Abstract:
An improved shade apparatus for the interior of an outdoor conveyance, such as an automobile, boat, airplane, travel trailer, or van comprises a horizontally pleated shade and a mounting and fastening apparatus. The mounting and fastening apparatus facilitates storage of the folded shade and then facilitates positioning and fastening of the shade when opened to its operative position. In an alternative embodiment, the shade may be mounted, stored, and opened from a recessed channel along the dashboard or other horizontal surface near the bottom of the windshield of a conveyance.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to apparatus useful in shading light, particularly sunlight, from the front interior areas of conveyances or structures which have substantial windshield exposure to the sun&#39;s rays. Such conveyances may be automobiles, boats, airplanes, motor homes, or travel vans and pickup trucks. 
     When automobiles, boats, planes, motor homes or travel trailers are parked outside in the sunlight for an extended period of time, intense heat builds up within the automobile, boat, airplane, motor home or trailer. This is a result of the sun&#39;s rays penetrating the glass in concert with the effect of the glass in isolating the interior air of the conveyance from outside air circulation or effective ventilation. Areas of the car receiving direct sunlight particularly collect heat. The upholstery, steering wheel, or dashboard become hot to the touch and vinyl accessories may become weakened to the point of unsightly fading or physical disrepair and deterioration. 
     Most current automobile windshields, along with those of the other conveyances, are curved across the width of the windshield and are at a slant from the vertical from the front to the rear of the conveyance so as to lessen wind resistance. 
     A number of devices have been disclosed which provide some measure of relief from this effect. In particular U.S. Pat. No. 4,202,396, issued to Levy, has become quite popular recently. It generally comprises variations of a series of elongated vertical rectangular sections manufactured of some opaque material, such as cardboard, and joined such that they may be horizontally opened to shield the sunlight coming through the front windshield of a car and alternately folded up for storage within the interior of the car. It is adapted with slots to accommodate the rearview mirror and rest when expanded, in a position substantially parallel with the front windshield. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,332,414, issued June 1, 1982, to Surtin is an invention which comprises a fan-like device which, when opened out into a fan, substantially shields the interior of an automobile from sunlight entering the car through the windshield. When the car is to be driven, the &#34;fan&#34; can be closed up out of the way upon the dashboard. It is easy to alternately activate and store it. As the general shape of the fans is radial, there are necessarily gaps in the shielding of sunlight and some still penetrates into the interior of the car. 
     The windows of permanent structures, particularly homes and offices, are frequently equipped with various forms of blinds, comprising primarily horizontally elongated members which can be alternately tilted to adjust the amount of sunlight allowed within or raised and lowered out of the way altogether. Such blinds are, however, not practical for the personal conveyances referred to above for a number of reasons. First, the space within them is normally limited, particularly in the areas occupied by their operators. Second, the operators of such conveyances must have a clear field of vision which prohibits this sort of bulky appliance from being installed within its confines. The need for personal conveyance having protection from sunlight, however, is even more acute than that of a permanent building or structure as such conveyances normally have a rather high exposure to sunlight through windows to a relatively small interior in comparison with permanent structures or buildings. 
     What is needed is a shield which will completely block sunlight from coming into the car through the windshield, but which will also be easy alternately open, or activate, and close, or put out of the way. Particularly helpful would be such a shield which could be, in the dormant mode, be permanently stored in a place where its use could be easily facilitated and yet safely and securely out of the way of the operator of the conveyance. Also helpful would be such a shield which would take account of the curvature and slant of the windshield. Such a shield would also be helpful in providing privacy to the occupants of the vehicles or structures. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises three basic elements. The first basic element is a pleated sheet manufactured of a pliable, substantially opaque, durable material. This material is cut to a size very close to that of an automobile windshield. In alternative embodiments of the invention this sheet may be cut to the size of a boat forward portlight, the windshield of a travel van, pick-up truck, airplane cockpit, or other conveyance which is routinely exposed to the sun&#39;s rays. This sheet is further adapted with a series of creases or pleats enabling it to be folded into a bundle. The pleats are aligned to run horizontally across the width of the windshield and the overall sheet may be cut to precisely fit a given windshield. 
