CN111479971B

CN111479971B - Articulated arm for outdoor awning

Info

Publication number: CN111479971B
Application number: CN201880080758.7A
Authority: CN
Inventors: A·巴比耶尔
Original assignee: Barthes Inc
Current assignee: Barthes Inc
Priority date: 2017-12-13
Filing date: 2018-12-10
Publication date: 2022-03-29
Anticipated expiration: 2038-12-10
Also published as: MA51130A; CN111479971A; EP3724417A1; EP3724417C0; EP3724417B1; US20210180327A1; WO2019115460A1

Abstract

An articulated arm (10) for an outdoor awning, comprising: -a first longitudinally extending element (11) connected at one end to the supporting structure and provided with elastic tensioning means (13) housed at least partially inside it, -a second longitudinally extending element (12) rotatably connected to one side of the first longitudinally extending element (11) with a rotation fulcrum (30) in a region comprised between the two ends of the first longitudinally extending element (11), -an elongated flexible element (14) suitable for connecting the elastic tensioning means (13) to the second longitudinally extending element (12) at least partially around the region where the rotation fulcrum (30) is located.

Description

Articulated arm for outdoor awning

Technical Field

The invention relates to an articulated arm for an outdoor awning.

Background

The use of outdoor awnings mounted on building walls is widespread, some of which are provided with a hinged extendable arm for deploying the awning.

Such an articulated arm is externally composed of four main components: a shoulder for connection to a support structure; a first profiling element connected to the shoulder; a joint; a second profiled element articulated to the first longitudinally extending element by means of a joint; and a terminal element for connecting the end profile of the awning. In this field, such profiled elements are commonly referred to as arms and forearms, respectively.

Other components belong to the articulated arms, whose function is to connect the above-mentioned elements and to maintain the arm in tension during use of the awning. For this purpose, pretensioning elements are widely used, which usually consist of a gas-filled piston or a helical spring. These assemblies typically pass lengthwise through the first profiled element of the hinge arm.

The assembly of such a conventional articulated arm is carried out in the following manner: at least one helical spring (or piston) has one end engaged with the shoulder and the other end engaged with the strap (or chain or cable). The spring and the strap are passed lengthwise through the first profiled element, with the strap protruding from the latter, and are designed to be pulled in order to pre-tension the spring. The knuckle and the second profiled element are then mounted and, at the same time, the strap passing through these is pulled to tension the spring and finally to engage with the second profiled element.

Such conventional articulated arms exhibit complexity in terms of both assembly and therefore increase costs, which can significantly affect the overall cost of the product.

The complexity of assembly has led manufacturers to provide articulated arms that have been assembled, tensioned and painted.

Furthermore, such arms also show room for improvement in their operation. Pretensioning means, such as springs, have to be tensioned with force to keep the fabric of the awning taut. The greater the force, the more the arm tends to deform by bending. Furthermore, in this system, the spring is placed in a further tensioned condition by the folding arm when closing the awning.

Disclosure of Invention

It is an object of the present invention to provide a hinge arm for an outdoor awning which can improve the prior art in one or more of the above-mentioned aspects.

Within this aim, an object of the present invention is to provide an articulated arm which is structurally simpler than conventional arms, so as to facilitate its assembly and to keep production costs low.

Another object of the invention is to facilitate the tensioning operation and to improve the handling of the arm during its use.

It is another object of the present invention to be able to supply an articulated arm that is not fully installed.

Another object of the invention is to provide an articulated arm which is highly reliable, easy to implement and inexpensive.

This object and these and other objects that will become more apparent hereinafter are achieved by an articulated arm having the above features.

Drawings

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of the articulated arm according to the invention, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

figure 1 is a perspective view of a hinge arm according to the invention applied to a sunshade in an extended configuration;

figure 2 is a perspective view of the articulated arm according to the invention in the inactive configuration.

Figures 3 to 8 show the steps of assembly and tensioning of the articulated arm according to the invention;

figure 9 is a partially exploded perspective view of the articulated arm according to the invention.

Figure 10 is a perspective view similar to figure 9, illustrating the steps of assembly of the articulated arm according to the invention;

figures 11 to 14 are perspective views similar to figure 9, illustrating further steps of assembly of the articulated arm according to the invention;

figure 15 is a perspective view similar to figure 9 of an articulated arm according to the invention.

