U.S. patent application number 16/979240 was filed with the patent office on 2020-12-24 for sunshade.
This patent application is currently assigned to Fractal Japan Co., Ltd.. The applicant listed for this patent is Fractal Japan Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Katsuhiko Yamaji.
Application Number | 20200399906 16/979240 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005104846 |
Filed Date | 2020-12-24 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20200399906 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Yamaji; Katsuhiko |
December 24, 2020 |
SUNSHADE
Abstract
To provide sunshade structure which hardly deteriorates its
sun-shading performance even in time zones or seasons which are not
time zones or seasons when sunlight is intense. A sunshade 80
including a plurality of sunshade blocks 52 having arranged
thereto, in alignment in a certain direction, a plurality of
sunshade members having a plurality of light-shielding surfaces and
a plurality of gaps three-dimensionally arranged therein, and being
structured so that, when observed from a predetermined
light-shielding angle, the gaps are seen to be substantially
shielded by respective light-shielding surfaces provided
therebehind, and the sunshade members being formed by using a
plurality of curved circular members 50 produced by curving
circular or oval plate materials, arranging the curved circular
members 50 such that the respective curved directions are aligned,
and coupling the mutual ends with each other.
Inventors: |
Yamaji; Katsuhiko; (Tokyo,
JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Fractal Japan Co., Ltd. |
Tokyo |
|
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
Fractal Japan Co., Ltd.
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
1000005104846 |
Appl. No.: |
16/979240 |
Filed: |
April 26, 2019 |
PCT Filed: |
April 26, 2019 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP2019/017935 |
371 Date: |
September 9, 2020 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04F 10/08 20130101 |
International
Class: |
E04F 10/08 20060101
E04F010/08 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 22, 2018 |
JP |
2018-118846 |
Claims
1. A sunshade including a plurality of sunshade blocks having
arranged thereto, in alignment in a certain direction, a plurality
of sunshade, members having a plurality of light-shielding surfaces
and a plurality of gaps three-dimensionally arranged therein, and
being structured so that, when observed from a predetermined
light-shielding angle, the gaps are seen to be substantially
shielded by respective light-shielding surfaces provided
therebehind, and the sunshade members being formed by using a
plurality of curved circular members produced by curving circular
or oval plate materials, arranging the curved circular members such
that the respective curved directions are aligned, and coupling the
mutual ends with each other.
2. The sunshade according to claim 1 further comprising: a
plurality of sunshade units configured by assembling the sunshade
blocks to a frame material with respective curved concave faces
being in alignment in a certain direction; and support structure
which supports the sunshade units at a predetermined height from
the ground.
3. The sunshade according to claim 1 further comprising: a
plurality of normal units configured by assembling the plurality of
sunshade blocks to the frame material with respective curved
concave faces being in alignment in a certain direction; a
plurality of inverted units configured by assembling the plurality
of sunshade blocks in a reversed manner to the frame material; and
a support structure which supports the respective normal units and
inverted units at a predetermined height from the ground, the
normal units and inverted unit being arranged alternatively on the
support structure.
4. The sunshade according to claim 2 further comprising an
inclination means for mounting and securing the respective sunshade
blocks between the frame material and support structure at a
predetermined inclination angle relative to the ground.
5. The sunshade according to claim 3 further comprising an
inclination means for mounting and securing the respective sunshade
blocks between the frame material and support structure at a
predetermined inclination angle relative to the ground.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention relates to a sunshade, and particularly to the
sunshade including a combination of a plurality of sunshade members
having a structure such that a plurality of light-shielding
surfaces and gaps are three-dimensionally arranged therein.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
[0002] There has already been proposed a sunshade formed by
combining a large number of sunshade members having so-called a
fractal structure as a solution to overcome the heat-island
phenomenon being increasingly serious in urban areas, and also
contribution to reduce power consumption. [0003] Patent Literature
1: Japanese Patent No. 5066215 [0004] Patent Literature 2: Japanese
Patent No. 5315514 [0005] Patent Literature 3: Japanese Patent No.
5763977 Non-Patent Literature 1: Sierpinski's forest: New
technology of cool roof with fractal shapes Internet URL:
(https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378778
811006529) Search date: Jun. 8, 2018
[0006] Here, "a fractal structure" refers to a structure having a
plurality of clusters, the clusters forming a hierarchical
structure and the shape of the clusters belonging to respective
hierarchies resembling each other. Sierpinski tetrahedron is known
as one of such self-similar solid figures.
[0007] A sunshade member embodying such the fractal structure is in
itself very complicated in shape, and therefore will be described
in detail below, on the basis of Patent Literature 2.
