Retractable sun visor and full windshield cover
OwnerAnand Tadakamallainventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A multifunction, retractable sun shielding apparatus. A retractable screen, a housing configured to receive and contain the retractable screen upon retracting the screen, and a drive mechanism attached to longitudinal edges of the screen, and configured to drive the screen in directions of retraction and deployment. A power switch may be provided that is actuatable by an operator to drive the drive mechanism to deploy or retract the retractable screen. An interlock automatically stops deployment of the retractable screen at a first predefined position where the screen functions as a visor with regard to an adjacent windshield, and a second predefined position where the screen fully covers the adjacent windshield.
Claims27
A multifunction, retractable sun shielding apparatus, comprising:
- a retractable screen and a housing configured to receive and contain said retractable screen upon retracting said retractable screen;
- said screen having two longitudinal edges extending generally in a direction of retraction and two transverse edges extending transversely to said longitudinal edges, one of said transverse edges being a leading edge during deployment of said retractable screen;
- a drive mechanism attached to said longitudinal edges of said screen, and configured to drive said screen in directions of retraction and deployment;
- a power switch actuatable by an operator to drive said drive mechanism to deploy or retract said retractable screen;
- and
- an interlock to automatically stop deployment of said retractable screen at a first predefined position where said screen functions as a visor with regard to an adjacent windshield and covers a top portion of the adjacent windshield, and a second predefined position where said screen substantially fully covers the adjacent windshield.
A method of partially or fully covering a windshield of an automotive vehicle, said method comprising:
- driving a retractable screen in a direction from a top of the windshield toward the bottom of the windshield, to a first predefined position where said screen functions as a visor;
- and
- driving the retractable screen to a second predefined position where said screen substantially completely covers the windshield.
A multifunction, retractable sun shielding apparatus built into the interior of an automotive vehicle, said apparatus comprising:
- a retractable screen dimensioned to cover a windshield of the automobile and a housing configured to receive and contain said retractable screen upon retracting said retractable screen in a direction from a bottom of the windshield toward a top of the windshield;
- said screen having two longitudinal edges extending generally in a direction of retraction and two transverse edges extending transversely to said longitudinal edges, one of said transverse edges being a leading edge during deployment of said retractable screen, and said housing being mounted adjacent to an upper edge of the windshield;
- a drive mechanism biased to fully retract said screen when said screen is not restrained;
- a pair of engagement features provided to restrain said screen at a predefined position to cover a top portion of the windshield where said screen functions as a visor;
- and
- a full deployment engagement feature to restrain said screen at a second predefined position to cover substantially all of the windshield with said screen.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.