     The second basic element of the preferred embodiment of the preferred invention comprises a mounting apparatus. The mounting apparatus is meant to serve the function of providing a storage area for the pleated sheet when the pleated sheet is folded away for storage. The mounting apparatus also serves the function of anchoring the bottom of the pleated sheet when the pleated sheet is expanded out for windshield coverage. The mounting brackets are further adapted with various platforms and slots in order to facilitate accomplishing both the storage and anchoring functions. 
     The third basic element of the present invention comprises a means for securing the top of the pleated sheet along the top of the windshield to be covered. While a variety of different apparatus may be used to accomplish this function, each of these apparatus have two primary elements. These include one or more fastening means in order to securely hold the top side of the sheet up near the top of the windshield. The securing means also includes a guiding means in order to ensure that the top side is aligned, oriented, and supported in an effective manner for blocking the sun&#39;s rays and to ensure that the sheet may be easily moved both from the folded and stored position to the open position and from the open position back to the folded and stored position. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a windshield shade for use in an automobile, boat, travel trailer, airplane, or other outdoor conveyance. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide such a window shade which will closely fit the outline of such a windshield. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide such a close fitting sunshade which may be conveniently stored near the windshield to be covered while remaining available for quick deployment. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide such a window shade which will accomplish the objectives of effectively blocking the sun&#39;s rays and remaining avialable for quick use while in storage and neither detract from the aesthetic appearance of the automobile or other conveyance nor create a safety hazard by either obstructing the operator&#39;s crew or by requiring the use of loose or unfastened objects in the passenger compartment of the vehicle. 
     Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description in which the preferred embodiments have been set forth in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 depicts the preferred embodiment of the invention opened to shade the front portion of an automobile. 
     FIGS. 2 and 2A depict a side bracket in which the sheet is folded for storage and rotated for expansion, respectively. 
     FIGS. 3 and 3A depict the mounting brackets and sheet from above in the storage and rotated for opening positions, respectively. 
     FIGS. 4 and 4A depict a side view of the center mounting bracket. 
     FIGS. 5, 5A, and 5B, depict a side view of a side mounting bracket in the various stages of sheet storage and expansion. 
     FIGS. 5C and 5D depict side views of an expanded sheet which has been adapted with magnetic members (5C) and a slotted clamp (5D) respectively for positioning the upper pleat. 
     FIGS. 6 and 6A depict the folded pleated sheet stored within the recessed portion of a dashboard and rotated out for opening, respectively from above the dashboard. 
     FIGS. 7 and 7A depict a cross-sectional view of the folded pleated sheet stored within the recessed portion of the dashboard and rotated out for opening, respectively including a cutout to show the anchoring knob beneath the dashboard. 
     FIGS. 8 and 8A depict one of the anchoring slots of the recessed portion of the dashboard from an oblique view and from above, respectively. 
     FIG. 9 depicts a bracket and shade apparatus installed in a boat cabin. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In describing the preferred embodiment of the preferred invention reference will first be made to 
     FIG. 1, which is a diagram of a substantially opaque pleated sheet (21) which has been installed in an automobile in a manner so as to block the sun&#39;s rays coming through the front windshield (17). FIG. 1 also depicts the mounting brackets (31) (41) and the positioning slots (61). Each of these elements will be developed in more detail in the figures and descriptions to follow. FIG. 1 further depicts that the pleated sheet (21) is aligned with pleats (29) which run generally horizontal, or parallel across the width of the windshield (17). FIG. 1 further depicts two guiding lines (51) which are used to assist in guiding the pleated sheet (21) from its bundled position (not depicted in FIG. 1) to its open position as is depicted in FIG. 1 and subsequently guiding the sheet back to its bundled position. Also depicted in FIG. 1 are positioning slots (61) which are used to position top pleat (23) of the pleated sheet (21) in a manner so as to maximize front windshield (17) coverage. It should be noted that the preferred embodiment of the invention will be described with respect to its use in an automobile windshield (17). The principles and concepts of the invention, together with its primary elements, are equally applicable to its use in a boat, airplane, or travel trailer, or for that matter any form of outdoor conveyance. FIG. 9 depicts the apparatus stored in a boat. 
