Abstract:
The self-erecting and collapsible shade device is provided in the form of a portable collapsible shade assembly. The assembly includes a self-erecting and collapsible canopy, a self-erecting and collapsible canopy shade pivotally mountable to the erected canopy, at least two ground stakes, anchor lines and a storage bag for conveniently carrying the components of the assembly. The erected shade assembly may be secured directly to the ground or affixed to an outdoor chair or seat having a backrest. When the storage bag is empty it is usable as a seat cover to protect the clothing of a user seated beneath the assembly from being soiled by the ground. The assembly may also be used as a hunting blind.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/479,101, filed Jun. 17, 2003. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to sunshades and more particularly to a freestanding self-erecting shade device that is collapsible for convenient transport and storage. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   Collapsible sunshades for chairs have been the subjects of previous patents. For example, in US 20003/0106577 A1 published Jun. 12, 2003 to Martinez teaches a collapsible sunshade for a chair. The shade is provided in the form of a flexible ring made of spring steel or other spring material. A fine mesh membrane or fabric material is attached to and disposed within the ring. The ring may be moved between an open position for providing shade and a closed position under spring tension for collapsing the shade. The opened shade can be bent and affixed to a chair to cover at least a portion of the seat of the chair. In one form of the Martinez shade, opposite ends of the erected shade are affixed to the arms of the chair to cover the seat portion of the chair. Another version of the Martinez shade has a narrow rear end and a wide front end. The narrow end is affixed to a support band on the back of the chair by fasteners. Cords are provided on the wide end to cinch to the chair so that the shade is bent towards the front of the chair over the seat of the chair in a position permitting a user to sit in the chair. A small fabric pocket may be attached to the shades for carrying small items and a flap or screen is provided in central portion of the shades to allow wind to pass through. 
   In FIGS. 23-28 of U.S. Pat. No. 6,698,827 B2 issued Mar. 2, 2004 to Le Gette et al., collapsible shades similar in design to the Martinez shade. Gette et al., however, places the ventilation opening on the narrow rear portion of the shades and includes a carry bag for the collapsed shade. The flaps extend away from the perimeter of the flexible band frame and provided with cord and fasteners for securing the shade to the chair. The flaps also provide additional shading. 
   In Patent Application Publication Number US 2002/0112752 A1 published Aug. 22, 2002 to Blakney a rigid folding canopy frame is supported in a chair bag mounted over the back of the chair. The chair bag includes a fabric pouch stitched thereon. A set of interchangeable canopies including a sunshade hemmed above the line of sight of a person sitting underneath it, a mosquito net of dark mosquito netting and a photography or changing blind having a hole in the line of sight of a person sitting in the chair. 
   None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed. Thus a self-erecting and collapsible shade device solving the aforementioned problems is desired. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The self-erecting and collapsible shade device of the present invention is provided in the form of a portable collapsible shade assembly that includes, a self-erecting and collapsible canopy, a self-erecting and collapsible canopy shade pivotally mountable to the erected canopy, at least two ground stakes and anchor lines for securing the canopy against strong winds and a storage bag for conveniently carrying the collapsed canopy, collapsed canopy shade, and other components of the assembly. 
   The erected shade assembly may be secured directly to the ground or affixed to an outdoor chair or seat having a supported backrest. When the storage bag is empty it can also be used as a seat cover to protect the users clothing from grass stains and soil. The assembly is primarily intended to be used to provide shade out in the open under the sun but may also be used as a hunting blind. 
   It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes. 
   These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is an environmental perspective view of the freestanding self-erecting and collapsible shade device according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the canopy of the shade device according to the present invention mounted upon a chair. 
       FIG. 3  is a rear perspective view of the canopy of the shade device according to the present invention mounted upon a chair. 
       FIG. 4  is a front view of a bag for storing and transporting the canopy shade and canopy of the shade device according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 5  is a top plan view of the canopy the shade device according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 6  is a front perspective view of the canopy shade for the canopy of the shade device according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the shade device according to the present invention showing a meshed storage bag affixed on the inside of the canopy. 
   

   Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings. 
   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   The present invention is a portable freestanding self-erecting and collapsible shade assembly  100 . The erected shade assembly  100  may be secured directly to the ground or affixed to an outdoor chair or seat having a supported backrest. Referring first to  FIG. 1 , shade assembly  100  includes a storage bag  200 , at least two stakes  104 , anchor lines  105 , a canopy  106  and a canopy shade  111 . The canopy  106  is secured to the ground by anchor lines  105 . One end of each anchor line  105  is connected to the top section  107  of canopy  106  and secured to the ground at a second end by stakes  104 . Storage bag  200  is placed on the ground underneath canopy  106  as a ground cover to be sat upon by a user. 
