Mounting bracket and arm assembly for a vehicle sunshade and method of installing same in a vehicle

Mounting apparatus for attaching a sunshade to a vehicle roof having an aperture therein, comprising:

• an outer bracket adapted to contact the front surface of the vehicle roof and to overlie the aperture therein;
• an inner bracket rotatably connected to said outer bracket and including a locking portion adapted to extend through the aperture in the vehicle roof when said inner bracket operably contacts the front surface of the vehicle roof, said locking portion being adapted to engage the back surface of the vehicle roof upon rotation of said inner bracket;
• a bracket arm rotatably connected to said inner bracket;
• and
• engagement means cooperating between said bracket arm and said inner bracket for establishing an arc angle of rotation through which said bracket arm rotates relative said inner bracket and beyond which rotation of said bracket arm causes said inner bracket to rotate, thereby allowing said locking portion to engage the vehicle roof upon rotation of said bracket arm and thereafter permitting said bracket arm to operably rotate relative said inner bracket.

A method of attaching a sunshade to a vehicle roof in a manner permitting rotation of the sunshade through an operating angle between a front windshield position and a side window position, comprising the steps of:

• providing an aperture in the vehicle roof;
• providing a sunshade mount including a bracket assembly having a locking member that is insertable into the aperture in the vehicle roof and that engages the vehicle roof upon rotation of the locking member, a bracket arm that is rotatably connected to the bracket assembly, and an engagement mechanism cooperating between the bracket arm and the locking member such that the bracket arm is capable of rotating through an arc angle of rotation relative the locking member beyond which rotation of the bracket arm causes the locking member to rotate;
• placing the sunshade mount adjacent the vehicle roof such that the locking member is inserted into the aperture;
• and
• rotating the bracket arm until the locking member is caused to rotate and engage the vehicle roof, and such that the arc angle of rotation of the bracket arm relative the locking member is at least coincident with the operating angle of the sunshade.