U.S. patent application number 11/739746 was filed with the patent office on 2007-11-08 for entrainment device for a roller blind and roller blind system for a vehicle roof.
Invention is credited to Biewer Christian, Michael Jugl.
Application Number | 20070256795 11/739746 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36954976 |
Filed Date | 2007-11-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070256795 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Christian; Biewer ; et
al. |
November 8, 2007 |
ENTRAINMENT DEVICE FOR A ROLLER BLIND AND ROLLER BLIND SYSTEM FOR A
VEHICLE ROOF
Abstract
An entrainment device for a roller blind has a latching element
and a handle. The latching element is connected with the handle and
is operable by the handle.
Inventors: |
Christian; Biewer; (Altheim,
DE) ; Jugl; Michael; (Sulzbach, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CARLSON, GASKEY & OLDS, P.C.
400 WEST MAPLE ROAD, SUITE 350
BIRMINGHAM
MI
48009
US
|
Family ID: |
36954976 |
Appl. No.: |
11/739746 |
Filed: |
April 25, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
160/120 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60J 7/0015
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
160/120 |
International
Class: |
A47H 1/00 20060101
A47H001/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 2, 2006 |
EP |
06 009 100.6 |
Claims
1. An entrainment device for a roller blind comprising: a latching
element; and a handle, the latching element being connected with
the handle and being operable by the handle.
2. The entrainment device according to claim 1, including a
resilient element that can drive the latching element into a
position in which the latching element engages a roller blind.
3. The entrainment device according to claim 1, wherein the handle
is arranged on a hoop of a first roller blind.
4. The entrainment device according to claim 1, including a rope
that connects the latching element with the handle.
5. The entrainment device according to claim 1, including a linkage
assembly that includes a plurality of rods and connects the
latching element with the handle.
6. The entrainment device according to claim 5, wherein the
plurality of rods includes a first rod that has at least one
portion that comprises a toothed wheel, and a second rod that
comprises a toothed rack.
7. A roller blind system for a vehicle roof, comprising: a first
roller blind; a second roller blind; and an entrainment device
comprising a latching element and a handle, the latching element
being connected with the handle and being operable by the handle,
wherein the entrainment device is able to couple the first and
second roller blinds with each other in such a manner that the
second roller blind is entrained during displacement of the first
roller blind.
8. The roller blind system according to claim 7, wherein the first
roller blind comprises the entrainment device, the first roller
blind being a front roller blind as seen in a direction of forward
travel.
9. The roller blind system according to claim 8, wherein the
entrainment device of the first roller blind engages a hoop of the
second roller blind.
10. The roller blind system according to claim 7, including a
coupling rod that is attached to the second roller blind, the
latching element being able to engage the coupling rod.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The application claims priority to European Application No.
06 009 100.6, which was filed on May 2, 2006.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The invention relates to an entrainment device for a roller
blind and a roller blind system for a vehicle having a first roller
blind, a second roller blind, and an entrainment device of this
type.
[0003] Roller blind systems with several roller blinds are known,
and are associated to a translucent opening in a vehicle roof. The
translucent opening may be formed, for instance, by a stationary
panorama roof or by one or several transparent covers of a sliding
roof. The roller blinds can be shifted between an open position in
which the roller blinds do not impede passage of light through an
opening, and a closed position in which the roller blinds
completely prevent an incidence of light through the opening, or at
least diminish it. Depending on construction, the roller blinds may
also be held in various intermediate positions between the closed
and open positions.
[0004] Handles, which can be operated by vehicle occupants, are
provided to shift manually operated roller blinds. With roller
blind systems that include two roller blinds, i.e., one front and
one rear roller blind, the handle of the rear roller blind might be
arranged remote from a driver. The driver cannot grab the handle
and consequently is not able to shift the rear roller blind.
[0005] It is the object of the invention to provide an entrainment
device for a roller blind such that several roller blinds can be
coupled with each other and to provide a roller blind system for a
vehicle roof that allows several roller blinds to be coupled with
each other.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] To this end, the invention provides an entrainment device
for a roller blind that includes a latching element and a handle.
The latching element is connected with the handle and is operable
by the handle. The entrainment device is, for instance, a part of a
roller blind system having two roller blinds, and couples the
roller blinds with each other in such a manner that a second roller
blind is entrained during operation of a first roller blind. In one
example, the first roller blind is a front roller blind, the handle
of which can easily be operated by a driver. A second, rear roller
blind can be concomitantly shifted by the driver without the latter
being forced to stop in order to operate the rear roller blind from
the back. The handle is able to operate the latching element such
that the latching element assumes a position in which the latching
element engages the rear roller blind or does not engage the rear
roller blind. A resilient element may be provided, for instance,
which drives the latching element into a position in which the
latching element engages the roller blind. It is only for
decoupling the two roller blinds that the handle has to be
operated.
