BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an adjustable sunshade assembly with improved illumination and support as well as space-utilizing efficiency. In addition, the adjustable sunshade assembly can be adjusted in the position according to need.

2. Description of the Related Art

Sunshades are often used on beaches, stands, outdoor cafés, etc.

FIG. 9

of the drawings illustrates a conventional sunshade

1

′ comprising a canopy

11

′, a plurality of ribs

12

′, a shaft

13

′, a runner

14

′, and a plurality of stretchers

15

′. When mounted to, e.g., a table

2

′ for an outdoor café, the shaft

13

′ is extended through a central hole

21

′ of the table

2

′, and bulbs (not shown) may be mounted around the sunshade

1

′ to provide illumination when necessary. The runner

14

′ is slidable along the shaft

13

′ for opening or closing the sunshade

1

′. As illustrated in

FIG. 10

, a stand

3

′ may be attached to a lower end of the shaft

13

′ for outdoor use.

The conventional sunshade is found to have the following disadvantages:

1. The shaft

13

′ reduces available space below the canopy

11

′. Namely, the space and view are both limited by the shaft

13

′.

2. Adjustment in the position of the sunshade

1

′ in response to the incident sunlight is difficult to proceed with.

3. Additional illumination devices and wires are required for illumination in the night, resulting in aesthetically unpleasing effect.

4. The shaft

13

′ tends to break or bend when strong wing blows the canopy

13

′.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A sunshade assembly in accordance with the present invention comprises:

a main frame comprising a canopy, a plurality of ribs, a shaft, a runner, and a plurality of stretchers; and

a connecting means for securely attaching the main frame to a support, the connecting means comprising:

a seat secured to the support, and

a connecting tube having a first end pivotally connected to the seat, the connecting tube being adjustable in an overall length thereof, the connecting tube further having a second end for engaging with an upper end of the shaft of the main frame.

More than one of the ribs each has a ring mounted to a lower end thereof. A plurality of chains are provided and each has an upper end connected to the second end of the connecting tube and a lower end connected to the ring on an associated rib.

The seat is U-shape having an upper side, an intermediate side, and a lower side. The intermediate side of the seat is secured to the support. The upper side and the lower side of the seat having aligned pivot holes for pivotally receiving the first end of the connecting tube.

The second end of the connecting tube is a vertical tube section having an upper end to which the upper ends of the chains are attached. The vertical tube section further has a lower end for engaging with the upper end of the shaft. The lower end of the vertical tube section includes a hole, and the upper end of the shaft includes an engaging portion extended into the hole of the vertical tube section.

A bulb mounted in a lower end of the shaft. Wires for the bulb are inserted into the shaft.

The support is a wall or a stand. The stand is adjustable in an overall height thereof. In addition, the stand is capable of supporting more than one sunshade assembly.

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 an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of an adjustable sunshade assembly in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2

is a schematic side view illustrating use of the adjustable sunshade assembly in FIG.

1

.

FIG. 3

is a top view illustrating adjustment in the position of the adjustable sunshade assembly in FIG.

2

.

FIG. 4

is a sectional view of the adjustable sunshade assembly in FIG.

1

.

FIG. 5

is an exploded perspective view of a stand to which the adjustable sunshade assembly in accordance with the present invention is mountable.

FIG. 6

is a schematic side view illustrating the adjustable sunshade assembly supported by the stand in FIG.

5

.

FIG. 7

is a schematic side view illustrating a modified embodiment of the stand for supporting two sunshade assemblies in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 8

is a top view illustrating adjustment in the positions of the adjustable sunshade assemblies in FIG.

7

.

FIG. 9

is a perspective view of a conventional sunshade.

FIG. 10

is a side view illustrating another use of the conventional sunshade.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to

FIGS. 1 and 2

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

11

and means

2

for connecting the main frame

11

to a support, such as a wall (

FIG. 2

) or a stand (FIG.

5

). The main frame

11

includes a canopy

11

, a plurality of ribs

12

, a shaft

13

, a runner

14

, and a plurality of stretchers

15

. Some of the ribs

12

each include a ring

121

at a distal end thereof for engaging with an end of an associated chain

23

, which will be described later.

The shaft

13

is hollow and includes an appropriate length so as not to protrude beyond the canopy too far. In addition, an engaging portion

131

is formed on an upper end of the shaft

13

and a bulb-engaging portion

132

on a lower end thereof for engaging with a bulb

3

. Wires

31

are provided for electrical connection with the bulb

3

.