Detailed Description

Referring to the drawings, an articulated arm according to the invention, generally designated by the reference numeral 10, comprises:

a first longitudinally extending element 11, one end of which is connected to the supporting structure and provided with elastic tensioning means 13, which are at least partially housed inside the first longitudinally extending element;

a second longitudinally extending element 12 rotatably connected to one side of the first longitudinally extending element 11, the rotation fulcrum 30 being in a region comprised between the two ends of the first longitudinally extending element 11;

an elongated flexible element 14 for maintaining tension and adapted to connect the elastic tensioning means 13 to the second longitudinally extending element 12, at least partially around the region where the fulcrum of rotation 30 is located.

In particular, as shown, the flexible element 14 is preferably composed of a tape.

Figures 1 and 2 show the articulated arm 10 in the active configuration of maximum extension and in the inactive configuration with the arm folded, respectively. In particular, fig. 1 shows an arm applied to the awning and connected to the support structure.

In the subsequent figures 3 to 5, it is noted that the first longitudinally extending element 11 comprises: a first end portion 15 for connection to a support structure; a longitudinally extending profiled element 16, which is hollow inside and which houses at least partially the above-mentioned elastic tensioning means 13 inside; and a second end portion 17 for connection to the second longitudinally extending element 12, as best seen in fig. 10-14. A rotation fulcrum 30 is present on the second end portion 17. In particular, on one side of the second portion 17 there is a pivoting portion with a fulcrum of rotation 30.

The two

end portions

15 and 17 conveniently have parts for engagement to the longitudinally extending profiled element 16, which are at least partially complementarily shaped with respect to the longitudinally extending profiled element and have a smaller cross section in order to be inserted with interference into the cavity of the longitudinally extending profiled element, as can be seen in fig. 3 and 4. These figures show the first longitudinally extending element during its assembly and during certain steps of pre-tensioning.

Referring to fig. 3 to 8, the elastic tensioner 13 includes:

a mechanical return member 18 connected at one end to the first end portion 15 and at the opposite end to the traction means 19 so as to subject the mechanical return member 18 to traction,

means 20 for maintaining tension during assembly of the first 11 and second 12 longitudinally extending elements.

In particular, as can be seen from fig. 3, in the example shown, the mechanical return means 18 consist of a helical spring, but alternatively, for example, the mechanical return means may consist of a gas-filled piston.

As regards the traction means 19, they comprise a rigid plate-like element 21, which is connected to the mechanical return 18, in the case shown, by the interposition of an extension 22 of a spring, and has at least one first transverse hole 23 and at least one second transverse hole 24, undulated (jointed), in the case shown in the figures each transverse with respect to the longitudinal direction of the extension of the longitudinally extending profiled element 16. As shown in fig. 4, the plate-like element 21 is designed to protrude from the longitudinally extending profiled element 16 into the second end portion 17. At the first 23 and second 24 transverse holes, the second end is laterally provided with a window 25.

The traction means 19 also comprise a removable extension 26 of the plate-like element 21, suitable to protrude from the second end portion 17 in the manner shown in fig. 5.

The plate-like element 21 has a barb-type hook portion 21a at the end to facilitate disengagement of the removable extension 26. Conveniently, the removable extension 26 has, at the end intended to engage with the plate-like element 21, a fork 26a with a transverse link on which the plate-like element 21 is hooked by means of a hook 21a, as shown in fig. 4.

The tensioning device 20 comprises, during assembly, a locking element 27 for locking the sliding of the plate-like element 21 inside the longitudinally extending profiled element 16 and provided with at least one pin 28; the pin is adapted to be inserted into the first transverse hole 23 of a suitable plate-like element 21 and the locking element 27 is adapted to abut against the end of the longitudinally extending profiled element 16 by the return of the plate-like element 21 as a result of the return member 18.

Fig. 6 to 8 show what has just been described, in particular fig. 8 shows the moment when the locking element 27 abuts against the longitudinally extending profiling element 16.

Figure 9 shows the first longitudinally extending element 11, the second longitudinally extending element 12 and the flexible element 14 respectively.

