WO1997017220A1

WO1997017220A1 - Vehicle sun shield

Info

Publication number: WO1997017220A1
Application number: PCT/AU1996/000624
Authority: WO
Inventors: Colin Pavli
Original assignee: Supertrim South Eastern Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Supertrim South Eastern Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1995-11-03
Filing date: 1996-10-04
Publication date: 1997-05-15
Anticipated expiration: 1998-05-03

Abstract

A vehicle sun shield is disclosed for application to the exterior surface of a vehicle window and comprises a sun shield body having pleats (19) defined by fold lines (4 and 5). Wings (3) are arranged at the end of the body (1) for location between a vehicle door and a vehicle body in order to secure the sun shield (1) to the exterior window surface of the vehicle. The pleats (19) are of a width of less than 60 mm to provide strength and also increase the flexibility of the sun shield (1) to match the contour of any vehicle window. A draw string (12) passes through the sun shield (1) for facilitating folding of the sun shield (1) in concertine fashion and stiffener members (24) are provided in outermost pleats (19') to ensure that the sun shield (1) folds in generally parallel fashion to a neat compact arrangement.

Description

VEHICLE SPN SHIELD

This invention relates to sun shields for applying to the exterior of vehicle windows.

There are two broad known classes of sun shields for vehicle windows. One broad class is characterised by a sun shield which is installed inside the vehicle window, be it a windscreen or other window of the vehicle. This class of sun shield has the advantages of ease and security of installation, but the disadvantage that the solar radiation which is reflected from the sun shield enters the car through the window before being reflected, and a substantial amount of interior heating of the vehicle occurs as a result of the radiation and warmed air trapped in the interior of the car. The other broad class is adapted for application to the exterior of the vehicle window, and while this has the disadvantage of being more exposed to the elements, this class provides greater protection against the heating effects of the sun's rays, since the radiation is reflected before it enters the vehicle window.

Known exterior sun shields are generally flat in use and rest on the surface of the vehicle window. The physical contact between the sun shield and window allows substantial heating of the vehicle window to occur, which in turn causes interior heating of the car due to convective processes. A further disadvantage of the flat construction is that the sun shield is generally appropriate for only a narrow range of sizes of window and cannot be adapted to a variety of uses.

It is an object of the current invention to overcome the above mentioned deficiency in known exterior sun shields.

It is a further object of a preferred form of the current invention to provide a sun shield which is expandable and flexible so as to allow application to a number of sizes of windows and to multiple windows.

Therefore, the invention provides a sun shield for applying to an exterior vehicle window surface of a vehicle, including: a sun shield body for covering the exterior vehicle window surface, the sun shield body having means for allowing air flow between the sun shield body and the exterior window surface; and connecting means for jamming between doors of the vehicle and a body portion of the vehicle to secure the sun shield to the vehicle.

The invention also provides a sun shield for applying to a vehicle window surface, of a vehicle including: a sun shield body for covering the exterior vehicle window surface, the sun shield body having pleats so that the sun shield body can expand and fold in concertina fashion; connecting means for jamming between doors of the vehicle and a body portion of the vehicle to secure the sun shield to the vehicle; and a draw string passing through the pleats of the sun shield body so that the sun shield body can be collapsed to a fully concertina folded position on the draw string or expanded relative to the draw string for application to the vehicle.

In accordance with a second broad aspect of the invention there is provided a method of shielding sunlight from a vehicle window, the method comprising the steps of

(i) providing a sun shield in accordance with the first broad aspect; and

(ii) applying the sun shield to the exterior window surface. By allowing air to flow over the window surface, thermal contact between the sun shield and the window surface is minimised and any heating of the window surface which occurs is dissipated away by the air flowing past the window surface. Further if the sun shield is used as a shield in cold whether the fact that air can flow over the windscreen prevents the formation of ice or mist on the windscreen as soon as the sun shield is removed.

Preferably, the interior sun shield surface has pleats which in use form upwards-tending channels between the interior sun shield surface and the window surface, the sun shield being supported on the window surface at folds of the pleats.

Preferably further, the interior and exterior sun shield surfaces are provided by interior and exterior surfaces respectively of a sheet of foidable material, the pleats being formed by folds in said sheet of foidable material.

Preferably also, the width of the pleats is less than 60 mm, even more preferably less than 40 mm and optimally about 30 mm.

