Abstract:
A shade-cover device and securing mechanism therefor for use with a mobile unit such as a motor vehicle. The device has a housing with a slit thereon, a removable and retractable shade-cover within the housing, a mechanism for securing the housing to an external surface of the motor vehicle&#39;s tailgate or hatch, a mechanism for adjusting the amount of shade-cover desired and its angle, a mechanism for locking the length and angle of the shade-cover once attained, a mechanism for stabilizing the shade-cover from natural forces, and a mechanism for retracting the shade-cover into the housing.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
         [0001]    Not applicable.  
         STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY-SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
         [0002]    Not applicable.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    This present invention relates to an improvement in devices for securing various housings to external surfaces and to the housing, and more particularly to housings having a shade cover contained within for use with a mobile unit, such as a motor vehicle having a tail gate or hatch back.  
           [0004]    Shades and screens and screen-type devices presently exist for use with motor vehicles. Some are for use with tailgate- and hatch back-type vehicles. All are either cumbersome to use, difficult to affix to the vehicle and, particularly to adjust, or complex in structure. See for example the Thompson patent, U.S. Pat. No. 6,341,638; the Brutsaert patent, U.S. Pat. No. 6,056,350; the Roe patent, U.S. Pat. No. 5,226,689; the Gunn patent, U.S. Pat. No. 4,544,195; the Kinney patent, U.S. Pat. No. 4,519,409; and the Beggs patent, U.S. Pat. No. 4,223,939. All these prior-art devices are well-suited for the intended purpose but none is as comprehensive, easy-to-use, and relatively inexpensive as is the present invention.  
           [0005]    Accordingly, several objects and advantages of my invention are to:  
           [0006]    a. provide a portable shade device which is easy-to-install, easy-to-use, and easy-to-adjust to changing needs and conditions;  
           [0007]    b. provide a portable shade device which easily disassembles and stores in compact spaces;  
           [0008]    c. enhance one&#39;s outdoor enjoyment by providing protection from the sun and weather at any given location for use with virtually any external structure; and  
           [0009]    d. make an portable shade device which is affordable.  
           [0010]    The foregoing has outlined some of the more pertinent objects of the present invention. These objects should be construed to be merely illustrative of some of the more prominent features and applications of the intended invention. Many other beneficial results can be attained by applying the disclosed invention in a different manner or by modifying the invention within the scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, other objects and a fuller understanding of the invention may be had by referring to the summary of the invention and the detailed description of the preferred embodiment in addition to the scope of the invention defined by the claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0011]    The above-noted problems, among others, are overcome by the present invention. Briefly stated, the present invention contemplates a shade-cover device and securing mechanism therefor having a housing with a slit thereon, a removable and retractable shade-cover within the housing, a mechanism for securing the housing to an external surface such as a motor vehicle tailgate or hatch, a mechanism for adjusting the amount of shade-cover desired and its angle, a mechanism for locking the length and angle of the shade-cover once attained, a mechanism for stabilizing the shade-cover from natural forces, and a mechanism for retracting the shade-cover into the housing.  
           [0012]    The foregoing has outlined the more pertinent and important features of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood so the present contributions to the art may be more fully appreciated. Additional features of the present invention will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and the disclosed specific embodiment may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures and methods for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It also should be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions and methods do not depart from the spirit and scope of the inventions as set forth in the appended claims. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]    For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 1 is a side view of the device attached to a vehicle and to a ground support.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 2 is a detailed view of one embodiment of the housing mechanism.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 3 is a detailed side view of one embodiment of the cranking mechanism.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 4 is a detailed side view of the base member.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 5 is a detailed view of a second embodiment of the cranking mechanism.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 6 is a detailed side view of the second embodiment of the cranking mechanism.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 7 is a detailed view of the end bar and pole member configuration.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 8 is a detailed, partially exploded view of the securing mechanism of the housing.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 9 is a detailed side view of a second embodiment of the securing mechanism of the housing. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0023]    Referring now to the drawings in detail and in particular to FIG. 1, reference character  10  generally designates an retractable shade device with its numerous component parts (shade housing mechanism  20 , end rod  41 , adjustable pole member  40 , housing securing device  60 , and base member  80 ; each of which shall be described in detail below) constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The shade mechanism  20  easily attaches to, by way of example only and not by way of limitation, a hatch  16  of a motor vehicle  12  by the housing securing device  60 . Once attached, the cover  34  rolled within the housing  22  is pulled out by grasping the end rod  41  which remains outside the housing  22 . The pole sections  44  of the pole member  40  are attached to the end rod  41  at one end and to the base member  80  at the other end. Once so assembled, the shade device  10  may be stabilized by a rope or line  51  attached to the end rod  41  and may be staked to the ground surface  55  or attached to a weight  53  for greater stability and resistence to undesired wind forces.  
