Extendable Sun Visor Structure for Filling Window Shading Gaps

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional sun visors leave gaps with the A-pillar and other sun visors, and pose reachability issues for short drivers, as they often fail to effectively cover all areas around the vehicle windows from the interior roof.

Innovation Solution

An extendable sun visor system with a base plate and multiple movable plates that can be actuated to provide additional shadowing areas, allowing vertical or horizontal movement of the first movable plate to trigger corresponding movements in other plates, ensuring comprehensive shading without the need for extensive driver reach or alignment adjustments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If a conventional sun visor is used, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but it leaves gaps with the A-pillar and other sun visors, failing to provide comprehensive shading

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveshading coverage areaVSAvoidvisor structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The sun visor is divided into multiple independent plates (base plate, first movable plate, second movable plate) that can move relative to each other. This segmentation allows each plate to cover different areas and angles, eliminating gaps with the A-pillar and neighboring visors while providing comprehensive shading coverage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention introduces movement in multiple dimensions - the first movable plate moves vertically to extend shading downward, while the second movable plate moves horizontally to extend shading laterally. This multi-dimensional movement transforms a single-plane visor into a multi-plane shading system that covers gaps in all directions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Area of stationary object

If the sun visor is extended to provide comprehensive shading, then the shading coverage is improved, but the operation becomes more complex and difficult for short drivers to reach

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveshading coverage areaVSAvoiddriver operation ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The actuating structure automatically transfers the vertical movement of the first movable plate into horizontal movement of the second movable plate. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for the driver to manually reach and adjust multiple plates separately, making operation as easy as a single pulling motion regardless of driver height.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The actuating structure serves as an intermediary mechanism between the first and second movable plates. It converts the driver's simple vertical pulling action on the first plate into coordinated movement of the second plate, mediating the complexity of multi-plate adjustment and providing ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP4041580B1An extendable sun visor
Publication Date: 2024.11.20 VOLVO TRUCK CORP
  • EP4041580B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4041580B1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2b
  • EP4041580B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3b

AI summary

The invention relates to an extendable sun visor for a vehicle, comprising a base plate for providing a base area of shadowing, a first movable plate which is connected to the base plate and which is movable in relation to the base plate for providing a first additional area of shadowing, at least one second movable plate which is connected to the base plate and which is movable in relation to both the base plate and the first movable plate for providing at least one second additional area of shadowing, the at least one second additional area of shadowing being different from said first additional area of shadowing, and an actuating structure for actuating a movement of the at least one second movable plate when the first moveable plate is moved. A vehicle comprising such an extendable sun visor is also provided.