NZ264750A - Sun shade with flexible perimeter member moved between stable open and stable collapsed positions and having support leg or legs - Google Patents

Description

264750 Patents Form No. 5 Our Ref: JB203784 NEW ZEALAND PATENTS ACT 1953 Complete After Provisional No. 264750 Filed: 21 October 1994 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION A COLLAPSIBLE SUN SHADE I, BRIGID MOORE trading as MORE ORIGINAL DESIGN, a New Zealand citizen of 42 Wright Street, Mount Cook, Wellington, New Zealand hereby declare the invention, for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: j 11 ~L. PAT G'i 1 1C OCT PT0522997 1 - 264750 This invention relates to an apparatus for providing sun shade, the apparatus being in a collapsible form.

Conventional sun shade apparatus is in the form of umbrellas or parasols which incorporate a central support member and spokes to support the canopy. Whilst such designs may provide reasonable shade, the spoke-type system requires a relatively complex manufacturing process. Further, the spokes in such systems can be easily damaged. For example, the spokes may be bent or broken by excessive wind, or bent by mechanical damage particularly when the umbrella is in a collapsed form.

Umbrellas and parasols can, even in their collapsed form, be bulky, difficult to store and/or unwieldy to carry. Another problem with parasols and umbrellas is that the central support member can occupy a significant part of the shaded area provided, particularly if the umbrella or parasol is to be placed on the ground for a person to lie under.

It is important for sun shade apparatus to be in a collapsible form, simple to carry and convenient to pack, for example in a vehicle or in a storage place.

Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide a collapsible sun shade apparatus which is convenient to transport or store and which overcomes at least some of the abovementioned problems, or which at least provides the public with a useful alternative. 264750 Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description which is given by way of example only.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a collapsible sun shade comprising: a shade means comprising a flexible member in contact with the perimeter of a material cover, the flexible member being adapted to form two substantially stable configurations, an open configuration, and a collapsed configuration formed by the application of pressure to selected parts of the flexible member in its open configuration to cause it to collapse onto itself one or more times; and a support means adapted to support at least one end of the shade means in its open configuration above ground level to provide an area of shade.

In one preferred form of the present invention the flexible member has a substantially rectangular cross-section.

In another preferred form the flexible member is retained in the perimeter of the material cover.

In a further preferred form the flexible member in its open configuration may be in the form of a hoop in which longitudinal 4 264750 In a further preferred form the hoop may be constrained into a substantially oval shape by the shape of the material cover.

Preferably, the collapsed configuration of the hoop is essentially a spiral form with three coils.

In a preferred form of the invention the flexible member may be made from metal or a plastics material.

In a further preferred form of the invention the material cover may be made from a synthetic material. Preferably the material may restrict the passage of radiation having a wavelength less than a selected wavelength.

In a preferred form of the present invention the support means may comprise a central support member adapted at each end to attach to opposite sides of the flexible member in its open configuration, and to receive at least one leg member at a perpendicular or oblique angle to the central support member. Preferably, the sun shade is provided with at least two leg members.

In a preferred form, the central support member may be provided in two or more parts.

In a preferred form, each leg member may be provided in two or more parts. 264750 Other aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the following description which is given by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1: shows a perspective view from the front of one embodiment of the collapsible sun shade of the present invention, ready for use; Figure 2: shows a side view of the collapsible sun shade of Figure 1; Figure 3: shows a view from above of one embodiment of a shade means of the sun shade of the present invention, in which the flexible member is in its open configuration; Figure 4: shows a view from above of the shade means of Figure 3, in which the flexible member is in its collapsed configuration.

Figure 5: shows a view of the flexible member of the sun shade of the present invention in a semi-collapsed configuration; Figure 6: shows a cross-section through a preferred form of a connector means of the sun shade support means of the present invention; 264750 Figure 7; shows a side view of a side support member of a sun shade according to another embodiment of the present invent ion; and Figure 8: shows the side support member of Figure 7, in an open configuration.

Referring firstly to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings, the present invention provides a collapsible sun shade 1 comprising a shade means 2 and a support means 3.

The support means 3 comprises an upper support member 12, connectors 13 and leg members 14. The leg members 14 may incorporate spikes 15 at one end for securing the support means 3 to the ground. It will be appreciated however that the spikes 15 are optional and may be done away with entirely or replaced with, for example, foot-type support means or other securing means. The arrangement of the support means 3 is further described below.

