ADVANCED SUN VISOR DEVICE FOR MOTOR VEHICLES

Abstract

The invention relates to a sunshade device for obscuring the inner surface of at least the upper part of a motor vehicle windshield (P), comprising, on the one hand, two pivoting flaps (1a, 1b) and, on the other hand, at least one blind (2a, 2b) rolled up in a housing (20a, 20b) and coupled to a return spring, characterized in that it comprises at least one base (12) for jointly supporting the flaps and the housing and at least one locking element (22a, 22b) for locking the blind in the upward-deployed position. (Fig. 1)

Description

Title of the invention: IMPROVED SUNSHADE DEVICE FOR MOTOR VEHICLES

[0001] The invention relates, in general, to the protection against the sun of the passenger compartment of motor vehicles and is concerned, more particularly, with an improved sunshade device.

[0002] Numerous devices already exist designed to protect the driver, front passenger, and vehicle interior from the harmful effects of solar radiation. Depending on its intensity, this radiation can blind the driver while driving, which is a safety hazard, and, when the vehicle is stationary, significantly increase the temperature inside the passenger compartment. The accumulated heat can damage interior equipment and / or compromise passenger comfort.

[0003] These devices, known as sun visors, generally comprise two pivoting flaps mounted at the top and on either side of the windshield, possibly associated with two symmetrical blinds that can be deployed independently from the top of this windshield to cover all or part of its inner face.

[0004] However, the deployment of these blinds is laborious and, in addition, these sunshade devices tend to capture and accumulate dust that is difficult to remove, which poses hygiene problems.

[0005] Patent CN2761453UY describes a retractable sunshade for vehicle windshields. This two-part shade is rolled up onto an arm with a ball joint at each end. However, this arm is bulky and, due to its size, does not allow the shade to be stored ergonomically and discreetly on the central vertical axis of the windshield. Furthermore, this shade is not combined with pivoting flaps and does not provide optimal blackout of the inner surface of the windshield.

[0006] In this problematic context, the invention sought a technical solution allowing the positioning of the support means for the pivoting shutters and the vertical locking means for the blind on the median axis of the windshield and on the surface of the central trim of the roof instead of positioning them on the lateral edges of the windshield along the glazing.

[0007] This objective is achieved, according to the invention, by means of a sunshade device intended to obscure the inner face of at least the upper part of a motor vehicle windshield, comprising, on the one hand, two pivoting flaps and, on the other hand, at least one blind rolled up in a housing and coupled to a return spring, characterized in that it comprises at least one base intended for the joint support of the flaps and the casing and at least one locking mechanism for the blind in the upward deployed position.

[0008] According to an advantageous feature of the sunshade device of the invention, the support base is integral with the box containing the blind and carries a ball joint ensuring the pivoting of the shutters.

[0009] Preferably, this ball joint allows the flaps to pivot along horizontal and vertical axes.

[0010] According to another feature of the sunshade device of the invention, the support base is mounted on the median axis of the windshield while the locking member of the blind is mounted on the upper edge of the windshield.

[0011] Where appropriate, the sun visor device of the invention shall include additional locking elements mounted on the side pillars of the windshield.

[0012] According to a first embodiment of the sunshade device of the invention, the shutters are offset longitudinally on the support base to be stored one behind the other in a compact manner.

[0013] According to a second embodiment of the sunshade device of the invention, the shutters are formed of telescopic elements capable of being deployed along a horizontal axis.

[0014] Preferably, the sunshade device of the invention comprises two side blinds capable of being deployed independently and each cooperating with a locking member.

[0015] Another object of the invention is a motor vehicle comprising a windscreen carrying a central interior rearview mirror and a sun visor device as defined above, characterized in that said device is mounted near the rearview mirror on the median axis of the windscreen.

[0016] In its most general aspect, the improvement brought by the invention to the sunshade devices allows for optimization of the storage of the sunshade device vertically on the median axis of the vehicle's windshield.

[0017] The invention applies equally to traditional windshields and to windshields extending above the driver's head to the roof on which the distance between the base of the interior rearview mirror and the upper edge of the windshield is at least equal to the distance between the rearview mirror and the side pillar of the windshield.

[0018] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, with reference to the accompanying figures, for which:

[0019] [Fig-1] is a schematic front view of a motor vehicle windscreen equipped with a preferred embodiment of the sunshade device according to the invention.

[0020] [Fig.2] is a partial top view of the embodiment of the sunshade device of the [Fig. 1].

[0021] [Fig.3] is a partial side view of the embodiment of the sunshade device figures 1 and 2.

[0022] [Fig.4] is a schematic front view of a motor vehicle windscreen equipped with a first variant of the sunshade device according to the invention.

[0023] [Fig.5] is a schematic side view of a second variant embodiment of the sunshade device according to the invention.

[0024] For clarity, identical or similar elements are identified by identical reference signs throughout the figures.

[0025] Naturally, the embodiment of the sunshade device according to the invention, schematically illustrated in the figures above and described below, is given only by way of non-limiting example. It is explicitly provided for within the scope of the invention that different embodiments can be proposed and combined to offer others.

