U.S. patent application number 10/830011 was filed with the patent office on 2005-10-27 for sun screen device with a flexible screen body that can be arbitrarily adjusted.
This patent application is currently assigned to MACAUTO INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Lin, Paul.
Application Number | 20050236117 10/830011 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35135270 |
Filed Date | 2005-10-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050236117 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lin, Paul |
October 27, 2005 |
Sun screen device with a flexible screen body that can be
arbitrarily adjusted
Abstract
A sun screen device includes a pair of slide rails, a shaft
unit, a screen unit, a pair of cord units, and a pair of torque
transmission members. The shaft unit includes a pair of seat
members, and a shaft member mounted rotatably on the seat members.
The screen unit includes a tubular roller sleeved coaxially on and
coupled co-rotatably to the shaft member, and a flexible screen
body secured to the tubular roller and movable along the slide
rails. Each of the cord units includes a cord spool mounted on the
shaft member, a pulley mounted rotatably on one of the slide rails,
and a pull cord wound on the cord spool, trained on the pulley, and
connected to the flexible screen body. Each of the torque
transmission members is coupled co-rotatably to the tubular roller
and one of the cord spools.
Inventors: |
Lin, Paul; (Yung-Kang City,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FOLEY AND LARDNER
SUITE 500
3000 K STREET NW
WASHINGTON
DC
20007
US
|
Assignee: |
MACAUTO INDUSTRIAL CO.,
LTD.
|
Family ID: |
35135270 |
Appl. No.: |
10/830011 |
Filed: |
April 23, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
160/267.1 ;
160/370.22 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60J 7/0015
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
160/267.1 ;
160/370.22 |
International
Class: |
A47G 005/02 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A sun screen device comprising: a pair of elongate slide rails,
each of which extends in a first direction and has first and second
rail ends that are opposite to each other in the first direction,
said slide rails being spaced apart from each other in a second
direction; a shaft unit disposed proximate to said first rail ends
of said slide rails, said shaft unit including a pair of seat
members that are spaced apart from each other in the second
direction, and a shaft member that extends in the second direction
and that has opposite shaft end portions mounted rotatably and
respectively on said seat members, and a middle shaft portion
between said shaft end portions; a screen unit including a tubular
roller sleeved coaxially on and coupled co-rotatably to said middle
shaft portion of said shaft member, and a flexible screen body
having a securing end secured to said tubular roller and a
terminating end opposite to said securing end, said terminating end
of said screen body being movable in the first direction along said
slide rails; a pair of cord units, each of which includes a cord
spool mounted rotatably on a respective one of said shaft end
portions of said shaft member, a pulley mounted rotatably on said
second rail end of a respective one of said slide rails, and a pull
cord wound on said cord spool, trained on said pulley, and
connected to said terminating end of said screen body; and a pair
of torque transmission members, each of which has a first end
coupled co-rotatably to said tubular roller, and a second end
coupled co-rotatably to said cord spool of a respective one of said
cord units; wherein movement of said terminating end of said screen
body in the first direction along said slide rails away from said
shaft unit results in unwinding of said screen body from said
tubular roller, rotation of said tubular roller in a first angular
direction, and rotation of said cord spools of said cord units in
the first angular direction due to torque transmitting action of
said torque transmission members, thereby winding said pull cords
of said cord units on said cord spools; wherein movement of said
terminating end of said screen body in the first direction along
said slide rails toward said shaft unit results in unwinding of
said pull cords of said cord units from said cord spools, rotation
of said cord spools in a second angular direction opposite to the
first angular direction, and rotation of said tubular roller in the
second angular direction due to the torque transmitting action of
said torque transmission members, thereby winding said screen body
on said tubular roller.
2. The sun screen device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said screen
unit further includes an elongate operating member that is
connected to said terminating end of said screen body, that extends
in the second direction, and that has opposite ends coupled
slidably and respectively to said slide rails.
