Abstract:
A semi-transparent sunshade device which may be an integral member of a stroller, or installed into a preexisting stroller. The sunshade device can be a convex protective shield which may be rotated into a position above or behind the stroller when desired. The sunshade can block harmful UV light and reduce incoming sun light, as well as, provide protection from rain, wind, snow, or air borne road debris emanating from passing vehicles. The one-piece convex sunshade can also provide maximum air circulation and space for a child sitting within a stroller.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    When children are riding in strollers outdoors, they are frequently exposed to the sun. Extended exposure to the sun can cause myriad problems, ranging from slight discomfort to long lasting medical conditions. For example, exposing a child&#39;s eyes to the sun may cause the child to experience discomfort or damage ranging from squinting to developing cataracts or other eye-related medical problems. Children will frequently put their hands up to shield their eyes or, alternatively, their parents may place a blanket over the front of a child&#39;s stroller in order to protect the child&#39;s eyes from sun light. However, these solutions are temporary and fail to provide complete protection from the harmful UV rays that a child is being exposed to. 
         [0002]    Some of the solutions in the field provide umbrellas or shades for strollers. In the U.S. Patent Application Publication to Zweideck (2010/0243010 A1), a foldable umbrella can be attached to the handle of a stroller to block the sunlight. Similarly, in the U.S. Pat. No. 7,407,178 B2, to Freeman a more technologically advanced solution uses sensors and actuators to guide an umbrella-type canopy in the direction of the sun. In contrast, in the U.S. Patent Application Publication to Hu (2006/0038368 A1), a foldable sunshade device can be built on the top portion of a stroller to protect a child from direct sun light, while in the U.S. Patent Application Publication to McGregor (2005/0275257 A1), a collapsible, ellipse-shaped fabric cover can be installed with a closed loop frame member to function as a sunshade. 
         [0003]    Finally, fabric sunshades have been used with strollers. In the U.S. Patent Application Publication to Wang et al (2004/0245812 A1), a front sunshade panel can be manually attached to a frame surrounding a stroller by zipper, hook or fasteners. In the U.S. Pat. No. 5,975,613, to Sippel a flat frame is installed on the top portion of a stroller. This frame supports a piece of fabric which covers the entire rectangular frame and, in addition, has three pieces of fabric, whereby each of these pieces of fabric have one side connected to an edge of the central piece on top. When not in use, the pieces of fabric are overlapped onto each other, shielding only the top-most portion of the stroller. When under the sun, all three pieces of fabric can be unfolded as curtains so that, in addition to the top portion, they may shield the front, left and right sides of a stroller. 
         [0004]    The current sun protection devices for strollers implement protruding sunshades, complicated electronic systems, non-transparent fabric covers or whole-coverage bag-type shields. Although these devices provide some form of protection from the sun, they remain complicated to install and fail to provide the ideal stroller environment for a child. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    According to one exemplary embodiment, a sunshade apparatus may be disclosed. A sunshade may be a semi-transparent device which may be a component of, or installed onto, a stroller. The sunshade device can be a convex protective shield and may be coupled to a stroller, regardless of whether the stroller includes a first shade. The sunshade can block harmful UV light and reduce incoming sun light. The sunshade can also protect an occupant of a stroller from rain, wind, snow, or air borne road debris emanating from passing vehicles while providing maximum air circulation and space for an occupant. When not in use, the sunshade may be rotated into a position above or behind the stroller, either above or below any preexisting or included sunshade. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0006]    Advantages of embodiments of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the exemplary embodiments thereof, which description should be considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  is an exemplary view of a stroller with a shade in a folded configuration; 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is an exemplary view of a stroller with a shade in an extended configuration; 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is an exemplary view of a stroller with a sunshade in a storage configuration; 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is an exemplary view of a stroller with a sunshade in a protective configuration. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0011]    Aspects of the invention are disclosed in the following description and related drawings directed to specific embodiments of the invention. Alternate embodiments may be devised without departing from the spirit or the scope of the invention. Additionally, well-known elements of exemplary embodiments of the invention will not be described in detail or will be omitted so as not to obscure the relevant details of the invention. Further, to facilitate an understanding of the description, discussion of several terms used herein follows. 
