Foldable sunshade with a tiltable canopy

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a foldable sunshade with a tiltable canopy.

2. Description of the Related Art

A sunshade may provide a comfortable space for outdoor activities. A so-called free-arm sunshade manufactured by Glatz Ltd. includes a main frame, a canopy support frame, and a canopy. Although the canopy support frame of the free-arm sunshade is tiltable (rotatable) in all directions to obtain optimum shade, it is, however, found that the adjustment is troublesome. More specifically, the user has to lower the canopy to a reachable level (otherwise a chair or the like is required to reach the canopy), rotate the canopy, and raise the canopy again. The user must operate the mechanism for adjusting the height of the canopy twice. In addition, the device allowing rotation of the canopy in all directions is complicated and might be actuated by strong wind. Furthermore, the volume of the sunshade is relatively large and thus inconvenient and costly to transport. U.S. Pat. No. 6,152,156 issued to Tung (the Applicant) on Nov. 28, 2000 discloses an improved sunshade that allows easy operation in adjusting the tilting angle of the canopy. The present invention is intended to provide an improved design to allow further folding of the sunshade to reduce the volume for transport.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide an improved sunshade in which the canopy is tiltable, and adjustment of the tilting angle of the canopy can be easily achieved.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved sunshade in which the canopy can be reliably retained in a desired tilting angle.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved sunshade that is foldable. In addition, the canopy support frame together with the canopy can be disengaged from the elbow when not in use.

A sunshade in accordance with the present invention comprises:

a supporting rod having a lower end and an upper end;

an adjusting sleeve slidably mounted around the supporting rod;

a holding sleeve pivotally connected to the upper end of the supporting rod;

an arcuate tube slidably extended through the holding sleeve and including a first end and a second end;

an elbow connected to the first end of the arcuate tube and including an anchor room;

an anchor releasably engaged in the anchor room;

a canopy support frame for supporting a canopy and including a suspension member connected to the elbow, an upper support base having a plurality of ribs attached thereto for supporting a canopy, and a lower support base having a plurality of stretchers attached thereto for supporting the ribs, the lower support base being connected to the anchor;

a reel mounted to the second end of the arcuate tube and including a handle;

a cable having a first end connected to the handle and a second end connected to the anchor, the cable being movable in a retracting direction and a releasing direction;

a connecting rod connected between the second end of the arcuate tube and the adjusting sleeve;

wherein when the handle is operated to release the cable in the releasing direction, the is anchor is disengaged from the anchor room of the elbow while the canopy is folded, and when the handle is operated to retract the cable in the retracting direction, the anchor is moved into the anchor room and thus engages the suspension member with the elbow when the canopy is in a fully opened status;

wherein the adjusting sleeve is slidable along the supporting rod while the arcuate tube is slidable along the holding sleeve to adjust a tilting angle of the canopy relative to the supporting rod;

wherein the arcuate tube includes at least two telescopic tube sections to allow adjustment of an overall length of the arcuate tube; and

wherein the support rod includes at least two telescopic tube sections to allow adjustment of an overall length of the support rod.

The arcuate tube includes a control sleeve to restrain sliding movement of the arcuate tube relative to the holding sleeve. The control sleeve bears against the holding sleeve when the canopy is in an upright position. In an embodiment of the invention, the arcuate tube includes an outer tube section having a first end to which the reel is attached and an inner tube section having a first end telescopically received in a second end of the outer tube section and a second end to which the elbow is attached. The control sleeve is mounted to the second end of the outer tube section and includes a hole aligned with a transverse hole of the outer tube section. An elastic element has a first end securely attached to an inner periphery of the inner tube section and a second end to which a push button is attached. When the arcuate tube is in an extended status, the push button is extended through the transverse hole of the outer tube section and the hole of the control sleeve. When the push button is pushed inward and a longitudinal force is applied to the inner tube section in a retracting direction, the inner tube section is retracted into the outer tube section. When a longitudinal force is applied to the inner tube in a releasing direction, the inner tube section is pulled out of the outer tube section and the push button is extended into the transverse hole of the outer tube section and the hole of the control sleeve under the action of the elastic element when the push button reaches the level of the transverse hole of the outer tube section and the hole of the control sleeve.

