Hidden rain brow device and vehicle

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a hidden rain eyebrow device and a vehicle, which can be integrated with the appearance of the vehicle body, completely hidden in the vehicle body when not in use to maintain the original appearance of the vehicle and not affect the performance of the vehicle, and reliably and stably shield rain when in use. The hidden rain eyebrow device comprises a containing cavity arranged on the side of the vehicle body, a rain eyebrow assembly movably arranged in the containing cavity, a driving mechanism driving the rain eyebrow assembly to move relative to the containing cavity to switch between a hidden state of being accommodated in the containing cavity and an extended state of extending out of the containing cavity, and a control unit controlling the action of the driving mechanism. The driving mechanism comprises a Y-axis driving module driving the rain eyebrow assembly to enter and exit the containing cavity along the left-right direction of the vehicle, and a position sensor detecting the position of the rain eyebrow assembly and sending a detection signal, and a limiting block locking the rain eyebrow assembly in the left-right direction of the vehicle based on the detection signal.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to concealed rain guard devices and vehicles, and belongs to the field of vehicle-related technical technology. Background Technology

[0002] Side window rain guards, a common automotive accessory, are primarily used to prevent rainwater from entering the vehicle when windows are open for ventilation in rainy weather, and can also serve as sunshades. Traditional rain guards mostly use a fixed installation structure, attaching directly to the door frame or rearview mirror housing using double-sided tape or clips. However, this external installation method leaves the rain guards constantly exposed on the exterior of the vehicle, which not only disrupts the vehicle's original streamlined appearance and increases wind resistance, but also easily interferes with car washing equipment during washing, and is inconvenient for daily maintenance.

[0003] Therefore, there is an urgent need for a rain guard structure that can reliably block rain when not in use, without damaging the original appearance of the vehicle, maintaining its aesthetics, increasing wind resistance, or affecting daily maintenance. Summary of the Invention

[0004] To address the technical problems of traditional rain guards, this disclosure provides a concealed rain guard device and vehicle that can blend into the vehicle's exterior, be completely hidden from the vehicle body when not in use to maintain the vehicle's original appearance and not affect vehicle performance, and extend out of the vehicle body when in use to provide reliable and stable rain protection.

[0005] Specifically, the first aspect of this disclosure provides a concealed rain guard device for a vehicle, comprising: a receiving cavity disposed on the side of the vehicle body; a rain guard assembly movably disposed in the receiving cavity; a drive mechanism for driving the rain guard assembly to move relative to the receiving cavity to switch between a concealed state and an extended state, wherein in the concealed state, the rain guard assembly is housed within the receiving cavity, and in the extended state, the rain guard assembly extends out of the receiving cavity along the left-right direction of the vehicle to cover the side window area; and a control unit for controlling the operation of the drive mechanism, wherein the drive mechanism includes a Y-axis drive module that drives the rain guard assembly to enter and exit the receiving cavity along the left-right direction of the vehicle; the Y-axis drive module includes: a position sensor that detects the position of the rain guard assembly in the left-right direction of the vehicle and sends a detection signal to the control unit; and a limiting block movably disposed in the receiving cavity, wherein the control unit controls the limiting block to move based on the detection signal received from the position sensor to lock the rain guard assembly at least in the left-right direction of the vehicle.

[0006] The concealed rain guard device with the above configuration can automatically extend and retract while maintaining the vehicle's appearance, improving both aesthetics and ease of use. Specifically, the rain guard assembly is stored inside the side of the vehicle body when not in use through a receiving cavity, thus not affecting the vehicle's appearance and appearing unobtrusive from the outside. The rain guard assembly is driven by the Y-axis drive module of the drive mechanism to move in and out of the receiving cavity along the left and right directions of the vehicle, realizing the automatic extension and retraction of the rain guard assembly. This automates the operation of the rain guard assembly, making it more intelligent and convenient to use. In addition, through the cooperation of position sensors, limit blocks, and control units, the rain guard assembly can be held in the desired extended position when extended, preventing accidental retraction or loosening, ensuring high reliability.

[0007] Preferably, in the concealed rain guard device of the first aspect, the Y-axis drive module includes a slide rail, a motor, a ball screw drive pair, and a slide table; the slide rail is fixed inside the receiving cavity and extends along the left-right direction of the vehicle, the motor drives the slide table to slide along the slide rail through the ball screw drive pair; and the rain guard assembly is connected to the slide table to follow the sliding of the slide table into and out of the receiving cavity.

[0008] With the concealed rain guard device having the above configuration, the Y-axis drive module is configured with a slide rail, motor, ball screw transmission pair and slide table. The rotational motion of the motor can be easily converted into the linear motion of the slide table and the amount of motion can be precisely controlled. Moreover, with the constraint of the slide table sliding direction by the slide rail, the rain guard assembly can move stably along a predetermined straight trajectory without deviation during the process of entering and exiting the receiving cavity. Therefore, the smooth and precise drive of the rain guard assembly can be achieved with a simple and compact structure.

[0009] Preferably, in the concealed rain guard device of the first aspect, the limiting block is disposed at the end of the travel of the slide rail to limit the displacement of the slide table, the position sensor is disposed on the movement path of the slide table to detect the position signal of the slide table, and emits a positioning signal as the detection signal when the slide table is detected to have slid to a predetermined extension position, and the control unit is configured to control the motor to stop in response to the positioning signal emitted by the position sensor, and control the limiting block to move to lock the slide table.

[0010] By using a concealed rain guard device with the above configuration, the extension action of the rain guard component can be automatically and promptly stopped after reaching the predetermined extension position by controlling the motor to stop and being reliably held in the extension position, thereby improving the reliability and automation of the position holding of the rain guard component in the extension state.

