Method and apparatus for a sun screening tool

Abstract

A sun screening tool that has an elongated directional mounting assembly with one end mounted to a stationary upright structure via a T-handled screw. The elongated directional mounting assembly pivots in the horizontal plane relative to the stationary upright structure. The elongated directional mounting assembly's other end has rotatably mounted in the vertical plane one end of a first substantially rectangular elongated member. The first substantially rectangular elongated member's other end has a substantially rectangular visor perpendicularly connected thereto. The elongated directional mounting assembly, in concert with the first substantially rectangular elongated member, enables positional adjustment of the visor in the horizontal and vertical planes relative to the stationary upright structure.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The invention relates, in general, to an apparatus for a mountable, bi-directional, user operated, sun screening tool. In particular, the invention relates to a sun screening tool for shielding a hunter or sportsman's eyes from excessive sunlight or glare. More particularly the invention relates to alleviate of adjusting the sun screening tool during the heighten activity of game animals while hunting.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Sun visors, shields, glasses and reflectors are well known in the art of shielding eyes from direct or indirect sunlight. A hunter or sportsman is particularly interested in protecting his eyes from excessive sunlight or glare. A game hunter, in particular, a deer hunter may desire to protect his eyes with a sun-visor while engaging in hunting. A sun-visor connected to a strap or cap that fits on or about one's head while wearing the sun-visor may indeed shield one's eyes from excess sunlight. The strap or cap mounted sun-visor also impedes the aiming of a rifle used in deer hunting. The sun-visor would engage the stock of the rifle preventing the hunter's cheek from resting on the stock. This negative attribute of the sun-visor causes misalignment of the hunter's eye with a telescopic scope, frontal, or rear sights of the rifle.

[0003] Game hunters, in particular, deer hunters spend a great deal of time in a stationary position in a structure on the ground, mounted on a tree or pole. Examples of structures are a deer blind and deer stand. Often the hunter will arrive at the structure before sunrise and position himself in the structure to await approaching deer. The deer are very sensitive to movement. To them movement in the brush or woods is a signal of danger. It is incumbent on the hunter to restrict his movements while in the structure. Excessive movement may unduly alert the deer to his presence. The hunter must have in place a sun shield mechanism to protect his eyes from excessive sunlight or glare even though, in this particular case, the sun has not risen. Sunrise and sunset are the most active periods for deer. At sunrise or sunset the sun is on the horizon generally in the line of vision of the hunter. Adjusting or positioning sun visors of any type during this period may alert the deer his presence.

[0004] It would be desirable for a deer hunter's sun visor to be mountable to the deer stand or tree to alleviate the necessity of adjusting or positioning it when the deer are the most active. It would further be desirable for the deer hunter's sun visor to extend out in front of the hunter thereby sun shielding his eyes without obscuring his vision during the process of aiming his rifle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The preferred embodiment of the present invention is a mountable, bi-directional, user operated, sun screening tool. The sun screening tool may, if desired, be mounted to any type of convenient structure. The sun screening tool alleviate the necessity of adjusting or positioning a sun visor during heighten activity of the deer while hunting.

[0006] The sun screening tool comprising, in part, an elongated directional mounting assembly that has one end mounted to the structure via a T-handled screw. The elongated directional mounting assembly may, if desired, be pivoted in the horizontal plane relative to the structure. The elongated directional mounting assembly's other end has rotatably mounted thereto one end of a first substantially rectangular elongated member. The first substantially rectangular elongated member's other end has a substantially rectangular visor perpendicularly connected thereto. The first substantially rectangular elongated member may, if desired, be pivoted in the vertical plane relative to the elongated directionally mounted assembly.

[0007] The elongated directional mounting assembly comprising, in part, a mounting plate having an outwardly extending elongated arm mounted thereto. A second substantially rectangular elongated member has one end juxtaposed the elongated arm. A first position adjusting mechanism connects the elongated arm and the second substantially rectangular elongated member.

[0008] The first substantially rectangular elongated member has one end juxtaposed one end of the second substantially rectangular elongated member. A second position adjusting mechanism connects the first substantially rectangular elongated member and the second substantially rectangular elongated member. The first substantially rectangular elongated member is selectively positioned in the vertical plane relative to the second substantially rectangular elongated member via the second position adjusting mechanism.

[0009] The first and second position adjusting mechanisms enable the sun screening tool to be positionally adjusted in the horizontal and vertical planes relative to the structure. The positionally adjustable sun screening tool provides the deer hunter a means to protect his eyes from excessive sunlight thereby alleviate the necessity of adjusting or positioning a sun visor when the game animal are the most active.