Referring now Figure 3, the shade means 2 comprises a flexible member 4 which is secured in a peripheral portion 5 of a material cover 6. The material cover 6 is oval-shaped. In the open configuration of the flexible member 4 shown in Figure 3, this oval shape of the material cover 6 holds the flexible member 4 in a substantially oval shape. The peripheral portion 5 of the cover 6 is in the form of a hem, which may be glued, sewn, stapled or the like, and which may be made of stronger material 264750 than the rest of the material cover or alternatively may include other forms of strengthening means.

It will be appreciated that whilst the preferred example of the flexible member 4 shown in the accompanying drawings forms a hoop in its open configuration, alternative shapes are envisaged. The essential requirement is that the flexible member has at least two essentially stable configurations, one being an expanded or open configuration and the other being a collapsed configuration in which parts of the flexible member collapse onto one another one or more times under appropriately applied pressure.

The flexible member 4 may be made of a suitable material, for example metal, plastics material or fibreglass. It is essentially rectangular in cross-section. When the flexible member 4 is secured in the material cover 6 the longitudinal sides of the rectangular cross-section are essentially perpendicular to the surface 7 of the material cover 6.

The material cover 6 of the shade means 2 may be made of natural or synthetic material. The material may provide shade from visible light and/or protection from radiation having a wavelength less than a selected wavelength, for example restricting the passage of ultraviolet light. The material may therefore be solid in appearance, transparent or translucent. 264750 The shade means 2 may be collapsed into the configuration shown in Figure 4. In this collapsed configuration the flexible member 4 is collapsed onto itself three times to form an essentially spiral shape. The structure of the flexible member 4, namely its rectangular cross-section, hoop shape and the flexible properties of the material from which it is formed, enable it to retain its collapsed configuration until appropriate pressure, is applied to expand it to its open configuration.

The flexible member 4 in its open configuration (Figure 3) can be converted to its collapsed configuration (Figure 4) by the application of pressure at two separate points on a longitudinal side 8 of the oval-shaped flexible member. This results in a semi-collapsed configuration, as shown in Figure 5, in which two loops 9, 10 are formed at one end with a third loop 11 at the opposite end. Closing the third loop 11 to the first and second loops 9, 10 completes the collapsing process.

Each connector 13 is essentially an oblique angled member. As shown in Figure 6, it has a hole 16 into which one end of the upper support member 12 slots. It also has a hole 17 at its opposite end and at an oblique angle to the first hole 16. An upper end 18 of a leg member 14 is slotted into the hole 17.

The ends of upper support member 12 are retained in holes 16 of the connectors 13 by an elasticated member 19 which passes through the length of the upper support member 12 and is affixed 264750 in the connectors 13. It will be appreciated that the connectors 13 could be formed as a part of the upper support member 12 itself.

In the form of the invention shown in Figures 1 and 2, the elasticated member 19 is affixed at the lower end 20 of each leg member 14, passing through all components of the support means 3. This enables all the components of the support means 3 to be held together either in a collapsed form or a form ready for use with the shade means 2.

Each connector 13 also incorporates an attachment means 21 on an inner surface 22, adapted to receive and hold the flexible member 4 .

An alternative embodiment of the invention is shown in Figures 7 and 8. In this embodiment, each of the upper support member 12 and leg members 14 may be provided in several sections to enable collapsing of the support means 3 into smaller components.

In this embodiment of the invention, each leg member 14 may be provided in two parts 25 and 26. Each leg member 14 is provided with elasticated member 19, which is secured at point 27, within part 26.

In the closed configuration shown in Figure 7, an end 28 of part 25 is located within an end 29 of part 26. The arrangement is 264750 secured by cord 30, which is fixed to part 25, and engaged within a notch 32 provided on flange 31 of part 26.

In the open configuration shown in Figure 8, the cord 30 is disengaged from notch 32. Parts 25 and 26 may then be pulled apart, in the general direction of arrow A.

Although not shown in the accompanying drawings, in this embodiment of the invention, the upper support member 12 may also be provided in two parts. The two parts are engaged with each other by any suitable means. For example, an arrangement similar to that shown in Figures 7 and 8 is envisaged, although preferably the arrangement will be simpler, as securement with the cord and notch arrangement is not strictly necessary.

