12) are connected to the ends of cables that pass through the interior of the shaft (4) through a cable passage (13). To do this, the shaft (4) has an internal cylindrical passage (14) that allows the internal passage of said electric cables.

The mission of these electrical cables is to drive the electric current that drives a lighting device inside the car.

With particular reference now to Figure No. 2, the sliding shoe (10) is mounted with possibility of sliding inside the metal profile (5), as shown in Figure No. 2 of the attached drawings. The skate (10) comprises one. contact area (15) formed by inner metal tabs (16) intended to receive the contact end (9) of the shaft (4). The inner metal tabs (16) of said contact area (15) of the skate (10) are disposed inside the skate (10) in coincidence with the metal pins (12) of the shaft (4) in a certain turning position. of the same.

The metal plates (16) inside the skid (10) extend externally according to outer metal tongues (17) arranged in permanent contact by sliding on two longitudinal metal tracks (18, 19) separated from each other by a longitudinal shoulder (25) that avoids electrical contact between them.

The contact of the metal tabs (17) with the said tracks (18, 19) is always continuous and independent of the relative longitudinal position of the skate (10).

Said longitudinal metal tracks (18, 19) are arranged in the lower part of the profile (5), as shown in figures No. 1 and 2 of the drawings.

The relative displacement between the metal tongues (17) of the skate (10) and the metal tracks (18, 19) of the reinforcement (2) occurs when the user pulls the body of the parasol (1) to extend it by sliding it on the axis hollow (4) According to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings that are attached hereto, below a section of the profile (5) on which the metallic tracks (18, 19) are arranged, a switch is mounted (FIG. 20) intended to electrically connect or disconnect the metal tracks (18, 19) from each other.

As can be seen in said figures No. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the switch (20) is formed by a metallic sheet (21) of contact in a substantially V-shape which is mounted by one of its ends (23) connected to one of said metallic tracks (18, 19). The opposite end (24) of the metal sheet (21) is separated from the lower part of the aluminum profile (5) but with the possibility of being in electrical contact with the other of said tracks (18, 19) by electrically connecting them together when slide the cover (22) of the mirror of the sun visor body (1) in the open position, that is, to the right according to the drawing of figure No. 1.

As can be seen in Figure No. 2, the aluminum profile (5) has a profile cross section open at its bottom. Said cross section is in the form of an inverted U with a narrowing (26) in the lower part of its beds which have, at their lower ends, respective opposing projections destined to avoid the flexing of the tracks (18, 19) by the action of the metal tongues (17) of the skate (10). These opposite projections can be arranged projecting towards the inside or outside of the profile (5). The sliding shoe (10) has a cross section complementary to that of the profile (5) so that it can slide freely acting said metal profile (5) of Skate guide (10). Structurally described the extendable parasol of the first embodiment of figures No. 1 to 6 the operation thereof is as follows. First of all, it starts from the disconnection position in which the body of the parasol (1) is folded toward the ceiling and the lid (22) of the closed mirror, that is, concealing the mirror.

The user opens the parasol by turning it downwards until it is in a vertical position. At this point, the contact area (15) of the skate (10) has rotated with respect to the contact end (9) of the shaft (4) so that the inner tabs (16) are in electrical contact with the sheets (12) of said contact end (9) of the shaft (4). However, the circuit is not closed since the lid (22) of the mirror still remains closed, concealing the mirror, ie the tracks (18, 19) are disconnected from each other since the end (24) of the metal sheet ( 21) of the switch (20) is still separated from the tracks (18, 19).

When, with the body of the parasol (1) in an upright position, the user slides the cover (22) of the mirror to the right according to figure No. 1 the switch (20) connects the said tracks (18, 19) when contacting the end (24) of the switch (20) with &some of the tracks (18, 19) putting it in electrical contact with the other of the tracks (18, 19). This then allows the passage of current through the contact area (15) of the skate (10) and by the cables of the shaft (4), so that the interior lighting device of the vehicle is turned on so that the user can see.

It should be noted especially that this circumstance is maintained even if the user stretches the body of the parasol (1) outwards, sliding it with respect to the axis (4), thanks to the sliding contact of the skate (10) with respect to the tracks (18). , 19).

With special reference to the alternative embodiment shown in the perspective view of Figure N ° 7 of the attached drawings, the profile (5), in this case of closed configuration, and with the contact area (15) can be seen. of the sliding shoe (10) provided with contact elements which are now three contact blocks (27) of cylindrical configuration whose base makes flexible contact with respective metal tracks (28) arranged on a printed circuit board (29). The contact blocks (27) are urged against said metal tracks (28) by means of springs (not shown) housed inside a housing (30). The actuation of the contact blocks (27) by means of said springs guarantees a constant and effective electrical contact in any condition allowing to regulate the sensitivity when sliding the parasol modifying the spring constant according to the needs.