The foidable material may comprise cardboard, with a solar- reflecting coating or film providing the exterior sun shield surface. The foidable material may also or alternatively comprise plastic.

Λ further advantage of the preferred feature of upwards- tending channels is that the natural tendency of heated air to rise induces a thermosiphon effect, enhancing the flow of air upwards through the channels to cool the exterior vehicle window surface.

The invention still further provides a sun shield for applying to a vehicle window surface of a vehicle, including: a sun shield body for covering the exterior vehicle window surface, the sun shield body having pleats defined by a plurality of fold lines in the sun shield body so as to define channels which exist between the sun shield body and the vehicle window surface when the sun shield is applied to the vehicle window surface; and the pleats having a width of less than about 60 mm to provide strength to the sun shield body and also to enable the sun shield body to flex to match the contour of the vehicle window surface whilst remaining substantially parallel with the vehicle surface.

In order that the invention can be more clearly ascertained, a preferred embodiment will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a sun shield of the preferred embodiment of the current invention applied to the windscreen of a car; Figure 2 shows details of the sun shield of

Figure 1; and

Figure 3 shows a sun shield similar to that shown in Figure 1, installed to cover both the windscreen and a side window. Figure 4 shows a further embodiment having a drawstring to allow easy collapsing for storage when not in use.

Referring now to Figure 1, there is shown a sun shield 1 resting on the exterior surface of the windscreen of a car 2.

Referring now to Figure 2, it can be seen that the sun shield 1 comprises securing connectors in the form of wings 3 which are secured behind the driver and passenger doors of the car in order to secure the sun shield. In order to secure the sun shield in place, the driver-and passenger front doors of the vehicle are opened and the wings 3 are located between the body of the vehicle adjacent the windscreen and the open doors so that when the doors are closed the wings 3 are jammed between the closed door and the body of the vehicle adjacent the windscreen to thereby secure the sun shield 1 in place on the exterior surface of the windscreen. The sun shield according to this embodiment of the invention is manufactured from a cardboard material, the outer surface of which is silver painted to provide an exterior sun shield surface for reflecting solar radiation. λ main body of the sun shield is pleated by inner folds 5 and outer folds 4 to form a concertina arrangement. In use, the inner folds 5 serve to support the sun shield 1 on the windscreen surface, and the gaps between the inner folds 5 produced by the pleats result in upwards-tending channels 6 between an interior surface 8 of the sun shield and the exterior window surface.

The wings 3 are preferably reinforced so that when they are jammed between the car doors and the car body the wings 3 will not disintegrate or tear after several applications of the sun shield 1 to the windscreen of the vehicle. The wings 3 may be reinforced by covering the wings 3 with a plastic material or by forming the wings 3 from plastic material and attaching the wings 3 by adhesive to the main body of the sun shield 1 so they are somewhat stronger than the cardboard from which the remainder of the sun shield 1 is made.

In use, air flows upwards through the upwards-tending channels 6, thereby reducing heat build-up on the exterior window surface. The pleating arrangement naturally produces gaps in the bottom edge 10 and top edge 9 which allow air to enter and exit the channels 6, thereby promoting a thermosiphon effect. A further advantage of this embodiment is that the sun shield has a shape flexibility produced by the pleating arrangement, which allows a single-size sun shield to be provided for most sizes of car, and also allows extension of the sun shield around the driver or passenger window without specially cut parts. Referring to Figure 3, there is shown a sun shield similar to that of Figure 1, showing a surfeit of pleats which enable the shield to be expanded around the side window 1 to cover both the windscreen and a side window if desired. To fit snugly round the corner, the sun shield can be made in two pieces, with one piece attached at an angle.

The preferred width of the pleats is approximately 30 mm between inner folds 5 and outer folds 4. Although pleats of any practicable size may be suitable to provide the ventilation and/or thermosiphon advantage described above, pleats less than 60 mm and optimally 30 mm in width maximise the advantage of flexibility of shape. Pleats of about 30 mm width have the further advantage that light gauge materials can be used in construction, which may be paper, plastic or other inexpensive items. The combination of pleat size, fold stiffness and the angle which the pleats make with respect to the window surface needs to be such that the pleats do not collapse in use. For fan- folded cardboard of 30 mm width pleats the minimum pleat angle is about 45 degrees. The number of pleats shown in the figures may not be consistent with this, since the figures are schematic only and have been drawn for clarity of the details.

