Patent Application
20200345113
The present invention relates generally to the field of sun-shades and more specifically the field of personal, hand-held sun shades. With greater particularity, this invention relates to an apparatus used as a foldable, hand-held shade device, designed to provide protection from the sun and other bright lights.
Sun exposure is both a nuisance and a concern for people spending extended periods of time outdoors. This is especially the case for individuals spending long periods of time in the hot sun at outdoor events such as music festivals. There is a need for a small portable device that provides shade and sun protection for these individuals. This invention eliminates the need to use “the hand as a visor or to squint into the sun”, and is capable of folding and collapsing for easier storage and transport. For these individuals, having a portable sun protection device would be both convenient and minimize the impact of extended exposure to harsh sun rays, allowing them to remain outdoors for long periods of time more comfortably. This application incorporates by reference U.S. Pat. App. Pub. Nos. 2019/0053587 and 2007/0012344 as if set forth in full below.
The present invention is a foldable, hand-held shade device, which provides the user protection from the sun or other bright lights. The core components of the invention are a collapsible disc, a telescopic rod, a mechanical joint, and a handle, which, generally speaking, are configured as follows:
The telescopic rod has a handle attached to one end. The opposite end of the telescopic rod is connected to the collapsible disc by the mechanical joint. When not in use, the telescopic rod and collapsible disc can each be collapsed into a smaller size, and the mechanical joint pivots closed, allowing the device to fold together for storage and transport. When in use, the telescopic rod is extended up to its full length, the collapsible disc is unfolded, and the mechanical joint is pivoted open, allowing the user to hold the device by the handle and position the disc to shield him or her from the sun.
The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention are apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like parts are given like reference numerals and, wherein:
The images in the drawings are simplified for illustrative purposes and are not depicted to scale. Within the descriptions of the figures, similar elements are provided similar names and reference numerals as those of the previous figure(s). The specific numerals assigned to the elements are provided solely to aid in the description and are not meant to imply any limitations (structural or functional) on the invention.
The appended drawings illustrate exemplary configurations of the invention and, as such, should not be considered as limiting the scope of the invention that may admit to other equally effective configurations. It is contemplated that features of one configuration may be beneficially incorporated in other configurations without further recitation.
The embodiments of the disclosure will be best understood by reference to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals throughout. It will be readily understood that the components, as generally described and illustrated in the Figures herein, could be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations or be entirely separate. Thus, the following more detailed description of the embodiments of the device and method of the disclosure, as represented in the Figures is not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure, as claimed, but is merely representative of possible embodiments of the disclosure.
In one embodiment, adjustable clips to lock the opened disc 3 into various positions are also available. These adjustable clips connect to one side of the collapsible disc 3 and back to the telescoping handle 5 preventing unwanted movement of the disc due to external forces. The clips are removable and can be stored in the same storage bag as the device 1.
The collapsible disc 3 includes a flat metal ring 9 and fabric screen 8. The collapsible disc 3 can be made of a type of flat spring metal fashioned into a ring and mechanically held together at the point where it connects to the mechanical joint 6. The flat metal ring 9 forms the perimeter of the fabric screen 8. At any time, the user can rotate opposite sides of the disc 3 in opposite directions, as indicated by arrows A and B, to collapse the disc 3 onto itself. As the disc 3 collapses, the user tucks the folding disc into itself such that it decreases to approximately ⅓ the size of the total area and dimensions.
In one exemplary embodiment, the ring 9 can be made of a variety of spring steel that allows for the folding and collapsing of the collapsible disc 3. The ring 9 can comprise a diameter between approximately 6 and 16 inches and can range in dimension from approximately 1-2 mm thick to approximately 3-5 mm in width.
