AU1686301A

AU1686301A - Extension arm which is pivotally mounted on a support

Info

Publication number: AU1686301A
Application number: AU16863/01A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Gustav Adolf Glatz
Original assignee: Glatz AG
Current assignee: Glatz AG
Priority date: 2000-01-24
Filing date: 2000-12-18
Publication date: 2001-07-31
Anticipated expiration: 2020-12-18
Also published as: EP1250065A1; AU777003B2; EP1250065B1; DE50007025D1; CA2382839C; ES2220569T3; WO2001052686A1; US20030010366A1; ATE270508T1; CA2382839A1

Abstract

[According to the invention, a] A guide rod [(44)] is provided for improving the ability of an extension arm [(6)], which can rotate around [the] an axis [(24)] thereof, [to] and pivot on a support or a pole [(4)]. [Said] The guide rod can be locked into different rotational [angle] angular positions with the extension arm [(6)] and can be retained on the support [(4)].

Description

WO 01/52686 PCT/CHO0/00667 Extension arm which is arranged in a pivotable manner on a support Technical field 5 The invention relates to an extension arm which is arranged on a support such that it can be pivoted about its axis according to the preamble of claim 1. According to a preferred exemplary embodiment, such an 10 extension arm is designed as an extensible free arm and the support is designed as a pole of a free-arm sunshade. Prior art 15 An extension arm which is arranged on a support such that it can be pivoted about its axis is known, for example, from EP 0 830 074 Bl, in the case of which the extension arm is configured as an extensible free arm 20 and the support is configured as the pole of a free-arm sunshade. In order to make optimum use of the shade as the position of the sun changes, it is possible not just for the pole to be rotated about its own axis but also, in particular, for the extension arm to be 25 pivoted about its axis, with the result that the sunshade can be moved into an appropriate oblique position and arrested there. For this purpose, a hand lever is fitted, for example, on the extension arm in order to pivot the extension arm, and thus the 30 sunshade, and then to arrest the same in the pivoted position by means of a clamping arrangement. The disadvantage here, however, is that the hand lever fitted on the extension arm is difficult to reach as a result of the extension arm usually being located at a 35 high level. In addition, the operation of pivoting the extension arm with the sunshade framework requires relatively large forces, which can barely be applied, if at all, by the small hand lever. Added to this is WO 01/52686 PCT/CHOO/00667 -2 the fact that, depending on the sunshade position, such a hand lever projects to a more or less pronounced extent into the space occupied by the user, which is not just unsightly but also poses a risk of injury to 5 the user. The same applies to the clamping lever of the clamping arrangement for arresting the extension arm in the pivoted position. In order to improve the 10 handleability, it is known to use a worm gear mechanism. Such a worm gear mechanism not only is a relatively expensive component but also only allows slow adjustment and is barely accessible. 15 Description of the invention The object of the invention is to configure an extension arm, which is arranged on a support such that it can be pivoted about its axis, in such a way that 20 pivoting is easily possible even with the extension arm located at a relatively high level and in the case of relatively large forces of inertia. This object is achieved by the characterizing features 25 of claim 1. Since the hand lever is configured as a guide rod, it is possible for the guide rod to be of a longer overall length, and thus for the extension arm to be arranged at a higher level, while such a guide rod, rather than projecting in an obstructive manner 30 into the space occupied by the user, is nevertheless always positioned, when in use, against the support, to which it is arrested in a releasable manner directly or indirectly. This means that the guide rod does not constitute any obstruction or hazard for the user and 35 can nevertheless be handled straightforwardly and with little force being required. Advantageous configurations of the extension arm are WO 01/52686 PCT/CHOO/00667 -3 described in claims 2 to 14. A particularly straightforward arrangement of the guide rod on the extension arm is specified in claim 2. In 5 this case, it is possible for the latching bolt to be arranged and actuated independently of the guide rod. It is advantageous if, according to claim 3, the latching bolt is prestressed toward the latching recess by means of a prestressing spring, this achieving 10 reliable latching in the case of which undesired unlatching of the latching bolt is prevented. If appropriate, it is possible, according to claim 4, for the guide rod to be arranged in an articulated manner on the latching bolt and to serve for actuating the 15 latter. This increases, however, the risk of undesired actuation, which is to be avoided for safety reasons. More advantageous therefore is a configuration according to claim 5, as a