As previously mentioned, the flexibility produced by the pleating arrangement is such that a single sized sun shield can be provided for most sizes of car and also for most window contours. The pleat size provides the sun shield 1 with suitable flexibility to generally conform to the contour of any windscreen. Referring now to Figure 4, in an optional improvement, a nylon drawstring 12 of width about 2 mm provided with cord lock 13 can be used to collapse the sun shield to storage. As shown in figure 4 the draw string 12 passes through a line holes 17 arranged at approximately a mid point of each pleat 19. In this embodiment of the invention the wings 3 are also provided with inner and outer fold lines 20 and 21 to form pleats 25 which create a concertina arrangement in the same manner as the remainder of the sun shield 1. The draw string 12 also passes through the pleated wings 3 and an end 18 of the draw string 12 is secured to an outer most pleat of one of the wings 3 by tying off the draw string 12 so the end of the draw string 12 cannot pull through the opening 17 in the outer most pleat or by any other suitable manner such as gluing or providing the draw string with a nut or the like so the end of the draw string 12 cannot pull through the hole 17 in the outer most pleat of the wing 3. The lock 13 on the draw string 12 is provided with a spring loaded push button 23 so that when the push button 23 is depressed against the spring bias the lock 13 can slide relative to the draw string 12 and when released the spring biased button 23 is biased to sandwich the draw string 12 and prevent the draw string 12 from sliding relative to the lock 13.

In order to secure the sun shield 1 in a folded position the push button 23 is simply depressed and the lock 13 pushed relative to the draw string 12 generally in the direction of arrow (B) in figure 4 so that the sun shield 1 is folded tightly into a concertina arrangement. The button 23 can then be released so that the lock 13 locks onto the draw string 12 to hold the sun shield 1 in the folded condition. In order to expand the sun shield 1 for use, the button 23 is again depressed and the lock 13 is slid relative to draw string 12 in the direction opposite to arrow (B) so that the pleats can concertina into an open position, by moving relative to the draw string 12 which passes through the opening 17, ready for application to a vehicle windscreen.

The end pleats 19' of the main body portion of the sun shield 1 are provided with stiffener members 24 which may be formed from metal, plastic or any other suitable material in order to strengthen the end pleats 19' so that when the sun shield 1 is folded by pushing the lock 13 in the direction of arrow B, the pleats generally fold in parallel fashion and do not simply gather at the mid portion and bow out at the extremity of the pleats 19 remote from the drawstring 12. Thus, the sun shield 1 is folded in generally parallel fashion and forms a compact unit in the folded condition without bowing or flexing of the pleats 19 in the folded condition. The stiffener 24 may be adhered to one side of the pleats 19' or may be fully embedded in the pleats 19' .

The dimension of the pleats 19, which is mentioned above and which is preferably in the range of less than 60 mm and most preferably about 30 mm, provides added strength to the sun shield 1 so that the sun shield 1 can be formed from relatively light gauge material. The relatively small size of the pleats 19 increases mechanical strength of the sun shield 1 in view of the larger number of fold lines 4 and 5 which are therefore required in order to form the smaller size pleats 19.

Although the preferred embodiment shows a pleating arrangement, alternative folding arrangements or projections on the interior surface of the sun shield which provide the air flow characteristics cited in the broad aspect of the invention may also be contemplated.

Although the sun shield 1 according to the preferred embodiment of the invention can be used with windscreens of any width if the vehicle involved has a particularly narrow windscreen (that is small in hight dimension) the sun shield 1 can be trimmed down by scissors or other cutting tools to the appropriate size. Furthermore, in view of the generally symmetrical configuration of the sun shield 1 shown in the drawings, the sun shield does not have to be applied in any particular form. Thus, it does not matter if the sun shield is upside down in one application or the other way up in other application or reversed from side to side as a sun shield 1 will still couple to the vehicle and cover the wing shield in precisely the same manner. The ability to use the sun shield upside down or with either side of the sun shield 1 facing outwardly enables printing on one or both sides of the sun shield which can display messages or the like which the driver may wish to provide. Furthermore, the ability to use the sun shield 1 with either side projecting outwardly enables the lock 13 and draw string 12 to be arranged on one or other side of the vehicle as the driver may desire so that it can be readily gripped from the right hand side of the vehicle in right hand drive vehicles or from the left hand side of the vehicle from left hand drive vehicles.