The connecting means

2

includes a seat

21

and a connecting tube

22

. The seat

21

is substantially U-shape and includes an intermediate side

211

having engaging holes

212

so as to be attached to a wall (

FIG. 2

) or a stand

4

(FIG.

5

). The seat

21

further includes aligned pivot holes

214

in upper and lower sides

213

thereof. An extension

217

extends upward from a distal end of the lower side

213

and includes a hole

216

through which a tightening knob

215

extends.

The connecting tube

22

may include a plurality of tube sections allowing adjustment in an overall length thereof. In this embodiment, the connecting tube

22

includes two tube sections

22

a

and

22

b,

wherein the tube section

22

a

includes a downwardly extending vertical section

223

pivotally received in the pivot holes

214

and a horizontal section (not labeled). The other tube section

22

b

includes a horizontal section (not labeled) releasably engaged the horizontal section of the tube section

22

a

and an upwardly extending section (vertical section)

224

. A plurality of rings

225

are mounted on an upper end of the vertical section

224

, and an engaging hole

226

is defined in a lower end of the vertical section

224

for engaging with the engaging portion

131

of the shaft

13

. The overall length of the connecting tube

22

is adjustable by a tightening knob

222

that extends through a hole

221

in an end of the horizontal section of the tube section

22

b.

There are five chains

23

provided in this embodiment and each includes an upper end with a connecting ring

231

for connection with an associated ring

225

and a lower end with a connecting ring

231

for connection with the ring

121

on an associated rib

12

.

In use, referring to

FIG. 2

, the seat

21

is fixed to the wall, the vertical section

223

of the connecting tube

22

is extended through the pivot holes

214

of the seat

21

and retained in place by the tightening knob

215

. The wires

31

for the bulb

3

are inserted into the shaft

13

, and the bulb

3

is mounted to the bulb-engaging portion

132

on the lower end of the shaft

13

. A lamp seat

32

may be mounted in the bulb-engaging portion

132

. After assembly, as can be seen from

FIG. 2

, a larger space and an aesthetically pleasing effect are available to the users.

Referring to

FIGS. 2 and 3

, when adjusting position of the canopy

11

, the tightening knob

215

is loosened and the connecting tube

22

is turned to a desired angular position relative to the seat

21

. Then, the tightening knob

215

is tightened. In addition, the tightening knob

222

can be loosened to adjust the overall length of the connecting tube

22

. Thus, position of the canopy

11

can be adjusted in response to the orientation of the incident sunlight. After the lower connecting rings

231

of the chains

23

are disengaged from the rings

121

on the ribs

12

, the canopy

11

can be collapsed by moving the runner

14

.

Referring to

FIG. 4

, since the canopy

11

is evenly supported by the flexible chains

23

and the engaging portion

131

of the shaft

13

is not fixedly engaged with the connecting tube

22

, the canopy

11

can be reliably supported by the chains

23

even if the canopy

11

is shifted due to strong wing. Namely, the canopy

11

may resist strong wing.

FIG. 5

illustrates a stand for supporting the sunshade assembly in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 6

illustrates the stand and the sunshade assembly. The stand

4

includes a plurality of legs

41

and a height-adjustable rod

42

to which the seat

214

of the connecting means

2

is securely attached.

FIG. 7

illustrates a modified embodiment of the stand for supporting two identical sunshade assemblies in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 8

is a top view illustrating adjustment in the positions of the adjustable sunshade assemblies in FIG.

7

.

According to the above description, it is appreciated that the sunshade assembly in accordance with the present invention includes the following advantages:

1. A larger space below the canopy

11

is provided, and the view for the users is better.

2. The main frame

1

is supported by chains

23

and is thus stabler.

3. The bulb

3

is directly mounted below the shaft

13

and the wires

31

for the bulb

3

are inside the shaft

13

to thereby provide an aesthetically pleasing effect.

4. The chains

23

bend when the main frame

1

is subjected to strong wing and thus shifts, thereby providing the main frame

1

with improved support.

5. The connecting means

2

can be adjusted in length and position according to need.

6. The sunshade assembly can be used with a stand

4

. In addition, more than one sunshade assembly can be used with a common stand

4

.

The chains

23

can be replaced by ropes or other bendable elements. In addition, the upper end of the shaft

13

can be engaged with the connecting tube

22

by other suitable means.

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 scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.