Collapsible sunshade with hinged arms

A sunshade includes a flexible sheet with a hub generally positioned at its center. A plurality of radial arms are hinged to the hub about parallel axes which are perpendicular to the sheet. The outer ends of the arms are secured to the corners of the sheet. The sunshade is folded by pivoting the arms toward each other along a two-dimensional plane, so that it may be folded in the tight confines of an automobile's interior. In several embodiments, one or more arms are collapsible arms that facilitate the folding of the sheet. The collapsible arms are comprised of two sections connected by a bi-stable hinge, or comprised of spring-loaded telescoping sections. In another embodiment, the flexible sheet is of a wide rectangular shape supported by radial arms hinged to separate hubs positioned on left and right sections of the sheet. In yet another embodiment, the arms are all rigid, and the sheet includes a slit extending from its center to an edge. The slit is separable for enabling the folding of the arms and sheet.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention relates generally to sunshades for automobiles. 
2. Prior Art 
Some popular automobile windshield or window sunshades include folding 
cardboard panels, and fabric-spanned spring loops. Other sunshades are 
also known. U.S. Pat. No. 4,606,572 to Maguire shows a sunshade comprised 
of a pair of fans, each with a plurality of blades hinged about a common 
pivot. The large number of interconnected rigid blades are relatively 
expensive to manufacture and assemble. Another sunshade is sold by Quantum 
Auto, Inc. of Los Angeles, Calif., under the trademark "BRELLA-SHADE." It 
is comprised of a flexible sheet supported by four radial arms hinged 
about axes parallel to the sheet. The arms fold and unfold through three 
dimensional space like an umbrella, so that it is cumbersome to use in the 
tight confines of an automobile. 
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
Accordingly, objects of the present collapsible sunshade with hinged arms 
are: to cover a windshield or window of an automobile for shading its 
interior; to be easily foldable within the tight confines of an 
automobile's interior; and to be simple and economical to manufacture. 
Further objects of the present invention will become apparent from a 
consideration of the drawings and ensuing description. 
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
A sunshade includes a flexible sheet with a hub generally positioned at its 
center. A plurality of radial arms are hinged to the hub about parallel 
axes which are perpendicular to the sheet. The outer ends of the arms are 
secured to the corners of the sheet. The sunshade is folded by pivoting 
the arms toward each other along a two-dimensional plane, so that it may 
be folded in the tight confines of an automobile's interior. In several 
embodiments, one or more arms are collapsible arms that facilitate the 
folding of the sheet. The collapsible arms are comprised of two sections 
connected by a bi-stable hinge, or comprised of spring-loaded telescoping 
sections. In another embodiment, the flexible sheet is of a wide 
rectangular shape supported by radial arms hinged to separate hubs 
positioned on left and right sections of the sheet. In yet another 
embodiment, the arms are all rigid, and the sheet includes a slit 
extending from its center to an edge. The slit is separable for enabling 
the folding of the arms and sheet.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
FIG. 1: 
A first embodiment of the sunshade is shown in a rear view in FIG. 1. It 
includes a flexible sheet 10, which may be comprised of any flexible 
material that is preferably at least partially opaque or at least 
partially reflective, or both. A tab 11 is arranged along one edge of 
sheet 10, so that if the sunshade is used for covering a side window, tab 
11 is gripped between the top of the window glass and the window frame for 
securing the sunshade in position. A hub 12 is positioned generally at a 
center of sheet 10, and is preferably secured thereto by a strap 13 and a 
pin 26. Radial arms 14-17 are hinged together at hub 12. The distal ends 
of arms 14-17 are secured to the corners of sheet 10 in pockets 18. Arm 17 
is a collapsible arm which includes two sections connected by a bi-stable 
hinge 19. Arm 17 is kept in an extended position by the tension of sheet 
10 along the direction between the hinge and tip of arm 17, so in turn 
sheet 10 is kept in a fully opened condition. A strap 20, which is 
preferably a hook-and-loop fastener strap, is attached to an edge of sheet 
10. The sunshade may be positioned against a windshield, a side window, or 
a rear window of an automobile for shading its interior. When positioned 
against a windshield, the sunshade is held in position by pivoting the 
automobile's visors against it. 