   In  FIGS. 2 and 3 , canopy  106  is shown affixed to a chair  119 . Canopy shade  111  is shown erected and pivotally attached to the top section  107  of canopy  106  from an open position permitting entry by a user to a closed position providing shade over the front opening of canopy  106 .  FIG. 3  additionally shows two rear web straps  112  which are used to secure canopy  106  to the backrest of chair  119  or to secure the canopy  106  to the ground with a stake  104 . 
   Turning now to  FIG. 4 , the flexible body  120  of storage bag  200  is shown to be generally circular in shape having a front side  121  and a back side  122 . A zipper  123  is provided in the opening  124  of bag body  120 . Storage bag  200  is sized to receive the collapsed canopy  106 , the collapsed canopy shade  111 , the tie-stakes  104  and anchor lines  105 . A flexible carry strap  125  is attached to a top edge  126  of bag body  120  and a pocket  127  with closure flap  128  is provided on the front face  121  of the bag body  120 . The bag body  120  may be formed from any suitable durable flexible material. Patches  129  of hook and loop fastener material are provided on pocket  127  for releasably engaging patches  130  on the underside of flap  128  so that additional personal items can be removably stored in pocket  127  of bag body  120 . 
     FIG. 5  shows that the canopy  106  is provided in the form of a generally oval section  150  and a U-shaped section  151 . Stitching  169  along the side edges  168  secures U-shaped section  151  to a rear edge of oval section  150  to form the rear section  110  of canopy  106 . 
   Oval section  150  further includes a first frame access openings  164  centrally located along the front edge of top section  107 , a second frame access opening  166  centrally located along the rear edge of top section  107 , a first frame support opening  181  centrally located along the bottom edge and a second frame support opening  182  centrally located along the top edge (as best shown in  FIG. 5 ). Oval section  150  forms the first side section  108 , top section  107  and second side section  109  of canopy  106 . Both sections  150 ,  151  are both formed of a pliable material preferably Rip Stop Nylon, but can be made of other suitably pliable material as well. 
   Still referring to  FIG. 5 , oval section  150  is folded along the edge and stitching  153  is provided to form a frame-receiving channel  154  around the periphery of the oval section  150 . A first vent opening  173  is formed in first side section  108 , a second vent opening  174  is provided in second side section  109  and a third vent opening  175  is provided in rear section  110 . 
   Flexible mesh panels  176 A-C are affixed by stitching  177  over vent openings  173 - 175 , respectively to form a first ventilation window  178  in first side section  108 , a second ventilation window  179  in second side section  109  and a third ventilation window  180  in rear section  110 . Ventilation windows  178 - 180  are provided to aid in airflow circulation. 
   The flexible mesh panels  176  A-C are preferably provided in the form of green mosquito netting but may be formed of any suitable netting. The ventilation windows  178 ,  179  and  180  are depicted in the drawing figures in the form of a half circle but can be provided in any desirable ornamental configuration or shape suitable for appropriate ventilation. 
   A net storage bag  186  is sewn onto the inner surface of second side surface  109  the canopy  106  for storing personal items of a user, beverages and other refreshments. The bag  186  may be formed with compartments for separating some of the stored items. Bag  186  is mounted so as make the items readily accessible to the user. 
   In  FIG. 7 , the canopy  106  is shown secured to a chair  119 . The net storage bag  186  is located adjacent to the arm of the chair  119  for convenient access to the stored items. 
   On the back side of the rear section  110  as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 5 , there are two quick release web straps  112  having quick release buckles  113  on one end. Web straps  112  are stitched into the lower part of the rear section  110 . The free ends of straps  112  loop around the back of the chair  119 . The second end of each strap  112  is passed through buckles  113  to draw straps  112  tightly around the back of chair  119  and secured by the quick release buckles  113  to support the back of the canopy  106 . 
   A resilient flexible frame  155  is inserted into the frame-receiving channel  154  to form the overall arch configuration of the canopy  106  as shown in  FIGS. 1-3  and  7 . Frame  155  is provided in the form of a first frame rod  156  having a first end  157  and a second end  158  and a second frame rod  159  having a third end  160  and a fourth end  161 . Rods  156  and  159  are inserted into frame receiving channel  154  of oval section  150  and secured. First end  157  of rod  156  and third end of rod  159  are fixedly secured together by a ferrule  162 . Second end  158  of rod  156  and fourth end  161  of rod  159  are fixedly secured together by a ferrule  163 . Rods  156  and  159  of frame  155  are made of any suitable spring-like material; preferably they are ¼ inch solid fiberglass rods held together by ¼ inch ferrules. 
