Sun or weather protection device

Abstract

The invention relates to a sun or weather protection installation, comprising: - A supporting frame (1) delimiting a deployment surface (S) and comprising at least two guide rails (11a, 11b), - A series of blades (2) arranged parallel to each other, - A first translational drive system, configured to move the blades (2) in translation along the deployment direction by sliding in the two guide rails, between at least one retracted position in which the blades are pressed against each other and a deployed position in which the blades are deployed over the entire deployment surface, - A second pivoting drive system, configured to drive each blade (2) in pivoting around its longitudinal axis between at least two distinct orientations.

Description

Technical field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to an installation for protection against the sun or bad weather, such as for example a so-called bioclimatic pergola. State of the art

[0002] Today, sun and weather protection systems can take many forms. One of these is a bioclimatic pergola with adjustable and retractable slats.

[0003] This type of installation consists of a frame made up of posts supporting a supporting frame. The frame supports a series of blades, the blades being both movable in translation and adjustable in pivoting. The blades can be driven in translation along two rails of the supporting frame to retract, or extend partially or completely along the supporting frame. The blades can be pivoted so as to choose an orientation and to define the degree of concealment of all the blades. When all the blades are extended and oriented in a quasi-horizontal plane, they form a roof and cover the entire surface delimited by the supporting frame.

[0004] In other words, the blades of the installation must be able to be moved in translation along the two rails of the supporting frame and, when fully extended, pivoted around their longitudinal axis to take a given orientation and define the level of occultation of the pergola. All the blades are generally ordered with an identical orientation.

[0005] In the state of the art, various solutions have already been proposed to meet these requirements.

[0006] For example, patent application FR3069871A1 proposes a solution in which a so-called "driving" carriage is driven in translation, this driving carriage causing the deployment of a first blade. The other blades in the series are each associated with a so-called "driven" carriage, which is pulled or pushed by the driving carriage. In this solution, the pivoting of the blades is obtained by exerting a torque on the first blade, when this first blade reaches the end of its deployment stroke. This prior solution thus chooses to combine the translational movement of the blades with their pivoting, by applying a torque to the first blade so that it pivots the other blades, via connecting members. This principle, however, creates strong mechanical constraints on the first blade and on the driving carriage, which must both drive the other blades in translation and allow the pivoting of all the blades.

[0007] To avoid these strong constraints on the first blade and the driving carriage, it is possible to use a separate motor to control the pivoting of each blade. This is the case, for example, in patent application FR3093339A1 . However, this solution turns out to be complex, expensive and cumbersome.

[0008] Patent EP2844817B1 describes a blind-type architecture with tilting slats. This architecture is notably equipped with a rail comprising openings in which pivoting guides for the slats are housed.

[0009] The aim of the invention is to propose a sun or weather protection installation, for example of the pergola type, which is simple to produce, with a limited number of parts, and which limits the mechanical stresses applied to the slats and the various moving parts.

[0010] Patent application EP2868833A1 describes a pergola-type protection installation. Statement of the invention

[0011] This goal is achieved by a sun or weather protection installation, including: A supporting frame delimiting a deployment surface and comprising at least two guide rails, called first guide rail and second guide rail, parallel to each other and to a direction called deployment direction, A series of blades arranged parallel to each other, each blade extending along a longitudinal axis perpendicular to the deployment direction and having two ends each mounted to slide in a separate guide rail, A first translational drive system, configured to move the blades in translation along the deployment direction by sliding in the two guide rails, between at least one retracted position in which the blades are pressed against each other and a deployed position in which the blades are deployed over the entire deployment surface, A second pivoting drive system,configured to drive each blade in pivoting about its longitudinal axis between at least two distinct orientations, The second pivoting drive system comprising pivoting members, fixed on at least said first guide rail and distributed along said first guide rail, each blade being intended to slide along the two guide rails to a position in which one of its two ends cooperates with a distinct pivoting member, Each pivoting member being mounted fixed in translation on said first guide rail and actuable in pivoting to drive a blade in pivoting about its longitudinal axis when it cooperates with the end of said blade, The first translational drive system comprising at least one motor controlled to drive at least one blade, called the head blade, the blades being connected to each other by means of articulated connecting members.

[0012] According to a particular feature, the first translational drive system comprises a belt driven by said motor, and a carriage driven along at least one guide rail by said belt and on which is mounted a connecting element secured to the head blade.

[0013] According to another feature, each articulated connecting member comprises at least two connecting rods forming a pivot joint between them, and arranged to pivot relative to each other between two extreme positions, a first extreme position corresponding to that in which the blades are retracted and a second extreme position corresponding to that in which the blades are deployed.

