SUN SHADE DEVICE

Abstract

An improved sun shade device is a folding, fan-style interior windshield shade for vehicles, structured and arranged for permanent, yet removable mounting at the base of the windshield, easy to deploy when needed, with a “peacock tail” design which provides full-coverage shading of the windshield, keeping interior temperatures lower and blocking damaging UV rays from the vehicle's interior.

Claims

1. An improved sun shade device for a vehicle, comprising: a base member; wherein said base member is adapted to be releasably attached to a dashboard or a lower section of a windshield of said vehicle; a pair of shade members; wherein said pair of shade members are pivotally connected at proximal ends thereof to said base member; wherein said pair of shade members are positioned adjacent to one another; wherein said pair of shade members are formed such that they are adapted to be extended into a deployed position and collapsed into a storage position; wherein each of said pair of shade members has a center side portion such that said center side portions are adapted to be connected together; wherein said improved sun shade device is adapted to be releasably attached to a dashboard or a lower section of said windshield of said vehicle, and said pair of shade members extended into said deployed position to cover a large portion of a surface of said windshield to thereby block sunlight from passing through said windshield and entering an interior compartment of said vehicle.

2. The improved sun shade device of claim 1, wherein said base member is adapted to be releasably attached to said dashboard or said lower section of said windshield of said vehicle via a suction cup.

3. The improved sun shade device of claim 1, wherein said base member is releasably attached to said dashboard or said lower section of said windshield of said vehicle via a two-sided adhesive tape.

4. The improved sun shade device of claim 1, wherein said pair of shade members each have a semi-circular shape.

5. The improved sun shade device of claim 1, wherein each of said pair of shade members includes a clip member attached to a distal end thereof that are adapted to releasably connect to one another, such that said center side portions are adapted to be releasably connected to one another in said deployed position.

6. The improved sun shade device of claim 1, wherein each of said pair of shade members includes an elongated cord member attached to a distal end thereof that are adapted to be hung over a rear view mirror of said vehicle, and adapted such that when each respective one of said elongated cord members is pulled a respective one of said pair of shade members is extended into said deployed position.

7. The improved sun shade device of claim 1, wherein said pair of shade members are formed from a material that is folded into an accordion-shape that is adapted to be unfolded into said deployed position and folded into said storage position.

8. The improved sun shade device of claim 1, wherein said pair of shade members are formed from a plurality of interconnected slat members adapted to be pivoted in one direction into said deployed position and pivoted in an opposite direction into said storage position.

9. The improved sun shade device of claim 1, wherein said pair of shade members are formed from a reflective material adapted to reflect sunlight away from said interior compartment of said vehicle.

10. The improved sun shade device of claim 1, wherein said pair of shade members are formed from a material chosen from a group of materials consisting of cloth, cotton, bamboo, a mesh fabric, and a woven fabric.

11. The improved sun shade device of claim 1, wherein each of said pair of shade members includes a magnetic member attached to a distal end thereof that are adapted to releasably connect to one another, such that said center side portions are adapted to be releasably connected to one another in said deployed position.

12. The improved sun shade device of claim 1, wherein said base member is formed as a ball hinge adapted to allow said pair of shade members to pivot in a 360 degree fashion such that they are adapted be adjustable to match different slant angles of different windshields of different vehicles.

13. The improved sun shade device of claim 5, further comprising a windshield clip member adapted to be removably connected to an upper section of said windshield and adapted to releasably connect with said clip member of each of said pair of shade members, to thereby be adapted to hold said pair of shade members in said deployed position with respect to said windshield.

14. The improved sun shade device of claim 13, wherein said windshield clip member is adapted to be removably connected to an upper section of said windshield via a suction cup.

15. The improved sun shade device of claim 13, wherein said windshield clip member is adapted to be removably connected to an upper section of said windshield via two-sided adhesive tape.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] The figures which accompany the written portion of this specification illustrate embodiments and method(s) of use for the present invention, improved sun shade device constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present invention.

[0018] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view illustrating an improved sun shade device in an in-use condition according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] FIG. 2 is an inside view illustrating an improved sun shade device in a deployed position according to an embodiment of the present invention of FIG. 1.

[0020] FIG. 3 is an inside view illustrating improved sun shade device in a storage position according to an embodiment of the present invention of FIG. 1.