The first end of the inner tube section includes an end cap securely attached thereto. The end cap includes a flange in sliding contact with an inner periphery of the outer tube section. A stop is securely mounted around the inner tube section. The stop bears against an end face of the control sleeve for preventing disengagement of the push button when the arcuate tube is in its fully extended status. The stop and the flange assure stable sliding movement of the inner tube section relative to the outer tube section.

The supporting rod includes a lower tube section and an upper tube section which are identical to the arrangements of the inner tube section and the outer tube section of the arcuate tube, thereby allowing adjustment in the overall length of the supporting rod.

Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1

is a perspective view of a sunshade in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2

is an exploded perspective view of a canopy support frame of the sunshade.

FIG. 3

is a partial sectional view of the sunshade, wherein the canopy support frame is in a fully extended status.

FIG. 4

is a view similar to

FIG. 3

, illustrating a folding operation of the canopy support frame.

FIG. 5

is a side view illustrating tilting of the canopy.

FIG. 6

is a partially sectioned side view of a portion of a main frame of the sunshade.

FIG. 7

is a partial perspective view illustrating a folding operation of the main frame.

FIG. 8

is a partially sectioned side view of the portion of the main frame in a folded status.

FIG. 9

is a side view of the sunshade in a folded status.

FIG. 10

is a side view similar to

FIG. 9

, wherein the sunshade is in a fully folded status.

FIG. 11

is an enlarged partial sectional view of the arcuate tube.

FIG. 12

is a view similar to

FIG. 11

, wherein a push button has been pushed inward.

FIG. 13

is a view similar to

FIG. 11

, wherein an inner tube section of the arcuate tube is retracted into an outer tube section of the arcuate tube.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings and initially to

FIG. 1

, a sunshade in accordance with the present invention generally includes a main frame

1

, a canopy support frame

2

(FIG.

3

), and a canopy

3

. The main frame

1

includes a supporting rod

12

, an adjusting sleeve

14

slidably mounted around the supporting rod

12

, and a lever

16

mounted to the adjusting sleeve

14

. When the lever

16

is in a locked position, the adjusting sleeve

14

is frictionally retained in place, and when the lever

16

is in a released position, sliding movement of the adjusting sleeve

14

relative to the supporting rod

12

is allowed.

The supporting rod

12

includes at least two tube sections. In this embodiment, the supporting

12

includes a lower tube section

12

a

and an upper tube section

12

b

having a lower end telescopically received in the lower tube section

12

a

. A control sleeve

13

is mounted to an upper end of the lower tube section

12

a

for retaining the upper tube section

12

b

and the lower tube section

12

a

in place or allowing telescopic movement of the upper tube section

12

a

relative to the lower tube section

12

a

, which will be described later. A holding sleeve

18

is pivotally connected to an upper end of the upper tube section

12

b

at

20

. An arcuate tube

24

is provided and includes at least two tube sections. In this embodiment, the arcuate tube

24

includes an outer tube section

24

a

and an inner tube section

24

b

having an end telescopically received in the outer tube section

24

a

. The outer tube section

24

a

is slidably extended through the holding sleeve

18

. A control sleeve

26

is mounted to an end of the outer tube section

24

a

for retaining the inner tube section

24

b

and the outer tube section

24

a

in place or allowing telescopic movement of the inner tube section

24

b

relative to the outer tube section

24

a

, which will be described later. An elbow

34

mounted to the other end of the inner tube section

24

b

and a reel

28

is mounted to an end of the outer tube section

24

a

. The reel

28

includes a handle

30

for manual operation for folding or unfolding the canopy

3

, which will be described later.