result of which the traction element is arranged such that it is protected by the 20 guide rod, with the result that undesired actuation is largely prevented. It is possible here for the traction element to be arranged outside the guide rod, but a configuration according to claim 6 is more advantageous. Arranging the traction element within the 25 guide rod results not just in better safety, but also in improved esthetics. There are various possible ways of actuating the traction element. According to claim 7, a handle of the 30 guide rod may also serve, at the same time, for actuating the traction element. For esthetic, practical and, in particular, safety purposes, however, the arrangement, according to claim 8, of an additional catch, assigned to the handle of the guide rod, for the 35 traction element is preferred. In order to keep the extension arm, and a sunshade, which may be fastened thereon, in the pivoted position, WO 01/52686 PCT/CHOO/00667 -4 it is necessary to arrest the guide rod on the support. There are various possible ways of doing this, the arrangement of an arresting member according to claim 9 being particularly straightforward and preferred. 5 The guide rod may have various cross sections. Particularly expedient, according to claim 10, is a D like cross section with a rounded part and a rectilinear base part. In this case, the basic position 10 is preferably set up such that the rectilinear base part is directed toward the support. There are likewise various possible ways of configuring the extension arm. It is thus possible, for example, 15 for it to comprise a solid profile. A configuration according to claim 11, however, is more advantageous, the hollow configuration here making it possible to accommodate a traction element, for example, for opening and closing a sunshade canopy. 20 The support may be of any desired design and may comprise, for example, a wall or a pole. The configuration according to claim 12 is advantageous in particular for the use as a free-arm sunshade. In this 25 case, the guide rod, according to claim 13, can expediently be arrested on a carriage belonging to the pole. It is particularly advantageous if, according to 30 claim 14, the extension arm is designed as an extensible free arm and the support is designed as a pole of a free-arm sunshade, as is described in EP-B1 0 741 531 and 0 830 074. 35 Brief description of the drawings Advantageous configurations of the invention are described in more detail hereinbelow using the example WO 01/52686 PCT/CHOO/00667 -5 of a free-arm sunshade and with reference to the drawings, in which: figure 1 shows the free-arm sunshade in the closed 5 position; figure 2 shows the free-arm sunshade in the open position; 10 figure 3 shows, on a larger scale and partly in section, a detail of the connection between the extension arm and the support or pole; figure 4 shows a guide rod in cross section; 15 figure 5 shows the free-arm sunshade before the extension arm and the sunshade canopy have been pivoted; and 20 figure 6 shows the extension arm and the sunshade canopy in the pivoted position. Methods of implementing the invention and industrial applicability 25 With the exception of the specific configuration of the means for pivoting the extension arm, the free-arm sunshade illustrated in figures 1 to 6 may be configured in accordance with EP-Bi 0 741 531 and/or 30 0 830 074. The free-arm sunshade illustrated in the figures has a pole 4 which is anchored, for example, in a base 2 and serves as a support for an extensible extension arm 6. 35 The latter is arranged on a carriage 8, which can be displaced along the pole 4, via an articulation 10. The extension arm 6 is supported at the top end of the pole 4 via a connecting rod 12. For this purpose, the WO 01/52686 PCT/CHOO/00667 -6 connecting rod is connected, on the one hand, to the extension arm 6 via an articulation 14 between the two ends of said extension arm and, on the other hand, to the top end of the pole 4 via a further articulation 5 16. By means of a crank 18 and of a circulating element 20 indicated in figure 3, the carriage 8 is moved up and down along the pole 4 from a rest position in figure 1, in which the extension arm 6 butts against the pole 4, into an extended position in figure 2. 10 Details of the configuration of the circulating element 20 and of the crank mechanism 18 can be gathered from EP-B1 0 741 531. EP-B1 0 830 074 describes alternative possible ways of retracting and extending the extension arm. 15 Arranged at the end of the extension arm 6 is a sunshade canopy 22 which is closed when the extension arm is retracted, as is shown in figure 1, and is open when the extension arm is extended, as can be gathered 20 from figure 2. There are likewise various possible ways of opening and closing the sunshade canopy, of which preferred ways can be gathered from the abovementioned specifications. 