Protective device such as a sunshade and set of such devices connected

Abstract

The invention relates to a protection device (1) such as a parasol comprising at least one pole (10) defining a vertical reference axis (A) extending between a lower end portion (11) comprising at least one foot (13) configured to be anchored to the ground and an upper end portion (12) to which at least one sheltering platform (20) is attached, the platform being configured to protect a user located underneath in a deployed position, the protection device (1) comprising power-generating means (31) for generating electrical power to supply at least one electric battery (32), and configured to supply electrical power to at least one item of electrical equipment (33) of the protection device (1), the power-generating means (31), the electric battery (32) and the item of electrical equipment (33) being interconnected in an electrical circuit of the protection device (1), the sheltering platform (20) comprising an edge (21) delimiting a closed contour and comprising: mechanical connection means (210) configured to mechanically and sealingly connect at least one portion of the edge (21) of the sheltering platform (20) to at least one portion of an edge (21') of a sheltering platform (20') of an adjacent protection device (1'); and electrical connection means (211) configured to transfer electrical power between the electrical circuit of the protection device (1) and at least one electrical circuit of the adjacent protection device (1').

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The invention relates, in general, to the technical field of parasols, in particular intended to protect from the sun and / or rain.

[0002] The invention relates more specifically to such parasols which are at least partly energy-autonomous, i.e. configured to be able to restore energy. STATE OF THE PRIOR ART

[0003] Cafes, restaurants, and hotels frequently welcome customers outside their establishments, particularly on terraces sheltered from the elements by protective devices such as parasols. Previously, catering and hotel professionals could offer additional services for customers on terraces, such as heating in winter or cooling in summer. This was done using energy sources from the electricity grid, therefore not local, powering, for example, convector heaters attached to the parasol poles, or using fossil fuels, which are now becoming scarce. In addition, individuals in their gardens or on their terraces use parasols, with no other function than to protect them from, for example, the sun, rain, hail, or snow.

[0004] Based on the current state of technology, consumers are no longer satisfied with a parasol that only provides shelter from the sun, rain, hail, and / or snow. For example, a solar-powered parasol is a type of parasol that uses a solar-powered lighting source, providing illumination for activities at times when light is limited. Although a solar-powered parasol can provide illumination in situations where light is very low, such as inclement weather or at night, solar-powered lighting cannot operate continuously without sunlight. In this case, using an external power source for lighting is also impractical.

[0005] Furthermore, to shelter large areas and a greater number of people, it is common to use a set of parasols arranged close to each other. In such a configuration, the peripheries of the surfaces sheltered by each of the parasols in the set are then little or poorly covered, thus allowing, for example, rays of sunlight or drops of water, snowflakes or hailstones to pass through due to the discontinuities in the area sheltered by the set of parasols.

[0006] Document US9706820B1 describes a parasol comprising batteries, a charging port and a photovoltaic panel. STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The invention aims to remedy all or part of the drawbacks of the state of the art by proposing in particular a solution making it possible to provide satisfactory protection against the weather, in particular the sun, rain, hail and / or snow, while offering improved comfort, or even advanced additional functionalities.

[0008] To this end, according to a first aspect of the invention, a protection device such as a parasol is proposed, comprising at least one mast defining a vertical reference axis extending between a lower end portion comprising at least one foot configured to be anchored to the ground and an upper end portion to which is fixed at least one sheltering platform configured to protect at least one user located below in a deployed position, the protection device comprising energy generation means for generating electrical energy to power at least one electric battery, and configured to supply electrical energy to at least one electrical equipment of the protection device, the energy generation means, the electric battery and the electrical equipment interconnected in an electrical circuit of the protection device, the sheltering platform comprising an edge delimiting a closed contour and comprising: mechanical connection means configured to mechanically and tightly connect at least a portion of the edge of the sheltering platform to at least a portion of an edge of a sheltering platform of an adjacent protection device; and electrical connection means configured to ensure a transfer of electrical energy between the electrical circuit of the protection device and at least one electrical circuit of the adjacent protection device.