Referring to

FIGS. 2 and 3

, the canopy support frame

2

includes a suspension member

44

, an upper support base

48

having a number of ribs

40

attached thereto for supporting the canopy

3

, and a lower support base

46

having a number of stretchers

42

attached thereto for supporting the ribs

40

. The elbow

34

includes a horizontal section (not labeled) and a vertical section

36

having an anchor room

38

defined therein. A cable

32

includes a first end attached to and operable by the handle

30

of the reel

28

so as to be movable in a retracting direction and a releasing direction. A second end of the cable

32

is secured to an anchor

50

after being wound through a pulley

52

, which, in turn, is freely rotatably mounted in the elbow

34

by a pin

54

. The suspension member

44

is connected to the vertical section

36

of the elbow

34

by a pin

64

. The upper support base

48

is releasably engaged with the suspension member

44

. In this embodiment, the upper support base

48

includes a tube

61

having a button

60

mounted to an upper end thereof and biased outwardly by an elastic member

62

. A support sleeve

56

is mounted on top of the lower support base

46

and a lower end of the tube

61

is mounted around the support sleeve

56

. The suspension member

44

includes a transverse hole

58

defined in a periphery thereof. In assembly, the tube

61

is inserted into the suspension member

44

, and the button

60

is depressed by an inner wall of the suspension member

44

until the button

60

reaches the transverse hole

58

and extended outwardly under the action of the elastic member

62

, thereby providing a secure engagement between the suspension member

44

and the tube

61

. Detachment of the suspension member

44

and the tube

61

can be easily achieved by pushing the button

60

and pulling the tube

61

downwardly. The lower support base

46

includes an upper end securely connected to the anchor

50

by any suitable means.

The canopy

3

of the sunshade in

FIG. 1

is in a fully opened status. When not in use, the user may operate the handle

30

to move the cable

32

in the releasing direction to thereby lower the anchor

50

such that the anchor

50

disengages from the anchor room

38

of the elbow

34

(FIG.

4

), and the canopy

3

collapses (FIG.

9

). The user may operate the handle

30

to move the cable

32

in the retracting direction to raise the anchor

50

until the anchor

50

enters and is thus anchored in the anchor room

38

, best shown in FIG.

3

. The anchor

50

securely engages the elbow

34

with the suspension member

44

, the purpose of which will be described later.

The canopy of the sunshade in

FIG. 1

is in an upright, non-tilting position. The control sleeve

26

on the arcuate tube

24

serves as a stop for restraining the position of the arcuate tube

24

. As shown in

FIG. 1

, the control sleeve

26

bears against the holding sleeve

18

when the canopy

3

is in the upright position. Referring to

FIG. 5

, when adjustment of the tilting angle of the canopy

3

is required, the lever

16

is released to allow the adjusting sleeve

14

to move downwardly along the supporting rod

12

. The arcuate tube

24

(including the outer tube section

24

a

and the inner tube section

24

b

) is slid along the holding sleeve

18

until a desired tilting angle of the canopy

3

is reached for optimum shade. The lever

16

is then switched to its locked position. The pivotal connection between the holding sleeve

18

and the supporting rod

12

assists in smooth sliding movement of the whole arcuate tube

24

relative to the holding sleeve

18

. Of more importance, the anchor

50

securely engages the suspension member

44

with the elbow

34

such that the canopy

3

can be reliably retained in a desired tilting angle relative to the vertical axis of the supporting rod

12

.

Turning to

FIGS. 6 and 7

, the adjusting sleeve

14

includes an extension

22

extended outwardly and upwardly and having at least one groove

221

(two grooves

221

in this embodiment). At least one connecting rod

222

(two rods in this embodiment) has a first end pivotally connected to the extension

22

and a second end pivotally connected to the end of the outer tube section

24

a

. A positioning sleeve

223

is slidably mounted to the connecting rods

222

. When the positioning sleeve

223

is moved to a position that encloses the grooves

221

of the extension

22

of the adjusting sleeve

14

, the arcuate tube

24

is supported, and the sunshade is in an unfolded status, best shown in FIG.

