Patent Publication Number: US-7585020-B1

Title: Sunshade apparatus

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application for a utility patent is a continuation-in-part of a previously filed utility patent Ser. No. 11/825,171, filed Jul. 5, 2007, which is still pending, which claimed priority to previously filed application Ser. No. 11/491,723, filed Jul. 24, 2006, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,243,990. 

   STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH 
   Not Applicable 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   This invention relates generally to sun shades, and more particularly to a sunshade apparatus that is easily portable and can be quickly and easily yet securely attached to a portable chair. 
   2. Description of Related Art 
   Wahl, Jr., U.S. Pat. No. 6,789,557, teaches a portable and collapsible sunshade apparatus having a universal attachment clip. The universal attachment clip enables any type of sunshade apparatus to be attached to any type of beach chair or lounge chair at any desired height above the occupant of the chair and at any desired angular orientation relative to the chair. The universal attachment clip includes clamshell jaws that are moved between open and closed positions via a screw-type threaded bolt. 
   Gillins, U.S. Pat. No. 5,967,601, teaches a sunshade apparatus for use with recreational chairs having a seat back. The sunshade has a rigid support to which upper edge clips and side edge clips are connected for releasable attachment to the seat back upper edge and seat back side edge, respectively. The side edge clips can rotate about the support in a generally horizontal plane, and the side edge clips are constructed in a manner to flex in a generally vertical plane. The upper edge clips have a hook portion to enable the sunshade to hang on the seat back upper edge. A canopy frame, covered with a shade producing cover, is pivotally attached to the support. When not in use, the canopy frame can be pivoted to a collapsed, generally flat configuration with the support. 
   Brim, U.S. Pat. No. 5,022,420, teaches a shade apparatus for use with a lawn mower. The apparatus includes a plurality of spaced U-shaped mounds for securement to handles of the lawnmower. Support rods pivotally mount at each respective end thereof with first canopy rods wherein the first canopy rods movably receive U-shaped canopy sliders wherein the organization is formable into a conveniently stored organization and easily errected and secured to the associated lawn mower. Further, the invention includes a storage container secured to the canopy wherein the storage container provides a tethered pair of ear protective devices for use in association with a lawn mower. 
   The above-described references are hereby incorporated by reference in full. 
   The prior art teaches various forms of sunshades that can be attached to a chair or other structure. However, the prior art does not teach a sunshade apparatus that includes attachment elements that enables the sunshade apparatus to be quickly and easily yet securely attached to a portable chair. The present invention fulfills these needs and provides further related advantages as described in the following summary. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention teaches certain benefits in construction and use which give rise to the objectives described below. 
   The present invention provides a sunshade a sunshade apparatus for shading a chair. The sunshade apparatus includes a flexible canopy element, and a support structure for supporting the flexible canopy element above the chair. The support structure has a pair of vertical support legs each having a bottom end. A pair of attachment elements is attached to the bottom ends of the pair of vertical support legs. Each of the attachment elements includes a pair of clamp elements that each include a clamping end opposite a lever end, the clamping ends of the pair of clamp elements together being shaped to clamp the chair; a hinge connecting the pair of clamp elements such that the pair of clamp elements may pivot between an open position wherein the clamping ends are spread apart for receiving the chair, and a closed position wherein the clamping ends are closed against the chair; a spring for biasing the clamping ends of the clamp elements towards the closed position; and wherein the lever ends extend outwardly from the clamp elements such that they may be squeezed together to overcome the bias of the spring and move the clamp elements towards the open position thereby enabling the clamp elements to be removed from the chair. 
   A primary objective of the present invention is to provide a sunshade apparatus having advantages not taught by the prior art. 
   Another objective is to provide a sunshade apparatus that includes attachment elements that enable the sunshade apparatus to be quickly and easily yet securely attached to any form of chair for shading the chair. 
   Another objective is to provide a sunshade apparatus that can be easily adjusted to users of different heights. 
   A further objective is to provide a sunshade apparatus that is easy to unfold and attach to the chair for use. 
   Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     The accompanying drawings illustrate the present invention. In such drawings: 
       FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of a sunshade apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the sunshade apparatus in an extended and spread configuration, and mounted on a chair; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the sunshade apparatus of  FIG. 1  once the sunshade apparatus has been moved from the spread configuration to a collapsed configuration; 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the sunshade apparatus of  FIG. 2  once the sunshade apparatus has been moved from the extended configuration to a folded configuration; 
       FIG. 4  is an enlarged view of an attachment element of the sunshade apparatus of  FIG. 1 , illustrating the attachment element in a closed position around a tubular element of the chair; 
       FIG. 5  is an enlarged view of an attachment element of the sunshade apparatus of  FIG. 1 , illustrating the attachment element in an open position; 
       FIG. 6  is a sectional view thereof taken along line  6 - 6  in  FIG. 1 , illustrating a locking element having a locking handle, and wherein the locking handle is in a locked position; 
       FIG. 7  is a sectional view of the locking element of  FIG. 6 , wherein the locking handle is in an unlocked position; 
       FIG. 8  is a sectional view of the locking element taken along line  8 - 8  in  FIG. 6 ; 
       FIG. 9  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the sunshade apparatus, including an alternative embodiment of the attachment elements, and 
       FIG. 10  is an exploded perspective view of the alternative embodiment of the attachment elements. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   The above-described drawing figures illustrate the invention, a sunshade apparatus  10  for shading a chair  12 . While the chair  12  is illustrated as a standard portable chair, the term chair is hereby defined to include any form of chair, lounge, wheelchair, or other device upon which a person might sit, recline, or lounge. 
     FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of a sunshade apparatus  10  according to one embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the sunshade apparatus  10  in an extended and spread configuration, and mounted on the chair  12 .  FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the sunshade apparatus  10  of  FIG. 1  once the sunshade apparatus  10  has been moved from the spread configuration to a collapsed configuration.  FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the sunshade apparatus  10  of  FIG. 2  once the sunshade apparatus  10  has been moved from the extended configuration to a folded configuration. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , the sunshade apparatus  10  includes a flexible canopy element  46  for shielding a user from the sun, and a support structure  18  for operably supporting the flexible canopy element  46  above the chair  12 . The sunshade apparatus  10  also includes a pair of attachment elements  26 . Each of the attachment elements  26  is adapted to be removably attached to the support structure  18  for mounting the flexible canopy element  46  above the chair  12 . 
   In one embodiment, the support structure  18  includes a pair of vertical support legs  20  that are adapted to be attached to the chair  12 , and a pair of horizontally extending arms  40  that extend horizontally for shading the chair  12 . Each of the pair of vertical support legs  20  has a top end  22  and a bottom end  24 . The pair of attachment elements  26  may be attached to the bottom ends  24  of the pair of vertical support legs  20  for mounting the sunshade apparatus  10  on the chair  12 . 
   While  FIG. 1  is one embodiment of the support structure  18 , it may also include any number of alternative structures known in the art, or that can be developed by one skilled in the art, for shading the chair  12 . In alternative embodiments, the support structure  18  may include any number of awnings, umbrellas, and other structures should be included within the scope of this terminology, as defined herein. 
     FIG. 4  is an enlarged view of an attachment element  26  of the sunshade apparatus  10  of  FIG. 1 , illustrating the attachment element  26  in a closed position around a tubular element  14  of the chair  12 .  FIG. 5  is an enlarged view of an attachment element  26  of the sunshade apparatus  10  of  FIG. 1 , illustrating the attachment element  26  in an open position. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , each of the pair of attachment elements  26  may also include a clamp  28  having a first locking portion  30  hingably attached to a second locking portion  32 , and a locking screw  34  for clamping the first and second locking portions  30  and  32  around a tubular element  14  of the chair  12 . The locking screw  34  may be hingably attached to the first locking portion  30  and pivots between a closed position wherein the locking screw  34  lockingly engages the second locking portion  32 , and an open position wherein the locking screw  34  is disengaged from the second locking portion  32 . 
   The first locking portion  30  and the second locking portion  32  each may include concave inner surfaces  36  and  37  adapted to clamp against the tubular element  14  of the chair  12 . The locking screw  34  may include a knob  38  that enables a user to manually tighten each of the pair of attachment elements  26  so that the first locking portion  30  and the second locking portion  32  are tightly clamped around the tubular element  14 . 
