U.S. patent application number 10/726589 was filed with the patent office on 2004-08-12 for device for operating a sun shade, an umbrella or the like.
Invention is credited to Brutsaert, Louis.
Application Number | 20040154653 10/726589 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32303986 |
Filed Date | 2004-08-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040154653 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Brutsaert, Louis |
August 12, 2004 |
Device for operating a sun shade, an umbrella or the like
Abstract
A device for operating a sun shade, an umbrella or the like, of
the type which mainly consists of an upward directed support (1)
and an arm (2) which is fixed to the support (1) by means of a
hinge pin (28) and onto which is hinge-mounted a shade (3), whereby
this shade (3) at least consists of a flange (50) onto which ribs
(48) are hinge-mounted, and of a bush (35) which is connected to
the aforesaid ribs (48) by means of spokes (45), wherein the device
is provided with means for folding and unfolding the arm (2)
between the folded position, whereby the arm (2) lies against or
practically against the support (1), and an unfolded position
whereby the arm (2) is mainly directed crosswise to the support
(1); means for rotating the shade (3), when unfolding or folding
the arm (2), in relation to the aforesaid arm (2); and means for
opening and closing the shade (3).
Inventors: |
Brutsaert, Louis; (Menen,
BE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BACON & THOMAS, PLLC
625 SLATERS LANE
FOURTH FLOOR
ALEXANDRIA
VA
22314
|
Family ID: |
32303986 |
Appl. No.: |
10/726589 |
Filed: |
December 4, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
135/21 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45B 25/143 20130101;
A45B 2023/0012 20130101; A45B 23/00 20130101; A45B 25/165 20130101;
A45B 2023/0025 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
135/021 |
International
Class: |
A45B 011/00; A45B
017/00; A45B 023/00; A45B 025/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 5, 2002 |
BE |
2002/0703 |
Claims
1. A device for operating a sun shade, an umbrella or the like, of
the type which mainly consists of an upward directed support and an
arm which is fixed to the support by means of a hinge pin and onto
which is hinge-mounted a shade, whereby this shade at least
consists of a flange onto which ribs are hinge-mounted and of a
bush which is connected to the aforesaid ribs by means of spokes,
wherein the device is provided with means for folding and unfolding
the arm between the folded position, whereby the arm lies against
or practically against the support, and an unfolded position
whereby the arm is mainly directed crosswise to the support; means
for rotating the shade, when unfolding or folding the arm, in
relation to the aforesaid arm; and means for opening and closing
the shade.
2. The device according to claim 1, wherein, when folded, the arm
lies against, or practically against the support, whereas the shade
lies against or practically against the arm.
3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the means for folding
and unfolding the arm are formed in that the support consists of a
lower fixed pipe with an upper extendible pipe in it upon which the
aforesaid arm is provided, and whereby between the arm and the
support is provided a bar which is hinge-mounted to the lower pipe
of the support with one far end and which is hinge-mounted to the
arm with the other far end.
4. The device according to claim 3, wherein between the lower pipe
and the upper pipe is provided a drive.
5. The device according to claim 4, wherein the above-mentioned
drive consists of a motor in the lower pipe whose outgoing shaft is
provided with screw thread which can work in conjunction with screw
thread in a cross wall at the lower end of the upper pipe.
6. The device according to claim 4, wherein the drive is formed of
a cylinder.
7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the above-mentioned
means for rotating the shade in relation to the arm, when folding
and unfolding the arm, are formed in that the above-mentioned bush
of the shade is provided on the arm by means of a hinge pin,
whereby between this bush and the support is provided a bar of
which one far end is provided on the bush by means of a hinge pin,
while the other far end is fixed on the support by means of a hinge
pin.
8. The device according to claim 7, wherein the length of the bar
between the bush and the support is selected such that the centre
distance between the hinge pins and of said bar is equal to the
centre distance between the hinge pin of the arm and the hinge pin
of the bush.
9. The device according to claim 7, wherein the centre distance
between the hinge pin of the bush and the hinge pin of the bar on
the side of the bush is equal to the centre distance between the
hinge pin of the arm and the hinge pin of the bar on the side of
the support.
10. The device according to claim 1, wherein the above-mentioned
means for folding and unfolding the shade consist of a motor
provided with a cable pulley on its outgoing shaft upon which is
wound at least one cable which is fixed to the aforesaid flange of
the shade, either directly or indirectly.
