Roller blind for vehicle sunroof and vehicle sunroof

Abstract

The present invention provides a roller blind for a vehicle sunroof and a vehicle sunroof. The roller blind includes: a reel and a mounting assembly, and the reel is mounted on a roller blind support seat through the mounting assembly. The mounting assembly includes: a supporting member having a supporting portion and a coupling portion, the supporting portion supporting the reel so that the reel can rotate relative to the supporting portion around the longitudinal axis of the reel; a mounting member connected to the roller blind support seat and having a receiving opening and at least one interference protrusion, the interference protrusion being arranged at the periphery of the receiving opening. The coupling portion can be inserted into the receiving opening to be in an unlocked position and rotated from the unlocked position to a locked position around the longitudinal axis; the interference protrusion hinders the coupling portion from rotating around the longitudinal axis when the coupling portion is in the locked position. The vehicle sunroof includes the above-mentioned roller blind. The roller blind and the vehicle sunroof according to the present invention have a simple structure, can easily realize electrostatic conduction, reduce production costs, and require a small installation space.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention generally relates to the technical field of vehicle sunroofs, and more particularly to a roller sunshade for a vehicle sunroof and a vehicle sunroof including the roller sunshade. Background Art

[0002] Currently, vehicle sunroofs are becoming increasingly popular in family vehicles due to their ability to provide good lighting and visibility, as well as facilitate ventilation. Sunroofs are typically installed in the center of the vehicle's roof and are equipped with a curtain that can be deployed and retracted to control the light entering the vehicle cabin.

[0003] Figure 1 This is a partial schematic diagram of a vehicle sunroof according to the prior art. Figure 1 As shown, the vehicle sunroof includes: a sunroof rail 1, a sunroof frame 2, and a roller blind device 3. The sunroof frame 2 is fixed to the sunroof rail 1 and can support the roller blind device 3. For weight reduction and installation needs, the sunroof frame 2 is often made of plastic. The roller blind device 3 can be installed to the sunroof frame 2 through a mounting member 4. The roller blind device 3 includes a curtain 5 and a hollow reel 6. The reel 6 is used to support the curtain 5. Both ends of the reel 6 are rotatably mounted to the mounting member 4 to allow the curtain 5 to be unfolded and reeled around the reel 6. Depending on the specific structure and required function, the mounting members used at both ends of the reel 6 may be different. The curtain 5 can move along the sunroof rail 1 when unfolding and reeling.

[0004] Existing roller blinds are limited by their installation structure and installation method, and often require a large installation space. In addition, during the unrolling and rolling process, the curtain is prone to generate static electricity due to friction with, for example, surface-treated metal support components. Therefore, the issue of static electricity conduction and release must be considered during the design of the vehicle sunroof to avoid damage to the vehicle sunroof. Currently, wires are usually used to conduct static electricity generated by the friction of the curtain. Figure 1 As shown, in a conventional design, a metal mounting member 4 is used at one end of a reel 6, with a wire 7 interposed between the mounting member 4 and the sunroof rail 1. This allows static electricity transferred from the reel 6 to the mounting member 4 to be further conducted via the wire 7 to the sunroof rail 1, which then conducts the static electricity back to the vehicle body. However, the need for additional wires complicates the vehicle sunroof structure, increasing installation time and manufacturing costs. Furthermore, the wires can interfere with the unwinding and rewinding of the curtain. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of the present invention is to solve the problems existing in the above-mentioned prior art and to provide an improved roller sunshade for a vehicle sunroof and a vehicle sunroof including the roller sunshade.

[0006] To this end, a first aspect of the present invention provides a roller blind for a vehicle sunroof. The roller blind includes a reel and a mounting assembly, wherein the reel is used to roll up the curtain of the roller blind and is mounted on the roller blind support seat through the mounting assembly. The mounting assembly includes: a supporting member having a supporting portion and a coupling portion, wherein the supporting portion supports the reel so that the reel can rotate relative to the supporting portion around the longitudinal axis of the reel; a mounting member connected to the roller blind support seat, wherein the mounting member has a receiving opening and at least one interference protrusion, wherein the interference protrusion is arranged at the periphery of the receiving opening; wherein the coupling portion can be inserted into the receiving opening to be in an unlocked position and rotated around the longitudinal axis from the unlocked position to a locked position; and the interference protrusion hinders the coupling portion from rotating around the longitudinal axis when the coupling portion is in the locked position.

[0007] According to the first aspect of the roller blind of the present invention, the supporting member and the mounting member can be locked by simply rotating the supporting member (more specifically, the joint) in the receiving opening in the mounting member, so that the roller shaft can be installed to the roller blind support seat through the mounting assembly, so the required installation space is small.

