Sunshade assembly

Abstract

Sunshade assembly (112) with: a support beam (18) spanning a width of a vehicle sunroof, wherein the support beam has the following features: a sunshade handle (224) for holding an edge of a sunshade (112); and a slot (222) formed at each end of the support beam (218); and a pair of drive shoes (220) for driving the support beam (218), wherein the drive shoe (220) is positioned within a cavity of the support beam (218); and has an elastic clip (226) to hold the drive shoe (220) within the slot (222), wherein the support beam (218) and the drive shoes (220) have a height profile that is arranged below a sunroof seal (332) and a glass fastening access area of ​​a sunroof assembly (110).

Description

Technical area

[0001] The subject matter described herein relates generally to sunshade assemblies, and more particularly to sunshade assemblies having a height profile to facilitate complete coverage of a sunroof area of ​​a vehicle by a sunshade. background

[0002] Vehicles may be equipped with sunroof assemblies. A sunroof assembly comprises a transparent panel formed on the roof of a vehicle. The sunroof assembly and variations thereof allow sunlight to enter the vehicle, providing natural illumination for the occupants of the vehicle cabin. The sunroof assembly also allows the occupants a view of the vehicle's surroundings, specifically the sky and the area above the vehicle.

[0003] In one example, the sunroof is fixed in a closed state. That is, the sunroof assembly may replace a portion of the vehicle's roof panel and be rigidly and statically coupled to the vehicle roof panel. In another example, the sunroof may be opened and closed. In a specific example, the sunroof may be opened about a pivot point or a hinge. In another example, the sunroof may be fully opened, for example, by a translational movement either forward or rearward in a longitudinal direction relative to the vehicle. Accordingly, by pressing a button, an occupant may electrically open the sunroof to admit fresh, cool air and / or ventilate the cabin. If desired, the occupant may electrically close the sunroof, for example, when the occupant is about to exit the vehicle or during deteriorating weather.In any case, the sunroof assembly may include a motorized mechanism that opens and closes the sunroof based on user input (e.g., pressing a button) or based on any other criteria. In the example of a sliding sunroof, the sunroof assembly may include a guide rail to move the sunroof between 1) an open or extended position and 2) a closed or retracted position. Summary

[0004] In one embodiment, example systems relate to a manner of improving the operation and functionality of a vehicle sunshade. More specifically, the example systems provide a sunshade assembly that facilitates full rather than partial coverage of the sunroof opening. Furthermore, the example sunshade assembly does not trigger material removal from the sunshade guide rail for access to sunroof fastening devices such as glass screws.

[0005] In one embodiment, a sunshade assembly is disclosed. The sunshade assembly includes a support beam that spans the width of a vehicle sunroof. The support beam includes 1) a sunshade handle for holding the edge of a sunshade and 2) a slot formed at each end of the support beam. The sunshade assembly further includes a pair of drive shoes for driving the support beam. The drive shoe is positioned within a cavity of the support beam and has a resilient clip to retain the drive shoe within the slot. The support beam and drive shoes have a height profile that is disposed below a sunroof seal and a glass attachment access area of ​​a sunroof assembly.

[0006] In one embodiment, a sunshade assembly is disclosed. The sunshade assembly includes a support beam that spans the width of a vehicle sunroof. The support beam includes 1) a sunshade handle for holding the leading edge of a sunshade, and 2) a slot formed at each edge of the support beam. The sunshade assembly further includes a pair of drive shoes for driving the support beam. The drive shoe is positioned within a cavity of the support beam and includes a resilient clip for retaining the drive shoe within the slot. The support beam and drive shoes 1) have a height profile less than 10 millimeters, and 2) are disposed below / under a sunroof seal and a glass attachment access area of ​​the sunroof assembly.

[0007] In one embodiment, a sunshade assembly is disclosed. The sunshade assembly includes a support beam that spans the width of a vehicle sunroof. The support beam includes 1) a sunshade handle for holding the leading edge of a sunshade, and 2) a slot formed at each end of the support beam. The sunshade assembly further includes a pair of drive shoes for driving the support beam. The drive shoe is positioned within a cavity of the support beam and has a resilient clip for retaining the drive shoe within the slot. The support beam and drive shoes 1) have a height profile less than 10 mm and 2) are disposed below (under) a sunroof seal and a glass fastener access area of ​​a sunroof assembly.The sunshade assembly further includes a guide rail on each side of the support beam to support the movement of the drive shoes. The guide rail has a height profile located below the sunroof seal and the glass fastener access area of ​​the sunroof assembly. Brief description of the drawings

[0008] The accompanying drawings, which form a part of the specification, illustrate various systems, methods, and other embodiments of the invention. The illustrated element boundaries (e.g., boxes, groups of boxes, or other shapes) in the drawings are intended to represent one embodiment of the boundaries. In some embodiments, an element may be configured as a plurality of elements, or a plurality of elements may be configured as one element. In some embodiments, an element shown as an internal component of another element may be implemented as an external component and reversed. Furthermore, the elements may not be shown to scale. Fig. 1 shows an example of a vehicle having a sunroof assembly with a sunshade assembly with a reduced height profile. The Fig. 2A and Fig. 2B shows an isometric view of a support beam and drive shoe of a sunshade assembly with a reduced height profile. The Fig. 3A and Fig. 3B show partially broken away perspective cutaway views of a sunroof assembly with a sunshade assembly having a reduced height profile installed therein. Fig. Figure 4 shows a cross-sectional view of a sunshade assembly with a reduced height profile. Fig. Figure 5 shows a cross-sectional view of a sunroof assembly with a sunshade assembly with a reduced height profile. The Fig. Figures 6A - 6F show the installation of a drive shoe in a support beam of a sunshade assembly with a reduced height profile. Detailed description

[0009] Disclosed below are systems and other embodiments related to enhanced sunshading operation. As previously described, some vehicles have sunroofs that include a transparent panel in a roof of a vehicle. The transparent panel allows natural sunlight to enter the cabin and provides an additional view of the outside world for the occupants in the cabin. However, natural sunlight can sometimes be disruptive. For example, direct sunlight into the driver's eye can make it difficult for the driver to see and focus on the road ahead, road users, and other objects (both moving and stationary) near the vehicle. Reduced vision increases the danger of operating a vehicle.In addition, glare from direct sunlight on a human-machine interface (HMI), such as an infotainment display or other display, can make it difficult to see the information displayed on it. Bright, direct sunlight can also be uncomfortable for vehicle occupants.

