Abstract:
A mini cabana device that can be employed in a freestanding condition or attached to a structure such as a beach chair, and that allows the user to limit the amount of sunlight, wind and/or other elements that come into contact with the portions of the user&#39;s body positioned within the interior of the device. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the device comprises a pivoting shade that can be raised or lowered, a means for attaching the device to an object or the ground and a clip for holding a towel or sheet in a desired position relative to the device. Further, the device of the present invention can be setup or stowed-away with relatively minimal effort.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE 
       [0001]    This application claims priority from Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/365,023 filed Jul. 16, 2010. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates to a portable sun shade or mini cabana that can be made freestanding or attached to a chair or the ground for use during sun bathing, outdoor spectator events, and the like. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Sun shades, including umbrellas, tents and visors, have commonly been used to limit the amount of direct sunlight that contacts a person, as well as other elements like wind and rain. A variety of existing sun shades attempt to address the problems regarding shade, wind and the elements, however they have the limitations of not being very effective or practical. The traditional umbrella, for instance, can be unstable in moderate wind, requires ground preparation to hold it upright, and is not very effective at low sun angles. In addition, shade umbrellas are typically bulky and heavy. Tents can be effective for blocking direct sunlight or rain. However, they too tend to be bulky and heavy. In addition, tents or cabanas require a fair amount of assembly, and usually require tethering to hold in place, thereby making them impractical to use in many cases. 
         [0004]    Commonly, the person under the umbrella or inside the cabana wishes to limit the amount of direct sunlight contacting only a specific portion of their body, usually the person&#39;s head or face. For this reason, umbrellas and cabanas are usually ineffective since it is difficult to control where the sunlight is desired to contact on the person&#39;s body. Sun visors, or hats, can be positioned on a person&#39;s head to block sunlight from contacting a portion of their head. While somewhat effective, sun visors worn on a person&#39;s head may be insufficient unless the visor is substantial in size, which may become too heavy or bulky for the person to comfortably wear. Further, a sun visor worn over a person&#39;s head can be uncomfortable for the person in warm or hot climate conditions. Finally, a sun visor that is worn over a person&#39;s head is mostly ineffective in blocking wind, which may result in sand or dirt being blown into the person&#39;s face or eyes. 
         [0005]    Other sun visors have been incorporated in the design of a beach or lawn chair. However, sun visors of this type have limited applicability due to the relatively few chair designs incorporating a visor. In addition, chairs incorporating sun visors can be bulky and difficult to store away during the offseason unless the chairs can be easily stacked on top of each other. Finally, since sun visors of this type are an integral part of the chair, they cannot be selectively made portable. 
         [0006]    Consequently, there exists in the art a long-felt need for a device that enables a person to limit the amount of direct sunlight and wind that contacts their head or face while allowing the remaining portion of their body to receive direct sunlight. There also exists a long-felt need for a device that accomplishes the forgoing objectives and that is relatively easy and inexpensive to manufacture and use. Finally, there is a long-felt need for a device that accomplishes all of the forgoing objectives and that can be selectively made freestanding or portable, depending on goals and desires of the person using the device. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosed innovation. This summary is not an extensive overview, and it is not intended to identify key/critical elements or to delineate the scope thereof. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later. 
         [0008]    The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one aspect thereof, comprises a device that enables a person to easily carry and setup a mini cabana, either in a freestanding condition or attached to a beach chair on the ground, thereby limiting the amount of sunlight or wind that can contact the user&#39;s head and/or face. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the device comprises a pivoting shade that can be raised or lowered. Further, the device of the present invention can be transported, setup or stowed-away with relatively minimal effort. Much like a pillowcase sliding over a pillow, in one embodiment, the device can be made so that it simply slides over the back portion of a beach chair. Conversely, if there is no beach chair available, the device can simply be laid-out, much like a towel, and optionally removably anchored to the ground via one or more spikes, stakes, pins or the like. Additionally, said device may incorporate one or more clips for holding a towel in a desired location relative to said device. Finally, said device can be stowed-away quickly by simply lowering the pivoting shade and folding the fabric portion of the device, once it has been removed from the back of a beach chair or unsecured from the ground. 
