Sunshield and method for attaching to window

A sheet of sunshield material is configured to approximate the shape of a window in which the sunshield will be placed. At least one hinge is attached to one or both sides of the sunshield and suction cups are provided in the hinges to removably attach the sunshield to a window.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to a sunshield, which may or may not be foldable, 
and the method of manufacturing the sunshield in which spring loops may be 
twisted to form a small configuration. Such sunshield is particularly 
useful in vehicles although it may also be used in homes, offices and 
other circumstances to reduce the amount of sun coming through windows. 
The prior art discloses a folding automobile sunshield having two or more 
loops. The methods of manufacture, in the past, have included laying two 
spring steel loops, a spaced distance apart, on a single layer of 
sunshield material and attaching the spring steel loops to the material by 
rolling the edge of the material over the spring steel loops or otherwise 
attaching a tube to the material and enclosing the spring steel loops 
within such tube. The intermediate material occupying the distance between 
the two spring steel loops serves as a hinge between the two spring steel 
loops so that they may be folded one on top of the other. Then the two 
loops, and the entire sunshield, are twisted into a final, multiple loop, 
compact configuration substantially smaller than either loop of the 
sunshield. U.S. Pat. No. 4,815,784 entitled AUTOMOBILE SUNSHIELD 
illustrates such a method. Other prior art patents include U.S. Pat. No. 
5,785,106 entitled SUNSHIELD AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE OF SUNSHIELD. 
What has been needed and heretofore unavailable is a sunshield that is 
custom fit to a window and is easily removably attached to a window. 
Further, more than one sunshield can be easily removably attached to the 
window to reduce sun glare. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In the preferred embodiment, a sheet of sunshield material is configured to 
approximate the shape of the window in which the sunshield will be placed. 
A conventional spring steel loop, or other similar conventional material, 
is attached to the sunshield material to approximate the shape of the 
window in which the sunshield will be placed. A hinge is attached to one 
or both sides of the sunshield and openings or apertures are placed in 
each of the hinges. A grommet or similar material can be used to secure 
the opening or aperture. A suction cup is removably attached to the 
grommet in order to mount the sunshield to a window. 
The hinge on each side of the sunshield is preferably permanently attached 
either by sewing, gluing, stapling, metallic or non-metallic fasteners, or 
other equivalent means. It is envisioned that the hinge may be removably 
attached to the sunshield material such as by use of a VELCRO flap for the 
hinge material having a mating velcro material attached to the sunshield. 
Preferably, one or more hinges are attached to the sides of the sunshield, 
and depending upon the configuration, multiple hinges may be placed on 
each side or on the top or bottom of the sunshield. 
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more 
apparent from the following detailed description of the invention, when 
taken in conjunction with the accompanying exemplary drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
The present invention provides protection from sun glare coming through a 
window, such as with a vehicle, office, or home window. Importantly, it is 
desirable to change the position of the sunshield on the window, or to 
provide a sunshield that has substantially the same dimensions as the 
window upon which it is temporarily mounted. Further, it is also desirable 
to have a sunshield that can be removed and reattached as desired. The 
present invention provides all of these advantages. 
Turning to the drawing figures, and particularly FIGS. 1 and 2, sunshield 
10 is provided in which spring loop 12 is attached to sunshield material 
14. The method of attaching spring loop 12 to the sunshield material is 
well known and can include numerous configurations. Conventional sunshield 
material is used to screen the amount of light entering through the 
sunshield, but still permits visibility through the sunshield material. 
In keeping with the invention, as depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2, sunshield 10 
has top edge 16 and bottom edge 18 as well as side edges 20,22. A pair of 
hinges 24,26 are attached to side edges 20,22. Each hinge includes an 
aperture or opening 28,30, and preferably the opening is round. Each 
opening can be formed and secured by grommet 32,34 so that a suction cup 
36 can be inserted through the grommet. Preferably, the hinges are 
flexibly connected to the side edges, and it is preferable that the hinges 
be made from a material which may include sunshield material or any other 
type of material that is sturdy enough to receive the suction cups and to 
hold the sunshield to a window surface. Alternatively, hinges 24,26 may be 
flexibly attached to side edges 20,22, yet the hinges be formed of a 
material that is substantially rigid that would permit a more secure 
attachment of the suction cup 36 through grommets 32,34. 
Preferably, suction cup 36 or a similar device is inserted through opening 
28,30 in the hinge, and more preferably through grommets 32,34 or a 
similar device. The suction cup should be sized to fit snugly through the 
grommets so that as the suction cup is pressed against a window surface, 
it will firmly hold sunshield 10 in position on the window. The hinges 
should be sized and have sufficient strength to firmly maintain the 
position of the sunshield even if air is blowing across the sunshield, for 
example, if the sunshield is on a window in a car and other windows in the 
car are open permitting air to flow over the sunshield. 
