Land vehicles: bodies and tops – Tops – Roof structure
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-05
2001-11-13
Pape, Joseph D. (Department: 3612)
Land vehicles: bodies and tops
Tops
Roof structure
Reexamination Certificate
active
06315356
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a sunroof having both a sunshade and a sunscreen, wherein the sunscreen may move independently of the sunshade.
Sunroof sunshades are routinely included as a component of a sunroof system. The sunshade is a solid member that blocks light from entering the vehicle via the glass window of the sunroof. The sunshade is typically mounted on the inside of the sunroof and is matched to the interior headliner for an aesthetically pleasing appearance. The sunshade is linked to the glass window of the sunroof so that it is retracted when the window is opened to avoid damaging the sunshade.
The aforementioned sunshades are deficient in that they do not allow a limited or filtered light into the vehicle. Known sunshades are opaque. Therefore, a driver is left with the limited choice of allowing full light to enter the vehicle via the sunroof when the sunshade is retracted or to allow no light to enter when the sunshade is closed.
The aforementioned sunshades are also deficient, as they must be retracted when the sunroof is opened, to prevent damage to the sunshade. Thus, there is no filtering or shading when the sunroof is open.
It is an object of the present invention to cure those deficiencies outlined above by providing a sunshade/sunscreen combination.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In a disclosed embodiment a vehicle sunroof apparatus has a window, a sunscreen and a sunshade. The sunscreen allows passage of light and wind, and is positioned between the window and sunshade to provide additional lighting options. The sunscreen is movable independently of the window or sunshade, thereby providing a filtered light and air flow when the window is in the open position. The sunshade is a opaque member that does not allow light to enter the vehicle via the sunroof when the sunshade is in its closed position.
The sunscreen is a relatively planar member having a plurality of holes to provide a source of filtered light, via the sunroof. The sunscreen also serves as an air dispenser when the sunscreen is closed and the window is in its open position. This damping effect reduces the wind noise and overall turbulence of the air entering from the open window.
These and other features of the present invention can be best understood from the following specification and drawings.
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Carlson & Gaskey & Olds
Coletta Lori L.
Meritor Light Vehicle Technology, LLC
Pape Joseph D.
LandOfFree
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