         [0009]    To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, certain illustrative aspects of the disclosed innovation are described herein in connection with the following description and the annexed drawings. These aspects are indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles disclosed herein can be employed and is intended to include all such aspects and their equivalents. Other advantages and novel features will become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  illustrates a top perspective view of one embodiment of the device of the present invention, with the shade in a substantially raised position. 
           [0011]      FIG. 1A  illustrates a top perspective view of a second embodiment of the device of the present invention, with the shade in a substantially raised position. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  illustrates a top perspective view of one embodiment of the device of the present invention, with the shade in a substantially lowered position. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2A  illustrates a top perspective detailed view of a towel clip installed on the device of the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2B  illustrates a bottom perspective view of one embodiment of the device of the present invention, with shade in a substantially lowered position. 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  illustrates a top perspective view of a prior art beach or pool-style chair. 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  illustrates a top perspective view of a beach chair with one embodiment of the device of the present invention attached thereon, and further including a towel affixed to said device via one or more towel clips. 
           [0017]      FIG. 4A  illustrates a rear partial perspective view of said beach chair and said device illustrated in  FIG. 4 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  illustrates a side elevational view of a beach chair with one embodiment of the device of the present invention attached thereon, and further depicting an occupant using said device with the shade in a substantially raised position. 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  illustrates a top perspective view of a second embodiment of the device of the present invention affixed to the ground via one or more spikes, and further including a towel affixed to said device via one or more towel clips. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0020]    The innovation is now described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding thereof. It may be evident, however, that the innovation can be practiced without these specific details. 
         [0021]    Referring initially to the drawings,  FIG. 1  illustrates one embodiment of a mini-cabana device  100  for use on either the back of a beach chair or optionally removably anchored to the ground for the purpose of limiting the amount of sunlight, wind or other elements that may contact a person&#39;s head or face. Device  100 , as depicted in  FIG. 1 , comprises a base  110 , a shade  140 , a plurality of linkage members  141  (depicted as  141   a - 141   f ) and a linkage pivot  142 . 
         [0022]    In  FIG. 1 , shade  140  is shown in a substantially raised position  140 R. Shade  140  is preferably made of a fabric, and more preferably a relatively waterproof fabric, though it is contemplated that other materials such as plastic and the like could also be used without affecting the overall concept of the invention. Shade  140  further comprises a top portion  1401  and side portions  1402  which are preferably placed over and are attached to said plurality of linkage members  141 . The plurality of linkage members  141  are, in turn, pivotally connected to and operatively supported by linkage pivot  142 . Linkage pivot  142  may be further attached to base  110 . Linkage members  141  and linkage pivot  142  may be made from plastic, metal, or other suitable materials, and cause shade  140  to function in an accordion-like manner when repositioned from a substantially raised position  140 R to a substantially lowered position  140 L, and vice versa. 
         [0023]    In the substantially raised position  140 R, shade  140  forms an approximately 90 degree angle with respect to the span of the two outermost linkage members, namely  141   a  and  141   f,  as depicted in  FIG. 1 . It should be noted that angles other than 90 degrees in the substantially raised position  140 R will also allow shade  140  to function properly. For example, angles anywhere between 0 to 110 degrees, or more, may be possible provided that shade  140  can still limit the amount of sun contacting the person&#39;s head or face and shade  140  does not open to an angle larger than what would be required for the person to place their head inside of the shade portion of the device  100 . Further, it is conceivable that any number of linkage members  141  could be used to allow shade  140  to be raised and lowered between a substantially raised position  140 R and a substantially lowered position  140 L and the device  100  is not limited to or restricted by the six linkage members  141  depicted in the drawings. Additionally, linkage members  141  may also be made integral with shade  140 . 
         [0024]    In one embodiment of the present invention, base  110  further comprises base side surfaces  116 , base bottom surface  117 , and base top surface  115 . Base  110  is preferably made from fabric, flexible plastic, or other suitable materials. Said suitable materials for said surfaces of the base  110  may include portions that are elastic to permit stretching to accommodate beach chairs  300  of different widths and designs as further explained below. Further, each of the said surfaces has an adjacent base interior surface  118 . Interior surfaces  118  form a pillowcase-like structure for slipping over the back  360  of a beach chair  300  (as described in  FIGS. 3-5  herein). 
