Sunshade device for a vehicle window

Abstract

A sunblind (1) for a vehicle window with a housing structure (5) having a receiving space for a winding shaft (W) with an opening towards the upper side and with a flap (6) which is pivotably mounted on the housing structure (5) for closing and opening the opening and with a flexible sunblind structure (2) which is held on the winding shaft (W) so that it can be wound up and unwound and with a dimensionally stable traction profile (4) which is arranged on the front end face region of the sunblind structure in the unwound direction and with a support rod (7) which acts on the traction profile (4) and guides the traction profile (4) by means of a drive system between an inactive position which is positioned in the receiving space and an active position which is displaced upwards along the vehicle window, wherein the support rod (7) is movable in the vertical direction through the opening in the receiving space, characterized in that the underside of the flap (6) has a sliding or rolling element (11) against which the support rod (7) bears when the flap (6) is open.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The invention relates to a sunblind for a vehicle window, having a housing structure with an accommodation space which is intended for a winding shaft and has a straight-through passage in the direction of the upper side, and having a flap which is pivotably mounted on the housing structure and is intended for closing and releasing the straight-through passage, and having a flexible sunblind structure which is held on the winding shaft so that it can be wound up and unwound, and which has a dimensionally stable pull-out profile which is arranged on its front end region as seen in the unwound direction, and having a support rod which acts on the pull-out profile and guides the pull-out profile between a rest position in which the profile is located in the accommodation space and a functional position in which the profile has been displaced upwards along the vehicle window by means of a drive system, wherein the support rod can be displaced vertically through the straight-through passage of the accommodation space. BACKGROUND

[0002] This sunblind is generally known in the Mercedes-Benz S-Class passenger car. The known sunblind has a flexible sunblind structure in the form of a knitted fabric which is held on a winding shaft so that it can be wound up and unwound. The winding shaft is rotatably mounted on the inner side of the door, below the inner sill of the side door. The winding shaft is accommodated in a housing structure which is arranged on the inner side of the door, below the inner sill of the side door. The housing structure opens in the area of the straight-through passage in the upward direction in order to allow the sunblind structure to be guided through from the rest position into the sunblind position in which the sunblind structure sunblinds the side window of the side door. In the rest position of the sunblind structure in which the sunblind structure is wound up on the winding shaft, the straight-through passage is closed by a pivotable flap which ends flush with the inner sill in its closed position. The sunblind structure has a dimensionally stable pull-out profile on its front end region as seen in the pull-out direction, which is supported by a support rod which acts in the centre. The support rod is part of a drive system for displacing the pull-out profile and thus for displacing the sunblind structure between the rest position and the sunblind position. The support rod can be displaced and driven vertically in both directions, i.e. upwards and downwards, by an electric motor in combination with suitable drive transmission members. When the support rod is displaced from the rest position in the direction of the sunblind position, the support rod pushes the pull-out profile upwards, whereby the pull-out profile strikes against the flap and pivots the flap which is opened in the upward direction. The support rod is located on the side of the sunblind structure which faces the flap and thus permanently slides along the flap when it travels vertically in the direction of the sunblind position, the flap permanently abutting the support rod as a result of being spring-prestressed in the closed direction. This can cause signs of wear on the flap, which can impair the visual appearance of the flap in the area of the inner sill. SUMMARY

[0003] It is an object of the application to create a sunblind of the type mentioned in the introduction which achieves an improved quality impression.

[0004] This object is achieved in that in the region of its underside the flap has a sliding or rolling element against which the support bar abuts when the flap is opened. The solution according to the application avoids the case in which the flap abuts directly against the support bar via a peripheral region which is visible even in the closed state. Instead, the flap is supported on the support bar via a sliding or rolling element which is arranged in the region of the underside of the flap. In the closed state of the flap, said sliding or rolling element is not visible and thus the visual appearance of the interior trim in the region of the window, and thus the quality impression, is not impaired by any signs of wear. The solution according to the application is particularly advantageously applied in the region of the window of a side door, preferably a rear side door, of a passenger vehicle. The sliding element can be formed in one piece on the inner or underside of the flap. As an alternative, a corresponding sliding element can be produced as a separate component and then fastened in the region of the inner or underside of the flap. The rolling element provided is preferably a roller or wheel which is mounted in a rotatable manner in the region of the underside of the flap. The roller or wheel preferably has an at least substantially cylindrical design. As an alternative, the roller or wheel can be provided with a recessed or convex rotational cross section. The winding shaft can in particular have a cylindrical or conical design.

