OUTDOOR SUNSHADE AND ASSEMBLY
An outdoor sunshade that has at least one frame, wherein the frame comprises: a front frame member, two side frame members, and a rear frame member. The frame may also have one or more support frame members positioned at the shortest distance across the frame. The frame may also have a plurality of U-shaped connectors coupled only to two opposing sides of the frame, a plurality of L-shaped connectors coupled to a bottom surface of the frame, and solar screen material coupled to and stretched within the at least one frame. The outdoor sunshade may be hingedly mounted to a wall by a mounting assembly. And one or more sunshades may be hingedly coupled together, depending upon the size of the area that needs to be covered.
Latest SUN AWAY OUTDOOR SHADES, LLC Patents:
The present application in general relates to sunshades, and more specifically, to an outdoor sunshade and assembly.
BACKGROUNDOutdoor sunshades are not only useful for keeping people cool, but they are especially helpful for keeping outdoor equipment, such as pool equipment, cool as well. In certain areas that experience extreme heat, like Arizona, prolonged sun exposure may cause damage to people, animals, machinery, and other equipment left outside. Most of the outdoor sunshades, however, are bulky in construction and are not very aesthetically pleasing. Therefore, it would be desirable to provide an outdoor sunshade and assembly that is effective in providing shade and that is also pleasing in appearance.
SUMMARYIn accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, an outdoor sunshade is disclosed. The outdoor sunshade comprises: at least one frame; a plurality of U-shaped connectors coupled only to two opposing sides of the at least one frame; a plurality of L-shaped connectors coupled to a bottom surface of the at least one frame; and material coupled to and stretched within the at least one frame.
In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, an outdoor sunshade is disclosed. The outdoor sunshade comprises: at least one frame, wherein the at least one frame comprises: a front frame member; two side frame members; a rear frame member; and at least one support flame member positioned a shortest distance across a middle portion of the at least one frame; a plurality of U-shaped connectors coupled only to two opposing sides of the at least one frame; a plurality of L-shaped connectors coupled to a bottom surface of the at least one frame; and solar screen material coupled to and stretched within the at least one frame.
In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, an outdoor sunshade assembly is disclosed. The outdoor sunshade assembly comprises: at least one sunshade, each sunshade comprising: a frame comprising: a front frame member; two side frame members; a rear frame member; and at least one support frame member positioned a shortest distance across a middle portion of the frame; wherein one end of each side frame member is positioned perpendicularly to the front frame member and wherein another end of each side frame member is positioned perpendicularly to the rear frame member; a plurality of U-shaped connectors coupled only to two opposing sides of the frame; a plurality of L-shaped connectors coupled to a bottom surface of the frame; and solar screen material coupled to and stretched within the frame; and a mounting assembly for mounting the at least one sunshade.
The present application is further detailed with respect to the following drawings. These figures are not intended to limit the scope of the present application, but rather, illustrate certain attributes thereof.
The description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of presently preferred embodiments of the disclosure and is not intended to represent the only forms in which the present disclosure may be constructed and/or utilized. The description sets forth the functions and the sequence of steps for constructing and operating the disclosure in connection with the illustrated embodiments. It is to be understood, however, that the same or equivalent functions and sequences may be accomplished by different embodiments that are also intended to be encompassed within the spirit and scope of this disclosure.
Referring to
In an alternative embodiment shown in
Referring to
Referring again to
The front frame member 18, rear frame member, 20, and side frame members 22 may each have a channel 26 (see
The solar screen material 30 may be made of fabric, mesh, or any other solar screen fabric, such as EASY GARDENER sun screen fabric, that may provide shade. Preferably, the solar screen material 30 may offer about 75% Ultraviolet (UV) light protection.
A plurality of U-shaped connectors 34 may be used to couple the side frame members 22 to the front frame member 18 and the rear frame member 20. As shown, the U-shaped connectors 34 may be coupled to the frame 16 at the junctions where the end 24 of a side frame member 22 perpendicularly abuts the inner surface 19 of the front frame member 18 and the inner surface 19 of the rear frame member 20. Both of the side frame members 22 may be coupled to the front frame member 18 and the rear frame member 20 in this manner. The U-shaped connectors 34 may therefore cover the ends 24 of the front frame member 18 and the rear frame member 18 and the ends 24 of the side frame members 22 may be covered by the inner surface 19 of the front frame member 18 and the inner surface 19 of the rear frame member 20. This configuration allows the front frame member 18 (as well as the rear frame member 20) to appear smooth, which may be aesthetically pleasing when the frame 16 is viewed from the front or the rear (see
Referring to
Referring to
The L-shaped connectors 32 may be 90° corner supports. As shown, the L-shaped connectors 32 may be coupled at the corners where the side frame members 22 meet the front frame member 18 and the rear frame member 20. One side of the L-shaped connector 32 may be coupled to the bottom surface 27 of a side frame member 22 and also to the inner surface 19 of the same side frame member 22 while the other side of the L-shaped connector 32 may be coupled to the bottom surface 27 of the front frame member 18 (or the rear frame member 20) and to the inner surface 19 of the same front frame member 18 (or the same rear frame member 20). Both of the side frame members 22 are coupled to the front frame member 18 and the rear frame member 20 in this manner.
Referring again to
Since the solar screen material 30 is coupled to the channels 26 on the top surface 21 of the front frame member 18, the rear frame member 20, and the side frame members 22, an open space is created on the bottom surface of the frame 16 so that the L-shaped connectors 32 may be coupled to the inner surfaces 19 of each of the front frame member 18, the rear frame member 20, the side frame members 22, and the support frame member 36 without interfering with or touching the solar screen material 30. The L-shaped connectors 32 may be coupled to the bottom surface of the frame 16 so that they are not visible to the user/passersby.