[0008] According to the above technical concept, the first aspect of the present invention may further include any one or more of the following optional forms.

[0009] In some optional forms, the interference protrusion is located on a rotation path of the engagement portion rotating about the longitudinal axis when the engagement portion is in the locked position.

[0010] In some optional forms, the receiving opening has an open portion, and the engaging portion can be inserted into the receiving opening through the open portion along a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

[0011] In some optional forms, the mounting member includes a mounting body in the form of a plate-like member extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the mounting body including the receiving opening and the at least one interference protrusion. The use of such a plate-like mounting body can further reduce the installation space required for the mounting assembly in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the spool.

[0012] In some optional forms, the support member extends in the direction of the longitudinal axis, and the support member also has at least one positioning portion, which is arranged to be adjacent to the engaging portion and abuts the mounting body when the engaging portion is in the locked position to limit the position of the support member in the direction of the longitudinal axis.

[0013] In some optional forms, the supporting member has a first positioning portion and a second positioning portion, the first positioning portion and the second positioning portion are respectively arranged on both sides of the engaging portion in the direction of the longitudinal axis, and are used to clamp the mounting body therebetween.

[0014] In some optional forms, the support member is made of a conductive polymer material. Using a conductive polymer support member can, on the one hand, reduce friction between the support portion and the reel (more specifically, the bushing at the end of the reel) compared to a metal support member. On the other hand, static electricity generated by winding and unwinding the curtain can be conducted through the support member and, via other metal components, to the vehicle body, thereby preventing static electricity from damaging the vehicle sunroof.

[0015] In some optional forms, the mounting member is made of metal and connected to the sunroof rail via a metal reinforcement that reinforces the roller blind support. This design allows static electricity to be conducted through the mounting member and metal reinforcement to the sunroof rail and, in turn, to the vehicle body, thereby preventing static electricity from damaging the vehicle sunroof. This eliminates the need for additional wires solely for conducting static electricity, simplifies the structural design, and prevents wire interference with the winding and unwinding of the sun blind.

[0016] In some optional forms, the mounting member further includes a connecting portion, which is embedded in the roller blind support seat and connected to the metal reinforcement. By embedding the connecting portion of the mounting member in the roller blind support seat, the space occupied by the mounting assembly is further reduced.

[0017] In some optional forms, the supporting member further has a fixing portion, which is provided at the supporting portion and is used to fix an end portion of an elastic member provided in the winding shaft and used to restore the curtain.

[0018] A second aspect of the present invention provides a vehicle sunroof comprising: a roller blind for a vehicle sunroof according to the first aspect of the present invention; and a roller blind support base, the roller blind support base supporting the roller blind.

[0019] The roller blind for a vehicle sunroof and the vehicle sunroof according to the present invention have simple structures, can easily achieve electrostatic conduction without providing a special electrostatic conduction component, thus reducing production costs and requiring a smaller installation space. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] Other features and advantages of the present invention will be better understood through the following detailed description of the optional embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which the same reference numerals identify the same or similar components, wherein:

[0021] Figure 1is a partial schematic diagram of a vehicle sunroof according to the prior art;

[0022] Figure 2A is a schematic partial perspective view of a vehicle sunroof according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 2B is another schematic partial perspective view of a vehicle sunroof according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 2C is another schematic partial perspective view of a vehicle sunroof according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, wherein a roller blind support seat is omitted;

[0025] Figure 3A and Figure 3B Schematic perspective views of a mounting member and a supporting member of a mounting assembly for a roller blind according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 4A and Figure 4B Schematic diagrams of different installation stages of a longitudinal end portion of a roller shaft of a roller blind being installed to a roller blind support seat through an installation assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 5A is a schematic front view of a supporting member of a mounting assembly for a roller blind according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention supporting a longitudinal end portion of a roller shaft;

[0028] Figure 5B It is along Figure 5A A schematic cross-sectional view taken along line AA of FIG.

[0029] Figure 6A is a schematic perspective view showing that the other longitudinal end portion of the roller shaft of the roller blind according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is mounted to the roller blind support seat via a rotating member;

[0030] Figure 6B is a schematic front view of the other longitudinal end portion and the rotating member of the rolling shaft of the roller blind according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

[0031] Figure 6C It is along Figure 6B A schematic cross-sectional view taken along line BB of FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] The implementation and use of the embodiments are discussed in detail below. However, it should be understood that the specific embodiments discussed are merely illustrative of specific ways to implement and use the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. When describing the structural positions of various components, such as up, down, top, bottom, and other directional expressions, they are not absolute, but relative. When the various components are arranged as shown in the figures, these directional expressions are appropriate, but when the positions of the various components in the figures are changed, these directional expressions also change accordingly. In the present invention, the longitudinal direction of a component refers to the length direction of the component.