[0010] As such, a vehicle may be equipped with a sunshade inside the cabin that reduces the amount of sunlight entering the vehicle. The sunshade may be retractable to either 1) allow a maximum amount of sunlight through the sunroof panel or 2) block at least some of the sunlight passing through the sunroof panel. When extended, the sunshade may completely block light passing through the sunroof panel or may partially block natural light such that some sunlight still passes through the sunshade panel, albeit to a lesser extent. In either case, the sunshade allows the driver to block sunlight that would otherwise make it difficult to view the surroundings and / or an HMI.

[0011] The sunshade assembly generally includes a support that spans the width (in a transverse direction across the vehicle) of the sunroof panel. A motor and guide rail system operate to unroll (roll out) or otherwise extend the sunshade in a longitudinal direction relative to the sunroof. As a specific example, when extended, the sunshade can be rolled up behind the sunroof panel in a longitudinal direction. When extended, the sunshade can extend the length of the sunroof panel.

[0012] While sunshades enhance the driver experience and safety while driving the vehicle, additional developments can improve their operation and functionality. For example, the guide rail that defines the movement of the sunshade can be housed under a circumferential seal around the periphery of the sunroof assembly, which prevents water or other foreign matter from entering the vehicle through the sunroof assembly. However, if the drive shoe (a mechanical device attached to the sunshade that communicates movement generated by the actuator to retract and extend the sunshade) is too large, the sunshade may not be able to slide under the seal.This means that the upper surface of the sunshade may be higher (in a vertical or z-direction) than the bottom surface of the seal, such that the sunshade may not be able to extend the entire length of the sunroof area (in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle). In other words, the sunshade may not be able to extend to its maximum extent across the sunroof assembly due to potential interference between the drive shoe and the sunshade assembly and the seal between the vehicle body sunroof glass. This may result in a portion of the sunroof not being blocked by the sunshade.Thus, a band of sunlight can still pass through the sunshade and potentially have a negative impact on occupant comfort, driver vision, and display viewability even when the sunshade is fully extended.

[0013] As such, the present sunshade assembly has a lower height profile. Specifically, the sunshade assembly, which includes the support beam, drive shoe, and sunshade fabric, sits entirely below the sunroof seal in such a way that no portion of the sunshade assembly has an upper edge (in a vertical or z-direction) that would interfere with the seal. As such, the sunshade is capable of blocking the entire area of ​​the sunroof assembly. Specifically, the present sunshade assembly includes a support beam / drive shoe structure with a z-height profile that allows the entire sunshade assembly (including the support beam and drive shoe) to be positioned below the sealing system of the sunroof assembly.

[0014] The sunshade assembly is also disposed beneath a glass fastener access area. That is, the sunroof panel (e.g., a glass pane) may be installed into the sunroof assembly via fasteners such as screws. These screws may be adjacent to the guide rails in a lateral direction (e.g., on the outside of the guide rails in a vehicle width direction). In some cases, a guide rail may have a raised profile for guiding the movement of the sunshade drive shoe. However, the raised profile of the guide rail may impede access to glass fasteners, which access may be desirable for repair and / or replacement of the glass panel. Accordingly, in these cases, to provide access to the glass screws, a portion of the guide rail may be removed into the area surrounding the glass fastener.This process can be complicated, time-consuming, and costly, and may reduce the structural integrity of the guide rail and / or other components of the sunroof assembly. The sunshade assembly of the present invention includes a guide rail with a height profile lower than the glass fastener access area, as shown below in FIG. Fig. 5 so that the glass fixing device can be accessed without modifying the guide rail.

[0015] More specifically, the sunshade assembly includes a support beam that spans the width of the vehicle sunroof in a lateral direction relative to the vehicle. The support beam has 1) a mounting mechanism for the sunshade and 2) a slot formed at each end of the support beam. That is, the support beam has a first slot at a first end and a second slot at the second end. The support beam and the mounted sunshade are translated via a pair of drive shoes coupled to the support beam. More specifically, the drive shoes are coupled to a motor that translates the shoes within the guide rail. A portion of the drive shoe, external to the guide rails, is seated in the support beam via the respective support beam slots at each end.The drive shoe is positioned within the hollow space of the support beam and has an elastic clip to hold the drive shoe within the support beam. Thus, when the actuator moves the drive shoes, the drive shoes move the support beam, allowing the sunshade coupled to the support beam to roll down or otherwise extend.

[0016] In one example, the height profile of the drive shoe and support beam may be less than 10 mm such that they are positioned beneath a sunroof seal and a glass fastener access area of ​​the sunroof assembly. In this manner, the disclosed sunshade assembly demonstrates improved effectiveness in that it can block the entire area within the boundaries of the sunroof assembly rather than merely a portion of the area. More specifically, the sunshade assembly with a lower height in the z-direction allows the support beam and drive shoe to be positioned entirely beneath / below the end of the sunroof seal and the glass fastener access area.As such, the sunshade can extend beyond the longitudinal limits of the sunroof panel defined by the seal surrounding the sunroof panel without interfering with any portion of the seal surrounding the sunroof panel. Furthermore, the reduced height of the guide rail and sunshade assembly will not trigger any removal of the guide rail or the end of the seal flange to gain access to the glass fasteners.

