Abstract:
A collapsible sunshade ( 1 ) that uses a simple support structure and anchoring system to simplify the carrying, assembly and disassembly of the sunshade. The collapsible sunshade of has a substantially-rectangular shaped canopy ( 3 ) with one or more pockets ( 9 ) located near a rear edge ( 6 ) of the canopy. The pockets may be filled with sand to anchor the rear edge of the collapsible sunshade to the ground. One or more air vents ( 10 ) may also be located proximal to the rear edge to allow wind to pass through, thereby lessening the pressure of the wind on a bottom surface ( 8 ) of the canopy. A front support structure ( 18 ) and optional rear support structure ( 2 ) in combination with wind supports the body of the canopy, which acts like a sail in the wind.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/548,560, filed Oct. 18, 2011. The patent application identified above is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety to provide continuity of disclosure. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to portable shelters such as sun shades, umbrellas, canopies and the like and more particularly relates to an easily transportable sun shade which can be quickly set up to provide users with protection from the sun. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Portable shelters such as umbrellas, canopies and tents are very popular due to the detrimental effects of the sun. Conventional umbrellas provide only limited protection based on the size and the circular shape of the umbrella. In addition, umbrellas are fragile and have tendency to flip inside out in strong winds. Alternatively, conventional canopies and tents are require multiple individuals to erect and require multiple tie downs or anchors to prevent the canopies from blowing over, thereby making assembly and take down complicated. A further problem with tents is the lack of air flow. Most importantly, the wind works against umbrellas, canopies and tents by blowing over and/or damaging umbrellas, canopies and tents. 
     Therefore, a need exists for a collapsible sunshade that is easy to transport, easy to assemble, easy to disassemble, provides an adequate area of shade for one or more users and uses the wind to inflate and support the sunshade as opposed to blowing over the sunshade. 
     The relevant prior art includes the following references: 
     
       
         
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
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     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The primary object of the present invention is to provide a collapsible sunshade that is easy to carry and transport to and from the beach or other outdoor areas. 
     An additional object of the present invention is to provide a collapsible sunshade that is easy to assemble. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide a collapsible sunshade that is easy to disassemble. 
     An additional object of the present invention is to provide a collapsible sunshade that uses the wind to help inflate and support the sunshade as opposed to blowing over the sunshade. 
     The present invention fulfills the above and other objects by providing a collapsible sunshade that uses a simple support structure and anchoring system to simplify the assembly and disassembly of the sunshade. The collapsible sunshade of the present invention has a substantially-rectangular shaped canopy having a front edge, side edges, a rear edge a top surface and a bottom surface. One or more pockets are located proximal to the rear edge of the canopy. The pockets may be filled with sand or other substances such as gravel to anchor the rear edge of the collapsible sunshade to the ground. One or more air vents may also be located proximal to the rear edge to allow wind to pass through, thereby lessening the pressure of the wind on the bottom surface of the canopy. A front sleeve is located along the front edge of the canopy that houses a front crossbeam. The front cross beam is may be one elongated member or multiple elongated members connected together depending on the desired length. One or more front support poles attach to the front crossbeam by passing through one or more apertures located on the front sleeve and the front crossbeam. The one or more front support poles may be telescoping to allow a user to adjust the height of the front crossbeam. The body of the canopy is supported by wind blowing under the front crossbeam and against the bottom surface of the canopy thereby elevating a rear portion of the canopy and causing the canopy to act like a sail. The rear portion of the canopy may also be supported by a rear crossbeam that is housed by a rear sleeve extending between the sides of the canopy. One or more rear support poles attach to the rear crossbeam by passing through one or more apertures located on the rear sleeve and the rear crossbeam. The one or more rear support poles may also be telescoping to allow a user to adjust the height of the rear crossbeam. 
     An additional advantage of the collapsible sunshade of the present invention is the compact storage of the sunshade. After removing the front support poles and rear support poles, the poles may be placed parallel to the front edge of the canopy, or inside the front crossbeam and rear crossbeam (if the front crossbeam and rear crossbeam are tubular) and then rolled in the canopy. The rolled sunshade may then be held in a rolled position with ties and/or placed in a carrying bag for easy transportation. 