[0014] According to another feature, each blade comprises at its first end and its second end a sliding pad arranged to cooperate in a sliding connection respectively with the first guide rail and the second guide rail. According to another feature, each connecting rod is mounted at its free end in a pivot connection on an axis aligned with the sliding pad.

[0015] According to another feature, the first drive system comprises means for locking the pivoting of the joint formed by the two connecting rods.

[0016] According to another feature, the locking means are positioned to limit the pivoting of the joint between the two connecting rods to an angle other than a flat angle.

[0017] According to another feature, the blades comprise a tail blade connected to the supporting frame by a tail connecting member via a sliding pivot type connection.

[0018] According to the invention, the second pivoting drive system comprises at least one jack on which is mounted a transmission bar that can be actuated in translation by said jack, each pivoting member of the first guide rail being connected to said transmission bar via a connecting rod, responsible for transforming the translational movement of the transmission bar into a rotational movement of the pivoting member.

[0019] According to another feature, each blade cooperates by its second end with the second guide rail while maintaining a degree of freedom along its longitudinal axis. Brief description of the figures

[0020] Other features and advantages will become apparent in the detailed description which follows, given in relation to the attached drawings listed below: THE Figures 1A to 1Crepresent the supporting frame of the installation, respectively with the blades retracted, the blades deployed open and the blades deployed closed. Figures 2A to 2D illustrate the kinematics of deployment of the installation's blades. The Figures 3A and 3B represent, seen in section, respectively the two parallel uprights of the supporting frame, used for guiding the blades in translation. The Figures 4A to 4C illustrate the pivoting kinematics of the blades of the installation, at the level of the first guide side. The Figures 5A and 5B illustrate the pivoting kinematics of the blades of the installation, at the level of the second guide side. The Figure 6 shows the blades' pivoting motion transmission system. The Figures 7A and 7B represent, seen from the side, the blades respectively in the retracted position and in the deployed and closed position.

[0021] In the attached figures, it should be noted that the frame is always seen from above. In some attached figures, certain functional elements may not be shown in order to better understand the structure of the installation. Detailed description of at least one embodiment

[0022] For the remainder of the description, a reference frame X, Y, Z is defined in which X corresponds to a first axis oriented along the direction and the sense of deployment of the blades, Y corresponds to a second axis oriented along the longitudinal axis of the blades, and Z corresponds to a third axis oriented upwards perpendicular to the deployment surface.

[0023] The invention relates to an installation for protection against the sun or bad weather. In a non-limiting manner, it may in particular be a pergola.

[0024] Such an installation typically comprises several posts (not shown) and a supporting frame 1 supported by said posts.

[0025] In the attached figures, only the supporting frame 1 or details thereof are shown.

[0026] In reference to the Figure 1A , to the Figure 1B and to the Figure 1C , the supporting frame 1 comprises several uprights 10 assembled together, delimiting a surface, called the deployment surface S. The frame 1 is for example rectangular in shape.

[0027] It comprises in particular a first upright 10a and a second upright 10b parallel to each other, defining two parallel guide sides (along X). In each of these two uprights is produced a guide rail, designated respectively first guide rail 11a and second guide rail 11b.

[0028] The installation also comprises a series of blades 2 extending longitudinally (along Y), parallel to each other and mounted between the two guide rails 11a, 11b. The blades 2 are capable of moving, by translation in the two guide rails, in the deployment surface S delimited by the supporting frame 1, in a direction, called the deployment direction, parallel to that defined by the two guide rails (along the X axis).

[0029] The number of blades 2 is of course adapted to the size of the installation, in particular that of the supporting frame.

[0030] In a bioclimatic pergola type installation with adjustable and retractable blades, the blades 2 are both movable in translation in the deployment surface S, by being retractable or deployable, as well as adjustable in pivoting. When the blades 2 are deployed over the entire deployment surface S, they can take several orientations, for example a vertical orientation, allowing partial occultation, and a horizontal orientation, allowing total occultation, forming a roof occupying the entire deployment surface S. The installation is carried out so that all the blades are controlled with an identical orientation.

[0031] A deployment direction is also defined corresponding to the direction followed by the blades 2 when they are translated in the deployment surface S and following the deployment direction. When the blades 2 are fully retracted, the blades 2 are placed against each other, on one side of the deployment surface. When the blades are fully deployed, they are distributed over the entire deployment surface.

