Sunshade apparatus
A sunshade apparatus for shading a chair has a flexible canopy element, a support structure for supporting the flexible canopy element above the chair, and a pair of attachment elements. Each of the attachment elements is attached to the support structure for mounting the flexible canopy element above the chair. Each of the pair of attachment elements includes a clamp having a first locking portion hingably attached to a second locking portion, and a locking screw for clamping the first and second locking portions around a tubular element of the chair.
This application for a utility patent is a continuation-in-part of a previously filed utility patent, still pending, having the application Ser. No. 11/491,723, filed Jul. 24, 2006. The previous application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCHNot Applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to sun shades, and more particularly to a sunshade apparatus that is easily portable and can be quickly and easily attached to a portable chair.
2. Description of Related Art
The following art defines the present state of this field:
Wahl, Jr., U.S. Pat. No. 6,789,557, teaches a portable and collapsible sunshade apparatus having a novel attachment clip. The universal clip enables any type of sunshade apparatus to be attached to any type of beach chair or lounge chair at any desired height above the occupant of the chair and at any desired angular orientation relative to the chair.
Gillins, U.S. Pat. No. 5,967,601, teaches a sunshade apparatus for use with recreational chairs having a seat back. The sunshade has a rigid support to which upper edge clips and side edge clips are connected for releasable attachment to the seat back upper edge and seat back side edge, respectively. The side edge clips can rotate about the support in a generally horizontal plane, and the side edge clips are constructed in a manner to flex in a generally vertical plane. The upper edge clips have a hook portion to enable the sunshade to hang on the seat back upper edge. A canopy frame, covered with a shade producing cover, is pivotally attached to the support. When not in use, the canopy frame can be pivoted to a collapsed, generally flat configuration with the support.
Brim, U.S. Pat. No. 5,022,420, teaches a shade apparatus for use with a lawn mower. The apparatus includes a plurality of spaced U-shaped mounds for securement to handles of the lawnmower. Support rods pivotally mount at each respective end thereof with first canopy rods wherein the first canopy rods movably receive U-shaped canopy sliders wherein the organization is formable into a conveniently stored organization and easily errected and secured to the associated lawn mower. Further, the invention includes a storage container secured to the canopy wherein the storage container provides a tethered pair of ear protective devices for use in association with a lawn mower.
The above-described references are hereby incorporated by reference in full.
The prior art teaches various forms of sunshades that can be attached to a chair or other structure. However, the prior art does not teach a sunshade apparatus having the unique attachment elements described below. The present invention fulfills these needs and provides further related advantages as described in the following summary.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention teaches certain benefits in construction and use which give rise to the objectives described below.
The present invention provides a sunshade apparatus for shading a chair. The sunshade apparatus includes a flexible canopy element; a support structure for supporting the flexible canopy element above the chair; and a pair of attachment elements. Each of the attachment elements is attached to the support structure for mounting the flexible canopy element above the chair. Each of the pair of attachment elements includes a clamp having a first locking portion hingably attached to a second locking portion, and a locking screw for clamping the first and second locking portions around a tubular element of the chair.
A primary objective of the present invention is to provide a sunshade apparatus having advantages not taught by the prior art.
Another objective is to provide a sunshade apparatus that includes a pair of attachment elements that enable the sunshade apparatus to be quickly and easily attached to a chair for shading the chair.
A further objective is to provide a sunshade apparatus that is easy to unfold and attach to the chair for use.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.
The accompanying drawings illustrate the present invention. In such drawings:
The above-described drawing figures illustrate the invention, a sunshade apparatus 10 for shading a chair 12. While the chair 12 is illustrated as a standard portable chair, the term chair is hereby defined to include any form of chair, lounge, wheelchair, or other device upon which a person might sit, recline, or lounge.
As shown in
In the preferred embodiment, the support structure 18 includes a pair of vertical support legs 20 that are adapted to be attached to the chair 12, and a pair of horizontally extending arms 40 that extend horizontally for shading the chair 12. Each of the pair of vertical support legs 20 has a top end 22 and a bottom end 24. The pair of attachment elements 26 are preferably attached to the bottom ends 24 of the pair of vertical support legs 20 for mounting the sunshade apparatus 10 on the chair 12.
