US20070029055A1

US20070029055A1 - Vehicle window screen system

Info

Publication number: US20070029055A1
Application number: US11/198,790
Authority: US
Inventors: Nicola Joseph
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-08-05
Filing date: 2005-08-05
Publication date: 2007-02-08

Abstract

A vehicle window screen system prevents insects from entering into the vehicle. The system has a housing with a thin opening along its length and two ends along its width. The housing attaches to the vehicle door interior to the glass window of the vehicle door and attaches to the door at the lower window opening. A spool links the ends of the housing. A screen attaches to the spool. The system further has two flexible guides attaching the sides of the screen and a screen cap attaches the upper side of the screen. A plurality of rails attaches the borders of the opening of the vehicle door. The guides of the screen are within the rails. A hook at the upper window door allows at least one loop of the screen cap to be hooked when the screen is up.

Description

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to fresh air ventilation for automobiles, more specifically, a device to provide fresh air ventilation into a vehicle while preventing insects from entering into the vehicle.
The inventor of this invention realized that there is a need to screen insects from entering into a vehicle while the vehicle has its glass windows open. She realized that during certain days of the year, insects are more abundant that others. The inventor enjoys driving her vehicle with her windows down, and on occasions, insects have entered her vehicle. To her this was an inconvenience, for there was nothing more she enjoyed than cruising the roadways with the windows down.
The inventor knew that she had to invent a device that would keep insects out of her vehicle, while allowing her to enjoy fresh air. The inventor, being a mother, is very concerned about insects entering her vehicle, because of the dangers insects pose the occupants of her vehicle. A danger being that a driver of a vehicle might be distracted by an insect and this might lead to an accident. Another danger is the risk posed by insect bites. An occupant highly allergic to insect bites might experience an adverse reaction.
The inventor also realized, that a window screen could also prove to be beneficial to animal owners, for on occasions, she has temporarily had to leave her animals within her vehicle. The dangers to this were documented in U.S. Pat. No. 6,796,358 B1. The inventor's invention provides a further solution to the problem addressed in the above Patent. The U.S. Pat. No. 6,796,358 B1 solves the problem described in the same Patent, but does not disclose what a user might do when driving the vehicle during a sudden downpour. In a downpour, the user would have to stop the vehicle, remove the patented device, and then raise the automobile window. This might not be a large burden if faced on rural roads, but can prove to be a hazard if the vehicle is on the highway at the time of the downpour.

SUMMARY

The present invention is directed to a vehicle window screen system that prevents insects from entering into a vehicle when the glass windows of the vehicle are down. This invention also allows a vehicle owner to leave an animal within a vehicle for short periods of time when the glass windows of the vehicle are down.
An embodiment of the vehicle window screen system for preventing insects from entering into the vehicle comprises a housing, the housing has a thin opening along its length and has two ends along its width, the housing attaches to a vehicle door at a location interior to a glass window of the vehicle door and attaches to the door at the lower window opening of the door, a spool is attached to the ends of the housing, a screen, the screen having upper, lower and two side sides, and the lower side of the screen attaches to the spool, two flexible guides attach to the sides of the screen, a screen cap attaches to the upper side of the screen, wherein the screen cap has at least one loop for hooking, a plurality of rails attached on the borders of the opening of the vehicle door, wherein the guides of the screen are placed within the rails, and at least one hook attaches to the upper window door so that at least one loop of the screen cap can be hooked on at least one hook when the screen is in the up/closed position.
In the above embodiment of the vehicle window screen system, the vehicle window screen system can be either permanently attached to the vehicle door or be removable. One makes the embodiment removable by either using magnets or VELCRO materials to attach the window screen system to the vehicle door. It is known in the art how to permanently attach the window screen system to the door.
The screen of the vehicle window screen system can be made of materials readily available. The screen might be made of mesh, fiberglass, or aluminum. The screen can be colored to esthetically enhance the value of the vehicle window screen system. The screen can also be shaded to protect the occupants of the vehicle from ultraviolet rays.
The above embodiment can easily be modified to cover the same area that a sunroof covers.
In another embodiment of the invention, the vehicle window screen system for preventing insects from entering into a vehicle comprises a glass window system and a screen system being housed adjacent to each other within an opening of a vehicle. The glass window system comprises a window, a plurality of window guides, a plurality of glass window rails, a window regulator, and a window switch, the window attaches to the window guides, the window inserts within the window rails, the window regulator connects to the window guides, and the glass window switch connects to the window regulator. The screen system is located adjacent to the glass window system, the screen system comprises a screen, a screen skeleton, a plurality of screen guides, a plurality of screen rails, a screen regulator, and a screen switch, the screen attaches to the screen skeleton, the screen skeleton attaches to the screen guides, the screen skeleton inserts within the screen rails, the screen regulator connects to the screen guides, and the screen switch connects to the screen regulator.
This embodiment of the window screen system might further comprise a precipitation detector, wherein the precipitation detector attaches to the glass window switch and when the precipitation detector detects precipitation, the detector sends a message to the glass window switch, the glass window switch activates the glass window system to close the glass window system. In an embodiment, the precipitation detector shall be on the screen.
The screen system of the vehicle window screen system can be placed inward or outward of the glass window system 402 in relation to the interior of the vehicle.
The above embodiment can easily be modified to cover the same area that a sunroof covers.

