Vehicle window shade

• US 5,390,975 A
• Filed: 09/08/1993
• Issued: 02/21/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Indian Head Industries Inc.
• Original Assignee: Indian Head Industries Inc.
• Inventors: Stephens, Randy S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pape, Joseph
• Application Number:
  US08/118,448
• Time in Patent Office: 531 Days
• Field of Search: 296/211, 296/214, 296/97.7, 296/218, 52/202, 52/203, 49/61, 49/62, 49/63, 49/65, 160/370.2 R, 428/100
• US Class Current: 296/211
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 7/003 one or more sliding rigid plate or lammellae
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24017 Hook or barb

Abstract

An improved removable shade for a vehicle moonroof, sunroof or other window assembly. The shade includes a relatively rigid panel having a size and shape configured to cover the window, a retainer button permanently attached to the window having a releasable retainer element on the opposed side and a connector button attached to the shade panel having a mating releasable retainer element, and a handle is attached to the shade panel, preferably coaxially aligned with the connector and retainer buttons. The retainer elements preferably comprise a plurality of resilient, generally linear connector elements projecting from each of the buttons having transverse end connector portions providing a releasable connection between the buttons and the connector button is preferably permanently adhesively bonded to the window.

Claims

1. A removable shade for a vehicle window, said vehicle window incorporated into a window assembly including hinges, said vehicle window pivotally supported on said hinges along a margin thereof in a vehicle opening, said shade including a relatively rigid panel having a size and shape configured to generally cover said window and said shade extending between two edges, a retainer button substantially permanently attached to said vehicle window, said retainer button including a first side having adhesive thereon adhesively bonding said button to said window and a second opposed side having a releasable retainer element, a connector button secured on one side of said shade panel adjacent one of said edges, and including a face having a mating releasable retainer element generally coaxially aligned with said retainer button when said shade panel covers said window, said retainer elements of said buttons releasably retaining said shade panel on said window, the other of said edges also being supported by said window assembly, and said shade panel movable with said window upon pivotal movement of said window about said hinges to open and close said window;

and

said shade including a handle attached to said shade panel adjacent to said connector button on a side of said panel opposite said one side of said shade panel, said handle being attached to said shade panel generally coaxially aligned with said buttons, and said connector elements comprising a plurality of resilient, generally linear connector elements projecting from said buttons and said connector elements associated with at least one of said connector button and said retainer button having a generally transverse end connector portion, said end connector portions providing a reliable connection between said buttons.

7. The removable shade for a vehicle window as defined in claim 1, wherein a second support element in addition to said retainer button supports said other of said edges.

10. The removable shade for a vehicle window as defined in claim 7, characterized in that said panel other edge is a marginal edge which is received between a projecting lip in said vehicle opening and said window, said shade panel marginal edge and said button releasably retaining said shade panel on said window.

11. The removable shade for a vehicle window defined in claim 10, wherein said projecting lip is defined by said hinges.

12. The removable shade for a vehicle window as defined in claim 1, characterized in that said shade panel comprising a fiberglass reinforced plastic panel having a finish cloth bonded thereon.

13. The removable shade for a vehicle window as defined in claim 7, characterized in that said shade includes at least three spaced retainer buttons substantially permanently attached to said vehicle window and said shade panel includes at least three spaced connector buttons secured on said one face of said shade panel substantially coaxially aligned with said retainer buttons, said buttons releasably attaching said shade panel over said window.

16. The removable shade for a vehicle window as defined in claim 1, wherein said connector elements on both of said buttons have generally transverse end connector portions.

2. A removable shade for a vehicle window, said vehicle window incorporated into a window assembly including a hinge, said vehicle window pivotally supported on said hinge along a marginal edge thereof in a vehicle opening, said shade including a relatively rigid panel having a size and shape configured to generally cover said window in said vehicle opening and extending between two edges, a retainer button attached to said window, said retainer button including a first side having adhesive thereon adhesively bonding said button to said window and a second opposed side having a releasable retainer element, a connector button secured on one side of said shade panel adjacent one of said edges, and including a side having a mating releasable retainer element generally coaxially aligned with said retainer button when said shade panel covers said window, a handle attached to said shade panel on a side of said shade panel opposite said one side, said handle projecting from said shade panel adjacent to said buttons, and the other edge of said shade panel being a marginal edge configured to be received in a channel-shaped recess adjacent to said window, said retainer elements of said buttons and said channel-shaped recess releasably retaining said shade panel on said window and said shade panel movable with said window upon pivotal movement of said window about said hinge to open and close said window;

and

said connector elements comprising a plurality of resilient generally linear connector elements projecting from said buttons, and said connector elements associated with one of said connector and said retainer button having a generally transverse end connector portion providing a releasable connection between said buttons, and said handle being generally coaxially aligned with said buttons.

3. The removable shade for a vehicle window as defined in claim 2, characterized in that said panel comprises a relatively rigid self-supporting sheet of fiberglass reinforced plastic having a finish layer bonded thereto.

4. The removable shade for a vehicle window as defined in claim 3, characterized in that said panel is formed into a contoured shape to reinforce said panel and said panel being relatively rigid.

8. The removable shade for a vehicle window as defined in claim 2, wherein a second support element in addition to said retainer button supports said other of said edges.

17. The removable shade for a vehicle window as defined in claim 2, wherein said connector elements on both of said but ms have generally transverse end connector portions.

5. A removable shade for a vehicle window, said vehicle window incorporated into a window assembly which allows opening and closing said window, said vehicle window supported in a vehicle opening, said shade including a relatively rigid panel having a size and shape configured to generally cover said window, and extending between two edges, a retainer button substantially permanently attached to said window, said retainer button including a first side having adhesive thereon adhesively bonding said button to said window and a second opposed side having retainer elements thereon, a connector button secured on one side of said panel adjacent one of said edges, and including a face having mating retainer elements generally coaxially aligned with said retainer button when said shade panel covers said window, said retainer elements comprising a plurality of resilient, generally linear connector elements projecting from said buttons having a generally transverse end connector portion providing a releasable connection between said buttons, and a handle attached to said shade panel adjacent said button on a side of said panel opposite said one side, said connector buttons releasably retaining said shade panel on said window, and the other of said edges being supported by said window assembly and said shade panel movable with said window upon opening and closing of said window;

and

said handle being generally coaxially aligned with said button.

6. The removable shade for a vehicle window as defined in claim 5, characterized in that said shade panel comprises fiber reinforced plastic having a contoured shape which strengthens said panel.

9. The removable shade for a vehicle window as defined in claim 5, wherein a second support element in addition to said retainer button supports said other of said edges.

14. The removable shade for a vehicle window as defined in claim 9, characterized in that said shade panel other edge a marginal edge which is received beneath a lip opposite said window in said vehicle opening, said shade panel marginal edge and said buttons releasably retaining said shade panel on said window.

15. The removable shade for a vehicle window as defined in claim 9, characterized in that said shade includes at least three spaced retainer buttons substantially permanently attached to said vehicle window and said shade panel including at least three spaced connector buttons substantially coaxially aligned with said retainer buttons, said buttons releasably attaching said shade panel over said window.