Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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POWERBD GLARE SCRBBN DEVICE
1BACRGROUND OF THE INVENTION
2Field of the Invention This invention concerns self
3powered, portable glare screens for automotive vehicles such as
4cars and trucks, and more particularly glare screens for the
5windshield or rear glass which are selectively extendible and
6retractable over the inside of the windshield.
7Description of the Prior Art The problem of eliminating
8glare for the driver (and passengers) of automotive vehicles has
9not heretofore been solved completely satisfactorily.
10The most common solution has included fold down visors
11which are standard equipment on cars and trucks. When these are
12used, a substantial obstruction of the viewing area results.
13Tinting of the windshield is also widely practiced, but this is
14usually limited to the upper edges of the windshield lest the
15view be unduly darkened under nighttime or low light conditions.
16The sun is often at low angles during commuting times of
17day, and the rays of the sun are often able to penetrate the
18glass below the tinting and create intense glare.
19Numerous retractable glare screen devices have thus been
20proposed, some of which are powered, for example, see U.S.
21patent 5,076,633 issued on December 31, 1991; U.S. patent
225,000,506 issued on March 19, 1991; and 3,363,666 issued on
23January 16, 1968.
24These devices have not been completely satisfactory as
25being too complicated or bulky, inconvenient to use, or costly
26to manufacture and install, particularly when added as an
27accessory.
28These above referred to devices firstly lack simplicity of
29design, and most importantly are complicated to install and thus
30are costly. The automobile must be substantially modified by
31the manufacturers to accommodate these complex devices, which in
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turn will increase the cost to the consumer. Secondly, these
2 devices for the most part can only be factory installed in new
3 automobiles, and when once installed, can only be used for that
4 particular vehicle. Thus, when buying another car, the consumer
has to again pay for a new glare screen and the cost keeps
6 adding on. The prior devices are intended for new vehicles
7 only, and are not feasible to install in existing cars.
8 The object of the present invention is to provide a
9 portable powered glare screen device which is simple, effective
and convenient to use and install and which may be manufactured
11 at low cost.
12 8UMMARY OF THB INVENTION
13 The present invention is a glare screen device comprised of
14 a hollow housing adapted to be installed on the inside of the
auto roof above the windshield header. The housing holds a
16 glare screen which projects a few inches when retracted, but
17 which may be panel power driven so as to be extended out of the
18 housing in use, descending to a point where it covers a major
19 portion of the vehicle windshield.
The glare screen panel itself is sufficiently stiff to be
21 self supporting and is darkly tinted on the top portion and
22 gradually lightens up towards the screen leading edge to be
23 effective in bright sunlight.
24 The power drive of the glare screen panel includes sprocket
mechanisms each including an endless sprocket belts on each side
26 of the glare screen panel, having a series of protrusions spaced
27 to engage sprocket openings in the glare screen panel sides
28 along the rear retracted portion of the screen. The sprocket
29 belts are driven by pairs of gears driving internal teeth on the
belts, the gears driven by primary and secondary shafts
31 extending across the housing, the shafts in turn driven by a
32 selectively energizable and reversible drive motor, or manually
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1 by a crank handle, and/or by means of tabs provided on the
2 leading edge of the glare screen panel to pull it up and down.
3 A positive stop arrangement limits advancing and retracting
4 of the glare screen panel.
The housing may be generally flat but with a downwardly
6 curved end out of which the glare screen panel extends or may
7 also be generally round with the downwardly curved projecting
8 portion to be more compact to be adapted to convertible top
9 automobiles and rear windows of sedans.
This present invention is contemplated as a self contained
11 add-on accessory which can be installed in new cars as they are
12 assembled as well as in previously manufactured automobiles by
13 the simple means of wiring the motor either in the main
14 electrical circuit or by simply plugging it in the cigarette
lighter by means of an adapter. A third option is to operate
16 this device by means of small "C" or "D" rechargeable batteries
17 which is even simpler to implement. This device is made very
18 light and can be easily detachable to be reinstalled in other
19 cars as need be. The consumer therefore has to buy this only
once and can use the same for years to come, in any number of
21 automobiles.
22 This device may also be used for the rear window to block
23 the glare of the headlights from behind.
24 DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING~
Figure 1 is a perspective fragmentary view of an automobile
26 shown in phantom with glare screen devices according to the
27 present invention installed on the driver and passenger side
28 respectively.
29 Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through a
glare screen device according to the invention.
31 Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the internal
32 components of the device shown in Figure 2.
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1 Figure 4 is an end view of an alternate configuration of
2 the glare screen device according to the invention.
3 DET~TT~n DESCRIPTION
4 In the following detailed description, certain specific
terminology will be employed for the sake of clarity and a
6 particular embodiment described in accordance with the
7 requirements of 35 USC 112, but it is to be understood that the
8 same is not intended to be limiting and should not be so
9 construed inasmuch as the invention is capable of taking many
forms and variations within the scope of the appended claims.
11 Referring to the drawings and particularly Figure 1, an
12 automobile 10 is shown, having a pair of glare screen devices 12
13 installed on the driver's side and passenger side respectively.
14 These devices 12 are installed on the inside of the vehicle
roof, just to the rear of the vehicle windshield 14 and above
16 the windshield header.
17 Each device 12 includes a housing 16 which contains a glare
18 screen panel 18 which may be selectively driven to an extended
19 position (shown on the driver's side) to cover a substantial
portion of the windshield directly in front of the driver. In
21 the retracted position, (shown on the passenger side) the screen
22 panel 8 projects out of its housing 16 by about 4" to 5", so
23 that the top portion of the windshield is covered to serve the
24 function of a tinted portion of the windshield which tinting can
therefor be dispensed with.
