Solar windshield system

• US 6,536,828 B2
• Filed: 06/08/2001
• Issued: 03/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brenda J. Love, Ernest R. Love
• Original Assignee: Brenda J. Love, Ernest R. Love
• Inventors: Love, Ernest R., Love, Brenda J.
• Primary Examiner(s): PAPE, JOSEPH
• Application Number:
  US09/875,897
• Publication Number:
  US 20020185883A1
• Time in Patent Office: 655 Days
• Field of Search: 296/84.1, 296/96.19, 296/97.2, 296/97.7, 296/146.15, 359/265, 359/275, 359/601
• US Class Current: 296/96.19
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 3/04 adjustable in transparency
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/23 Photochromic filters

Abstract

A vehicle solar windshield system comprising a front windshield composed of a first transition lens material, at least one side window composed of a second transition lens material and a rear windshield composed of a third transition lens material. In one embodiment, the first transition lens material has a first darkening strength, the second lens material has a second darkening strength which is greater than the first darkening strength and the third lens material has a third darkening strength which is greater than the second darkening strength. In a preferred embodiment, the transitional lens material is a photochromic lens material.

Claims

1. A solar windshield system for a vehicle having a front windshield, a rear windshield and at least one side window comprising:

(a) a first transition lens material having a first darkening strength when exposed to ultraviolet light;

(b) a second transition lens material having a second darkening strength when exposed to ultraviolet light, said second darkening strength being greater than said first darkening strength, and

(c) a third transition lens material having a third darkening strength when exposed to ultraviolet light, said third darkening strength being greater than said second darkening strength.

2. The solar windshield in accordance with claim 1, wherein

(a) said first transition lens material has a darkening strength of about 10 to about 35 percent when exposed to ultraviolet light;

(b) said second transition lens material has a darkening strength of about 25 to about 55 percent when exposed to ultraviolet light, and

(c) said third transition lens material has a darkening strength of about 45 to about 97 percent when exposed to ultraviolet light.

3. The solar windshield system in accordance with claim 2, wherein

(a) said first transition lens material has a darkening strength of about 20 to about 30 percent when exposed to ultraviolet light;

(b) said second transition lens material has a darkening strength of about 35 to about 50 percent when exposed to ultraviolet light, and

(c) said third transition lens material has a darkening strength of about 65 to about 97 percent when exposed to ultraviolet light.

4. The solar windshield system in accordance with claim 2, wherein

(a) said first transition lens material has a darkening strength of about 30 percent when exposed to ultraviolet light;

(b) said second transition lens material has a darkening strength of about 50 percent when exposed to ultraviolet light, and

(c) said third transition lens material has a darkening strength of about 97 percent when exposed to ultraviolet light.

5. The solar windshield system in accordance with claim 1, wherein

(a) said front windshield is composed of said first transition lens material;

(b) said at least one side window is composed of said second transition lens material, and

(c) said rear windshield is composed of said third transition lens material.

6. The solar windshield in accordance with claim 5, wherein

(a) said first transition lens material has a darkening strength of about 10 to about 35 percent when exposed to ultraviolet light;

(b) said second transition lens material has a darkening strength of about 25 to about 55 percent when exposed to ultraviolet light, and

(c) said third transition lens material has a darkening strength of about 45 to about 97 percent when exposed to ultraviolet light.

7. The solar windshield system in accordance with claim 6, wherein

(a) said first transition lens material has a darkening strength of about 20 to about 30 percent when exposed to ultraviolet light;

(b) said second transition lens material has a darkening strength of about 35 to about 50 percent when exposed to ultraviolet light, and

(c) said third transition lens material has a darkening strength of about 65 to about 97 percent when exposed to ultraviolet light.

8. The solar windshield system in accordance with claim 6, wherein

(a) said first transition lens material has a darkening strength of about 30 percent when exposed to ultraviolet light;

(b) said second transition lens material has a darkening strength of about 50 percent when exposed to ultraviolet light, and

(c) said third transition lens material has a darkening strength of about 97 percent when exposed to ultraviolet light.

9. The solar windshield system in accordance with claim 5, further comprising a fourth transition lens material having a fourth darkening strength when exposed to ultraviolet light.

10. The solar windshield system in accordance with claim 9, wherein said vehicle further comprises a sun/moon roof composed of said fourth transition lens material.

11. The solar windshield in accordance with claim 1, wherein each of said first transition lens material, said second transition lens material and said third transition lens material is a photochromic lens material.

12. The solar windshield in accordance with claim 5, wherein each of said first transition lens material, said second transition lens material and said third transition lens material is a photochromic lens material.

14. The solar windshield in accordance with claim 1, wherein

(a) said first photochromic lens material has a darkening strength of about 10 to about 35 percent when exposed to ultraviolet light;

(b) said second photochromic lens material has a darkening strength of about 25 to about 55 percent when exposed to ultraviolet light, and

(c) said third photochromic lens material has a darkening strength of about 45 to about 97 percent when exposed to ultraviolet light.

15. The solar windshield system in accordance with claim 2, wherein

(a) said first photochromic lens material has a darkening strength of about 20 to about 30 percent when exposed to ultraviolet light;

(b) said second photochromic lens material has a darkening strength of about 35 to about 50 percent when exposed to ultraviolet light, and

(c) said third photochromic lens material has a darkening strength of about 65 to about 97 percent when exposed to ultraviolet light.

16. The solar windshield system in accordance with claim 2, wherein

(a) said first photochromic lens material has a darkening strength of about 30 percent when exposed to ultraviolet light;

(b) said second photochromic lens material has a darkening strength of about 50 percent when exposed to ultraviolet light, and

(c) said third photochromic lens material has a darkening strength of about 97 percent when exposed to ultraviolet light.

13. A vehicle solar windshield system comprising:

(a) a front windshield composed of a first photochromatic lens material having a first darkening strength when exposed to ultraviolet light;

(b) at least one side window composed of a second photochromic lens material having a second darkening strength when exposed to ultraviolet light, said second darkening strength being greater than said first darkening strength, and

(c) a rear windshield composed of a third photochromic lens material having a third darkening strength when exposed to ultraviolet light, said third darkening strength being greater than said second darkening strength.

17. The vehicle solar windshield system in accordance with claim 13, further comprising a sun/moon roof composed of a fourth photochromic material.