[0017] Referring again to the drawings, Fig. 1 is a partial perspective view of a vehicle 100 having a sunshade assembly 102 with a reduced height profile. For simplicity and clarity of illustration, where appropriate, like reference numerals have been used throughout the various drawings to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. Furthermore, the description provides numerous specific details in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments described herein. However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the embodiments described herein may be practiced using various combinations of these elements. In any event, the vehicle 100 includes a sunshade assembly 102 configured to provide sunshade coverage and improve driver / occupant comfort and visibility.

[0018] In this specification, the terms "front," "forward," and the like, and the terms "rear," "backward," and the like refer to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The terms "front," "forward," and the like refer to the front of the vehicle, while the terms "rear," "backward," and the like refer to the rear of the vehicle. The terms "side," "sideways," "transverse," and the like refer to the lateral directions of the vehicle. The terms "top," "bottom," and the like refer to the vertical directions of the vehicle.

[0019] The vehicle 100 has an exterior and a number of interior compartments. The compartments include, for example, a passenger compartment, an engine compartment, a cargo area, and the like. The vehicle 100 has a body that forms the exterior (the exterior) and defines or otherwise encloses the compartments. In one embodiment, the body has sides, a roof, a floor, a front end, a rear end, and the like. The body may be constructed from a combination of rigid, interconnected frame members, panels, and other body elements, as well as a combination of stacked paneling, trim, upholstery, and other body coverings. In some cases, the body elements have a combination of fabricated, bent, stamped, extruded, cast, molded, and the like constructions, and are constructed from a combination of metallic, polymeric, and similar materials.

[0020] The roof extends laterally between the sides of the vehicle 100. As described above, the vehicle 100 may include a sunroof assembly 110. As described above, the sunroof assembly 110 may include a sunroof panel 101 that is fixed or retractable. Fig. In the example shown in Figure 1, the sunroof panel 101 is retractable and depicted in a recessed position to facilitate visualization of the other components. In further examples, the sunroof panel 101 may be permanently closed but transparent. In each example, the sunshade assembly 102 may be disposed below the sunroof panel 101. That is, the sunshade assembly 102 may be on the interior of the vehicle 100 defined by the sunroof panel 101.

[0021] The sunroof assembly 110 may be installed in and attached to the roof of the vehicle 100. That is, the vehicle body may include one or more components for supporting the roof panels, the sunroof assembly 110, and the sunshade assembly 102. For example, the body may include roof rails, a header, and a frame surrounding the sunroof panel 101. In one construction, the roof rails are laterally spaced from each other around the sunroof panel 101 and extend longitudinally along the vehicle 100 in a longitudinal direction 114. The roof panel may extend longitudinally from the header and laterally between the roof rails.

[0022] Generally, the sunroof assembly 110 includes the sunroof panel 101 and associated components that open and close the sunroof panel 101. In the following description, the term "sunroof panel" encompasses similar roof openings for vehicles 100, including moonroofs, panoramic roofs, etc. As described above, the sunroof panel 101 allows sunlight and / or air to enter the cabin of the vehicle 100 and allows the occupants of the vehicle 100 to view their surroundings. As such, the sunroof panel 101 may be constructed from a material that can 1) enclose the cabin and 2) allow an occupant within the vehicle 100 to see the exterior of the vehicle 100 when the sunroof panel 101 is closed. In one example, the sunroof panel 101 is constructed from glass, however, it should be understood that the sunroof panel 101 may be constructed from one or more other materials.

[0023] In one construction, the sunroof assembly 110 includes a housing that houses various components of the sunroof assembly 110, including those components that secure the sunroof panel 101 to the vehicle 100. The housing may be attached to the roof header and / or other components of the vehicle 100.

[0024] As described above, the vehicle 100 may also include a sunshade assembly 102 that includes a sunshade 112 and various other components for moving the sunshade 112 and for securing the sunshade 112 to the vehicle 100. Generally, the sunshade 112 is formed from a flexible sunlight-blocking material, such as a fabric. The sunshade 112 may block all or part of the sunlight. For example, the sunshade 112 may be made from an opaque material that completely blocks sunlight when extended. In another example, the sunshade 112 may partially block sunlight such that a portion of the sunlight can still transmit through the sunshade 112 to at least partially enter the cabin.

[0025] In one example, the sunshade 112 is retractable so that it is selectively moved to a position below the sunroof panel 101. In a specific example, the sunshade 112, when stored, is rolled into a storage space behind and / or below the sunroof assembly 110. In the Fig. In the example shown in Figure 1, the sunshade 112 is extended, while the sunroof panel 101 is retracted.

[0026] As described above, the sunshade assembly 102 has additional components that facilitate the storage, movement, and attachment of the sunshade 112 to the vehicle 100. More specifically, the sunshade assembly 102 has additional components such as a support beam and a drive shoe, as shown in Fig. 2. As described below, the drive shoe and support beam support the movement, either motorized or manual, of the shade 112 from a retracted to an extended position.