[0011] Preferably, in the concealed rain guard device of the first aspect, the concealed rain guard device is respectively disposed on the left and right sides of the vehicle body, and the motor of the Y-axis drive module of each concealed rain guard device on the left and right sides is configured to be controlled by the control unit to be synchronously linked, so that the rain guard components on both sides move symmetrically to each other.

[0012] With the above-mentioned hidden rain guard device, hidden rain guard devices are installed on both sides of the vehicle body. The motors of the Y-axis drive modules of the two devices are synchronously controlled by the same control unit. In rainy weather, the rain guard components on both sides can be deployed synchronously to ensure that the left and right side window areas of the vehicle are protected from rain at the same time. It can also avoid the inconvenience or visual disharmony caused by the asynchronous movement of the two sides.

[0013] Preferably, in the concealed rain guard device of the first aspect, the rain guard assembly includes an unfolding module, the unfolding module including a plurality of rain guard units stacked sequentially along the front-rear direction of the vehicle, adjacent rain guard units being connected to each other in a manner that allows them to slide relative to each other along the front-rear direction of the vehicle, the driving mechanism further including an X-axis driving module, the X-axis driving module driving the plurality of rain guard units to move relative to each other along the front-rear direction of the vehicle, the X-axis driving module including a synchronous toothed belt transmission mechanism and a drive motor, and being configured to drive the plurality of rain guard units to extend or fold in stages along the front-rear direction of the vehicle in the state where the unfolding module extends out of the receiving cavity, so as to switch between the extended state and the folded state.

[0014] The concealed rain guard device with the above configuration consists of multiple rain guard units arranged in a stacked manner to form an unfolding module. With the help of an X-axis drive module, the concealed rain guard device can extend further along the X-axis direction in addition to extending out of the receiving cavity in the Y-axis direction. This results in a larger rain protection coverage area in the front and rear directions of the vehicle. One rain guard component can cover and shield two doors on the same side. Moreover, multiple rain guard units are connected to each other in a relatively slidable manner and can extend or fold in stages under drive. The rain protection width after extension can be flexibly adjusted according to actual needs. When folded, the units are stacked and nested on each other, occupying little space. The device is more compact and small in the storage state.

[0015] Preferably, in the concealed rain guard device of the first aspect, the receiving cavity is opened in the A-pillar trim panel, B-pillar trim panel, upper frame of the door or side edge of the roof of the vehicle, and the opening of the receiving cavity faces the outside of the vehicle and is obliquely downward, and a sealing strip is fitted around the periphery of the opening.

[0016] With the concealed rain guard device having the above configuration, the original space of the vehicle body can be used to arrange the receiving cavity in the desired location. The downward orientation of the opening of the receiving cavity helps to reduce rainwater entering the receiving cavity and facilitates drainage in rainy and snowy weather. At the same time, the sealing strip at the opening can reliably seal the gap between the receiving cavity and the external environment when the rain guard assembly is in the stored state, preventing dust, rainwater and foreign objects from entering the receiving cavity, keeping the internal components and rain guard assembly clean and extending their service life.

[0017] Preferably, the concealed rain guard device of the first aspect further includes a rain sensor and a user input module; the rain sensor is used to detect ambient rainfall and generate a rainfall signal; the user input module is used to receive user operation commands; the control unit is communicatively connected to the rain sensor, the user input module and the drive mechanism respectively, and is configured to control the state switching of the rain guard assembly in response to the rainfall signal or the operation command.

[0018] With the concealed rain guard device configured as described above, the rain sensor and user input module serve as two parallel trigger sources. The state switching of the rain guard component can be automatically triggered according to the ambient rainfall, or manually triggered according to the user's wishes. In automatic mode, the rain sensor detects the ambient rainfall in real time and generates a signal when needed. The control unit then automatically controls the extension or retraction of the rain guard component, reducing the user's operational burden. In manual mode, the user can actively issue operation commands through the input module, allowing them to intervene in the state of the rain guard component at any time in scenarios where there is no need to open windows for ventilation or to retract the rain guard early, thus meeting the personalized usage needs of different users.

[0019] Preferably, in the concealed rain guard device of the first aspect, the user input module includes at least one of the following: a button set on the in-vehicle central control screen, a button set on the door armrest, a voice command interface of the in-vehicle voice interaction system, and an application control interface of a mobile terminal.

[0020] With the hidden rain guard device configured as described above, the user input module can be configured in multiple types, thereby providing users with diverse operation entry points. This allows users to choose the appropriate interaction method based on their own usage habits or the ease of operation in different scenarios, improving the flexibility and convenience of using the hidden rain guard device in different scenarios.

[0021] Preferably, in the concealed rain guard device of the first aspect, a cover is further included, the cover being movably disposed at the opening of the receiving cavity, the cover being switchable between a closed position that closes the opening and an open position that opens the opening, in the closed position the cover being flush with the outer surface of the vehicle body; or, when the rain guard assembly is in the concealed state, it covers the opening of the receiving cavity and is flush with the outer surface of the vehicle body.

[0022] With the concealed rain guard device having the above configuration, the opening of the receiving cavity can be sealed by the cover or by the rain guard assembly itself in the concealed state. Thus, the opening of the receiving cavity can be closed and flush with the outer surface of the vehicle body when the rain guard assembly is in the stored state, maintaining the integrity and flatness of the side appearance of the vehicle body and avoiding the impact of exposed openings on the overall shape of the vehicle. At the same time, the closed opening can effectively prevent dust, rainwater and foreign objects from entering the receiving cavity, protecting the internal components and rain guard assembly from external environmental disturbances, which helps to extend the service life of the device.