[0032] A first operating state is defined in which the blades 2 are completely or partially retracted and a second operating state in which the blades 2 are fully deployed over the entire deployment surface. There Figure 1A shows the frame of the installation of the invention with the 2-row blades placed against each other, freeing up an open area through the supporting frame 1. The Figure 1Bshows the frame of the installation of the invention with the blades 2 fully deployed, open, oriented vertically. The Figure 1C shows the frame of the installation of the invention with the blades 2 fully deployed, closed, oriented horizontally, thus forming a roof.

[0033] Each blade 2 has two ends, called the first end and the second end.

[0034] At each end, a blade 2 carries a sliding pad 20a, 20b cooperating on one side with the first guide rail 11a and on the other side with the second guide rail 11b. This pad is mounted to slide freely in its guide rail. Of course, the term "pad" is to be understood in a non-limiting manner and different equivalent solutions (rollers for example) could be envisaged.

[0035] Among the blades 2, we define the head blade 2_1, corresponding to the first blade of the series to be deployed in the direction of deployment, and the tail blade 2_N which corresponds to the last blade of the series, in the direction of deployment. To facilitate the description below, each blade 2 can be defined by a rank i, with i ranging from 1 to N, with N greater than or equal to 2. The head blade is that of rank 1 and the tail blade is that of rank N. The blades advantageously all have an identical shape.

[0036] The movement of the blades 2 in translation along the two guide rails 11a, 11b is ensured by a first drive system.

[0037] This first drive system comprises at least one motor and a belt 31 driven by said motor, in a direction parallel to the direction of deployment, in one direction or the other.

[0038] In a non-limiting manner, the motor and the belt 31 are for example inserted into the first upright 10a, carrying the first guide rail 11a. The direction of rotation of the motor defines the direction of movement of the blades 2 in translation in the deployment surface S.

[0039] In reference to the Figure 2B , the first drive system also comprises a carriage 30 mounted on the belt 31 and on which is mounted a connecting member present at the first end of the head blade.

[0040] Behind the head blade 2_1, depending on the direction of deployment, the blades 2 are then connected together in single file so as to be driven, towed or pushed by the head blade 2_1, itself driven by the carriage 30.

[0041] The blades 2 are connected to each other, one to the other, using articulated connecting members 4. Thus each blade of rank i, with i ranging from 2 to N-1 is connected to the blade of rank i-1 by a first connecting member 4_i and to the blade of rank i+1 by a second connecting member 4_i+1. The head blade, of rank 1, is connected for its part to the blade of rank 2, using a single connecting member 4_1. And the tail blade, of rank N, is connected to the blade of rank N-1 by a connecting member 4_N-1 and to the supporting frame by a connecting member 4_N, advantageously of a shape distinct from that of the other connecting members ( Figure 2A ).

[0042] Each articulated connecting member 4_i has a first end connected to an axis 21 of the blade of rank i via a first pivot connection and a second end connected to an axis 21 of the blade of rank i+1 via a second pivot connection.

[0043] In reference to the Figure 2C and to the 2D figure, each connecting member advantageously comprises two connecting rods 40, 41 connected to each other by a central pivot connection 42, forming a V between them, the free ends of which are each mounted by a pivot connection on an attachment axis 21 present at the end of the blade to which they are attached.

[0044] The axis 21 for mounting the connecting rod on the blade is for example aligned with its sliding pad 20a, 20b, along the longitudinal axis of the blade.

[0045] The kinematics is illustrated by showing some blades of the installation on the Figures 2A to 2D attached: On the Figure 2A , the blades are retracted; On the Figure 2B , the blades are being deployed, pulled by the carriage 30; On the Figure 2C , the blades are being deployed; the connecting members are unfolding; On the 2D figure , the blades are deployed; the connecting members are fully unfolded;

[0046] As can be seen on the Figure 3A and on the Figure 3B , the connecting members 4 are advantageously present symmetrically on both guide sides.

[0047] According to another particular aspect of the invention, the first drive system comprises means for limiting the movement of each connecting member when it is unfolded, so as to maintain a V-shape between the two connecting rods (i.e. an angle between the two connecting rods 40, 41 of the connecting member which is distinct from a flat angle). In this way, it is always possible to apply a torque to the connecting members to store the blades. These means may take the form of a stop mechanism 43 arranged between the two connecting rods of the connecting member ( 2D figure ).

[0048] The connecting member 4_N attached to the tail blade, of rank N, advantageously comprises a single connecting rod attached to the supporting frame, via a pivot-sliding type connection, in order to gain in compactness when storing the blades ( Figure 2A ).

[0049] In the first operating state in which the blades are fully retracted, the connecting members are folded. A first limit switch type sensor 50 is for example positioned to detect when this state is reached.