DRAWINGS

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and drawings where:
FIGS. 1 a-d illustrate a manual embodiment of an vehicle window screen system;
FIGS. 2 a-b illustrate another manual variation of the vehicle window screen system;
FIGS. 3 a-c illustrate a motorized version of the vehicle window screen system;
FIGS. 4 a-c illustrate another motorized variation of the vehicle window screen system using a glass window system and a screen system that are adjacent to each other;
FIG. 5 illustrates another use of the window screens shown in FIGS. 3 a-c, more specifically, the screen being mounted on a sunroof of a vehicle.
FIGS. 6 a-6 b illustrates another motorized variation of the vehicle window screen system using a glass window system and a screen system that are adjacent to each other;
FIGS. 7-7 a illustrate a side view of the vehicle window screen system of FIGS. 6-6 a.

DESCRIPTION

As seen in FIGS. 1 a-d, a preferred embodiment of a vehicle window screen system 100 for preventing insects from entering into the vehicle features a housing 10, the housing 10 has a thin opening along its length and has two ends along its width, the housing 10 attaches to a vehicle door at a location interior to a glass window of the vehicle door and attaches to the door at the lower window opening of the door, a spool 11 attached to the ends of the housing 10, a screen 14, the screen having upper, lower and two side sides, the lower side of the screen attaches to the spool 11, two flexible guides 18 attach to the sides of the screen 14, a screen cap 20 attaches to the upper side of the screen 14, wherein the screen cap 20 further has at least one loop 21 for hooking, a plurality of rails 12 attached on the borders of the opening of the vehicle door, wherein the guides 18 of the screen are placed within the rails 12, and at least one hook 16 attaches to the upper section of the window door so that at least one loop 21 of the screen cap 20 can be hooked on at least one hook 16 when the screen 14 is in the up position.
The vehicle window screen system 100 shown in FIGS. 1 a-d can be either permanently attached to the vehicle door or be removable. One makes the embodiment removable by either using magnets or VELCRO materials to attach the window screen system 100 to the vehicle door. It is known in the art how to permanently attach the window screen system 100 to the door.
The screen 14 of the vehicle window screen system 100 can be made of materials readily available. The screen 14 might be made of mesh, fiberglass, or aluminum. The screen can be colored to esthetically enhance the value of the vehicle window screen system. The screen can also be shaded to protect the occupants of the vehicle from ultraviolet rays.
The vehicle window screen system screen 14 might also have a bug repellant. The bug repellant might be a natural odor emitting from the window screen 14 materials. The vehicle window screen system of FIGS. 1 a-d is used by pulling upward at least one loop 21 of the window screen system 100 to the up position and then hooking at least one loop 21 on at least one hook 16 of the window screen system 100.
As seen in FIGS. 2 a-c, in another embodiment of a vehicle window screen system 100 for preventing insects from entering into the vehicle comprises a housing 10, the housing 10 has a thin opening along its length and has two ends along its width, the housing 10 attaches to a vehicle door at a location interior to a glass window of the vehicle door and attaches to the door at the lower window opening of the door, a spool 11 attached to the ends of the housing 10, a screen 14, the screen having upper, lower and two side sides, the lower side of the screen attaches to the spool 11, two flexible guides 18 attach to the sides of the screen 14, a screen cap 20 attaches to the upper side of the screen 14, a plurality of rails 12 attached on the borders of the opening of the vehicle door, wherein the guides 18 of the screen are placed within the rails 12, and two locking nibs 25, each locking nib 25 is housed within each rail 12 of the vehicle window system 100 at a position that allows the screen 14 to rest in the up/closed position, and wherein the screen cap 20 is made to rest on each locking nib 25 when the window screen system 100 is in the up/closed position.
The embodiment of FIGS. 2 a-c might be made of the same materials used in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 a-d. This embodiment can be attached to a vehicle door in the same manner that the embodiment of FIGS. 1 a-d is attached.