     The pleated sheet (21) further comprises a top pleat (23) and a bottom pleat (22) which are made more rigid than the remaining pleats (29). This is because the top pleat (23) and bottom pleat (22) are required to provide stability to the sheet apparatus in both the open and folded positions. The pleated sheet (21) is also adapted with a series of holes (28) near each side which run from the top pleat (23) to the bottom pleat (22) at the center of each pleat (29) so that, when folded, each series of holes (28) line up to make an uninterrupted path through the bundle of folded pleats (21) and, when opened, each series of holes (28) makes a straight line (81) from the bottom pleat (22) to the top pleat (23). 
     Making reference to FIGS. 2 and 2A, it can be seen that the bottom pleat (22) of the pleated sheet (21) is adapted with an anchoring arrangement which comprises of a two-part anchoring apparatus, which includes a joining member (27) which is securely fastened to the bottom pleat (22) of the pleated sheet (21) and an anchoring knob (26). The significance of this anchoring mechanism (26, 27, and 35) will be described later. 
     Having described the pleated shading sheet (21), reference is again made to FIG. 1, and attention will now be given to the mounting apparatus, which typically comprises a center mounting bracket (41) and two side mounting brackets (31) that must serve to hold the pleated sheet (21) when folded in storage and to anchor the bottom pleat (22) of the pleated sheet (21) when expanded out to block out the rays of the sun. This presents a unique problem in that the folded bundle is curved or arced in the closed position, (see FIG. 3) but when opened (FIG. 1) it is substantially planar. Because of this unique problem, each of the mounting brackets (31, 41) are made to accommodate the various positions of the pleated sheet (21). Each mounting bracket (31), (41) is adapted with a means (38) of fastening it to the windshield (17) which may simply comprise arms (38) glued from the windshield (17) to the brackets (31, 41). 
     Making reference to FIG. 4, the center bracket (41) is shown to have a storage area (49) defined by a front side (42), a bottom side (43) and a back side (44). The back center bracket side (44) is generally shorter then the front bracket side (42) and may be further adapted with a rear platform (45) extending out behind the center back bracket side (44). The folded pleated sheet (21) may then be stored within the storage area (49) when folded or rotated out to rest on the rear platform (45) for opening. If the conveyance is equipped with a dashboard (18) or other satisfactory flat surface along the bottom edge of the windshield, no rear platform (45) is necessary as is the dashboard&#39;s flat surface will serve this function. 
     The pleated sheet (21) is also equipped with two guiding lines (51) which is adapted to both guide the pleated sheet (21) from the folded to the open position and when returning it to the folded position. 
     As can be seen by making reference to FIGS. 3 and 3A and because the pleated sheet (21) must be secured in the closed position, the side brackets (31) are made in the general shape of a wedge. In this manner the front sides (32) of the side mounting brackets (31) will position the folded sheet (21) in an arc against all of the front bracket sides (32, 42) for storage. The wedge shaped bottom lower bracket side (33, 43) will permit the sheet to rotate from the storage position and be opened out in a generally flat and planar manner. Additionally these side mounting brackets (31) and the pleated sheet (21) are adapted with means to anchor the pleated sheet (21) in both the folded storage and opened positions. 