         [0012]    The word “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any embodiment described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments. Likewise, the terms “embodiments of the invention,” “embodiments” or “invention” do not require that all embodiments of the method, system or apparatus include the discussed feature, advantage or mode of operation. 
         [0013]    Generally referring to exemplary  FIGS. 1-4 , an exemplary embodiment of a stroller which sits a child in an upright position can be shown.  FIGS. 1 and 2  show an exemplary stroller to which a sun shield may be attached.  FIGS. 3 and 4  generally depict exemplary embodiments in which a sunshade is attached to an existing stroller. In alternate exemplary embodiments, a sunshade may be an included component of a stroller configuration. It is envisioned that a sunshade may be installed on, or included with, any type of stroller, such as, but not limited to, jogger strollers, tandem or double strollers, sit and stand strollers, baby strollers and umbrella strollers. While  FIGS. 1-4  generally depict an exemplary embodiment which may protect an occupant&#39;s upper body, it is also envisioned that a sunshade may protect the entirety of an occupant&#39;s body. 
         [0014]    In exemplary  FIG. 1 , stroller  100  may be shown as having front wheels  101 , and rear wheels  102 . The choice of the number of front wheels can vary, for example, based on the use of the stroller  100 . In one exemplary embodiment, a stroller intended for jogging may utilize three large wheels with a shock absorbing system, wherein rear wheels  102  might include two wheels and front wheels  101  might include a single wheel. In contrast, if a stroller is to be used during a less strenuous activity, such as walking, two front wheels  101  and two rear wheels  102  may be desired. Stroller  100  may include any desirable number of front wheels  101  and rear wheels  102 , wherein the wheels may be of any desirable diameter and arranged in any desirable configuration. It is also envisioned that the wheels may be of varying diameters. For example, rear wheels  102  may have larger diameters than front wheels  101 . It is envisioned that both wheels  101  and  102  may be fabricated from any desirable material which would allow stroller  100  to roll under the weight of the stroller and a child inside. 
         [0015]    In exemplary  FIG. 1 , stroller  100  includes handle  103  which is coupled to stroller  100  and can be used to push stroller  100 . Handle  103  can be fabricated from any desirable material. Further, handle  103  may be encased with soft rubber or plastic, as desired, for easy gripping. Handle  103  may also be collapsible, extendable or otherwise adjustable in any manner. For example, handle  103  may be able to be rotated into different angular positions, such that stroller  100  may be stored with handle  103  in a substantially vertical position and used with handle  103  in a substantially horizontal position.  FIG. 1  also depicts an exemplary embodiment which may include safety belt  104  with buckles  105 , configured and disposed as desired. While using the stroller a child can be seated in stroller  100  with the seat belt  104  secured around the child as desired by buckle  105 . 
         [0016]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , in one exemplary embodiment of stroller  100  may include shade  106 . Shade  106  may provide an attachment point for a sunshade device, but may also provide stroller  100  with some sun protection. Shade  106  may be formed out of any desired material, for example cloth, a polymeric material or plastic. Shade  106  may be substantially opaque so as to provide for any of a variety of light blocking or attenuation characteristics. 
         [0017]    Shade  106  may be capable of being collapsed, retracted, extended and manipulated without losing any structural or functional integrity. Shade  106  can be fully stretched manually or automatically, as desired. For example, in some exemplary embodiments, shade  106  may have a handle or strap that allows for it to be extended or retracted, as desired. In other exemplary embodiments, shade  106  may be articulated by a motor or any other actuation device. Shade  106  may include panels disposed on each side of stroller  100  which may allow shade  106  to be coupled to stroller  100  at a connection point, such as latch  107 . These connection points, such as latch  107 , may also serve as connection points for a sunshade. In exemplary  FIG. 1 , shade  106  is in a folded, retracted position. Exemplary  FIG. 2  shows a version of shade  106  in an extended configuration. 