[0033] Figures 2A to 2C A portion of a vehicle sunroof according to the invention is schematically shown.

[0034] Reference Figures 2A to 2C The vehicle sunroof may include a roller blind 101 , a roller blind support seat 103 and a sunroof guide rail 107 .

[0035] The roller blind support 103 can be fixed to the sunroof guide rail 107 and is used to support the roller blind 101. Optionally, the roller blind support 103 can be made of a polymer material and provided with a metal reinforcement 109, thereby taking into account both weight reduction requirements and mechanical strength requirements. The roller blind support 103 (including its metal reinforcement 109) can be connected to the metal sunroof guide rail 107 by metal connectors such as bolts, studs, etc. It is understood that the roller blind support 103 can be a separate component or a part of the sunroof frame for mounting various components.

[0036] In some embodiments, as Figure 2A and Figure 5B As shown, the roller blind 101 may include a curtain 111, a reel 113, and a mounting assembly 105. The reel 113 may be generally cylindrical and used to roll up the curtain 111. Both ends of the reel 113 are rotatably mounted to the roller blind support seat so as to rotate relative to the roller blind support seat around the longitudinal axis L of the reel 113, thereby facilitating the rolling and unfolding of the curtain 111. One longitudinal end 114 of the reel 113 may be mounted to the roller blind support seat 103 on one side of the vehicle sunroof via the mounting assembly 105. Figures 6A to 6C As shown, the other longitudinal end 118 of the reel 113 can be fixed to the rotating member 106. The rotating member 106 can be directly mounted to the roller blind support seat on the other side of the vehicle sunroof and can rotate relative to the roller blind support seat. It should be understood that the mounting support structure at both ends of the reel 113 can be adjusted according to the specific structure and required function of the vehicle sunroof.

[0037] In some embodiments, as Figure 5A and Figure 5BAs shown, the roller blind 101 may further include an elastic member 115. The elastic member 115 may be disposed within the reel 113 and configured to reposition the blind fabric 111. Alternatively, the elastic member 115 may be a torsion spring extending along the longitudinal axis L of the reel 113. One longitudinal end 116 of the torsion spring 115 is fixedly mounted to the roller blind support 103 via a mounting assembly 105 (described in further detail below). The other longitudinal end (not shown) of the torsion spring 115 may be fixed to the aforementioned rotating member 106, rotating with the reel 113. In this way, under the action of external force, the curtain 111 can unfold and move along the sunroof guide rail 107 to partially or completely cover the sunroof window, thereby controlling the light entering the vehicle interior. At the same time, the reel 113 will rotate driven by the curtain 111, and the torsion spring 115 will accumulate elastic potential energy when the curtain 111 rotates because the longitudinal end 116 is fixed and the other longitudinal end rotates with the reel 113; after the external force is removed, the torsion spring 115 can release the elastic potential energy and drive the reel 113 to rotate, thereby causing the curtain 111 to be rewound on the reel 113, thereby realizing automatic resetting of the curtain 111.

[0038] Reference Figure 2A 、 Figures 3A to 3B as well as Figure 5B , the mounting assembly 105 may include a mounting member 117 and a supporting member 119. The mounting member 117 is adapted to be connected to the roller blind support seat 103, and has a receiving opening 121 and at least one interference protrusion (for example, the interference protrusions 123a, 123b, 123c shown in the figure). The supporting member 119 has a supporting portion 125 and an engaging portion 127. The supporting portion 125 is adapted to support the reel 113, and allows the reel 113 to rotate relative to the supporting portion 125 around the longitudinal axis L of the reel 113. The receiving opening 121 is configured to allow the engaging portion 127 to be inserted into the receiving opening 121 to be in an unlocked position (not shown), and to allow the engaging portion 127 to rotate around the longitudinal axis L of the reel 113 from the unlocked position to the locked position (see Figure 4B The interference protrusions 123a, 123b, 123c are configured to hinder the engagement portion 127 from rotating about the longitudinal axis L when the engagement portion 127 is in the locked position.

[0039] In some embodiments, reference Figure 2A and Figure 3A The mounting member 117 includes a mounting body 129 and a connecting portion 131, which are connected to each other. The mounting member 117 can be made of metal to reduce the space occupied by the mounting assembly while ensuring mechanical strength. The mounting member 117 can be integrated with the roller blind support base 103, for example, through insert molding, such that the connecting portion 131 is embedded in the roller blind support base 103, while the mounting body 129 is located outside the roller blind support base 103 for easy installation.