FIG. 2: 
Hub 12 is shown enlarged in FIG. 2 in an open condition. Arms 14-17 are 
hinged to hub 12 by pivots 21 arranged in a trapezoidal pattern 22. Pivots 
21 are parallel to each other, and perpendicular to sheet 10 (FIG. 1). 
Stops 23 positioned adjacent arms 14 and 17 limit their range of movement 
in the open position. Strap 13 (FIG. 1) is not shown for clarity. 
FIG. 3: 
Hub 12 is shown in a side sectional view in FIG. 3. It is comprised of a 
pair of discs 24 and 25 locked together. Strap 13 is U-shaped, with one 
side attached to sheet 10, and another side wrapped around the outside of 
hub 12 and secured thereto by a pin 26. 
FIG. 4: 
Arms 14-17 are shown in a folded condition in FIG. 4. They are folded 
together toward a direction away from stops 23. The trapezoidal 
arrangement of pivots 21 enables arms 14-17 to be folded parallel to and 
adjacent each other. 
FIGS. 5-6: 
Bi-stable hinge 19 is shown enlarged in a rear view in FIG. 5 and a 
sectional view in FIG. 6. It is comprised of a U-shaped bracket. A 
proximal section 17P of arm 17 is fixedly attached within hinge 19, and a 
distal section 17D of arm 17 is hinged within hinge 19. The pivot for the 
distal section is offset outwardly relative to the axis of the proximal 
section, so that the distal section is pivoted through slightly more than 
180 degrees relative to the proximal section when arm 17 is fully 
extended. 
FIG. 7: 
A distal end of arm 15 is shown in FIG. 7. A hooked head 27 is attached to 
the tip of arm 15 for preventing it from slipping out of pocket 18 (FIG. 
1). Other arms are provided with similar hooked heads. 
FIGS. 8-10: 
The sunshade of FIG. 1 is shown in a first step of being folded in FIG. 8. 
The distal section of collapsible arm 17 is pivoted about bi-stable hinge 
19 away from the extended position. The corresponding corner of sheet 10 
is thus slackened. 
The sunshade is shown in a second step of being collapsed in FIG. 9. 
Collapsible arm 17 is continued to be collapsed to reduce the distance 
between its opposite ends. Sheet 10 is further slackened and collapsed by 
folding arms 14-17 toward each other. 
The sunshade is shown almost fully collapsed in FIG. 10. Arms 14-17 are 
almost parallel to each other, and the sections of arm 17 are almost 
folded parallel to each other. In the condition shown, it is compact 
enough for convenient everyday use. However, if desired, it can be further 
compacted by wrapping and securing strap 20 around it. 
FIG. 11: 
A second embodiment of the sunshade is shown in FIG. 11. It includes a 
flexible sheet 30. A hub 31 is positioned generally at a center of sheet 
30, and is preferably secured thereto by a strap 32. Radial arms 33-36 are 
hinged together at hub 31 in the manner shown in FIG. 2. The distal ends 
of arms 33-36 are secured to the corners of sheet 30 in pockets 37. Sheet 
30 includes a slit 38 extending from its center to one edge. Slit 38 is 
releasably held together with a fastener 39, which is preferably a 
hook-and-loop fastener. For fastening opposite edges of slit 38, sheet 30 
may overlap at slit 38, or fastener 39 may be a tab which extends slightly 
from one edge of slit 38. The sunshade is folded by releasing fastener 39, 
separating slit 38, and pivoting arms 33-36 together in the direction 
opposite slit 38. 
FIG. 12: 
A third embodiment of the sunshade is shown in FIG. 12. It includes a 
flexible sheet 40. A hub 42 is positioned generally at a center of sheet 
40, and is preferably secured thereto by a strap 43. Radial arms 44-47 are 
hinged together at hub 42 in the manner shown in FIG. 2. The distal ends 
of arms 44-47 are secured to the corners of sheet 40 in pockets 48. Arm 47 
is a collapsible arm which includes a proximal section and a distal 
section telescopically connected together. Collapsible arm 47 is biased to 
an extended position by a spring 49, which is preferably a compression 
spring, to keep sheet 40 in an open condition. An spring 41, which is 
preferably an extension spring, is optionally connected between arms 44 
and 47 to bias them to the fully opened position shown. The sunshade is 
collapsed by folding arms 44-47 downwardly while compressing arm 47. 