         [0018]    Shade  106  may be coupled to stroller  100  in any of a variety of fashions. For example, latch  107  may be used to couple shade  106  to stroller  100 . Shade  106  may be removably coupled to stroller  100  as desired. Latch  107 , which may have a corresponding or complementary latch on an opposite side of stroller  100 , may allow for articulation or rotation about an axis, thus allowing for movement of shade  106  from a closed or unextended state to an open or extended state. Latch  107  may be any type of latch that allows for articulation. 
         [0019]    In  FIG. 3 , an exemplary embodiment of a sunshade is shown. In this exemplary embodiment, sunshade  301  may be connected using joint  302  onto shade  106 . Joint  302  may be such that it can couple with latch  107  or may be used in place of latch  107 . Joint  302  may further have a complementary or corresponding joint positioned on a substantially opposite side of stroller  100 . Joint  302  may be engineered to allow sunshade  301  to be connected to a stroller frame, a preexisting stroller shade, such as shade  106 , or some combination thereof, while still allowing sunshade  301  to rotate into a protective configuration. In exemplary  FIG. 4 , sunshade  301  is depicted in a protective configuration, and its position may be held by the specially engineered joint  302  in a stopped or fixed position, such that sunshade  301  can be held in this position without movement or shifting. Thus, in some exemplary embodiments, joint  302  may incorporate a lock, locking mechanism or stopping device that can hold sunshade  301  in a forward position. 
         [0020]    In the exemplary embodiments depicted in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , stroller  100  may include sunshade  301 . Sunshade  301  may be formed out of any desired material, for example a polymeric or plastic material, as well as a glass or safety glass material, such as a sheet of polymeric film. Sunshade  301  may be curved, convex, or formed in any other desired fashion, so as to allow for sun-blocking capabilities of an occupant of stroller  100 , and may either be stiff or flexible, as desired. Sunshade  301  may be tinted, shaded, and polarized, as desired, in order to effectively block ambient light, sun light, UV rays and the like. Regardless, sunshade  301  may be able to fold, retract, or otherwise collapse upon itself, such that, among other functions, sunshade  301  may be easily stored. 
         [0021]    In other exemplary embodiments, sunshade  301  may be capable of being collapsed, retracted, extended and manipulated without losing any structural or functional integrity. Sunshade  301  may be shifted into a protective configuration manually, or, in exemplary embodiments where a motor may be coupled to stroller  100  and utilized for articulating sunshade  301  and/or shade  106 , automatically. For example, sunshade  301  may be manually pulled or rotated into place in the same manner as certain retractable motorcycle helmet face shields might be pulled downwards to cover an eye opening. It is envisioned that sunshade  301  may be manipulated or moved by either its interior or exterior surface, such that either a stroller passenger or user may retract or rotate sunshade  301 , either partially or completely.  FIG. 3  may show an exemplary embodiment of sunshade  301  coupled to stroller  100  and disposed in an exemplary storage configuration, while  FIG. 4  may depict sunshade  301  similarly coupled to stroller  100 , but disposed in an exemplary protective configuration. It is envisioned that sunshade  301  may shift from a storage configuration to a protective configuration in any desirable manner. 
         [0022]    Still referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , in one exemplary embodiment, sunshade  301  may be coupled to stroller  100  via joint  302 . It is envisioned that sunshade  301  may either be retrofitted to current stroller configurations, via joint  302 , or included as a component of stroller  100 , such that joint  302  may also be included in stroller  100 , possibly replacing latch  107  if desirable. Sunshade  301  may be coupled to a stroller frame or existing shade, such that sunshade  301  may articulate or rotate about an axis from a storage configuration to a protective configuration. While being articulated or rotated into a protective configuration, sunshade  301  may either move through the interior or exterior of the stroller configuration it may be coupled to. 
