U.S. patent application number 14/010288 was filed with the patent office on 2015-02-26 for foldable and flexible head shade.
The applicant listed for this patent is Catherine Ann Taylor. Invention is credited to Catherine Ann Taylor.
Application Number | 20150052662 14/010288 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 52479026 |
Filed Date | 2015-02-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150052662 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Taylor; Catherine Ann |
February 26, 2015 |
Foldable and Flexible Head Shade
Abstract
A compact shade held over the head during inclement weather or
to shield the sun. The shade has a simple circular or elongated
loop of a thin strip of spring-like material covered by a sheet of
one or more layers of soft, lightweight material. The shape of the
elongated loop may vary from a generally rectangular shape with
slightly rounded corners to an oval or generally elliptical shape.
One or both of the major surfaces of the material are adapted to
reflect water, snow, or radiation from the sun. The single
elongated fabric-covered loop of the head shade can easily be
twisted into a figure-8 configuration and fold into itself with two
quick hand motions. The shade is made of soft, lightweight flexible
material having two handles on the underside. It can be held
together in its compact state with either a retaining member or
separate pouch.
Inventors: |
Taylor; Catherine Ann;
(Melbourne, FL) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Taylor; Catherine Ann |
Melbourne |
FL |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
52479026 |
Appl. No.: |
14/010288 |
Filed: |
August 26, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
2/209.11 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45B 23/00 20130101;
A45B 2023/0093 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
2/209.11 |
International
Class: |
A42B 1/20 20060101
A42B001/20 |
Claims
1. A foldable, collapsible shade for deployment to be held over the
head comprising: a sheet of at least one layer of flexible first
material, said sheet having front and back surfaces, with at least
one of said surfaces includes a water resistant material or one
that reflects light. A single closed loop of a strip of spring-like
second material secured to said sheet throughout the entire
perimeter thereof, with the same fabric or a border/hem of
different fabric. Wherein said head shade has two handles attached
to first material. Wherein said head shade can be (1) deployed in a
first open configuration, to a pre-determined size, and, (2)
twisted to form at least a pair of sections, said sections form a
plurality of concentric rings to substantially reduce its size to
form a second, compact configuration for storage.
2. The head shade of claim 1, further comprising of two handles
which can be placed anywhere upon the shade.
3. The head shade of claim 1, wherein the handles are made of
fabric.
4. The head shade of claim 1, wherein the handles are made of
plastic.
5. The head shade of claim 1, wherein the handles are made of
elastic.
6. The head shade of claim 1, wherein the first material layer is
waterproof material.
7. The head shade of claim 1, wherein the first material is
nylon.
8. The head shade of claim 1, wherein the first material is light
reflective.
9. The head shade of claim 1, wherein the retaining flexible body
includes a hem adjacent to the perimeter to enclose the spring-like
material.
10. The head shade of claim 1, wherein the head shade further
comprises of one elastic member attached to the fabric piece.
11. The head shade of claim 1, wherein said closed loop has a
general shape of an elongated oval.
12. The head shade of claim 1, wherein said closed loop has a
general rectangular shape with slightly rounded corners.
13. The head shade of claim 1, wherein said strip of spring-like
material comprises of spring steel.
14. The head shade of claim 1, wherein said strip of spring-like
material comprises metal wire.
15. The head shade of claim 1, wherein said strip of spring-like
material comprises a springy plastic material.
16. The head shade of claim 1, wherein said strip is sewn into a
hem of said sheet along the perimeter thereof.
17. The head shade of claim 1, wherein said strip of spring-like
material comprises means for maintaining said head shade in said
compact configuration.
18. The head shade of claim 1, wherein said means for maintaining
comprises a loop of elastic material attached to said sheet near
the perimeter thereof to be used as a carrying handle or a
retaining member.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention is a compact shade that blocks the head of
someone in inclement weather or the sun. The head shade is
lightweight, compact, foldable, and flexible. The invention will
solve the problem of a portable, easy to carry, head shade.
Conventional umbrellas typically have cumbersome long, bulky
handles. While engaged, typical umbrellas take up a lot of space
and can be a hindrance to many other people using the same device.
It becomes difficult to collapse a typical umbrella especially when
entering into an automobile or other public transportation. A
conventional umbrella would have to be lowered outside of a vehicle
thus creating a nuisance for its use. The typical umbrella is not
easily carried. The flexible, compact head shade can be quickly
folded and easily stored and carried in a purse, briefcase, or
pocket.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The object of this invention is to give people, in inclement
weather or sun, a quick and easy way to shade their head. The head
shade is supported by a resilient loop member that twists and folds
into a Figure-8 configuration to reduce its overall size for easy
storage. It's a simple structure made of a soft and flexible
material having two handles on the underside. The head shade is
easy to deploy for overhead use.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING
[0003] FIG. 1 is an elevational top view, particularly broken away,
of the head shade of the present invention illustrating the
internal resilient support loop;
[0004] FIG. 2 is an elevational bottom view, of the head shade of
the present invention illustrating the internal resilient support
loop;
[0005] FIGS. 3 and 4 shows the head shade as it is starting to be
folded. The head shade is grasped on both sides, one hand on each
side. One hand twist clockwise, the other counterclockwise, to
begin the folding process.