11. The device according to claim 10, wherein the above-mentioned
motor is provided in the upper pipe of the support.
12. The device according to claim 11, wherein the above-mentioned
cable can be guided through the bush via an opening in the wall of
the bush.
13. The device according to claim 12, wherein the above-mentioned
cable is guided over a cable wheel in the bush.
14. The device according to claim 10, wherein the flange of the
shade is provided on a bar onto which the aforesaid cable is fixed
and which, when the shade is opened, rests on the bush.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention concerns a device for operating a sun
shade, an umbrella or the like.
[0003] 2. Discussion of the Related Art
[0004] Such devices are already known which mainly consist of a
vertical support and an arm which is hinge-mounted on said support
and upon which is hinge-mounted a shade.
[0005] A disadvantage of such known devices is that the erection of
the shade and folding back the shade and the arm after its use is
relatively difficult and time-consuming.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present invention aims a device which excludes the
disadvantages of the known devices and which to this aim offers a
device which makes it possible to operate a shade in an entirely
automatic manner.
[0007] To this end, the invention concerns a device for operating a
sun shade, umbrella or the like, of the type which mainly consists
of an upward directed support and an arm which is S fixed to the
support by means of a hinge pin and onto which is hinge-mounted a
shade, whereby this shade at least consists of a flange onto which
ribs are hinge-mounted, and of a bush which is connected to the
aforesaid ribs by means of spokes, characterised in that the device
is provided with means for folding and unfolding the arm between
the folded position, whereby the arm lies against, or practically
against the support, and an unfolded position whereby the arm is
mainly directed crosswise to the support; means for rotating the
shade, when unfolding or folding the arm, in relation to the
aforesaid arm; and means for opening and closing the shade.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] In order to better explain the characteristics of the
invention, the following preferred embodiments of a device
according to the invention for operating a shade are described as
an example only without being limitative in any way, with reference
to the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0009] FIG. 1 schematically represents a view in perspective of a
device according to the invention when folded;
[0010] FIG. 2 represents the device from FIG. 1, when unfolded;
[0011] FIG. 3 represents a section according to line III-III in
FIG. 1;
[0012] FIG. 4 represents a section as in FIG. 3, but for a
partially unfolded position;
[0013] FIG. 5 represents a section as in FIG. 3, but in the
unfolded position according to FIG. 2;
[0014] FIGS. 6 and 7 represent sections according to lines VI-VI
and VII-VII respectively in FIG. 4, to a larger scale;
[0015] FIG. 8 represents the part indicated by F8 in FIG. 4 to yet
a larger scale;
[0016] FIG. 9 represents a variant of a device according to the
invention whereby two shades are applied.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0017] FIGS. 1 to 8 represent a device according to the invention,
which mainly consists of an upward directed, preferably vertical
support 1 with a hinge-mounted arm 2 onto which is fixed a shade
3.
[0018] The above-mentioned support 1 is in this case formed of a
telescopic mast which is mainly composed of a fixed part on the one
hand formed of a lower tubular pipe 4 which is fixed with its lower
end on a base plate 5, and of an extending part consisting of an
upper tubular pipe 6 provided in the lower tube and whose lower end
is sealed by a cross wall 7 with a central passage 8 in which screw
thread has been provided on the other hand.
[0019] In the lower pipe is provided a drive in the shape of a
tubular motor 9 which is fixed in the pipe in any way whatsoever,
for example by means of a locking pin 10 which is provided through
passages in two opposite walls, 11 and 12 respectively, of the
lower pipe 4 and which is provided through a bore hole in the body
of the motor 9.
[0020] The outgoing shaft 13 of this tubular motor 9 is provided
with screw thread working in conjunction with the above-mentioned
screw thread in the cross wall 7 of the upper pipe 6.
[0021] In this upper pipe 6 is provided a second drive in the shape
of a second tubular motor 14 provided with a cable pulley 16 on its
outgoing shaft 15 protruding from the top end of the pipe 6
concerned.
[0022] The body of the second tubular motor 14 is fixed in the
upper pipe 6 in an analogous manner as the first tubular motor 9 by
means of a similar locking pin 10 provided through passages in two
opposite walls, 17 and 18 respectively, of the upper pipe 6.