[0008] First, as illustrated in FIG. 19, a sunshade member 1 has
the fractal structure including four basic components 2, 3, 4 and
5, each of the basic components 2, 3, 4 and 5 in itself having the
fractal structure formed in units of dihedrons 11, 12, 13 and 14
formed by symmetrically integrated triangles of a same shape.
[0009] Each of the basic components 2, 3, 4 and 5 is formed by
arranging the four dihedrons 11, 12, 13 and 14 laterally,
depthwise, and vertically adjacent to each other, which appear
quadrangular when seen from a plane, and include the first dihedron
11 located at a reference position, the second dihedron 12 provided
to the right of the first dihedron 11, the third dihedron 13
provided behind the first dihedron 11, and the fourth dihedron 14
provided on the upper side of the first to the third dihedrons 11,
12 and 13.
[0010] The sunshade member 1 is formed by arranging the four basic
components 2, 3, 4 and 5 laterally, depthwise, and vertically
adjacent to each other, and includes the first basic component 2
located at a reference position, the second basic component 3
provided to the right of the first basic component 2, the third
basic component 4 provided behind the first basic component 2, and
the fourth basic component 5 provided on the upper side of the
first to the third basic components 2, 3 and 4.
[0011] As illustrated in FIG. 20 in an enlarged manner, the four
dihedrons 11, 12, 13 and 14 forming the basic component 2 (the same
goes for the other basic components 3, 4 and 5) have the same
shape, each of the dihedrons 11, 12, 13 and 14 includes
small-triangular plates 11a, 12a, 13a and 14a forming the front
face, and small-triangular plates 11b, 12b, 13b and 14b forming the
side face.
[0012] The first dihedron 11 includes lower edges 21 and 22 located
on the lateral plane to form the two sides of the square in the
lateral direction and the depthwise direction, a common edge 23
extending diagonally upward from the intersection between the lower
edges 21 and 22 and forming the ridge R, and upper edges 24 and 25
respectively located nearer and farther in depth and connecting the
top end of the common edge 23 and the ends of the lower edges 21
and 22.
[0013] The second dihedron 12 includes a lateral lower edge 21
which is a lateral extension of the lateral lower edge 21 of the
first dihedron 11, a depthwise lower edge 22 which is parallel to
the depthwise lower edge 22 of the first dihedron 11, a common edge
23 which is parallel to the common edge 23 of the first dihedron
11, and nearer and farther upper edges 24 and 25 which are
respectively parallel to the nearer and farther upper edges 24 and
25 of the first dihedron 11.
[0014] The third dihedron 13 includes a depthwise lower edge 22
which is a depthwise extension of the depthwise lower edge 22 of
the first dihedron 11, a lateral lower edge 21 which is parallel to
the lateral lower edge 21 of the first dihedron 11, a common edge
23 which is parallel to the common edge 23 of the first dihedron
11, and nearer and farther upper edges 24 and 25 which are
respectively parallel to the nearer and farther upper edges 24 and
25 of the first dihedron 11.
[0015] The fourth dihedron 14 includes a common edge 23 which is a
diagonally upward extension of the common edge 23 of the first
dihedron 11, a nearer upper edge 24 which is a diagonally upward
extension of the nearer upper edge 24 of the second dihedron 12, a
farther upper edge 25 which is a diagonally upward extension of the
farther upper edge 25 of the third dihedron 13, a lateral lower
edge 21 which is parallel to the lateral lower edge 21 of the first
dihedron 11, and a depthwise lower edge 22 which is parallel to the
depthwise lower edge 22 of the first dihedron 11.
[0016] In FIG. 20, the small-triangular plates 11a, 12a and 14a
forming the front faces of the first, the second, and the fourth
dihedrons 11, 12 and 14, respectively lie on a same plane (front
face), and the small-triangular plate 12b forming the side face of
the second dihedron 12 is bent toward the bottom face relative to
the front face so as to form a small triangular through-hole 15 on
the front face of the basic component 2.
[0017] In addition, the small-triangular plates 11b, 13b and 14b
forming the side faces of the first, the third, and the fourth
dihedrons 11, 13 and 14, respectively lie on a same plane (side
face), and the small-triangular plate 13a forming the front face of
the third dihedron 13 is bent toward the bottom face relative to
the side face so as to form a small triangular through-hole 15 on
the side face of the basic component 2.
[0018] As thus described, the basic component 2 has a dihedral
shape including a dihedron main body constructed by joining, via
the ridge R, two medium triangular plates 2a and 2b having the
small triangular through-hole 15 at the central part thereof, and
small-triangular plates (protrusions) 12b and 13a bent toward the
bottom face relative to the medium triangular plates 2a and 2b.