[0006] FIG. 5 shows the complete twist with the optional retaining
member.
[0007] FIG. 6 shows the optional retaining member holding the
completed twisted head shade in place. The second option is to
place the twisted head shade into a pouch (not shown).
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The following detailed description is of the best presently
contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. This description
is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the
purpose of illustrating general principles of embodiments of the
invention. The scope of the invention is best defined by the
appended claims.
[0009] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the head shade 20 is formed by
one resilient loop member 22 comprised of a closed resilient loop.
One end of the closed loop 22 is grasped and twisted by 360 degrees
with respect to the other end forming a figure-8 shape. The
overlapping or cross-over portions of the loop 22 may then be
secured together with an optional retaining member 50.
[0010] The resilient loop member 22 is preferably made from a
relatively strong spring-like material, which is flexible enough to
allow it to be coiled. The preferred material for the loop member
22 includes a flat spring steel stock, and in particular, stainless
steel, although plastic may also be used. The resilient loop member
22 may be provided as a single closed loop or as a continuous strip
of material with both ends held together by a retaining connector
23 or other conventional attachment mechanisms.
[0011] Referring to FIG. 1, the loop member 22 is retained in a
loop retaining portion 21 of one or more fabric pieces. Since the
loop member 22 forms one closed loop, one fabric piece 32 is
provided. The fabric piece 32 forms a panel within the respective
closed loop 22.
[0012] The fabric piece 32 is preferably made from a sheet of
water-resistance or metallic material that is effective in blocking
water or sunlight from entering or penetrating through and may be
made from sheet fabric, woven fabric, nylon, or any other water
resistance fabric.
[0013] The loop member 22 may be retained at the loop retaining
portion 21 by a number of different methods. In a first method,
this is illustrated in FIG. 1 a sleeve 33 is formed along the loop
retaining portion 21 to house or retain the loop member 22. The
sleeve may be formed by folding a peripheral edge of the fabric
over the loop member 22 and then stitching, or by providing a
separately formed tubular sleeve that is stitched to the fabric 32
along the loop retaining portion 21. In a second preferred method,
the loop member 22 may be mechanically fastened, glued, or fused to
the loop retaining portion 21. Other conventional methods may be
used without departing from the moral fiber or scope of the present
invention.
[0014] When provided, the fabric piece 32 also allows for two
handles 40 to be attached thereto on the head shade underside
portion as shown in FIG. 2 These handles 40 provide the mechanism
for holding the head shade.
[0015] It will be appreciated that the handles 40 can be positioned
anywhere on the underside fabric 32.
[0016] Further, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art
that other conventional attachment devices, such as plastic,
elastic, or fabric may be used in place of the handles 40 without
departing from the moral fiber and scope of the present invention.
[0017] The shape of the closed loop 22 and of the resulting head
shade 20 is not important as long as they are sized and shaped so
that they sufficiently support the head shade 20. Any shape may be
used. For example, the closed loop 22 may be circular, oval,
truncated circular, truncated oval, substantially rectangular, or
any other variety of shapes.
[0018] FIGS. 3 through 6 describes the various steps for folding
and collapsing the head shade 20 of FIG. 1 for storage. The first
step, as shown in FIG. 3, is to twist and fold the structure 360
degrees forming a figure-8 configuration to initially collapse the
loop and fabric into a smaller diameter. As shown in FIG. 4, the
second step is to collapse so that the size of the structure is a
fraction of the diameter of the initial structure. FIG. 5 shows the
third step with the fabric panel collapsed to provide for a small
essentially compact configuration having a plurality of a
concentric closed loop ring and layer of fabric so that the
collapsed structure has a size that is a fraction of the size of
the structure FIG. 1.
[0019] In addition, referring to FIGS. 1, 3, 4, 5, and 6, a
retaining member 50 may be attached to one end of the head shade
and may be used to tie or hold the collapsed head shade 20 in a
collapsed position. Alternatively, a bag or pouch (not shown) may
be used to store the collapsed head shade 20.
[0020] FIG. 6 illustrates the fully closed head shade with the
single loop member 22 consisting of two loop rings intertwined to
lie flat. In the collapsed position, the structure would have a
diameter of less than six inches, which makes it easy to store the
head shade inside a briefcase, purse, or pocket.
[0021] While the description above refers to particular embodiments
of the present invention, it will be understood that many
modification may be made without departing from the spirit thereof.
The accompanying claims are intended to shade such modifications as
would fall within the true scope and spirit of the present
invention.
[0022] The advantages of the present invention include, without
limitation, an existing need for a low-cost, easily manufactured,
efficient head shade with can be held over the head using only
handles to use as a shield.
[0023] While the foregoing written description of the invention
enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is considered
presently to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill will
understand and appreciate the existence of variations,
combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method,
and examples herein. The invention should therefore not be limited
by the above described embodiment, method, and examples, but by all
embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the
invention as claimed.
* * * * *