GB2448291A

GB2448291A - Vehicle sunshade

Info

Publication number: GB2448291A
Application number: GB0706896A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Russell Khan-Sullman; Russell Sullman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-04-10
Filing date: 2007-04-10
Publication date: 2008-10-15
Also published as: GB0706896D0

Abstract

A portable vehicle sunshade comprising a shade 12 which is at least partly flexible, with a slit or other aperture/opening to allow access for a vehicle rear-view mirror to be slipped through during deployment and the aperture fitting around the base 7 of a rear-view mirror support stem 3. One or more reversible means attach the shade to one or more parts of the vehicle such as suction cups 14 to the windscreen, such that the light-blocking sunshade is positioned between the rear-view mirror and the windscreen. Embodiments of the shade may incorporate rigid, semi-rigid or elastic parts, and means are provided for joining parts of the two 'lips' of the slit or other opening/aperture together when deployed. Incorporated in the shade may be means for supporting or holding other devices or accessories.

Description

* 2448291 SULLMAN VEHICLE SUNSHADE (O8IO4I2OO7

INTRODUCTION

Vehicles are provided with fitted sun shades, but there exists a space between the two shades (i.e. the driver and front-seat passenger), to allow for the presence and requirement of the rear-view mirror.

As a result of this gap between the shades, the blockage of bright sunlight is ineffective and allows the leakage of sunlight between the deployed shades.

There is a requirement, then, for a shade that can be deployed between the rear-view mirror and the windscreen, which will block sunlight between deployed fitted vehicle sun shades and still allow good (unblocked) rear-view vision.

DESCRIPTION

The portable vehicle sunshade comprises a shade that is flexible (at least in part), incorporating a opening or slit (which when the shade is deployed fits around the base or length of the stem of the rear-view mirror), and means of securing reversibly/detachably the shade to one or more elements (e.g. windscreen, driver sun-shade, etc.) of the vehicle to which the shade is attached.

The shade may be provided in a folded or rolled-up form for ease of transport, and various embodiments of the shade may incorporate rigid and/or semi-rigid components to assist in giving the shade form and shape. If a particular shade shape or form is not required, the shade may be provided in embodiments (at least in part) wherein it is completely flexible or elastic.

Embodiments of the shade may be provided in forms wherein the longitudinal length of the shade is less than, the same as, or greater than the longitudinal length of the windscreen. Where the shade is as long as or longer than the longitudinal length of the vehicle windscreen, the shade when deployed, removes the need, for using the vehicles own fitted shades, and these can then be used separately, the pre-fitted latter shades can then be turned and deployed on the sides of the vehicle.

The shade may also be provided in an embodiment which incorporates parts that can be used to partly shade the driver door and front passenger door windows.

Where required, the shade is provided in a form wherein the height and/or length of the shade may be varied by the user. Further embodiments of the device may be provided as integral (fitted) parts of a vehicle, being stored when not deployed in storage areas or compartments (in the vehicle). These sun-shades and their storage areas or compartments may be integral to or detachable from the vehicle to which they are fitted.

Embodiments of the shade wherein the opening/aperture or slit in the shade exists within elastic material, and the opening is the same as or less than the diameter of the stem or its base, allows the stem or its base to fit snugly within the opening, as the opening can be designed to fit snugly around a particular specific stem size (i.e. shades may be provided for use specific to a particular car-typelstem size).

The elasticity or flexibility of the opening, aperture or slit allows passage of the rear-view mirror through the said opening/slit, so that the shade can then be deployed between the mirror and windscreen, covering the desired part of the windscreen and blocking annoying sunlight, whilst not impeding use of the mirror and allowing full rear-view visibility. When deployed, as the mirror has been passed through the shade, it remains uncovered and affords the driver unblocked rear- view vision, whilst the shade blocks unwanted light.

The shade is provided, where desired, with means by which that the slit or other opening, can be sealed closed, completely or partially.

When the shade is deployed, if any part of the slit or opening remains open, means of sealing (e.g. using Velcro, clips, etc.) the still-open part of the openinglaperture or slit are provided to ensure no leakage of unwanted sunlight, i.e., that part of the opposing lips' of the slit that do not come into contact with the base or length of the stem can be held/secured together to ensure that the shading provided by the shade is effective.

The shade can also integrally incorporate means by which devices such as cameras, portable fans, fragrances, etc. may be supported, contained by or otherwise attached to or held by the shade. Such means of attachment of these devices may either be integral to the shade or be provided additional to the shade as accessories. Where the accessory (e.g. fan, fragrance) is not integrally incorporated into the shade, straps, clips, holders or other means of attachment or support may be provided for it.

