The following statement is a full description of thi invention, including the best method of performing it known t me:~

This invention relates to improvements for physical protection, in wind protection and sun protection devices , fo beach and general outdoor use.

Most people suffer from a combination of excess sun and wind nuisance factor during the course of the summer months, thereby preventing them from fully enjoying the benefits of an outdoor lifestyle.

There have been many differing products to address the proble of cutting down one's exposure to the sun. These all seem to have focused on a singular, one piece unit designed to only address the sun problem. These products have been susept ible to a wind shift and are generally not altogether practicable . Wind can usually pick these objects up and blow them either down or away along the beach, if one is not sitting in them t weigh them down.

An example of this is in the sun umbrella which becomes a

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danger to people on the beach when the wind uproots them and blows them along the beach. This has caused injuries to peopl in the past, and is still a continuing problem. Another example is with a relatively new product , which -when opened, 5 requires people to be sitting in it in gusty conditions to weigh it down. This product has a high sail-like domed roof which can be lifted upward by wind (because of its open sides), and then blown along the beach like a beach ball. These and other products all have the same disadvantage , in 0 that they were specifically designed for sun protection, and not wind and sun protection. This has meant that they have been designed as a one piece unit with relation to sun protection only, and by definition, lacking in stability when it comes to the wind factor.

5 The disadvantages have been solved by the present invention , in that the product is in modular form. The invention incorporates firstly, a continuous fabric length which is fastened to the ground by a series of seven (7) vertically placed poles, running domi through vertically sewn sleeve C into the fabric. These poles are evenly spaced along the length of the material . Because of the extreme flexibility of the design and materials used, the fabric length is able to be adjusted as to shape, in order to minimise the surface exposed τo the wind, and thereby deflect the wind and create minimal

push upon the structure by the wind. The height of the windbreak is also designed to lower wind effect upon the structure .

Secondl , to address the problem of the sun, a clip-on canopy attachment in the shape of a triangular piece of material can been fastened to the top of the windbreak in order to give cover to people. The canopy is angled upward and anchored by a pole at its apex, giving a small half tent like effect. The sides of the canopy are anchored dually to the windbreak by two systems. Firstly, they are flapped over the sides of the windbreak and attached by two clips per flap, each clip at the extreme end of each flap. This effectively makes the windbreak and sun canopy into one unit, and thereby strong. The second system incorporates the use of the support poles for the windbreak . The flaps are separated from each other by an inverted "V" formation away from each other. In the space between the flaps on the sun canopy are metal islets designed for the poles to slide through them. The poles will then run through the sun canopy and down through the windbreak sleeves for extra support . The tops of the poles have rounded, flattened knobs which exert force downward on the fabric arid prevent it from rising upwards in windy conditions . The cenirr pole is to support the apex of the sun canopy and shall be suppl ied with a small nylon rope and small stake or peg. for greater anchoring support , should the extreme need arise.

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The design allows the user to use the inventi on as a windbreak, in order to get a suntan, or simply to enjoy a fin day, and then be able to cl ip on the top, should they or anyone else need to get out of the sun . This is all able to be done quickly and efficiently.

The invention can have many features incorporated into i ts basic design, in order to make the user more enviromentally comfortable . On another form of the invention , the separating panels of fabric between the upright poles may al ternately be solid material then finely meshed, or the two end panels be finely meshed only. The idea being to give the user a small amount of air circulation wi thin the confines of the unit , and make i t more comfortable . The same can be appl ied between the ribs of the sun canopy, but would defeat the purpose and benefi ts of reduced UV penetration and rain protection .

The unit may have pockets sewn into the inside panels of the windbi^eak for easy storage of accessories such as, suntan l otion , swimming costumes , sunhats , etc .

The support poles may be composed of ei ther wood (pointed or threaded a t one end) , extruded alumini um (able to be in ei ther

one piece, or two or three pieces and able to be fitted together and pointed or threaded at one end) , or be made fro rigid PVC material with similar characteristics to the aluminium poles.

The material for the windbreak and sun canopy can be varied, depending upon the manufacturer, and be of nylon fabric for durability against UV rays; polyester or plastic derivat ive (or a combination of cotton and polyester ) ; pure cotton or canvas materials , or any other material which can be obtained

The fabric panels between the poles may be stiched diagonally from corner to corner to enhance the strength of the material The suncanopy to have ribs radiating out from the apex to enhance its strength and durability.

To assist with understanding of the invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings and photographs of the prototype , which show one example of the invention .