The fabric screen 8 is sewn around the edge of the ring 9 to fully enclose the metal from view and direct touch except at the connection to the mechanical joint 6. The fabric screen 8 can be made with various types of fabric varying in thickness, style, color, pattern, chemicals added, and thread count. One possible fabric offers UV protection and is readily available commercially. In another embodiment, the fabric is thinner for easier folding and unfolding but doesn't offer UV protection. Other fabrics with and without UV protection are customizable in terms of appearance.
In one exemplary embodiment, the storage bag 12 may be approximately ¼ of the diameter of the expanded collapsible disc 3 in width and ¼ of the diameter of the expanded collapsible disc 3 in length. Both of these dimensions can range +/−¼-⅓ the diameter of the expanded collapsible disc 3. The storage bag 12 may be approximately 3-4 times the diameter of the mechanical joint arms 14 & 15 diameter, but can vary +/−1-2 times the diameter of the mechanical joint arms 14 & 15.
The mechanical joint 6, when expanded, has the arms 14 & 15 at −135 degrees (+15/−45 degrees) apart on the axis along which the arm travels. The arms 14 & 15 secure into position in both the ‘open’ and ‘closed’ position such that movements are intentional and the joint angle position is unlikely to be accidentally shifted due to transport, handling, exterior conditions, etc. These movements back and forth allows for the device 1 to be adjusted so the user can hold it in numerous positions and angles and still obtain sun protection. The joint 6 rotates about a single fixed point along the plane that the device 1 opens and closes. The joint 6 is comprised of a first arm and a second arm 14 & 15 that are connected by hardware at an attachment point 16. Each arm 14 & 15 is designed to accept the connection of the piece to which it is intended to connect. The first and second arms 14 & 15, one or both, may have additional parts/components that allow for improved connection to the adjacent components. The arms 14 & 15 are roughly 10 mm in diameter but can vary in diameter +/−5-10 mm. The arms 14 & 15 are roughly 25 mm in overall length but can vary in length by +/−5-15 mm. The arms 14 & 15 are primarily cylindrical in construction but can be made of other shapes at connection points to adjacent components and to each other.
The telescoping rod 17 can be comprised of 4-7 sections of hollow stainless steel tubing nested inside one another that collapse to roughly the length of the largest section, A “V” groove can be fashioned into each section of the telescoping rod 17 to prevent the telescoping rod 17 from spinning around itself in the wind, however, the telescoping rod 17 can also be built without this groove and still provide the necessary functionality. The largest section of the telescoping rod 17, or the first end, is at the bottom of the device and the smallest section, or the second end, is at the top, or connection to the mechanical joint 6 of the device. The telescoping rod 17 can also be inverted so the larger diameter sections are farther from the collapsible disc 3 than the smaller diameter sections. The telescoping rod 17 varies in length but can be 3-6 inches when collapsed and 18-32 inches when expanded. The diameter of the telescoping rod 17 can vary from 5 to 20 mm, but is usually roughly the same diameter as the mechanical joint arms 14 & 15. The telescoping rod 17 can have a ¼×20 male thread 13 attached to the smallest tubing section, or second end, for attachment to the mechanical joint 6.
In one embodiment, the smallest tube of the telescoping rod 17 can be 5 mm while the largest tube is 10 mm. In another embodiment, the smallest tube of the telescoping rod 17 can be 6 mm while the largest tube is 11 mm.
The telescoping handle 5 includes a gripping handle 4 around the first end of the telescoping rod 17 that can be made with a variety of features including a coating of rubber, leather or other similar material that promotes grip and durability. The diameter of the gripping handle 4, varies depending on the telescoping rod 17 being used, but is roughly 10-20% greater in diameter than the largest section of the telescoping rod 17. The telescoping handle 5 can include an eyelet 22 at the very tip that is 2 mm in diameter, to allow for a string to be connected for easier carrying, access or other ease of use or expanded functionality.
This application claims the priority benefit of copending U.S. provisional patent application No. 62/843,477, filed on May 5, 2019, which is incorporated herein by this reference as if set forth in full below.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62843477 | May 2019 | US |