[0021] FIG. 4 is an exploded view illustrating improved sun shade device according to an embodiment of the present invention of FIG. 1.

[0022] The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like designations denote like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] As discussed above, embodiments of the present invention relate to a sun shade device and more particularly to an improved sun shade device as used to improve the ability of a user to protect the interior of a vehicle with a folding fan style window shade that attaches adhesively, or with suction cups to the dashboard of a vehicle.

[0024] Generally speaking, improved sun shade device consists of two collapsible, folding fanstyle, semicircular “wings”—one mounted at the base of the windshield on the driver's side, the other on the passenger side. These “wings” are made up of aluminum or vinyl slats like those found in window-blinds. The exterior-facing surface of the individual slats will be reflective white or silver. Each of the two “wings” is designed to collapse when not in use, like a folding hand fan, to lie flat along the top of the dashboard, where the base is mounted by means of suction-cups or by a peel-and-stick adhesive backing. Each of the two “wings” is constructed of individual slats which, when pulled upward, pivot from a single point nearest the center of the windshield. In deployment, the slats fan upward and across the windshield, opening in the manner of a peacocks tail to form a semicircular shade; and the two “wings” operate in concert to shade the entire windshield.

[0025] The mechanism for lifting and collapsing the improved sun shade device is a pair of strings or cords—one for the driver side, one for the passenger side—which hang from the rear-view mirror. To deploy the shade members, the user will simply pull the two cords to lift the two “wings,” then clip the uppermost slat of each side's shade into a clip mounted at the top of the windshield. Detaching the uppermost slats from their clips will allow the shade members to collapse, and two similar clips in the base will secure and hold the two collapsed slat assemblies when the improved sun shade device is not in use.

[0026] Referring to the drawings by numerals of reference there is shown in FIG. 1, a perspective view illustrating an improved sun shade device 100 in an in-use condition 102 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] Improved sun shade device 100 for vehicle 170 is disclosed herein comprising base member 106 adapted to be attached to dashboard 172 or a lower section of windshield 174 of vehicle 170 via suction cup 108, or two-sided adhesive tape 110, and a pair of shade members 120 pivotally connected at proximal ends 122 to base member 106, positioned adjacent to one another and adapted to be extended into deployed position 130 to cover a large portion of the surface of windshield 174 to block sunlight from passing through windshield 174 and entering the interior compartment of vehicle 170.

[0028] Referring now to FIG. 2, an inside view illustrating an improved sun shade device 100 in a deployed position 130 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] The pair of shade members 120 are formed such that they are adapted to be extended into deployed position 130 of semi-circular shape 132 as needed, and collapsed into storage position 140 when not in use. Further, the pair of shade members 120 each has center side portion 144 adapted to be connected together with clip member 146 attached to distal end 150 which are adapted to connect to one another. Each shade member 120 also has magnetic members 148 attached to center side portions 144, such that center side portions 144 are able to be connected to one another in deployed position 130.

[0030] Referring now to FIG. 3, an inside view illustrating an improved sun shade device 100 in a storage position 140 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] Shade members 120 each include elongated cord member 124 attached to distal end 150 that are adapted to be hung over rear view mirror 176 of vehicle 170, such that when each respective one of elongated cord members 124 is pulled, a respective one of the shade members 120 is extended into deployed position 130. The shade members 120 are formed from a plurality of interconnected slat members 126 that is folded into an accordion-shape 128, and is adapted to be unfolded into deployed position 130 for use, and folded into storage position 140 when not in use.

[0032] Referring now to FIG. 4, an exploded view illustrating an improved sun shade device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] Shade members 120 are formed from a group of materials consisting of cloth, cotton, bamboo, a mesh fabric, and a woven fabric having a reflective backing 136 adapted to reflect sunlight away from the interior compartment of vehicle 170. Base member 106 is formed as ball hinge 112 adapted to allow the pair of shade members 120 to pivot in a 360 degree fashion such that they are adjustable to match different slant angles of different windshields 174 of different vehicles 170.

[0034] Improved sun shade device 100 may be manufactured and provided for sale in a wide variety of sizes and shapes for a wide assortment of applications. Upon reading this specification, it should be appreciated that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as design preference, user preferences, marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements, available materials, technological advances, or arrangements such as, for example, including more or less components, customized parts, different color combinations, parts may be sold separately, etc., may be sufficient.

[0035] The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary and numerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which are intended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention. Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application.