U.S. patent application number 11/224644 was filed with the patent office on 2007-03-15 for sun-shade assembly.
Invention is credited to Paul Lin.
Application Number | 20070056698 11/224644 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37853876 |
Filed Date | 2007-03-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070056698 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lin; Paul |
March 15, 2007 |
Sun-shade assembly
Abstract
A sun-shade assembly includes two end caps disposed respectively
and non-rotatably on two supporting seats. A screen unit includes
two roller bases disposed respectively and rotatably on the end
caps, a tubular roller member disposed between and interconnecting
fixedly the roller bases, and a screen wound around the roller
member. A supporting rail member extends through the roller member,
and has two ends connected respectively to the end caps. A tubular
stabilizing seat is fixed within a middle portion of the roller
member, and is sleeved rotatably on the supporting rail member in a
close-fitting manner. A winding mechanism is disposed between the
stabilizing member and one of the end caps, and includes a torsion
spring for biasing the roller member to rotate such that the screen
is wound therearound from an unwound state.
Inventors: |
Lin; Paul; (Yung-Kang City,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LAW OFFICES OF ALBERT WAI-KIT CHAN, LLC
WORLD PLAZA, SUITE 604
141-07 20TH AVENUE
WHITESTONE
NY
11357
US
|
Family ID: |
37853876 |
Appl. No.: |
11/224644 |
Filed: |
September 12, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
160/313 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E06B 9/42 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
160/313 |
International
Class: |
A47G 5/02 20060101
A47G005/02 |
Claims
1. A sun-shade assembly adapted to be disposed between first and
second supporting seats, said sun-shade assembly comprising: first
and second end caps adapted to be disposed respectively and
non-rotatably on the first and second supporting seats; a screen
unit including two roller bases disposed respectively and rotatably
on said first and second end caps, a tubular roller member having a
pivoting-starting end and a pivoting-terminating end that are
opposite to each other and that are connected respectively and
fixedly to said roller bases, and a screen wound around said
tubular roller member; a supporting rail member extending through
said tubular roller member and having two ends connected
respectively to said first and second end caps, said supporting
rail member including a plurality of interconnected rail sections
disposed non-rotatably between said first and second end caps; a
tubular stabilizing seat fixed within a middle portion of said
tubular roller member and sleeved rotatably on said supporting rail
member in a close-fitting manner; and a winding mechanism disposed
between said stabilizing seat and one of said first and second end
caps and disposed in proximity to said pivoting-starting end of
said tubular roller member, said winding mechanism including a
torsion spring for biasing said tubular roller member to rotate an
assembly of said tubular roller member, said roller bases and said
stabilizing seat about said supporting rail member, thereby winding
said screen around said tubular roller member.
2. The sun-shade assembly as claimed in claim 1, further comprising
a lock pin extending into a wall of said tubular roller member and
said stabilizing seat so as to fix said stabilizing seat within
said tubular roller member.
3. The sun-shade assembly as claimed in claim 1, each of the first
and second supporting seats being formed with a non-circular
recess, wherein each of said first and second end caps has an
engagement portion adapted to engage fittingly the non-circular
recess in a corresponding one of the first and second supporting
seats so as to prevent rotation of said first and second end caps
on the first and second supporting seats, said rail sections of
said supporting rail member including: a first mounting rod having
an outer end connected fixedly to said first end cap, and an inner
end; a second mounting rod having an outer end connected fixedly to
said second end cap, and an inner end; a middle rail unit having
two opposite ends connected axially and movably to said inner ends
of said first and second mounting rods, said stabilizing seat being
sleeved rotatably on said middle rail unit; and a coiled
compression spring sleeved on said second mounting rod and adapted
to bias said engagement portion of said second end cap to move away
from said middle rail unit into the non-circular recess in the
second supporting seat so that said first and second end caps are
biased to move away from each other, said first and second end caps
being movable toward each other so as to permit said engagement
portions of said first and second end caps to separate respectively
from the non-circular recesses in the first and second supporting
seats; said torsion spring being sleeved on said first mounting rod
and being adapted to bias said engagement portion of said first end
cap to move away from said middle rail unit into the non-circular
recess in the first supporting seat.