   While one embodiment of the attachment elements  26  is described and illustrated in detail, alternative embodiments of the attachment element  26  may also be used in alternative constructions. An alternative embodiment of the attachment elements  26  are also described below and illustrated in  FIGS. 9 and 10 . 
   As shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , the sunshade apparatus  10  may further include a pair of horizontally extending arms  40 . Each of the pair of horizontally extending arms  40  may have a proximal end  42  and a distal end  44 . The pair of horizontally extending arms  40  may be constructed of an elongate, rigid material, preferably tubular steel, aluminum, or similar material, and extend generally horizontally for the supporting the flexible canopy element  46  attached to the pair of horizontally extending arms  40 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the flexible canopy element  46  may extend between the pair of horizontally extending arms  40  when the pair of horizontally extending arms  40  are in the spread configuration, and functions to shade the chair  12 . The flexible canopy element  46  has been removed from the pair of horizontally extending arms  40  in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , for more clearly illustrating the frame structure of the sunshade apparatus  10 . 
   The pair of horizontally extending arms  40  may be attached to the pair of vertical support legs  20  with a pair of hinges  48 . In this embodiment, each of the pair of hinges  48  hingably connects the top end  22  of one of the pair of vertical support legs  20  to the proximal end  42  of one of the pair of horizontally extending arms  40  such that the pair of horizontally extending arms  40  can pivot with respect to the pair of vertical support legs  20  between a folded configuration and an extended configuration. 
     FIGS. 6-8  illustrate a locking element  50  of the sunshade apparatus  10 .  FIG. 6  is a sectional view of the sunshade apparatus  10  taken along line  6 - 6  in  FIG. 1 , illustrating a locking element  50  having a locking handle  52 , and wherein the locking handle  52  is in a locked position.  FIG. 7  is a sectional view of the locking element  50  of  FIG. 6 , wherein the locking handle  52  is in an unlocked position.  FIG. 8  is a sectional view of the locking element  50  taken along line  8 - 8  in  FIG. 6 . 
   As shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  6 - 8 , the locking element  50  functions to lock the pair of horizontally extending arms  40  in the extended configuration (as shown in  FIG. 2 ) with respect to the pair of vertical support legs  20 . The locking element  50  may include a slider element  54  that is adapted to slidably engage one of the pair of vertical support legs  20 . The slider element  54  is pivotally attached to a support bar  56 , which is pivotally attached to one of the pair of horizontally extending arms  40 , such that moving the slider element  54  towards the top end  22  of the one of the pair of vertical support legs  20  causes the support bar  56  to push the one of the pair of horizontally extending arms  40  from the folded configuration, as shown in  FIG. 3 , to the extended configuration, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
   As shown in  FIGS. 6-8 , the locking handle  52  is pivotally attached to the slider element  54  such that the locking handle  52  can pivot between a locked position, as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 8 , and an unlocked position, as shown in  FIG. 7 . The locking handle  52  may have a locking portion  58  that engages the one of the pair of vertical support legs  20  to lock the locking element  50  with respect to the one of the pair of vertical support legs  20 . The locking portion  58  may frictionally engage the one of the pair of vertical support legs  20 . 
   As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the sunshade apparatus  10  may further include a folding element  60  that joins the pair of horizontally extending arms  40 . The folding element  60  enables the sunshade apparatus  10  to fold between a collapsed configuration, shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , wherein the pair of horizontally extending arms  40  are adjacent, and a spread configuration, shown in  FIG. 1 , wherein the pair of horizontally extending arms  40  are laterally spaced from each other. 
   The folding element  60  may include a pair of folding cross-bars  62  that are each pivotally attached at a first end to one of the pair of horizontally extending arms  40 , and each pivotally attached at a second end to a horizontal slider  64  that is adapted to slidably engage one of the pair of horizontally extending arms  40 . The pair of folding cross-bars  62  may be pivotally connected together in a middle  66  with a pivot pin  68 . 
   While the illustrated embodiment of the folding element  60  illustrates one embodiment, alternative structures may also be devised by those skilled in the art, and should be considered within the scope of the present invention. 
     FIG. 9  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the sunshade apparatus  70 , including an alternative embodiment of the attachment elements  72 . As illustrated in  FIG. 9 , the alternative embodiment of the sunshade apparatus  70  may include a bottom pair of attachment elements  74  that may be attached to the bottom ends  24  of the pair of vertical support legs  20 . The attachment elements  72  may also include a top pair of attachment elements  76  attached to the pair of vertical support legs  20  above the bottom pair of attachment elements  74 . 
