Self-opening shades and methods of using the same

• US 6,595,227 B2
• Filed: 01/19/2001
• Issued: 07/22/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Spin Master Incorporated (Spin Master Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Gray Matter Holdings LLC
• Inventors: Wilson, Ronald L. II, Le Gette, Brian Edward, Werner, Justin Saul, Tipp, Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): Canfield, Robert
• Application Number:
  US09/764,059
• Publication Number:
  US 20020195135A1
• Time in Patent Office: 914 Days
• Field of Search: 135/100, 135/125, 135/126, 135/128, 135/136, 135/143, 135/148, 541/8, 541/9, 160/377, 160/378, D21/837
• US Class Current: 135/126
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 15/40 flexible

Abstract

A shade including a frame member being formed from a flexible twistable material and a membrane is disclosed. The shade includes an adjustable tension strap coupled to two ends of the membrane.

Claims

1. A sunshade, comprising:

a membrane having a first end, a second end, and a perimeter;

a frame member being formed from a flexible twistable material, said frame member coupled to said membrane along said membrane perimeter, said frame member having a first configuration being substantially curved when said frame member is in a curved shape and a second configuration being substantially planar and having an area less than an area of said first configuration when said frame member is in a collapsed shape;

a strap coupled proximate to said first end and said second end of said membrane and configured to adjustably position said frame member in said first configuration; and

said frame member having a third configuration being substantially planar and having an extended shape.

2. The sunshade of claim 1, wherein said strap has first and second coupling mechanisms coupled thereto, wherein said first and second coupling mechanisms are coupled together when said frame member is in a curved configuration and separate from each other when said frame member is in a collapsed configuration.

3. The sunshade of claim 2, wherein said first coupling mechanism is a hook fastener and said second coupling mechanism is a loop fastener.

4. The sunshade of claim 2, wherein said first and second coupling mechanisms are movably coupled to said strap.

5. The sunshade of claim 1, further comprising:

an extension member coupled to said membrane, said extension member including means for anchoring said extension member relative to said membrane.

6. The sunshade of claim 1, further comprising:

an extension member coupled to said membrane, said extension member including an anchor member, the anchor member being configured to anchor said extension member relative to said membrane.

7. The sunshade of claim 1, further comprising:

a first extension member coupled to said membrane, said first extension member including a first anchor member, said first anchor member being configured to anchor said first extension member relative to said membrane;

a second extension member coupled to said strap; and

a second anchor member coupled to said second extension member, said second extension member and said second anchor member being anchorable in a different direction relative to said membrane than said first anchor member.

8. The sunshade of claim 1, wherein said sunshade includes an extension member coupled to said strap, and an anchor member coupled to said extension member.

9. The sunshade of claim 1, further comprising:

a pocket coupled to said membrane, said pocket being coupled to an inner surface of said membrane.

10. The sunshade of claim 5, wherein said membrane includes a retaining member coupled to said membrane, and said extension member passes through said retaining member when said extension member is positioned in a stored configuration.

12. The sunshade of claim 4, wherein said strap provides tension coupling that defines the shape of said curved configuration of said frame member.

11. A sunshade, comprising:

a membrane having a first end, a second end, and a perimeter;

a frame member being formed from a flexible twistable material, said frame member coupled to said membrane along said membrane perimeter, said frame member having a first shape being substantially curved when said frame member is in a curved configuration, and a second shape being substantially planar and having an area less than an area of the first shape when said frame member is in a collapsed configuration;

a pillow removably attachable to said sunshade; and

a strap coupled proximate to said first end and said second end of said membrane configured to hold said first and second ends in a predetermined relative position to define said first shape.

13. The sunshade of claim 11, wherein said strap has a first end and a second end, said strap having first and second coupling mechanisms coupled thereto, said first coupling mechanism and said second coupling mechanism being coupleable together to change the distance between said strap first end and said strap second end.

14. The sunshade of claim 11, wherein said first and second coupling mechanisms are movably coupled to said strap.

15. The sunshade of claim 11, wherein said strap has a first end connected proximate to said membrane first end and a second end connected proximate to said membrane second end.

16. The sunshade of claim 11, wherein said sunshade includes an extension member coupled to said strap, and an anchor member coupled to said extension member.

17. The sunshade of claim 11, wherein said frame member can be positioned in a first curved configuration with a first radius of curvature and a second curved configuration with a second radius of curvature, said first and second radii of curvature being different.

18. The sunshade of claim 17, wherein said second radius of curvature is infinite.

19. A method of installing a sunshade relative to an article, the method comprising:

opening a sunshade into an extended configuration, said sunshade including a membrane, a frame member coupled to said membrane, and a tension member coupled to said membrane, said tension member including first and second coupling mechanisms coupled thereto;

coupling said first coupling mechanism and said second coupling mechanism together, said coupling of said first and second coupling mechanisms disposing said tension member in a state in which it has a length sufficiently short to urge said sunshade into a curved configuration;

positioning said tension member beneath a portion of the article;

anchoring said sunshade relative to a support surface on which said sunshade is placed; and

anchoring an extension member rearwardly of said sunshade, the extension member being coupled to said membrane, the angle between said sunshade and the support surface being defined at least in part by the anchored extension member.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said membrane is oriented in a non-twisted orientation when said tension member is positioned beneath a portion of the article, and said membrane is oriented in a rotated orientation when said sunshade is anchored relative to a support surface.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the coupling mechanism can also couple the tension member with sufficient length to allow the sunshade to maintain a substantially planar configuration.

22. A sunshade, comprising:

a membrane having a first end, a second end, and a perimeter;

a frame member being formed from a flexible twistable material, said frame member coupled to said membrane, said frame member having a first shape being substantially curved when said frame member is in a curved configuration, said frame member having a second shape being substantially planar and having an area less than an area of said first shape when said frame member is in a collapsed configuration;

a pillow removably attachable to said sunshade; and

a strap coupled to said membrane, the strap having a length such that said frame member is curved when in the curved configuration.

23. A sunshade, comprising:

a membrane having a first end, a second end, and a perimeter;

a frame member being formed from a flexible twistable material, said frame member coupled to said membrane, said frame member having a first shape being substantially curved when said frame member is in a curved configuration and a second shape being substantially planar and having an area less than an area of said first shape when said frame member is in a collapsed configuration;

a strap coupled to said membrane, the strap having a length such that said frame member is curved when in the curved configuration; and

an extension member coupled to said membrane and configured to be anchored relative to said sunshade and configured to vary the angle between said sunshade and a support surface.