         [0025]    Base bottom surface  117  may be formed as a continuous surface as shown in  FIG. 1 , or may be formed as two or more separate surfaces. It may be preferable to have an opening portion formed in base bottom surface  117  as shown in  FIG. 1  to allow for assembly of the device  100  on differing beach chair  300  configurations, having an adjustable back  360  (also see  FIG. 4A ). Further, base tab upper  119   a,  an appendage to base top surface  115 , and base tab lower  119   b,  an appendage to base bottom surface  117  may include means for attaching the base  110  to the back  360  of a beach chair  300 . Said attaching means may include: Velcro®, clasps, ties strings, buckles, or the like to assist in the setup and removal from the back of the beach chair (not shown). 
         [0026]    Device  100  may further comprise one or more towel clips  113 , which may be preferably formed in a clip recess  114  section (or an opening) in base top surface  115  as depicted in  FIG. 1 . Towel clips  113  are preferably made from plastic, metal, or other suitable materials commonly known in the art and can be used to secure a towel  400  to the base  110  of device  100 . Additional prior art towel holding devices may also be used, as well, to hold the free-end of towel  400  to ground  500 , but are not required. 
         [0027]      FIG. 1A  depicts an alternative embodiment of base  110  of the present invention wherein base side surface  116  may be comprised of an elastic fabric, such as a mesh, and one or more straps  120  may be attached to the base top surface  115  and/or base bottom surface  117 . Straps  120  can be used to secure device  100  to beach chair  300  by, for example, tying straps  120  around the back  360  of chair  300 . 
         [0028]      FIG. 2  is an illustration of one embodiment of device  100  in which the shade  140  is shown in a substantially lowered position  140 L. In this position, linkage members  141  are in close proximity to each other. When the shade  140  is in the substantially lowered position  140 L, the angle with respect to the span of the two outermost linkage members, namely  141   a  and  141   f , is preferably between 15 and 25 degrees, but angles outside of this range are also possible. For instance, if the linkage members  141  are made narrower, a smaller angle can be achieved. However, linkage members  141  need to be properly sized to support shade  140  when it is in the substantially raised position  140 R. 
         [0029]    With shade  140  in the substantially lowered position  140 L, a portion of a second clip recess  114  can now be seen in  FIG. 2 . Preferably device  110  is depicted throughout the figures as having two towel clips  113  and clip recesses  114 ; however it is conceivable to have fewer or more towel clips  113  and corresponding clip recesses  114 .  FIG. 2A  illustrates a partial detailed view of a typical towel clip  113  and corresponding clip recess  114  as indicated by the section “A” symbol in  FIG. 2 . It should be noted that other possible designs for towel clip  113  could be incorporated into the device  100 , and may or may not require a clip recess  114  to hold towel  400  in place on base  110 . 
         [0030]      FIG. 2B  illustrates one embodiment of device  100  with shade  140  in a substantially lowered position  140 L, viewed from a bottom view perspective. In this figure, the pillowcase-like construction of base  110  via the base side surfaces  116 , base top surface  115 , and base bottom surface  117  can easily be seen. Much like a pillow case covering a pillow, base  110  may be constructed such that the base interior surfaces  118  will cover and contact the adjustable back  360  portion of a beach chair  300  (also see the description of  FIGS. 3-5 ). 
         [0031]      FIG. 3  illustrates a typical prior art beach or pool-style chair  300 . Beach chair  300  is commonly found at the beach or near swimming pools, and is commonly used for sun bathing, outdoor spectator events, and the like. It should be noted that device  100  of the present invention can be easily adapted to different beach chair sizes and designs. Said device may also be made to fit other styles of outdoor chairs as well, and said device could be used on chairs at locations other than the beach or near swimming pools. Therefore, prior art beach chair  300  as depicted in  FIG. 3 , is merely an example of a chair that can be used in conjunction with device  100  of the present invention. Since many different designs of beach chairs are well known in the art, only a brief description of the beach chair  300  will be made herein. 
         [0032]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , beach chair  300  typically includes a frame  320 , which further comprises a plurality of legs  330 , and one or more wheels  340 . Many prior art beach chairs  300  also include an adjustable back  360  section, which can be selectively raised or lowered by repositioning a back adjuster  362 , as well as a pair of armrests  310  as depicted in  FIG. 3 . Other beach chair designs do not utilize armrests. The device  100  of the present invention will work on beach chair designs with or without armrests  310 , as well as beach chairs with a fixed (nonadjustable) back section. 