[0005] In one configuration of the application, the sliding or rolling element has a width which is greater than the width of the support bar, as seen in the longitudinal direction of the flap. This configuration is advantageous in order to achieve a reliable abutment and support of the sliding or rolling element of the flap against or on the support bar over the entire movement path of the support bar. Since the support bar projects freely upwards from the straight-through passage of the housing structure, and the traction direction of the sunblind structure (on the one hand) and the movement direction of the support bar (on the other hand) can differ slightly from one another, the support bar can perform an additional lateral movement relative to the flap. Since the sliding or rolling element has a width which is greater than the width of the support bar, the corresponding lateral movement of the support bar can be compensated without the abutment or support of the sliding or rolling element relative to the support bar having to be eliminated. As an alternative, the rolling element can be mounted in a rotatable manner on a rotational main shaft which has a length which is greater than the width of the rolling element. This means that, in addition to its rotational movement capability, the rolling element can also be displaced along the rotational main shaft, whereby the rolling element can be adjusted relative to the lateral movement of the support bar.

[0006] In another configuration of the application, the width of the sliding or rolling element is two to ten times the width of the support rod. This range has proven to be advantageous in order to compensate for the lateral movement of the support rod. This width range is advantageously combined with a conical winding axis, whereby the sunshade structure can be displaced at an angle to the direction in which the support rod is guided.

[0007] In another configuration of the application, the rotational main axis of the rolling element is oriented at least approximately parallel to the pivot axis of the flap. This makes it possible to achieve only low levels of friction when the support rod is in close proximity to the rolling element. The rotational main axis of the rolling element can deviate from the parallel orientation by preferably between 0.1 and 1 %, advantageously 0.5%, relative to the pivot axis of the flap.

[0008] In another configuration of the application, the flap is permanently biased in the direction of its closed position by a mechanical spring device on the basis of a torque assist. The spring device preferably has one or more leg springs which are active between the housing structure and the flap, coaxially to the pivot axis of the flap. If a plurality of leg springs are provided, these are arranged distributed over the length of the flap. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0009] Further advantages and features of the present application can be gathered from the claims and from the following description of preferred exemplary embodiments of the application, with reference to the drawings, in which:

[0010] Figure 1 a perspective view illustration showing an embodiment of a sunshade device according to the application for a window of a side door of a sunshade passenger vehicle,

[0011] Figure 2 an enlarged side view showing a sunshade device according to Figure 1 ,

[0012] Figure 3 another enlarged illustration showing a part of a sunshade device according to Figure 2 ,

[0013] Figure 4 an enlarged sectional view illustration showing a part of a sunshade device according to Figures 1 to 3 in a rest position of a traction profile of the sunshade structure, and

[0014] Figure 5 a schematic perspective view illustration showing a part of a sunshade device according to Figures 1 to 4 in a region in which a flap of the sunshade device is supported on a support rod of the sunshade device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0015] According to Figures 1 to 5Sunshade device 1 is arranged in the area of the inner side of the side door of a passenger car in a ready-to-operate state and serves to shade the window of the side door. The sunshade device 1 has a flexible sunshade structure 2 which is designed in the form of a knitted fabric and is held on a winding shaft W Figure 4 ) so that it can be wound up and unwound. The winding shaft W is mounted in a box-like housing structure 5 so that it can be rotated about a rotation main shaft 3. The housing structure 5 is fastened in the ready-to-operate state on the body structure part of the inner side of the side door, below the inner door sill. The inner door sill defines the bottom side of the window. The housing structure 5 forms an accommodation space for the winding shaft W which opens in the area of a straight-through passage in the direction of the upper side. The straight-through passage can be closed by a flap 6 which in its closed position Figure 4 ) is aligned flush with the upper side of the housing structure 5 and flush with the inner door sill. The flap 6 is mounted in a pivotable manner about a pivot axis S which extends parallel to the rotation main shaft 3 of the winding shaft W. The flap 6 can be pivoted between a closed position according to Figure 4 a position according to Figures 1 to 3 and Figure 5 . The flap 6 is permanently force-loaded in the direction of its closed position by a mechanical spring device (not indicated more specifically) and thus rests in the closed position according to Figure 4 in a load-free state on the periphery of the straight-through passage of the housing structure 5. The mechanical spring device comprises a plurality of leg springs which are arranged distributed over the length of the flap 6 and are positioned coaxially to the pivot axis.