While the embodiment illustrated in
As shown in
The first locking portion 30 and the second locking portion 32 each preferably include concave inner surfaces 36 and 37 adapted to clamp against the tubular element 14 of the chair 12. The locking screw 34 preferably includes a knob 38 that enables a user to manually tighten each of the pair of attachment elements 26 so that the first locking portion 30 and the second locking portion 32 are tightly clamped around the tubular element 14.
While the preferred embodiment of the attachment elements 26 is described and illustrated in detail, alternative embodiments of the attachment element 26 may also be used in alternative constructions, including various forms of locking screws, spring-loaded clamps, and other alternative or equivalent structures.
As shown in
The pair of horizontally extending arms 40 are attached to the pair of vertical support legs 20 with a pair of hinges 48. Each of the pair of hinges 48 hingably connects the top end 22 of one of the pair of vertical support legs 20 to the proximal end 42 of one of the pair of horizontally extending arms 40 such that the pair of horizontally extending arms 40 can pivot with respect to the pair of vertical support legs 20 between a folded configuration and an extended configuration.
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
The folding element 60 preferably includes a pair of folding cross-bars 62 that are each pivotally attached at a first end to one of the pair of horizontally extending arms 40, and each pivotally attached at a second end to a horizontal slider 64 that is adapted to slidably engage one of the pair of horizontally extending arms 40. The pair of folding cross-bars 62 are preferably pivotally connected together in a middle 66 with a pivot pin 68.
While the illustrated embodiment of the folding element 60 is currently preferred, alternative structures may also be devised by those skilled in the art, and should be considered within the scope of the present invention. One alternative structure is illustrated in Wahl, Jr., U.S. Pat. No. 6,789,557, hereby incorporated by reference, and alternative structures should also be included within the scope of the present invention.
Certain terminology is used in the preceding description for convenience only, and is not limiting. Words such as “vertical,” “horizontal,” “first,” “second,” “inner,” “outer,” “upper,” “lower,” and the like, designate directions in the drawings to which reference is made. The terminology includes the words described above, similar or equivalent words, and derivatives thereof. Additionally, the words “a,” “an,” and “one” are defined to include one or more of the referenced item unless specifically stated otherwise. Also, the terms “have,” “include,” “contain,” and similar terms are defined to mean “comprising” unless specifically stated otherwise.
While the invention has been described with reference to at least one preferred embodiment, it is to be clearly understood by those skilled in the art that the invention is not limited thereto. Rather, the scope of the invention is to be interpreted only in conjunction with the appended claims.
Claims
1. A sunshade apparatus for shading a chair, the sunshade apparatus comprising:
- a flexible canopy element;
- a support structure for supporting the flexible canopy element above the chair; and
- a pair of attachment elements, each of the attachment elements being attached to the support structure for mounting the flexible canopy element above the chair,
- wherein each of the pair of attachment elements includes a clamp having a first locking portion hingably attached to a second locking portion, and a locking screw for clamping the first and second locking portions around a tubular element of the chair.
2. The sunshade apparatus of claim 2, wherein the locking screw is hingably attached to the first locking portion and pivots between a closed position wherein the locking screw lockingly engages the second locking portion, and an open position wherein the locking screw is disengaged from the second locking portion.
3. The sunshade apparatus of claim 3, wherein the first locking portion and the second locking portion each include concave inner surfaces adapted to clamp against the tubular element of the chair.
4. The sunshade apparatus of claim 4, wherein the locking screw includes a knob that enables a user to manually tighten each of the pair of attachment elements so that the first locking portion and the second locking portion are tightly clamped around the tubular element.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 5, 2007
Publication Date: Jan 24, 2008
Inventor: Eugene Wahl (Dana Point, CA)
Application Number: 11/825,171
International Classification: A47C 7/62 (20060101);