Two of the tracks (28) correspond to the positive pole and the negative pole of the current, respectively, and the third track (28) is a track for control signals to other devices (for example a register box, and other additional services). ).

The printed circuit board (29) allows to reduce the space and as well as to incorporate said third track (28) in the skate (10) of the parasol.

Suitably described in what consists the improved extendable parasol for vehicles of the present invention in correspondence with the attached drawings, it will be understood that any modification of detail that may be considered convenient may be introduced therein, provided that the essential characteristics of the invention summarized in the following claims are not altered.

Claims (10)

1. - "PERFECTED EXTENSIBLE PARASOL FOR VEHICLES" rising a parasol body (1) provided with an inner frame (2); an axis (4) around which the parasol body (1) can rotate and along which it can also move, said axis (4) being mounted inside a horizontal profile (5) of said body (1) , said shaft (4) rising a contact end (9) disposed inside the body of the parasol (1) and said shaft (4) being adapted to allow the passage of cables through its interior (14) intended for driving of electric current to drive a first electrical device associated with the automobile; and a contact element (10) which is inserted into said body profile (5) of the sun visor (1), said contact element (10) rising a contact area (15) adapted to receive the contact end ( 9) of said axis (4); characterized in that said contact element (10) is a sliding shoe (10) mounted inside the profile (5) of the body of the parasol (1) so that said shoe (10) can slide with respect to the body of the parasol ( 1), said contact zone (15) being provided internally of the skate (10) with internal metal tongues (16) arranged in coincidence with respective metal lugs (12) disposed at the contact end (9) of said axis (4). ) in a certain rotational position of the same, said inner metal tabs (16) according to contact elements (17) adapted to remain in permanent electrical contact by sliding on at least two metal tracks (18, 19; 100) arranged separated from each other, said contact being independent of the relative longitudinal position of the skate (10) with respect to the armature (2) of the parasol body (1).

2. - "EXTENSIBLE PARASOL PERFECTED FOR VEHICLES" according to the claim, characterized in that said contact elements are contact tongues (17).

3. - "EXTENSIBLE PARASOL PERFECTED FOR VEHICLES" according to the claim, characterized in that said contact elements are contact blocks (170) each of said contact blocks (170) being pushed against the surface of said at least two metal tracks ( 18, 19; 100) by means of the thrust of a spring (180)

4. - "EXTENSIBLE PARASOL PERFECTED FOR VEHICLES" according to the claim, characterized in that it rises three metal tracks (18, 19, 100) formed in a printed circuit (200).

5. - "EXTENSIBLE PARASOL PERFECTED FOR VEHICLES" according to the claim, characterized in that it rises a mobile contact switch (20) designed to electrically connect or disconnect said metal tracks (18, 19) with each other, said switch (20) being operated by a second device associated with the automobile.

6. - "PARAOSL EXTENSIBLE PERFECTED FOR VEHICLES" according to the claim, characterized in that the profile (5) of the body of the parasol (1) has an open profile cross section. 7.- "EXTENSIBLE PARASOL PERFECTED FOR

VEHICLES "according to claim Ia, characterized in that the profile (5) of the body of the parasol (1) has a cross section of closed profile.

8. - "PERFECTED EXTENSIBLE PARASOL" FOR VEHICLES "according to claim 6, characterized in that said profile (5) has an inverted U-shaped cross section with a narrowing (26) in the lower part presenting, at its lower ends, respective opposed projections intended to prevent bending of said tracks (18, 19) by the action of the outer metal tabs (17) of the skate (10).

9. - "EXTENSIBLE PARASOL PERFECTED FOR VEHICLES" according to claim 5, characterized in that said switch (20) is formed by a metallic contact sheet (21) which is mounted at one of its ends (23) to the lower part of one of said metal tracks (18, 19) leaving the other free end (24) with the possibility of contacting with the other of the tracks (18, 19) when the second device associated with the automobile makes contact with said metal sheet (21) electrically connecting both tracks (18, 19) to each other.

10. - "EXTENSIBLE PARASOL PERFECTED FOR VEHICLES" according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first electrical device associated with the automobile is a lighting device connected to the sun visor by means of said cables and in which the second device associated with the automobile is a mirror equipped with a sliding cover (22) which is mounted on the body of the parasol (1) so that the lighting device is activated when the body of the parasol (1) is folded vertically and said sliding cover (22). ) of the mirror is in the open position.