AU2016101565A4 - portable and removable chair shade canopy for fold out chairs - Google Patents

Abstract

A portable weather shade for a chair having a backrest, comprising: a pair of upright members which are each configured for attachment to the backrest of the chair; a pair of 5 shade support members which, in use, are each arranged to removably couple to a corresponding upright member; and a shade member having at least one flexible member incorporated therein, in use the shade arranged to be installed over the pair of shade support members with respective ends of the flexible member arranged to be inserted into respective openings in the support members for securing the shade thereto. (FIGURE 1) C'N, '1L *It --- ---

Description

PORTABLE WEATHER SHADE FOR A CHAIR Technical Field

This disclosure relates to a portable weather shade for a chair, and particularly to a portable shade for a portable chair.

Background

Portable chairs, also commonly referred to as “foldaway” chairs, are commonly used in outdoor leisure activities, such as for seating at a local sporting game, a day at the beach, etc. Such foldaway chairs typical include a collapsible seat and backrest. However, most conventional foldaway chairs do not provide any form of weather protection.

Over the years, various sunshade devices have been developed for use with conventional foldaway chairs. For example, umbrella-type devices have been proposed which couple to one of the upright backrest members. The coupling is typically a Velcro, C-clamp or U-clamp type fastener. There are, however, numerous deficiencies with such forms of sunshade. One notable deficiency is that they are very bulky and can be heavy to carry. Another is that the attachment to the chair is not very sturdy and the shade can become detached when exposed to wind, movement, etc.

It would be advantageous if there was provided a shade of sturdy construction that can be quickly and easily attached to a foldaway chair, yet is also collapsible into a small package for portability.

Summary

In accordance with a first aspect there is provided a portable weather shade for a chair having a backrest, comprising: a pair of upright members which are each configured for attachment to the backrest of the chair; a pair of shade support members which, in use, are each arranged to removably couple to a corresponding upright member; and a shade member having at least one flexible member incorporated therein, in use the shade arranged to be installed over the pair of shade support members with respective ends of the flexible member arranged to be inserted into respective openings in the support members for securing the shade thereto.

In an embodiment the shade further comprises a means for adjusting a flex of each flexible member so as to allow the shade to be fitted to chairs of different widths.

In an embodiment the means for adjusting comprises a rope of adjustable length which extends between the shade support members.

In an embodiment the flexible members comprise fibreglass rods.

In an embodiment the fibreglass rods are stitched into the shade member.

In an embodiment a first of the fibreglass rods is stitched into a front edge of the shade member and wherein the respective openings in which the ends are received are disposed toward a free end of each shade support member.

In an embodiment a second of the fibreglass rods is stitched into a rear edge of the shade member and wherein the respective openings are disposed toward an end of each shade support member that couples to the upright member.

In an embodiment the upright members are removably coupled to the shade support members by way of an elbow joint.

In an embodiment the shade member comprises a top panel which extends over and between the respective shade support members and a pair of side panels which each extend over and between the respective shade support member and corresponding upright member.

In an embodiment the shade member comprises a rear panel which extends over and between the respective upright members.

In an embodiment the upright members each comprises a telescopic portion for adjusting a height of the weather shade.

In an embodiment the upright members each comprise a slotted open end for receiving an upright member of the chair backrest.

In an embodiment the shade member comprises a lightweight polyester material.

In an embodiment the upright members and shade support members comprise PVC tubing.

Other aspects, features, and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which are a part of this disclosure and which illustrate, by way of example, principles of the inventions disclosed.

Description of the Figures

The accompanying drawings facilitate an understanding of the various embodiments:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portable weather shade in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention coupled to a foldaway chair;

Figure 2 is a close-up end view of the portable weather shade;

Figure 3 is a close-up side view of the portable weather shade;

Figure 4 is a close-up view of the upright support members of the portable weather shade, in a partially assembled state;

Figure 5 is a close up view of the upright members coupled to the shade support members; and

Figure 6 shows various elevation views of the shade cover.

Detailed Description

Embodiments described herein are particularly suitable for fold away fabric/canvas chairs. However, it will be understood that embodiments are not so limited and could be used for any type of portable or non-portable chair which has some form of backrest extending between a pair of upright support members.

With reference to Figs. 1 to 3, there is shown a portable weather shade 10 in accordance with an embodiment. The shade 10 is removably coupled to a foldaway chair 12.

The weather shade 10 comprises a pair of upright members 14a, 14b which are each configured for attachment to the backrest 11 of the chair 12. According to the illustrated embodiment, the upright members 14a, 14b have a slotted open end for passing over the backrest uprights. This is best shown in Fig. 4. In an alternative embodiment, the upright members 14a, 14b may be coupled to the backrest uprights using clip fastening brackets, such as bulldog clips or the like. A telescopic mechanism 16 is provided for adjusting the height of the weather shade 10. In this example embodiment, the members 14a, 14b each comprise a number of lengths of PVC tubing of differing diameter. The lengths are inserted into one another to provide the telescopic function.