The embodiment of FIGS. 2 a-c is used by pulling upward the screen cap 20 to the up/closed position and resting the window cap 20 on each locking nib 25 of the vehicle window system.
As seen in FIGS. 3 a-c, in another embodiment of a vehicle window screen system 200A for preventing insects from entering into the vehicle comprises a housing 200, having a thin opening along its length and having two ends along its width, the housing 200 attached to a vehicle door at a location interior to a glass window of the vehicle door and attached to the door at the lower window opening of the door, a spool system 220 attached to the ends of the housing 200, a screen 240 attached to the spool system 220, wherein the screen 240 has flexible guides 260 along the sides of the screen 240 not connected to the spool system 220 and wherein the guides 260 extend past the screens 240 length for a distance that is greater that the screens 240 length, a plurality of rails 280, each rail 280 having a divider 300 running within and along the length of each rail 280, attached on the borders of the opening of the vehicle door and interior to the glass window, wherein the guides 260 of the screen are within the rails 280, a wheel 320 housed on one end of each rail 280 not adjacent to the housing 200, wherein each guide 260 is placed around each wheel 320 and each guide 260 connects to the spool system 220, a motor 340 connected to the spool system 220 so that the screen 240 can be manipulated to any desired up or down position within the rails 280 of the vehicle door, and a switch 360 for selecting the up and down position of the screen 240 connected to the motor 340.
The vehicle window screen system 200A shown in FIGS. 3 a-c can be either permanently attached to the vehicle door or be removable. One makes the embodiment removable by either using magnets or VELCRO materials to attach the window screen system 200A to the vehicle door. It is known in the art how to permanently attach the window screen system 200A to the door.
The screen 240 of the vehicle window screen system 200A can be made of materials readily available. The screen 240A might be made of mesh, fiberglass, or aluminum. The screen can be colored to esthetically enhance the value of the vehicle window screen system. The screen can also be shaded to protect the occupants of the vehicle form ultraviolet rays.
The vehicle window screen system screen 240 might also have a bug repellant. The bug repellant might be a natural odor emitting from the window screen 240 materials.
The vehicle window screen system of FIGS. 3 a-c is used by activating the switch 360 to the window screen up or down position.
As seen in FIG. 5, the above embodiment can easily be modified to cover the same area that a sunroof covers.
As seen in FIGS. 4 a-c, in another embodiment of a vehicle window screen system 400 for preventing insects from entering into a vehicle comprises a glass window system 402 and a screen system 502 being housed adjacent to each other within an opening of a vehicle. The glass window system 402 comprises a window 404, a plurality of window guides 406, a plurality of window rails 408, a window regulator 410, and a window switch 412, the window 404 attaches to the window guides 406, the window 404 inserts within the window rails 408, the window regulator connects to the window guides 406, and the glass window switch 412 connects to the window regulator 410.The screen system 502 is located adjacent to the glass window system 402, the screen system 502 comprises a screen 504, a screen skeleton 505, a plurality of screen guides 506, a plurality of screen rails 508, a screen regulator 510, and a screen switch 512, the screen 504 attaches to the screen skeleton 505, the screen skeleton 505 attaches to the screen guides 506, the screen skeleton 505 inserts within the screen rails 508, the screen regulator 510 connects to the screen guides 506, and the screen switch 512 connects to the screen regulator.
The screen 504 of the vehicle window screen system 400 can be made of materials readily available. The screen 504 might be made of mesh, fiberglass, or aluminum. The screen 504 can be colored to esthetically enhance the value of the vehicle window screen system 400. The screen 504 can also be shaded to protect the occupants of the vehicle form ultraviolet rays.
The vehicle window screen system screen 400 might also have a bug repellant. The bug repellant might be a natural odor emitting from the window screen 504 materials.