Where the opening in the shade is made to be the same as or similar to the size of the transverse cross-section of the mirror stem, then where the material containing the opening is elastic, there is no need to have to seal any areas as the aperture of the opening will fit close to or snugly with the mirror-stem or its base.

The opening/aperture in the shade may be made very small. In other embodiments the opening, aperture or slit in the shade may exist between overlapping lips' of flexible and/or elastic material. The overlap would allow the mirror and stem to be passed through the aperture/opening or slit whilst the overlap would create a light-seal to prevent light leakage. The overlap would mean that the aperture, opening or slit would be present but would not be visibly open or apparent when the shade is not deployed.

The slit may be vertical, horizontal or some other angle to the longitudinal length of the shade. Two or more slits together with one another may in other embodiments form the opening in the shade.

The shade may be composed of the same or similar materials to those used in current and existing styles of vehicle sunshade (either vehicle-fitted or portable accessory, e.g. side-window sunshades available as car accessories from retailers for reducing glare, etc on children or other passengers), or different materials.

DRAWINGS

Figure 1(A) shows the standard arrangement found in most vehicles of a windscreen 1, and its relationship with the rear-view mirror 2 and support stem 3, with roof-mounted driver's shade 4 and front-seat passenger's shade 5, and dashboard 6.

Figure 1(B) shows the support stem 3 as seen in Figure 1(A), with a base 7 (which attaches the stem to the windscreen) at one end, and a mirror-support end 8 to which a rear-view mirror (not shown) would normally be attached.

Figure 2(A) shows an embodiment of the invention wherein there exists a horizontal slit 11 centrally located in a flexible sunshade 12, the shade having a semi-rigid rectangular element 13 that maintains the shade shape and suction cups 14 that allow the shade to be reversibly/detachably secured to the windscreen. Velcro elements 15 are placed to help keep the slit closed during deployment.

The semi-rigid frame in the embodiment shown in 2(A) is rectangular, but other embodiments can be provided either with differently-shaped frames (e.g. ovoid, star-shaped, circular, etc.), or without a frame at all. The shade may also bear pictures, designs, etc. for additional decorative purposes.

Figure 2(B) shows the embodiment shown in Figure 2(A) when deployed, the cups 14 being used to attach the shade 12 to the windscreen 1 (as seen in Fig 1(A)), with the stem 3 (as shown in Figure 1(B)) brought through the slit Ii, lips' of said slit Ii then being sealed closed on either side of the base 7 of the stem 3 with Velcro attachments 15, to prevent leakage of sunlight through the slit when deployed.

Whilst in 2(B) the lips' of the slit exist adjacent to one another, other embodiments of the shade would exist in an arrangement wherein the lips of the slit overlap one another, this helping to reduce light leakage.

Figure 3(A) shows a second embodiment 21 of the shade, with a semi-rigid frame 22 supporting and giving shape to a flexible and elastic material 23 incorporating an open aperture/opening 24, and suction cups 25 to attach to the windscreen of the car in which the shade is deployed.

Figure 3(B) shows the embodiment shown in 3(A) when the shade 2lis deployed on windscreen 26, the aperture 24 fitting around the base 7 of the rear-view mirror (not shown) stem 3. As the aperture/opening 24 exists in elastic material 23, and is smaller in diameter than the base 7 of stem 3, then the elastic material 23 fits snugly around the base 7, blocking any unwanted leakage of light.

Although the upper border of the shade 21 in Fig 3(B) is below the upper border of the windscreen 26, in use, the upper border of shade 21 should be level with or above the upper border of the windscreen 26, in order to block unwanted sunlight. Note that as the aperture is narrower than the stem base, the elastic material stretches and seals the area around the stem. This prevents leakage of unwanted sunlight.

Note that only the stem is shown in 2(B) and 3(B) for clearness (i.e. the mirror itself is not shown to clarify position of stem to shade when the shade is deployed).

Figure 4 shows an embodiment of the shade 31, comprising an elastic and flexible sheet 32, with a central aperture 33, and suction cups 34 for attachment to the windscreen or some other part of the car. This embodiment does not have a rigid or semi-rigid frame.

FigureS shows a further embodiment of the device with a flexible and elastic sheet 41 incorporating an aperture 42 with two rigid or semi-rigid supports 43 bearing suction cups 44.

Figure 6 shows and embodiment of the shade similar to that shown in figure 3, the difference being that separate Velcro attachments affixed to the vehicle attach reversibly to matching means of attachment located on the shade. In Fig 6, the shade 51 with semi-rigid frame 52 is deployed, with the shade being kept secure by reversibly attaching elements 53 on the frame 52 to Velcro elements 54 which are attached to the vehicle (here on the roof, but they could be pie-fixed to the windscreen 55 instead), and remain attached when the shade is removed.