[0023] The second aspect of this disclosure provides a vehicle equipped with the concealed rain guard device described in the first aspect, which also achieves the corresponding technical effect.

[0024] The concealed rain guard device and vehicle disclosed herein have been described in general terms above. The following description, with reference to the accompanying drawings, will provide further details for easier understanding. Attached Figure Description

[0025] The accompanying drawings are provided to better understand this disclosure and do not constitute an undue limitation thereof. Wherein: Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a vehicle that uses the concealed rain guard device according to the first embodiment of this disclosure; Figure 2 This is a schematic side view of the concealed rain guard of the first embodiment when it is in a concealed state; Figure 3 This is a schematic side view of the concealed rain guard of the first embodiment in the extended state; Figure 4 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the slide rail and slide table of the Y-axis drive module of the concealed rain guard in the first embodiment; Figure 5 This is a schematic side view of the concealed rain guard in the extended state of a variation of the first embodiment; Figure 6 This is a schematic side view of the concealed rain guard in the extended state of a modified example of the first embodiment; Figure 7 This is a schematic front view of the concealed rain guard of the second embodiment, showing the rain guard assembly in an extended state in the Y direction; Figure 8This is a schematic front view of the concealed rain guard according to the second embodiment, showing the rain guard assembly in an extended state in the Y direction and then unfolded in the X direction.

[0026] List of reference numerals

[0027] 1 vehicle

[0028] 1A Roof Side Edge

[0029] 10 Concealed rain guard device

[0030] 11. Receiving cavity

[0031] 12 Rain Eyebrow Components

[0032] 120 Connecting part

[0033] 121. Shielding section

[0034] 123 Expand Module

[0035] 124 Rain Eyebrow Unit

[0036] 13 Drive mechanism

[0037] 131 Slide Rail

[0038] 132 Slide

[0039] 133 Telescopic pole

[0040] 14 cover

[0041] M motor Detailed Implementation

[0042] The technical solution of this disclosure will be explained more clearly below by referring to the accompanying drawings and describing specific embodiments thereof.

[0043] It should be noted that the accompanying drawings in this disclosure are merely schematic diagrams for clearly illustrating the parts related to the solutions disclosed herein, and do not show some unnecessary parts. Therefore, these drawings should not be construed as limiting this disclosure, and may differ from the actual structure used. Furthermore, it should be understood that, unless otherwise stated, the terms "up," "down," "left," "right," "front," and "rear," etc., indicating orientation or position, which may appear in the following description, are for illustrative purposes only and are not restrictive. In this disclosure, "up," "down," "left," "right," "front," and "rear" all represent conventional vehicle directions; that is, the front of the vehicle is "front," the rear is "rear," the roof is "up," the bottom is "down," and left and right when facing forward are "left" and "right." The term "longitudinal" refers to the vehicle's front-to-back direction (i.e., the X direction), the term "lateral" refers to the vehicle's left-to-right direction (i.e., the Y direction), and the term "vertical" refers to the vehicle's up-and-down direction (i.e., the Z direction). In addition, the terms "first," "second," etc., are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of indicated technical features. Similarly, for clarity and brevity, descriptions of well-known functions and structures are omitted in the following description.

[0044] First Embodiment

[0045] The following will refer to Figures 1 to 4 The concealed rain guard device 10 of the first embodiment of this disclosure will be described in detail.

[0046] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a vehicle 1 that utilizes the concealed rain guard device 10 according to the first embodiment of this disclosure. Figure 1 As shown, the concealed rain guard device 10 is disposed on the left and right sides of the vehicle body 1. For ease of explanation, this disclosure describes the right side of the vehicle 1 as an example; the structure of the left side is the same as that of the right side and will not be described again. Furthermore, Figure 1 The pattern shown for the concealed rain guard device 10 is for illustrative purposes only and does not represent its actual appearance; the actual pattern can be consistent with the vehicle's exterior. Utilizing the concealed rain guard device of this embodiment, it can prevent rainwater from entering the side window when the window is opened for ventilation in rainy weather, and also serves as a sunshade.

[0047] like Figures 1 to 3As shown, the concealed rain guard device 10 mainly includes a receiving cavity 11, a rain guard assembly 12, a drive mechanism 13, a control unit (not shown in the figure), and a cover 14. The receiving cavity 11 is located on the side of the vehicle body. Specifically, the receiving cavity 11 is opened at the side edge 1A of the roof of the vehicle 1 and extends along the longitudinal direction (X direction) of the vehicle 1. In this embodiment, the extension length of the receiving cavity 11 is always configured to cover the upper area of ​​the two doors (e.g., the front door and the rear door) of the vehicle 1. The receiving cavity 11 has an opening facing outwards of the vehicle and preferably slightly angled downwards, so that the rain guard assembly 12 can extend from the opening and cover the side window area. For example, it can completely cover about 1 / 8 of the side window opening (only an example). That is, when the side window glass is opened to about 1 / 8 of its extent, the rain guard assembly 12 can completely block rainwater from entering the vehicle through the opening of the side window glass, thus ensuring ventilation needs in rainy weather.

[0048] The cover 14 is movably disposed at the opening of the receiving cavity 11. In this embodiment, the cover 14 is a sliding cover, disposed at the opening of the receiving cavity 11 and capable of sliding along the vertical direction of the vehicle to switch between a closed position (closing the opening) and an open position (opening the opening). In the closed position, the cover 14 is flush with the outer surface of the vehicle body, thereby maintaining the integrity and flatness of the vehicle body's appearance. At the same time, the appearance of the cover 14 also matches the vehicle body's appearance, thus achieving perfect concealment.