[0010] When taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the appended claims, other features and advantages of the present invention become apparent upon reading the following detailed description of embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] The invention is illustrated in the drawings in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the figures of which:

[0012] FIG. 1a illustrates a side view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention (Part A),

[0013] FIG. 1b illustrates a side view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention (Part B),

[0014] FIG. 2 illustrates a partial side view of the elongated directional mounting assembly of FIG. 1a,

[0015] FIG. 3 illustrates a partial perspective view elongated directional mounting assembly of FIG. 1a,

[0016] FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention (Part A and Part B),

[0017] FIG. 5 illustrates a partial perspective view of the visor of FIG. 1b,

[0018] FIG. 6 illustrates a front view of a T-handled mounting screw.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

[0019] Before describing in detail the particular improved user operated, tree mountable sun screening tool for shielding the user's eyes from excessive sunlight, it should be observed that the invention resides primarily in a novel structural combination of conventional extruded, molded, or formed assemblies, discrete subassemblies or components and associated control of the aforementioned components, and not in the particular detailed configuration thereof. Accordingly, the structure, control, and arrangement of these conventional components and subassemblies have, for the most part, been illustrated in the drawings by readily understandable diagram representations and schematic diagrams. The drawings show only those specific details that are pertinent to the present invention in order not to obscure the disclosure with structural details which will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art and having the benefit of the description herein. For example, the present invention 10, FIGS. 1a and 1b are tree mountable but the present invention may, if desired, be mounted to any surface that supports the present invention.

[0020] An overview of the present invention 10, FIGS. 1a and 1b: The present invention 10 is a user operated, structue mountable sun screening tool. The user of the present invention 10 is primarily a sportsman or hunter who is positioned above the ground awaiting a target animal to approach. The position above the ground may, if desired, be a deer-blind or a platform stabilized in an upright structure. The upright structure may, if desired, be a pole or a tree. The present invention 10 is mounted to the upright structure and is selectively positioned by the hunter to shield his eyes from excessive sunlight. An elongated directional mounting assembly 11 has one end 15 mounted to the upright structure via a T-handled screw 14, FIG. 6. The other end of the elongated directional mounting assembly 11, FIG. 1a has one end 17, FIG. 1b swivelably or rotatably mounted to an elongated member 12. The other end 18 of the elongated member 12 has a substantially rectangular visor 13 perpendicularly mounted thereto. The combination of the elongated directional mounting assembly 11, FIG. 1a, T-handled screw 14, FIG. 6, elongated member 12, FIG. 1b, and the visor 13, FIG. 1b comprise the sun-screening tool.

[0021] A more detailed discussion of the present invention 10, FIGS. 1a and 1b: The elongated directional mounting assembly 11, FIG. 1a has disposed at one end 15 an elongated curved or semi-circular member 20, FIG. 2. The semicircular member 20 has an aperture 22 selectively positioned at one end. The position of the aperture 22 is dependent on the strength of the material used to fabricate the present invention 10. If desired the type of material used to fabricate the present invention 10 may be steel, aluminum, iron, plastic, fiberglass, or any combination of the aforementioned materials. Dependent on the type of material selected to fabricate the present invention 10 the aperture 22 may be selectively positioned from the center towards or adjacent to the edge 23, FIG. 3 of the semicircular member 20.

[0022] An elongated mounting bar 21, FIG. 2 has one end 24 affixed to one end or adjacent to one end of the semicircular member 20. The elongated mounting bar 21 may, if desired, be affixed to the semicircular member 20 by any convenient method known in the art of affixing two structures together. Examples of affixing two structures together are welding, gluing, or press fitting. The elongated mounting bar 21 is juxtaposed elongated member 27. An elongated threaded member 26 traverses the elongated mounting bar 21 and is juxtaposed elongated member 27. A threaded knob 28 engages one end of the elongated threaded member 26. The elongated threaded member 26 may, if desired, have one end affixed to the elongated mounting bar 21 by any convenient means discussed above.

[0023] In operation, the combination of the semicircular member 20, elongated mounting bar 21, elongated threaded member 26, and threaded knob 28 relative to elongated member 27 enables the user to selectively position elongated member 27. The elongated member 27 may, if desired, be positioned in a semicircle or arc in the horizontal plane about the centerline 29, FIG. 4 of the elongated threaded member 26. The threaded knob 28 is loosened enabling the rotation of elongated member 27 relative to the semicircular member 20 until a user desired position is selected. The threaded knob 28 is then tightened securing elongated mounting bar 21 in position.