[0019] In the sunshade member 1 including the four basic components
2, 3, 4 and 5, the medium triangular plates 2a, 3a and 5a forming
the front face of the first, the second, and the fourth basic
components 2, 3 and 5 lie on a same plane (front face), and the
medium triangular plate 3b forming the side face of the second
basic component 3 is bent toward the bottom face relative to the
front face so as to form a medium triangular through-hole 6 on a
large triangular part 1a of the front face.
[0020] In addition, the medium triangular plates 2b, 4b and 5b
forming the side face of the first, the third, and the fourth basic
components 2, 4 and 5 lie on a same plane (side face), and the
medium triangular plate 4a forming the front face of the third
basic component 4 is bent toward to the bottom face relative to the
side face so as to form the a medium triangular through-hole 6 on a
large triangular part 1b of the side face.
[0021] As a result, a sunshade member assembly 1 has a dihedral
shape including a dihedron main body constructed by joining, via
the ridge R, two large triangular plates 1a and 1b having the
medium-triangular through-hole 6 at the central part thereof, and
medium-triangular plates (protrusions) 3b and 4a bent toward the
bottom face relative to the large triangular plates 1a and 1b.
[0022] Therefore, the sunshade block, which is an assembly of the
sunshade members 1 illustrated in FIG. 21, is obtained by regarding
the sunshade members 1 as basic components, arranging four of the
sunshade members 1 laterally, depthwise, and vertically in a manner
similar to the basic components 2, 3, 4 and 5, and a sunshade of a
required size may be obtained by increasing the number of sunshade
blocks to be used, as appropriate.
[0023] When forming a sunshade using the sunshade members 1
described above, a sunshade unit is formed by preparing a large
number of sunshade blocks having four of the sunshade members 1
coupled together, and preliminarily assembling respective sunshade
blocks to a rectangular frame member.
[0024] In addition, the sunshade is formed by mounting and securing
a plurality of sunshade units on a base frame supported by a
plurality of legs.
[0025] Orienting the ridge R of each of the sunshade members 1
included in the aforementioned sunshade block to the south side
causes the sunbeam to be blocked by the sunshade members 1, and
therefore allows for exhibiting sunshade effect.
[0026] In addition, each of the sunshade members 1 has a large
number of triangular through-holes formed thereon, with the
light-shielding surfaces being distributed in the 3-dimensional
space, which allows for quickly releasing heat into the air via a
gap provided between the light-shielding surfaces.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Problem to be Solved by the Invention
[0027] However, the aforementioned prior art is structured such
that Sierpinski tetrahedron is designated as light-shielding
surfaces to block through-hole parts when seen from the certain
direction, but increases sunlight leaked from the through-hole
parts and deteriorates sunshade performance at the position shifted
from the certain direction in time zones not noon namely at 11:00
AM or 1:00 PM when trying to block sunlight at noon maximally.
[0028] Additionally, if trying to maximize light-shielding
performance at the end of July or at the beginning of August when
sunlight is intense, light leaked from the through-hole parts
increases and sun-shading performance deteriorates during the
period before the middle of July or after the middle of August.
[0029] In order to solve the aforementioned problems, the present
invention aims at providing sunshade structure which hardly
deteriorates its sun-shading performance even in time zones or
seasons which are not time zones or seasons when sunlight is
intense.
Means for Solving the Problem
[0030] To achieve the aforementioned object, a sunshade which,
according to claim 1, is a sunshade including a plurality of
sunshade blocks having arranged thereto, in alignment in a certain
direction, a plurality of sunshade members having a plurality of
light-shielding surfaces and a plurality of gaps
three-dimensionally arranged therein, and being structured so that,
when observed from a predetermined light-shielding angle, the gaps
are seen to be substantially shielded by respective light-shielding
surfaces provided therebehind, and the sunshade members being
formed by using a plurality of curved circular members produced by
curving circular or oval plate materials, arranging the curved
circular members such that the respective curved directions are
aligned, and coupling the mutual ends with each other.
[0031] The sunshade according to claim 2 is the sunshade of claim 1
further comprising: a plurality of sunshade units configured by
assembling the sunshade blocks to a frame material with respective
curved concave faces being in alignment in a certain direction; and
a support structure which supports the sunshade units at a
predetermined height from the ground.
[0032] The sunshade according to claim 3 is the sunshade of claim 1
further comprising: a plurality of normal units configured by
assembling the plurality of sunshade blocks to the frame material
with respective curved concave faces being in alignment in a
certain direction; a plurality of inverted units configured by
assembling the plurality of sunshade blocks in a reversed manner to
the frame material; and a support structure which supports the
respective normal units and inverted units at a predetermined
height from the ground, the normal units and inverted unit being
arranged alternatively on the support structure.