[0049] In this embodiment, as Figure 3 As shown, the cover 14 is configured to remain at least partially in the opening when in the open position. Specifically, the cover 14 may not be completely removed when in the open position, but may partially move upward (or partially flip) or, after being fully moved upward to allow the rain guard assembly 12 to extend into place, partially move back, thereby continuing to cover the rest of the opening while avoiding the rain guard assembly 12. That is, the cover 14 may not be completely removed to expose the entire opening, but may only form a channel for the rain guard assembly 12 to pass through in the area corresponding to the rain guard assembly 12, while the other areas of the opening are still covered by the cover 14. In this way, when the rain guard assembly 12 is extended, a portion of the opening of the receiving cavity 11 is still covered by the cover 14, with only the partially extended area of ​​the rain guard assembly 12 open, thereby reducing the possibility of rainwater entering the receiving cavity 11. The movement or flipping motion of the cover 14 can be driven by an independent micro motor, or associated with the drive mechanism 13 through a linkage mechanism, so that the cover 14 moves or flips synchronously to avoid the rain brow assembly 12 when the rain brow assembly 12 is extended.

[0050] Or, with Figure 3Unlike the previous design, the cover 14 can also be a split-opening type. Specifically, the cover 14 includes an upper cover and a lower cover. The upper cover is connected to the upper edge of the opening via an upper hinge, and the lower cover is connected to the lower edge of the opening via a lower hinge. In the closed position, the upper and lower covers are aligned to jointly cover the opening. In the open position, the upper cover flips upward and the lower cover flips downward, opening the opening and allowing the rain guard assembly 12 to extend from the opening. The split-opening type of the cover 14 has relatively small upper and lower covers, requiring less space to flip and not exceeding the vehicle body outline. When opened, the upper cover flips upward and the lower cover flips downward, both rotating outward rather than sliding along the vehicle body surface, preventing the cover from potentially sliding beyond the vehicle body's boundaries.

[0051] A sealing strip (not shown) is disposed around the opening periphery of the receiving cavity 11 and / or around the inner surface periphery of the cover 14. In the closed position, the cover 14 elastically abuts against the sealing strip, forming a reliable sealing interface that isolates the interior of the receiving cavity 11 from the external environment, preventing dust, rainwater, and foreign objects from entering the receiving cavity 11. The sealing strip not only has a sealing function but also a certain degree of water-blocking function. When the cover 14 is in the open position, the sealing strip remains at the edge of the opening, blocking and diverting small amounts of water flowing down the vehicle body surface, preventing water from flowing into the receiving cavity 11 along the edge of the opening.

[0052] like Figure 2 As shown, in the hidden state, the rain guard assembly 12 is housed entirely within the receiving cavity 11, and the cover 14 closes the opening of the receiving cavity 11 and is flush with the outer surface of the vehicle body. When viewed from the outside of the vehicle, the hidden rain guard device 10 is completely hidden inside the vehicle body, without affecting the overall appearance of the vehicle, and also avoids the rain guard assembly 12 from being exposed to the external environment for a long time, which would cause it to age.

[0053] like Figure 3 As shown, in the extended state, the cover 14 slides open, and the drive mechanism 13 drives the rain guard assembly 12 to extend from the opening of the receiving cavity 11 along the left-right direction (Y direction) of the vehicle to cover the side window area. After extending from the receiving cavity 11, the rain guard assembly 12 is positioned above the side window, effectively blocking rainwater and preventing rainwater from entering the open side window.

[0054] like Figures 2 to 3As shown, the rain guard assembly 12 includes a connecting portion 120 and a shielding portion 121. The connecting portion 120 is the part of the rain guard assembly 12 used for connection with the drive mechanism 13, and it extends along the left-right direction of the vehicle. The end of the connecting portion 120 is connected to the shielding portion 121. The shielding portion 121 is located at the end of the connecting portion 120 and is a rain-shielding portion that extends from the receiving cavity 11 to shield the side window area. The shielding portion 121 extends along the front-rear direction of the vehicle, and its extension length is configured to be slightly less than the length of the receiving cavity and to cover the upper area of ​​both doors, so as to simultaneously shield the areas of the front and rear doors when extended. It should be understood that the shielding portion 121 shown is only illustrated for illustrative purposes and does not represent the actual shape and posture of the shielding portion. For example, the shielding portion 121 may be a downwardly inclined baffle.

[0055] In this embodiment, although the shielding part 121 and the connecting part 120 are integrally formed to simplify the structure and reduce costs, as shown in the figure, the shielding part 121 may be rotatably connected to the connecting part 120, allowing the shielding part 121 to rotate relative to the connecting part 120 about the vehicle's longitudinal axis, thereby adjusting the shielding angle. Specifically, a hinge or pivot is provided between the shielding part 121 and the connecting part 120, allowing the user to manually or automatically adjust the tilt angle of the shielding part 121 according to actual needs (e.g., rainfall intensity, vehicle speed, or sunlight angle) to obtain the optimal rain or sun protection effect. For example, when the rainfall is heavy or the vehicle speed is high, the shielding part 121 can be adjusted to a larger downward tilt angle to enhance the rain protection effect; when the rainfall is light or better ventilation is desired, the shielding part 121 can be adjusted to a smaller downward tilt angle.

