Sunshade apparatus

Abstract

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.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

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 RESEARCH

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. 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 INVENTION

The 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.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying drawings illustrate the present invention. In such drawings:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a sunshade apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the sunshade apparatus in an extended and spread configuration, and mounted on a chair;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the sunshade apparatus of FIG. 1 once the sunshade apparatus has been moved from the spread configuration to a collapsed configuration;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the sunshade apparatus of FIG. 2 once the sunshade apparatus has been moved from the extended configuration to a folded configuration;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of an attachment element of the sunshade apparatus of FIG. 1, illustrating the attachment element in a closed position around a tubular element of the chair;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of an attachment element of the sunshade apparatus of FIG. 1, illustrating the attachment element in an open position;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view thereof taken along line 6-6 in FIG. 1, illustrating a locking element having a locking handle, and wherein the locking handle is in a locked position;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the locking element of FIG. 6, wherein the locking handle is in an unlocked position; and

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the locking element taken along line 8-8 in FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

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.

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a sunshade apparatus 10 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the sunshade apparatus 10 in an extended and spread configuration, and mounted on the chair 12. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the sunshade apparatus 10 of FIG. 1 once the sunshade apparatus 10 has been moved from the spread configuration to a collapsed configuration. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the sunshade apparatus 10 of FIG. 2 once the sunshade apparatus 10 has been moved from the extended configuration to a folded configuration.

As shown in FIGS. 1-3, the sunshade apparatus 10 includes a flexible canopy element 46, a support structure 18 for supporting the flexible canopy element 46 above the chair 12, and a pair of attachment elements 26. Each of the attachment elements 26 is attached to the support structure 18 for mounting the flexible canopy element 46 above the chair 12.

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 FIG. 1 is preferred, the support structure 18 may also include any number of alternative structures known in the art, or that can be developed by one skilled in the art, for shading the chair 12. Any number of awnings, umbrellas, and other structures should be included within the scope of this terminology, as defined herein.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of an attachment element 26 of the sunshade apparatus 10 of FIG. 1, illustrating the attachment element 26 in a closed position around a tubular element 14 of the chair 12. FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of an attachment element 26 of the sunshade apparatus 10 of FIG. 1, illustrating the attachment element 26 in an open position.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, each of the pair of attachment elements 26 preferably includes a clamp 28 having a first locking portion 30 hingably attached to a second locking portion 32, and a locking screw 34 for clamping the first and second locking portions 30 and 32 around a tubular element 14 of the chair 12. The locking screw 34 is preferably hingably attached to the first locking portion 30 and pivots between a closed position wherein the locking screw 34 lockingly engages the second locking portion 32, and an open position wherein the locking screw 34 is disengaged from the second locking portion 32.

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 FIGS. 1-3, the sunshade apparatus 10 further includes a pair of horizontally extending arms 40. Each of the pair of horizontally extending arms 40 has a proximal end 42 and a -distal end 44. The pair of horizontally extending arms 40 are constructed of an elongate, rigid material, preferably tubular steel, aluminum, or similar material, and extend generally horizontally for the supporting the flexible canopy element 46 attached to the pair of horizontally extending arms 40. As shown in FIG. 1, the flexible canopy element 46 extends between the pair of horizontally extending arms 40 when the pair of horizontally extending arms 40 are in the spread configuration, and functions to shade the chair 12. The flexible canopy element 46 has been removed from the pair of horizontally extending arms 40 in FIGS. 2 and 3, for more clearly illustrating the frame structure of the sunshade apparatus 10.

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.

FIGS. 6-8 illustrate a locking element 50 of the sunshade apparatus 10. FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the sunshade apparatus 10 taken along line 6-6 in FIG. 1, illustrating a locking element 50 having a locking handle 52, and wherein the locking handle 52 is in a locked position. FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the locking element 50 of FIG. 6, wherein the locking handle 52 is in an unlocked position. FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the locking element 50 taken along line 8-8 in FIG. 6.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 6-8, the locking element 50 functions to lock the pair of horizontally extending arms 40 in the extended configuration (as shown in FIG. 2) with respect to the pair of vertical support legs 20. The locking element 50 preferably includes a slider element 54 that is adapted to slidably engage one of the pair of vertical support legs 20. The slider element 54 is pivotally attached to a support bar 56, which is pivotally attached to one of the pair of horizontally extending arms 40, such that moving the slider element 54 towards the top end 22 of the one of the pair of vertical support legs 20 causes the support bar 56 to push the one of the pair of horizontally extending arms 40 from the folded configuration, as shown in FIG. 3, to the extended configuration, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

As shown in FIGS. 6-8, the locking handle 52 is pivotally attached to the slider element 54 such that the locking handle 52 can pivot between a locked position, as shown in FIG. 6 and 8, and an unlocked position, as shown in FIG. 7. The locking handle 52 preferably has a locking portion 58 that engages the one of the pair of vertical support legs 20 to lock the locking element 50 with respect to the one of the pair of vertical support legs 20. The locking portion 58 preferably frictionally engages the one of the pair of vertical support legs 20.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the sunshade apparatus 10 further includes a folding element 60 that joins the pair of horizontally extending arms 40. The folding element 60 enables the sunshade apparatus 10 to fold between a collapsed configuration, shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, wherein the pair of horizontally extending arms 40 are adjacent, and a spread configuration, shown in FIG. 1, wherein the pair of horizontally extending arms 40 are laterally spaced from each other.

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.