[0040] In the illustrated embodiment, the mounting body 129 may be in the form of a plate-like member and extend generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L of the spool 113 .

[0041] The mounting body 129 may include a receiving aperture 121 and interference projections 123a, 123b, and 123c. The receiving aperture 121 may have an open portion 133 that allows the engagement portion 127 of the support member 119 to be inserted into the receiving aperture 121 in a direction generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L of the reel 113. In the illustrated embodiment, the interference projections 123a, 123b, and 123c may be provided at the periphery of the receiving aperture 121.

[0042] In some embodiments, reference Figure 2B and Figure 3A The connecting portion 131 may also be in the form of a plate-like member and have a substantially L-shaped cross-section. The connecting portion 131 may be connected to the metal reinforcement 109 by a metal connector such as a bolt or stud. The connecting portion 131 may be provided with an opening 135 for the metal connector to pass through.

[0043] By designing the mounting body 129 and the connecting portion 131 into a plate shape and embedding the connecting portion 131 into the roller blind support seat 103, it is beneficial to reduce the space occupied by the mounting member 117. It is understandable that the mounting body 129 can also be in other suitable shapes such as a block shape.

[0044] In some embodiments, reference Figure 3B and Figure 5B , the support member 119 is substantially cylindrical and extends in the direction of the longitudinal axis L of the reel 113. The engaging portion 127 of the support member 119 may be substantially square column-shaped. Figure 4A and Figure 4B The receiving opening 121 of the mounting member 117 may be of a special shape to allow the engaging portion 127 to be inserted into the receiving opening 121 through the opening 133, and to allow the engaging portion 127 to be further rotated around the longitudinal axis L of the reel 113 after being inserted into the receiving opening 121. Specifically, during installation, the engaging portion 127 of the supporting member 119 may be first aligned with the opening 133 of the mounting member 117, and then the engaging portion 127 may be inserted into the receiving opening 121 through the opening 133 in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L of the reel 113. At this time, the engaging portion 127 is in the unlocked position; thereafter, the engaging portion 127 may be rotated counterclockwise (refer to FIG. 13 ). Figure 4A and Figure 4B The support member 119 is rotated so that the engaging portion 127 rotates counterclockwise from the unlocking position to pass over the interfering protrusion 123b and enter the unlocking position. Figure 4BThe locking position is shown. When the engaging portion 127 is in the locked position, the interference protrusions 123a, 123b, and 123c are distributed around the engaging portion 127 and located on the rotation path of the engaging portion 127 around the longitudinal axis L of the reel 113. The interference protrusions 123a and 123c are located on the counterclockwise rotation path of the engaging portion 127, and the interference protrusion 123b is located on the clockwise rotation path of the engaging portion 127, thereby hindering the support member 119 from rotating in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions relative to the mounting member 117 and the roller blind support base 103. Locking the support member 119 in place by rotating the support member 119 helps reduce the space required for installation.

[0045] Return to reference Figure 3B and Figure 5B The support portion 125 of the support member 119 may be generally cylindrical in shape to support the reel 113 and allow the reel 113 to rotate relative to the support portion 125 about the longitudinal axis L of the reel 113. Specifically, a bushing 126 may be sleeved within the longitudinal end 114 of the reel 113. The bushing 126 is fixed to the longitudinal end 114 of the reel 113 and supported by the support portion 125, so that the longitudinal end 114 of the reel 113 and the bushing 126 can rotate together relative to the support portion 125 about the longitudinal axis L of the reel 113. A fixing portion 137 is also provided at the support portion 125 for fixing the longitudinal end 116 of the elastic member 115, so that the longitudinal end 116 of the elastic member 115 is fixedly mounted to the roller blind support base 103 via the support member 119 of the mounting assembly 105 and does not rotate with the rotation of the reel 113. In the illustrated embodiment, the fixing portion 137 is in the form of a through hole to receive and fix the longitudinal end 116 of the elastic member 115 .

[0046] Reference Figure 2A as well as Figure 3A and Figure 3B The support member 119 may also have at least one positioning portion (e.g., positioning portions 139a, 139b shown in the figure), which is arranged adjacent to the engagement portion 127 and is adapted to abut the mounting body 129 when the engagement portion 127 is in the locked position to define the position of the support member 119 in the direction of the longitudinal axis L of the reel 113. In some embodiments, the support member 119 may have a first positioning portion 139a and a second positioning portion 139b. The first positioning portion 139a and the second positioning portion 139b may be respectively arranged on either side of the engagement portion 127 in the direction of the longitudinal axis L of the reel 113 and may clamp the mounting body 129 therebetween. The first positioning portion 139a is in the form of a lug and protrudes in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L of the reel 113. Alternatively, the support member 119 may have two symmetrically arranged lugs. The second positioning portion 139b is in the form of an annular flange and protrudes in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L of the reel 113.