[0056] In this first embodiment, the drive mechanism 13 that drives the rain guard assembly 12 to move in and out of the receiving cavity 11 in the left-right direction of the vehicle is configured as a Y-axis drive module. The Y-axis drive module includes a slide rail 131, a motor M, a ball screw transmission pair, and a slide table 132. Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, the slide rail 131 is fixed inside the receiving cavity 11 and extends along the left-right direction (i.e., the Y direction) of the vehicle. The motor M is fixed inside the receiving cavity 11 and located at one end of the slide rail 131. The ball screw drive pair includes a screw and a screw nut. The screw is driven by the output end of the motor M, and the screw nut is sleeved on the screw and threaded into the screw. The slide table 132 is slidably disposed on the slide rail 131 and is fixedly connected to the screw nut. When the motor M drives the screw to rotate, the screw nut drives the slide table 132 to slide along the slide rail 131. The connecting part 120 of the rain guard assembly 12 is fixedly connected to the slide table 132, so that the rain guard assembly 12 can follow the sliding of the slide table 132 and move in and out of the receiving cavity 11 along the left-right direction of the vehicle. Figure 4A cross-sectional schematic diagram of slide rail 131 and slide table 132 is shown. Slide rail 131 is a C-shaped guide rail, and slide table 132 is embedded in slide rail 131 and can slide along slide rail 131.

[0057] The Y-axis drive module also includes a limiting block (not shown in the figure) and a position sensor (not shown in the figure). The limiting block is movably disposed within the receiving cavity 11. Specifically, the limiting block is disposed at the end of the stroke of the slide rail 131 to limit the displacement of the slide table 132. The position sensor is disposed on the movement path of the slide table 132 to detect the position of the slide table 132 along the left-right direction (Y direction) of the vehicle, and sends a positioning signal when it detects that the slide table 132 has slid to a predetermined extended position. The position sensor can be a Hall sensor, etc.

[0058] The control unit (not shown in the figure) is communicatively connected to the drive mechanism 13 (including the motor M) and is used to control the operation of the drive mechanism 13. The control unit is also connected to the position sensor and the limit block signal respectively. The control unit is configured to stop the motor M in response to the position signal emitted by the position sensor and to control the limit block to move to lock the slide 132 in the left-right direction of the vehicle, thereby keeping the rain guard assembly 12 in the extended position. The locking of the limit block on the slide 132 can be achieved by the limit block engaging with the slot or hole on the slide 132, or by the limit block moving to the sliding path of the slide 132 and abutting against the slide 132. Through the cooperation of the position sensor, the limit block and the control unit, after the rain guard assembly 12 is extended to the predetermined position, the control unit promptly controls the motor M to stop and locks the limit block on the slide 132, thereby ensuring that the rain guard assembly 12 will not shake or retract unexpectedly due to wind, rain impact or vehicle vibration in the extended state, ensuring the stability of the rain protection effect.

[0059] The control unit is also configured to control the limit block to release the lock on the slide 132 in response to the retraction command, and control the motor M to rotate in the opposite direction, driving the slide 132 to retract the rain guard assembly 12 into the receiving cavity 11 in the left-right direction of the vehicle.

[0060] The concealed rain guard device 10 also includes a rain sensor and a user input module. The rain sensor is used to detect ambient rainfall and generate a rain signal. The rain sensor can be installed on the windshield or the front of the roof of the vehicle 1. The user input module is used to receive user operation commands. The user input module can include at least one of the following: buttons on the in-vehicle central control screen, buttons on the door armrests, a voice command interface of the in-vehicle voice interaction system, and an application control interface of a mobile terminal (such as a mobile phone). The control unit is communicatively connected to the rain sensor, the user input module, and the drive mechanism 13, and is configured to control the rain guard assembly 12 to switch between a concealed state and an extended state in response to the rain signal or operation command.

[0061] Specifically, in automatic mode, when the rain sensor detects that the ambient rainfall has reached a preset threshold, the rain sensor generates a rainfall signal and sends it to the control unit. The control unit determines whether the rain guard assembly 12 needs to extend based on this rainfall signal, and then controls the drive mechanism 13 to extend the rain guard assembly 12. When the rain sensor detects that the ambient rainfall is below the preset threshold or there is no rain, the control unit controls the rain guard assembly 12 to retract. In manual mode, the user can actively issue an extension or retraction command through the user input module. The control unit responds to this command by controlling the rain guard assembly 12 to switch states accordingly. Both modes can be active simultaneously, meaning that the user's manual operation command can override the current state of automatic control to meet personalized usage needs in different scenarios.

[0062] The operation process of the concealed rain guard device 10 according to the first embodiment of this disclosure will now be described in detail.

[0063] Extension Process: When the rain sensor detects that the ambient rainfall has reached a preset threshold, or when the user issues an extension command through the user input module, the control unit first controls the cover 14 to slide from the closed position to the open position, moving it away from the opening of the receiving cavity 11. Subsequently, the control unit controls the motor M to start, and the motor M drives the ball screw transmission pair to rotate. The ball screw nut drives the slide 132 to slide along the slide rail 131 toward the opening direction of the receiving cavity 11 (i.e., the outside of the vehicle). The rain visor assembly 12, which is fixedly connected to the slide 132, moves with the slide 132 via the connecting part 120, and the shielding part 121 extends out of the opening and is positioned above the side window. When the position sensor detects that the slide 132 has slid to the predetermined extension position, it sends a positioning signal to the control unit. After receiving the positioning signal, the control unit controls the motor M to stop and controls the limit block to move to lock the slide 132 in the current position. At this time, the rain visor assembly 12 is stably held in the extension state, and the shielding part 121 shields the top of the side window, providing rain protection. Users can also manually or automatically adjust the rotation angle of the shielding part 121 relative to the connecting part 120 as needed to obtain the best rain protection effect.

