Shade-cover device and securing device therefor

Abstract

A shade-cover device and securing mechanism therefor for use with a mobile unit such as a motor vehicle. The device has a housing with a slit thereon, a removable and retractable shade-cover within the housing, a mechanism for securing the housing to an external surface of the motor vehicle's tailgate or hatch, a mechanism for adjusting the amount of shade-cover desired and its angle, a mechanism for locking the length and angle of the shade-cover once attained, a mechanism for stabilizing the shade-cover from natural forces, and a mechanism for retracting the shade-cover into the housing.

The invention claimed is:  
     
         1 . A securing device for a housing comprising: 
 (a) a first section and a second section attachable to one another and over the housing;    (b) support means for engaging said securing device to the housing and for preventing the housing from moving within said securing device;    (c) a clamp-member on said second section, said clamp-member having a handle at one end and an adjustable mouth at the other end for attaching said securing device securely to an external surface.    
     
     
         2 . The device as defined in  claim 1  wherein said support means comprises a threaded aperture in either the first section or the second section or both and a correspondingly threaded fastener of a predetermined length such as to engage the housing when said threaded fastener is inserted into said threaded aperture and tightened therein.  
     
     
         3 . The device as defined in  claim 1  wherein said support means comprises angled inner walls on either the first section or the second section or both corresponding to angles of the housing when such housing is so angled.  
     
     
         4 . The device as defined in  claim 1  wherein said clamp member further comprises an upper section and a lower section attached together at a biased pivot point wherein said handle comprises a two-piece movable handle at said one end and wherein said mouth comprises an openable two-piece mouth at said other end and wherein said biased pivot point biases said two-piece mouth into a closed position.  
     
     
         5 . The device as defined in  claim 1  wherein said housing comprises a shaft within, a longitudinal slit thereon, a pliable cover around said shaft and removable from said housing through said slit, and an end cap on each end of said housing.  
     
     
         6 . The device as defined in  claim 5  further comprising an end rod attached to said cover wherein said end rod has a thickness greater in dimension than said slit.  
     
     
         7 . The device as defined in  claim 6  wherein said end rod has one or more weight members within.  
     
     
         8 . The device as defined in  claim 6  wherein said housing further comprises a receptacle on each end of said end rod and a pole insertable into said receptacles at one end and onto a external source at another end.  
     
     
         9 . The device as defined in  claim 8  wherein said pole further comprises an adjustment means for adjusting its length to conform to the amount of said cover removed from said housing in relation to a desired angle of said cover.  
     
     
         10 . The device as defined in  claim 9  wherein said adjustment means comprises said pole having multi-sections wherein each succeeding section slides into and out of a preceding section and is lockable into any position into which so slid.  
     
     
         11 . The device as defined in  claim 9  wherein said adjustment means comprises said pole having at least two sections wherein one section is insertable into another section and wherein one section further comprises a plurality of spaced-apart apertures thereon and wherein another section further comprises a biased protrusion over which any one of said plurality of spaced-apart apertures may lock into.  
     
     
         12 . The device as defined in  claim 6  further comprising a retracting means for returning said cover into said housing.  
     
     
         13 . The device as defined in  claim 12  wherein said retracting means comprises at least one crank mechanism on one end of said housing, said crank mechanism attached to said shaft.  
     
     
         14 . The device as defined in  claim 13  wherein said retracting means further comprises a locking means for preventing said cover, after having been removed from said housing to a desired length, from moving out farther or from moving into said housing.  
     
     
         15 . The device as defined in  claim 14  wherein said locking means comprises a reversible handle on said crank and one or more slots on said end cap of said housing wherein said handle when reversed engages one of said one or more slots thereby preventing rotation of said shaft.  
     
     
         15 . The device as defined in  claim 14  wherein said locking means comprises a handle of said crank, an aperture through said crank, a rod-like member, and one or more apertures on said end cap wherein said rod-like member is insertable through said aperture of said crank and into said one or more apertures on said end cap thereby preventing rotation of said shaft.  
     
     
         17 . The device as defined in  claim 6  wherein said end rod further comprises a stabilization means for stabilizing said cover in any location or position said cover is placed from its removal for said housing.  
     
     
         18 . The device as defined in  claim 17  wherein said stabilization means comprises a line attachable to said end rod and secured to an external ground surface.  
     
     
         19 . The device as defined in  claim 17  wherein said stabilization means comprises an external weight attached to said end rod.  
     
     
         20 . The device as defined in  claim 19  wherein said external weight is secured to a ground surface.  
     
     
         21 . The device as defined in  claim 17  wherein said stabilization means comprises a base attachable to said end rod at one end of said end rod and affixable to an external surface.  
     