[0027] A pair of guide rails 116 are positioned at the lateral edges of the sunroof opening 108 and serve to guide the sunshade 112 as it moves longitudinally past the sunroof panel 101 in a longitudinal direction 114. Fig. 1 shows one guide rail 116, while a second guide rail is concealed by the sunroof assembly 110. Drive shoes of the sunshade assembly 102 (shown in Fig. 2) are inserted within respective guide rails 116 and are driven by an actuator or a user's manual operation input to open and close the shade 112. In one example, the actuator includes a motor coupled to cables. The cables are coupled to respective drive shoes within respective guide rails 116. Accordingly, in one mode, the motor retracts the cables, which can retract or extend the shade 112 based on where the motor is positioned relative to the shade 112. In another mode, the motor extends the cables, which can retract or extend the shade 112 based on where the motor is positioned relative to the shade 112.In still other modes, the sunshade assembly 102 may be a manual sunshade assembly in that an occupant of the vehicle 100 manually opens or closes the sunshade 112, for example, via a handle clip of the sunshade assembly 102. In either case, the drive shoes slide within the guide rails 116 to guide the sunshade 112 between a retracted and extended state.

[0028] The Fig. 2A and Fig. 2B shows an isometric view of the sunshade assembly 102 with a reduced height profile. More specifically, Fig. 2A is an enlarged partially broken away view of one end of the support beam 218 with a drive shoe 220-1 installed therein, and Fig. 2B shows an entire support beam 218 with drive shoes 220-1 and 220-2 installed at each end. In one example, the sunshade assembly 102 is a component of the sunroof assembly 110. For example, the sunroof assembly 110, which includes the sunshade assembly 102, may be installed as a single component within the vehicle 110. Generally, the sunshade assembly 102 includes: 1) a support beam 218 that spans the width of the vehicle sunroof, and 2) a pair of drive shoes 220-1 and 220-2 that drive the support beam 218.

[0029] The support beam 218 extends between the lateral sides of the sunroof assembly 110, and more specifically, between the guide rails 116. The support beam 218 supports the weight of the sunshade 112 and pulls the sunshade 112 between an extended and a retracted position. More specifically, the support beam 218 may be formed from a rigid material (such as extruded aluminum, another form of metal, or any other material) and may engage a guide edge of the sunshade 112 to pull it forward or backward to extend or retract the sunshade 112. As such, the support beam 218 has a sunshade handle 224 that holds the guide edge of the sunshade 112. In one example, the sunshade handle 224 may be a slot that receives a looped end of the sunshade 112, as shown below in Fig. 4. In one example, a rigid rod may be disposed in the looped end of the shade 112 to assist in rigidly securing the shade 112 to the support beam 218. When the shade 112 is coupled to the support beam 218, movement of the support beam 218 by the actuator and drive shoes 220 results in extension or retraction of the shade 112. While Fig. 2 shows a specific type of sun shading handle, the support beam 218 may include other types of sun shading handles.

[0030] Fig. 2A shows the support beam 218 with a slot 222 formed at each end of the support beam 218. As shown in Fig. 4, the slot 222 serves to receive and retain a respective drive shoe 220. More specifically, a first slot 222-1 may be formed at a first end of the support beam 218 to receive a first drive shoe 220-1, while a second slot 222-2 may be formed at a second end of the support beam 218 to receive a second drive shoe 220-2. Except for these slots 222, the support beam 218 may have a closed profile. That is, the support beam 218 may have a continuous cross-sectional profile. This may impart rigidity to the support beam 218.If the support beam 218 did not have a closed profile, the support beam 218 could flex or otherwise deform under the forces present when the sunshade 112 is extended, particularly at locations (such as the center of the support beam 218) spaced from the attachment points of the support beam 218 to the guide rails 116. In one example, the slots 222-1 and 222-2 are formed on a vertical surface of the support beam 218 such that the drive shoes 220-1 and 220-2 slide into the slot 222 through the vertical surface of the support beam 218, as described below in FIGS. Fig. 6A to 6F.

[0031] The sunshade assembly 102 may further include a pair of drive shoes 220-1 and 220-2 that drive the support beam 218.

[0032] By driving the support beam 218, the drive shoes 220-1 and 220-2 drive the sunshade 112, which is coupled to the support beam 218. As described above, each drive shoe 220-1 and 220-2 has a section 227 that 1) sits in the guide rails 116. In the example where the sunshade 112 is motor-operated, this section 227 of the drive shoe 220 can be coupled to the actuator. Even when there is no motor operation, i.e., during manual operation, the drive shoes 220 travel within the guide rails 116 in a longitudinal direction 114 of the vehicle 100 to extend and retract the sunshade 112. As described in the Fig. 2A, Fig. 3B and Fig. As shown in Figure 3A, the body of the drive shoe 220 is positioned within a cavity of the support beam 218. In this manner, the height profile of the sunshade assembly 102 is reduced because the drive shoe 220 and the support beam 218 occupy the same vertical space.

[0033] The drive shoe 220 includes various components that facilitate coupling of the drive shoe 220 to the support beam 218 with a low height profile in the z direction. More specifically, the drive shoe 220 has an elastic clip 226 that holds the drive shoe 220 within the slot 222. During installation, as shown in the Fig. 6A-6F, the elastic clip 226 to allow the body of the drive shoe 220 to be inserted into the cavity of the support beam 218. When the drive shoe 220 is seated within the cavity of the support beam 218, the elastic clip 226 rests against the surface of the slot 222 to prevent movement of the drive shoe 220 relative to the support beam 218 in a longitudinal direction 114, as shown in Fig. 4 is shown.

[0034] The drive shoe 220 has a base surface that may be divided into side sections 228-1 and 228-2. In one example, the resilient clip 226 is positioned between the side sections 228-1 and 228-2. A rib 230 extends vertically from the base surface. The rib 230 couples with a guide surface of the slot 222 to hold the drive shoe 220 in place when the drive shoe 220 is placed into the cavity of the support beam 218. In this example, the resilient clip 226 is attached to the rib 230 and extends perpendicularly away from the rib 230 to a trailing surface of the slot 222. Fig. Figure 4 below illustrates the coupling of the components of the drive shoe 220 to the support beam 218 to provide a rigid connection. The drive shoes 220 may be formed from various materials, including injection-molded plastic or any other material.