[0064] Retraction Process: When the rain sensor detects that the ambient rainfall is below a preset threshold, or when the user issues a retraction command via the user input module, the control unit first controls the limit block to move to release the lock on the slide 132. Then, the control unit controls the motor M to rotate in the opposite direction, and the lead screw nut drives the slide 132 along the slide rail 131 in a direction away from the opening of the receiving cavity 11 (i.e., the inside of the vehicle). The rain guard assembly 12 moves together with the slide 132, and both the connecting part 120 and the shielding part 121 retract into the receiving cavity 11. When the slide 132 slides to the predetermined retraction position, the position sensor sends a retraction completion signal to the control unit, which then controls the motor M to stop. Subsequently, the control unit controls the cover 14 to slide from the open position to the closed position, sealing the opening of the receiving cavity 11, with the cover 14 flush with the outer surface of the vehicle body. At this time, the rain guard assembly 12 is completely housed within the receiving cavity 11, and the cover 14, in conjunction with the sealing strip, reliably isolates the receiving cavity 11 from the external environment.

[0065] As described above, the concealed rain guard device 10 of the first embodiment of this disclosure has been basically described. By setting the receiving cavity 11 at the side edge 1A of the roof and housing the rain guard assembly 12 in the receiving cavity 11 in the concealed state, the rain guard device is flush with the outer surface of the vehicle body. This avoids the appearance damage and wind noise problems caused by the long-term protrusion of the traditional fixed rain guard. At the same time, it protects the rain guard assembly 12 from sun and rain when not in use, which helps to delay material aging and extend service life. The rain guard assembly 12 is automatically extended and retracted by the Y-axis drive module, which improves the convenience of use and the degree of automation. With the cooperation of the position sensor and the limit block, when the slide 132 moves to the predetermined extension position, the control unit controls the motor M to stop and lock the slide 132, so that the rain guard assembly 12 can be reliably held in the predetermined position in the extended state, ensuring the stability of the rain protection effect and the reliability of the device.

[0066] Several variations of the first embodiment will now be described.

[0067] Variation 1 of the first embodiment

[0068] Figure 5 A schematic side view of the concealed rain guard device 10 in the extended state is shown in a variation of the first embodiment. The main difference between this variation and the first embodiment described above is that after the rain guard assembly 12 is extended into place, its shielding portion 121 can continue to extend further along the left-right direction (Y direction) of the vehicle to increase the rain shielding width.

[0069] Specifically, the rain shield 121 itself is constructed as a retractable blade structure. The rain shield 121 includes a fixed blade and a movable blade. The fixed blade is connected to the end of the connecting part 120, and the movable blade is slidably fitted inside or outside the fixed blade and can slide relative to the fixed blade in the left-right direction of the vehicle. The drive mechanism 13 also includes a second drive motor and a second lead screw and nut mechanism for driving the movable blade to extend or retract relative to the fixed blade in the left-right direction of the vehicle. When the rain shield assembly 12 is fully extended in the Y direction, the control unit can also control the second drive motor to further extend the movable blade in the Y direction, thereby increasing the rain shield coverage area and allowing the side window glass to open wider. Besides the blade structure, the rain shield can also be a folding umbrella structure, etc.

[0070] This modification constructs the shielding part 121 itself as a retractable structure, so that after the rain brow assembly 12 extends to its full position in the Y direction, it can further extend the rain-shielding width, thereby flexibly adjusting the rain-shielding area according to the actual rainfall or the desired window opening degree. When the rainfall is heavy or the desired side window opening degree is large, it provides a larger rain-shielding range, and when the rainfall is light or the desired side window opening degree is small, the movable blades can be retracted to reduce wind resistance.

[0071] Variation 2 of the First Embodiment

[0072] Figure 6 A schematic side view of the concealed rain guard device 10 in the extended state is shown in a modified version of the first embodiment. The main difference between this modified version and the first embodiment is that the extension and retraction of the rain guard assembly 12 is not achieved by the slide table 132 sliding along the slide rail 131, but by the extension and retraction of the telescopic rod 133.

[0073] Specifically, the drive mechanism 13 includes a telescopic rod 133 and a drive element (e.g., an electric push rod) for extending and retracting the telescopic rod. One end of the telescopic rod is fixed inside the receiving cavity 11, and the other end is fixedly connected to the connecting portion 120 or the shielding portion 121 of the rain guard assembly 12. In this embodiment, the telescopic rod 133 directly replaces the connecting portion 120 in the first embodiment and is fixedly connected to the shielding portion 121. When it is necessary to extend the rain guard assembly 12, the drive element drives the telescopic rod to extend in the left-right direction of the vehicle, and the telescopic rod pushes the rain guard assembly 12 out of the receiving cavity 11. When it is necessary to retract the rain guard assembly 12, the drive element drives the telescopic rod to shorten in the left-right direction of the vehicle, and the telescopic rod pulls the rain guard assembly 12 back into the receiving cavity 11.

[0074] According to this modified example, due to the adoption of a simpler telescopic rod structure, the number of parts is small, and the internal space occupied by the receiving cavity 11 is small, which is conducive to the miniaturization and weight reduction of the overall device.

[0075] Variation 3 of the First Embodiment

[0076] The main difference between this variant and the first embodiment described above is that the independent cover 14 is omitted, and instead the rain guard assembly 12 itself covers the opening of the receiving cavity 11 and is flush with the outer surface of the vehicle body when it is in a hidden state.

[0077] Specifically, the rain guard assembly 12's shielding portion 121 is constructed as a rotatable plate-like structure. In the concealed state, the shielding portion 121 is positioned approximately vertically at the opening of the receiving cavity 11, with its outer surface flush with the vehicle's outer surface, thus sealing the opening. When extension is required, the drive mechanism 13 drives the rain guard assembly 12 to extend entirely from the receiving cavity 11 along the vehicle's left-right direction. The shielding portion 121 then rotates a certain angle about a rotation axis extending along the vehicle's front-rear direction (e.g., from a vertical position to a approximately horizontal or tilted position), and the extended shielding portion 121 is in this horizontal or tilted position to provide rain protection.