[0047] In some embodiments, the mounting member 117 can be made of metal and connected to the sunroof rail 107 via a metal reinforcement 109, while the support member 119 can be made of a conductive polymer. This reduces friction between the support portion 125 and the bushing 126 at the longitudinal end 114 of the reel 113 compared to a metal support member 119. Furthermore, static electricity generated by winding and unwinding the curtain 111 can be conducted through the support member 119 to the mounting member 117, and then to the sunroof rail 107 and the vehicle body connected thereto via the metal reinforcement 109, thereby preventing static electricity from damaging the vehicle sunroof. The conductive polymer material of the support member 119 can be a composite conductive polymer material, such as PA66-CF20, formed by filling a polymer matrix (e.g., polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyhexamethylene adipamide, epoxy resin, phenolic resin, etc.) with a conductive substance (e.g., carbon black, carbon nanotubes, graphene, carbon fiber, metal, or metal oxide).

[0048] It should be understood that Figures 2 to Figure 5B The illustrated embodiments merely illustrate the shapes, sizes, and arrangements of the various optional components of the roller blind and vehicle sunroof according to the present invention. However, these are merely illustrative and non-limiting. Other shapes, sizes, and arrangements may be employed without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

[0049] The technical content and technical features of the present invention have been disclosed above. However, it is understood that, based on the creative ideas of the present invention, those skilled in the art may make various changes and improvements to the above-disclosed concepts, all of which fall within the scope of protection of the present invention. The description of the above embodiments is illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of protection of the present invention is determined by the claims.

Claims

1. A roller sunshade for a vehicle sunroof, characterized in that: The roller blind includes a reel and an installation assembly, wherein the reel is used to roll up the curtain fabric of the roller blind and is installed on the roller blind support seat through the installation assembly; wherein the installation assembly includes: a supporting member having a supporting portion and an engaging portion, the supporting portion supporting the reel so that the reel is rotatable relative to the supporting portion about a longitudinal axis of the reel; a mounting member connected to the roller blind support seat, the mounting member having a receiving opening and at least one interference protrusion, the interference protrusion being provided at a periphery of the receiving opening; wherein the engagement portion is insertable into the receiving opening to be in an unlocked position and rotatable about the longitudinal axis from the unlocked position to a locked position; The interference projection blocks rotation of the engagement portion about the longitudinal axis when the engagement portion is in the locked position.

2. The roller blind for a vehicle sunroof according to claim 1, characterized in that: The interference protrusion is located on a rotation path of the engagement portion rotating about the longitudinal axis when the engagement portion is in the locked position.

3. The roller blind for a vehicle sunroof according to claim 1, characterized in that: The mounting member includes a mounting body in the form of a plate-like member extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis, the mounting body including the receiving aperture and the at least one interference protrusion.

4. The roller blind for a vehicle sunroof according to claim 3, characterized in that: The support member extends in the direction of the longitudinal axis and has at least one positioning portion, which is arranged adjacent to the engagement portion and abuts against the mounting body to define the position of the support member in the direction of the longitudinal axis when the engagement portion is in the locked position.

5. The roller blind for a vehicle sunroof according to claim 4, characterized in that: The supporting member has a first positioning portion and a second positioning portion, which are respectively provided on both sides of the engaging portion in the direction of the longitudinal axis and are used to clamp the mounting body therebetween.

6. The roller blind for a vehicle sunroof according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: The supporting member is made of conductive polymer material.

7. The roller blind for a vehicle sunroof according to claim 6, characterized in that: The mounting member is made of metal and is connected to the sunroof rail via a metal reinforcement for reinforcing the roller blind support seat.

8. The roller blind for a vehicle sunroof according to claim 7, characterized in that: The mounting component further includes a connecting portion, which is embedded in the roller blind support seat and connected to the metal reinforcement.

9. The roller blind for a vehicle sunroof according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: The supporting member further includes a fixing portion provided at the supporting portion and used to fix an end portion of an elastic member provided in the winding shaft and used to restore the curtain.

10. The roller blind for a vehicle sunroof according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: The receiving opening has an open portion through which the engaging portion can be inserted into the receiving opening in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

11. A vehicle sunroof, characterized in that: The vehicle sunroof comprises: The roller blind for a vehicle sunroof according to any one of claims 1 to 10; and A roller blind support seat supports the roller blind.

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