U.S. patent application number 11/241493 was filed with the patent office on 2007-01-25 for structure with rolling roof top cover.
Invention is credited to Falin Zhao.
Application Number | 20070017646 11/241493 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36820381 |
Filed Date | 2007-01-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070017646 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Zhao; Falin |
January 25, 2007 |
Structure with rolling roof top cover
Abstract
A structure with a rolling roof cover, for example, a gazebo
with a retractable cover, where the retractable cover is connected
by a pull cord to a winding device, wherein operation of the
winding device allows the user to open or retract the cover. The
cover can be opened and closed very easily and provides flexibility
to the user.
Inventors: |
Zhao; Falin; (Linhai City,
CN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PATENT GROUP;ATTN: J. KENNETH JOUNG
DLA PIPER RUDNICK GRAY CARY US LLP
203 N. LASALLE ST., SUITE 1900
CHICAGO
IL
60601
US
|
Family ID: |
36820381 |
Appl. No.: |
11/241493 |
Filed: |
September 30, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
160/239 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04F 10/0607 20130101;
E04H 15/58 20130101; E04F 10/0603 20130101; E04F 10/0655 20130101;
E04F 10/0681 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
160/239 |
International
Class: |
A47G 5/02 20060101
A47G005/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 16, 2005 |
CN |
200520071712.9 |
Claims
1. A structure having a retractable cover, comprising: a first
corner pole having a first top end and a first bottom end; a second
corner pole having a second top end and a second bottom end; a
crossbeam having a first end and a second end; a first beam having
a first front end and a first rear end; a second beam having a
second front end and a second rear end; a reel; a cover having a
leading edge; a pull cord; a winding device; a first pulley; and a
second pulley, wherein said first top end, said first end, and said
first front end are contiguous to one another and joined to form a
first front junction, said second top end, said second end, and
said second front end are contiguous to one another and joined to
form a second front junction, said first corner pole and said
second corner pole are located in a first plane, said first beam
and said second beam are parallel to each other and located in a
second plane different from said first plane, said first corner
pole and said first beam are located in a third plane different
from said first plane and said second plane, said second corner
pole and said second beam are located in a fourth plane different
from said first plane, said second plane, and said third plane,
said cover is wound about said reel, and said reel and said
crossbeam are parallel to each other, said first pulley and said
second pulley are joined to said structure, said pull cord connects
said leading edge of said cover with said winding device through
said first pulley and said second pulley, and wherein operation of
said winding device in one direction results in expansion of said
cover in a direction towards said crossbeam, and wherein operation
of said winding device in an opposite direction results in
retraction of said cover in a direction towards said reel.
2. The structure of claim 1, wherein said reel is
spring-loaded.
3. The structure of claim 1, wherein said first plane, said second
plane, and said third plane are normal to one another, and said
first plane, said second plane, and said fourth plane are normal to
one another.
4. The structure of claim 1, further comprising a second crossbeam
having a first end and a second end, wherein said second crossbeam
and said crossbeam are parallel to each other, said first end of
said second crossbeam and said first rear end of said first beam
are contiguous to each other and joined to form a first rear
junction, and said second end of said second crossbeam and said
second rear end of said second beam are contiguous to each other
and joined to form a second rear junction.
5. The structure of claim 4, wherein said second crossbeam is
contiguous to said reel.
6. The structure of claim 4, wherein said second crossbeam is
joined to said reel.
7. The structure of claim 1, further comprising a shaft having a
first end and a second end, wherein said shaft is joined to said
leading edge of said cover, said shaft and said crossbeam are
parallel to each other, and said pull cord is joined to said
shaft.
8. The structure of claim 7, wherein said first end of said shaft
comprises a first roller, said second end of said shaft comprises a
second roller, said first beam comprises a first slide rail, said
second beam comprises a second slide rail, said first slide rail
and said second slide rail are parallel to each other, said first
roller is slideably mounted in said first slide rail, and said
second roller is slideably mounted in said second slide rail.
9. The structure of claim 1, wherein said first pulley is joined to
said first corner pole or said crossbeam and is contiguous to said
first front junction.
10. The structure of claim 1, wherein said second pulley is joined
to said crossbeam.
11. The structure of claim 1, wherein said first corner pole and
said second corner pole are parallel to each other.
12. The structure of claim 4, further comprising a third corner
pole having a third top end and a third bottom end and a fourth
corner pole having a fourth top end and a fourth bottom end,
wherein said third corner pole and said fourth corner pole are
located in a fifth plane, said third top end is contiguous to and
joined with said first rear junction, and said fourth top end is
contiguous to and joined with said second rear junction.
13. The structure of claim 12, wherein said fifth plane, said
second plane, and said third plane are normal to one another, and
said fifth plane, said second plane, and said fourth plane are
normal to one another.
14. The structure of claim 12, wherein said third corner pole and
said fourth corner pole are parallel to each other.
Description
[0001] This application claims priority to Chinese Patent
Application No. 200520071712.9, filed May 16, 2005, which is hereby
incorporated by reference.