         [0024]    Details of the housing  22  are illustrated in FIG. 2. Adjacent to each end of the housing  22  is the housing securing device  60 . An end cap  30  on each end of the housing  22  maintains the shade cover  34  within. A slit  25  in the housing  22  longitudinally transverse the length of the housing  22  from approximately one housing securing device  60  approximately to the other housing securing device  60 . A shaft  24  within the housing  22  is rotatably connected to each end cap  30 . The shade cover  34  at one end is secured to and wrapped around the shaft  24 . The other end of the shade cover  34  is secured to the end rod  41 . The thickness of the end rod  41  is greater than the opening of the slit  25  to thereby prevent the end rod  41  from entering the housing  22  when the shade cover  34  is retracted into the housing  22  when desired. This also permits for easy grasping of the end rod  41  and facilitates removal of the shade cover  34  from the housing  22  when it use is desired or needed.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate a locking mechanism/retracting (or cranking) mechanism for the shade device  10 . A crank  31  is in rotational communication with the shaft  24 . The handle  32  on the crank  31  pivots from position A (cranking or retracting [unlocked] position) to position B (locked position) in the direction of arrow A-B on hinge  38  (and back and forth as necessary or desired). FIG. 3 illustrates the locking structure in the unlocked position. The lock plate  26  on the end cap  30  has one or more lock slots  28  into which the handle  32  may be inserted for the locked position (Position B as illustrated in FIG. 2, Position A is illustrated in phantom line).  
         [0026]    The locked position may be used when the shade cover  34  is pulled from the housing  22  and the component parts are assembled for use in order to maintain the desired length or angle or both in order to attain the shade desired by the user. After use and dis-assembly, the handle  32  is placed into Position A (unlocked position), and the handle  32  may be turned to retract the shade cover  34  into the housing  22 . When the thicker end rod  41  strikes the housing  22 , its thickness prevents the end rod  41  from passing through the slit  25  and entering the housing  22 . The handle  32  may then be returned to Position B (locked position) to thereby prevent the end rod  41  and shade cover  34  from falling away from and/or out of the housing  22 . This locking ability protects the shade cover  34  when the shade device  10  is not is use and/or is stored.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate a second embodiment of the locking mechanism/retracting mechanism. Here the handle  32  is a non-pivoting handle. The crank  31 ′ however has at least one crank aperture  37 ′ therethrough. The end cap  30  has one or more apertures  37 . When desired, the crank  31 ′ may be locked in place by placing the crank lock pin  39  through crank aperture  37 ′ and into any one of the one or more end cap apertures  37 . Once so locked, as with the other embodiment, this prevents the end rod  41  and shade cover  34  from falling away from and out of the housing  22  and protects the shade cover  34  when the shade device  10  is not is use and/or is stored. The simplicity of construction and ease of use of both embodiments of the locking mechanism/retracting mechanism far exceed similar components and combinations of prior art devices.  