In the drawings :-

FIG. 1 Shows a length of continuous fabric (1. ) regularly

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spaced with a series of vertical sewn fabric sleeves (2. ) to accommodate supporting poles for structural integrity. The fabric height is 26 inches with an overall length of 108 inches. The effect is for a series of six panels (created b the sleeves) , each 18 inches wide located between the seven

( 7) sleeves.

On th top outside of the fabric are a series of male (3. ) clips (12 clips in total) located 3 inches below the edge of the material (and fabric reinforced) with two clips per panel, separated by a distance of 12.5 inches and located beside the edges of each vertical sleeve (2.).

Each panel of material between the sleeves must be diagonally sewn (4.) from corner to corner (in a criss-crossing manner) to gi e added strength and support to the fabric. All edges of the material must be doubled over and sewn down to give further added strength to the structure.

Once the vertical poles (7 in total) are inserted into the structure and pushed into the ground, the structure then ha.- a rigid and flexible integrit , which is able to be angled in any direction using each of the poles as a pivotal point.

/ .

FIG. 2 shows a hollow pole pointed at one end and topped with a rounded, flattened knob (13. ) at the other end. This pole can be of one piece of material (aluminium, PVC or combination plastics , wood and other material combinations ) , or otherwise be comprised of 2 or 3 pieces, which can be fitted together

(15.. to give the same overall length. The bottom of the pole may be pointed like a pencil or be a threaded, screwlike point (14. ) for better, firmer grip in the ground. The pole may also be of a telescoped design. The overall single (or extended) pole length should be 36 inches, allowing the tip (pointed or screwlike ) for ground insertion to be 10 inches in length.

FIG. 3 shows a piece of fabric triangular in shape (5.), comprised of six individually ribbed (11.) triangular pieces of material (6.. sewn together, each with additional flaps (8. ) sewn on at the base. These flaps are 4 inches in depth and cut away at their corners. The base of each piece of t riangular material is 18 inches in width and a base to apex length of 57 inches.

Female (7. ) clips (12 in total) are set into the outside of the flaps, spaced 12.5 inches apart to enable them to clip ontr the "Windbuffer" male (3.) clip attachments.

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At the base of each triangular piece of material , and locate between each of the separate flaps, are inserted metal (10. ) islets ( 7 in total ) of approximately one inch in diameter. These openings are to allow the vertical poles for the '' i ndb ffe r " to pass through the suncanopy and then down the vertical sleeves (2. ) and into the ground. The flaps would then clip down on the "Windbuffer " compl eting the attachment and forming one uni t for wind protection and suncover. The rounded, flat tened ends ( 13. ) on the top of the poles are to prevent the fabric from riding up the poles.

The apex of the triangular suncanopy attachment is doubly reinforced (12. ) by extra material sewn onto the structure an has another singular metal islet (9. ) through the middle . Thi hole is to accomodate a longer centre pole for support and extra height . The overall structural effect is for a small , cutaway, tent-like effect giving shelter from the sun and wind .

The centre pole will come equipped wi th a small diameter nylon rope ( 19. ) and peg (20. ) ( for extra support if needed ) . The string would be attached to the top (16. ) of the centre pole over the suncanopy and anchored to the ground by the peg .

FIG. 4 shows a centre pole (hollow) of overall length of 52 inches, topped with a plastic lug (16.) attachment (for attaching the nylon cord and sun canopy) and pointed (or threaded screw-like ) at the other end. The pole can be of one piece of material (aluminium, PVC or combination plastics, wood and other material combinations ) , or otherwise can be comprised of 2 or 3 pieces (17. ), which can be fitted together to give the same overall length. The pole may be also of a telescope design. The tip (18. ) of the pole (pointed or screw- like) should be 10 inches in length for ground insertion.

FIG. 5 shows an example of the centre pole (FIG. 4) complete with nylon rope (19.) and peg/stake (20.) attachment for extra support to the sun canopy.

SUMMARY

By the application of attaching the sun canopy to the

"Windbuffer" it can be seen that a flexible and yet rigid structure can be created as an overall means of protection against the sun's UV rays and against the wind and wind-blown debris. This effect is only created by the modular form and by its very nature gives the user a dual usage product .

It is understood and real ised that the "Windbuffer " and sun canopy according to this invention is not restricted to the materials as outlined in this example, but can be comprised of any of the current vari ety of materials availabl in current or future technol ogi es . The overall modular design and shape of the invention is to be understood to be the invent ion, regardless of size (as larger versions can be constructed ) . It is to be further understood that merely changing the type of pol e an/or fabric is not to be construed as a differing creation, but instead a variation of the same design and therfore the same patent application would still apply. It is also understood that adding extra attachments to the design for other purposes (in attempts to subvert patent rights ) will also consti tute variations of the same design and therefore the same patent application would still apply.