4. The sun-shade assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein each of
said ends of said middle rail unit has an end surface that is
formed with a circular hole, and an inner surface that is formed
with two aligned open-ended slots communicated with said circular
hole, each of said inner ends of said first and second mounting
rods having a circular rod portion that engages fittingly said
circular hole in a corresponding one of said ends of said middle
rail unit and that is formed with two aligned projections engaging
respectively and fittingly said open-ended slots in the
corresponding one of said ends of said middle rail unit so as to
allow for axial movement of said first and second mounting rods
relative to said middle rail unit while preventing rotation of said
first and second mounting rods relative to said middle rail
unit.
5. The sun-shade assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein said
middle rail unit includes two side tubes each having two opposite
open ends, and a middle shaft disposed between said side tubes and
having two opposite ends extending respectively into and connected
respectively and fixedly to said side tubes, said circular holes
being formed respectively in said side tubes, said stabilizing seat
being sleeved rotatably on said middle shaft.
6. The sun-shade assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein each of
said roller bases is tubular, and has an inner end surface that is
formed with a keyway unit, each of said first and second mounting
rods extending through a corresponding one of said roller bases and
being formed with a key unit that is disposed in proximity to and
spaced apart from said inner end surface of the corresponding one
of said roller bases when said engagement portions of said first
and second end caps are disposed respectively within the
non-circular recesses in the first and second supporting seats,
said torsion spring and said compression spring biasing said key
units on said first and second mounting rods to abut respectively
against said inner end surfaces of said roller bases when said
engagement portions of said first and second end caps are removed
respectively from the non-circular recesses in the first and second
supporting seats, after which said first and second end caps can be
rotated relative to said tubular roller member so as to engage
respectively said key units on said first and second mounting rods
with said keyway units in said roller bases, thereby preventing
rotation of said first and second end caps relative to said tubular
roller member.
7. The sun-shade assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein said
keyway unit in each of said roller bases includes four angularly
equidistant radial slots formed in said inner end surface of a
corresponding one of said roller bases, said key unit on each of
said first and second mounting rods including two aligned radial
stubs that extend respectively from two opposite sides of a
corresponding one of said first and second mounting rods away from
each other and that are movable to engage respectively two of said
radial slots in said inner end surface of the corresponding one of
said roller bases.
8. The sun-shade assembly as claimed in claim 7, further
comprising: an inner spring cap fixed within said tubular roller
member; and an outer spring cap disposed movably within said
tubular roller member between said inner spring cap and said stubs
of said key unit on said second mounting rod, said compression
spring being confined between said inner and outer spring caps and
biasing said outer spring cap to press against said stubs of said
key unit on said second mounting rod.
9. The sun-shade assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein said
torsion spring has two ends fastened respectively to a
corresponding one of said roller bases and said first mounting rod.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The invention relates to a sun-shade assembly, more
particularly to a sun-shade assembly that can enable a screen with
a relatively large size to be smoothly and evenly wound around a
roller member.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional sun-shade assembly 1 can
be applied to a vehicle for partition and sunlight-shielding
purposes, and is shown to include a tubular outer housing 11, a
tubular roller 12 disposed rotatably in the tubular outer housing
11, a screen 13 wound around the tubular roller 12, two adjusting
mechanisms 14 spaced apart from each other and mounted respectively
on opposite ends of the tubular outer housing 11, two roller caps
15 fitted respectively and fixedly in opposite ends of the tubular
roller 12, two supporting frames 16 spaced apart from each other
and disposed respectively in proximity to the ends of the tubular
outer housing 11, and a winding mechanism 17 disposed in the
tubular roller 12.
[0005] The screen 13 has a connecting edge 131 fixedly connected to
the tubular roller 12, and a free edge 132 opposite to the
connecting edge 131 and provided with a stretch rod 133. The
adjusting mechanisms 14 are operable to allow for mounting of the
conventional sun-shade assembly 1 between two walls of the vehicle.
Each of the adjusting mechanisms 14 includes an internally threaded
tube 141 and an externally threaded rod 142 that engage each other.
The winding mechanism 17 includes a mounting rod 171 having a
flattened first end 173 that extends through a corresponding one of
the roller caps 15 and that is inserted into and fixed to a
corresponding one of the adjusting mechanisms 14, and a second end
174 opposite to the first end 173 and extending into the tubular
roller 12, and a torsion spring 172 sleeved on the mounting rod 17
and having two ends fastened respectively to the second end 174 of
the mounting rod 171 and the corresponding one of the roller caps
15. The torsion spring 172 biases the tubular roller 12 to rotate
in a direction such that the screen 13 is wound therearound from a
state where the screen 13 is unwound from the tubular roller
12.