     
         22 . The device as defined in  claim 21  wherein said base comprises a receptacle on its top surface for receiving said rod and a non-abrasive composition on its bottom surface.  
     
     
         23 . A securing device and housing comprising: 
 (a) a shaft within said housing;    (b) a longitudinal slit on said housing;    (c) a pliable cover around said shaft and removable from said housing through said slit;    (d) an end cap on each end of said housing; and    (e) securing means for securing said housing to an external surface.    
     
     
         24 . The device as defined in  claim 23  wherein said securing means comprises: 
 (a) a first section and a second section attachable to one another and over the housing;  
 (b) support means for engaging said securing device to the housing and for preventing the housing from moving within said securing device; and  
 (c) a clamp-member on said second section, said clamp-member having a handle at one end and an adjustable mouth at the other end for attaching said securing device securely to an external surface.  
 
     
     
         25 . The device as defined in  claim 24  wherein said support means comprises a threaded aperture in either the first section or the second section or both and a correspondingly threaded fastener of a predetermined length such as to engage the housing when said threaded fastener is inserted into said threaded aperture and tightened therein.  
     
     
         26 . The device as defined in  claim 24  wherein said support means comprises angled inner walls on either the first section or the second section or both corresponding to angles of the housing when such housing is so angled.  
     
     
         27 . The device as defined in  claim 24  wherein said clamp member further comprises an upper section and a lower section attached together at a biased pivot point wherein said handle comprises a two-piece movable handle at said one end and wherein said mouth comprises an openable two-piece mouth at said other end and wherein said biased pivot point biases said two-piece mouth into a closed position.  
     
     
         28 . The device as defined in  claim 23  further comprising an end rod attached to said cover wherein said end rod has a thickness greater in dimension than said slit.  
     
     
         29 . The device as defined in  claim 28  wherein said end rod has one or more weight members within.  
     
     
         30 . The device as defined in  claim 28  wherein said housing further comprises a receptacle on each end of said end rod and a pole insertable into said receptacles at one end and onto a external source at another end.  
     
     
         31 . The device as defined in  claim 30  wherein said pole further comprises an adjustment means for adjusting its length to conform to the amount of said cover removed from said housing in relation to a desired angle of said cover.  
     
     
         32 . The device as defined in  claim 31  wherein said adjustment means comprises said pole having multi-sections wherein each succeeding section slides into and out of a preceding section and is lockable into any position into which so slid.  
     
     
         33 . The device as defined in  claim 31  wherein said adjustment means comprises said pole having at least two sections wherein one section is insertable into another section and wherein one section further comprises a plurality of spaced-apart apertures thereon and wherein another section further comprises a biased protrusion over which any one of said plurality of spaced-apart apertures may lock into.  
     
     
         34 . The device as defined in  claim 28  further comprising a retracting means for returning said cover into said housing.  
     
     
         35 . The device as defined in  claim 34  wherein said retracting means comprises at least one crank mechanism on one end of said housing, said crank mechanism attached to said shaft.  
     
     
         36 . The device as defined in  claim 35  wherein said retracting means further comprises a locking means for preventing said cover, after having been removed from said housing to a desired length, from moving out farther or from moving into said housing.  
     
     
         37 . The device as defined in  claim 36  wherein said locking means comprises a reversible handle on said crank and one or more slots on said end cap of said housing wherein said handle when reversed engages one of said one or more slots thereby preventing rotation of said shaft.  
     
     
         38 . The device as defined in  claim 36  wherein said locking means comprises a handle of said crank, an aperture through said crank, a rod-like member, and one or more apertures on said end cap wherein said rod-like member is insertable through said aperture of said crank and into said one or more apertures on said end cap thereby preventing rotation of said shaft.  
     
     
         39 . The device as defined in  claim 28  wherein said end rod further comprises a stabilization means for stabilizing said cover in any location or position said cover is placed from its removal for said housing.  
     
     
         40 . The device as defined in  claim 39  wherein said stabilization means comprises a line attachable to said end rod and secured to an external ground surface.  
     
     
         41 . The device as defined in  claim 39  wherein said stabilization means comprises an external weight attached to said end rod.  
     
     
         42 . The device as defined in  claim 41  wherein said external weight is secured to a ground surface.  
     
     
         43 . The device as defined in  claim 39  wherein said stabilization means comprises a base attachable to said end rod at one end of said end rod and affixable to an external surface.  
     
     
         44 . The device as defined in  claim 43  wherein said base comprises a receptacle on its top surface for receiving said rod and a non-abrasive composition on its bottom surface.