[0023] At the top end of the upper pipe 6 is provided a slantingly
directed plate 19 on the aforesaid wall 17 which is for example
welded onto the aforesaid wall 17 with one edge and which is
provided with a horizontal bush 20 fixed to the plate 19, for
example by means of welding, at its free edge opposite to the
aforesaid welded edge.
[0024] In the given example, the aforesaid arm 2 consists of a
U-shaped strut 21 with a back wall 22 and two parallel side walls
23 which have been extended over a certain distance on both their
far ends.
[0025] On the extended parts of the side walls 23 are provided
ears, two ears 24 respectively on one far end of the arm 2 and two
ears 25 on the other far end of the arm 2, with opposite passages,
26 and 27 respectively.
[0026] The above-mentioned arm 2 is fixed to the support 1 with one
far end by means of a hinge pin 28, which is provided through the
aforesaid passages 26 in the ears 24 on the one hand, and through
the aforesaid bush 20 of the upper pipe 6 on the other hand, such
that the back wall 22 of the arm 2 is directed upward when the arm
is provided horizontally.
[0027] Between the fixed part of the support 1 and the arm 2 has
been provided a bar 29 which is hinge-mounted at one far end
between two ears 31 on the wall 11 of the lower pipe 4 by means of
a shaft 30, and which protrudes through a groove 32 in the back
wall 22 of the arm 2 with its other far end, and which is
hinge-mounted with this far end to a shaft 33 provided between two
ears 34 on the back wall 22 of the arm 2.
[0028] Between the ears 25 at the free end of the arm 2 has been
provided an upward directed cylindrical shaft 35 which is part of
the aforesaid shade 3 and which is hinge-mounted to, the arm 2 by
means of a shaft 36 provided through the passages 27 in the
above-mentioned ears 25 and through a radial bore hole 37 in the
bush 35.
[0029] On the above-mentioned shaft 36 is provided a cable guide in
the shape of a cable wheel 38 or the like.
[0030] At the height of the shaft 37, in the wall of the aforesaid
bush 35, is provided an opening 39 directed towards the
support.
[0031] The bush 35 is connected to the moving part of the support 1
by means of a bar 40, whereby this bar 40 is hinge-mounted on a
shaft 41 on one far end which is fixed between two ears 42 situated
on the lower side of the above-mentioned plate 19 of the moving
part of the support 1, whereas the other far end of the bar 40 is
hinge-mounted to a shaft 43 which is supported by two ears 44 on
the bush 35.
[0032] The bar 40 has been provided between the side walls 23 of
the arm 2 in a concealed manner.
[0033] The spokes 45 of the shade 3 are hinge-mounted to the bush
35 with one far end 46 in the known manner, and they are
hinge-mounted to the ribs 48 of the shade 3 with their other far
end 47, which are themselves hinge-mounted with one far end 49 to a
flange 50 which is provided with a short bar 51 at the top end
which is coaxially provided in relation to the above-mentioned bush
35 of the shade 3 and which is provided with a conical part 52 at
its lower end, onto which is fixed a cable 53, a rope or the
like.
[0034] The cable 53 is guided over the above-mentioned cable wheel
38 and through the opening 39 into the bush 35, and it is wound
with one part on the above-mentioned cable pulley 16 of the upper
tubular motor 14.
[0035] The cloth 54 of the shade 3 is represented as a dashed line
in the figures, and it is fixed to the ribs 48 in the known
manner.
[0036] The working and use of the device according to the invention
is very simple and as follows.
[0037] FIGS. 1 and 3 represent the device as folded, whereby the
telescopic support 1 is extended, the arm 2 on the support 1 is
rotated down up against the support 1, and the shade 3 is folded up
against the arm 2.
[0038] In order to unfold the arm 2, the lower tubular motor 9 is
excited, for example by operating a non-represented push button
which closes an electric circuit in which the tubular motor 9 is
inserted.
[0039] Thanks to the cooperation of the screw thread on the shaft
13 of the motor 9 and the screw thread in the cross wall 7 of the
upper pipe 4, the moving part of the telescopic support 1 is pushed
in, as a result of which the bar 29, which connects the arm 2 to
the lower pipe 4 of the support 1, pushes the arm 2 up and makes it
tilt into the horizontal position of FIG. 4.