     The anchoring means joining members (27), as have been described, are securely fixed to the bottom pleat (22). The side brackets (31) are further adapted with a slot (35) which has a width (71) sufficient to accept the top half of the anchor joining member (27) on the bottom pleat (22) but not the anchor knob (28). These slots (35) are positioned so as to run from a point (36) on the front side of the bracket in a diagonal manner out to a point (37) on the lower bracket side (33). 
     The anchor joining members (27) on the bottom pleat (22) thus used to secure the pleated sheet (21) in the folded position (FIG. 5) as follows. The anchor joining members (27) are positioned through the slots (35) and (27) are attached to the anchor knob-member (26). This keeps the pleated sheet (21) anchored to the side brackets (31) but free to slide along the slots (35). Accordingly, the folded sheet (21) can be rotated from the stored position (FIGS. 3, 4 and 5) into the straight line configuration required for opening (FIGS. 3A, 4A, and 5A). FIG. 5B depicts the sheet (21) being expanded. 
     It is now appropriate to discuss the fastening and positioning means used to secure the sheet (21) in the open position. With the folded sheet (21) rotated out so that the lower pleat (22) rests on the bottom bracket sides (33) the guiding lines (51) may be pulled straight up to points (71) at or near the top of the windshield. 
     The upper end of the guiding lines are adapted with a spring-loaded clips (52) which may, but need not, resemble a clothespin which can be hooked to a bar (53) or other receiving apparatus at points (18) near the top side (19) of the windshield directly above the bottom bracket slot end (37). 
     Positioning grooved clamps (71) may then be used to hold the upper pleat (23) of the sheet (21) in position along the top edge of the windshield. The positioning grooved clamps (71) should have one open end to receive the upper pleat of the sheet and the groove should be sufficiently narrow so as to hold the upper pleat (23) securely within. In order to ensure maximum and close coverage of the top side of the windshield (19), the positioning grooved clamps (72) may be optionally augmented with other fastening means as described below. 
     As depicted in FIG. 1, several magnetic members (81) may be fastened to the upper pleat (23) corresponding metallic members (82) may be placed along the top of the windshield (19) in order to receive the upper pleat (23) magnetic members (81). Of course, the magnetic members (81) could be placed along the topside of the windsheild (19) and metallic members (82) fastened upon the upper pleat (23) if desired. Additionally, other forms of adhesion could be used, such as adhesive fabrics such as VELCRO (®) strips, small hooks, or other simple and discrete means of securing the upper pleat (23) of the sheet (21) along the top side (19) of the windshield (17). 
     Referring now to FIGS. 6 through 8, the principles and method of operation described can be fully applied to a version of the sun shade which may be stored within a recessed portion (91) of an automobile dashboard (92). Such a recessed portion (91) would be curved along the bottom of the windshield (16) in order to hold the pleated sheet (21) when bundled and then permit the bundled pleated sheet (21) to be rotated out to rest upon the dashboard (92) for opening. 
     The same sort of anchoring apparatus may be used to accomplish this result, particularly referring to the anchoring slots (35) and the anchoring members (26, 27). Since there are no mounting brackets, as described above, the anchoring slots (35) are positioned from beginning points (36) within the recessed area (91) out to ending points (37) on the surface of the dashboard (92). 
     Accordingly, the bundled pleated sheet (21) may be rotated from storage within the dashboard recessed portion (91) out to rest upon the dashboard surface (92) and then be opened and closed just as in the mounting bracket version. 
     It should be noted that the bottom pleat (22) stored in the recessed dashboard portion (91) rests so that it is facing away from the windshield (17) of the conveyance, whereas in the mounting bracket version the bottom pleat (22), when stored, rested against the front bracket sides (32) and faced towards the windshield (17). 
     Modification and variation can be made to the disclosed embodiments without departing from the subject and spirit of the invention as defined in the following claims. For instance, the guiding lines could be made of an elastic material to enhance this performance. Such modifications and variations, as included within the scope of these claims, are meant to be considered part of the invention as described.