Retractable Windshield Sunshield With Hidden Tracks and Auto Deployment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicles lack effective protection against high temperatures and damaging UV rays, leading to interior damage and discomfort, with conventional sunshades being bulky and inadequate.
Innovation Solution
An automatic sunshield device with durable, flexible sunproof material components that slide on tracks above and below the windshield, interlock to form a complete shield, and are powered by the vehicle's battery or an independent motor, activated by a key fob or mobile app, with tracks hidden in the vehicle frames when not in use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional bulky sunshades are used, then some protection from sunlight is provided, but they do not keep out all sun and are cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The sunshield transitions from a static conventional design to a dynamic automated system that can deploy and retract on demand. The body components can slide along tracks and interlock automatically through motorized or spring-driven mechanisms, providing protection only when needed rather than remaining permanently in place.
Solution Approach 2:
The sunshield is divided into multiple body components that can independently slide and position themselves along tracks. These segmented components interlock like puzzle pieces to form a complete shield, allowing for more precise coverage and easier deployment compared to a single bulky piece.
2Ease of operation
If tracks are installed above and below the windshield for sunshield movement, then the shield can run smoothly, but the tracks become visible when not in use
Solution Approach 1:
The tracks are nested within the vehicle's existing frame structures, specifically utilizing the A-pillars and dashboard areas. When the sunshield is retracted, the body components nest within the track system, and the tracks themselves are concealed within the vehicle's architectural features, making them invisible from the interior.
Solution Approach 2:
The track system is extracted from the visible windshield area and relocated to the peripheral frame structures. By positioning tracks along the A-pillars and dashboard rather than directly on the windshield, the tracks remain functional but are hidden from the driver's and passengers' view during normal operation.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the sunshield is manually operated, then it provides protection, but it requires user intervention and is not automatically retracted
Solution Approach 1:
The sunshield system performs its own deployment and retraction operations without requiring user intervention. Through automated motorized mechanisms or spring-driven systems, the body components automatically slide into position to block sunlight and then retract when protection is no longer needed, making the system self-servicing.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates sensors or switches that detect conditions such as vehicle ignition status, parking status, or direct sunlight exposure. Based on this feedback, the control system automatically commands the sunshield to deploy or retract, creating a closed-loop system that responds to environmental and operational conditions.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the sunshield material is made flexible, then it can accommodate rearview mirror movement, but it may reduce structural strength
Solution Approach 1:
The sunshield employs different material properties in different regions. The central area features a flexible molded section with cutouts or flexible material that accommodates rearview mirror movement, while the peripheral regions maintain stronger, more rigid construction for structural support and effective sunlight blocking.
Solution Approach 2:
The sunshield utilizes composite construction combining flexible and rigid materials. The flexible molded area may use elastomeric or flexible polymer materials that can deform with mirror movement, while the main body employs stronger opaque materials with higher structural integrity for effective sun protection.
Data Source
AI summary
An automatic sunshield device is disclosed, which is a unique sunshield that protects the interior upholstery of a vehicle. The automatic sunshield device comprises first and second body components that are configured to slide out on tracks installed on opposite sides of the front and rear windshields to protect the vehicle when in a parked position. The body components would run on a track above and below the vehicle windshield, residing in the front frames of the vehicle, so it would remain invisible when not in use. The two body components of sunshield material would roll out and meet in the middle to interlock like puzzle pieces to create a total shield from sunlight. Movement of the body components is facilitated by the vehicle motor or an independent motor.