[0033] The sunshade according to claim 4 is the sunshade of claim 2
or 3 further comprising an inclination means for mounting and
securing the respective sunshade blocks between the frame material
and support structure at a predetermined inclination angle relative
to the ground.
[0034] This inclination means may be, for example, a means
consisting of: a substrate arranged on the upper part of the
support structure; a movable plate on which the unit of the
sunshade members are mounted and secured; a hinge for rotatably
securing the movable plate to the end of the substrate; and a
spacer interposed between the substrate and the movable plate, in
which inclination angles of the movable plate and the unit of the
sunshade members are optionally adjustable by changing height of
the spacer.
Effects of the Invention
[0035] A sunshade according to the present invention is structured
such that curved circular members forming light-shielding surfaces
have circular or oval shapes that are surrounded by curved lines
literally and their inflation parts overlap with each other between
the ends of the curved circular members that are arranged on the
upper side and the lower side.
[0036] This enables to alleviate deterioration of light-shielding
performance due to changes of hours or seasons more effectively
than light-shielding surfaces of a conventional sunshades
surrounded by linear lines.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0037] A sunshade according to the present invention is structured
by combining a plurality of curved circular members 50, each of
which is produced by curving an oval sheet material around the
short axis (the short diameter) as illustrated in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3.
Respective convex surfaces 51 of the curved circular members 50 are
aligned in a manner that face in the same direction.
[0038] As illustrated in FIG. 1, (B) formed by joining the ends of
each of short axes of one pair of the curved circular members 50
with each other is arranged on (A) formed by joining the ends of
each of the long axes of one pair of the curved circular members 50
with each other, and the both ends of the long axis of each of the
curved circular members 50 that are arranged on the upper side are
joined to the vicinity of the both ends of the short axis of each
of the curved circular members 50 that arranged on the lower side,
namely four of the curved circular members 50 are combined
three-dimensionally, which constitutes a basic component bloc
52.
[0039] This basic component block 52 is "a sunshade member" which
is a minimum unit for constituting a sunshade.
[0040] In this case, FIG. 2 illustrates that the one pair of curved
circular members 50 that are arranged on the lower side are
illustrated to have satin patterns for the convenience, which
distinguishes them from the curved circular members 50 that are
arranged on the upper side. Additionally, black spots in this
figure represent joined parts.
[0041] The convex surfaces 51 or concave surfaces 56 of the curved
circular members 50 included in each of the basic component block
52 serve as light-shielding surfaces of the sunshade.
[0042] As illustrated in FIG. 2, gaps .alpha. are generated between
the one pair of the curved circular members 50 that are arranged on
the upper side, however, it is designed such that the gaps a are
shielded by the concave surfaces 51 of the curved circular members
50 that are arranged on the lower side when observed from a
plane.
[0043] Furthermore, as illustrated in FIG. 3, gaps .beta. derived
from convexity are present between the curved circular member 50
that are arranged on the upper side and the curved circular members
50 that are arranged on the lower side.
[0044] The curved circular member 50 whose materials are not
especially limited is formed by synthetic resins, metals including
aluminum or wood etc.
[0045] A circular plate material instead of the oval curved
circular member 50 may be curved around its diameter to constitute
the curved circular member.
[0046] As a method of joining the curved circular member 50 which
is not also especially limited, bonding or welding etc. may be
selected depending upon materials of the curved circular member
50.
[0047] Further, in case of being made of synthetic resins, the
basic component block 52 may be formed in a state of the curved
circular members 50 being connected through injection molding from
the beginning.
[0048] In case of making the light-shielding surface oval, the
ratio of the long axis to the short axis is preferably between 2 to
1 and 1 to 1 (a circle), and more preferably 3 to 2.
[0049] As the sun travels from the east to the west, installing the
basic component block 52 with the long axis directed in the
east-west direction increases an area of shielding light to the
ground.
[0050] An excessively large long axis decreases overlap of the
light-shielding surfaces in the north-south direction, and easily
introduces direct sunlight when a season has changed and sun
altitude has changed.
[0051] As the curved shape of the light-shielding surface, the
ratio of linear line length in the long axis direction and height
of the central part is preferably between 2 to 1 and 4 to 1, and
more preferably 3 to 1.
[0052] If this ratio is smaller than 2 to 1, the light-shielding
surface is nearly plane, and air convection is hardly generated,
which increases temperature. If this ratio is larger than 4 to 1,
the direct sunlight is easily introduced when a season has changed
from midsummer and the sun altitude has changed.