The foregoing description is illustrative of particular embodiments of the application, but is not meant to be a limitation upon the practice thereof. The following claims, including all equivalents thereof, are intended to define the scope of the application.
Claims
1. An outdoor sunshade comprising:
- at least one frame;
- a plurality of U-shaped connectors coupled only to two opposing sides of the at least one frame;
- a plurality of L-shaped connectors coupled to a bottom surface of the at least one frame; and
- material coupled to and stretched within the at least one frame.
2. The outdoor sunshade of claim 1 wherein the at least one frame further comprises:
- a plurality of channels formed within a top surface of the at least one frame; and
- a plurality of locking strips, wherein each locking strip is adapted to engage a portion of the material and to be inserted into one of the channels, thereby securing the material within the at least one frame.
3. The outdoor sunshade of claim 2 wherein each channel is positioned proximate an inner surface of the at least one frame.
4. The outdoor sunshade of claim 1 wherein the at least one frame comprises:
- a front frame member;
- two side frame members; and
- a rear frame member,
- wherein one end of each side frame member is positioned perpendicularly to the front frame member and wherein another end of each side frame member is positioned perpendicularly to the rear frame member.
5. The outdoor sunshade of claim 4 wherein each U-shaped connector is coupled at a junction where one end of one of the side frame members perpendicularly abuts one of an inner surface of the front frame member and an inner surface of the rear frame member.
6. The outdoor sunshade assembly of claim 4 wherein one side of each L-shaped connector is coupled to a bottom surface and an inner surface of one of the side frame members and another side of the L-shaped connector is coupled to a bottom surface and an inner surface of one of the front frame member and the rear frame member.
7. The outdoor sunshade of claim 4 wherein the at least one frame further comprises at least one support frame member positioned across a middle portion of the frame.
8. The outdoor sunshade of claim 1 further comprising at least a second frame hingedly coupled to a first frame.
9. An outdoor sunshade comprising:
- at least one frame, wherein the at least one frame comprises: a front frame member; two side frame members; a rear frame member; and at least one support frame member positioned a shortest distance across a middle portion of the at least one frame;
- a plurality of U-shaped connectors coupled only to two opposing sides of the at least one frame;
- a plurality of L-shaped connectors coupled to a bottom surface of the at least one frame; and
- solar screen material coupled to and stretched within the at least one frame.
10. The outdoor sunshade of claim 9 wherein one end of each side frame member directly abuts and is positioned perpendicularly to the front frame member and wherein another end of each side frame member directly abuts and is positioned perpendicularly to the rear frame member.
11. The outdoor sunshade of claim 9 wherein the at least one frame further comprises:
- a plurality of channels formed within a top surface of each of the front frame member, the two side frame members, and the rear frame member; and
- a plurality of locking strips, wherein each locking strip is adapted to engage a portion of the solar screen material and to be inserted into one of the channels, thereby securing the solar screen material to each of the front frame member, the two side frame members, and the rear frame member.
12. The outdoor sunshade of claim 11 wherein each channel is positioned proximate an inner surface of each of the front frame member, the two side frame members, and the rear frame member.
13. The outdoor sunshade of claim 10 wherein each U-shaped connector is coupled at a junction where the end of one of the side frame members perpendicularly abuts one of an inner surface of the front frame member and an inner surface of the rear frame member.
14. The outdoor sunshade of claim 10 wherein an L-shaped connector is coupled at each corner where one of the side frame members meets one of the front frame member and the rear frame member.
15. The outdoor sunshade of claim 9 wherein one L-shaped connector is coupled at each of two ends of the support frame member and wherein the L-shaped connectors are coupled to opposite sides of the support frame member.
16. The outdoor sunshade of claim 9 further comprising at least a second frame hingedly coupled to a first frame.
17. An outdoor sunshade assembly comprising:
- at least one sunshade, each sunshade comprising: a frame comprising: a front frame member; two side frame members; a rear frame member; and at least one support frame member positioned a shortest distance across a middle portion of the frame; wherein one end of each side frame member is positioned perpendicularly to the front frame member and wherein another end of each side frame member is positioned perpendicularly to the rear frame member; a plurality of U-shaped connectors coupled only to two opposing sides of the frame; a plurality of L-shaped connectors coupled to a bottom surface of the frame; and solar screen material coupled to and stretched within the frame; and
- a mounting assembly for mounting the at least one sunshade.
18. The outdoor sunshade assembly of claim 17 wherein each sunshade further comprises:
- a plurality of channels formed within a top surface of the frame; and
- a plurality of locking strips, wherein each locking strip is adapted to engage a portion of the solar screen material and to be inserted into one of the channels, thereby securing the solar screen material within the frame.
19. The outdoor sunshade assembly of claim 17 wherein each U-shaped connector is coupled at a junction where the end of one of the side frame members perpendicularly abuts one of an inner surface of the front frame member and an inner surface of the rear frame member.
20. The outdoor sunshade assembly of claim 17 wherein an L-shaped connector is coupled at each corner where one of the side frame members meets one of the front frame member and the rear frame member and wherein one L-shaped connector is coupled at each of two ends of the support frame member and wherein the L-shaped connectors are coupled to opposite sides of the support frame member.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 18, 2014
Publication Date: May 19, 2016
Applicant: SUN AWAY OUTDOOR SHADES, LLC (TEMPE, AZ)
Inventor: ANTHONY LEE (TEMPE, AZ)
Application Number: 14/546,327