Compact portable sunshade for face protection

Abstract

A portable compact sunshield apparatus for the head of a sunbather includes a substantially rectangular and planar base, hanging hooks, and an expandable canopy assembly. The canopy assembly further includes a plurality of inverted substantially U-shaped support members forming substantially 90-degree angles between two vertical segments and a horizontal segment of each said support member. An opaque material covers at least the horizontal segments of at least two of the inverted U-shaped support members, and two pivot means are attached to said rectangular and planar base for movably combining free ends of said vertical segments of the inverted U-shaped support members. Substantially open side areas, preferably with screen sections, allow for air flow.

1 . A portable sunshield apparatus comprising:
 a) a substantially rectangular and planar base;   b) an expandable canopy assembly including:   (i) a plurality of inverted substantially U-shaped support members;   (ii) an opaque material covering at least said horizontal segment of at least two of said inverted U-shaped support members;   (iii) two pivot means attached to said rectangular and planar base for movably combining free ends of said inverted U-shaped support members; and   (iii) substantially open side areas; and   c) at least two hanging hooks protruding from top edge of said rectangular base in substantially same plane as said rectangular base.   
   
   
       2 . The portable sunshield apparatus, according to  claim 1 , wherein said expandable canopy assembly has a flexible screen panel proximal top edge of said rectangular and planar base. 
   
   
       3 . The portable sunshield apparatus, according to  claim 1 , wherein a predetermined length of said substantially rectangular and planar base is between about ten to about 20 inches. 
   
   
       4 . The portable sunshield apparatus, according to  claim 1 , wherein a predetermined width of said substantially rectangular and planar base is between about twelve to about twenty inches. 
   
   
       5 . The portable sunshield apparatus, according to  claim 1 , wherein said substantially open side areas contain screens. 
   
   
       6 . The portable sunshield apparatus, according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least two hanging hooks are removable. 
   
   
       7 . The portable sunshield apparatus, according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least two hanging hooks are bendable. 
   
   
       8 . The portable sunshield apparatus, according to  claim 1 , wherein said opaque material has an SPF rating of at least 30. 
   
   
       9 . The portable sunshield apparatus, according to  claim 1 , wherein a portion of said opaque material in said canopy assembly is screen material. 
   
   
       10 . The portable sunshield apparatus, according to  claim 1 , wherein substantially U-shaped support members form substantially 90-degree angles between two vertical segments and a horizontal segment of each said U-shaped support member.