The vehicle window screen system of FIGS. 4 a-c is used by activating the switches 412/512 to an open or closed position.
In a further embodiment of the window screen system 400 seen in FIGS. 4 a-c, the vehicle window screen system 400 comprises a precipitation detector 514, wherein the precipitation detector 514 attaches to the glass window switch 412 and when the precipitation detector 514 detects precipitation, the detector 514 sends a message to the glass window switch 412, the glass window switch 412 activates the glass window system 402 to close. In an embodiment, the precipitation detector 514 shall be on the screen 504.
The screen system 502 of the vehicle window screen system 400 can be placed inward or outward of the glass window system 402 in relation to the interior of the vehicle.
The above embodiment can easily be modified to cover the same area that a sunroof covers.
As seen in FIGS. 6 a-7 a, in another embodiment of a vehicle window screen system 700 for preventing insects from entering into a vehicle comprises a glass window system 602 and a screen system 702 being housed adjacent to each other within an opening of a vehicle. 36. The glass window system 602 comprises a window 604, a glass panel 605 having teeth on two opposite sides 605 a, a plurality of glass window rails 608, a glass panel regulator 610, a glass motor 611, and a glass system switch 612, the window 604 attaches glass panel 605, the glass panel 605 inserts within the glass window rails 608, the glass panel regulator 610 connects to the glass panel 605, the glass motor 611 connects to the glass panel regulator 610, and the glass motor 611 connects to the glass system switch 612. The screen system 702 is located adjacent to the glass window system 602 and within the vehicle, the screen system 702 comprises a screen 704, a screen panel 705 having teeth on opposite sides 705 a, a plurality of screen rails 708, a screen panel regulator 710, a screen motor 711, and a screen system switch 712, the screen 704 attaches to the screen panel 705, the screen panel 705 inserts within the screen panel rails 708, the screen regulator 710 connects to the screen panel 705, the screen motor 711 connects to the screen regulator 710, and the screen motor 711 connects to the screen system switch 712.
The screen 704 of the vehicle window screen system 700 can be made of materials readily available. The screen 704 might be made of mesh, fiberglass, or aluminum. The screen 704 can be colored to esthetically enhance the value of the vehicle window screen system 700. The screen 704 can also be shaded to protect the occupants of the vehicle form ultraviolet rays.
The vehicle window screen system screen 700 might also have a bug repellant. The bug repellant might be a natural odor emitting from the window screen 704 materials.
The vehicle window screen system of FIGS. 6-7 b is used by activating the switches 612/712 to an open or closed position.
In a further embodiment of the window screen system 700 seen in FIGS. 6-7 b, the vehicle window screen system 700 comprises a precipitation detector 714, wherein the precipitation detector 714 attaches to the glass window switch 612 and when the precipitation detector 714 detects precipitation, the detector 714 sends a message to the glass window switch 612, the glass window switch 612 activates the glass window system 602 to close. In an embodiment, the precipitation detector 714 shall be on the screen 704.
The screen system 702 of the vehicle window screen system 700 can be placed inward or outward of the glass window system 602 in relation to the interior of the vehicle.
The above embodiment can easily be modified to cover the same area that a sunroof covers.
In the above embodiment, the glass motor 611 and the screen motor 711 can be one and the same.
An advantage to this invention is that it allows a driver to drive with his vehicle with the glass windows open.
Another advantage of this invention is that it prevents insects from entering into a vehicle.
A further advantage of this invention is that it allows a driver of a vehicle to leave a pet for short periods of time within the vehicle.
Another advantage of this invention, when using the embodiment that uses the precipitation detector, a driver does not have to pull a vehicle over when a sudden downpour occurs, for the detector will activate the glass window to close.
Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred versions thereof, other versions are possible. Therefore the spirit and the scope of the claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained herein.

