ES2476029T3 - Retractable awning - Google Patents

Abstract

Retractable awning, comprising: - an awning fabric (2) that can be operated between an extended position and a folded position; - at least one pair of lateral guides (4), elongated in the direction in which the fabric (Z) is operated, and designed to slide a plurality of sections (5) that are separated from each other and are fixed to the fabric (2), the sections (5) extending transversely to the guides (4); said fabric (2) comprising a plurality of fabric parts (2a), structurally independent of each other, positioned adjacent to each other in the driving direction (Z), each fabric part (2a) extending between each pair of corresponding adjacent sections ( 5); - sealing means (10) interposed between adjacent fabric parts (2a), these sealing means (10) extending transversely to the fabric (2) with respect to the direction (Z) in which the fabric (2) is operated, to provide a sealing action on the awning across the entire surface of the fabric (2) formed by said parts (2a); said retractable awning being characterized by the fact that said sealing means (10) comprise at least one joint element (11) with a predominantly longitudinal extension interposed between facing edges (2b) of adjacent fabric parts (2a) and which extends over at least a predominant part of the transverse extension of said fabric parts (2a); fixing elements (13) are arranged between the joint element (11) and the corresponding cross section (5) associated with said adjacent fabric parts (2a); said at least one joint element (11) is detachably retained in a housing (12) formed in the corresponding cross section (5) with which it is associated; said housing (12) is formed jointly by a pair of said corresponding fixing elements (13), each of which is designed to fix each of the corresponding fabric parts (2a), which are adjacent to each other, to the same cross section (5).

Description

Retractable awning.

The present invention relates to a retractable awning having the characteristics indicated in the preamble of claim 1, which is the main claim.

A canopy of the type mentioned above is typically used to cover exterior spaces, and generally comprises a piece of fabric associated with drive means for moving the fabric from the extended position, in which the fabric is extended to form a cover, to the folded position, with the fabric retracted, in which the fabric adopts the typical configuration of adjacent bags with one another.

The awning fabric is generally guided between two opposite lateral guides, in which a plurality of cross sections are rigidly guided, rigidly fixed to the fabric, by means of similar sliding carriages or guiding means, each section carrying a carriage corresponding drive at each of its opposite axial ends.

A typical configuration uses a pair of lateral guides, between which the awning fabric extends, although this width cannot exceed a certain size, typically of about three meters, due to the evident problems of the flexion of the sections and of the fabric, and the maneuverability of the fabric, due to the weight of the entire structure. If larger spaces are to be covered, it is possible, for example, to place a plurality of adjacent awnings with each other, each with its own lateral guide structure. However, this solution is limited by the fact that air and light and, possibly even water, can seep between the facing longitudinal edges of adjacent awnings, thus compromising the use of the awning for its intended coverage function. .

There are also known solutions in which an awning consisting of a single piece of fabric is used in applications with three or more lateral guides, in other words, when large areas must be covered; however, the fabric is subject to dimensional limits due to the manufacture of the fabric, in addition to the fact that the handling of wide pieces of fabric is more difficult and complicated, both in its manufacture and in its assembly on the awning structure .

US 5,026,109 describes a known awning comprising a fabric formed by a plurality of sheets anchored to respective cross sections, which can move along respective opposite guides to extend and remove the fabric.

More in detail, each cross section is provided with two parallel grooves, which extend along the cross section on its opposite sides. Each slot of the cross section can accommodate an edge of the sheet to anchor it to the respective side of the cross section.

The main drawback of this known retractable awning is the fact that it does not have a good water resistance due to the filtration of the rain through the grooves of the cross section.

WO 00/09831 discloses a known awning comprising several parallel and separate guides each presenting longitudinal grooves on their opposite sides, and a plurality of cross sections extending between two corresponding guides and sliding mounted in the longitudinal grooves of the guides corresponding.

Also, the awning comprises a plurality of fabrics, each extending between two corresponding guides and supported by the cross sections, which are likely to move along the guides to extend and remove the fabrics.

The main drawback of the awning described in WO 00/09831 is the fact that it does not have a good water resistance, because water can easily seep between the longitudinal edges of the fabrics and the lateral guides.

US 5,209,029 discloses a folding awning comprising a plurality of arcuate cross sections coupled to a common rotating support, and a plurality of sheets each extending between two respective cross sections.

More in detail, each cross section is provided with a groove in which two circular seats are obtained in order to accommodate in each seat a corresponding sheet edge anchored to the cross section. The edge of each sheet is blocked by means of a ball inserted in the corresponding circular seat. Also, the groove of each cross section is closed by a rubber tongue snapped into the groove.