         [0023]    It is envisioned that sunshade  301  may be compatible with any desirable configuration, including, but not limited to, tandem, double, travel, jogging, baby, sit and stand, and umbrella strollers. It is envisioned that sunshade  301  may be coupled to any stroller configuration so as to provide substantially complete protection, from any ambient light and ambient conditions, either alone or in conjunction with an existing shade, such as shade  106 . In such embodiments, joint  302  may be such that it includes a universal fitting that allows it to be retrofitted to existing or known strollers. Similarly, it is envisioned that sunshade  301  may be such that it can be formed as an integral member any type of stroller. 
         [0024]    Additionally, as desired, sunshade  301  may be articulated or moved to any desired position in its range of motion and held in that position through the use of joint  302 . For example, joint  302  may limit the rotational capacity of sunshade  301 , such that sunshade  301  might be stopped or fixed in a certain position, such as a substantially horizontal disposition. It is envisioned that shade  106  may be extended before or after sunshade  301  is rotated into any position. It is also envisioned that joint  302  may hold, fix or support sunshade  301  in any desired position in such a manner that sunshade  301  may still be subsequently maneuvered, adjusted or otherwise moved in any desirable manner, such as rotating. 
         [0025]    Sunshade  301  may provide protection for the stroller passenger independently or in tandem with an existing stroller shade, such as shade  106 . Sunshade  301  may extend to substantially enclose the entirety of the stroller it is a component of, or is retrofitted onto, regardless of whether the stroller includes a shade. Sunshade  301  may be able to fully protect an occupant of stroller  100  from sunlight or any other ambient conditions in a substantially 360 degree fashion. Also, this configuration of stroller  100  can protect the occupant from rain, wind, snow, stones in wind, and air borne debris due to passing vehicles, or other such conditions. 
         [0026]    It is further envisioned that sunshade  301  may be expandable or adjustable, such that it may be adjusted to enclose different portions of the passenger compartment at different moments. For example, if a child is sleeping, the sunshade may be expanded, articulated or rotated into a position disposed both above and in front of the child which may substantially enclose the stroller, providing enhanced protection. Upon waking up, sunshade  301  may be adjusted or retracted, by either a child or a parent, into a position disposed only above the child. In this manner, the child may be completely protected while sleeping and remain protected while awake, but gain enjoyable exposure to the environment directly in front of him or her. This exemplary use may be particularly desirable, for example, if a child takes morning naps and wakes around midday, when the sun is substantially overhead. 
         [0027]    The exemplary embodiments depicted in  FIGS. 3 and 4  may show a configuration where shade  106  and sunshade  301  may overlap each other. It is envisioned that in one exemplary embodiment, sunshade  301  may be disposed above shade  106 . Thus, sunshade  301  may protect shade  106 , as well as the occupant of stroller  100 , from UV rays or other ambient conditions that may be undesirable. Conversely, in an alternate exemplary embodiment, shade  106  may be disposed above sunshade  301 , and thus, shade  106  may protect sunshade  301  from sustaining damage. In a third exemplary embodiment sunshade  301  may be disposed substantially within shade  106  while in a storage configuration. For example, if shade  106  is a fabric material, shade  106  may serve as a cover to protect sunshade  301  from being scratched. In any of the aforementioned configurations, sunshade  301  may be removably attachable from a stroller configuration. 
         [0028]    The foregoing description and accompanying drawings illustrate the principles, preferred embodiments and modes of operation of the invention. However, the invention should not be construed as being limited to the particular embodiments discussed above. Additional variations of the embodiments discussed above will be appreciated by those skilled in the art. 
         [0029]    Therefore, the above-described embodiments should be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. Accordingly, it should be appreciated that variations to those embodiments can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.