Means other than suction cups can be used additionally or exclusively to secure (reversibly) a shade when it is deployed. Embodiments of the shade can be made to be the same as or longer than the longitudinal length of the windscreen.

Other modifications and embodiments of the invention, which will be readily apparent to those skilled in this art, are to be deemed within the ambit and scope of the invention, and particular embodiments hereinbefore described may be varied in construction and detail, e.g. interchanging (where appropriate or desired) different features of each, without departing from the scope of the patent monopoly hereby sought.

Claims

1. A Portable vehicle sunshade comprising: A shade which is flexible (at least in part), with a slit or other aperture/opening to allow access for the vehicle rear-view mirror to be slipped through the shade during the process of deployment (and said aperture fitting [at least in part] around the base of a rear-view mirror support stem base, or some other part of the stem, when the shade is deployed), with one or more means of reversibly fixinglattaching the said shade to one or more parts of the vehicle (e.g. attachment via suction cups to the windscreen, clip to the stem, etc.), with the resultant effect that the light-blocking sunshade is positioned when deployed between the rear-view mirror and the windscreen;

2. a vehicle sunshade as claimed in Claim 1 and 2 that can move between a deployed and rolled or folded position;

3. a vehicle sunshade as claimed in Claim I wherein the shade incorporates semi-rigid parts;

4. a vehicle sunshade as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the shade incorporates rigid parts;

5. a vehicle sunshade as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the shade incorporates rigid and semi-rigid parts;

6. a vehicle sunshade as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the shade is completely flexible and non-rigid;

7. a vehicle sunshade as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the shade is completely flexible and elastic;

8. a vehicle sunshade as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the shade is rigid and non-flexible;

9. a vehicle sunshade as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the shade reversibly attaches to one or both of the fitted vehicle sun shades;

10. a vehicle sunshade as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the shade length longitudinally is the same or more than the longitudinal length of the vehicle windscreen;

11. a vehicle sunshade as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the longitudinal length of the shade is less that the longitudinal length of the vehicle windscreen;

12. a vehicle sunshade as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the longitudinal length of the shade may be varied during use;

13. a vehicle sunshade as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the vertical height (width) of the shade may be varied during use;

14. a vehicle sunshade as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the shade may be varied in shape;

15. a vehicle sunshade as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the shade can be provided in a form that can be deployed from within stored parts of the vehicle (e.g. the rear-view mirror stem);

16. a vehicle sunshade as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the slit or opening of the shade fits around the stem of the rear-view mirror when the shade is deployed, and where there are provided means ofjoining the two lips' of the slit or other opening together once the shade is deployed, thereby preventing the leakage of sunlight through the slit/opening;

17. a vehicle sunshade as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the shade is made (at least in part) of a stretchy/elastic material;

18. a vehicle sunshade as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the opening or slit in the shade exists entirely within springy/elastic material;

19. a vehicle sunshade as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the opening/slit of the shade exists entirely within elastic/springy material and is less than, similar to or identical in shape to the transverse cross-sectional dimensions of the rear-view mirror stem (or its base) of the vehicle to which the shade is being applied;

20. a vehicle sunshade as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the aperture/opening in the shade is less than, similar to or the same as the diameter of the base or some other part of the rear-view mirror stem;

21. a vehicle sunshade as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the means (e.g. clips) for attaching the shade to the windscreen or other parts of the car when it is deployed remain on the car (at least in part) even when the shade is not deployed, and where they are separate from the shade;

22. a vehicle sunshade as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the opening/slit is strengthened/reinforced to counter and protect against damage or over-stretch;

23. A vehicle sunshade as claimed in any preceding claim wherein there is incorporated in the shade a means for supporting or holding other car-devices (e.g. a means of fragrance, a small fan, camera, etc.);

24. A vehicle sunshade as claimed in any preceding claim wherein there is provided a power-source and connections (e.g. a battery, connection to the cigarette lighter, etc.) in the shade to power detachable devices such as a fan, camera, etc.;

25. a vehicle sunshade as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the shade contains a slit or opening that, when the shade is deployed, fits snugly around the stem of the rear-view mirror;

26. a vehicle sunshade as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the opening/aperture or slit appears closed when the shade is not deployed due to design features (e.g. due to overlap of opposing lips of a slit);

27. a vehicle sunshade as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the opening or aperture of the shade is elasticated or elasticised to allow it to maintain a certain size and shape at rest, whilst it can be reversibly deformed to allow the passage of the rear-view mirror and stem through it during the process of deployment of the shade (e.g. ringing the aperture/opening in the shade with a elasticated or elasticised cuff);

28. A vehicle sunshade substantially as described in the above specification, attached drawings and claims.