         [0028]    As illustrated in FIG. 1, the housing  22  is attached to a hatch  16  in this example by the housing securing device  60 . The upper pole section  44  of the pole member  40  attaches to the end rod  41  and the base pole section  44 ′ of the pole member  40  inserts into base member  80 . In FIG. 1 the pole member  40  is illustrated as having at least two telescoping pole sections  44 ,  44 ′ with pole locking member  42  between the sections to facilitate length adjustment of the pole member  40  and, once so adjusted to the desired length, locking that length in place. Any conventional pole member  40  with telescoping pole sections  44 ,  44 ′, or more, and twistable locking members  42  in between all such pole sections may be used for this purpose.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 7 illustrates a second embodiment of adjustment of the pole member  40  and the mechanism securing the upper pole section  44  to the end rod  41 . The adjustment mechanism illustrated here shows upper pole section  44  to have a plurality of registration apertures  57 . The base pole section  44 ′ has a detent or biased protrusion  59  which a user presses into the base pole section  44 ′ to thereby permit the plurality of registration apertures  57  to pass over the biased protrusion  59  until the desired length of the pole member  40  is attained. When the desired length is attained, the user releases the biased protrusion  59  and inserts it into one of the plurality of registration apertures  57  at or near the desired length in order to maintain that length.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 7 also illustrates the connection components of the end rod  41  to the pole member  40 . A suitable elbow section  45  is configured to insert over or into the end rod  41  at one end of the elbow section  45  and to insert over or into the upper pole section  44  at the other end of the elbow section  45  (as illustrated, the elbow section  45  inserts over the end rod  41  and over the upper pole section  44  but the opposite configuration also serves the intended purpose; i.e., end rod  41  and upper pole section  44  inserting over the elbow section  45 , or any combinations of the above). The elbow section  45  has an elbow aperture  47  on the pole section side or on the end rod side or both. The upper pole section  44  has an aperture (covered by the elbow section  45  in the illustration) which is in communication with the elbow aperture  47 . An elbow locking pin  49  inserted through the elbow aperture  47  and into an corresponding aperture in the upper pole section  44 . The end rod  41  may have a similar aperture which is in communication with the elbow aperture through which the elbow locking pin  49  is also inserted. Though the elbow section  45  has been described herein as being removable from and lockable to either the end rod  41  or to the upper pole section  44  or to both, the elbow section  45  also may be permanently attached to either member (end rod  41  or upper pole section  44 ), but generally not to both at the same time. Portability and ease of disassembly of the shade device  10  dictates that the elbow section  45  should be lockably removable from one or both such members (end rod  41  and upper pole section  44 ) as described above.  
         [0031]    For initial stability of the shade device  10  when being assembled, one or more weight members, such as, but not limited to a conventional rebar  43 , are placed on or within the end rod  41 . As illustrated in FIG. 7 a rebar  43  is inside the end rod  41 . Such weight or weights to the end rod  41  eases assembly by stabilizing the shade cover  34  from unwanted movements due to windy conditions after its removal from the housing  22 . Additional stability is enhanced by staking to the ground surface or by using one or more external weights  53  tied to the end rod  41  as earlier described.  
         [0032]    Once the end rod  41  is attached to the pole member  40  on both sides, it is then attached to the base member  80  for its final assembly mode. FIG. 4 illustrates the detail components of the base member  80  in relation to the base pole section  44 ′. The base member  80  has a pole receptacle  48  on its top and a pad member  82  on its bottom. The pad member  82  may be placed on the bumper  14  of the motor vehicle  12  (or any other surface suited for the intended purpose) and may, but need not, be secured thereto by any suitable attaching component such as, but not limited to, a bungee cord  86  as shown, a rope tied around the bumper  14 . The pad member may, but need not, be of any nonabrasive material (such as, but not limited to, rubber, vinyl, cotton, polyester, and the like, to protect external surfaces from undue wear, tear, and/or scratches.  