As shown in fig. 4 to 8, the end of the first longitudinally extending element 11 (at the second end portion 17) is open for the passage of the removable extension 26 outwards during the tensioning step and can be closed by means of a special cylinder 29 having an axial hole for the passage of a pin or the like locking its position, as shown in the subsequent figures.

The second end portion 17 has a rotation fulcrum 30 on the side thereof opposite to the side thereof to which the locking member 27 is coupled. The rotation fulcrum 30 is in a pivoting portion, which is constituted by a portion projecting from the second end portion 17 and adapted to be inserted in a fork-shaped seat located on the end of the second longitudinally extending element 12, and is locked by means of a pin 31 inserted in a direction perpendicular to the direction of extension of the two elements. Fig. 10 shows the two joined by the insertion of the pin 31.

Fig. 11 to 14 show further steps of assembly of the two longitudinal elements, in which the connection is made by means of the flexible element 14.

The flexible element 14 has at one end a cylindrical body 32 arranged and locked in a suitable socket provided in the end of the second longitudinally extending element 12, and at the opposite end engagement means 33 of the plate-like element 21.

The cylinder 32 may be replaced by any other alternative means for joining the flexible member 14 to the second longitudinally extending member 12.

The engagement means 33 comprise a substantially mushroom-shaped fastener adapted to be locked in the second transverse hole 24. The latter is conveniently in the form of an 8-shape having a wider portion for insertion of the fastener and a narrower portion in which the fastener is secured.

As can be seen in fig. 13 and 14, a further cylindrical body 34 is inserted through the window 25 in order to retain a portion of the flexible element 14 within the second end portion 17, which is locked in its seat by means of a pin 35 or screw or the like, which passes transversely through the longitudinal element 11 and axially through the cylindrical body.

The flexible element 14, fastened to the plate-like element 21, is fastened indirectly to the elastic tensioning means 13 and surrounds the end of the first longitudinally extending element 11, so as to be fastened laterally to the second element 12 close to the rotation fulcrum 30.

As shown in fig. 15, there are also covers 36 and 37 for closing the window 25, and openings for inserting the pins and cylinders.

The articulated arm according to the invention is used in its assembly as follows.

As shown in fig. 3, the mechanical return member 18, i.e. in the example a spring, is connected at one end to the first end portion 15 and at the other end to a plate-like element 21 by means of an extension 22 between the other end and the plate-like element, the extension being conveniently rigid.

A longitudinally extending profiled element 16 is fitted over these elements/components and a plate-like element partially protrudes from the longitudinally extending profiled element, as shown in figure 4.

For ease of retention, a removable extension 26 is associated with the free ends of the plate-like element 21, and the second end portion 17 is fitted over them and engaged with the longitudinally extending profiled element 16 from which the extension 26 protrudes.

As shown in fig. 5, the extension 26 is pulled outward by the operator, placing the component 18 in traction and thus creating a pretension.

While such pretension is maintained manually, the locking element 27 is inserted through the window 25, as shown in sequence in fig. 6 and 7. Upon releasing the hold, the plate-like element 21 tends to return towards its initial position, by pulling of the return member 18, until the locking element 27 abuts against the end of the longitudinally extending profiled element 16, as shown in fig. 8.

The removable extension 26 is removed and the end of the first longitudinally extending member 11 from which the removable extension protrudes is closed by the cylinder 29.

As shown in fig. 10, the first longitudinally extending member 11 is pivoted to the second longitudinally extending member 12 at the rotation fulcrum 30.

These two elements are connected by a flexible element 14: the cylinder 32 is inserted and locked in a socket at the end of the second longitudinally extending member 12, and a fastener at the other end is locked in the second transverse bore 24. During this operation, the second longitudinally extending member 12 is held in position relative to the first longitudinally extending member 11, thereby defining an angle therebetween of greater than 90 °.

As shown in fig. 13, the cylinder 34 is positioned and locked through the window 25 to restrain the element 14. The second element 12 is closed towards the first longitudinally extending element 11 so as to define an angle of less than 90 deg., and as shown in fig. 14, the locking element 27 is removed while maintaining this position. The partial closure serves to increase the tension, causing the plate-like element to slide towards the second end and thus causing removal of the locking element 27, which would otherwise hinder the extension of the arm.

