WO1995016370A1

WO1995016370A1 - Collapsible sunshade

Info

Publication number: WO1995016370A1
Application number: PCT/AU1994/000779
Authority: WO
Inventors: Alan Thomas Spiers
Original assignee: The Really Useful Product Company (Australia) Pty. Ltd.
Priority date: 1993-12-17
Filing date: 1994-12-16
Publication date: 1995-06-22
Also published as: AUPM303193A0

Abstract

A collapsible article (1) having two members (2, 3) attached by a flexible attachment means (4) to allow limited relative movement between the members (2, 3). When in an extended position the article (1) forms a sunshade for use upon the head of a person and when collapsed the article (1) forms a planar cushioned pad.

Description

COLLAPSIBLE SUNSHADE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

THIS INVENTION relates to a collapsible article which when extended provides a sunshade to be worn upon the head of a person and when collapsed provides a cushioned pad for sitting thereon.

The invention may be particularly useful, but not limited to, displaying promotional or advertising indicia at sporting events and like venues.

BACKGROUND ART

The seating arrangements at sporting events and like venues generally have no cushioning and may cause discomfort to spectators when seated for a long time. Further, if the seating is unshaded it may become hot due to direct sunlight or alternatively wet due to rain and therefore initially uncomfortable to sit upon.

At such events the major sponsors usually have advertising boards strategically placed for optimal visual impact to both spectators and television viewers. When the spectators sit upon unshaded seating they may require shade to protect their faces and heads from direct sunlight. Accordingly, visors have been used to both promote products and protect the faces of spectators from harmful sun rays. One form of visor used for promoting products at sporting events is cut from a thin cardboard sheet and has two strap members extending from a brim member. The ends of the strap members are cut to form opposing hooks so that, when in use, they engage at the back of the head. This form of visor is usually given away to spectators at sporting events and displayed on the brim member is advertising or promotional indicia. Unfortunately, the visor is easily ripped or torn and may often be discarded by the user, therefore, the visor has a short promotional or advertising lifespan.

Other forms of visor have been made from a plastics or cardboard sheet for the purpose of displaying advertising or promotional indicia. This form of visor is also given away at sporting events and they are usually of an oval shape having a hole of such a size to allow the spectator's head to fit therethrough.

The above visors do not shade the top of the head and therefore do not offer adequate protection especially for balding or bald headed spectators.

Another problem with the above visors is that there is a limited space in which promotional or advertising indicia can be displayed. Accordingly, the visual impact to distant spectators and television viewers is generally unsatisfactory.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the invention to provide an inexpensive and multi-functional article for displaying promotional or advertising indicia thereon. According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a collapsible article including: a first shaped member; a second shaped member; and a flexible attachment means secured between the first member the second member thereby allowing limited relative movement between said first and second members, said article in an extended position forming a sunshade adapted to be worn upon the head of a person and said article when collapsed forming a planar cushioned pad for sitting thereon, wherein when collapsed the second member is at least partially surrounded by the first member. Suitably, the first member has an aperture for locating the second member therein.

Preferably, the shape of the aperture is complementary to the shape of the second member. Suitably, the aperture is oval in shape to engage the head of the person.

The second member may be formed from the same material as the first member.

Suitably, the second member may be formed from a cut out member of the first member which thereby forms a complementary aperture in said first member.

The first and second members may be formed from any suitable cushioning material.

The cushioning material may be a resilient cellular rubber or plastics material. Preferably, the cushioning material is expanded polystyrene or expanded polyethylene.

Alternatively, the first and second members may be formed from a corrugated cardboard or a plastics sheet.

Preferably, when collapsed the second member is maintained in the at least partially surrounded position by frictional engagement with the first member.

The first member may be any suitable shape.

Preferably the first member is circular or oval.

Preferably, when the article is in an extended position the flexible attachment means provides a shading of the aperture. The attachment means when extended may form a ventilation passage between said first and second members.

Suitably, the attachment means comprises fabric material.

Alternatively, the attachment means may comprise a plurality of spaced elongate flexible members.

Suitably advertising indicia may be printed upon either or both the first and second members. Advertising indicia may also be printed upon the attachment means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In order that the invention may be put into practical effect, reference will now be made to preferred embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:-

FIG 1 illustrates a perspective view of a first embodiment of the invention in an extended form; FIG 2 illustrates a perspective view of a second embodiment of the invention in an extended form;

FIG 3 illustrates a perspective view of the invention in a collapsed form;

FIG 4 illustrates a perspective view of a third embodiment of the invention in an extended form; and

FIG 5 illustrates a perspective view of the third embodiment in a collapsed form.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to FIG 1 there is illustrated a collapsible article

1 extended to form a sunshade to be worn on the head of a person. The collapsible article 1 has a first member 2 and a second member 3. Both the first member 2 and second member 3 are formed from a resilient, thermally non-conductive material such as an expanded polystyrene foam sheet, expanded polyethylene sheet, cellular rubber, corrugated cardboard sheet or corrugated plastics sheet.

