Outdoor sunshade and assembly

Abstract

An outdoor sunshade that has at least one frame, wherein the frame comprises: a front frame member, two side frame members, and a rear frame member. The frame may also have one or more support frame members positioned at the shortest distance across the frame. The frame may also have a plurality of U-shaped connectors coupled only to two opposing sides of the frame, a plurality of L-shaped connectors coupled to a bottom surface of the frame, and solar screen material coupled to and stretched within the at least one frame. The outdoor sunshade may be hingedly mounted to a wall by a mounting assembly. And one or more sunshades may be hingedly coupled together, depending upon the size of the area that needs to be covered.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An outdoor sunshade comprising:
 at least one frame;   a plurality of U-shaped connectors coupled only to two opposing sides of the at least one frame;   a plurality of L-shaped connectors coupled to a bottom surface of the at least one frame; and   material coupled to and stretched within the at least one frame.   
     
     
         2 . The outdoor sunshade of  claim 1  wherein the at least one frame further comprises:
 a plurality of channels formed within a top surface of the at least one frame; and 
 a plurality of locking strips, wherein each locking strip is adapted to engage a portion of the material and to be inserted into one of the channels, thereby securing the material within the at least one frame. 
 
     
     
         3 . The outdoor sunshade of  claim 2  wherein each channel is positioned proximate an inner surface of the at least one frame. 
     
     
         4 . The outdoor sunshade of  claim 1  wherein the at least one frame comprises:
 a front frame member; 
 two side frame members; and 
 a rear frame member, 
 wherein one end of each side frame member is positioned perpendicularly to the front frame member and wherein another end of each side frame member is positioned perpendicularly to the rear frame member. 
 
     
     
         5 . The outdoor sunshade of  claim 4  wherein each U-shaped connector is coupled at a junction where one end of one of the side frame members perpendicularly abuts one of an inner surface of the front frame member and an inner surface of the rear frame member. 
     
     
         6 . The outdoor sunshade assembly of  claim 4  wherein one side of each L-shaped connector is coupled to a bottom surface and an inner surface of one of the side frame members and another side of the L-shaped connector is coupled to a bottom surface and an inner surface of one of the front frame member and the rear frame member. 
     
     
         7 . The outdoor sunshade of  claim 4  wherein the at least one frame further comprises at least one support frame member positioned across a middle portion of the frame. 
     
     
         8 . The outdoor sunshade of  claim 1  further comprising at least a second frame hingedly coupled to a first frame. 
     
     
         9 . An outdoor sunshade comprising:
 at least one frame, wherein the at least one frame comprises:
 a front frame member; 
 two side frame members; 
 a rear frame member; and 
 at least one support frame member positioned a shortest distance across a middle portion of the at least one frame; 
   a plurality of U-shaped connectors coupled only to two opposing sides of the at least one frame;   a plurality of L-shaped connectors coupled to a bottom surface of the at least one frame; and   solar screen material coupled to and stretched within the at least one frame.   
     
     
         10 . The outdoor sunshade of  claim 9  wherein one end of each side frame member directly abuts and is positioned perpendicularly to the front frame member and wherein another end of each side frame member directly abuts and is positioned perpendicularly to the rear frame member. 
     
     
         11 . The outdoor sunshade of  claim 9  wherein the at least one frame further comprises:
 a plurality of channels formed within a top surface of each of the front frame member, the two side frame members, and the rear frame member; and 
 a plurality of locking strips, wherein each locking strip is adapted to engage a portion of the solar screen material and to be inserted into one of the channels, thereby securing the solar screen material to each of the front frame member, the two side frame members, and the rear frame member. 
 
     
     
         12 . The outdoor sunshade of  claim 11  wherein each channel is positioned proximate an inner surface of each of the front frame member, the two side frame members, and the rear frame member. 
     
     
         13 . The outdoor sunshade of  claim 10  wherein each U-shaped connector is coupled at a junction where the end of one of the side frame members perpendicularly abuts one of an inner surface of the front frame member and an inner surface of the rear frame member. 
     
     
         14 . The outdoor sunshade of  claim 10  wherein an L-shaped connector is coupled at each corner where one of the side frame members meets one of the front frame member and the rear frame member. 
     
     
         15 . The outdoor sunshade of  claim 9  wherein one L-shaped connector is coupled at each of two ends of the support frame member and wherein the L-shaped connectors are coupled to opposite sides of the support frame member. 
     
     
         16 . The outdoor sunshade of  claim 9  further comprising at least a second frame hingedly coupled to a first frame. 
     
     
         17 . An outdoor sunshade assembly comprising:
 at least one sunshade, each sunshade comprising:
 a frame comprising:
 a front frame member; 
 two side frame members; 
 a rear frame member; and 
 at least one support frame member positioned a shortest distance across a middle portion of the frame; 
 wherein one end of each side frame member is positioned perpendicularly to the front frame member and wherein another end of each side frame member is positioned perpendicularly to the rear frame member; 
 
 a plurality of U-shaped connectors coupled only to two opposing sides of the frame; 
 a plurality of L-shaped connectors coupled to a bottom surface of the frame; and 
 solar screen material coupled to and stretched within the frame; and 
   a mounting assembly for mounting the at least one sunshade.   
     
     
         18 . The outdoor sunshade assembly of  claim 17  wherein each sunshade further comprises:
 a plurality of channels formed within a top surface of the frame; and 
 a plurality of locking strips, wherein each locking strip is adapted to engage a portion of the solar screen material and to be inserted into one of the channels, thereby securing the solar screen material within the frame. 
 
     
     
         19 . The outdoor sunshade assembly of  claim 17  wherein each U-shaped connector is coupled at a junction where the end of one of the side frame members perpendicularly abuts one of an inner surface of the front frame member and an inner surface of the rear frame member. 
     
     
         20 . The outdoor sunshade assembly of  claim 17  wherein an L-shaped connector is coupled at each corner where one of the side frame members meets one of the front frame member and the rear frame member and wherein one L-shaped connector is coupled at each of two ends of the support frame member and wherein the L-shaped connectors are coupled to opposite sides of the support frame member.