[0006] However, in the conventional sun-shade assembly 1, a torsion
force generated by the single torsion spring 172 is sufficient only
when the screen 13 has a relatively small size. In other words,
when the screen 13 is large, the conventional sun-shade assembly 1
cannot ensure smooth and even retraction of the screen 13 into the
outer housing 11.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide
a sun-shade assembly that can enable a screen with a relatively
large size to be smoothly and evenly wound around a roller
member.
[0008] According to the present invention, there is provided a
sun-shade assembly adapted to be disposed between first and second
supporting seats. The sun-shade assembly comprises:
[0009] first and second end caps adapted to be disposed
respectively and non-rotatably on the first and second supporting
seats;
[0010] a screen unit including two roller bases disposed
respectively and rotatably on the first and second end caps, a
tubular roller member having a pivoting-starting end and a
pivoting-terminating end that are opposite to each other and that
are connected respectively and fixedly to the roller bases, and a
screen wound around the tubular roller member;
[0011] a supporting rail member extending through the tubular
roller member and having two ends connected respectively to the
first and second end caps, the supporting rail member including a
plurality of interconnected rail sections disposed non-rotatably
between the first and second end caps;
[0012] a tubular stabilizing seat fixed within a middle portion of
the tubular roller member and sleeved rotatably on the supporting
rail member in a close-fitting manner; and
[0013] a winding mechanism disposed between the stabilizing seat
and one of the first and second end caps and disposed in proximity
to the pivoting-starting end of the tubular roller member, the
winding mechanism including a torsion spring for biasing the
tubular roller member when the screen is unwound from the tubular
roller member to rotate an assembly of the tubular roller member,
the roller bases and the stabilizing seat about the supporting rail
member, thereby winding the screen around the tubular roller
member.
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 partly exploded perspective view of a
conventional sun-shade assembly;
[0016] FIG. 2 is a fragmentary schematic sectional view showing the
preferred embodiment of a sun-shade assembly according to the
present invention;
[0017] FIG. 3 is a fragmentary schematic sectional view showing an
assembly of a first end cap, a roller base, a tubular roller
member, a first mounting rod and a torsion spring of the preferred
embodiment;
[0018] FIG. 4 is a partly exploded, fragmentary perspective view
showing the first end cap, the roller base, the first mounting rod
and the torsion spring of the preferred embodiment;
[0019] FIG. 5 is a fragmentary schematic sectional view showing an
assembly of the first mounting rod, a second mounting rod, a middle
rail unit, a tubular stabilizing seat and the tubular roller member
of the preferred embodiment;
[0020] FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing the middle
rail unit and the tubular stabilizing seat of the preferred
embodiment;
[0021] FIG. 7 is a fragmentary schematic sectional view showing an
assembly of a second end cap, another roller base, the tubular
roller member, the second mounting rod and a coiled compression
spring of the preferred embodiment;
[0022] FIG. 8 is an exploded, fragmentary perspective view showing
the second end cap, another roller base, the second mounting rod,
the compression spring and inner and outer spring caps of the
preferred embodiment; and
[0023] FIG. 9 is a fragmentary schematic sectional view showing the
preferred embodiment while mounted between first and second
supporting seats.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0024] Referring to FIG. 2, the preferred embodiment of a sun-shade
assembly 2 according to the present invention is shown to be
adapted to be disposed between first and second supporting seat 20,
20', each of which has a mounting surface 201 formed with a
non-circular recess 202. The sun-shade assembly 2 includes first
and second end caps 3, 3', a screen unit 4, a supporting rail
member, a tubular stabilizing seat 8, and a winding mechanism
6.
[0025] The first and second end caps 3, 3' are adapted to be
disposed respectively and non-rotatably on the first and second
supporting seats 20, 20'. Each of the first and second end caps 3,
3' has an engagement portion 33 adapted to engage fittingly the
non-circular recess 202 in a corresponding one of the first and
second supporting seats 20, 20' so as to prevent rotation of the
first and second end caps 3, 3' on the first and second supporting
seats 20, 20', as shown in FIG. 9. With further reference to FIG.