26 The present device will also allow elimination of visors,
27 so that together with the elimination of the tinted windshield,
28 considerable cost saving results.
29 The glare screen panel 18 is constructed of a self
supporting sheet of transparent but darkly tinted plastic,
31 darkest at the top and which gradually lightens up towards the
32 lower edge. The plastic should be resistant to solar radiation,
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1 acrylic plastic being one suitable material.
2 The housing 16 may be constructed of two parts of molded
3 plastic held together as with snap brackets (not shown). The
4 exterior of the housing parts preferably have a rubberized
coating to minimize the bumping hazards presented by its
6 presence.
7 The housing 16 is removably attachable to the inside
8 ceiling by means of a pair of magnets, 20, 22, magnet 20 affixed
9 to the headliner 24, magnet 22 affixed to the upper surface of
the housing 16. It can also be attachable by means of a pivot
11 bracket or directly to the existing visor bracket by means of
12 clips (not shown).
13 A drive mechanism, best seen in Figure 3, is provided for
14 powered movement of the glare screen panel 18 between an
extended and a retracted position as described.
16 The drive mechanism includes a reversible electric motor
17 26, selectively controlled by a reversing on-off switch 28
18 interposed in the power leads and located for convenient
19 operation.
The drive motor 26 is directly connected to a primary drive
21 shaft 30 supported on bearings 32 at either end in the housing
22 16.
23 A parallel secondary shaft 34 mounted by bearings 36 at
24 either end is driven by the primary shaft 30 by a gear train
including large diameter pinion gears 38 affixed to the primary
26 drive shaft, intermediate idler gears 40 rotatably mounted in
27 the housing 16 and large diameter pinion gears 42 affixed to the
28 secondary shaft 34. The secondary shaft 34 thus rotates in the
29 same direction as the primary shaft 30.
A hand crank handle 44 affixed to the primary shaft 30
31 allows manual operation. A tab 19 affixed to the protruding
32 edge also allows manual pull out of the screen panel 18,
33 alternatively.
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1 The primary and secondary shafts 30, 34 pass through right
2 and left sprocket mechanisms 46, each located on a respective
3 side of the glare screen panel 18.
4 Each sprocket mechanism 46 includes an internally toothed
endless belt 48, each belt 48 having a series of equispaced
6 outwardly projecting sprocket pins 50 which are arranged around
7 the perimeter thereof. The sprocket pins 50 are adapted to
8 successively engage a series of sprocket openings 52 formed
9 along either side of the rear position of the glare screen panel
18. Each endless belt has a segment following a linear path
11 when engaging the glare screen panel openings 52.
12 The sprocket belts 48 are each received over a pair of
13 spaced pinion gears 54, 56 attached to the primary shaft 30 and
14 secondary shaft 34 respectively as with collars 55. The
internal teeth 58 of the sprocket belts 48 engage the teeth of
16 the pinion gears 54, 56 to be driven thereby. The sprocket
17 belts 48 are retained and guided in an endless path by sprocket
18 housing members 60, 62 (fixed in housing 16), members 60, 62
19 secured together with adjustment screws 64, bosses 66, 68, each
received over a collar 55. The bosses 66, 68 are each received
21 in recesses in the gears 54, 56 with a light pressure engagement
22 therewith so as to allow rotation of the pinion gears 54, 56
23 with the shafts 30, 34. Springs 65 may be employed to keep the
24 housing members 60, 62 spaced apart to insure free movement of
the belt 48. The inner surfaces of each sprocket housing member
26 60, 62 acts to guide the respective side edges of the sprocket
27 belts 48.
28 Telescoping guide members 70, 71 are mounted in the housing
29 16, lower member 70 having an opening 72 located so as to
straddle a respective sprocket belt 48 and bear against the
31 upper surface of the glare screen panel 18 on either side, upper
32 member 71 fixed to the housing 16. The adjustable pressure
33 created by advancement of a screw 13 in the upper member 71 and
2I S3 73 1
1 engaging the lower member 70 holds the glare screen panel 18
2 down on either side in engagement with the pins 50.
3 Side guides 74 on each side of the housing 16 each have a
4 slot 76 receiving a respective side of the glare screen panel
18.
6 A worm gear 78 fixed on the primary shaft 30 drives a
7 pinion gear 80, which is mounted by an antifriction bearing on
8 a post (not shown). Fixed stops 82 (Figure 2) engage a stop pin
9 84 at respective rotated positions corresponding to the fully
extended and retracted positions of the glare screen panel 18.
11 The generally flat housing 16 has a downwardly curved
12 projecting portion at the forward end thereof to conform to the
13 roof line and also to guide the glare screen panel 18 in a
14 downward direction after exiting a slot 86 (Figure 2) at the
forward end.
16 Vents 15 are provided in the housing 16 to prevent
17 overheated air from building up in the interior.
18 Figure 4 shows an alternate shape of the housing 16A in
19 another embodiment of a glare screen device 12A. This shape is
round with a spoutlike downwardly curving end 88. The glare
21 screen panel 18 is wound up upon retraction into the housing
22 16A.
23 This shape is adapted to convertible top automobiles and
24 can also be used at the rear window of a sedan.
It can thus be appreciated that the present invention
26 provides a self powered, portable and effective glare screen
27 device that is substantially self-contained to be convenient to
28 install and use, allowing a full view while eliminating
29 excessive glare.
The compact but reliable drive mechanism can be
31 manufactured at low cost, and can be removed for use in another
32 vehicle.