[0024] Elongated member 12, FIG. 1b has one end 30 juxtaposed end 17 of elongated member 27. A second elongated threaded member 31 traverses the juxtaposed elongated members 12 and 27. A second threaded knob 32 engages one end of the elongated threaded member 31. The elongated threaded member 31 may, if desired, have one end affixed to the elongated member 12 by any convenient means discussed above. The other end 18 of the elongated member 12 is angularly displaced in the vertical plane from the elongated member's 12 horizontal plane. The angle of displacement may, if desired, be in the range of about 0.1° (degrees) to 45° (degrees). The displacement of the end 18 relative to elongated member 12 enables the substantially rectangular visor 13 to be positioned in the horizontal line of sight of the user.

[0025] In operation, the combination of the elongated directional mounting assembly 11, elongated member 12, elongated threaded member 31, and threaded knob 32 enables the user to selectively position elongated member 12. The elongated member 12 may, if desired, be positioned in circular or arcuate position in the vertical plane about the centerline 33, FIG. 4 of the elongated threaded member 31. The threaded knob 32 is loosened enabling the rotation of elongated member 12 relative to the elongated directional mounting assembly 11 until a user desired position is selected then the threaded knob 32 is tightened securing elongated member 12 in position to the elongated member 27.

[0026] The substantially rectangular visor 13, FIG. 1b has an elongated substantially rectangular member 35, FIG. 5 mounted along one edge 36. The mounting mechanism may, if desired, be any means known in the art as discussed above including the affixing by nuts and bolts. For example, a pair of wing nuts and bolts 39 and 40 are used to secure the substantially rectangular visor 13 to the elongated substantially rectangular member 35, FIG. 1b. The elongated substantially rectangular member 35 has an outwardly extending tang 37, FIG. 1b medially disposed thereto. The tang 37 is insertable into end 18 of elongated member 12 and secured thereto via wing nut and bolt 38. The substantially rectangular visor 13 has a sun-shield portion 46, FIG. 1b. The sun-shield portion 46 may, if desired, be fabricated from flexible or rigid material. Examples of flexible material are vinyl, rubber, or polarized polymer type compositions. Rigid material may, if desired, be metal, wood, or glass. If desired the substantially rectangular visor 13 may be removed from elongated member 12 for storage.

[0027] To store the substantially rectangular visor 13 the wing-nuts 39 and 40 are removed from their respective bolts. The substantially rectangular visor 13 containing the bolt portions is positioned over elongated member 12 and aligned with holes 41 and 42. The bolts are inserted through holes 41 and 42 and the wing-nuts 39 and 40 are replaced onto their respective bolts thereby securing the substantially rectangular visor 13 to the elongated member 12.

[0028] The T-handled screw 14, FIG. 6 comprises an elongated cylindrical member 43 having connected at one end an elongated bar 44. The elongated cylindrical member's 43 other end is formed into a point. An annular ring 45 is disposed about the elongated cylindrical member 43 adjacently spaced from the elongated bar 44. The annular ring 45 protects the user's fingers during insertion of the T-handled screw 14. The elongated cylindrical member 43 has a plurality of lands and grooves spiraling from adjacent the annular ring 45 to adjacent the end-point of elongated cylindrical member 43. The lands and grooves may, if desired, be continuous or discontinuous as they spiral along elongated cylindrical member 43. The lands may also be serrated thereby enabling a cutting action while the elongated cylindrical member 43 is being inserted into a structure.

[0029] Although only a few exemplary embodiments of this invention have been described in detail above, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible in the exemplary embodiments without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of this invention. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this invention as defined in the following claims, means-plus-function clause is intended to cover the structures described herein as performing the recited function and not only structural equivalents but also equivalent structures. Thus, although a nail and a screw may not be structural equivalents in that a nail employs a cylindrical surface to secure wooden parts together whereas a screw employs a helical surface, in the environment of fastening wooden parts, a nail and a screw may be equivalent structures.

Claims

1) an apparatus for a mountable, bi-directional, user operated, sun screening tool, comprising:

a) a T-handled screw;

b) an elongated directional mounting assembly having one end mountable via said T-handled screw;

c) a first substantially rectangular elongated member having one end rotatably mounted to said elongated directional mounting assembly's other end;

d) a substantially rectangular visor perpendicularly connected along one edge to said first substantially rectangular elongated member's other end;

whereby said elongated directional mounting assembly in combination with said first substantially rectangular elongated member being rotatably mounted thereto positions the bi-directional sun screening tool relative to the user.