[0053] By combining these basic component blocks 52 according to a
certain rule, a large-scale sunshade block having a fractal
structure (self-similar shape) is formed.
[0054] At first, by combining four of the basic component blocks 52
as illustrated in FIG. 4 (a), a middle-sized block 53 having 16 of
the curved circular members 50 is formed as illustrated in FIG. 4
(b).
[0055] Specifically, (D) formed by joining the ends of the short
axes that are arranged on the upper side of one pair of the curved
circular members 50 with each other is arranged on (C) formed by
joining the ends of the long axes of the curved circular members 50
that are arranged on the lower side of the other pair of the basic
component blocks 52 with each other, and the both ends of the long
axis of each of the curved circular members 50 that are arranged on
the upper side are joined to the vicinity of the both ends of the
short axis of each of the curved circular members 50 that are
arranged on the lower side, which constitute the middle-sized block
53.
[0056] As illustrated in FIG. 5(a), combining four of the
middle-sized blocks 53 forms a large-scale block 54 having 64 of
the curved circular members as illustrated in FIG. 5(b).
[0057] Specifically, (F) formed by joining the ends of the short
axis of each of the curved circular members 50 that are arranged at
the top tier of one pair of the middle-sized blocks 53 with each
other is arranged on (E) formed by joining the ends of the long
axis of each of the curved circular members 50 that are arranged at
the lowest tier of the other pair of the middle-sized blocks 53
with each other.
[0058] Then, the both ends of the long axis of the curved circular
members 50 that are arranged at the lowest tier of each of the
middle-sized block 53 on the upper side are joined to the vicinity
of the both ends of the short axis of the curved circular members
50 that are arranged on the top tier of each of the middle-sized
blocks 53 on the lower side, which completes the large-scale block
54.
[0059] A pored protrusion 55 is provided with the end of the long
axis of each of the curved circular members 50 that are arranged at
the both ends of the lowest tier of the large-scale block 54.
[0060] Similarly, the pored protrusion 55 is also provided with the
end of the short axis of each of the curved circular members 50
that are arranged at the both ends of the top tier of the
large-scale block 54.
[0061] These pored protrusions 55 may be attached after forming the
large-scale block 54 but the curved circular member 50 having the
pored protrusion 55 that is preliminarily formed at the end of the
long axis or the end of the short axis may be used.
[0062] FIG. 6 to FIG. 8 illustrate three-dimensional images of this
large-scale block 54 (however, the pored protrusion 55 is omitted
for the convenience of illustration).
[0063] As illustrated in FIG. 6, when observed from a plane, it can
be understood that the large-scale block 54 has almost no gaps, and
the gaps between the basic component blocks 52 that are arranged on
the upper side are almost completely shielded by the
light-shielding surfaces (the convex surfaces 51 of the curved
circular members 50) of the basic component blocks 52 that are
arranged on the lower side.
[0064] On the other hand, as illustrated in FIG. 7, if a point of
view is shifted diagonally, it can be recognized that many gaps 57
are present between the curved circular members 50 or the basic
component blocks 52.
[0065] Further, as illustrated in FIG. 8, observation of the
large-scale block 54 from the just beside direction reveals that
many large gaps 57 are present between the curved circular members
50 or the basic component blocks 52, which secures enough
breathability.
[0066] In this invention, as the large-scale block 54 may be used
in a state of being directed in the same direction as the direction
illustrated in FIG. 6 or may be used with turned upside down, the
former shall be referred to as a normal block 60, and the latter
shall be referred to as an inverted block 61, in order to
distinguish both.
[0067] FIG. 9 shows a three-dimensional image illustrating the
inverted block 61, in which the concave surface 56 of each of the
curved circular members 50 forms the light-shielding surface.
[0068] At the top tier of the inverted block 61, 8 of the curved
circular members 50 formed by connecting the end of each of the
long axes with each other are arranged. Further, at its lowest
tier, 8 of the curved circular members 50 formed by connecting the
end of each of the short axes with each other are arranged.
[0069] By using a plurality of the large-scale blocks 54, and
arranging and fixing them on a frame as the normal blocks 60 as
illustrated in FIG. 6, a normal unit for the sunshade is
formed.
[0070] FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 illustrate one example of a process of
forming a normal unit 70.
[0071] As illustrated in FIG. 10, a first frame member 74 which has
four vertical leaf sash bars 73 arranged and secured in a manner
spaced apart in parallel from each other by a predetermined
interval within a quadrangular frame formed by a pair of vertical
sash bars 71 and a pair of lateral sash bars 72 is prepared.