     The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention should become even more readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description in conjunction with the drawings wherein there is shown and described illustrative embodiments of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the following detailed description, reference will be made to the attached drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective side view of a collapsible sunshade of the present invention without a rear support structure; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective side view of a collapsible sunshade of the present invention with a rear support structure; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective side view of a collapsible sunshade of the present invention having a single front support pole; 
         FIG. 4  is a front view of a front support structure having a multiple front support poles; 
         FIG. 5  is a front view of a front support structure having a single front support poles; 
         FIG. 6  is a front view of a rear support structure of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a bottom view of the canopy illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a bottom view of the canopy illustrated in  FIG. 3 ; and 
         FIG. 9  is a side view of an anchor for securing the proximal ends of the one or more front support poles and/or the one or more rear support poles. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     For purposes of describing the preferred embodiment, the terminology used in reference to the numbered components in the drawings is as follows: 
       1 . collapsible sunshade, generally 
       2 . rear support structure 
       3 . canopy 
       4 . front edge of canopy 
       5 . side edge of canopy 
       6 . rear edge of canopy 
       7 . top surface of canopy 
       8 . bottom surface of canopy 
       9 . pocket 
       10 . air vent 
       11 . front sleeve 
       12 . front crossbeam 
       13 . front support pole 
       14 . aperture 
       15 . proximal end of front support pole 
       16 . distal end of front support pole 
       17 . locking means 
       18 . front support structure 
       19 . rear portion of canopy 
       20 . rear sleeve 
       21 . rear crossbeam 
       22 . rear support pole 
       23 . anchor 
       24 . shaded portion 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , perspective side views of a collapsible sunshade  1  of the present invention without a rear support structure  2  and with a rear support structure  2 , respectively, are illustrated. The collapsible sunshade  1  of the present invention comprises a substantially-rectangular shaped canopy  3  having a front edge  4 , side edges  5 , a rear edge  6 , a top surface  7  and a bottom surface  8 . One or more pockets  9  are located proximal to the rear edge  6  of the canopy  3 . The pockets  9  may be filled with sand or other substances such as gravel to anchor the rear edge  6  of the collapsible sunshade  1  to the ground. One or more air vents  10  may also be located proximal to the rear edge  6  to allow wind to pass through, thereby lessening the pressure of the wind on the bottom surface  8  of the canopy  3 . A front sleeve  11  is located along the front edge  4  of the canopy  3  and houses a front crossbeam  12 . One or more front support poles  13  attach to the front crossbeam  12  by passing through one or more apertures  14  located on the front sleeve  11  and the front crossbeam  12 . The one or more front support poles  13  may be telescoping to allow a user to adjust the height of the front crossbeam  12 . In addition, each front support pole  13  comprises a proximal end  15  that is inserted directly into the ground or into the ground using an anchor  23  (as illustrated in  FIG. 10 ) and a distal end  16  that passes through the one or more apertures  14  located on the front sleeve  11  and the front crossbeam  12 . A locking means  17  such as a clamp, threaded connection, threaded cap, threaded nut and so forth may attach to the distal ends  16  of the front support poles  13  to prevent the distal ends  16  from disconnecting from the front crossbeam  12 . The front crossbeam  12  and one or more front support poles  13  comprise the front support structure  18 , as further illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . For additional support, a rear portion  19  of the canopy may have a rear sleeve  20  extending between the side edges  5  of the canopy  3  that houses a rear crossbeam  21 . One or more rear support poles  22  attach to the rear crossbeam  21  by passing through one or more apertures  14  located on the rear sleeve  20  and the rear crossbeam  21 . The one or more rear support poles  22  may also be telescoping to allow a user to adjust the height of the rear crossbeam  21 . The rear crossbeam  21  and one or more rear support poles  22  comprise a rear support structure  2 , as further illustrated in  FIG. 6 . When erected, the collapsible canopy  1  provides a shaded portion  24  for the user. 