[0007] The invention further relates to a roller blind system for a
vehicle roof that includes a first roller blind, a second roller
blind, and an entrainment device of the type mentioned above. The
entrainment device is able to couple the roller blinds with each
other in such a manner that the second roller blind is entrained
during displacement of the first roller blind. With regard to the
advantages, reference is made to the above explanations.
[0008] These and other features of the present invention can be
best understood from the following specification and drawings, the
following of which is a brief description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is a schematic, perspective view of a roller blind
system according to the invention, with an entrainment device
according to the invention of first and second embodiments and with
first and second roller blinds: in FIG. 1a both roller blinds are
opened, and the entrainment device engages the second roller blind;
in FIG. 1b both roller blinds are closed, and the entrainment
device engages the second roller blind; in FIG. 1c both roller
blinds are closed, and the entrainment device does not engage the
second roller blind; and in FIG. 1d the first roller blind is
closed, and the second roller blind is opened.
[0010] FIG. 2 is a basic outline of the entrainment device of FIG.
1 according to the first embodiment.
[0011] FIG. 3 shows an enlarged detail of an area of a latching
element that is indicated at X in FIG. 2: the latching element is
not in engagement with the roller blind in FIG. 3a; and the
latching element is in engagement with the roller blind in FIG.
3b.
[0012] FIG. 4 is a basic outline of the entrainment device of FIG.
1 according to the second embodiment.
[0013] FIG. 5 shows an enlarged detail of an area in FIG. 4 that is
indicated at Y.
[0014] FIG. 6 shows a schematic, perspective view of a roller blind
system according to the invention, with an entrainment device
according to the invention of a third embodiment and with first and
second roller blinds that are both open.
[0015] FIG. 7 is a basic outline of the entrainment device of FIG.
6.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0016] FIG. 1 schematically shows a roller blind system that can:
expose a translucent opening of a stationary panorama window or one
or more transparent covers of a sliding roof system (FIG. 1a); or
fully cover the opening (FIGS. 1b and 1c); or partially cover the
opening (FIG. 1d). This will work independently of the cover
position. The roller blind system includes of a first, front roller
blind 10 and a second, rear roller blind 12. The front and rear
roller blinds 10, 12 can be shifted in two guide rails (not shown)
arranged along side edges of a roof opening that extend in a
longitudinal direction, and move in tandem, i.e., both the front
and rear roller blinds 10, 12 are closed in a direction of travel F
by being withdrawn from winding bodies 20, 22 in a forward
direction.
[0017] An entrainment device 14 is provided such that the rear
roller blind 12 can be coupled with the front roller blind 10 so
that during shifting the front roller blind 10, the rear roller
blind 12 will be shifted concomitantly.
[0018] FIGS. 1 to 5 describe the entrainment device 14 in first and
second embodiments, while FIGS. 6 and 7 show the entrainment device
14 in a third embodiment.
[0019] The entrainment device 14 of the first and second
embodiments has a hook-like latching element 24 in each case, which
can engage a hoop 18 of the rear roller blind 12. The hoop 18 is
attached to a front edge of the rear roller blind 12 as seen in the
direction of travel F. The latching element 24 is spring-loaded
with a resilient element 26, for example, and is driven by the
resilient element 26 into a position in which the latching element
24 engages the second roller blind 12.
[0020] A handle 28 (schematically shown in FIGS. 2 and 4) is
provided, which is arranged on a hoop 16 of the front roller blind
10 and is a part of the entrainment device 14. The latching element
24 may be connected with the handle 28 through a rope 30 (FIGS. 2
and 3) or a linkage assembly 32 (FIGS. 4 and 5).
[0021] FIG. 2 shows a one-piece, pretensioned rope 30, which
connects the handle 28 with the two hook-like latching elements 24.
The latching elements 24 are attached at ends of the rope 30 and
are driven by the resilient elements 26 such that the latching
elements 24 engage in recesses 36 on the hoop 18 of the rear roller
blind 12, with the recesses 36 preferably being adapted to the
shape of the latching elements 24. Two deflection pulleys 34 are
provided, which are engaged by the rope 30.
[0022] In the course of a swiveling motion (arrow S) of the handles
28, the pretensioned rope 30 is pulled in direction A. The
hook-like latching elements 24, which are connected with the rope
30, are pulled in direction A against a force of the resilient
elements 26 and moved out of the recesses 36 in the hoop 18. The
coupling of the front and rear roller blinds 10, 12 is then
canceled, and the front roller blind 10 can be shifted
independently of the rear roller blind 12 (FIGS. 1c and 1d).