25 Details regarding the pivoting of the extension arm about its axis 24 and the components used for this purpose can be gathered from figure 3 in particular. The extension arm 6 is of tubular configuration and, at its end which is directed toward the pole 4, has a 30 bearing ring 26 which is mounted pivotably on a supporting member 28. The supporting member 28 is connected to the carriage 8 such that it can be pivoted via an articulation 10. It is possible to arrange in the hollow extension arm 6, for example, a cable pull 35 30 for opening and closing the sunshade canopy 22. Arranged on the outside of the bearing ring 26 is an adjustment ring 32 which can be pivoted about the WO 01/52686 PCT/CHOO/00667 -7 bearing ring and bears a latching bolt 36 in a housing 34. Said latching bolt is prestressed toward the bearing ring 26, and/or latching recesses 40 arranged therein, by means of a spring 38. The bearing ring 26 5 has a plurality of circumferentially distributed latching recesses 40, of which the angle positions correspond to the adjustment positions of the extension arm 6 and thus of the sunshade canopy 22. Articulated on the housing 34 of the latching bolt 36, via a 10 bearing bolt 42, is a guide rod 44, designed as a tube. Provided in the interior of the guide rod 44 is a traction element 46 which is connected to the latching bolt 36 in a pivotable manner via a coupling ring 48. The traction element 46 projects downward through the 15 guide rod 44 and is provided there with a catch 49 which is assigned to an eyelet-like handle 50 of the guide rod 44, as can be gathered from figures 5 and 6 in. particular. In the rest position, the guide rod 44 is latched to the carriage 8, and thus to the pole 4, 20 via a fork-like arresting member 52, as can be gathered from figures 1 and 2 and also figure 6. By virtue of the guide rod 44 being arranged in an articulated manner on the housing 34 via the bearing bolt 42, the arresting action of the guide rod 44 on the arresting 25 member 52 is maintained even when the extension arm 6 is moved out of its rest position in figure 1 into the extended position in figure 2 and vice versa. The guide rod is retained in a longitudinally displaceable manner in the fork-like arresting member 52 in order for it to 30 be possible for it to follow the movements of the articulation bolts 10 and 42 when the extension arm 6 is retracted and extended. The pivoting of the extension arm 6 and thus of the 35 sunshade canopy 22 takes place as follows. If the sunshade canopy 22, and thus the extension arm 6, is located in the basic position, in which the sunshade canopy is located horizontally, then the guide rod 44 WO 01/52686 PCT/CHOO/00667 -8 is released from the arresting member 52 and the latching bolt 36 is released from the latching recess 40 via the catch 49 and the traction element 46. With the extension arm 6 at rest and/or the sunshade canopy 5 22 horizontal, the guide rod 44 can then be pivoted laterally to the extent which corresponds to the subsequent pivot angle of the sunshade canopy and which is shown in figure 5. Thereupon, the latching bolt 36 is brought into engagement with an offset latching 10 recess 40 (the latter nevertheless not being illustrated specifically), with the result that, when the guide rod 44 is pivoted in relation to the carriage 8 and/or the pole 4, the extension arm 6, and thus the sunshade canopy 22, is pivoted by the previously 15 selected angle position, as is shown in figure 6. The pivoted position is fixed by virtue of the guide rod 44 being latched to the arresting member 52. By virtue of the guide rod 44 being released from the arresting member 52 and the guide rod 44 being pivoted back into 20 the position shown in figure 5, it is possible to eliminate the pivoted position of the sunshade canopy 22 and/or the extension arm 6. Following release of the latching bolt 36 from the recess 40 by means of the traction element 46, the guide rod 44 can be pivoted 25 back freely again into the basic position, in which the guide rod 44 latches on the carriage 8 by way of the arresting element 52. In this position, the latching bolt 36 also latches again in the corresponding basic position latching recess on the bearing ring 26, with 30 the result that the extension arm 6 and/or the sunshade canopy 22 is fixed in the horizontal, basic position. The guide rod 44 therefore allows straightforward pivoting of the extension arm and thus of the sunshade 35 canopy, the length of the guide rod being selected such that, even with the extension arm located at a high level, the guide rod 44 and the handle 50 are easily accessible. By virtue of the lever transmission, the WO 01/52686 PCT/CHOO/00667 -9 length of the guide rod 44 in particular also allows easy pivoting of the sunshade canopy 22 and/or the extension arm 6. This configuration allows round or polygonal sunshades of, for example, 3 to 5 m in 5 diameter to be handled easily. According to figure 4, the guide rod has a D-like cross section with a rounded part 54 and a rectilinear base part 56. The basic position is preferably set up here 10 such that the base part 56 is directed toward the pole 4 and/or the carriage 8. The shape of the guide rod can thus be better adapted to the profile of the pole 4 and of the carriage 8, and it provides a good grip for the eccentric bearing bolt 42 guided through the guide rod.