[0050] When the head blade 2_1 is pulled by the carriage 30, the connecting members 4 unfold progressively, one after the other until reaching the second operating state in which all the blades are fully deployed, being distributed over the entire deployment surface S. A second limit switch type sensor (not shown) is for example positioned to detect when this state is reached.

[0051] According to the invention, the pivoting of the blades 2 about their longitudinal axis is only permitted when the blades 2 are in the second operating state, i.e. when they are fully extended. To pivot the blades, the installation comprises a second drive system.

[0052] In reference to the Figure 4A, Figure 4B And Figure 4C, according to a particular aspect of the invention, the second drive system comprises several pivoting members 6, for example arranged on at least one guide side of the blades 2. These pivoting members 6 are inserted into the first upright 10a, distributed along the first guide rail 11a. They are each fixed in translation in the first guide rail 11a and can be actuated in pivoting about an axis perpendicular to the direction of deployment (along the Y direction). They are distributed along the first guide rail 11a and spaced so as to be each aligned with the sliding pad 20a of a separate blade 2 when the blades 2 are fully deployed. They each comprise a bearing 60 for receiving said sliding pad 20a, aligned with the first guide rail during deployment of the blades 2, and can be actuated in rotation when it receives the sliding pad 20a of the blade.

[0053] At the level of the second guide side illustrated by the Figure 5A and the Figure 5B , the blades 2 can each be mounted free to pivot around their sliding pad 20b. However, the pivoting of the blade 2 will only be permitted when its sliding pad 20a is aligned with its pivoting member 6 located on the first guide side.

[0054] Without limitation, with reference to the Figure 6, the actuation of the pivoting members 6 is carried out using a jack 70, for example electric, the rod of which is connected to a transmission bar 71. Each pivoting member 6 is connected to the transmission bar 71 via a connecting rod 61, mounted at one end, via a pivot connection, on the transmission bar 71 and at its other end, via a fixed connection, on the pivoting member 6. The jack 70 is arranged to drive the transmission bar 71 in translation in a direction parallel to the direction of deployment (along the X axis) in one direction or the other. Each connecting rod 61 attached to the transmission bar 71 transforms the translational movement of the transmission bar 71 into a rotational movement of the pivoting member 6 attached to it.

[0055] On the Figure 4A, the pivoting member 6 is shown in the initial horizontal position, its bearing 60 receiving the sliding pad 20a of the blade. The blade 2 is horizontal.

[0056] On the Figure 4B , the actuation of the transmission bar 71 drives the pivoting member 6 in rotation around its axis (along the Y direction of the blade), thus causing the blade to pivot around its axis. The blade is being tilted.

[0057] On the Figure 4C , the pivoting member 6 is fully pivoted, its bearing 60 being vertical, placing the blade horizontal and in the closed state.

[0058] In order to maintain each blade in its guide rail during pivoting, a guide member 22 ( Figures 4A to 4C) is positioned between its shoe 20a and its axis 21. This guide member 22 is configured to remain in contact against the rail 11a, even during rotation of the shoe 20a driven by the pivoting member 6. This guide member 22 is free to slide in the rail, but remains fixed relative to the shoe 20a when the latter is driven in pivoting by the pivoting member 6, allowing the blade to remain in its rail.

[0059] According to a particular aspect of the invention, each connecting member 4 arranged between two successive blades 2 is configured to be rigid in traction along the direction of deployment, when it is fully unfolded, so as to define a constant pitch from one blade to another, in the series of blades. Each connecting member 4 makes it possible to ensure that the sliding pad 20a of each blade 2 comes to be positioned on the bearing 60 of the pivoting member 6 with which it is associated, once the deployment of the blades is complete.

[0060] According to another particular aspect, it is possible to provide a degree of freedom in translation of each blade, in the direction of its longitudinal axis (along the Y axis). This degree of freedom is for example provided at the level of the second guide side, between the sliding pad 20b and the second guide rail 11b. This degree of freedom makes it possible to ensure the deployment or storage of the blades, even in the event of a lack of parallelism between the two guide rails 11a, 11b.

[0061] Without limitation, with reference to the Figure 7A , the blades 2 advantageously have a shape that makes it possible to obtain a particularly compact assembly when they are all stored, placed side by side against each other. For example, on a deployment surface of six meters in length, they can occupy 20% of this length when they are stored. Figure 7Bshows the configuration obtained when the blades are deployed and oriented horizontally. Their shape is designed to make the architecture compact.