         [0033]    Once the base member  80  is attached to the bumper  14 , for example, the base pole section  44 ′ is inserted into the pole receptacle  48  of the base member  80 . The pole receptacle  48  rests on a base hinge  88  which permits movement of the pole receptacle  48  up and down as necessary to accommodate the desired angle of use of the shade device  10  as dictated by how much shade cover  34  is pulled out from the housing  22  and to what length the pole member  40  has been adjusted. The base pole section  44 ′ may be tapered or threaded  46  (threading shown) and, respectively, may be friction-fitted into the pole receptacle  48  or threaded into cooperating threading of the pole receptacle  48 .  
         [0034]    [0034]FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate in detail the unique housing securing device  60  for use with any housing structure regardless of the shape of the housing structure. FIG. 8 is the preferred embodiment of the housing securing device  60 . It has a top section  61  and a bottom section  62  each of which attach together over a housing (not shown in this Figure). The top section  61  and bottom section  62  are attached together by suitable, preferably threaded, fasteners  67  through apertures  63  on the top section  61  into correspondingly threaded apertures  64  on the bottom section. It must be noted that the threaded apertures  64 , though illustrated to be on the bottom section  62  may be reversed; i.e., the non-threaded apertures to be on the bottom section  62  with the correspondingly threaded apertures to be on the top section  61 . The bottom section  62  also has bottom apertures  66 , generally threaded, though such need not be.  
         [0035]    A clamp-like device  36  having matching apertures  35  is attached to matching apertures of bottom section  62  by suitable fasteners  68  which, generally are threaded matchingly to the threading of the bottom apertures  66 . In cases where the aperture is not threaded, any other fastener suited for the intended purpose may be used, including, but not limited to, nut-and-bolt combinations, rivets, and the like. Any conventional clamp-like device  36  may be used for the housing securing device  60 . Illustrated here is a two-piece clamp-like member  36  having an upper part  36 ′ and a lower part  36 ″ connected together at a pivot point  73 . At one end of the clamp-like member  36  is the mouth  74 , and at the other end is the handle  72 . A bias member  75  forces the mouth  74  into a closed or tightening position; i.e., in the direction of arrows C, C′. As with such conventional clamp-like devices, squeezing the handle  72  in the direction of opposite to arrows C, C′ forces the mouth  74  into an adjustable open position. When in the open position, the clamp-like device  36 , with housing  22  attached, may be placed virtually to any external surface, such as, but not limited to, a hatch or tailgate. When the exerted pressure is released from the handle  72 , the mouth  74  reverts to its biased closed position in the direction of arrows C.  
         [0036]    This unique housing securing device  60  is configured first with the bottom section  62  being secured to the upper part  36 ′ of the clamp-like device  36 , the housing  22  placed into the bottom section  62 , and the top section  61  placed over the housing  22  and fastened to the lower section  61  with fasteners suited for the intended purpose such as, but not limited to, threaded screws into correspondingly threaded apertures, rivets, nuts and bolts, and the like. In cases where the housing  22  is round, as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, and  5 , a securing fastener  69 , such as a threaded set-screw, is placed into a correspondingly threaded aperture  70  on the top section  61  and threaded tightly down to the housing  22 . Once so set and tightened will prevent the housing  22  from moving or rotating within the top and bottom sections  61 ,  62 .  
         [0037]    This set-screw combination  69 ,  70  may be eliminated when the housing is not rounded but rather has multiple angles. This situation is illustrated in FIG. 9. With a multi-angled housing  22 ′, the top and bottom sections  61 ′,  62 ′ of the securing device  60  have angles matching the angles of the housing  22 ′. With such matching angles, when the housing  22 ′ is seated into the bottom section  62 ′, it mates with the corresponding angles which will prevent movement of the housing  22 ′ within. The top section  61 ′ attaches to the bottom section  62 ′ as described above. The clamp-like device  36  is affixed to the bottom section  62 ′ also as described above; i.e., upper part  36 ′ to bottom section  62 ′ with suitable fasteners.  
         [0038]    The present disclosure includes that contained in the present claims as well as that of the foregoing description.  
         [0039]    Although this invention has been described in its preferred forms with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure of the preferred form has been made only by way of example and numerous changes in the details of construction and combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be determined not by the embodiments illustrated, but by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.