[0078] In this modified example, the number of parts is reduced by omitting the separate cover. The rain guard assembly 12 itself has the dual functions of rain protection and sealing the opening. When hidden, it is flush with the outer surface of the vehicle body, thus maintaining the integrity and flatness of the vehicle body appearance.

[0079] Second Embodiment

[0080] Figure 7 and Figure 8 A schematic front view of a concealed rain guard device 10 according to a second embodiment of this disclosure is shown. Wherein, Figure 7 The rain guard assembly 12 is shown in a state where it extends along the Y direction but has not yet unfolded along the X direction. Figure 8 The diagram shows the state where the rain brow assembly 12 extends further along the X direction after extending in the Y direction.

[0081] The main difference between this second embodiment and the first embodiment described above is that the length of the receiving cavity 11 extending along the front-rear direction of the vehicle is shorter (for example, it only covers a door area, is set in the A-pillar area or B-pillar area, etc.), and the rain guard assembly 12 is also provided with an unfolding module 123 at the shielding part 121. The unfolding module 123 can unfold in the front-rear direction (X direction) of the vehicle to further increase the rain cover range after extending in the Y direction.

[0082] Specifically, in this second embodiment, the receiving cavity 11 is located at the B-pillar trim panel of the vehicle 1, and its length along the front-rear direction of the vehicle is designed to be relatively short, so that the receiving cavity 11 occupies a small space on the side of the vehicle body, which helps to reduce the impact on the vehicle body structure.

[0083] The rain guard assembly 12 may also include a connecting portion 120 and a shielding portion 121, but the shielding portion 121 is additionally provided with an unfolding module 123. The unfolding module 123 includes a plurality of rain guard units 124 stacked sequentially along the vehicle's front-rear direction (X direction), and adjacent rain guard units 124 are connected to each other in a manner that allows them to slide relative to each other along the vehicle's front-rear direction. The rain guard units 124 are stacked on top of each other, so that in the folded state, the plurality of rain guard units 124 are stacked together, occupying a small front-rear space; in the unfolded state, the plurality of rain guard units 124 unfold sequentially along the front-rear direction, forming a longer rain-shielding coverage area.

[0084] Correspondingly, the drive mechanism 13 also includes an X-axis drive module, which drives multiple rain guard units 124 to move relative to each other in the vehicle's front-rear direction. The X-axis drive module includes a synchronous toothed belt drive mechanism and a miniature drive motor, and is configured to drive multiple rain guard units 124 to extend or fold in a nested manner in the vehicle's front-rear direction when the unfolding module 123 is extended from the receiving cavity 11, switching between the extended and folded states. Specifically, the synchronous toothed belt drive mechanism includes a driving pulley, a driven pulley, and a synchronous belt, with multiple teeth fixed on the synchronous belt, each tooth connected to a corresponding rain guard unit 124. When the drive motor rotates, the synchronous belt drives each tooth to move in the front-rear direction, thereby causing each rain guard unit 124 to unfold or fold in the front-rear direction.

[0085] In this second embodiment, the operation process of the concealed rain guard device 10 is as follows: First, as Figure 7 As shown, the control unit controls the Y-axis drive module to extend the rain guard assembly 12 out of the receiving cavity 11 along the vehicle's left-right direction (Y direction). This step is the same as the extension process in the first embodiment. Once the rain guard assembly 12 has extended into place along the Y direction, as... Figure 8 As shown, the control unit further controls the X-axis drive module to extend multiple rain guard units 124 in a nested manner along the vehicle's front-to-back direction (X-direction). At this time, the multiple rain guard units 124 unfold from their stacked state along the front-to-back direction, forming a rain-shielding area covering a relatively long area (e.g., covering two doors). When retracting, the control unit first controls the X-axis drive module to reverse its movement, driving the multiple rain guard units 124 to fold and retract into a stacked state along the front-to-back direction. Then, it controls the Y-axis drive module to reverse its movement, driving the entire rain guard assembly 12 to retract into the receiving cavity 11 along the vehicle's left-to-right direction.

[0086] The second embodiment, by setting an unfolding module 123 in the shielding part 121 and setting an X-axis drive module in the drive mechanism 13, can significantly shorten the length of the receiving cavity 11 in the front-rear direction of the vehicle, so that it only needs to accommodate the stacked thickness of the unfolding module 123 after it is folded up. This is conducive to the miniaturization of the receiving cavity 11 on the side of the vehicle body and reduces the impact on the vehicle body structure. At the same time, after the multiple rain guard units 124 are unfolded in the front-rear direction, they can provide a rain cover range comparable to that of the first embodiment, taking into account both compact storage and rain protection effect during use. The synchronous toothed belt drive mechanism ensures the synchronicity of movement and positional accuracy of the multiple rain guard units 124 during the unfolding or folding process, and the relative movement between each rain guard unit 124 is smooth and reliable.

[0087] Other embodiments

[0088] The shielding part 121 in the above embodiment is described as a plate-like structure, but the shielding part 121 may also adopt other shapes, such as arc or wave, to better guide the flow of rainwater.

[0089] In the above embodiments, the cover 14 is described as a sliding cover, a flip cover, or a split cover, but the cover can also be a roller shutter structure, consisting of multiple hinged blades, which open and close the opening by rolling up and releasing.

[0090] In the above embodiment, the limiting block is described as locking the slide 132, but the limiting block can also directly lock the connecting part 120 or the blocking part 121 of the rain brow assembly 12, as long as the rain brow assembly 12 can be kept in the extended position.

[0091] In the above embodiment, the position sensor is described as detecting the position of the slide 132, but the position sensor can also directly detect the position of the rain visor assembly 12, for example, the position of the connecting part 120 or the shielding part 121.