The main drawback of the awning described in US 5,209,029 is that the insertion of the rubber tongue into the groove of the cross section easily causes the movement of the sheets from their correct position, which implies a poor quality of the awning produced and all the formation of cracks through which water can seep.

The problem addressed by the present invention is to provide a retractable awning that is structurally and functionally designed to overcome the limitations described with reference to the prior art mentioned above and, in particular, is suitable for covering surfaces having any transverse extension longitudinal, without inconvenience regarding the infiltration of water, air and light in the area covered by the awning.

This problem is solved by the invention by means of a canopy made in accordance with the following claims.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become clear from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the same shown, for illustrative purposes and not limitation, in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a retractable awning according to the invention shown in a closed position, with the fabric collected at one of its ends;

Figure 2 is a side elevation view of the awning of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the awning of the previous figures, shown in an open position with the fabric extended between the side guides;

Figure 4 is a side elevation view of the awning of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view on an enlarged scale of a detail of the awning of the previous figures;

Figure 6 is a partial perspective view on an enlarged scale of a detail of the awning according to the invention;

Figure 7 is a front elevation view of the detail of Figure 6;

Figures 8, 9 and 10 are front elevation views of corresponding details of the awning of the previous figures;

Figure 11 is a perspective view of a variant of the awning of the previous figures.

With reference to the aforementioned figures, the number 1 indicates the assembly of a retractable awning, in particular an awning for covering exterior spaces, made in accordance with the invention.

The awning comprises an awning fabric 2, which can move between a closed position with the fabric folded up to form a typical configuration of adjacent bags 3, shown in Figure 1, and an extended position with the fabric extended over the covered area by the awning, shown in figure 3.

The awning also comprises a frame structure that includes a pair of opposite lateral guides 4, formed from extruded sections, for example, between which a plurality of cross sections 5 (also preferably formed by extrusion) are slidably guided. of sections), these sections being separated from each other and fixed to the fabric 2, as will be clear in the rest of the description. Corresponding carriages 6 fitted with wheels 7 are mounted on opposite axial ends of each section 5 by means of which the carriages are engaged by sliding in the cavities of the guide sections 4. Each carriage 6 is also fixed to the corresponding section 5 through screw fixing means 8, or by other similar conventional fixing means. The carriage is conveniently fixed to a terminal element 8a that can be fixed to the corresponding end of section 5 (Figure 5).

Drive means which are not shown, but which are conventional, are used to apply a translational movement to the frontal cross section of the awning, indicated by 5a in the drawing, along the lateral guides 4 (this section pulling the carriages of the other sections with this one), thus moving the awning between the operating states described above. In particular, the carriages 6 associated with section 5a can be driven by corresponding active shunts of a pair of motorized belts (not shown) housed in the sections of the corresponding lateral guides 4, using belt drive systems that are known and that, therefore, are not part of the present invention.

The fabric of the awning 2 also comprises a plurality of fabric parts, all indicated by 2a and structurally independent of one another, located adjacent to each other in the direction in which the fabric is operated, indicated by Z in the drawings, in the that each fabric part 2a extends, in the Z direction, between each pair of corresponding adjacent sections 5. Between each pair of adjacent fabric parts 2a, which can be identified in the fabric 2, there are also interposed sealing means, indicated altogether by 10, which extend transversely to the fabric 2 with respect to the driving direction Z, and which are such that they provide a sealing action on the awning 1 across the entire surface of the fabric formed by said parts 2a.

More specifically, each sealing means 10 comprises corresponding joint elements 11, each of which can be interposed between facing edges 2b of adjacent fabric parts 2a. The joint elements 11 arranged between pairs of adjacent fabric parts are identical to each other and, therefore, only one of them will be described in detail below.

The element 11 is formed with a predominantly longitudinal extension, and extends substantially along the entire transverse extension (perpendicular to the Z direction) of the fabric portions 2a. It is designed to be retained in the position interposed between the edges 2b of the adjacent fabric parts and, in particular, is detachably retained in a housing 12 formed in the corresponding cross-section 5 to which it is associated. Said housing 12 is preferably formed jointly by a pair of corresponding fasteners 13, each of which is designed to fix each of the corresponding edges 2b of adjacent fabric parts 2a of the awning to the same section transversal 5. The fasteners 13 are mounted in section 5 with specular symmetry with respect to a plane of longitudinal longitudinal symmetry of the section, and are structurally identical to each other; consequently, only one of them will be described in detail.

