Foldable sunshades

A method of collapsing a reusable vehicular sunshade for storage between uses, the sunshade having upper and lower edge support members, the method comprising the steps of

• folding both upper and lower edge support members of the sunshade at multiple points to place the sunshade in a flat, folded condition having a width significantly less than that of the sunshade in its unfolded state;
• rolling the folded sunshade about its upper edge support member to form a roll with the lower edge member of the sunshade disposed along an outer surface of the roll;
• and then
• wrapping a releasable strap about the rolled sunshade to retain it in its folded and rolled condition.

A method of blocking sunlight within a vehicle, the method comprising

• providing a shade of flexible sheet material having an opacity that increases with an angle of incidence with respect to a direction normal to the sheet material, the shade having upper and lower edges;
• securing the upper edge of the shade to the vehicle along an upper portion of an inclined rear window of the vehicle, at a point above a forward edge of a rear deck of the vehicle spanning a horizontal space between a base edge of the rear window and an upper rear seat back of the vehicle;
• and
• securing the lower edge of the shade to the vehicle at a point forward of the rear deck, such that fore-aft inclination of the shade in its secured position is significantly less than that of the window, such that the opacity of the shade relative to light entering the vehicle generally normal to the inclined rear window is substantially greater than the opacity of the shade relative to a line of sight extending generally horizontally through the rear window.

A sunshade for a vehicle window, comprising:

• a shade having upper and lower edges;
• a plurality of straps, extending from said lower edge constructed and arranged to secure the sunshade in a rolled configuration;
• a pair of support members having free ends, one of the members being associated with each of the upper and lower edges, the support members being constructed to be spaced apart to support the shade in an extended, open position during use;
• each of said support members comprising a self-straightening tape that is arcuate in cross-section and can be repeatedly folded without significant plastic deformation;
• and
• wherein said straps each carry a tab at a free end thereof, the tab of a size and shape selected to enable the tab to be wedged behind a back seat of a vehicle to secure the lower edge of the shade.