6

. When not in use, the positioning sleeve

223

is moved away from the extension

22

of the adjusting sleeve

14

, as shown in

FIG. 7

, such that the connecting rods

222

can be pivoted downwardly to leave the grooves

221

to a position shown in FIG.

8

. The grooves

221

may have a dimension for holding a portion of the connecting rods

222

yet allow disengagement of the connecting rods

222

from the grooves

221

by means of forcibly pivoting the connecting rods

222

about the adjusting sleeve

14

. It is appreciated that folding of the connecting rods

222

can be proceeded after the adjusting sleeve

14

is moved to its lowest position, best shown in FIG.

9

. Thus, the sunshade can be folded and occupy a smaller space when not in use, which is convenient for storage and transport

Referring to

FIGS. 11-13

, the sunshade can be further folded to further reduce the volume thereof in a manner as shown in FIG.

10

. Referring to

FIG. 13

, the outer tube section

24

a

includes a transverse hole

240

, and the control sleeve

26

includes a hole

268

aligned with the transverse hole

240

. An elastic element

262

has a first end securely attached to an inner periphery of the inner tube section

24

b

and a second end to which a push button

261

is attached. An end cap

264

is securely attached to the end of the inner tube section

24

b

and includes a flange

265

in sliding contact with an inner periphery of the outer tube section

24

a

. In addition, a stop

263

is securely mounted around the inner tube section

24

b

. Turning to

FIG. 11

, when the arcuate tube

24

of the sunshade is in an extended status shown in

FIG. 9

, the push button

261

is extended through the transverse hole

240

of the outer tube section

24

a

and the hole

268

of the control sleeve

26

; namely, the arcuate tube

24

is retained in its fully extended status by the push button

261

. Referring to

FIG. 12

, when the push button

261

is pushed inward and a longitudinal force is applied to the inner tube section

24

b

(see the arrow in FIG.

13

), a dome

261

a of the push button

261

allows the push button

261

to be moved inward and thus disengaged from the transverse hole

240

of the outer tube section

24

a

and the hole

268

of the control sleeve

26

. Thus, as illustrated in

FIG. 13

, the inner tube section

24

b

is retracted into the outer tube section

24

a

. Accordingly, the arcuate tube

24

can be folded to a status shown in FIG.

10

. When the inner tube section

24

b

is pulled out of the outer tube section

24

a

, the push button

261

will be extended into the transverse hole

240

of the outer tube section

24

a

and the hole

268

of the control sleeve

26

under the action of the elastic element

262

when the push button

261

reaches the level of the transverse hole

240

of the outer tube section

24

a

and the hole

268

of the control sleeve

26

. The stop

263

bears against an end face of the control sleeve

26

for preventing disengagement of the push button

261

when the arcuate tube

24

is in its fully extended status. The flange

265

of the end cap

264

provide a support for allowing stable sliding movement of the inner tube section

24

b

relative to the outer tube section

24

a

. The control sleeve

26

may include a concave surface

266

surrounding the hole

268

to allow deeper pressing action of the user's finger.

It is appreciated that the control sleeve

13

for the supporting rod

12

includes a structure identical to that of the control sleeve

26

shown in FIG.

11

. Thus, when a push button

131

(identical to push button

261

) is pushed, the upper tube section

12

b

can be retracted into the lower tube section

12

a

to a status shown in FIG.

10

. Retraction and unfolding operation of the supporting rod

12

are identical to those of the arcuate tube

24

and thus will not be described in detail to avoid redundancy.

According to the above description, it is appreciated that the tilting angle of the canopy of the sunshade of the present invention can be easily adjusted, and the canopy is reliably retained in the desired tilting position after adjustment. In addition, the whole sunshade can be further collapsed after folding the canopy, which may reduce the cost for transport. Furthermore, the canopy support frame

2

together with the canopy

3

can be disengaged from the elbow

34

when not in use.

Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.