Variable sun screen for a vehicle

• US 6,450,560 B1
• Filed: 09/12/2001
• Issued: 09/17/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: Sturt, Alan, Byma, George
• Primary Examiner(s): PAPE, JOSEPH
• Application Number:
  US09/951,937
• Publication Number:
  US 20020030379A1
• Time in Patent Office: 370 Days
• Field of Search: 296/97.8, 296/97.4, 296/97.11, 296/97.5, 296/97.2, 296/211, 296/215
• US Class Current: 296/97.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 3/0278 structure of the body B60J3/0208, B60J3/0213 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 3/04 adjustable in transparency

Abstract

A variable shade sun screen having first and second relatively movable sheets with alignable or offsetable matrices of translucent and opaque portions to selectively vary the opacity of the sun screen. The invention can be used in a sun visor, a sunroof, or adjacent any vehicle surface.

Claims

1. A variable shade sun screen comprising:

a sun shade body; and

first and second relatively movable non-porous sheets supported by the sun shade body, each having matrices of translucent and opaque portions thereon;

wherein at least one of said sheets is movable with respect to the other sheet to selectively align and offset said matrices to vary the opacity of the sun screen.

2. The variable shade sun screen of claim 1 wherein the first relatively movable sheet is fixed within the sun shade body.

3. The variable shade sun screen of claim 2 further comprising a support rod having threads thereon and attached to the first relatively movable sheet;

a sleeve sized to fit over the support rod, the sleeve attached to the second relatively movable sheet; and

an adjuster which cooperates with the threads on the support rod to move the second relatively movable sheet relative to the first relatively movable sheet.

4. The variable shade sun screen of claim 1 wherein the first relatively movable sheet is an outer glass panel and further comprising an adjustment lever for variably moving the second relatively moving sheet relative to the first relatively moving sheet.

5. The variable shade sun screen of claim 1 wherein the sun shade body further comprises at least an upper and a lower member, the members having first and second grooves therein, wherein the first relatively moving sheet is disposed in the first groove and the second relatively movable sheet is disposed in the second groove.

6. The variable shade sun screen of claim 5 wherein the upper and lower members comprise first and second ends and the variable shade screen further comprises first and second endcaps connecting the first and second ends of the upper and lower members;

and an adjuster assembly for variably moving the second relatively moving sheet relative to the first relatively moving sheet.

7. A variable shade sun screen comprising:

a sun screen body;

a support arm for supporting the sun screen body;

a stationary shade having a support rod enclosed within the screen body, having see-through and opaque portions; and

a movable shade having a sleeve sized to receive the support rod of the stationary shade.

8. The variable shade sun screen of claim 7 further comprising threads on the support rod and an adjuster which cooperates with the threads on the support rod to move the movable shade with respect to the stationary shade.

9. The variable shade screen of claim 7 wherein the see-through and opaque portions on the stationary shade are made up of a hole matrix on silk-screened opaque material.

10. The variable shade screen of claim 7 wherein the see-through and opaque portions on the movable shade are made up of a silk-screened dot matrix on a translucent material.

11. A variable adjustable sun screen comprising:

a screen body;

a variable opacity sun screen housed inside the screen body comprising a clear film imprinted with a dot matrix and supported by a rod; and

a sleeve disposed within the screen body which supports at least one transparent fixed blade having a hole pattern imprinted thereon, the sleeve sized to receive the rod and wherein the clear film is selectively moved along the screen body to adjust the opacity of the screen.

12. The variable adjustable sun screen of claim 11 further comprising an arm and a bracket and wherein a pair of fixed blades are molded together forming a sleeve which is attached to the arm using a detent spring.

13. The variable adjustable sun screen of claim 12 further comprising threads on the rod and an adjustment threaded to selectively adjust the position of the clear film relative to the fixed blades.

14. A variable shade screen assembly for an automotive vehicle having an outer glass panel having an opaque matrix, the variable shade screen assembly comprising:

a movable shade that moves relative to the outer glass panel, the movable shade having an opaque matrix thereon; and

an adjustment lever fixed to the movable shade and providing adjustment capability such that the matrix on the movable shade can be adjusted relative to the matrix on the outer glass panel to allow for variable shading.