A mesh or fabric 4 is attached to both first member 2 and second member 3. The first member 2 has an aperture 5 substantially of the same shape and dimensions as the second member 3. When article 1 is extended fabric 4 forms a ventilation passage between first and second members 2, 3. This passage is tubular and provides a shading of aperture 5 when article 1 is worn as a sunshade. Alternatively, depending upon the relative sizes of aperture 5 and second member 3, the passage can be frusto-conical.

As shown in FIG 3, when the collapsible article 1 is collapsed to form a planar cushioned pad 6, the second member 3 is located in the aperture 5 and is surrounded by the first member 2. In this embodiment the second member 3 is formed from the cut out section of first member 2 which forms the aperture 5. Fabric 4 is attached to the wall of aperture 5 and edge of second member 3, therefore when article 1 is collapsed, part of fabric 4 is sandwiched between members 2 and 3 which results in second members 3 being maintained by frictional engagement in aperture 5. However, the frictional engagement can result from a suitably dimensional second member 3 engaging the wall of aperture 5.

In the second embodiment, as illustrated in FIG 2, the attachment between the first member 2 and second member 3 is by elongate strips 7 such as string, strips of fabric or tape. Again, as in the first embodiment, aperture 5 is substantially the same shape and dimensions as that of the second member 3. Therefore when collapsed, as shown in FIG 3, a planar cushioned pad 6 is formed. The invention can be worn as a sunshade, when in the extended form, to protect the face of a user from the sun. Alternatively, the collapsible article 1 may be collapsed to form a planar cushioned pad 6.

Referring to FIG 4, a third embodiment is illustrated in which the collapsible article 8 includes a first member 9 and a second member 10 and attachment of the first member 9 to the second member 1 0 is by elongate strips 1 1 . As in the previous embodiments there is an aperture 1 2 which is substantially the same shape and dimensions as the second member 10. Hence, when collapsed to form a planar cushioned pad 1 3, illustrated in FIG 5, the second member 10 is located in the aperture 1 2 thereby being partially surrounded by first member 9. The above three embodiments can all be used in a similar way. Accordingly, referring in particular to FIG 1 and FIG 3 the invention can be used as described below.

On sunny days, unshaded seating may become hot and planar cushioned pad 6 can be placed upon the seating and used as a cushion to provide comfort due to its padding and non-thermal conductive characteristics.

When the seating cools down due to the shading effects of the planar cushioned pad 6, the user may again use the collapsible article 1 for facial protection or alternatively continue to use the collapsible article 1 as a cushion. The invention can also be used as a cushion to provide comfort from cold or wet seating.

In the above embodiments the collapsible article 1 has been described such that it can be used as a sunshade or planar cushioned pad. However, the collapsible article 1 can be used for other purposes if so desired. For example, it can be used as an enclosure or tray for carrying drinks in which when in the extended form and turned upside down, drinks can be placed within the aperture 5. The drinks are supported upon the upturned second member 3 and the aperture provides a top of an enclosure thereby restricting movement of the drinks.

Although the invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments as herein described.

Claims

1 . A collapsible article including: a first shaped member; a second shaped member; and a flexible attachment means secured between the first member the second member thereby allowing limited relative movement between said first and second members, said article in an extended position forming a sunshade adapted to be worn upon the head of a person and said article when collapsed forming a planar cushioned pad for sitting thereon, wherein when collapsed the second member is at least partially surrounded by the first member.

2. A collapsible article as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first member has an aperture for locating the second member therein.

3. A collapsible article as claimed in claim 2, wherein the shape of the aperture is complementary to the shape of the second member.

4. A collapsible article as claimed in claim 3, wherein the aperture is oval in shape to engage the head of the person.

5. A collapsible article as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the second member is formed from the same material as the first member.

6. A collapsible article as claimed in claim 5, wherein the second member may be formed from a cut out member of the first member which thereby forms a complementary aperture in said first member.

7. A collapsible article as claimed in claim 6, wherein the first and second members are formed from a cushioning material.

8. A collapsible article as claimed in claim 7, wherein the cushioning material may be a resilient cellular rubber or plastics material.

9. A collapsible article as claimed in claim 7, wherein the cushioning material is expanded polystyrene or expanded polyethylene.

10. A collapsible article as claimed in claim 7, wherein the first and second members may be formed from a corrugated cardboard sheet or a corrugated plastics sheet.

1 1 . A collapsible article as claimed in claim 6, wherein when collapsed the second member is maintained in the at least partially surrounded position by frictional engagement with the first member.

1 2. A collapsible article as claimed in claim 2, wherein when the article is in an extended position the flexible attachment means provides a shading of the aperture.

1 3. A collapsible article as claimed in claim 1 2, wherein the attachment means when extended forms a ventilation passage between said first and second members.

14. A collapsible article as claimed in claim 1 3, wherein the attachment means comprises fabric material.

1 5. A collapsible article as claimed in claim 13, wherein the attachment means comprises a plurality of spaced elongate flexible members.