Windshield shelter

• US 5,860,466 A
• Filed: 02/02/1996
• Issued: 01/19/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nien Tsu Tim Kao
• Original Assignee: Nien Tsu Tim Kao
• Inventors: Kao, Nien Tsu Tim
• Primary Examiner(s): Purol, David M.
• Application Number:
  US08/595,808
• Time in Patent Office: 1,082 Days
• Field of Search: 160/370.21, 160/370.22, 160/370.23, 160/23.1, 160/290.1, 160/273.1, 160/271, 160/268.1, 160/270, 160/272, 296/97.8
• US Class Current: 160/370.22
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 1/2072 Blinds with inclined or vertical orientation of the winding axis
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 1/2077 for windshields
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 1/2088 Lamellar or like blinds

Abstract

A windshield shelter system for shading a windshield of a vehicle includes a shelter device, a pair of opposite guide tracks and a plurality of guiders. The shelter device, which is firmly mounted on a first side of the windshield, includes an elongated shelter sheet and a housing for receiving the shelter sheet therein. The elongated shelter sheet has a size adapted to cover the entire window area of the windshield. The pair of opposite guide tracks are firmly attached respectively along a second side and a third side opposing the second side of the windshield. Each of the guide tracks has a longitudinal guiding groove facing each other. The pair of guiding grooves are positioned along the pair of guide tracks respectively for guiding transverse movements of the guiders. The plurality of guiders are spacedly mounted along two opposite edges of the elongated shelter sheet. The guiders of the elongated shelter sheet are perpendicularly inserted into and slid along the corresponding guiding grooves of the pair of opposite guide tracks along the second and third sides of the elongated shelter sheet. Thereby, transversely moving the elongated shelter sheet, which is gathered within the housing while not used, toward an opposing fourth side of the windshield can allow the elongated shelter sheet to cover the entire area of the windshield, wherein the transverse movement of the shelter sheet is guided by sliding the guiders along the guiding grooves of the guide tracks.

Claims

1. A windshield shelter for shading a windshield of a vehicle, comprising

a shelter device, which is firmly mounted on a first side of said windshield, comprising an elongated shelter sheet and a housing for receiving said shelter sheet therein, said elongated shelter sheet having a size adapted to cover an entire window area of said windshield, wherein said elongated shelter sheet has a plurality of guiders spacingly mounted along two opposite edges of said elongated shelter sheet, each of said guiders has an enlarged guide head protruded perpendicularly to said shelter sheet, said housing comprising a housing tube and a rotatable shaft, said shelter sheet having a first end edge attached to said shaft and being wound around said shaft which is longer than a height of said shelter sheet, said housing tube having a longitudinal slot positioned at one side adjacent to said windshield for enabling a second free end edge of said elongated shelter sheet to be extended out of said housing through said slot, said free end edge of said elongated shelter sheet being bonded with a reinforcing tab which has a diameter larger than a width of said slot, said housing further comprising a pair of caps mounted on two ends of said housing tube, wherein each of said cap has a central sleeve for receiving and supporting two ends of said shaft respectively so that said shaft is rotatably mounted between an axis between said two sleeves, each of said two caps further has a receiving chamber formed around said respective sleeve for receiving said guiders while said shelter sheet is rewound around said shaft within said housing tube, each of said caps further providing a guider mouth slot therethrough at an inner side thereof respectively for said guiders to pass through during an extending and rewinding movement of said elongated shelter sheet, said elongated shelter sheet further having at least an elastic strip attached adjacent to one of said end edges of said elongated shelter sheet so as to increase a flexibility and degree of extension of said elongated shelter sheet;

a pair of identical guide tracks which are firmly attached respectively along a second side and an opposite third side of said windshield for guiding a transverse movement of each of said guiders, each of said guide tracks having an U-shaped cross section and a longitudinal guiding groove which has a bottom enlarged groove portion to receive said enlarged guide heads of said guiders, said two guiding grooves being provided along said two guide tracks respectively and facing each other, so that said guiders of said elongated shelter are perpendicularly inserted into and slid along said corresponding guiding grooves of said pair of guide tracks respectively; and

a fastening means comprising at least a holder mounted to a fourth side of said windshield which is opposite to said first side of said windshield, and at least a fastener attached to said free end edge of said elongated shelter sheet, so as to lock said shelter sheet in an entirely extended position to cover said entire window area of said windshield.

2. A windshield shelter as recited in claim 1 in which said guide heads are in ball shape and said bottom groove portions of said guiding grooves are also in ball shape adapted to receive said ball shape guide heads.

3. A windshield shelter as recited in claim 1 in which said holder of said fastening means has a holding rod positioned parallel to said windshield and said fastener of said fastening means is a C-shape hook clip for buckling up said holding rod of said holder.

4. A windshield shelter as recited in claim 2 in which said holder of said fastening means has a holding rod positioned parallel to said windshield and said fastener of said fastening means is a C-shape hook clip for buckling up said holding rod of said holder.

5. A windshield shelter as recited in claim 4 in which there are two holders mounted on an upper and a lower portion of said fourth side of said windshield and two fasteners mounted on an upper and a lower portion of said tab which is embedded by said free end edge of said shelter sheet.