It should be noted that the pre-tensioning is essentially performed only on the first longitudinally extending element 11: the spring is placed under traction and tension is maintained within the element 11 until the two are assembled together without involving the second element 12.

The articulated arm 10 according to the invention advantageously makes it possible to postpone the assembly of the two longitudinal elements, in addition to the tensioning being significantly simpler and faster with respect to conventional arms. In practice, the two longitudinal elements do not have to be combined simultaneously with the pretensioning.

Furthermore, the connection of the two first and second elements is objectively simple even for an operator without any training.

It should also be noted that the rotation fulcrum 30 is not arranged at the end of the first longitudinally extending element 11, but is arranged laterally along the second end portion. This advantageously makes it possible to increase the pulling leverage (pulling lever effect) and therefore to produce the same tensioning force with a lower preload of the return member with respect to that required by a conventional arm, with the result that the risk of bending during its use is reduced.

When the arms are extended, the leverage is sufficiently great that it is reduced during the closing process, and therefore hardly transmits the tension to the fabric, for which reason the fabric is protected.

In practice it has been found that the invention fully achieves the intended aim and objects, by providing an articulated arm which is structurally simpler than conventional arms, facilitating its assembly and pre-tensioning operations, and which is less subject to deformation during use.

The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, all the details may be replaced with other technically equivalent elements.

In practice, the materials used may be any according to requirements and to the state of the art, provided they are compatible with the specific use and the contingent dimensions and shapes.

The disclosures in italian patent application No.102017000143319, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference, are claimed as priority.

Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

1. An articulated arm for an outdoor awning, the articulated arm comprising:

-a first longitudinally extending element (11) one of its ends being connected to the support structure and provided with elastic tensioning means (13) housed at least partially inside said first longitudinally extending element;

-a second longitudinally extending element (12) rotatably connected to one side of said first longitudinally extending element (11) with a rotation fulcrum (30) located in a region comprised between two ends of said first longitudinally extending element (11),

-an elongated flexible element (14) adapted to connect said elastic tensioning means (13) to said second longitudinally extending element (12), at least partially around the area where said rotation fulcrum (30) is located,

the first longitudinally extending element (11) comprises: a first end portion (15) for connection to a support structure; a longitudinally extending profiled element (16) within which the resilient tensioning means (13) is at least partially housed; and a second end portion (17) for connection to said second longitudinally extending element (12) and on which said rotation fulcrum (30) is present, said rotation fulcrum (30) being not arranged at the end of said first longitudinally extending element (11), but being arranged laterally along said second end portion (17).

2. The articulated arm of claim 1, characterized in that the elastic tensioning device (13) comprises:

-a mechanical return member (18) connected at one end to said first end portion (15) and at the opposite end to a traction device (19) so as to subject said mechanical return member (18) to traction;

-means (20) for maintaining tension during assembly of said first longitudinally extending element (11) with said second longitudinally extending element (12).

3. The articulated arm of claim 2, wherein the traction means (19) comprises:

-a plate-like element (21) connected to said mechanical return member (18) and provided with at least one first transverse hole (23) and at least one second transverse hole (24), said plate-like element being designed to protrude from said longitudinally extending profiled element (16) in said second end portion (17), which is laterally provided with a window (25) at said first transverse hole (23) and said second transverse hole (24);

-a removable extension (26) of said plate-like element (21) adapted to protrude from said second end portion (17);

the means (20) for maintaining tension during assembly comprise a locking element (27) for locking the sliding of the plate-like element (21) inside the longitudinally extending profiled element (16), provided with at least one pin (28) adapted to be inserted in the at least one first transverse hole (23) of the plate-like element (21) and adapted to abut against an end of the longitudinally extending profiled element (16) by the return of the plate-like element (21).

4. The articulated arm of claim 3, characterized in that the second end portion (17) has the rotation fulcrum (30) on the side opposite to the side of engagement of the locking element (27).

5. A hinged arm as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the flexible element (14) has at one end a cylindrical body (32) arranged and locked in a suitable socket provided in the end of the second longitudinally extending element (12), and at the opposite end engagement means (33) for engagement to the plate-like element (21).

6. The articulated arm of claim 5, wherein the engagement means (33) comprise a hook-shaped portion adapted to be locked in the second transverse hole (24).