[0023] If the handle 28 is released, the front roller blind 10 can
be coupled with the rear roller blind 12 anew (FIGS. 1a and 1b).
The resilient elements 26 press the latching elements 24 against
direction A, whereby the latching elements 24 engage in the
recesses 36, and the handle 28 is pulled to the initial position
through the rope 30.
[0024] In order to move the latching elements 24 out of the
recesses 36 and to uncouple the front roller blind 10 from rear
roller blind 12, the handle 28 could also be pulled toward a
vehicle interior space. Uncoupling the front and rear roller blinds
10, 12 by a shifting motion of the handle 28 is also possible.
[0025] It would also be possible to provide lead-in ramps 37 (shown
in lines in FIG. 7) adjacent to the recesses 36. Coupling the rear
roller blind 12 to the front roller blind 10 could be performed in
this case without operating the handle 28, because the resilient
elements 26 drive the latching elements 24 toward the recesses 36
such that the latching elements 24 enter the recesses 36 when the
latching elements 24 and the lead-in ramps 37 are suitably
designed.
[0026] FIGS. 4 and 5 show a second embodiment of the entrainment
device 14. Here, the entrainment device 14 is shown as a linkage
assembly 32 having four rods 38, 40, 42, 44. The rods 38, 40, which
are directly connected with the handle 28 that exhibits pivotable
or swiveling motion S, are designed as toothed racks with a
respective toothed section 46. A toothed wheel 48 can mesh with the
respective toothed section 46 (cf. FIG. 5) and is provided on each
of the rods 42, 44. The two latching elements 24 are arranged on
the ends of the rods 42, 44.
[0027] During a swiveling motion of the handle 28 (swiveling motion
S), the toothed racks of the rods 38, 40 are moved in direction A.
The toothed wheels 48 provided on the rods 42, 44 will rotate,
whereby the hook-like latching elements 24 will be rotated so as to
leave the recesses 36 on the hoop 18 (rotational motion T). A
swiveling motion of the handle 28 is converted to a rotational
motion T by the toothed racks and the toothed wheels 48. As soon as
the latching elements 24 no longer engage in the recesses 36, the
front roller blind 10 is uncoupled from the rear roller blind 12
(FIG. 1c) and can be shifted independently from the rear roller
blind 12 (FIG. 1d).
[0028] For the purpose of coupling the two roller blinds 10, 12
(FIGS. 1a and 1b), it is necessary to swivel the handle 28 in the
opposite direction, whereby the rods 38, 40 move against direction
A and the toothed wheels 48 rotate against the rotational motion T.
Through this, the latching elements 24 will be rotated and engage
in the recesses 36.
[0029] Coupling the rear roller blind 12 to the front roller blind
10 could also be performed without any operation of the handles 28
with the aid of the resilient element 26 and the lead-in ramps 37
(shown in lines in FIG. 7); in this case, the lead-in ramps 37
could be provided so as to adjoin the recesses 36.
[0030] FIGS. 6 and 7 show a third embodiment of the entrainment
device 14. The latching element 24 and the handle 28 are provided
on the front roller blind 10. The latching element 24 has a
pin-like design and can engage in a recess 36 of a coupling rod 50.
The coupling rod 50 is attached to the rear roller blind 12.
[0031] Due to the lead-in ramps 37, which are provided on the
coupling rods 50, the spring-loaded latching elements 24 can be
pushed back against the spring force and subsequently engage in the
recesses 36, whereby the front and rear roller blinds 10, 12 will
be coupled with each other.
[0032] In order to uncouple the front and rear roller blinds 10,
12, the handle 28 has to be swiveled (swiveling motion S). Through
this process, the two latching elements 24 will be moved out of the
recesses 36.
[0033] Instead of the lead-in ramps 37, the two roller blinds 10,
12 could also be coupled to each other through a swiveling motion
of the handle 28.
[0034] Also, the entrainment device 14 of all embodiments could be
part of a roller blind system, the front and rear roller blinds 10,
12 of which perform movements in opposite directions. With such
roller blinds moving in opposite directions, the winding bodies 20,
22 are arranged in a middle area of the opening; the front roller
blind 10 is pulled in the direction of travel F in order to cover
the opening, and the rear roller blind 12 is pulled against the
direction of travel F in order to cover the opening.
[0035] Although a preferred embodiment of this invention has been
disclosed, a worker of ordinary skill in this art would recognize
that certain modifications would come within the scope of this
invention. For that reason, the following claims should be studied
to determine the true scope and content of this invention.
* * * * *