Sunblind
AssigneeO.E. Sunshades Limited
InventorsJonathan Taqvi, Robert Leadbeater
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A sunblind is disclosed for use with a window of a vehicle. The sunblind comprises a rigid frame has a closed-loop configuration and a panel of flexible material secured to the rigid frame. The panel has a desired degree of opacity to sunlight and extends over the interior of the rigid frame. The sunblind further has means for fixing the rigid frame to an interior surface of the vehicle such that the panel occludes at least part of the window to sunlight.
Claims13
A sunblind for a window of a vehicle, the sunblind comprising a rigid frame having a closed-loop configuration, a panel of flexible material secured to the rigid frame, the panel having a desired degree of opacity to sunlight and extending over the interior of the rigid frame, and at least one fixing component for fixing the rigid frame to an interior surface of the vehicle such that the panel occludes at least part of the window to sunlight the at least one fixing component comprising a clip portion that engages the rigid frame with a snap-fit and a planar extension adapted to engage an appropriate portion of a recess formed between a peripheral portion of the window and an adjacent surface of a frame of the window with any sealing material.
A method of manufacturing a sunblind for a window of a vehicle, the method comprising the following steps:
- (a) forming a rigid frame having a closed-loop configuration;
- (b) forming a panel of flexible material which has a desired degree of opacity to sunlight;
- (c) temporarily affixing the panel of flexible material, while in a tensioned state, to the rigid frame;
- (d) securing the panel to the rigid frame such that the panel extends over the interior of the rigid frame;
- and
- (e) providing means at least one fixing component for fixing the rigid frame to an interior surface of the vehicle such that the panel occludes at least part of the window to sunlight, wherein the panel of flexible material is temporarily affixed to the rigid frame using double-sided adhesive tape.
A method of fixing a sunblind to an interior surface of a vehicle so that the sunblind occludes at least part of a window to sunlight, the method comprising the following steps:
- (a) providing a sunblind comprising a rigid frame having a closed-loop configuration, a panel of flexible material secured to the rigid frame, the panel having a desired degree of opacity to sunlight and extending over the interior of the frame, and first and second fixing components disposed on opposing edges of the rigid frame, the first and second fixing components, each component comprising a clip portion that engages the rigid frame with a snap-fit and a planar extension, the planar extensions of the first and second fixing components being adapted to engage first and second recesses formed between a peripheral portion of the window and an adjacent surface of a frame of the window and any sealing material;
- (b) engaging the planar extension of the first fixing component with the first recess;
- (c) deforming the rigid frame from a rest state into a deformed state so that the planar extension of the second fixing component is able to engage with the second recess;
- (d) engaging the planar extension of the second fixing component with the second recess;
- and
- (e) reforming the rigid frame from the deformed state to the rest state so as to fix the sunblind to an interior surface of the vehicle.
A vehicle fitted with a sunblind, the sunblind comprising a rigid frame having a closed-loop configuration, a panel of flexible material secured to the rigid frame, the panel having a desired degree of opacity to sunlight and extending over the interior of the rigid frame, and at least one fixing component for fixing the rigid frame to an interior surface of the vehicle such that the panel occludes at least part of the window to sunlight the at least one fixing component comprising a clip portion that engages the rigid frame with a snap-fit and a planar extension adapted to engage an appropriate portion of a recess formed between a peripheral portion of the window and an adjacent surface of a frame of the window with any sealing material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.