[0026] The invention relates to the general field of windshield covering devices for motor vehicles and is more particularly concerned with an improvement of sunshade devices.

[0027] As illustrated, in particular, by [Fig.1], the sunshade devices are intended to obscure at least the upper part of the inner face of the windscreen P to protect the driver and front passenger from solar radiation.

[0028] Such devices comprise, on the one hand, two pivoting flaps 1a, 1b and, on the other hand, at least one blind 2a (or 2b) rolled up in a housing 20a (or 20b) and coupled to a return spring (not shown in the figures). Preferably, the sunshade device comprises two independent side blinds 2a, 2b intended to cover at least the portion of the inner face of the windscreen P opposite, respectively, the position of the driver C and that of the passenger.

[0029] The improvement brought about by the invention consists of integrating, in a traditional sunshade, at least one base 12 intended for the joint support of the shutters la, 1b and the boxes 20a, 20b and a device ensuring the locking of the blind 2a, 2b in the deployed upward position.

[0030] The support base 12 is mounted on the median axis X of the windscreen P while the locking member of the single blind or the locking members 22a, 22b of the two blinds 2a, 2b are mounted on the upper edge of the windscreen P.

[0031] Thus, when the sunshade device of the invention includes two side blinds 2a, 2b, as in the embodiment shown in [Fig.1], these are capable of being deployed independently and each cooperate with a locking member 22a, 22b.

[0032] When the windshield P has a central interior rearview mirror R, the sunshade device of the invention will be mounted nearby. Thus, once the flaps 1a, 1b are folded down and the blinds 2a, 2b are extended upwards, the area between the rearview mirror R and the top of the windshield P will be masked and solar radiation blocked.

[0033] According to one embodiment of the invention, a common element may nevertheless ensure the locking of the two blinds 2a, 2b. Where applicable, the sunshade device of the invention will include additional locking elements 23 mounted on the side pillars of the windshield P, as illustrated by Figures 1 and 4.

[0034] The support base 12 is integral with the boxes 20a, 20b containing the blinds 2a, 2b and carries a ball joint 21 ensuring the pivoting of the shutters la, 1b. Preferably, this ball joint 21 allows the pivoting of the shutters la, 1b along horizontal and vertical axes.

[0035] In a first embodiment of the sunshade device of the invention shown in [Fig.4], the flaps la, 1b are formed of telescopic elements 10 capable of being deployed along a horizontal axis, on either side of the median axis X of the windscreen P.

[0036] Where appropriate, as illustrated by the right part of [Fig.4] and in combination with the variant of the left part, at least one of the flaps may itself consist of two hinged panels lia, 11b, one pivoting upwards and the other pivoting downwards.

[0037] In a second embodiment of the sunshade device of the invention shown in [Fig. 5], the flaps 1a, 1b are offset longitudinally on the support base 12 so that they can be stored one behind the other, fitting together compactly. The upward pivoting of flap 1a and the downward pivoting of flap 1 (jointly or vice versa) are achieved by means of the ball joint 21. Thus, the two flaps 1a, 1b can overlap on the median axis of the windshield P so as not to obstruct the driver's visibility C.

[0038] Another embodiment (not shown) consists of providing a spring system integrated into the sunshade device and ensuring the automatic deployment of the blinds after unlocking.

[0039] Conversely, for storage, a gripping area can be designed which, by compacting it, will compress the spring and guide it to storage. This latter variant can be "self-supporting" by locking into the base.

Claims

Demands

1. Sunshade device intended for obscuring the inner face of at least the upper part of a windscreen (P) of a motor vehicle, comprising, on the one hand, two pivoting flaps (la, 1b) and, on the other hand, at least one blind (2a, 2b) rolled up in a box (20a, 20b) and coupled to a return spring, characterized in that it comprises at least one base (12) intended for the joint support of the flaps and the box and at least one locking element (22a, 22b) for locking the blind in the deployed upward position.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said support base (12) is integral with the box (20a, 20b) enclosing the blind (2a, 2b) and carries a ball joint (21) ensuring the pivoting of the shutters (la, 1b).

3. Device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said ball joint (21) allows the pivoting of the flaps along horizontal and vertical axes.

4. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said support base (12) is mounted on the median axis (X) of the windshield (P).

5. Device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said locking member (22a, 22b) of the blind is mounted on the upper edge of the windshield.

6. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises additional locking members (23) mounted on the side pillars of the windscreen (P).

7. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the flaps (la, 1b) are offset longitudinally on the support base (12) to fit together behind each other in a compact manner.

8. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the flaps (la, 1b) are formed of telescopic elements (10) capable of being deployed along a horizontal axis.

9. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises two side blinds (2a, 2b) capable of being deployed independently and each cooperating with a locking member (22a, 22b).

10. Motor vehicle comprising a windscreen (P) carrying a central interior rearview mirror (R) and a sun visor device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said device is mounted near said rearview mirror on the median axis (X) of the windscreen.