Contoured Pull-Out Rail for Gapless Rear Window Blind
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rear window blinds in motor vehicles leave a light gap between the straight extension rail and the curved upper edge of the rear window due to their design, which is unavoidable with a straight pull-out rail.
Innovation Solution
A rear window blind with a contoured plate on the pull-out rail that pivots to close the gap between the rail and the window edge, ensuring the plate lies flat when retracted and extends to cover the gap when the blind is in use, with adjustable guide members and a drive system using an electric motor or spring motor for operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a straight pull-out rail is used, then the installation and winding conditions are favorable, but a light gap remains between the rail and the curved window edge
Solution Approach 1:
The pull-out rail is replaced by a contour plate with a convex camber that matches the curvature of the rear window's upper edge. This curved design eliminates the light gap between the blind and the window edge, while the plate can still be guided along a straight path through the slot in the parcel shelf.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution adds a pivoting dimension to the contour plate, allowing it to rotate about an axis parallel to its longitudinal extent. This enables the plate to transition from a retracted position (lying flat) to a functional position (pivoted to cover the gap), resolving the contradiction between straight rail installation and curved window coverage.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the pull-out rail is made contoured to close the gap, then the light gap is eliminated, but the installation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The contour plate's convex camber is designed to match the curved upper edge of the rear window, eliminating the light gap. The plate is guided through a slot in the parcel shelf by guide members, allowing installation while maintaining the curved profile needed to close the gap.
Solution Approach 2:
The contour plate is made pivotable about an axis parallel to its longitudinal extent, allowing it to dynamically adjust between a retracted position (lying flat against the parcel shelf) and a functional position (pivoted to cover the gap). This dynamic capability eliminates the light gap while simplifying installation compared to a fixed contoured design.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the contour plate is pivoted to close the gap, then shading performance improves, but the mechanism complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The contour plate is designed to pivot about an axis parallel to its longitudinal extent, enabling it to transition between retracted and functional positions. This single pivoting motion allows the plate to cover the light gap when needed while maintaining a sleek retracted appearance, achieving improved shading with minimal mechanism complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The contour plate serves multiple functions: it acts as the pull-out rail, provides shading when pivoted to cover the gap, and maintains a flush appearance when retracted. The guide members ensure proper guidance along the entire path, making the system multi-functional without requiring separate components for each function.
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
The solution effectively eliminates the light gap between the pull-out rail and the curved window edge, providing better shading and maintaining a smooth parcel shelf surface when the blind is retracted.
Implementation Method 1
The winding shaft is pretensioned with a spring motor in order to maintain constant tension in the roller blind.
Implementation Method 2
The known roller blinds are actuated with the aid of linear thrust elements which are guided in the guide rails and are protected against buckling and which are driven by an electric motor.
Implementation Method 3
For this purpose, the pull-out rail is pivoted about an axis that is parallel to its longitudinal extent.
Implementation Method 4
The pull-out rail is guided and carried with the aid of guide means along its entire path between the rest position when the blind is retracted and the functional position when the blind is extended.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4
AI summary
Rear window curtain has window (9) with upper edge (8), swiveling stored winding shaft and roller blind web which is fastened to winding shaft. Roller blind web has edge far off from winding shaft and which is extendable by slot. Rear window curtain has contour plate, fitted on pull out rail, which runs in edge (25) in such a manner that in functional position almost no residuary gap remains. Pull out rail is fastened to the edge far off from winding shaft of roller blind web and which brings roller blind web from a resting position into a functional position. Roller blind web is stretched before the window of the motor vehicle (1) with a drive device which is coupled with winding shaft in order to link the winding shaft in winding sense to roller blind web.