3, in this embodiment, the first end cap 3 has a first tubular
portion 31 formed with a slot 311 that extends in a horizontal
direction, an end wall portion 32 connected integrally to an outer
end of the first sleeve portion 31 and formed with the engagement
portion 33, and a second tubular portion 34 connected to the end
wall portion 32 and disposed co-axially in the first tubular
portion 31, as best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The second end cap 3'
has the same construction as that of the first end cap 3.
[0026] With additional reference to FIGS. 4 and 8, in this
embodiment, the screen unit 4 includes two sleeve-shaped roller
bases 41 sleeved respectively and rotatably on the second sleeve
portions 34 of the first and second end caps 3, 3', a tubular
roller member 42 having a pivoting-starting end 423 and a
pivot-terminating end 424 that are opposite to each other and that
are connected respectively and fixedly to the roller bases 41, and
a screen 43 wound around the tubular roller member 42 and having a
connecting edge 431 fixedly connected to the tubular roller member
42, and a free edge 432 opposite to the connecting edge 431, as
shown in FIG. 2. It is noted that each roller base 41 is tubular,
and has an inner end surface 417 that is formed with a keyway unit
416. In this embodiment, for each roller base 41, the keyway unit
416 includes four angularly equidistant radial slots 4161 formed in
the end surface 417, and the end surface 417 has two inclined
guiding facets 418 disposed between each adjacent pair of the
radial slots 4161, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 8.
[0027] The supporting rail member extends through the tubular
roller member 42 and has two ends connected respectively to the
first and second end caps 3, 3'. The supporting rail member
includes a plurality of interconnected rail sections disposed
non-rotatably between the first and second end caps 3, 3'.
[0028] In this embodiment, referring to FIGS. 2, 4, 5, 6 and 8, the
rail sections include a first mounting rod 61, a second mounting
rod 71, a middle rail unit 5, and a coiled compression spring
76.
[0029] The first mounting rod 61 has an inner end 611 that has a
circular rod portion formed with two aligned projections 6111, and
an outer end 612 extending through a corresponding one of the
roller bases 41 and into the second tubular portion 34 of the first
end cap 3 and connected fixedly of the engagement portion 33 of the
first end cap 3 by means of an insertion pin 62 (see FIG. 4).
Furthermore, the first mounting rod 61 is formed with a key unit 63
that includes two aligned radial stubs 631 extending respectively
from two sides of the first mounting rod 61 away from each other,
and that is disposed in proximity to the inner end surface 417 of a
corresponding one of the roller bases 41, as shown in FIG. 9.
[0030] The second mounting rod 71 has an inner end 711 that has a
circular rod portion formed with two aligned projections 7111, and
an outer end 712 extending through a corresponding one of the
roller bases 41 and into the second sleeve portion 34 of the second
end cap 3' and connected fixedly to the engagement portion 33 of
the second end cap 3' by means of an insertion pin 72 (see FIG. 8).
Furthermore, the second mounting rod 71 is formed with a key unit
73 that includes two aligned radial stubs 731 extending
respectively from two sides of the second mounting rod 71 away from
each other, and that is disposed in proximity to the inner end
surface 417 of a corresponding one of the roller bases 41, as shown
in FIG. 9.
[0031] It is noted that the key unit 63, 73 on each of the first
and second mounting rods 61, 71 is spaced apart from the inner end
surface 417 of the corresponding one of the roller bases 41 when
the engagement portions 33 of the first and second end caps 3, 3'
are disposed respectively within the non-circular recesses 202 in
the first and second supporting seats 20, 20', as shown in FIG. 9.
On the other hand, the radial stubs 631, 731 of the key unit 63, 73
on each of the first and second mounting rods 61, 71 are movable to
engage respectively two of the radial slots 416 in the end surface
of the corresponding one of the roller bases 41.