   A portion of frame rod  159  is accessible through frame support opening  182  and is provided with a double sided hook and loop fastening arm connection strap  184  and an elastic restraining strap  185 . Restraining strap  185  is sized to securely retain canopy  106  in a collapsed position for storage in storage bag  200 . 
   A portion of frame rod  156  is accessible through frame support opening  181  and is provided with a double-sided hook and loop fastening arm connection strap  183 . The arm connection straps  183  and  184  are connected to the arm support frame or other suitable portion of chair  119  by wrapping the double sided hook and loop fastening arm connection straps  183  and  184  around the arm support frame several times. This provides support for the front of the canopy  106 . 
   Access to sections  165  and  167  of frame  155  is provided through frame access openings  164  and  167 , respectively. Sections  165  and  167  of resilient flexible frame  155  are used as handles during the removal and collapse of the canopy  106 . 
   Two tie-down loops  187  are stitched to the front edge of the top section  107  of canopy  106  at approximately 10 O&#39;clock and 2 O&#39;clock position as viewed in  FIG. 2 . Tie-down loops  187  provide tie downs points for anchor lines  105  in windy conditions or attachment points for canopy shade  111 . 
   The canopy shade  111  is provided in the form of a generally round shade body  188  formed of a green mosquito netting but can be made of other suitable netting materials as well. The edge of body  188  is folded and secured by stitching  189  to form a shade frame channel  190 . A frame in the form of spring-like rod  191  is placed in channel  190  with the ends  192  and  193  secured together by a ferrule  194 . Elastic straps  196  are connected to suspender clips  197  and stitched along the edge of the body  188  generally at the 10 O&#39;clock and 2 O&#39;clock position as viewed in  FIG. 6 . The clips  197  are used to pivotally attach the canopy shade  111  to the tie-down loops  187  on canopy  106 . A flexible strap  198  is stitched to body  188  at a location opposite the location of attachment of clips  197 . 
   Shade  111  is collapsible by twisting rod  191  into a figure eight and folding the loops together. Flexible strap  198  is wrapped around the collapsed shade  111  to hold it in the collapsed condition for storage and handling as seen in  FIG. 1 . 
   After the canopy  106  has been removed from the storage bag  200 , the elastic restraining strap  185  is been removed and the canopy  106  tossed away from the user and any other object the resiliency of the frame  155  causes the canopy to self-erect. 
   Start installation by placing the bottom  171  of the rear section  110  over the arms of the chair and then placing the quick release web strap  112  around back of chair  119 . 
   To complete installation lift the front of the canopy  106  and attach arm connection straps  183  and  184  to the arms or other front portions of the chair, then return to back of chair  119  and tightened quick release web strap  112  with buckles  113 . Both quick release straps  112  should be taut to support the back of the canopy  106  upon the chair  119 . Removal is opposite of installation. 
   After removal of canopy  106  (when used on a chair), place the canopy  106  on the ground with the quick release web straps  112  facing to your left. 
   Grasp resilient flexible frame section  165  with one hand and frame section  167  with the other. 
   The resilient flexible frame sections  165  and  167  are brought together. 
   While holding resilient flexible flame sections  165  and  167  together with left hand, rotate the canopy  106  sideways so that the elastic restraining strap  185  is on the bottom and the quick release web straps  112  are facing away from you. 
   Place your right foot lightly on the edge of the bottom semi circle for stability. 
   With your right hand fold the top semi circle down past the vertical position and lightly apply downward pressure with your left hand while still holding resilient flexible frame sections  165  and  167  to prevent canopy  106  from unfolding. 
   Grasp the semi circle furthest away from you with your right hand while still holding semi circle closest to you with your left hand. 
   Press each semi circle down and toward the center to collapse the canopy  106 . 
   Once the canopy  106  has collapsed ensure all straps except for the elastic restraining strap  185  are stored inside the collapsed canopy  106 . 
   Grasp the collapsed canopy  106  with one hand and with the other hand stretch the elastic restraining strap  185  over the canopy  106  to prevent it from unfolding. The canopy  106  is now ready for storage in supplied storage bag  200 . 
   All straps may be mechanical or stretch material. 
   It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.