[0072] By having mounted the two normal blocks 60 on each of the
vertical leaf sash bars 73 of the first frame member 74 and
inserting a screw through each of the pored protrusions 55 of the
curved circular members 50 at the lowest tier, the two normal
blocks 60 are screwed with the lateral sash bars 72 or the vertical
leaf sash bars 73.
[0073] On this occasion, a common bis is inserted through the pored
protrusion 55 of one normal block 60 and the pored protrusion 55 of
the other normal block 60, which are screwed with the vertical leaf
sash bars 73.
[0074] As a result of the foregoing, a total of eight of the normal
blocks 60 forming the first tier are secured to the first frame
member 74, as illustrated in FIG. 11(a).
[0075] Next, as illustrated in FIG. 11(b), the normal blocks 60
forming the second tier are mounted on an adjacent pair of the
normal blocks 60.
[0076] On this occasion, the pored protrusion 55 of the curved
circular member 50 at the lowest tier of the normal blocks 60 on
the upper side is positioned with the pored protrusion 55 of the
curved circular member 50 at the top tier of the normal block 60 on
the lower side, and the respective holes are secured with a screw
and a nut.
[0077] Repeating the work results in completion of the normal unit
70 having a total of 13 of the normal blocks 60 mounted thereon
(eight on the first tier, and five on the second tier) as
illustrated in FIG. 11(c).
[0078] On this occasion, with regard to each of the normal blocks
60 forming the second tier, the pored protrusion 55 at the top tier
of the anterior normal block 60 and the pored protrusion 55 at the
top tier of the posterior normal block 53 are mutually joined via
the screw and the nut.
[0079] FIG. 12 illustrates the second frame member 75, which has
two of the lateral leaf sash bars 76 arranged and secured in a
manner spaced apart in parallel from each other by a predetermined
interval within a quadrangular frame formed by a pair of the
vertical sash bars 71 and a pair of the lateral sash bars 72.
[0080] By having mounted the inverted blocks 61 on each of the
lateral leaf sash bars 76 of the second frame member 75, and
inserting the screw through each of the pored protrusion 55 at the
lowest tier, and screwing it with the lateral leaf sash bar 76 or
the vertical sash bar 71, the inverted blocks 61 are secured.
[0081] On this occasion, the pored protrusion 55 of one inverted
block 61 at the top tier and the pored protrusion 55 of the other
adjacent inverted block 61 at the top tier are connected with a
screw and a nut.
[0082] As a result of the foregoing, a total of eight of the
inverted blocks 61 forming the first tier are secured to the second
frame member 75, as illustrated in FIG. 13(a).
[0083] Next, the inverted blocks 61 forming the second tier are
mounted on the inverted blocks 61 at the first tier, illustrated in
FIG. 13(b).
[0084] On this occasion, by positioning the pored protrusion 55 of
the curved circular member 50 at the lowest tier of the inverted
block 61 on the upper side with the pored protrusion 55 of the
curved circular member 50 at the top tier of the inverted block 61
on the lower side, and inserting the screw through the respective
holes, the holes are secured with the nut.
[0085] Further, the pored protrusion 55 at the top tier of each of
the inverted blocks 61 forming the second tier is mutually
connected to the pored protrusion 55 at the top tier of the other
inverted block 61 lateral thereto via the screw and the nut.
[0086] Repeating the work results in completion of an inverted unit
77 having a total of 17 of the inverted blocks 61 mounted thereon
(eight on the first tier, and nine on the second tier) as
illustrated in FIG. 13(c).
[0087] The normal units 70 and the inverted units 77 are
preliminarily produced in a factory as many as needed, and
subsequently transported by truck to the installation site where
they are assembled into a sunshade.
[0088] FIG. 14, in which a completed sunshade 80 is exemplified,
illustrates a base frame 83 being mounted on a plurality of legs 82
set up perpendicular to an installation surface 81, and the normal
units 70 and the inverted units 77 being secured thereon.
[0089] The normal units 70 and the inverted units 77 are lifted
above the base frame 83 by a forklift or a truck mounted crane, and
secured by a connector which is not illustrated.
[0090] FIG. 15, which is a plan view of the sunshade 80,
illustrates the normal units 70 and the inverted units 77 being
alternately arranged in depthwise and lateral directions.
[0091] As thus described, arranging the normal units 70 including a
plurality of the normal blocks 60 and the inverted units 77
including a plurality of the inverted blocks 61 in a so-called
checked pattern results in engagement of a block protruding from
one unit with an empty space in the other unit, thereby making it
possible to efficiently form the light-shielding surfaces with
narrowed gaps.
[0092] The invention, however, is not limited to such a structure,
and does not exclude formation of a sunshade using only a large
number of sunshade units of either the normal units 70 or the
inverted units 77.