[0062] Advantageously, each upright of the supporting frame 1 can have a cover forming both its external covering and protecting its guide rail 11a, 11b from water and dust.

[0063] The installation includes a control system, configured to control the motor of the first drive system and the motor of the second drive system. It receives input instructions from a human-machine interface (remote control, smartphone, console, etc.).

[0064] The motors and the control system can be powered by one or more electrical power sources (battery, electrical network, photovoltaic panel, etc.).

[0065] The invention has the advantage of decorrelating the translational movement of the blades 2 from the pivoting movement of the blades. The pivoting of the blades 2 is permitted when all the blades are deployed, their sliding pad 20a cooperating with a pivoting member 6 positioned along the guide rail 11a. As a reminder, each pivoting member 6 is mounted on the first guide rail 11a, operable to pivot about an axis perpendicular to the direction of deployment. It does not move with the blade 2 during deployment. In other words, at least on the first guide side, the sliding of the blade 2 in the first guide rail 11a, via its sliding pad 20a, is achieved with particularly low mechanical play, the sliding pad being free in translation in the first guide rail along the X axis and locked in this rail along the Y axis and along the Z axis.It regains a degree of freedom in pivoting when it cooperates with the bearing 60 of the pivoting member 6 with which it is associated.

[0066] It should be understood that the solution of the invention could be duplicated on both guide sides. The number of motors used to actuate the blades in translation in the deployment surface can be optimized. It is possible to use a separate motor on each guide side or a single motor acting on only one guide side.

Claims

1. Sun or weather protection installation, comprising: - A bearing frame (1) delimiting a deployment surface (S) and comprising at least two guide rails, referred to as the first guide rail (11a) and the second guide rail (11b), which are parallel to each other and to a direction referred to as the deployment direction, - A series of slats (2) arranged parallel to each other, each slat (2) extending along a longitudinal axis perpendicular to the deployment direction and having two ends each slidingly mounted in a separate guide rail, - A first translational drive system, designed to move the slats (2) in translation in the deployment direction by sliding in the two guide rails, between at least one retracted position in which the slats are contiguous with each other and a deployed position in which the slats are deployed over the entire deployment surface, - A second pivoting drive system, designed to pivot each slat (2) about its longitudinal axis between at least two distinct orientations, - The second pivoting drive system comprising pivoting members (6) fastened to at least said first guide rail (11a) and distributed along said first guide rail, each slat (2) being intended to slide along the two guide rails to a position in which one of its two ends cooperates with a separate pivoting member (6), - Each pivoting member (6) being mounted fixed in translation on said first guide rail and pivotable to pivot a slat about its longitudinal axis when cooperating with the end of said slat, - The first translational drive system including at least one motor controlled to drive at least one slat, referred to as the head slat (2_1), and in that the slats are connected to each other by means of jointed connecting members (4), - Characterized in that: - The second pivoting drive system comprises at least one cylinder (70) on which is mounted a transmission bar (71) which can be moved in translation by said cylinder, each pivoting member (6) of the first guide rail (11a) being connected to said transmission bar (71) via a connecting rod (61), which is used to transform the translational movement of the transmission bar (71) into a rotational movement of the pivoting member.

2. Installation according to Claim 1, characterized in that the first translational drive system comprises a belt (31) driven by said motor, and a carriage driven along at least one guide rail (11a) by said belt and on which is mounted a connecting element integral with the head slat.

3. Installation according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that each jointed connecting member (4) includes at least two connecting rods (40, 41) together forming a pivot joint, and arranged to pivot with respect to each other between two end positions, a first end position in which the slats are retracted and a second end position in which the slats are deployed.

4. Installation according to Claim 3, characterized in that each slat (2) includes, at its first end and its second end, a skid (20a, 20b) arranged to cooperate in a sliding connection with the first guide rail and the second guide rail respectively.

5. Installation according to Claim 4, characterized in that the free end of each connecting rod (40, 41) is mounted pivotingly on a pin (21) aligned with the skid (20a, 20b).

6. Installation according to one of Claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the first drive system includes blocking means (43) preventing the joint formed by the two connecting rods (40, 41) from pivoting.

7. Installation according to Claim 6, characterized in that the blocking means are positioned to limit the pivoting of the joint between the two connecting rods to an angle other than a straight angle.

8. Installation according to one of Claims 2 to 7, characterized in that the slats (2) comprise a tail slat (2_N) connected to the bearing frame (1) by a tail connecting member via a sliding pivot connection.

9. Installation according to Claim 1, characterized in that each slat (2) cooperates via its second end with the second guide rail (11b) while retaining a degree of freedom along its longitudinal axis.

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