The portable weather shade 10 additionally comprises a pair of shade support members 18a, 18b. In use, the support members 18a, 18b are each arranged to removably couple to a corresponding upright member. In this example embodiment, the support members 18a, 18b are removably coupled to the upright members 14a, 14b by way of elbow joints. This is best shown in Fig. 5. Again, the support members 18a, 18b are formed of PVC tubing, due to its lightweight and sturdy properties. The upright members 14 and support members 18 ends may be received be the elbow joint and held in place by way of a friction fit. It will be undersood that the elbow joint may be permanently coupled to one of the support members or upright the elbow joints (e.g. glued or otherwise affixed thereto).

Returning to Figs. 1 to 4, the shade 10 further comprises a shade member 20 for providing the shade. The shade member may be formed of any suitable material, such as lightweight polyester, canvas or the like. The member 20 comprises a top panel 24, rear panel 26 and side panels 28a, 28b. As shown, the top panel 24 extends over and between the respective shade support members 18a, 18b. The pair of side panels 28a, 28b extend over and between the respective shade support member and corresponding upright member. The rear wall extends over and between the respective upright members. The panels 24, 26, 28 are best shown in Fig. 6.

At least one flexible member 22 is incorporated into the top panel 24. In this example, there are two flexible members 22a, 22b which take the form of elongate fibreglass rods. The rods 22a, 22b are stitched into, and extend the length of, respective front and rear edges 23a, 23b of the top panel 24. Respective ends of the rods 22a, 22b project outwardly of the top panel side edges 25a, 25b. In use, the shade member 20 is installed over the pair of shade support members 18a, 18b with the respective ends of the flexible member inserted into openings provided therein. A flex adjusting means in the form of a length of nylon string having an adjustable length (using a clam clip, toggle, etc.) extends between the shade support members 18a, 18b. The length can advantageously be adjusted to provide more or less flex to accommodate chairs of different width. It will be understood any suitable flex adjusting means could be provided depending only on the desired implementation.

In the foregoing description of certain embodiments, specific terminology has been resorted to for the sake of clarity. However, the disclosure is not intended to be limited to the specific terms so selected, and it is to be understood that each specific term includes other technical equivalents which operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar technical purpose. Terms such as "upper" and "lower", "above" and "below" and the like are used as words of convenience to provide reference points and are not to be construed as limiting terms.

In this specification, the word “comprising” is to be understood in its “open” sense, that is, in the sense of “including”, and thus not limited to its “closed” sense, that is the sense of “consisting only of’. A corresponding meaning is to be attributed to the corresponding words “comprise", "comprised" and "comprises" where they appear.

The preceding description is provided in relation to several embodiments which may share common characteristics and features. It is to be understood that one or more features of any one embodiment may be combinable with one or more features of the other embodiments. In addition, any single feature or combination of features in any of the embodiments may constitute additional embodiments.

In addition, the foregoing describes only some embodiments of the inventions, and alterations, modifications, additions and/or changes can be made thereto without departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosed embodiments, the embodiments being illustrative and not restrictive.

Furthermore, the inventions have described in connection with what are presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the inventions. Also, the various embodiments described above may be implemented in conjunction with other embodiments, e.g., aspects of one embodiment may be combined with aspects of another embodiment to realize yet other embodiments. Further, each independent feature or component of any given assembly may constitute an additional embodiment.

Claims (14)

1. A portable weather shade for a chair having a backrest, comprising: a pair of upright members which are each configured for attachment to the backrest of the chair; a pair of shade support members which, in use, are each arranged to removably couple to a corresponding upright member; and a shade member having at least one flexible member incorporated therein, in use the shade arranged to be installed over the pair of shade support members with respective ends of the flexible member arranged to be inserted into respective openings in the support members for securing the shade thereto.

2. A portable weather shade in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a means for adjusting a flex of each flexible member so as to allow the shade to be fitted to chairs of different widths.

3. A portable weather shade in accordance with claim 2, wherein the means for adjusting comprises a rope of adjustable length which extends between the shade support members.

4. A portable weather shade in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, wherein the flexible members comprise fibreglass rods.

5. A portable weather shade in accordance with claim 4, wherein the fibreglass rods are stitched into the shade member.

6. A portable weather shade in accordance with claim 5, wherein a first of the fibreglass rods is stitched into a front edge of the shade member and wherein the respective openings in which the ends are received are disposed toward a free end of each shade support member.

7. A portable weather shade in accordance with claim 6, wherein a second of the fibreglass rods is stitched into a rear edge of the shade member and wherein the respective openings are disposed toward an end of each shade support member that couples to the upright member.

8. A portable weather shade in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, wherein the upright members are removably coupled to the shade support members by way of an elbow joint.

9. A portable weather shade in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, wherein the shade member comprises a top panel which extends over and between the respective shade support members and a pair of side panels which each extend over and between the respective shade support member and corresponding upright member.

10. A portable weather shade in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, wherein the shade member comprises a rear panel which extends over and between the respective upright members.

11. A portable weather shade in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, wherein the upright members each comprises a telescopic portion for adjusting a height of the weather shade.

12. A portable weather shade in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, wherein the upright members each comprise a slotted open end for receiving an upright member of the chair backrest.

13. A portable weather shade in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, wherein the shade member comprises a lightweight polyester material.

14. A portable weather shade in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, wherein the upright members and shade support members comprise PVC tubing.