US 8365799

US Patent 8,365,799, titled "Window covering configured to be magnetically attached to a window frame of a vehicle," was issued on February 5, 2013, from an application filed on March 17, 2011. The inventor is Victor Harris. The original assignee was NSV LLC, and the current assignee is NSV Group FZCO. The patent is active and is set to expire on May 17, 2031.

Abstract:
The patent describes a window covering designed for attachment to a vehicle's window frame to partially cover an opening. This covering includes a rigid casing with a ferromagnetic material, a panel attached to the casing that covers a central hole, and at least two permanent magnets. These magnets are magnetically attached to the casing's ferromagnetic members and are configured to be magnetically attached to the vehicle's window frame. The design ensures that the magnets exert a sufficient pull force to keep the window covering stationary relative to the window frame, even when the vehicle is in motion.

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims:

• Independent Claim 1: This claim describes a window covering for a vehicle's window frame. It specifies that the covering has a rigid casing with a first and a second member. Each member has an outer surface that defines a channel (the first channel faces generally opposite to the second channel). A panel covers the hole created by these members. The covering includes a first and a second permanent magnet, each with an outer magnet surface. These magnets are placed in their respective channels so their outer magnet surfaces are generally coplanar with the casing's outer member surfaces. The panel is designed to extend around the members and cover the magnets, preventing direct contact between the magnets and the window frame when installed. Crucially, these permanent magnets are configured to generate enough pull force to securely hold the window covering to the vehicle's window frame, ensuring it does not move during vehicle operation.

• Independent Claim 17: This claim describes a window covering system for a vehicle. It comprises a vehicle window frame, specifically noting a header and a footer, and the window covering described in Claim 1. The window covering is configured for attachment to both the header and the footer of the window frame to at least partially cover the opening between them. Similar to Claim 1, it details the casing with its first and second members and corresponding channels, the panel covering the magnets and protecting the window frame, and the first and second permanent magnets with coplanar outer surfaces. The core functionality is reiterated: the magnets exert a sufficient pull force to retain the window covering to the respective header and footer, preventing movement relative to the window frame during vehicle motion.