[0032] In this embodiment, the middle rail unit 5 includes two side
tubes 52 each having two opposite open ends 50, 51, and a middle
shaft 53 disposed between the side tubes 52 and having two opposite
ends 531 extending respectively into the side tubes 52. The
opposite ends 531 of the middle shaft 53 are connected respectively
and fixedly to the ends 50 of the side tubes 52 by means of two
connecting pins 54, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. The end 51 of each
side tube 52 has an end surface 511 that is formed with a circular
hole 512, and an inner surface that is formed with two aligned
open-ended slots 513 communicated with the circular hole 512. The
circular rod portions of the inner ends 611, 711 of the first and
second mounting rods 61, 71 engage fittingly and respectively the
circular holes 512 in the ends 51 of the side tubes 52, and the
projections 6111, 7111 on the inner end 611, 711 of each of the
first and second mounting rods 61, 71 engage respectively and
fittingly the open-ended slots 513 in a corresponding one of the
ends 51 of the side tubes 52 so as to allow for axial movement of
the first and second mounting rods 61, 71 relatively to the middle
rail unit 5 while preventing rotation of the first and second
mounting rods 61, 71 relative to the middle rail unit 5, as best
shown in FIG. 5.
[0033] The coiled compression spring 76 is sleeved on the second
mounting rod 71, and is adapted to bias the engagement portion 33
of the second end cap 3' to move away from the middle rail unit 5
into the non-circular recess 202 in the second supporting seat 20'
so that the first and second end caps 3, 3' are biased to move away
from each other. The first and second end caps 3, 3' are movable
toward each other so as to permit the engagement portions 33 of the
first and second end caps 3, 3' to move away from the non-circular
recesses 202 in the first and second supporting seats 20, 20'. In
this embodiment, there is further provided an inner spring cap 751
and an outer spring cap 752, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 8. The inner
spring cap 751 is fixed within the tubular roller member 42 by
means of two lock pins 74 (see FIG. 7), and the outer spring cap
752 is disposed movably within the tubular roller member 42 between
the inner spring cap 751 and the stubs 731 of the key unit 73 on
the second mounting rod 71, as shown in FIG. 7. The compression
spring 76 is confined between the inner and outer spring caps 751,
752, and biases the outer spring cap 752 to press against the stubs
731 of the key unit 73 on the second mounting rod 71.
[0034] In this embodiment, with reference to FIGS. 2 and 5, the
stabilizing seat 8 is fixed within a middle portion of the tubular
roller member 42 by means of a lock pin 9 that extends into a wall
422 of the tubular roller member 42 and the stabilizing seat 8, and
is sleeved rotatably on the middle shaft 53 of the middle rail unit
5 of the supporting rail member in a close-fitting manner. The
middle rail unit 5 further includes two washer rings 57, each of
which is sleeved on the middle shaft 53 and is disposed between the
stabilizing seat 8 and the end 50 of a corresponding one of the
side tubes 52.
[0035] The winding mechanism 6 is disposed between the stabilizing
seat 8 and the first end cap 3, and is disposed in proximity to the
pivoting-starting end 423 of the tubular roller member 42, as shown
in FIG. 2. The winding mechanism 6 includes a torsion spring 64 for
biasing the tubular roller member 42 to rotate such that the screen
43 is wound therearound from a state where the screen 43 is unwound
from the tubular roller member 42. That is, the torsion spring 64
applies a biasing force to rotate an assembly of the tubular roller
member 42, the roller bases 41 and the stabilizing seat 8 about the
supporting rail member. In this embodiment, the torsion spring 64
has two ends 642, 641 fastened respectively to a corresponding one
of the roller bases 41 and the first mounting rod 61, as shown in
FIG. 2.
[0036] It is noted that the torsion spring 64 and the compression
spring 76 bias the key units 63, 73 on the first and second
mounting rods 61, 71 to abut respectively against the inner end
surfaces 41 of the roller bases 41 when the engagement portions 33
of the first and second end caps 3, 3' are removed respectively
from the non-circular recesses 202 in the first and second
supporting seats 20, 20', after which the first and second end caps
3, 3' can be rotated relative to the tubular roller member 42 so as
to engage respectively the key units 63, 73 on the first and second
mounting rods 61, 71 with the keyway units 416 in the roller bases
41, thereby preventing rotation of the first and second end caps 3,
3' relative to the tubular roller member 42.
[0037] Although the winding mechanism 6 includes only the single
torsion spring 64, due to the presence of the stabilizing seat 8,
the sun-shade assembly 2 of the present invention can enable the
screen 43 with a relatively large size to be smoothly and evenly
wound around the tubular roller member 42 from an unwound
state.
[0038] 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.
* * * * *