While it is preferred that hinges 24,26 are attached to side edges 20,22, 
it is also contemplated that hinges may be attached to top edge 16 or 
bottom edge 18 (not shown). 
Turning to FIG. 3, substantially identical sunshields 10 are placed side by 
side with hinges 38,40 overlapping to form a hinge between the two 
sunshields. In this configuration, a single suction cup 36 is positioned 
through the apertures in hinges 38 and 40 which overlap. Suction cups also 
are used to secure hinges 24 and 26 on the outside edges of the two 
sunshields. Thus, the two sunshields can be removably attached and mounted 
on the window in the event the window is larger than one sunshield. 
Further, if the shape of the window is such that the sunshield should be 
mounted vertically, the hinges can be attached to the tops and bottoms of 
the sunshields in a manner similar to that shown in FIG. 3 depicting the 
side-by-side sunshields. 
Windows, for example in cars or trucks, may have somewhat irregular shapes, 
therefore a sunshield as shown in FIG. 4 is provided. Preferably sunshield 
50 includes spring loop 52 attached around the outer perimeter defining 
the configuration of the sunshield. The sunshield has top 54 and bottom 56 
and sides 58,60 to define the configuration of the sunshield. Side 60 is 
angled and configured to approximate windows having a similar angular 
shape. Sunshield 50 has a pair of hinges 62,63 for easily removably 
attaching a sunshield to a window as previously described. As depicted in 
FIGS. 4 and 5, if two sunshields are to be mounted side by side, hinges 62 
and 26 are overlapped to receive a single suction cup. Like the 
rectangularly shaped sunshield previously described, sunshield 50 has 
hinge 62 containing aperture 64 which is secured by grommet 66. For 
clarity, FIG. 5a depicts apportion of sunshield 10 and sunshield 50 where 
hinges 26 and 62 are spaced apart. However, as shown in FIG. 4, hinges 26 
and 62 overlap and receive a single suction cup to secure the sunshields 
to a window. As illustrated in FIG. 5b, hinges 26 and 62 are flexible 
attached with VELCRO at element 67. In addition, FIG. 5c illustrates that 
hinges 26 and 62 are removable at element 67. 
In an alternative embodiment as shown in FIG. 6, a pair of sunshields are 
attached together, and incorporate aspects of the invention for removably 
attaching to a window. More specifically, first sunshield 70 is attached 
to second sunshield 80 by flexible connector segment 77. Similar to the 
previously described sunshield devices, first sunshield 70 includes top 
edge 71, bottom edge 72, and side edges 75,76. Generally a spring loop 73 
forms a continuous loop around the periphery of sunshield 70 and is 
attached thereto by know means. Material 74 is stretched tightly by spring 
loop 73 as was previously described. 
In the embodiment of FIG. 6, the second sunshield is flexibly connected by 
connector segment 77 to second sunshield 80. The connector segment 
preferably is made from material 78 which typically would be the same 
material forming first sunshield and the second sunshield. While 
preferable, material 78 can differ from the rest of the material in the 
connected sunshields. A seam 79 bounds the periphery of connector segment 
77. 
In keeping with the convention, second sunshield 80 likewise has top edge 
81, bottom edge 82 and side edge 83. Material 84 is stretched tightly over 
spring loop 85, again as previously described. 
In order to removably attach sunshields 70 and 80 to a window, hinges 90 
and 91 are attached (as previously described) to sunshields 70,80. 
Aperture 92,93 is incorporated in the hinges for receiving suction cups as 
described in connection with FIG. 2. Hinges 90,91 are attached in a manner 
similar to that described above. 
As previously described, the sunshields can be made of well known materials 
that screen out sun glare yet permit unobstructed visibility through the 
sunshield. Preferably, the hinges described herein are made of a material 
similar to the sunshield material, however, they can be made of any 
material that provides flexibility and that permits the sunshield to be 
easily temporarily and securely attached to a window. 
Preferably the hinges can be attached in any suitable manner to the 
sunshields such as by sewing, stapling, use of metallic or non-metallic 
fasteners, gluing, or similar attachment means. It is preferred that the 
hinges are attached so that they have an aesthetic appearance yet securely 
attach the hinge to the sunshield. 
In order to enhance the appearance of the sunshields of the present 
inventions, cartoon characters or similar displays can be printed on the 
sunshield material. The displays assist in screening the sun but do not 
impair viewing through the sunshield material. 
Although specific embodiments and certain structural arrangements have been 
illustrated and described herein, it will be clear to those skilled in the 
art that various other modifications and embodiments may be made 
incorporating the spirit and scope of the underlying inventive concepts 
and that the same are not limited to the particular methods and structures 
herein shown and described except insofar as determined by the scope of 
the appended claims.