Collapsible Vehicle Sun Shield with Reflective Canopy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sun shields are fragile, ineffective, and cumbersome, failing to adequately protect vehicle interiors from ultraviolet radiation and requiring frequent replacement.
Innovation Solution
A compact, collapsible vehicle sun shield with an elongated shaft and expandable, highly reflective canopy made of aluminum, metalized polyester fabric, supported by radially extending ribs, which can be adjusted to fit various windshield dimensions and easily stored.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional cardboard sun shields are used, then they are simple and inexpensive, but they are fragile and must be replaced frequently
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a flexible polyester fabric canopy instead of rigid cardboard, allowing the shield to be durable yet collapsible. The fabric is metalized with aluminum to provide UV reflection while maintaining flexibility for compact storage.
Solution Approach 2:
The sun shield is divided into modular components: a collapsible shaft, expandable ribs, and a separate canopy. This segmentation allows each part to be optimized for its function while enabling compact storage when collapsed.
2Reliability
If durable shields with support frames are used, then they are more reliable, but they occupy significant storage space
Solution Approach 1:
The support ribs nest within the shaft when collapsed, and the canopy folds around them, creating a compact storage configuration similar to nested dolls. This allows a durable structured shield to be stored in minimal space.
Solution Approach 2:
The shaft is designed to be extendable and collapsible, transforming from a compact storage state to a deployed protective state. This dynamic structure allows the shield to be small when stored but large when needed for protection.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional sun shields are used, then they are simple in structure, but they are only marginally effective at blocking UV radiation
Solution Approach 1:
The polyester fabric is metalized with aluminum to create a highly reflective surface that changes the optical properties of the material. This metalization layer reflects UV and infrared radiation effectively, transforming the canopy from a simple opaque barrier to a high-performance reflective shield.
Solution Approach 2:
The canopy combines polyester fabric with aluminum metalization to create a composite material that provides both structural integrity and superior UV reflection. The combination of organic fabric and metallic coating creates properties neither material has alone.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the shaft is made length-adjustable to fit various windshields, then adaptability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The shaft incorporates a telescopic mechanism with sliding sections that allow dynamic adjustment of length. This enables the same shaft to adapt to different windshield sizes while maintaining a compact form when collapsed.
Solution Approach 2:
The length-adjustable shaft serves multiple functions: it provides structural support when extended, enables compact storage when collapsed, and adapts to various windshield dimensions. This multi-functionality reduces the need for multiple different shield models.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Effectively blocks 97% of UV and IR light, providing durable and efficient protection against harmful radiation while being compact and easy to store.
Implementation Method 1
The ribs structurally support a canopy constructed with an aluminum, metalized, polyester fabric that will reflect 97% of UV and IR light rays
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle sun shield includes an elongated shaft having a collar slidably mounted thereon that expands a plurality of support ribs and an overlaying, reflective canopy. Accordingly, a user adjusts a handle mechanism at a lower end of the shaft to a desired length and fully expands the canopy. The canopy is positioned immediately adjacent to the windshield interior with the handle resting on the vehicle console or on the upper surface of the dashboard.