[0035] The Fig. 3A and Fig. 3B show partially cutaway perspective sectional views of a sunroof assembly 110 with a sunshade 112 having a reduced height profile installed therein. More specifically, Fig. 3B is an enlarged view of the area of ​​the sunshade assembly 102 shown in the box 103 of Fig. 1 is shown, and Fig. Figure 3A shows an even more magnified view of this area.

[0036] As described above, in one example, the sunshade assembly 102 is a part of the sunroof assembly 110, with the sunroof assembly 110 being installed as a single component into the roof of the vehicle 100. The sunroof assembly 110 includes a variety of additional components such as a sunroof panel 101, mounting components, and other features that facilitate user convenience and operation of the sunroof panel 101. For example, the sunroof assembly 110 may include a front housing 340 upon which a variety of components of the sunroof assembly 110 may be installed. Examples of such components include a sealing strip 336, a wind deflector 334 (in a closed position), and a sunroof seal 332.

[0037] The sunroof seal 232 is compressed between the sunroof panel 101 and the front housing 340 to provide a barrier between the outside environment and the vehicle cabin. The sunroof seal 332 may be formed of an elastically deformable material such as rubber and may form a closed profile shape. The sunroof panel 101 sits on top of the sunroof seal 332 and compresses the sunroof seal 332 to form an airtight and watertight sealed interface of the vehicle 100 to prevent water and foreign matter from entering the vehicle 100. As described above, a drive shoe with too large a profile (too high a profile) may interfere with the sunroof seal 332, which may prevent the sunshade 112 from fully covering the sunroof opening 108.

[0038] The Fig. 3A and Fig. 3B also shows features of the shade assembly 102, such as one of the guide rails 116, one of the drive shoes 220, and the support beam 218. As described above, the drive shoe 220 has a portion 227 that sits within a groove of the guide rail 116 and is moved within the guide rail 116 by an actuator or manual intervention. The drive shoe 220 also has a body fitted within the support beam 218, with the support beam 218 having a shade handle 224 that holds the leading edge of the shade 112 and moves it in the longitudinal direction 140 to cover / uncover the sunroof opening 108.

[0039] The sunshade assembly 102 has a profile at height z (z-height profile) that allows it to fit completely under the sunroof seal 332. If the sunshade assembly 102 were too large (i.e., overlapping the sunroof seal 332 in the Z direction 342), the sunshade 102 might not be able to completely cover the area enclosed by the sunroof opening. For example, if the top surface of the drive shoe 220 had a greater height z than the bottom surface of the sunroof seal 332, the drive shoe 220 might strike a corner or end portion of the sunroof seal 332 before passing the longitudinal boundary of the sunroof panel 101. This could result in a gap between the longitudinal boundary of the sunroof panel 101 and the sunshade 102.Sunlight may be able to pass through this gap unblocked, which could adversely affect the occupant's comfort and / or the driver's vision, as described above.

[0040] As such, the sunshade assembly 102, and in particular the drive shoe 220 and the support beam 218, have a short height profile, for example, less than 10 mm (see Fig. 4) so ​​that the sunshade assembly 102 can pass completely under the sunroof seal 332 (as shown in Fig. 5). In other words, the sunshade assembly 102 has a height profile in the Z direction 342 that does not overlap the height profile of the sunroof seal 332, allowing the sunshade 112 to traverse a path greater than the entire length of the sunroof assembly 110 (beneath the sunroof seal 332). By extending beneath the entire length of the sunroof panel 101, the sunshade 112 can cover the entire sunroof panel 101 when fully extended.

[0041] Fig. Figure 4 shows a cross-sectional view of the sunshade assembly 102 with a reduced height profile. More specifically, Fig. 4 a cross-sectional view along the line 4-4 in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 shows the support beam 218 with the drive shoe 220 seated within the slot 222.

[0042] As described above, the support beam 218 has a sunshade handle 224 that holds the leading edge of a sunshade 112. In one example, the leading edge of the sunshade 112 may have a folded portion that sits within the sunshade handle 224. The folded portion may have a thickness greater than the opening to the sunshade handle 224, preventing the folded portion from separating from the support beam 218. As described in Fig. 4, in some examples, the shade handle 224 is along the front edge of the support beam 218, with the shade 112 covering the front and bottom portions of the support beam 218. Particular reference is made to the specific type of shade handle 224, in which the support beam 218 may include various types of shade handles 224 that hold and support the movement of the shade 112.

[0043] Fig. 4 also clearly shows the height in the z direction 342 of the sunshade assembly 102. As described above, if the sunshade assembly 102 were larger, the upper edge of the support beam 218 and / or the drive shoe 220 could interfere with the bottom edge of the front / corner portion of the sunroof seal 332. This interference can prevent the sunshade 112 from entirely covering the area of ​​the sunroof panel 101. Accordingly, by disposing the drive shoe 220 within the cavity of the support beam 218, the height in the z direction 342 of the sunshade assembly 102 can be kept low. For example, the height profile of the support beam 218 and the drive shoe 220 can be less than 10 mm and can be greater than 7 mm. As a specific example, the height profile of the support beam 218 and the drive shoe 220 may be 7.5 mm.The height in the z direction 342 of the support beam 218, the drive shoe 220, and the wrapped fabric of the sunshade 112 can thus also be less than 10 mm, such as 8.2 mm. This low-profile sunshade assembly 102 extends under the sunroof seal 332 and does not overlap it in the z direction, as shown in FIG. Fig. 5 is shown.