The provision of leg members 14 in two (or more) disengageable parts has several advantages. This arrangement allows for the sun shade to be collapsed into a smaller configuration, when not in use. The arrangement also allows some movement of part 25 relative to part 26. In use, this provides the sun shade with an element of flexibility, which provides the sun shade with a greater ability to withstand wind gusts and the like.

The shade means 2 may optionally be provided with a securing means, such as a rubber, plastic or rope loop. An example of such a securing means is the peg 24 attached at one end of the oval-shape for securing that end to the ground, as shown in Figure 1. 264750 To prepare the apparatus 1 of the present invention for use, the components of the support means 3 are connected together, the shade means 2 is opened into its open configuration, simply by holding one loop of the collapsed configuration of the flexible member 4 and shaking, and parts 23 of each longitudinal side 8 of the flexible member 4 are clipped into the attachment means 21 of the connectors 16. The upper support member 12 passes across the top of the shade means 2.

The attachment means 21 of the connectors 16 are attached in positions on the flexible member 4 so that a triangular construction is formed, as shown in Figure 1, in which the resting points for the apparatus 1 are the feet or spikes 18 of the side support members 14 and a rear portion 22 of the shade means 2. Peg 24 may be used for securing the apparatus to the ground, if necessary.

To assist in easy transport and storage of the sun shade according to the present invention, the sun shade may be provided with a bag which can accommodate the collapsed, disassembled shade.

Although the invention has been described by way of example, and with particular reference to the preferred embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings, it should be appreciated that variations and modifications may be made thereto, without departing from the scope of the invention as set out in this specification. 264750 For example, alternative forms of support means are envisaged. Such modifications may have more than two means of attachment to the flexible member, and more than two leg members. In addition, it is envisaged that the support means may be adapted to raise the whole of the shade means above ground level. Such a support means would incorporate at least three means of attachment and support members.

Claims (15)

13 WHAT I CLAIM IS:

1. A collapsible sun shade comprising: a shade means comprising a flexible member in contact with the perimeter of a material cover, the flexible member being adapted to form two substantially stable configurations, an open configuration, and a collapsed configuration formed by the application of pressure to selected parts of the flexible member in its open configuration to cause it to collapse onto itself one or more times; and a support means including at least one leg member adapted to support at least one end of the shade means in its open configuration above ground level to provide an area of shade.

2. A sun shade as claimed in claim 1, in which the flexible member has a substantially rectangular cross-section.

3. A sun shade as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, in which the flexible member is retained in the perimeter of the material

4. A sun shade as claimed in any one of claims 1-3, in which the flexible member in its open configuration may be in the form of a hoop in which longitudinal sides of the flexible member form the inner and outer circumferences of the hoop. cover J 3 ?'£(? £3? 14 26 A 750

5. A sun shade as claimed in Claim 4, in which the hoop may be constrained into a substantially oval shape by the shape of the material cover.

6. A sun shade as claimed in any one of claims 1-5, in which the collapsed configuration of the flexible member is essentially a spiral form with three coils.

7. A sun shade as claimed in any one of claims 1-6, in which the flexible member is made from metal or a plastics material.

8. A sun shade as claimed in any one of claims 1-7, in which the material cover may be made from a synthetic material.

9. A sun shade as claimed in claim 8, in which the material may restrict the passage of radiation having a wavelength less than a selected wavelength.

10. A sun shade as claimed in any one of claims 1-9, in which the support means comprises a central support member adapted at each end to attach to opposite sides of the flexible member in its open configuration, and to receive the at least one leg member at a perpendicular or oblique angle to the central support member.

11. A sun shade as claimed in claim 10, in which two leg members are provided. —- — . 1 I 3 MAR 397 15 264-750

12. A sun shade as claimed in claim 10 or claim 11, in which the central support member is provided in two or more parts.

13. A sun shade as claimed in any one of claims 10-12, in which leg member is provided in two or more parts.

14. A sun shade as claimed in claim 1, substantially as herein described.

15. A sun shade substantially as described with reference to any one of the accompanying drawings. BRIGID MOORE trading as INAL DESIGN ON & CAREY END OF CLAIMS