[0040] As the bush 35 of the shade 3 is connected to the support 1
by means of the bar 40, said bush 35 is rotated in relation to the
arm 2 simultaneously with the rotational movement of the arm 2.
[0041] The length of the bar 40 is selected such that the centre
distance A between the hinge pins 41 and 43 of this bar 40 is equal
to the centre distance B between the hinge pin 28 of the arm 2 and
the hinge pin 36 of the bush 35, while the position of the ears 44
on the bush 35 is selected such that the centre distance C between
the hinge pins 36 and 43 at one far end of the arm 2 is equal to
the centre distance D between the hinge pins 28 and 41 on the other
far end of the arm 2, which comes down to it that the
above-mentioned hinge pins 28-36-41-43 are always situated at the
angular points of an imaginary parallelogram represented in FIG. 7
by means of a dashed line.
[0042] It is clear that, as a result, the connecting line between
the shafts 36 and 43 of the bush 35 always remains parallel to the
connecting line between the shafts 28 and 41 on the support 1 and
that, consequently, the bush 35 of the shade 3, and thus also the
shade 3 itself, always remains parallel to itself in an upward
directed position.
[0043] Starting from the situation in FIG. 4, the upper tubular
motor 14 is then activated by operating a non-represented push
button which closes an electric circuit in which the tubular motor
14 is inserted.
[0044] As a result, the cable 53 which is fixed to the bar 51 of
the shade 3 is wound onto the cable pulley 16, as a result of which
this bar 51 is pulled down and the ribs 48, as a result thereof,
are pushed away from each other until, as represented in FIGS. 2
and 5, the shade 3 is entirely unfolded and the conical part 52 of
the bar 51 rests on the bush 35.
[0045] Summing up, it may be stated that the device comprises means
for unfolding the arm 2 in the shape of a telescopic support 1 and
of a bar connection 29; means to rotate the shade 3 in relation to
the arm 2 when the arm 2 is rotated, whereby these means are formed
of the above-mentioned bar connection 40; and finally means for
opening and closing the shade 3, whereby these means consist of the
motor 14 and the cable connection 53.
[0046] Starting from the unfolded position in FIGS. 2 and 5, the
shade 3 can be folded again just as simply by successively
activating, in reverse order, the upper tubular motor 14 and then
the lower tubular motor 9 in the opposite sense as described above,
whereby the shade 3, due to the weight of the cloth 54, will be
automatically folded.
[0047] If required, springs or the like can be provided between for
example the spokes 45 and the ribs 48 which are tightened when the
shade 3 is unfolded and which, when the cable 53 is veered,
automatically close the shade 3 again.
[0048] It is clear that both drives must not necessarily be
operated separately, but that it is also possible to open or close
the shade 3 simultaneously with the opening or closing of the arm
2, either or not with a certain delay.
[0049] It is clear that the above-mentioned drive of the arm 2 can
also be embodied in another manner than by a motor with threaded
shaft as described above.
[0050] Thus, for example, use can be made of any drive whatsoever
provided between the fixed part and the moving part of the support,
either internally or externally, whereby this drive can be any
linear motor whatsoever or can for example also have the shape of a
hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder or the like.
[0051] FIG. 9 represents a variant of a device according to the
invention, whereby two shades 3 are applied in this case, each on a
separate arm 2, but whereby both these arms are provided on a
common telescopic support 1 and whereby the cables 53 of these
shades 3 are wound on two separate cable pulleys 16 which are fixed
together on the outgoing shaft 15 of a common tubular motor 14.
[0052] The working of this device is entirely analogous to the
above-described embodiment, with this difference that both arms 2
and both shades 3 are unfolded simultaneously and
synchronously.
[0053] Of course, it is also possible to apply more than two shades
3 to a common support 1.
[0054] Although in the figures, the support 1 with its base plate 5
is fixed on the ground, it is not excluded for the fixed part of
the support 1 to be fixed against a wall or the like, in this case
without a base plate 5.
[0055] It is clear that the bar 51 on the flange 50 of the shade 3
can be left out if necessary, whereby the cable 53 can be fixed
directly to the flange 50 in this case.
[0056] The invention is by no means limited to the above-described
embodiments given as an example and represented in the accompanying
drawings; on the contrary, such a device according to the invention
can be made in all sorts of shapes and dimensions while still
remaining within the scope of the invention.
* * * * *