[0093] In addition, when forming a sunshade using such sunshade
units, although there is a possibility that gaps may occur at some
places of the light-shielding surface, it suffices to fill
individual gaps by assembling additional sunshade blocks.
[0094] In addition, the configuration of each sunshade unit is not
limited to the foregoing and a wide range of variation is
conceivable with regard to the number of, or the interval between
the vertical leaf sash bars 73 or the lateral leaf sash bars 76,
the number of, or the manner of installing the sunshade blocks to
be installed or the number of tiers.
[0095] As has been described above, orienting the long axis of each
of the curved circular members 50 included in each sunshade block
to the east-west side causes the sunbeam to be shielded by the
convex surfaces 51 or the concave surfaces 56 of the curved
circular members 50, and therefore allows for exhibiting sunshade
effect. The direction of installation is not, however, limited to
this.
[0096] In addition, a large number of gaps 57 are formed between
the curved circular members 50 or the basic component blocks 52
constituting a sunshade block, with the light-shielding surfaces
being distributed in the 3-dimensional space, and the respective
curved surfaces of the curved circular surfaces 50 causing
convection of air, thus allowing for quickly releasing heat into
the air via the gaps 57.
[0097] The curved circular members 50 forming the light-shielding
surfaces have fundamentally "oval shapes" that are surrounded by
curved lines literally and their inflation parts overlap with each
other between the ends of the curved circular members 50 that are
arranged on the upper side and the lower side (See FIG. 2).
[0098] This enables to alleviate deterioration of light-shielding
performance due to changes of hours or seasons than light-shielding
surfaces of conventional sunshade members surrounded by linear
lines.
[0099] FIG. 16 is a photograph of shade on the ground at
culmination time in the beginning, middle and end of July in order
to confirm sunlight-shielding performance of a conventional block
structured by folding a tetrahedron along a diagonal line.
[0100] This conventional sunshade block is installed at an angle at
which sunlight in the beginning of July can be shielded maximally,
and thus cast shade in their almost all areas from which sunlight
is hardly leaked in the beginning of July as illustrated in FIG.
16(a).
[0101] On the other hand, as illustrated in FIG. 16 (b), it can be
recognized that an area of shade decreases, and in proportion to
this, an area of a filtered sunlight region y expands when the
middle of July comes.
[0102] When the end of July comes, as illustrated in FIG. 16 (c),
it can be seen that an area of the filtered sunlight region y
further expands and a light-shielding region retreats.
[0103] On the other hand, FIG. 17 illustrates sunlight-shielding
performance of the sunshade block formed by using the curved
circular members 50, and shows photographs of shade on the ground
at culmination time in the beginning, middle and end of July in the
same manner as above.
[0104] Also in this case, it can be confirmed that the sunshade
block is installed at an angle at which sunlight in the beginning
of July can be shielded maximally but hardly generates the filtered
sunlight region y while maintaining high light-shielding
performance even when the middle and end of July come as
illustrated in FIGS. 17(b) and (c).
[0105] The following curved circular member 50 was used in this
test.
[0106] long axis: 56 mm
[0107] short axis: 37.5 mm
[0108] height of convexity: 18.8 mm
[0109] An example in which the normal units 70 and the inverted
units 77 are provided and secured horizontally relative to the
installation surface 81 was shown in the foregoing, but the normal
units 70 and the inverted units 77 may be provided and secured at
an optional inclination angle relative to the installation surface
81.
[0110] FIG. 18 illustrates one example thereof, in which the normal
units 70 and the inverted units 77 are provided on a movable plate
84 that is inclined at a predetermined angle and secured with via
screws or the like which are not illustrated.
[0111] A tip of the movable plate 84 is rotatably secured to the
base frame 83 via a hinge 85.
[0112] A plurality of spacers 86 each of which has a trapezoid
cross section are provided and secured between the basic frame 83
and the movable plate 84.
[0113] Namely, at a position close to the hinge 85, a first spacer
86a which is comparatively low is provided and secured, while on a
rear end side of the movable plate, a third spacer 86c which is
comparatively high is provided and secured. A second spacer 86b
having medium height is provided and secured near the middle of
both spacers.
[0114] The upper surface of each spacer 86 is formed as an inclined
surface with an angle equivalent to an inclination angle of the
movable plate 84.
[0115] Due to presence of these spacers 86, an inclination angle of
the movable plate 84 is maintained constant, and the number of
installed spacers or parts where they are installed are not
especially limited.
[0116] The inclination angle of the movable plate 84 can be easily
adjusted by replacing each of the spacers 86 by a spacer having
different height.