3. The sun screen device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said pull
cord of each of said cord units has a winding section connected to
and wound on said cord spool, an intermediate cord section
extending from said winding section and trained on said pulley, and
a connecting section extending from said intermediate cord section
and connected to said operating member such that said pull cords
are connected indirectly to said terminating end of said screen
body via said operating member.
4. The sun screen device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said screen
unit further includes a coupling member disposed in said tubular
roller and disposed to couple co-rotatably said tubular roller to
said middle shaft portion of said shaft member.
5. The sun screen device as claimed in claim 4, wherein each of
said torque transmission members is a spiral spring member that is
sleeved on said shaft member and that is disposed in said tubular
roller, said first end of each of said torque transmission members
being connected to said coupling member to couple co-rotatably with
said tubular roller.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The invention relates to a sun screen device, more
particularly to a sun screen device with a flexible screen body
that can be arbitrarily adjusted.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] A conventional sun screen device, which is used for covering
and uncovering a sun roof of an automobile, includes a pair of
elongate slide rails, first and second shaft units, and first and
second screen units.
[0005] Each of the slide rails extends in a first direction, and
has first and second rail ends that are opposite to each other in
the first direction. The slide rails are spaced apart from each
other in a second direction. The first end of each of the slide
rails is formed with a first positioning groove. The second end of
each of the slide rails is formed with a second positioning
groove.
[0006] The first shaft unit is disposed proximate to the first rail
ends of the slide rails. The first shaft unit includes a first pair
of seat members that are spaced apart from each other in the second
direction, and a first shaft member that extends in the second
direction and that has opposite shaft end portions mounted
rotatably and respectively on the first pair of seat members, and a
middle shaft portion between the shaft end portions of the first
shaft member.
[0007] Similarly, the second shaft unit is disposed proximate to
the second rail ends of the slide rails. The second shaft unit
includes a second pair of seat members that are spaced apart from
each other in the second direction, and a second shaft member that
extends in the second direction and that has opposite shaft end
portions mounted rotatably and respectively on the second pair of
seat members, and a middle shaft portion between the shaft end
portions of the second shaft member.
[0008] The first screen unit includes a first flexible screen body
and a first operating member. The first flexible screen body has a
securing end that is secured to the first shaft member, and a
terminating end that is opposite to the securing end and that is
movable in the first direction along the slide rails. The first
operating member is connected to the terminating end of the first
screen body, extends in the second direction, and has first and
second ends coupled slidably and respectively to the slide rails.
Each of the first and second ends of the first operating member is
formed with a positioning protrusion.
[0009] Similarly, the second screen unit includes a second flexible
screen body and a second operating member. The second flexible
screen body has a securing end that is secured to the second shaft
member, and a terminating end that is opposite to the securing end
and that is movable in the first direction along the slide rails.
The second screen body has a mesh size different from that of the
first screen body. The second operating member is connected to the
terminating end of the second screen body, extends in the second
direction, and has first and second ends coupled slidably and
respectively to the slide rails. Each of the first and second ends
of the second operating member is formed with a positioning
protrusion.
[0010] In operation, when it is desired to cover the sun roof of
the automobile, the first (or second) operating member is moved
such that the terminating end of the first (or second) screen body
moves in the first direction along the slide rails away from the
first (or second) shaft unit. Then, the positioning protrusions of
the first (or second) operating member are engaged respectively to
the second (or first) positioning grooves in the slide rails. At
this time, when it is desired to uncover the sun roof of the
automobile, the positioning protrusions of the first (or second)
operating member are disengaged respectively from the second (or
first) positioning grooves in the slide rails. Then, the first (or
second) operating member is moved such that the terminating end of
the first (or second) screen body moves in the first direction
along the slide rails toward the first (or second) shaft unit.
[0011] Although the aforementioned conventional sun screen device
achieves its intended purpose, since the operating members of the
screen units can only be positioned such that the first (or second)
screen body either fully covers or fully uncovers the sun roof of
the automobile, it is not feasible to arbitrarily control the
amount of sunlight passing through the sun roof of the automobile
when the aforesaid conventional sun screen device is in use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0012] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide
a sun screen device that can overcome the aforesaid drawback of the
prior art.