[0092] The X-axis drive module in the above embodiment adopts a synchronous toothed belt drive mechanism, but other transmission forms such as a lead screw and nut mechanism, a gear and rack mechanism, or a linkage mechanism can also be used.

[0093] In the second embodiment described above, the unfolding module 123 is described as being disposed on the blocking portion 121, but the unfolding module 123 may also be disposed on the connecting portion 120, or the unfolding module 123 itself may constitute part of the blocking portion 121. Furthermore, the unfolding module 123 is not limited to unfolding simultaneously at the front and rear, but may unfold only forward or only backward depending on the installation position, as long as it can completely block both doors after unfolding.

[0094] The control unit in the above embodiments can be the vehicle controller (ECU) of vehicle 1, or it can be a dedicated controller independently installed in the hidden rain guard device 10.

[0095] In the above embodiments, the concealed rain guard device 10 is described as having one on each of the left and right sides of the vehicle to cover the two side windows on the same side. However, it is also possible to have a separate concealed rain guard device on each side window, so as to provide rain protection on a one-to-one basis and control independently. In this way, the concealed rain guard device 10 only needs to be activated for the specific side window that is open.

[0096] The specific embodiments described above do not constitute a limitation on the scope of protection of this disclosure. Those skilled in the art should understand that various modifications, combinations, sub-combinations, and substitutions can occur depending on design requirements and other factors. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, and improvements made within the spirit and principles of this disclosure should be included within the scope of protection of this disclosure.

Claims

1. A concealed rain guard device for vehicles, characterized in that, include: A receiving cavity, wherein the receiving cavity is disposed on the side of the vehicle body; A rain guard assembly, wherein the rain guard assembly is movably disposed in the receiving cavity; A drive mechanism is provided to drive the rain guard assembly to move relative to the receiving cavity to switch between a hidden state and an extended state. In the hidden state, the rain guard assembly is housed in the receiving cavity, and in the extended state, the rain guard assembly extends out of the receiving cavity in the left-right direction of the vehicle to cover the side window area. as well as The control unit controls the operation of the drive mechanism, wherein... The drive mechanism includes a Y-axis drive module, which drives the rain guard assembly to move in and out of the receiving cavity along the left-right direction of the vehicle; and The Y-axis drive module includes: a position sensor that detects the position of the rain guard assembly in the left-right direction of the vehicle and sends a detection signal to the control unit; and a limiting block that is movably disposed in the receiving cavity. The control unit controls the limiting block to move based on the detection signal received from the position sensor to lock the rain guard assembly at least in the left-right direction of the vehicle.

2. The concealed rain guard device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The Y-axis drive module includes a slide rail, a motor, a ball screw transmission pair, and a slide table; The slide rail is fixed inside the receiving cavity and extends along the left-right direction of the vehicle; the motor drives the slide table to slide along the slide rail via the ball screw drive pair; and The rain guard assembly is connected to the slide table to move in and out of the receiving cavity following the sliding of the slide table.

3. The concealed rain guard device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The limiting block is located at the end of the slide rail's travel to limit the displacement of the slide table. The position sensor is positioned along the movement path of the slide table, detects the position signal of the slide table, and emits a positioning signal as the detection signal when the slide table is detected to have slid to a predetermined extended position. The control unit is configured to stop the motor in response to the position signal emitted by the position sensor and to move the limit block to lock the slide.

4. The concealed rain guard device according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that, The concealed rain guard devices are respectively installed on the left and right sides of the vehicle body. The motors of the Y-axis drive modules of the concealed rain guard devices on both the left and right sides are configured to be synchronously linked by the control unit, so that the rain guard components on both sides move symmetrically to each other.

5. The concealed rain guard device according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that, The rain guard assembly includes a deployment module, which comprises multiple rain guard units stacked sequentially along the front-rear direction of the vehicle. Adjacent rain guard units are connected to each other in a manner that allows them to slide relative to each other along the front-rear direction of the vehicle. The drive mechanism also includes an X-axis drive module, which drives the plurality of rain guard units to move relative to each other along the vehicle's longitudinal direction. The X-axis drive module includes a synchronous toothed belt drive mechanism and a drive motor, and is configured to drive the plurality of rain guard units to extend or fold in stages along the front-rear direction of the vehicle when the unfolding module extends out of the receiving cavity, so as to switch between the extended state and the folded state.

6. The concealed rain guard device according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that, The receiving cavity is located on the A-pillar trim panel, B-pillar trim panel, upper door frame, or side edge of the roof of the vehicle, and the opening of the receiving cavity faces outward and downward at an angle. A sealing strip is fitted around the periphery of the opening.

7. The concealed rain guard device according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that, Also includes: Rainfall sensor and user input module; The rain sensor is used to detect ambient rainfall and generate a rainfall signal; The user input module is used to receive user operation instructions; The control unit is communicatively connected to the rain sensor, the user input module and the drive mechanism, and is configured to control the state switching of the rain guard assembly in response to the rain signal or the operation command.

8. The concealed rain guard device according to claim 7, characterized in that, The user input module includes at least one of the following: buttons located on the vehicle's central control screen, buttons located on the door armrests, a voice command interface for the vehicle's voice interaction system, and an application control interface for a mobile terminal.

9. The concealed rain guard device according to any one of claims 1-8, characterized in that, It also includes a cover movably disposed at the opening of the receiving cavity, the cover being switchable between a closed position (closing the opening) and an open position (opening the opening); in the closed position, the cover is flush with the outer surface of the vehicle body; or... When the rain guard assembly is in the concealed state, it covers the opening of the receiving cavity and is flush with the outer surface of the vehicle body.

10. A vehicle, characterized in that, The vehicle is equipped with a concealed rain guard device according to any one of claims 1-9.

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