[0117] Namely, instead of the first spacer 86a to the third spacer
86c, by using spacers higher than the above spacers, the
inclination angle of the movable plate 84 can be expanded, which is
not, however, illustrated.
[0118] Alternatively, on the contrary, replacing each of the first
spacer 86a to the third spacer 86c by a spacer lower than the above
spacers, the inclination angle of the movable plate 84 can be
reduced.
[0119] In this way, making the inclination angle of the normal
units 70 and the inversed units 77 variable provides an advantage
that one type of large-scale block 54 (the normal blocks 60 and the
inverted blocks 61) constituted by the curved circular members 50
having the same structure is available in various places in the
world with different latitude.
[0120] For example, if providing the sunshade 80 at a position
right on the equator, an angle of the movable plate 84 is lowered
to the nearly horizontal level.
[0121] On the other hand, if providing the sunshade 80 in Japan
located in the Northern Hemisphere, the inclination angle of the
movable plate 84 is set to a large value.
[0122] The inclination angle of the movable plate 84 is not
especially limited but can be determined, for example, based on the
following formula in the Northern Hemisphere. [0123] The
inclination angle of the movable plate 84=latitude of a part where
it is installed-23.4 degrees (inclination of the earth's axis)
[0124] An angle obtained by this formula refers to an inclination
angle that is optimized for the sun altitude at the summer solstice
at a part where it is installed. If, however, trying to shift the
sun altitude matching with the optimum shielding angle of each of
the sunshade members to the sun altitude of any time after the
summer solstice, this can be attained by returning the inclination
angle to the horizontal direction by 8 degrees monthly.
[0125] However, returning the inclination angle to the horizontal
direction by 20 degrees or more decreases a rate of shielding
direct sunlight at the summer solstice, which is not
preferable.
[0126] An inclination means of the normal units 70 and the inverted
units 77 is not limited to the above-described combination of "the
movable plate 84, the hinge 85, the base frame 83, and the spacer
86".
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0127] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a basic component
block;
[0128] FIG. 2 is a plan view illustrating a basic component
block;
[0129] FIG. 3 is a side elevation view illustrating a basic
component block;
[0130] FIG. 4 is an assembly view and a plane view of a
middle-sized block;
[0131] FIG. 5 is an assembly view and a plane view of a large-scale
block;
[0132] FIG. 6 is a three-dimensional image of a normal block;
[0133] FIG. 7 is a three-dimensional image of a normal block;
[0134] FIG. 8 is a three-dimensional image of a normal block;
[0135] FIG. 9 is a three-dimensional image of an inverted
block;
[0136] FIG. 10 is an assembly view of a normal unit;
[0137] FIG. 11 is a plane view illustrating a process of forming a
normal unit;
[0138] FIG. 12 is an assembly view of an inverted unit;
[0139] FIG. 13 is a plan view illustrating a process of forming an
inverted unit;
[0140] FIG. 14 is a side elevation view illustrating a sunshade
formed using normal units and inverted units;
[0141] FIG. 15 is a plan view illustrating a sunshade formed using
normal units and inverted units;
[0142] FIG. 16 is a view illustrating sunlight-shielding
performance of a conventional sunshade block;
[0143] FIG. 17 is a view illustrating sunlight-shielding
performance of a sunshade block according to the present
invention;
[0144] FIG. 18 is a side elevation view illustrating a sunshade in
which the normal units and the inverted units are provided and
secured on a movable plate that is provided in an inclined
manner;
[0145] FIG. 19 is a perspective view illustrating a conventional
sunshade member;
[0146] FIG. 20 is an enlarged perspective view of basic components
of the conventional sunshade member; and
[0147] FIG. 21 is a perspective view illustrating a sunshade block
assembled using four conventional sunshade members.
EXPLANATION OF REFERENCES
[0148] 50 curved circular member [0149] 51 convex surface [0150] 52
basic component bloc (sunshade unit) [0151] 53 middle-sized block
[0152] 54 large-scale block [0153] 55 pored protrusion [0154] 56
concave surface [0155] 57 gap [0156] 60 normal block [0157] 61
inverted block [0158] 70 normal unit [0159] 71 vertical sash bar
[0160] 72 lateral sash bar [0161] 73 vertical leaf sash bar [0162]
74 first frame member [0163] 75 second frame member [0164] 76
lateral leaf sash bar [0165] 77 inverted unit [0166] 80 sunshade
[0167] 81 installation surface [0168] 82 leg [0169] 83 base frame
[0170] 84 movable plate [0171] 85 hinge [0172] 86 spacer [0173] 86a
first spacer [0174] 86b second spacer [0175] 86c third spacer
* * * * *
References