[0044] Fig. 4 also shows the relative lengths in the longitudinal direction 114 of the drive shoe 220 and the components of the support beam 218. As described above, the drive shoe 220 may include: 1) a base surface formed from side portions 228-1 and 228-2, 2) a rib 230 extending vertically from the base surface, and 3) a resilient clip 226 extending perpendicularly away from the rib 230 parallel to the base surface and to a trailing edge of the slot 222. In one example, the base surface may be longer than the slot 222 in a longitudinal direction. That is, the length 446 of the base surface is greater than the length 444 of the slot 222. In one example, the length 444 of the slot 222 may be between 16 and 19 mm. For example, the length 444 of the slot 222 may have a size of 17.7 mm.As such, the drive shoe 220 is not translated vertically into the slot 222, but rather it is screwed into the slot 222 during installation, as shown in FIGS. Fig. 6A-6F.

[0045] Fig. 4 also shows the elastic clip 226, which, as described above, 1) flexes to allow insertion of the drive shoe 220 into the support beam 218, and 2) stabilizes the drive shoe 220 within the slot 222 in the longitudinal direction 114 when fully inserted. In one example, the elastic clip 226 can flex between 1.5 and 3 mm. For example, the elastic clip can flex 2.1 mm. That is, as shown in the Fig. 6A-6F, the resilient clip 226 is lifted from the side portions 228-1 and 228-2 of the base of the drive shoe 220. During installation, a technician or other person pushes the resilient clip 226 from a non-deflected position(s) (shown in solid lines) to a deflected position(s) (shown in dashed lines) such that it fits within the cavity of the support beam 218, as shown in Fig. 4. A user can then rotate the drive shoe 220 to a position within the cavity of the support beam 218 as shown in the Fig. 6A-6F. When inserted, the rib 230 and the resilient clip 226 together prevent movement of the drive shoe 220 relative to the support beam 218 in the longitudinal direction 114. That is, the resilient clip 226 flexes under the trailing surface of the slot 222 within the cavity of the support beam 218 during installation and rests against the trailing surface of the slot 222 once it has been seated in the support beam 218. More specifically, the rib 230 engages a leading edge of the slot 222, while the trailing surface of the resilient clip 226 engages a trailing edge of the slot 222. In this manner, the drive shoe 220 is prevented from performing a longitudinal translational movement within the support beam 218.

[0046] Fig. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of a sunroof assembly 110 having a sunshade assembly 102 with a reduced height profile.

[0047] More precisely, Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the vehicle sunroof assembly 110 taken along line 5-5 in Fig. 3B. Fig. 5 shows various components of the sunroof assembly 110, such as the sealing strip 336, the wind deflector 334, and the sunroof seal 332. Fig. 5 also shows the glass frame 538 to which the sunroof panel 101 is attached. More specifically, the glass frame 538 is coupled to a bracket 539 of the sunroof assembly 110, with the bracket 539 being rigidly coupled to a frame of the sunroof assembly 110.

[0048] As described above, the drive shoe 220 has a portion 227 that fits and slides within a groove of a guide rail 116. If the guide rail 116 is too large, or if the sunshade assembly 102 is too large, the respective element may interfere with access to a glass fastener 548, such as a glass screw. That is, at some point, it may be desirable to repair and / or replace the sunroof panel 101. The sunroof panel 101 may be held in place by a number of glass fasteners 548 between the glass frame 538 and a bracket 539. To remove the sunroof panel 101, a technician removes the glass fasteners 548 using a tool such as a screwdriver.While the glass roof seal 332 can be pushed down to provide access to the glass fastener 548, a drive shoe 220, a support beam 218, and a guide rail 116, which are formed of a rigid material, may not be movable to access the glass fastener 548. Thus, a guide rail 116 and a shade assembly 102 with too high a profile may impede access to the glass fasteners 548 with a tool such as a screwdriver.

[0049] In some cases where the profile of the guide rail 116 is too large (too high), local material of the guide rail 116 may be removed during manufacture of the sunroof assembly 110 to facilitate access to the glass fastener 548. That is, a portion of at least one vertical wall of the guide rail 116 may be removed. This increases the manufacturing and assembly complexity and cost of the sunroof assembly 110. Furthermore, the removal of material may compromise the structural integrity of the guide rail 116.

[0050] Accordingly, the sunshade assembly 102 of the present invention has a height of less than 10 mm. This facilitates mounting the sunshade assembly 102 at a location relative to the glass fastening device 548 in such a way that access to the glass fastening device 548 is not impaired, as shown in Fig. 5. More specifically, the sunshade assembly 102 may be mounted within the sunroof assembly 110 such that a gap 541 of at least 8.0 mm exists between the glass attachment access area and the support beam 218. For example, the gap 541 may be 10.6 mm.

[0051] As described above, the sunshade assembly 102 is also mounted below the sunroof seal 332. More specifically, the sunshade assembly 102 may be mounted within the sunroof assembly 110 such that a gap 543 of at least 2.0 mm exists between the bottom surface of the sunroof seal 232 and a portion of the drive shoe 220 that is outside the guide rail 116. For example, the gap 543 may be 2.6 mm.

[0052] Furthermore, the guide rails 116 themselves, which can be positioned as described above on either side of the support beam 218 to support the movement of the drive shoes 220, can have a height profile that is also arranged below the sunroof seal 332 and the glass fastener access area of ​​the sunroof assembly 110. This facilitates the mounting of the guide rails 116 at a location relative to the glass fastener 548 so as not to impede access to the glass fastener 548, as shown in Fig. 5. This also avoids complicated, costly, and strength-reducing removal of material from the guide rail 116. More specifically, the guide rail 116 may be mounted within the sunroof assembly 110 such that a gap 545 of at least 2.0 mm exists between the guide rail 116 and the glass fastener 548. For example, the gap 545 may be 2.8 mm.