         [0033]    Beach chair  300  may also include a pad  350  for increased comfort for the occupant  600  of the beach chair. Pad  350  can be made removable or fixed to the beach chair  300 . Beach chair pads  350  are well known in the art. Device  100  will work on other beach chair  300  configurations that do not use a pad  350 . For instance, other beach chairs (not shown) are typically made as a metal tubular structure with vinyl straps running side-to-side and are used to support an occupant. Regardless of the specific beach chair design, it is envisioned that device  100  can be made to slide over at least a portion of the back  360  of beach chair  300 , or be removably attached to chair  300  with straps  120  as previously described. 
         [0034]      FIG. 4  illustrates one embodiment of device  100  installed on the adjustable back  360  of beach chair  300 . Device  100  is shown with shade  140  in a substantially lowered position  140 L, viewed from a top perspective view. Towel  400  is shown preferably affixed to the base top surface  115  via towel clips  113 , and is extended substantially along the length of pad top surface  351 .  FIG. 4A  illustrates a rear partial detailed view of beach chair  300  with one embodiment of device  100  installed over the adjustable back  360 . An opening may be formed in the base bottom surface  117  to provide clearance for back adjuster  362  as illustrate in  FIG. 4A . 
         [0035]      FIG. 5  illustrates an embodiment of device  100  installed on beach chair  300  with shade  140  in a substantially raised position  140 R. Further, device  100  is shown in use with occupant  600  assuming a sun bathing position on beach chair  300 . Occupant  600  is shown in a semi-upright position, supported by beach chair  300 . Towel  400  (not shown) is preferably positioned between occupant  600  and pad  350 . Further, the figure shows the functional advantage of device  100  since occupant  600  is able to place her head in the interior portion of shade  140 , thus preventing direct sunlight or wind from contacting the head or face. 
         [0036]      FIG. 6  illustrates device  100  in a freestanding configuration with shade  140  in a substantially lowered position  140 L. Towel  400  is preferably affixed to base top surface  115  via one or more towel clips  113 . Other prior art towel clips or other weighted-objects (not shown) may also be used to hold the free end of towel  400  in place. As depicted in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 6 , Base  110  may further comprise one or more anchor loops  111  to permit device  100  to be used in a freestanding configuration, or optionally removably secured to the ground  500  as depicted in  FIG. 6 . Anchor loop  111  can be made from fabric, plastic, or other suitable materials, and sized accordingly to accommodate a spike or stake  150 . In this configuration, anchor loop  111  is preferably constructed with an opening  112  therein for receipt of a spike or stake  150 , and is preferably attached to base side surface  116 , base bottom surface  117 , or base top surface  115 . 
         [0037]    As stated above, device  100  may be optionally anchored to the ground  500  (or sand) by matingly engaging a spike or stake  150  with one or more of anchor loops  111 . If it is desired to have device  100  anchored to the ground  500 , spikes  150  having an approximate diameter of 0.25 inches and length of 6 inches may be used. Other sizes and shapes for spike  150  could be used as well, provided spike head  151  is sized appropriately to hold anchor loop  111  in place. More specifically, opening  112  in anchor loop  111  should be made slightly larger than the diameter of spike  150 , but not as large as the size of spike head  151 . Device  100  need not be anchored in all conditions. For instance, device  100  could be used on a hard surface such as concrete, in which spikes would be impractical. However, it may be preferable to use spikes  150  to anchor device  100  when using it at the beach or in a windy environment. 
         [0038]    Since base  110  is preferably constructed mainly from fabric, flexible plastic, or the like, base  110  will simply flatten-out when placed on the ground  500  meaning that base side surface  116 , base tab upper  119   a,  and base tab lower  119   b  now become substantially planar with the base top surface  115  and the base bottom surface  117 , except for the creased edge around the periphery as shown. 
         [0039]    What has been described above includes examples of the claimed subject matter. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing the claimed subject matter, but one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that many further combinations and permutations of the claimed subject matter are possible. Accordingly, the claimed subject matter is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “includes” is used in either the detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as “comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.