Each fixing element 13 has a base 14 on which the terminal edge of the corresponding fabric part 2a is fixed. A shoulder 15, which runs longitudinally and has a shape to be detachably retained in a corresponding cavity 16 of section 5, extends from the base 14 on the opposite side of the area to which the fabric is fixed. In greater detail, in section 5 a longitudinal groove 17 is formed and communicates with the corresponding inner cavity 16 of the section, the shoulder 15 comprising, starting from the base, a first part 18 that can be slidably coupled to the groove , this part extending in a second part 19 which is wider than the first part, and which is retained in the cavity 16 when the element 13 is slidably mounted in section 5 (Figure 6).

Another shoulder 20 is arranged, in which a cavity 20a is formed, on the side of the element 13 which extends along the terminal edge of the fabric part 2a.

After the fixing elements 13 have been mounted in the corresponding section 5, the corresponding cavities 20a of these elements face each other and are separated from each other, thus forming together the housing mentioned above 12 , in which an enlarged section 21 of the seal element 11 may be retained by tightening. Said section 21 is therefore retained between the cavities 20a, consequently providing a contact seal between the surfaces joined together (Figure 7).

It should be noted that the projections 20 of the corresponding fasteners 13 facing each other remain housed, after mounting the fasteners in section 5, in a central cavity 22 of the section, which is open upwards with a longitudinal groove 23. The projections 20 are housed in the groove and are separated from each other.

In the joint element 11, a head 24 and an opposite pair of serrated projections 25 are formed on opposite sides of the enlarged central section 21. These parts extend symmetrically in the joint element 11 and can rest on corresponding sides of the corresponding fasteners when section 21 is housed in the housing 12, thus opposing the removal of the section and ensuring that the gasket 11 is retained in position between the fabric parts.

The head 24 of the joint element is also formed with a substantially flat or slightly curved (convex) upper surface, this way allowing the head to be interposed between the adjacent fabric portions, when the joint 11 is mounted, so that its surface is substantially level with the corresponding fabric surfaces to which it is connected. These surfaces are identified by the reference number 27 in the drawings and extend on the opposite side to the corresponding surfaces of the fabric 28 in front of the cross sections 5.

The feature of providing a substantially level seal head with the upper surfaces of the fabric parts advantageously prevents the formation of barriers to water falling on the awning fabric, thereby counteracting the possible formation of stagnant water in the fabric.

In a preliminary stage, the fabric parts are fixed at their terminal edges opposite 2b to the corresponding fixing elements 13. During the assembly of the awning, said fabric parts 2a are mounted in the corresponding sections 5 by coupling the fixing elements 13 in the sections The corresponding joint element 11 is then interposed between each pair of adjacent fabric parts 2a by inserting the joint element into the groove 23 until it is secured in the housing 12, and the teeth 25 consequently provide a complementary retention action to oppose to the decoupling of the accommodation. At the end of the insertion, the head 24 of the seal is interposed between the edges 2b of the fabric parts in order to be substantially level with the corresponding adjacent fabric surfaces 27, as shown in Figure 7.

It should be noted that the sealed connection between the surfaces of the enlarged section 21 and the cavities 20a that are in contact is formed with at least partial deformation of these parts, thus providing a retention action due to the elastic return effect of the connected parts.

In a variant embodiment of the invention, shown in Figure 11, the awning is provided with three lateral guides 4, in order to form a larger cover. By interposing an intermediate guide 4 it is possible, for example, to achieve a covering width (transversely to the Z direction) which is approximately twice that described in the previous example. In this application also, the fabric 2 is made in fabric parts 2a adjacent to each other, in which each fabric part extends transversely between the outermost pair of lateral guides 4, the fixing system being sealed between parts of adjacent fabric given in this variant the same as in the previous example, although it should be understood that this system can be applied regardless of the number of lateral guides provided.

Using a part of the awning according to the invention it is therefore possible to prepare fabric parts of a specified width (measured in the Z direction) whose length is determined according to the extent of the area to be covered (in the transverse direction to Z), thus making it convenient to use fabrics supplied, for example, in rolls, and considerably facilitating the handling and storage operations of the awning fabrics. It is also possible to provide the awning fabric parts with the fasteners already fixed along the opposite edges, these parts being easy to transport and handle, until the awning installation stage. At this stage, the fabric parts are initially fixed to the corresponding cross sections and then the joint element is mounted, inserting it between the facing edges of adjacent fabric parts, as a result of which it is held in the retention housing correspondent.