FIELD OF INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates generally to covered structures and
in particular to structures with a rolling roof top or cover.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
[0003] On various kinds of covered leisure structures currently
used for outdoor activities, the cover or roof on top is difficult
to dismantle once the structure has been assembled. At times,
people do not wish to be shaded from sunlight, or people want to be
shaded from sunlight only when the sun is too hot. In other words,
current covered leisure structures are still disadvantaged by
flexibility limitations.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0004] A structure having a retractable cover, comprising a first
corner pole having a first top end and a first bottom end; a second
corner pole having a second top end and a second bottom end; a
crossbeam having a first end and a second end; a first beam having
a first front end and a first rear end; a second beam having a
second front end and a second rear end; a reel; a cover having a
leading edge; a pull cord; a winding device; a first pulley; and a
second pulley, [0005] wherein said first top end, said first end,
and said first front end are contiguous to one another and joined
to form a first front junction; said second top end, said second
end, and said second front end are contiguous to one another and
joined to form a second front junction; said first corner pole and
said second corner pole are located in a first plane; said first
beam and said second beam are parallel to each other and located in
a second plane different from said first plane; said first corner
pole and said first beam are located in a third plane different
from said first plane and said second plane; said second corner
pole and said second beam are located in a fourth plane different
from said first plane, said second plane, and said third plane;
said cover is wound about said reel, and said reel and said
crossbeam are parallel to each other; said first pulley and said
second pulley are joined to said structure; said pull cord connects
said leading edge of said cover with said winding device through
said first pulley and said second pulley, and [0006] wherein
operation of said winding device in one direction results in
expansion of said cover in a direction towards said crossbeam, and
wherein operation of said winding device in an opposite direction
results in retraction of said cover in a direction towards said
reel.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES
[0007] FIG. 1 is a diagram of an embodiment of a rolling-roof
gazebo when the roof is retracted.
[0008] FIG. 2 is a diagram of an embodiment of a rolling-roof
gazebo when the roof is open and expanded.
[0009] FIG. 3 is a diagram of an embodiment of a rolling-roof
gazebo and an embodiment of a cover expand-retract system.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0010] The present invention relates to a covered structure (such
as a gazebo or awning, for example) whose cover or roof can be
expanded and retracted (sometimes referred to herein as a
"rolling-roof").
[0011] Preferred structures are gazebos having a plurality of
corner poles and a plurality of crossbeams. Preferred embodiments
of gazebos are shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Referring to FIG. 1, a
gazebo comprises corner poles 1 (four corner poles shown in FIGS. 1
and 2), crossbeam 2, and beams 3. A rear crossbeam 2-2 (not shown
in FIG. 1 but shown in FIG. 3) may also be employed. Additional
reinforcement crossbeams 5 may also be employed and may function as
a support for cover 4. There is a winding device 6 (for example, a
crank) joined to one corner pole.
[0012] Referring to FIG. 3, cover 4 is wound around reel (or
scroll) 12, where one edge of cover 4 joins with reel 12 and a
leading edge (not shown) of awing cover 4 is exposed on the
outside. Reel 12 may be joined to crossbeam 2-2 if crossbeam 2-2 is
also employed. The reel 12 may be spring-loaded (for example, with
torsion springs), to provide function as an automatic retracting
system. Winding device 6 is joined to one corner pole (not shown in
FIG. 3). A shaft 4.1 may be joined to the leading edge of cover 4,
as shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 3 also shows pulleys (or spools or crown
blocks), for example, pulleys 8 and 9, as well as pull cord 7 (for
example, a rope or cable).
[0013] Pull cord 7 on one end is connected to winding device 1 and
runs through pulleys 8 and 9 along (or disposed within) the corner
pole to which winding device 1 is attached, crossbeam 2, and then
finally ends connected at the other end to the leading edge of
cover 4 or to the shaft 4.1 (shown in FIG. 3).
[0014] When shaft 4.1 is utilized, shaft 4.1 may contain at its
ends rollers 10 (or wheels), and beams 3 may comprise slide rails
3.1 in which rollers 10 may be slideably mounted.
[0015] Operation of said winding device 1 in one direction (to
retract length of the pull cord 7) results in expansion (or rolling
open) of said cover 4 in a direction towards crossbeam 2 (direction
arrow B of FIG. 2), and operation of said winding device in an
opposite direction (to release length of the pull cord 7) results
in retraction (or rolling closed) of said cover 4 in a direction
towards said reel 12 (direction arrow A of FIG. 1).
[0016] FIG. 1 illustrates a four corner pole structure in which the
cover 4 has been fully retracted (or rolled closed). FIG. 2
illustrates a four corner pole structure in which the cover 4 has
been fully expanded (or rolled open).
[0017] FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate "stand-alone" structures, but the
present invention also includes structures in which only two front
corner poles are employed, such as covered structures extending
from a building or other structure on which reel 12 (and optionally
crossbeam 2-2) may also be joined.
* * * * *