[0016] The sunshade structure 2 can be vertically displaced between a rest position Figure 4 a sunshade position Figure 1 and 2 . For the displacement of the sunshade structure 2, the sunshade structure 2 has a dimensionally stable traction profile 4 on its front end area as seen in the traction direction which is curved according to the upper frame area of the window. The traction profile 4 can be vertically displaced between the rest position and the sunshade position of the sunshade structure 2 by means of a support rod 7. The support rod 7 is part of a drive system. The support rod 7 has a flexurally rigid design and is guided in a vertically linear manner in a linear guide 9 by means of a drive transmission member, preferably by means of a pitch cable. The drive transmission member is driven by an electric motor 10 and a suitable gear mechanism which form part of the drive system. The pitch cable is placed in the linear guide 9 and its end is connected to the support rod 7. The support rod 7 remains in the linear guide 9 even in the sunshade position of the sunshade structure 2.

[0017] In the area of the traction profile 4, the end of the support rod 7 acts on the traction profile 4 by means of a holder 8 and thus the support rod 7 remains permanently connected to the traction profile 4 in the area of the holder 8 during the displacement of the support rod 7 in all directions.

[0018] With reference to Figure 2 It can be seen that the outer contour of the holder 8 is convexly curved, such that during the outward travel movement or the inward travel movement of the support bar 7 and the traction profile 4, the rolling elements 11 can permanently be supported on the corresponding outer sides of the traction profile 4, the holder 8 and the support bar 7 without creating a shoulder, a step or an undercut which could cause a jam between the rolling elements 11 and the support bar 7, the holder 8 or the traction profile 4. This ensures that during the entire inward travel or outward travel operation of the traction profile 8 and the support bar 7, the flap 6 is only supported in the area of the bottom side of the flap 6 in the area of the rolling elements 11 and thus, in the case of multiple inward travel and outward travel operations, at most signs of wear can occur on the rolling elements 11 but not on the peripheral area of the flap 6. The rolling elements 11 can be held in an interchangeable manner between the bearing seats 12.

[0019] When the support bar 7 pushes the traction profile 4 upwards from the rest position (A) Figure 4 ), the traction profile 4 pushes against the flap 6 from the bottom side and pushes the flap 6 away. With reference to Figures 1 to 3 It can be seen that the support bar 7 is positioned on the side of the sunblind structure 2 which faces the opening flap 6. The support bar 7 extends upwards through the accommodation space of the housing structure 5 and through the straight-through passage and thus, when the traction profile 4 is vertically displaced upwards or downwards, the flap 6 is supported on the outer side of the support bar 7 which is directed away from the sunblind structure 2. Here, the flap 6 is not supported directly but by means of the rolling elements 11 on the outer side of the support bar 7 which is directed away from the sunblind structure 2. The rolling elements 11 are mounted in the area of the bottom side of the flap 6 such that they can rotate about a rotation spindle which extends parallel to the pivot axis S of the flap 6. The rolling elements 11 are mounted by means of two bearing seats 12 which are formed integrally on the bottom side of the flap 6 and which support the rotation spindle of the rolling elements 11. The rolling elements 11 are designed in the form of cylindrical rollers, as seen in the direction of their rotation spindle, whose length is significantly greater than the width of the support bar 7 (B Figure 5 ). The rolling elements 11 protrude from the bottom side of the flap 6 in the direction of the support bar 7 such that in the open position the flap 6 is supported on the outer side of the support bar 7 only via the rolling elements 11 (see Figure 2 and 3 ).

[0020] The winding shaft W has a conical design and thus, when the traction profile 4 is displaced upwards or downwards, the support bar 7 is also displaced in the transverse direction in addition to the vertical displacement.