WO 01/52686 PCT/CHOO/00667 - 10 LIST OF DESIGNATIONS 2 Base 4 Pole 6 Extension arm 8 Carriage 10 Articulation 12 Connecting rod 14 Articulation 16 Articulation 18 Crank 20 Circulating element 22 Sunshade canopy 24 Axis 26 Bearing ring 28 Supporting member 30 Cable pull 32 Adjustment ring 34 Housing 36 Latching bolt 38 Spring 40 Latching recess 42 Bearing bolt 44 Guide rod 46 Traction element 48 Coupling ring 49 Catch 50 Handle 52 Arresting member 54 Rounded part 56 Rectilinear base part

Claims

1. An extension arm (6) which is arranged on a support such that it can be pivoted about its axis and 5 which can be pivoted, and arrested in the pivoted position, by means of a hand lever, characterized in that the hand lever is designed as a guide rod (44) which, on the one hand, can be latched to the extension arm (6) in different angle-of-rotation positions and, 10 on the other hand, can be arrested directly or indirectly on the support (4).

2. The extension arm as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the guide rod (44) is arranged on 15 an adjustment ring (32) which can be pivoted about the extension arm (6) and can be latched to latching recesses (40) of the extension arm (6) by means of a latching bolt (36). 20

3. The extension arm as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the latching bolt (36) is prestressed toward the latching recesses (40) by means of a prestressing spring (38). 25

4. The extension arm as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the guide rod (44) is arranged in an articulated manner on the latching bolt (36) in order to actuate the latter. 30

5. The extension arm as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the guide rod (44) is connected in an articulated manner to a housing (34) of the latching bolt (36) and contains a traction element (46) which is connected to the latching bolt (36) for the 35 release of the latter.

6. The extension arm as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the guide rod (44) is provided WO 01/52686 PCT/CHOO/00667 - 12 with an axial through-passage opening for accommodating the traction element (46).

7. The extension arm as claimed in claim 5 or 6, 5 characterized in that the traction element (46) has a preferably eyelet-like handle (50) which is arranged [lacuna] the bottom end of the guide rod (44).

8. The extension arm as claimed in claim 5 or 6, 10 characterized in that the traction element (46) has a catch (49) which is assigned to a handle (50) of the guide rod (44).

9. The extension arm as claimed in one of claims 1 to 15 8, characterized in that the guide rod (44) can be arrested on the support (4) via an arresting member (52).

10. The extension arm as claimed in one of claims 1 to 20 8, characterized in that the guide rod (44) has a D like cross section with a rounded part (54) and a rectilinear base part (56), the base part (56) being directed toward the support (4). 25

11. The extension arm as claimed in one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the extension arm (6) is hollow and designed for accommodating a traction element (30). 30

12. The extension arm as claimed in one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the extension arm (6) is arranged on a supporting member (28) such that it can be rotated about its axis (24), said supporting member being connected in an articulated manner to a carriage 35 (8) which can be displaced, and arrested, along the support, which has a pole (4).

13. The extension arm as claimed in claim 12, WO 01/52686 PCT/CHOO/00667 - 13 characterized in that the guide rod (44) can be arrested on the carriage (8).

14. The extension arm as claimed in one of claims 1 to 5 13, characterized in that the extension arm (6) is designed as an extensible free arm and the support (4) is designed as a pole of a free-arm sunshade.