[0053] The Fig. 6A to 6F show the installation of a drive shoe 220 in a support beam 218 of the sunshade assembly 102. As described above, the base portion of the drive shoe 220 is longer than the slot 222, so that the drive shoe 220 will not move translationally through the slot 222, so that it sits within the cavity of the support beam 218. Accordingly, as shown in Fig. 6A, the support beam 218 is angled relative to the drive shoe 220, thereby positioning the drive shoe 220 within the guide rail 116. In this position, the trailing edge of the base portion of the drive shoe 220 can enter (pass) a rearward portion of the cavity of the support beam 218 when the support beam 218 is translated, as shown by the first arrow 650.

[0054] As this is Fig. 6B, the elastic clip 226, when not bent, can prevent the drive shoe 220 from being fully inserted into the cavity of the support beam 218. Accordingly, a technician or other user can remove the elastic clip 226 as shown in Fig. 6B, with a force in the direction of the second arrow 652 so that the elastic clip 226 can be inserted into the cavity of the support beam 218.

[0055] As this is Fig. 6C, the support beam 218 is further translated in the direction shown by the first arrow 650. In Fig. 6C, however, the elastic clip 226 is bent downward so that a portion of the drive shoe 220 can be inserted into the cavity of the support beam 218. The support beam 218 is moved translationally until a gap exists between the guide edge of the drive shoe 220 and the guide edge of the slot 222, as shown in Fig. 6C is shown.

[0056] Once the leading edge of the drive shoe 220 is clearly (away) from the leading edge of the slot 222, the support beam 218 can be rotated as shown in Fig. 6D by the third arrow 654, until the base portion of the drive shoe 220 is within the cavity of the support beam, as shown in Fig. 6E. In this configuration, the entire base portion of the drive shoe 220 is within the cavity of the support beam 218.

[0057] As this is Fig. 6F, the support beam 218 is moved longitudinally rearwardly in translation, as shown by the fourth arrow 656, until the elastic clip 226 is free to the extent that it Fig. 6F. As shown in Fig. 6F, the distance from the leading edge of the rib 230 to the trailing edge of the elastic clip 226 may match the length of the slot 222 such that the rib / slot leading edge coupling (interface) and the elastic clip / slot trailing edge coupling (interface) maintains the drive shoe 220 in a position in the longitudinal direction 114.

[0058] The arrangements described herein have the benefit of providing a sunshade assembly 102 having a lower height profile such that it fits entirely beneath the sunroof seal 332 of a sunroof assembly 110, and providing adequate access to a glass fastener 548 of the sunroof assembly 110. By eliminating the need for guide rail removal to provide access for the glass fastener 548, the sunshade assembly 102 described herein can improve the efficiency and effectiveness of manufacturing the sunroof assembly 110, improving the packaging of the sunroof assembly 110, and reducing the overall cost of the sunroof assembly 110.

[0059] Detailed embodiments are described above. However, it should be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be construed as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis by which one skilled in the art will understand and variously apply the aspects presented herein in virtually any suitable more detailed structure. Furthermore, the terms and descriptions employed herein are not to be construed as limiting, but rather as a clear description of possible implementations. Various embodiments are shown in the Fig. 1 to 6F, however, the embodiments are not limited to the structure or application shown.

[0060] The indefinite articles "a," "an," etc., as applied herein, define one or more than one. The term "plurality," as applied herein, is defined as two or more than two. The term "other," as applied herein, is defined as at least a second or another. The terms "comprising," "having," and / or "with," also applied herein, define having in the broadest sense. The phrase "at least one of... or...", as applied herein, refers to and includes any and all possible combinations of one or more of the related listed items. As an example, the phrase "at least one of A, B, and / or C" includes only A, only B, only C, or any combinations thereof (e.g., AB, AC, BC, or ABC).

[0061] In the present description, in one arrangement, the spaces of the vehicle include a passenger compartment, an engine compartment, a luggage compartment, and the like. Among other things, in one arrangement, the vehicle includes seats, an instrument panel assembly, a dashboard, controls, and the like housed in the passenger compartment. Furthermore, in some cases, the vehicle may include an internal combustion engine, an electric motor, a transmission, and the like, as well as other powertrain components such as wheels housed in the engine compartment and elsewhere in the vehicle. The wheels support the rest of the vehicle on the ground. One, some, or all of the wheels are driven by the rest of the powertrain components to allow the vehicle to travel along the ground.

[0062] The aspects disclosed herein may be embodied in other forms without departing from the scope or essential characteristics of the invention. Accordingly, reference is made to the appended claims, which indicate the scope of the invention rather than the description set forth above.

[0063] The assemblies disclosed herein and other embodiments relate to a sunshade assembly 102 with a reduced height profile. In one embodiment, the sunshade assembly 102 has a support beam 218 that bridges (spans) the width of a vehicle sunroof. The support beam 218 includes 1) a sunshade handle for holding an edge of a sunshade 112 and 2) a slot 222 formed at each end of the support beam 218. The sunshade assembly 102 further has a pair of drive shoes 220 for driving the support beam 218. A drive shoe 220 is positioned within a cavity of the support beam 218 and has a resilient clip 226 for retaining the drive shoe 220 within the slot 222.The support beam 218 and the drive shoes 220 have a height profile that is disposed below a sunroof seal and a glass attachment access area of ​​a sunroof assembly 110.

