# US 10,368,491 B2 · Sun screen structure

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- Number: US 10,368,491 B2
- Document ID: US10368491B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/711,557
- Filed: 2017-09-21
- Published: 2018-03-22
- Granted: 2019-08-06
- Earliest claimed: 2016-09-21
- Assignees: MTD Products Inc
- Applicants: MTD Products Inc
- Inventors: William Bigge; Gerald Hobrath
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10368491B2

## CPC

- A01D 67/02: Protection against weather
- A01D 67/005: {Arrangements of coupling devices}
- A45B 17/00: Tiltable umbrellas
- A01D 2101/00: Lawn-mowers
- A45B 2023/0093: {Sunshades or weather protections of other than umbrella type}
- A45B 2200/1009: combined with other objects
- B60R 21/11: Overhead guards, e.g. against loads falling down {(specially adapted for fork-lift trucks B66F9/07545)}
- A01D: HARVESTING; MOWING
- A45B: WALKING STICKS (walking aids, e.g. sticks, for blind persons A61H3/06); UMBRELLAS; LADIES' OR LIKE FANS (cane or umbrella stands or holders A47G25/12)
- B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## Abstract

A sun shade for a lawn maintenance tool includes a bracket configured to accommodate a profile of the lawn maintenance tool to the rear of the seat. A frame is configured to cooperate with the bracket, and a fastener attaches the frame and the bracket to the lawn maintenance tool. A quantity of material is attached to the frame above the lawn maintenance tool, where the material is configured to inhibit passage of sunlight through the material. In further examples, the sun shade can be foldable at one or more locations by using breakaway hinges. A kit including the sun shade can also be used to modify the lawn maintenance tool.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A sun shade for a lawn maintenance tool comprising:
a bracket, wherein the bracket is configured to accommodate a profile of the lawn maintenance tool to the rear of an associated seat;
a frame configured to cooperate with the bracket, wherein the frame comprises at least one vertical member;
a fastener, wherein the fastener attaches the frame and the bracket to the lawn maintenance tool;
a quantity of material attached to the frame above the lawn maintenance tool, wherein the material is configured to inhibit passage of sunlight through the material; and
a first hinge attached to the frame, wherein the first hinge is configured to enable the at least one vertical member to fold at a first location as a result of a force, wherein said first hinge includes a generally cylindrical opening that is open over a portion of its length.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The sun shade according to claim 1, further comprising a second hinge attached to the frame, wherein the second hinge is configured to enable the sun shade frame to fold at a second location as a result of continued application of the force.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The sun shade according to claim 2, wherein the force results from the frame striking an obstacle.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The sun shade according to claim 2, wherein the force results from an applied force by an associated operator to place the sun shade into a storage position.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The sun shade according to claim 2, wherein the first hinge is a breakaway hinge.

### Claim 6 (depends on 2)

The sun shade according to claim 2, wherein the second hinge is a breakaway hinge.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The sun shade according to claim 1, further comprising a second bracket.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The sun shade according to claim 1, wherein the bracket is configured to accommodate a profile of more than one model of lawn maintenance tool.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The sun shade according to claim 1, wherein the frame is universal and can be used with a plurality of models of lawn maintenance tools.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The sun shade according to claim 9, wherein the bracket is the only component requiring modification when the sun shade is moved from one model of lawn maintenance tool to another model of lawn maintenance tool.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The sun shade according to claim 1, wherein the fastener is a threaded fastener.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The sun shade according to claim 1, wherein the material is opaque.