2) An apparatus for a mountable, bi-directional, user operated, sun screening tool as recited in claim 1 wherein said elongated directional mounting assembly comprises:

a) a mounting plate having an outwardly extending elongated arm mounted thereto;

b) a second substantially rectangular elongated member juxtaposed said elongated arm;

c) a first position adjusting mechanism connecting said elongated arm and said second substantially rectangular elongated member; and

d) said second substantially rectangular elongated member selectively positioned in the horizontal plane relative to said elongated arm via said first position adjusting mechanism.

3) An apparatus for a mountable, bi-direction, user operated, sun screening tool as recited in claim 2 wherein said mounting plate is an elongated semicircular member.

4) An apparatus for a mountable, bi-directional, user operated, sun screening tool as recited in claim 3 wherein said elongated semicircular member has an aperture selectively disposed therein.

5) An apparatus for a mountable, bi-directional, user operated, sun screening tool as recited in claim 4 wherein said outwardly extending arm is aligned with said elongated semicircular member's aperture.

6) An apparatus for a mountable, bi-directional, user operated, sun screening tool as recited in claim 5 wherein outwardly extending arm is spaced from said elongated semicircular member's aperture.

7) An apparatus for a mountable, bi-directional, user operated, sun screening tool as recited in claim 6 wherein said first position adjusting mechanism comprises:

a) a first elongated threaded member traversing said elongated arm and said second substantially rectangular elongated member;

b) said first elongated threaded member secured at one end to said elongated arm; and

c) said first elongated threaded member's other end having a rotatable knob disposed thereto.

8) An apparatus for a mountable, bi-directional, user operated, sun screening tool as recited in claim 7 wherein said second substantially rectangular elongated member is selectively positioned in the horizontal plane relative to said elongated arm via said first position adjusting mechanism.

9) An apparatus for a mountable, bi-directional, user operated, sun screening tool as recited in claim 8 wherein said first substantially rectangular elongated member rotatably mounted to said elongated directionally mounting assembly comprises:

a) said first substantially rectangular elongated member having one end juxtaposed one end of said second substantially rectangular elongated member;

b) a second position adjusting mechanism connecting said first substantially rectangular elongated member and said second substantially rectangular elongated member; and

c) said first substantially rectangular elongated member selectively positioned in the vertical plane relative to said second substantially rectangular elongated member via said second position adjusting mechanism.

10) An apparatus for a mountable, bi-directional, user operated, sun screening tool as recited in claim 9 wherein said second position adjusting mechanism comprises:

a) a second elongated threaded member traversing said first substantially rectangular elongated member and said second substantially rectangular elongated member;

b) said second elongated threaded member secured at one end to said second substantially rectangular elongated member; and

c) said second elongated threaded member's other end having a second rotatable knob disposed thereto.

11) An apparatus for a mountable, bi-directional, user operated, sun screening tool as recited in claim 1 wherein said T-handled screw comprises:

a) an elongated cylindrical member having one end forming point;

b) said elongated cylindrical member having an outer surface comprising lands and grooves formed along said elongated cylindrical member;

c) an elongated bar having a first end and a second end oppositely spaced from said first end;

d) said elongated cylindrical member's other end mountably disposed between said elongated bar's first and second ends;

e) an annular ring disposed about said elongated cylindrical member, said annular ring adjacently spaced from said elongated bar.

12) An apparatus for a mountable, bi-directional, user operated, sun screening tool as recited in claim 11 wherein said substantially rectangular visor, comprises;

a) an elongated substantially rectangular bar having medially disposed thereto an outwardly projecting tang;

b) a substantially rectangular opaque member connected along one edge to said rectangular bar; and

c) at least two bolts with wing-nuts connecting said rectangular opaque member to said rectangular bar.

13) A method of positionally securing a mountable, bi-directional, user operated, sun screening tool, comprising the steps:

a) providing an elongated directionally mounting assembly having one end mountable via said T-handled screw, said elongated directional mounting assembly being positionally securable via a first positionally securable mechanism, the other end having an elongated member rotatively mounted thereto via a second positionally securable mechanism, said elongated member having disposed thereon a substantially rectangular visor;

b) loosening said first positionally securable mechanism;

c) rotating said elongated directional mounting assembly in the horizontal plane;

d) tightening said first positionally securable mechanism thereby positionally securing said elongated directional mounting assembly in the horizontal plane;

e) loosening said second positionally securable mechanism;

f) rotating said elongated member in the vertical plane;

g) tightening said second positionally securable mechanism thereby positionally securing said elongated member in the vertical plane;

thereby positionally securing a mountable, bi-directional, user operated, sun screening tool.