Claims

1. A vehicle window screen system for preventing insects from entering into the vehicle comprising:

a housing, having a thin opening along its length and having two ends along its width, the housing attached to a vehicle door at a location interior to a glass window of the vehicle door and attached to the door at the lower window opening of the door;

a spool attached to the ends of the housing;

a screen, the screen having upper, lower and two side sides, the lower side of the screen attaches the spool;

two flexible guides attach the sides of the screen;

a screen cap attaches the upper side of the screen, wherein the screen cap further has at least one loop for hooking;

a plurality of rails attached on the borders of the opening of the vehicle door,

wherein the guides of the screen are within the rails; and

at least one hook attaches the upper section of the window door so that at least one loop of the screen cap can be hooked on one hook when the screen is in the up position.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the screen is made of fiberglass.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the screen is made of aluminum.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the screen is attachable to the spool.

5. The device of claim 1, further comprising a bug repellant.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the screen is colored.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the screen is shaded.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the rails have a magnetic side, whereby the magnetic sides are attachable to the borders of the opening of the vehicle door.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the screen is made of fiberglass.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the screen is attachable to the spool.

11. A vehicle window screen system for preventing insects from entering into the vehicle comprising:

a spool attached to the ends of the housing;

two flexible guides attach the sides of the screen;

a screen cap attaches the upper side of the screen;

wherein the guides of the screen are within the rails; and

two locking nibs, each locking nib is housed within each rail of the vehicle window system at a position that allows the screen to rest in the up position, and

wherein the screen cap is made to rest on each locking nib when the window screen system is in the up position.

12. A device for preventing insects from entering into a vehicle comprising:

a spool system attached to the ends of the housing;

a screen attached to the spool system, wherein the screen has flexible guides along the sides of the screen not connected to the spool system and wherein the guides extend past the screens length for a distance that is greater that the screens length;

a plurality of rails, each rail having a divider running within and along the length of each rail, attached on the borders of the opening of the vehicle door and interior to the glass window, wherein the guides of the screen are within the rails;

a wheel housed on one end of each rail not adjacent to the housing, wherein each guide is placed around each wheel and each guide connects to the spool system a motor connected to the spool system so that the screen can be manipulated to any desired up or down position within the rails of the vehicle door; and

a switch for selecting the up and down position of the screen connected to the motor.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the screen is made of fiberglass.

14. The device of claim 12, wherein the screen is made of aluminum.

15. The device of claim 12, wherein the screen is attachable to the spool.

16. The device of claim 12, further comprising a bug repellant dispenser that is housed within the housing.

17. The device of claim 12, wherein the switch is connected to the motor using radio frequencies.

18. The device of claim 12, wherein the screen is colored.

19. The device of claim 12, wherein the screen is shaded.

20. The device of claim 12, wherein the rails have a magnetic side, whereby the magnetic sides are attachable to the borders of the opening of the vehicle door.