   The top and bottom pairs of attachment elements  74  and  76  are adapted for mounting the support structure  18  to the chair  12  (illustrated in  FIG. 1 ) such that the flexible canopy element  46  (also illustrated in  FIG. 1 ) is positioned above the chair. The top pair of attachment elements  76  may be positioned above and vertically spaced from the bottom pair of attachment elements  74  to increase the strength of the connection to the chair, without requiring the attachment elements  72  to be especially strong, complex, or difficult to use. To the contrary, the attachment elements  72  are extremely simple and easy to attach, yet the combination of top and bottom pairs makes the connection especially strong. 
     FIG. 10  is an exploded perspective view of the alternative embodiment of one of the attachment elements  72  utilized in each of the top and bottom attachment elements  74  and  76 . As illustrated in  FIG. 10 , each of the attachment elements  72  includes a pair of clamp elements  80  that each include a clamping end  82  opposite a lever end  84 . The clamping ends  82  are shaped to clamp around the chair  12  (illustrated in  FIG. 1 ). A hinge  85  connects the pair of clamp elements  80  such that the clamp elements  80  may pivot between an open position wherein the clamping ends  82  are spread apart for receiving the chair  12 , and a closed position wherein the clamping ends  82  are closed against the chair  12 . 
   In one embodiment, the hinge  85  includes flanges  86  each with an aperture  87 , and a rod  88  that fits through the apertures  87  to form the hinge  85 . Obviously, those skilled in the art may develop a wide variety of hinges, all of which should be considered within the scope of the present invention. 
   A spring  90  biases the clamping ends  82  of the clamp elements  80  towards the closed position. In one embodiment, the spring  90  may be a torsion spring, although other types of springs may be utilized, and the term spring is hereby broadly defined to include any resilient member that functions to provide the required bias, or any equivalent mechanism or element. 
   The lever ends  84  extend outwardly from the clamp elements  82  such that they may be squeezed together to overcome the bias of the spring  90  and move the clamp elements  82  towards the open position, thereby enabling the clamp elements  82  to be removed from the chair  12  (shown in  FIG. 1 ). 
   Each of the clamp elements  82  is adapted to be attached to one of the vertical support legs  20 , or another suitable location on the support structure. In one embodiment, the clamp element  82  includes a receiver  92  shaped to receive the vertical support leg  20  therethrough. In the illustrated embodiment, the receiver  92  is cylindrical; however, in alternative embodiments it may have other shapes or forms. Various other pins, fasteners, or other structures may be used to form the connection, and such alternatives are considered within the scope of the present invention. 
   While the bottom pair of attachment elements  74  include a stop or boot (not shown) that prevents vertical movement of the attachment elements  74 , the top pair of attachment elements  76  do not require such restriction, and may be freely adjustable. 
   The unique attachment elements  72  of the present invention enables the sunshade apparatus  10  to be attached at any position on the chair  12 , regardless of the construction of the chair  12 , the shape of the frame, or other factors. Furthermore, this also allows the height of the sunshade apparatus  10  to be readily adjusted relative to the chair  12 . 
   Certain terminology is used in the preceding description for convenience only, and is not limiting. Words such as “vertical,” “horizontal,” “first,” “second,” “inner,” “outer,” “upper,” “lower,” “top,” “bottom,” and the like, designate directions in the drawings to which reference is made, and do not constrain the scope of the claimed invention. Furthermore, terms like “vertical” and “horizontal” do not require specific geometric parameters, but merely refer to the general orientation of these elements in typical use, and should not impute any additional requirements to the claimed invention. 
   The terminology used in the preceding description includes not only the specific words used and described above, but also similar or equivalent words, and derivatives thereof. Additionally, the words “a,” “an,” and “one” are defined to include one or more of the referenced item unless specifically stated otherwise. Also, the terms “have,” “include,” “contain,” and similar terms are defined to mean “comprising” unless specifically stated otherwise. 
   While the invention has been described with reference to at least one embodiment, it is to be clearly understood by those skilled in the art that the invention is not limited thereto. Rather, the scope of the invention is to be interpreted only in conjunction with the appended claims.