FIG. 13: 
A fourth embodiment of the sunshade is shown in FIG. 13. It includes a 
flexible sheet 50. A hub is positioned generally at a center of sheet 50, 
and is preferably secured thereto by a strap 52. Radial arms 53-56 are 
hinged together at hub 51 in the manner shown in FIG. 2. The distal ends 
of arms 53-56 are secured to or near the corners of sheet 50 in pockets 
57. Arms 53 and 56 are collapsible arms, each of which includes two 
sections connected by a bi-stable hinge 58. Arms 54 and 55 each include a 
hinge 59 at an intermediate position. It is folded in a similar manner as 
the first embodiment in FIG. 1, except arms 53 and 56 are both collapsed. 
FIG. 14: 
A fifth embodiment of the sunshade is shown in FIG. 14. It includes a 
flexible sheet 60 wide enough for covering an entire automobile 
windshield. A hub 61 is positioned generally at a center of sheet 60, and 
is preferably secured thereto by a strap 62. Radial arms 63-66 are hinged 
together at hub 61 in the manner shown in FIG. 2. The distal ends of arms 
63-66 are secured to the upper and lower edges of sheet 60 in pockets 67 
which are positioned inwardly from the corners thereof. Alternatively, one 
or more of the distal ends can be secured a short distance from the upper 
and lower edges of sheet 60. Arms 63 and 66 are longer, collapsible arms, 
each of which includes two sections connected by a bi-stable hinge 68. 
Arms 64 and 65 are shorter arms of fixed length. It is folded in a similar 
manner as the first embodiment in FIG. 1, except arms 63 and 66 are both 
collapsed. 
FIG. 15: 
A sixth embodiment of the sunshade is shown in FIG. 15. It includes a 
flexible sheet 70 wide enough for covering an entire automobile 
windshield. Sheet 70 includes left and right sections 71 and 72, each of 
which has a hub 73 positioned generally at a center thereof, and 
preferably secured thereto by a strap 74. Radial arms 75-78 are hinged 
together at hub 73 in the manner shown in FIG. 2. The distal ends of arms 
75-78 are secured to or near the corners of a corresponding section of 
sheet 70 in pockets 79. Arm 75 is a collapsible arm which includes two 
sections connected by a bi-stable hinge 80. 
FIG. 16: 
A seventh embodiment of the sunshade is shown in FIG. 16. It may be similar 
to any of the other embodiments, but further includes a supporting rod 81 
extending from the hub. It is for being positioned under a rear window 82 
of a vehicle by positioning the lower end of rod 81 against a horizontal 
panel 83 at the bottom of window 82. 
FIG. 17: 
An eighth embodiment of the sunshade is shown in a rear view in FIG. 17. It 
includes a flexible sheet 90. A hub 91 is positioned generally at a center 
of sheet 90, and is preferably secured thereto by a strap 92. The proximal 
ends of radial arms 93 and 96 are hinged to hub 91, and the proximal ends 
of arms 94 and 95 are respectively hinged to the proximal portions of arms 
93 and 96 by brackets 99. The distal ends of arms 93-96 are secured to the 
corners of sheet 90 in pockets 98. Arm 96 is a collapsible arm which 
includes two sections connected by a bi-stable hinge 97. The folding and 
unfolding procedures of this embodiment of the sunshade is identical to 
that of the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-10. 
SUMMARY AND SCOPE 
Accordingly, a collapsible sunshade with hinged arms is provided. It covers 
a windshield or window of an automobile for shading its interior. It is 
easily foldable within the tight confines of an automobile's interior. It 
is also simple and economical to manufacture. 
Although the above description is specific, it should not be considered as 
a limitation on the scope of the invention, but only as an example of the 
preferred embodiment. Many variations are possible within the teachings of 
the invention. For example, the hub may be attached to the flexible sheet 
by a pin instead of a strap, or it may be unattached to the sheet. Instead 
of different axes, the arms may be hinged to the same axis. Other types of 
bi-stable hinges may be used. Other types of collapsible arms may be used. 
In the absence of the hub, the supporting rod for propping up the sunshade 
against a rear window may be connected directly to the arms. Instead of 
collapsible arms, slits may be provided on the rectangular sheet of FIG. 
15. The flexible sheet may be of any shape. Therefore, the scope of the 
invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal 
equivalents, not by the examples given.