SUN SHADE

Abstract

The apparatus comprises a body and a base. The body includes a flexible shell, has a use configuration wherein the body defines an elongate opening and the shell defines a substantially laminar volume communicating with the opening, and is adapted, when in the use configuration with the opening orientated to catch a breeze, to be supported by the breeze in the manner of a wind sock. The base is adapted to operatively support the body above the ground.

Description

FIELD

The invention relates to the field of portable shade structures suitable for beach use.

BACKGROUND

Portable shade structures suitable for beach use are desirable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Forming one aspect of the invention is apparatus for use in a breeze, the apparatus comprising: a body including a flexible shell, the body having a use configuration wherein the body defines an elongate opening and the shell defines a substantially laminar volume communicating with the opening, the body being adapted, when in the use configuration with the opening orientated to catch the breeze, to be supported by the breeze in the manner of a wind sock; and a base adapted to operatively support the body above the ground.

According to another aspect, the shell can have a plurality of walls which, in the use configuration, divide the volume into a plurality of tunnels and divide the opening into a plurality of apertures.

According to another aspect, in the use configuration, the shell can define, opposite each aperture, a vent.

According to another aspect, the body can be flexible and the base can comprise a mast terminating in a ground screw and a swivel frame rotatably mounted to the mast and adapted to support the body to define the opening.

According to another aspect, the swivel frame can be releasably attached to the shell.

According to another aspect, the mast can be releasably attached to the swivel frame.

According to another aspect, the apparatus can further comprise a pair of tethers and the tethers and shell can be adapted such that the tethers can be releasably secured to the shell.

According to another aspect, the shell can have a pair of attachment points to which the tethers are releasably securable, the pair of attachment points being disposed opposite the opening, the attachment points of the pair being spaced apart from one another in the direction of the length of the opening.

According to another aspect, the opening can be linear.

According to another aspect, the opening can be arcuate.

According to another aspect, the body can be flexible and further comprise one or more arcuate poles, each of said one or more arcuate poles, in use, defining at least in part the base and at least in part supporting the body to define the opening.

According to another aspect, each of the one or more arcuate poles can be releasably attached to the body.

According to another aspect, each of the one or more arcuate poles can be defined by a plurality of flexible tubular rods coupled to one another by a throughpassing elastic cord.

According to another aspect, the one or more arcuate poles can be a pair of arcuate poles.

According to another aspect, each of the one or more arcuate poles can, in use, be embedded at both ends in the ground.

Advantages, features and characteristics of the present invention will become apparent to persons of ordinary skill in the art upon review of the following detailed description with reference to the appended drawings, the latter being briefly described hereinbelow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of apparatus according to an example embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view of the structure identified with reference numeral 46 of FIG. 1 above ground;

FIG. 3 is a view of the structure of FIG. 2 with handles outstretched;

FIG. 4 is a view of the structure of FIG. 2 embedded in ground;

FIG. 5 is a view of the structure identified with reference numeral 44 of FIG. 1 positioned for installation in the structure identified with reference numeral 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a view of the structure of FIG. 5 assembled for use;

FIG. 7 is a view of the structure identified with reference numeral 48 assembled for use with the structure of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a view of the structure of FIG. 7 positioned above the structure of FIG. 4;

FIG. 9 is a view of the structure of FIG. 8 assembled for use;

FIG. 10 is a side view of the structure of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a front view of the structure of FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 is a view of the structure of FIG. 11 in use with the pair of structures indicated with reference numerals 66 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 13 is a view of an alternate embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 14 is a schematic view of structures 80, 82 of FIG. 13.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

An embodiment 20 of the invention is shown in an example use in FIG. 12 and will be understood to comprise a body 22, a base 24 and a pair of tethers 26 (only one visible). It will become understood from the following description that the tethers are used optionally. As such, in this detailed description of this example embodiment, reference is initially made to the remaining components, namely, the body and base, followed by a description of tetherless use, followed finally by a description of the tethers and a tethered use.

Components

With reference to FIG. 12 and the exploded view of FIG. 1, the body 22 will be understood to be of flexible fabric and to comprise a shell 28, a plurality of sleeves 30, a pair of snap straps 32 and a pair of attachment points, namely, loops 34. The shell comprises a pair of sails 36 and a plurality of walls 38 and defines a plurality of vents 40.

The base 24 comprises a mast 42 and a swivel frame 44.

The mast 42 is in two parts 46, 48. One 46 of the parts has at one end, a ground screw 50, at the opposite end, a socket connection 52 and, adjacent the socket connection, a pair of pivotably connected handles 54. The other 48 of the parts has, at one end, a plug connection 56 and the other end, a threaded pintle 58 capped with a nut 60.

The swivel frame 44 comprises a plurality of rods 62, a pair of U shaped connectors 64 and an H-shaped connector 66.

Tetherless Use

Use of this embodiment involves several steps which are susceptible to completion in various sequences.

An example sequence starts with rotatingly driving part 46 into the ground using the outstretched handles 54, as indicated by the sequence of FIGS. 2-4.