21. The device of claim 20, wherein the screen is made of fiberglass.

22. The device of claim 21, wherein the screen is attachable to the spool.

23. The device of claim 22, wherein the switch is connected to the motor using radio frequencies.

24. A vehicle window screen system for preventing insects from entering into a vehicle comprising:

a glass window system within the vehicle, wherein the window system comprises a window, a plurality of window guides, a plurality of window rails, a window regulator, and a window switch, the window attaches window guides, the window inserts within the rails, the window regulator connects to the window guides, and the window switch connects to the window regulator; and

a screen system is located adjacent to the glass window system and within the vehicle, the screen system comprises a screen, a screen skeleton, a plurality of screen guides, a plurality of screen rails, a screen regulator, and a screen switch, the screen attaches screen skeleton, the screen skeleton attaches screen guides, the screen skeleton inserts within the rails, the screen regulator connects to the screen guides, and the screen switch connects to the screen regulator.

25. The device of claim 24, wherein the screen system is outward of the window system in relation to the interior of the vehicle.

26. The device of claim 25, further comprises a precipitation detector, wherein the precipitation detector attaches to the glass window switch and when the detector detects precipitation, the detector sends a message to the glass window switch, the glass window switch activates the window system to close the glass window system.

27. The device of claim 26, wherein the screen is made of fiberglass.

28. The device of claim 24, wherein the screen system is placed inward of the window system in relation to the interior of the vehicle.

29. The device of claim 28, further comprises a precipitation detector, wherein the precipitation detector attaches to the glass window switch and when the detector detects precipitation, the detector sends a message to the glass window switch, the glass window switch activates the window system to close the glass window system.

30. The device of claim 29, wherein the screen is colored.

31. The device of claim 30, wherein the screen is shaded.

32. The device of claim 31, further comprising an alarm system attached to the screen system.

33. The device of claim 26, wherein the first window system is within a door of the vehicle, and wherein the screen system is within the door of the vehicle.

34. The device of claim 26, wherein the first window system is within a sunroof of the vehicle, and wherein the screen system is within the sunroof of the vehicle.

35. A vehicle window screen system for preventing insects from entering into a vehicle comprising:

a glass window system within the vehicle, wherein the window system comprises a window, a glass panel having teeth on two opposite sides, a plurality of glass window rails, a glass panel regulator, a glass motor, and a glass system switch, the window attaches glass panel, the glass panel inserts within the glass rails, the glass panel regulator connects to the glass panel, the glass motor connects to the glass panel regulator, and the glass motor connects to the glass system switch; and

a screen system is located adjacent to the glass window system and within the vehicle, the screen system comprises a screen, a screen panel having teeth on opposite sides, a plurality of screen panel rails, a screen panel regulator, a screen motor, and a screen system switch, the screen attaches to the screen panel, the screen panel inserts within the screen panel rails, the screen regulator connects to the screen panel, the screen motor connects to the screen regulator, and the screen motor connects to the screen system switch.

36. The device of claim 35, wherein the screen system is outward of the window system in relation to the interior of the vehicle.

37. The device of claim 36, further comprises a precipitation detector, wherein the precipitation detector attaches to the glass window switch and when the detector detects precipitation, the detector sends a message to the glass window switch, the glass window switch activates the window system to close the glass window system.

38. The device of claim 37, wherein the screen is made of fiberglass.

39. The device of claim 35, wherein the screen system is placed inward of the window system in relation to the interior of the vehicle.

40. The device of claim 35, wherein the first window system is within a door of the vehicle, and wherein the screen system is within the door of the vehicle.

41. The device of claim 35, wherein the first window system is within a sunroof of the vehicle, and wherein the screen system is within the sunroof of the vehicle.