Claims

[1] Sun shading assembly (112) with: a support beam (18) which bridges a width of a vehicle sunroof, the support beam comprising: a sunshade handle (224) for holding an edge of a sunshade (112); and a slot (222) formed at each end of the support beam (218); and a pair of drive shoes (220) for driving the support beam (218), wherein the drive shoe (220) positioned within a cavity of the support beam (218); and an elastic clip (226) for holding the drive shoe (220) within the slot (222), wherein the support beam (218) and the drive shoes (220) have a height profile that is disposed below a sunroof seal (332) and a glass attachment access area of ​​a sunroof assembly (110). [2] The sunshade assembly (102) of claim 1, wherein the height profile of the support beam (218) and the drive shoes (220) is less than 10 millimeters. [3] The sunshade assembly (102) of claim 1, wherein the support beam (218) traverses a path in a longitudinal direction of the sunroof assembly (110) that is greater than a length of the sunroof assembly (110). [4] The sunshade assembly (102) of claim 1, wherein the support beam (218) is in front of a sunroof opening of the sunroof assembly (110) in a longitudinal direction when the sunshade (112) is fully extended. [5] Sun shading assembly (102) according to claim 1, wherein: the drive shoe (220) further comprises: a base area; and a rib (230) extending vertically from the base surface, the rib facing a guide surface of the slot to hold the drive shoe in place when the drive shoe is placed in the cavity of the support beam; and the elastic clip (226) is attached to the rib (230) and extends perpendicularly from the rib (230) to a trailing surface of the slot (222). [6] Sun shading assembly (102) according to claim 5, wherein the elastic clip (226) is positioned between side portions of the base surface; and the elastic clip is raised from the side sections. [7] The sunshade assembly (102) of claim 5, wherein the elastic clip (226): bends under the guide surface of the slot (222) within the cavity of the support beam (218) during installation; and on the trailing surface of the slot (222) when placed in the cavity of the support beam (218). [8] Sun shading assembly (102) according to claim 5, wherein the base surface of the drive shoe (220) is longer than the slot (222) of the support beam (218) in a longitudinal direction; and the drive shoe (220) is rotated into its position within the slot (222) during installation. [9] The sunshade assembly (102) of claim 1, wherein a gap between the glass attachment access area and the support beam (218) is at least 8.0 mm. [10] Sun shading assembly (102) comprising: a support beam (218) spanning a width of a vehicle sunroof, the support beam (218) comprising: a sunshade handle (224) for holding a leading edge of a sunshade (112); and a slot (222) formed in each end of the support beam (218); and a pair of drive shoes (220) for driving the support beam (218), wherein the drive shoe (220): positioned within a cavity of the support beam (218); and an elastic clip (226) for holding the drive shoe (220) within the slot (222), wherein the support beam (218) and the drive shoes (220): have a height profile of less than 10 millimeters; and are arranged beneath a sunroof seal and a glass fastening access area of ​​a sunroof assembly (110). [11] The sunshade assembly (102) of claim 10, wherein the height profile of the support beam (218) and the drive shoes (220) is greater than 7 millimeters. [12] The sun shading assembly (102) of claim 11, wherein the support beam (218); a path in a longitudinal direction of the sunroof assembly (110) that is greater than a length of the sunroof assembly (110); and in front of a sunroof opening of the sunroof assembly (110) in the longitudinal direction when the sunshade (112) is fully extended. [13] A sun shading assembly (102) according to claim 11, wherein: the drive shoe (220) further comprises: a base area; and a rib (230) extending vertically from the base surface, the rib (230) being coupled to a guide surface of the slot (222) to hold the drive shoe (220) in place when placed in the cavity of the support beam (218); and the elastic clip (226) is attached to the rib (230) and extends perpendicularly from the rib (320) to a trailing surface of the slot (222). [14] The sunshade assembly (102) of claim 13, wherein the elastic clip (226): bends under the trailing surface of the slot (222) within the cavity of the support beam (218) during installation; and on the trailing surface of the slot (222) when placed in the cavity of the support beam (218). [15] Sun shading assembly (102) according to claim 13, wherein: the base surface of the drive shoe (220) is longer than the slot (222) of the support beam (218) in a longitudinal direction; and the drive shoe (220) is rotated into its position within the slot (222) during installation. [16] Sun shading assembly (102) comprising: a support beam (218) spanning a width of a vehicle sunroof, the support beam (218) comprising: a sunshade handle (224) for holding a leading edge of a sunshade (112); and a slot (222) formed at each end of the support beam (218); a pair of drive shoes (220) for driving the support beam (218), wherein the drive shoe (220): positioned within a cavity of the support beam (218); and an elastic clip (226) for holding the drive shoe (220) within the slot (222), wherein the support beam (218) and the drive shoes (220): have a height profile of less than 10 millimeters; and are arranged beneath a sunroof seal and a glass fastening access area of ​​a sunroof assembly (110); and a guide rail (116) on each side of the support beam (218) for supporting movement of the drive shoes (220), wherein an elevation profile of the guide rail is disposed below the sunroof seal and the glass attachment access area of ​​the sunroof assembly (110). [17] A sun shading assembly (102) according to claim 16, wherein: the drive shoe (220) further comprises: a base area; and a rib (230) extending vertically from the base surface, the rib (230) being coupled to a guide surface of the slot (222) to hold the drive shoe (220) in place when placed in the cavity of the support beam (218); and the elastic clip (226) is attached to the rib and extends perpendicularly away from the rib to a trailing surface of the slot. [18] The sunshade assembly (102) of claim 17, wherein the elastic clip (226): bends under the trailing surface of the slot (222) within the cavity of the support beam (218) during installation; and on the trailing surface of the slot (222) when placed in the cavity of the support beam (218). [19] A sun shading assembly (102) according to claim 17, wherein: the base surface of the drive shoe (220) is longer than the slot (222) of the support beam (218) in a longitudinal direction; and the drive shoe (220) is rotated into its position within the slot (222) during installation. [20] The sunshade assembly (102) of claim 16, wherein the drive shoes (220) further include a portion (227) for sliding within the guide rail (116).

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