Vehicle Sunshade Guide Structure for Low-Friction Sliding
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Solution Overview
Problem
The high friction between flexible sunshades and longitudinal guides in vehicle roof assemblies, often caused by the thickness of the sunshade material or chemical reactions, leads to sticking issues, compromising the slidable guidance of the sunshade.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a compression treatment to reduce the thickness and coefficient of friction of the sunshade material's intermediate parts, allowing for improved sliding properties and potential attachment to a separate low-friction layer, which can be engaged with the guide surfaces to minimize friction and prevent sticking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a flexible sunscreen with relatively large thickness and weight (such as microfiber cloth) is used, then the sunshade system can provide better sun protection and durability, but the friction in the guide channels increases causing the cloth to get stuck
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a compression treatment specifically to the intermediate part of the flexible sunscreen that contacts the guide channels, while leaving the main sun protection areas (inwardly folded parts) uncompressed. This creates local quality differentiation where the contact surface has low friction properties while the sun protection areas maintain their original thickness and material properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The compression treatment changes the physical parameters of the intermediate part by reducing its thickness and altering its surface properties. This parameter change reduces the coefficient of friction between the sunscreen and guide channels, enabling smooth sliding operation while maintaining the overall functionality of the thicker sunscreen material.
2Ease of operation
If the intermediate part is compressed to reduce friction, then the sliding properties improve, but the structural integrity and attachment strength may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible sunscreen is divided into distinct functional segments: the intermediate part is compressed to reduce friction for sliding, while the inwardly folded parts remain uncompressed to maintain structural integrity and attachment strength. This segmentation allows each part to be optimized for its specific function without compromising the other.
Solution Approach 2:
The compression treatment is applied preliminarily to the intermediate part during manufacturing, creating a permanently compressed low-friction surface that will maintain its sliding properties throughout operation. This preliminary action ensures that the sliding surface is prepared in advance without affecting the structural properties of the sun protection areas.
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
This solution enhances the sliding performance of the sunshade system by reducing friction and preventing sticking, ensuring smooth operation and effective guidance within the guide channels, even with materials like microfiber cloth.
Implementation Method 1
Each intermediate part includes a first compressed part extending in longitudinal direction and comprising at least material of the main part. The first compressed part is established under the influence of a compression treatment such that said material in the first compressed part has a thickness smaller than the thickness of the same material in the main part.
Implementation Method 2
the compression treatment can be used to improve the sliding properties of the surface of the material of the main part that is present in the first compressed part of the intermediate part. This is useful in situations where said material in the intermediate part is in contact with the longitudinal guides. Especially if the material of the main part of the flexible sunscreen is a microfiber material, for example made of polyester and polyurethane or the like, the compression treatment will lower the coefficient of friction at the surface thereof.
Data Source
AI summary
A sunshade system for a vehicle, comprises a sunscreen having at least a main part and two opposed, laterally placed, inwardly folded parts. The sunscreen includes an intermediate part extending in between the main part and the inwardly folded parts each connected to the intermediate part by means of a fold. Two opposed longitudinal guides retain the adjacent inwardly folded part and at least a part of the corresponding intermediate part of the flexible sunscreen. The guides engage the inwardly folded part. Each intermediate part includes a first compressed part extending in longitudinal direction and comprising at least material of the main part. The first compressed part is established under the influence of a compression treatment such that said material in the first compressed part has a thickness smaller than the thickness of the same material in the main part.