In a next step, the H shaped connector 66 is placed between the sleeves 30, the rods 62 are passed through the sleeves 30 into the H-shaped connector 66, the U-shaped connectors 64 are fitted at the ends of the rods 62 and secured in placed by the snap straps 32, as indicated by the sequence of FIGS. 5-6.

Thereafter, part 48 is pivotally secured to the frame/body combination by passing threaded pintle 58 through H-connector 66 and installing nut 60, as indicated by FIG. 7.

Thereafter, plug 56 is inserted into socket 52, thereby to secure part 48 to part 46, as indicated by the sequence of FIGS. 8, 9.

So assembled, it will be appreciated that, in use:

• • the body defines an elongate opening 68 [bounded by the sleeves 30 and the U-shaped connectors 64 and the shell defines a substantially laminar volume 70 [the generally rectangular body of air between the vents 40 and the aperture 68] communicating with the opening.
  • the swivel frame supports the body to define the opening
  • the base supports the body above the ground.
  • the walls divide the volume into a plurality of tunnels 72 and divide the opening into a plurality of apertures 74
  • the vents 40 are defined opposite the apertures 74
  • the pair of attachment points 34 is disposed opposite the opening 68.
  • the attachment points of the pair are spaced apart from one another in the direction of the length of the opening 68

In FIGS. 9-11, the shell 28 will be seen to extend perpendicular to the mast 42 and level with the ground surface. In this regard, it will be understood that, in a breeze, which is quite common on many beaches, the shell/frame will rotate with the wind upon the pintle and catch sufficient wind to assume this inflated horizontal position. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1-12, constructed with a fabric as follows: 400T20D Nylon; 35 grams per square meter weight; 0.25 double-lined grid; dyed; double-sided waterproof, with a length of 120″, a width of 168″, a thickness of 5.5″, each vent having an area of about 3 square inches, the shell was reliably supported at any wind speed above 4 mph and was stable at a wind speed of 25 mph.

Recalling the structure of FIG. 1, it will be appreciated that the entire apparatus, when disassembled, can be stored relatively compactly and, when the base is constructed out of lightweight material, such as fiberglass, transported relatively easily.

Tethers

Tethers 26 are provided for low-wind conditions. Each tether terminates in a ground stake 76 at one end and a carabiner 78 at the other. In low wind conditions, the carabiners 78 can be secured to the attachment loops 34 and the ground stakes can be secured to the ground to provide shade.

Alternate Embodiment

Another example embodiment in shown in use in FIG. 13. This embodiment notably differs from the embodiment of FIGS. 1-12 in that, in use:

• • the opening is arcuate; and
  • a pair of arcuate poles 80, 82, each releasably attached to the body and embedded at both ends in the ground, define the base and, in combination with spacers 84 support the body to define the opening
  • tether 86, operatively secured to ground by a stake or a weight, supports the apparatus against the breeze.

This embodiment is suitable for environments where the wind direction is relatively stable.

It will be understood that each of the one or more arcuate poles 80, 82 is defined by a plurality of flexible tubular rods coupled to one another by a throughpassing elastic cord, in the manner of many tent poles. This is shown schematically in FIG. 14.

Whereas two embodiments are herein shown and described, it will be appreciated that variations are possible. Accordingly, the invention should be understood to be limited only by the accompanying claims, purposively construed.

Claims

1. Apparatus for use in a breeze, the apparatus comprising: a body including a flexible shell, the body having a use configuration wherein the body defines an elongate opening and the shell defines a substantially laminar volume communicating with the opening, the body being adapted, when in the use configuration with the opening orientated to catch the breeze, to be supported by the breeze in the manner of a wind sock; anda base adapted to operatively support the body above the ground.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the shell has a plurality of walls which, in the use configuration, divide the volume into a plurality of tunnels and divide the opening into a plurality of apertures.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein, in the use configuration, the shell defines, opposite each aperture, a vent.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the body is flexible and the base comprises a mast terminating in a ground screw and a swivel frame rotatably mounted to the mast and adapted to support the body to define the opening.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the swivel frame is releasably attached to the shell.

6. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the mast is releasably attached to the swivel frame.

7. Apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a pair of tethers and wherein the tethers and shell are adapted such that the tethers can be releasably secured to the shell.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the shell has a pair of attachment points to which the tethers are releasably securable, the pair of attachment points being disposed opposite the opening, the attachment points of the pair being spaced apart from one another in the direction of the length of the opening.

9. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the opening is linear.

10. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the opening is arcuate.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the body is flexible and further comprising one or more arcuate poles, each of said one or more arcuate poles, in use, defining at least in part the base and at least in part supporting the body to define the opening.

12. Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein each of the one or more arcuate poles is releasably attached to the body.

13. Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein each of the one or more arcuate poles is defined by a plurality of flexible tubular rods coupled to one another by a throughpassing elastic cord.

14. Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the one or more arcuate poles is a pair of arcuate poles.

15. Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein each of the one or more arcuate poles is, in use, embedded at both ends in the ground.