[0013] According to the present invention, a sun screen device
comprises a pair of elongate slide rails, a shaft unit, a screen
unit, a pair of cord units, and a pair of torque transmission
members. Each of the elongate slide rails extends in a first
direction, and has first and second rail ends that are opposite to
each other in the first direction. The slide rails are spaced apart
from each other in a second direction. The shaft unit is disposed
proximate to the first rail ends of the slide rails. The shaft unit
includes a pair of seat members and a shaft member. The seat
members are spaced apart from each other in the second direction.
The shaft member extends in the second direction, and has opposite
shaft end portions mounted rotatably and respectively on the seat
members, and a middle shaft portion between the shaft end portions.
The screen unit includes a tubular roller and a flexible screen
body. The tubular roller is sleeved coaxially on and is coupled
co-rotatably to the middle shaft portion of the shaft member. The
flexible screen body has a securing end secured to the tubular
roller, and a terminating end opposite to the securing end. The
terminating end of the screen body is movable in the first
direction along the slide rails. Each of the cord units includes a
cord spool mounted rotatably on a respective one of the shaft end
portions of the shaft member, a pulley mounted rotatably on the
second rail end of a respective one of the slide rails, and a pull
cord wound on the cord spool, trained on the pulley, and connected
to the terminating end of the screen body. Each of the torque
transmission members has a first end coupled co-rotatably to the
tubular roller, and a second end coupled co-rotatably to the cord
spool of a respective one of the cord units. When the terminating
end of the screen body is moved in the first direction along the
slide rails away from the shaft unit, this results in unwinding of
the screen body from the tubular roller, rotation of the tubular
roller in a first angular direction, and rotation of the cord
spools of the cord units in the first angular direction due to
torque transmitting action of the torque transmission members.
Accordingly, the pull cords of the cord units are wound on the cord
spools. On the other hand, when the terminating end of the screen
body is moved in the first direction along the slide rails toward
the shaft unit, this results in unwinding of the pull cords of the
cord units from the cord spools, rotation of the cord spools in a
second angular direction opposite to the first angular direction,
and rotation of the tubular roller in the second angular direction
due to the torque transmitting action of the torque transmission
members. Accordingly, the screen body is wound on the tubular
roller.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] Other features and advantages of the present invention will
become apparent in the following detailed description of the
preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings,
of which:
[0015] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of
a sun screen device according to the present invention;
[0016] FIG. 2 is a partly sectional view of the preferred
embodiment;
[0017] FIG. 3 is a partly sectional view of the preferred
embodiment to illustrate a flexible screen body being moved in a
first direction;
[0018] FIG. 4 is a partly sectional view of the preferred
embodiment to illustrate the flexible screen body being unwound
from a tubular roller;
[0019] FIG. 5 is a partly sectional view of the preferred
embodiment to illustrate the flexible screen body being moved in a
second direction; and
[0020] FIG. 6 is a partly sectional view of the preferred
embodiment to illustrate the flexible screen body being wound on
the tubular roller.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0021] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the preferred embodiment of a
sun screen device according to this invention is shown to include a
pair of elongate slide rails 2, a shaft unit 3, a screen unit 4, a
pair of cord units 5, and a pair of torque transmission members
6.
[0022] The sun screen device is adapted to be mounted beneath and
is operable so as to block sunlight passing through a sun roof (not
shown) of an automobile (not shown).
[0023] Each of the slide rails 2 extends in a first direction, and
has first and second rail ends 2l, 26 that are opposite to each
other in the first direction. The slide rails 2 are spaced apart
from each other in a second direction transverse to the first
direction.
[0024] The shaft unit 3 is disposed proximate to the first rail
ends 21 of the slide rails 2. In this embodiment, the shaft unit 3
includes a pair of seat members 31 that are spaced apart from each
other in the second direction, and a shaft member 32 that extends
in the second direction and that has opposite shaft end portions
321, 322 mounted rotatably and respectively on the seat members 31,
and a middle shaft portion 323 between the shaft end portions 321,
322.