     With reference to  FIG. 3 , a perspective side view of a collapsible sunshade  1  of the present invention having a single front support pole  13  is illustrated. The number of front support poles  13  necessary for supporting the front crossbeam  12  is dependent on the size of the collapsible sun shade  1 . As illustrated here, the collapsible sunshade  1  is sized for a single user. Therefore, only one front support pole  13  positioned centrally on the front cross beam  12  is necessary to support the front cross beam  12 . When erected, the collapsible canopy  1  provides a shaded portion  24  for the user. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , a front view of a front support structure  18  having a multiple front support poles  13  and a front support structure  18  having a single front support pole  13 , respectively, are illustrated. One or more front support poles  13  attach to the front crossbeam  12  by passing through one or more apertures  14  located on the front crossbeam  12 . The one or more front support poles  13  may be telescoping to allow a user to adjust the height of the front crossbeam  12 . In addition, each front support pole  13  comprises a proximal end  15  that is inserted directly into the ground or into the ground using an anchor (as illustrated in  FIG. 10 ) and a distal end  16  that passes through the one or more apertures  14  located on the front crossbeam  12 . A locking means  17  such as a clamp, threaded connection, threaded cap, threaded nut and so forth may attach to the distal ends  16  of the front support poles  13  to prevent the distal ends  16  from disconnecting from the front crossbeam  12 . The number of front support poles  13  necessary for supporting the front crossbeam  12  is dependent on the size of the collapsible sun shade  1 . For example, the front support structure  18  illustrated in  FIG. 4  would be used with a larger collapsible sunshade for use by multiple individuals, as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , and the front support structure  18  illustrated in  FIG. 5  would be used with a smaller collapsible sunshade for use by a single individual, as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 6 , a front view of a rear support structure  2  of the present invention is illustrated. For additional support, a rear portion  19  of the canopy may have a rear sleeve  20  extending between the side edges  5  of the canopy  3 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , that houses a rear crossbeam  21 . One or more rear support poles  22  attach to the rear crossbeam  21  by passing through one or more apertures  14  located on the rear sleeve  20  and the rear crossbeam  21 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 7 , a bottom view of the canopy  3  illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2  is illustrated. The substantially-rectangular shaped canopy  3  having a front edge  4 , side edges  5 , a rear edge  6  a top surface  7  and a bottom surface  8 . One or more pockets  9  are located proximal to the rear edge  6  of the canopy  3 . One or more air vents  10  may also be located proximal to the rear edge  6  to allow wind to pass through, thereby lessening the pressure of the wind on the bottom surface  8  of the canopy  3 . A front sleeve  11  is located along the front edge  4  of the canopy  3  with one or more apertures  14  located thereon. A rear sleeve  20  extends between the side edges  5  of the canopy  3  with one or more apertures  14  located thereon. 
     With reference to  FIG. 8 , a bottom view of the canopy  3  illustrated in  FIG. 3  is illustrated. The substantially-rectangular shaped canopy  3  comprises a front edge  4 , side edges  5 , a rear edge  6 , a top surface  7  and a bottom surface  8 . One or more pockets  9  are located proximal to the rear edge  6  of the canopy  3 . One or more air vents  10  may also be located proximal to the rear edge  6  to allow wind to pass through, thereby lessening the pressure of the wind on the bottom surface  8  of the canopy  3 . A front sleeve  11  is located along the front edge  4  of the canopy  3  with an aperture  14  located centrally thereon. A rear sleeve  20  extends between the side edges  5  of the canopy  3  with one or more apertures  14  located thereon. 
     With reference to  FIG. 9 , a side view of an anchor  23  for securing the proximal ends of the one or more front support poles  13  and/or the one or more rear support poles  22  is illustrated. The anchor  23  screws into the ground and provides a base to hold the proximal ends of the one or more front support poles  13  and/or the one or more rear support poles  22 . 
     It is to be understood that while a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement of parts herein described and shown. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention and the invention is not to be considered limited to what is shown and described in the specification and drawings.