[0021] To ensure that the flap 6 is held supported on the outside of the support bar 7 via the rolling element 11 even during lateral displacement movements of the support bar 7 while the support bar 7 is being moved in and out, respectively, a significantly greater length of the rolling element 11 relative to the width 7 of the support bar is provided, as described above. In the case of the exemplary embodiment shown, Figure 5 With the exemplary embodiment shown, the rolling element 11 has a length that is approximately three to four times the width 7 of the support bar extending in the same direction. The support bar 7 is designed in the form of a round bar and consists of spring steel. As an alternative, the support bar can be provided with a square profile. The support bar 7 can also be designed in the form of a plastic part.

Claims

1. A sunshade device (1) for a vehicle window, the sunshade device (1) having a housing structure (5) having a receiving space intended for a winding shaft (W) and having a straight passage in an upward direction, and the sunshade device (1) having a folding plate (6) pivotally mounted on the housing structure (5) and intended for closing and releasing the straight passage, and the sunshade device (1) having a flexible sunshade structure (2) held on the winding shaft (W) such that the flexible sunshade structure ( 2) It can be rolled up and unfolded, and the flexible sunshade structure (2) has a dimensionally stable traction profile (4) disposed on its front end region as seen in the unfolding direction, and the sunshade device (1) has a support rod (7) that acts on the traction profile (4) and guides the traction profile (4) by means of a drive system between a resting position in which the profile is positioned in the receiving space and a functional position in which the profile has been displaced upward along the window, wherein the support rod (7) can be vertically displaced through the through passage of the receiving space, characterized in that, In the region on its bottom side, the folding plate (6) has a sliding element or a rolling element (11), and when the folding plate (6) is opened, the support rod (7) is close to the sliding element or the rolling element (11); Wherein, the sliding element or rolling element (11) is a component separate from the folding plate and the folding plate is supported on the support rod only via the sliding element or rolling element during the upward vertical displacement of the support rod; Wherein, as seen in the longitudinal direction of the folding plate (6), the sliding element or rolling element (11) has a width greater than the width of the support rod (7), wherein the width of the sliding element or rolling element (11) is two to ten times the width of the support rod (7); and The winding shaft (W) mentioned therein has a tapered design.

2. The sunshade device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The rotation axis of the rolling element (11) is at least substantially parallel to the pivot axis (S) of the folding plate (6).

3. The sunshade device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The folding plate (6) is permanently stressed in its closed position by a mechanical spring device on the basis of torque assistance.

4. A sunshade device (1) for a vehicle window, the sunshade device (1) having a housing structure (5) having a receiving space intended for a winding shaft (W) and having a straight passage in an upward direction, and the sunshade device (1) having a folding plate (6) pivotally mounted on the housing structure (5) and intended for closing and releasing the straight passage, and the sunshade device (1) having a flexible sunshade structure (2) held on the winding shaft (W) such that the flexible sunshade structure (2) The flexible sunshade structure (2) can be rolled up and unfolded, and has a dimensionally stable traction profile (4) disposed on its front end region as seen in the unfolding direction, and the sunshade device (1) has a support rod (7) acting on the traction profile (4) and guiding the traction profile (4) by means of a drive system between a rest position in which the profile is positioned in the receiving space and a functional position in which the profile has been displaced upward along the window, wherein the support rod (7) can be vertically displaced through the through passage of the receiving space, characterized in that... In the region on its bottom side, the folding plate (6) has a rolling element (11), and the support rod (7) is close to the rolling element (11) when the folding plate (6) is opened; Wherein, the rolling element (11) is a component separate from the folding plate, and the folding plate is supported on the support rod only via the rolling element during the upward vertical displacement of the support rod; and The rolling element is rotatably mounted on a rotating spindle, and the rotating spindle has a length greater than the width of the rolling element.

5. The sunshade device according to claim 4, characterized in that, The rotation axis of the rolling element (11) is at least substantially parallel to the pivot axis (S) of the folding plate (6).

6. The sunshade device according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that, The folding plate (6) is permanently stressed in its closed position by a mechanical spring device on the basis of torque assistance.

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