[0025] The screen unit 4 includes a tubular roller 41, a flexible
screen body 43, a pair of coupling members 42, and an elongate
operating member 44. The tubular roller 41 is sleeved coaxially on
and is coupled co-rotatably to the middle shaft portion 323 of the
shaft member 32. The flexible screen body 43 has a securing end 431
that is secured to the tubular roller 41, and a terminating end 432
that is opposite to the securing end 431 and that is movable in the
first direction along the slide rails 2. The coupling members 42
are disposed in the tubular roller 41 and serve to couple
co-rotatably the tubular roller 41 to the middle shaft portion 323
of the shaft member 32. The operating member 44 is connected to the
terminating end 432 of the screen body 43, extends in the second
direction, and has opposite ends coupled slidably and respectively
to the slide rails 2.
[0026] Each of the cord units 5 includes a cord spool 51, a pulley
52, and a pull cord 53. The cord spool 51 of each of the cord units
5 is mounted rotatably on a respective one of the shaft end
portions 321, 322 of the shaft member 32. The pulley 52 of each of
the cord units 5 is mounted rotatably on the second rail end 26 of
a respective one of the slide rails 2. The pull cord 53 of each of
the cord units 5 has a winding section that is connected to and
that is wound on the cord spool 51, an intermediate cord section
that extends from the winding section and that is trained on the
pulley 52, and a connecting section that extends from the
intermediate cord section and that is connected to the operating
member 44 of the screen unit 4 such that the pull cords 53 are
connected indirectly to the terminating end 432 of the screen body
43 via the operating member 44.
[0027] Each of the torque transmission members 6 is a spiral spring
member that is sleeved on the shaft member 32 and that is disposed
in the tubular roller 41. In particular, each of the torque
transmission members 6 has a first end 61 connected to a respective
one of the coupling members 42 to couple co-rotatably with the
tubular roller 41, and a second end 62 coupled co-rotatably to the
cord spool 51 of a respective one of the cord units 5. Preferably,
the torque transmission members 6 are pre-tensioned so as to
maintain the screen body 43 and the pull cords 53 in a tautened
state.
[0028] In operation, referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, when an external
force is applied to the operating member 44 such that the
terminating end 432 of the screen body 43 moves in the first
direction along the slide rails 2 away from the shaft unit 3, as
indicated by arrow (A), the screen body 43 unwinds from the tubular
roller 41. This results in rotation of the tubular roller 41 in the
first angular direction, as indicated by the arrow (B), which in
turn, rotates the cord spools 51 of the cord units 5 in the first
angular direction due to torque transmitting action of the torque
transmission members 6. Accordingly, the pull cords 53 of the cord
units 5 are wound on the cord spools 51.
[0029] Conversely, referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, when an external
force is applied to the operating member 44 such that the
terminating end 432 of the screen body 43 moves in the first
direction along the slide rails 2 toward the shaft unit 3, as
indicated by arrow (C), the pull cords 53 of the cord units 5
unwind from the cord spools 51. This results in rotation of cord
spools 51 in a second angular direction opposite to the first
angular direction, as indicated by arrow (D) , which in turn,
rotates the tubular roller 41 in the second angular direction due
to the torque transmitting action of the torque transmission
members 6. Accordingly, the screen body 43 is wound on the tubular
roller 41.
[0030] It is noted that when the operating member 44 is released
from the external force, the pre-tensioned torque transmission
members 6 do not serve to wind the screen body 43 on the tubular
roller 41 and only serve to prevent slackening of the screen body
43 and the pull cords 53. Therefore, the screen body 43 can be
arbitrarily adjusted. As such, the amount of sunlight passing
through the sun roof of the automobile can be controlled.
[0031] While the present invention has been described in connection
with what is considered the most practical and preferred
embodiment, it is understood that this invention is not limited to
the disclosed embodiment but is intended to cover various
arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest
interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and
equivalent arrangements.
* * * * *