For enhanced protection within the vehicle: Device for covering an object to be protected from view and sunlight

Abstract

The technology presented makes it possible to easily cover objects that need to be shielded from view or sunlight – for example, in a car or in other similarly exposed areas.

background

Various solutions are known for protecting valuables inside the vehicle. These include lockable glove compartments and center consoles, as well as covers in the form of flaps, sliding elements, or roller blinds. In addition, textile privacy screens are used – secured via velcro, magnetic, or plug-in connections – such as roller blind and louver systems for storage areas or luggage compartments.
However, known solutions have various disadvantages. Lockable compartments offer only limited storage space and require the items to be fully stowed inside them. Rigid covers require additional installation space and are often suitable only for specific installation locations. Furthermore, roller blind and shutter systems require complex components.
Moreover, many well-known covering systems cannot be activated quickly or easily. To date, there are no simple, cost-effective, and flexibly retrofittable solutions for items on open shelves that provide effective screening or sun protection without complex mechanics.

Innovation / Solution

The aim of the invention is to provide a privacy and sun protection device that is simple in construction, cost-effective, and capable of being activated particularly quickly. The solution comprises a flexible, opaque covering element and a retaining means to which the covering element is detachably connected and by which it can be held in a defined initial position. Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of the covering system according to the invention in its extended position. The flexible covering element is continuously movable between a rest position, in which the object remains visible, and a covering position, in which the object is completely or at least largely concealed. The movement from the rest position to the covering position can be assisted by gravity or even driven entirely by it. To this end, the holding means is preferably positioned above the object to be covered, such that the covering element falls downward automatically upon release and conceals the object. The holding means can be detachably fastened to various surfaces, such as a dashboard or a center console. Suitable fastening methods include, among others, frictionfit connections, adhesive bonds, suction cups, and plug-in or clamp connections. An arc-shaped receiving channel serves to accommodate the flexible covering element, allowing it to be stowed in a space-saving and unobtrusive manner when collapsed or folded. By utilizing gravity and dispensing with complex mechanics, the invention enables particularly rapid activation of the privacy and sun protection system, requires minimal structural complexity, and offers flexibility for various applications.

Benefits

fields of application

According to the Federal Statistical Office, over 93 million cars are manufactured worldwide each year. The invention is fundamentally suitable for all product categories in the automotive sector: universal products (consumer market), custom-fit solutions for specific vehicles (accessories market), options available during vehicle configuration when purchasing a new car (OEM market), and bespoke designs (luxury market).