These and other modifications may be made without departing from the ambit of the invention, the nature of which is to be ascertained from the foregoing broad aspect of the invention in the light of the description and drawings.

Claims

THE CLAIMS :

1. A sun shield for applying to an exterior vehicle window surface of a vehicle, including: a sun shield body for covering the exterior vehicle window surface, the sun shield body having means for allowing air flow between the sun shield body and the exterior window surface; and connecting means for jamming between doors of the vehicle and a body portion of the vehicle to secure the sun shield to the vehicle.

2. The sun shield of claim 1 wherein the means for allowing air flow comprise pleats formed in the sun shield body thereby forming the sun shield body into a concertina arrangement, the pleats defining channels between the sun shield body and the exterior vehicle window surface when the sun shield is secured to the vehicle.

3. The sun shield of claim 2 wherein the pleats have a width such that the sun shield body is flexible for enabling the sun shield body to conform to the contour of the exterior vehicle window surface.

4. The sun shield of claim 2 wherein the width of the pleats is less than 60 mm.

5. The sun shield of claim 2 wherein the width of the pleats is about 30 mm.

6. The sun shield according to claim 2 wherein the sun shield body has fold lines to define the pleats, and the fold lines adjacent the exterior vehicle window surface engage the exterior vehicle window surface to support the sun shield when on the exterior vehicle window surface.

7. The sun shield according to claim 1 wherein the connecting means comprise wings coupled to .the sun shield body.

8. The sun shield accordingly to claim 5 wherein the wings are pleated.

. The sun shield according to claim 7 wherein the wings are reinforced relative to the sun shield body.

10. The sun shield according to claim 8 wherein a draw string passes through the sun shield body and the pleated wings so that the sun shield body and the pleated wings can be folded in concertina fashion on the draw string.

11. The sun shield according to claim 10 wherein the draw string includes a locking member which selectively slides relative to the draw string for securing the sun shield in a fully folded position or slides relative to the draw string to enable the sun shield to be expanded for application to a vehicle.

12. The sun shield according to claim 2 wherein outermost pleats of the sun shield body include stiffener elements for stiffening the outermost pleats.

13. A sun shield for applying to a vehicle window surface, of a vehicle including: a sun shield body for covering the exterior vehicle window surface, the sun shield body having pleats so that the sun shield body can expand and fold in concertina fashion; connecting means for jamming between doors of the vehicle and a body portion of the vehicle to secure the sun shield to the vehicle; and a draw string passing through the pleats of the sun shield body so that the sun shield body can be collapsed to a fully concertina folded position on the draw string or expanded relative to the draw string for application to the vehicle.

14. The sun shield according to claim 12 wherein the draw string includes a slidable locking member for sliding on the draw string so that the locking member can slide relative to the draw string to place the sun shield in the fully folded concertina fashion and which locks the sun shield in the fully folded position, the locking member being releasable so that the locking member can slide in the opposite direction on the draw string to enable the sun shield body to expand in concertina fashion for application to the vehicle.

15. The sun shield according to claim 13 wherein the connecting means comprise wings, the wings being pleated and the draw string also passing through the pleated wings so that the pleated wings can fold with the sun shield body into a fully concertina folded position and expand for jamming between the draws of the vehicle and the body portion of the vehicle.

16. The sun shield according to claim 13 wherein outermost pleats of the sun shield body include stiffener elements for stiffening the outermost pleats so that when the sun shield body is collapsed to the fully concerti aed folded position, the outermost pleats maintain the pleats of the sun shield body in generally parallel fashion and prevent bowing of the pleats to provide a compact folded condition.

17. A sun shield for applying to a vehicle window surface of a vehicle, including: a sun shield body for covering the exterior vehicle window surface, the sun shield body having pleats defined by a plurality of fold lines in the sun shield body so as to define channels which exist between the sun shield body and the vehicle window surface when the sun shield is applied to the vehicle window surface; and the pleats having a width of less than about 60 mm to provide strength to the sun shield body and also to enable the sun shield body to flex to match the contour of the vehicle window surface whilst remaining substantially parallel with the vehicle surface.

18. The sun shield according to claim 17 wherein the pleats have a width of about 30 mm.

19. A method of shielding sun light from a vehicle window, the method comprising the steps of: providing the sun shield in accordance with claim 1, claim 13 or claim 17; and applying the sun shield to the exterior window surface.