It should be noted that the joint element can be cut to the desired size during the assembly of the awning according to the transverse width to be covered (the width between the outermost lateral guides).

It should also be noted that the pre-assembled fabric parts with the corresponding fasteners do not have a predetermined orientation that must be maintained during assembly, and this further simplifies the stages of installation of the awning while at the same time also considerably reducing possible errors in the assembly and the assembly is made faster.

Thus, the invention solves the problem that was proposed and provides the aforementioned advantages over known solutions.

Claims (9)

 1. Retractable awning, comprising:

-

 an awning fabric (2) that can be operated between an extended position and a folded position;

-

 at least one pair of lateral guides (4), elongated in the direction in which the fabric (Z) is operated, and designed to slide a plurality of sections (5) that are spaced apart from each other and they are fixed to the fabric (2), the sections (5) extending transversely to the guides (4); said fabric (2) comprising a plurality of fabric parts (2a), structurally independent of one another, positioned adjacent to each other in the driving direction (Z), each fabric part (2a) extending between each pair of adjacent sections corresponding (5);

-

 sealing means (10) interposed between adjacent fabric parts (2a), these sealing means (10) extending transversely to the fabric (2) with respect to the direction (Z) in which the fabric (2) is operated, to provide a sealing action on the awning across the entire surface of the fabric

(2) formed by said parts (2a); said retractable awning being characterized by the fact that said sealing means (10) comprise at least one joint element (11) with a predominantly longitudinal extension interposed between facing edges (2b) of adjacent fabric parts (2a) ) and which extends over at least a predominant part of the transverse extension of said fabric parts (2a); fixing elements (13) are arranged between the joint element (11) and the corresponding cross section (5) associated with said adjacent fabric parts (2a); said at least one joint element (11) is detachably retained in a housing (12) formed in the corresponding cross section (5) with which it is associated; said housing (12) is formed jointly by a pair of said corresponding fixing elements (13), each of which is designed to fix each of the corresponding fabric parts (2a), which are adjacent to each other. , to the same cross section (5).

2.

 Awning according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a pair of lateral guides (4) and at least one additional intermediate guide (4), parallel to the lateral guides (4) and interposed between them, extending each part of fabric (2a) transversely between the opposite lateral guides (4), and each fabric part (2a) extending longitudinally over at least a part of the longitudinal extension of said guides (4); said sealing means (10) being interposed between each pair of fabric parts (2a) that are adjacent to each other, to provide a seal across the entire surface of the awning formed by said fabric parts (2a).

3.

 Awning according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that each fabric part (2a) is formed between a first surface (28) facing the cross sections (5) and a second opposite surface (27), the sealing means (10) interposed between adjacent fabric parts (2a) so that they are substantially level with the corresponding second surfaces (27) of adjacent fabric parts (2a).

Four.

 Awning according to claim 1, characterized in that said joint element (11) is retained in said housing (12) by tightening.

5.

 Awning according to claim 1, characterized in that each fixing element (13) is detachably retained in the corresponding cross section (5) and can be rigidly fixed to the edge (2b) of the corresponding fabric part (2a) .

6.

 Awning according to claim 5, characterized in that each fixing element (13) comprises a corresponding cavity (20a), said housing (12) being formed by a pair of cavities (20a) of corresponding fixing elements (13 ) facing each other, the joint element (11) comprising an enlarged section (21) that can be coupled to said cavities (20a) with a mutual sealing retention of the connected surfaces.

7.

 Awning according to claim 6, characterized in that said joint element (11) comprises, on opposite sides of said section (21), a head (24) extending between the facing edges (2b) of parts of adjacent fabric (2a), and at least one shoulder (25) that can rest on at least one of the fixing elements (13), when said section (21) is housed in said housing (12), for thus oppose the removal of the section while retaining the joint element (11) in position between the adjacent fabric parts (2a).

8.

 Awning according to claim 7, characterized in that a pair of projections (25) are arranged in said joint element (11), each projection being designed to rest on the corresponding fixing element (13) of a pair of said elements arranged in a common cross section (5).

8 9 10 eleven 12  REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION This list of references cited by the applicant is solely for the convenience of the reader. It is not part of the European patent document. Despite the care taken in the collection of references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and the EPO denies all responsibility in this regard. Patent documents cited in the description

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US 5026109 A • US 5209029 A

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WO 0009831 A

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