GB2340083A

GB2340083A - Adjustable sun screen

Info

Publication number: GB2340083A
Application number: GB9816752A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Nicholas Mark Richmond
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-08-03
Filing date: 1998-08-03
Publication date: 2000-02-16
Also published as: GB9816752D0

Description

2340083 ADJUSTABLE SUNSCREEN This invention relates to a universal

adjustable sunscreen for Car seats, pushchairs and prams.

Sunshades, Parasols, Umbrellas and Window Blinds are all well known. Put simply, their function is to screen, shade or block the sun's rays from a person's body. Existing designs all have limitations; mountings for sunshades and canopies are rigid which limits the range of adjustment available. Car window blinds are static and positioned some distance from the area intended to shade. Therefore, as the car moves and changes direction in relation to the sun, the area shaded moves and sunlight can get through to the child. Parasols and umbrellas are usually quite large, cumbersome and unwieldy when connected to a car seat, prarn or push chair. Their very design, with the centrally located mounting point, restricts the effective area shaded to only a portion of their total area. In breezy conditions they are easily caught by the wind and blown about which reduces the effectiveness of their sun shading ability. The present invention is designed to overcome all these weaknesses and facilitate continuous shade for a child's body, whether in or out of a car.

According to the present invention there is provided the Car seat, Pushchair and Pram Adjustable Sunscreen that comprises a flat, rectangular, plastic edged fabric screen that tapers inwards on the long edges. The screen fabric can be made of either black fine mesh or opaque/reflective material. The ratchet attachment is located on the top edge and connects, by way of a 'swan's neck' flexible rod, to the V shaped spring-loaded clasp by which it is attached to the Car seat, Pushchair or Pram.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure I Shows in perspective the sunscreen attached to a car seat(O-9 mth age group).

Figure 2 Shows in perspective the sunscreen attached to a pram.

Figure 3 Shows in perspective the sunscreen attached to a pushchair.

Figure 4 Shows individual parts of screen with ratchet attachment, flexible rod and V shaped sprung loaded clasp with approximate dimensions.

2- Referring to the drawings provided at the back of this application the Car seat, Plushchair and Prarn Adjustable sunscreen comprises of a Vshaped sprung loaded clasp -3, a flexible rod -4, a plastic edged rectangular screen made of micromesh or reflective material -6 and ratchet attachment -7.

The Adjustable Sunscreen is operated by firstly using the V-shaped clasp to attach the screen to either the back of the car seat as in fig 1, the hood of the pram as in fig 2 or the upper cross beam of a pushchair as in fig 3. The flexible rod is then bent to bring the screen over the child's head and body. The screen can then be twisted from side to side and held in the required position by using the ratchet attachment, this position being dependent on the direction of sunlight to achieve the optimum amount of shade, The plastic edged screen is tapered inwards on the long edges so that when it is attached to a car seat whose carrying handle is in the carrying position the screen can still be twisted from side to side and tflted forwards or backwards whilst remaining a suitable distance from the child's face and body.

Claims

1. A car seat, pushchair and pram adjustable sunscreen comprising a flat rectangular plastic edged fabric screen that tapers inwards by approximately 1.25 inch on each long side. The top edge has a circular ratchet attachment which then connects to a V shaped sprung loaded clasp by way of a flexible rod.

2. A car seat, pushchair and prarn adjustable sunscreen as claimed in claim I wherein the screen fabric can be made of black coloured fine/micro mesh or be of opaque and/or reflective material,

3. A car seat, pushchair and pram adjustable sunscreen as claimed in claim I or claim 2 wherein the underside and/or the topside can be plain or decorated e.g. with coloured pictures, motifs or cartoons.

4. A car seat, pushchair and pram adjustable sunscreen wherein as claimed in claim I the ratchet attachment allows the sunscreen to be moved in the rolling plane to the left or right.

5. A car seat, pushchair and pram adjustable sunscreen as claimed in claim I wherein the flexible rod allows the sunscreen to be moved in the lateral plane e.g. from side to side and in the pitching plane e.g. up and down.

6. A car seat, pushchair and pram adjustable sunscreen as claimed in claim I wherein the V shaped sprung loaded clasp is rubber coated on the inside and over the serrated teeth to provide grip and prevent damage to objects to which it is attached.

7. A car seat, pushchair and prarn adjustable sunscreen as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the screen is of sufficient size to provide shade for a minimum of 50% of the child's body with the sun in any position in the sky.

8. A car seat, pushchair and prarn adjustable sunscreen substantially as described herein with reference to figures 1-4 of the accompanying drawings.