[0009] By virtue of such a combination of features, such a protective device allows a group of users to ensure protection against bad weather and weather conditions normally unsuitable for outdoor activities over a wider area without discontinuity, making it possible to move from the shelter provided by one sheltering platform to another shelter provided by an adjacent sheltering platform when used together, or to park on the peripheral surfaces of the sheltering platforms without necessarily being exposed to bad weather such as rain, hail, snow and under the sun.Furthermore, the presence of electrical connection means enabling electrical circuits of protection devices to be connected to each other makes it possible to form a global electrical network of a set of several protection devices, for example to compensate for the failure of a component of the electrical circuit of one of the protection devices, or to share the electrical energy stored in the electrical batteries and standardize the use of electrical equipment across the entire surface area covered by the set of protection devices.

[0010] According to one embodiment, the energy generation means comprise at least one photovoltaic sensor secured to the sheltering platform and oriented in the deployed position, upwards on a side opposite the mast relative to the sheltering platform. Such an energy source is particularly efficient, simple and lightweight.

[0011] According to one embodiment, the energy generation means comprise at least one gutter and a hydraulic turbine located at least partly on the path of the gutter so as to conduct the rainwater by gravity flow towards the hydraulic turbine to drive it in rotational movement, preferably around the reference axis. In a particular embodiment, the water once flowed is preserved by being stored in a container provided for this purpose, allowing for example to ballast the protection device.

[0012] According to one embodiment, the energy generation means comprise at least one wind turbine integral with the sheltering platform, and placed above the sheltering platform in the deployed position, an axis of rotation of the wind turbine preferably being parallel to the reference axis of the mast, more preferably merged with the reference axis of the mast.

[0013] According to one embodiment, the mast comprises a hollow structure delimiting an interior space housing the gutter and having an inlet mouth at its upper end portion and communicating with at least one opening of the sheltering platform so that the rainwater flowing over the sheltering platform is guided, in a deployed position of the sheltering platform, towards the inlet mouth to feed the gutter, the gutter preferably being delimited by the hollow structure of the mast.

[0014] According to one embodiment, the sheltering platform is mounted so as to be tiltable relative to the mast, the sheltering platform preferably being mechanically connected to the mast by a ball joint, the tilting of the sheltering platform being more preferably electrically controlled by at least one electric actuator, for example a stepper motor. The protection device can thus move from a deployed position of the sheltering platform to a folded position for storing the sheltering platform. The tilting of the sheltering platform can also take intermediate angular steps between these two positions, for example to protect against bad weather whose trajectory does not follow the direction of the reference axis of the mast.

[0015] According to one embodiment, the base of the mast is secured to a mobile base, the electric battery preferably being secured to the mobile base so as to ballast the mast of the parasol, the base preferably being further provided with wheels. The term "ballast" means the vertical lowering of the center of gravity of the protection device which is then more stable. The mast is also less mechanically stressed, which improves the lifespan of the device. Such a mobile base makes it possible to move the protection device to the location desired by a user.

[0016] According to one embodiment, the protection device comprises a plurality of photovoltaic sensors arranged in the form of at least one photovoltaic panel, the housing platform being constituted by at least one of the photovoltaic panels.

[0017] According to one embodiment, the electrical equipment(s) is(are) chosen from the following electrical equipment: at least one electrical heating means, for example a heating resistor, at least one lighting device, for example an LED lamp, at least one air conditioning unit, at least one fan, at least one misting device, at least one electrical outlet, at least one charging interface for an electrical appliance, for example a wireless charging transmission medium, and at least one Internet access device, for example a WiFi terminal or a WiFi repeater.

[0018] According to one embodiment, the device is at least self-sufficient in energy. The term "self-sufficient" means that the energy generation means allow for non-intermittent operation of the associated electrical equipment(s). The device may have a surplus in electrical energy production.

[0019] According to one embodiment, the mechanical connection means preferably comprise magnets configured to exert an attractive magnetic force, the magnets more preferably being electromagnets.

[0020] According to one embodiment, the electrical connection means preferably comprise magnets configured to transmit and / or receive electrical energy, the magnets preferably being electromagnets.

[0021] According to one embodiment, the mechanical connection means and the electrical connection means are shared. The term "shared" means that the element of the protection device providing the mechanical connection function and the element of the protection device providing the electrical connection function form a single element.

[0022] According to another aspect of the invention, it relates to a set of at least two protection devices characterized in that each protection device of the set is mechanically connected by the mechanical connection means to at least one other of the protection devices of the set and each protection device of the set is electrically connected by the electrical connection means to at least one other of the protection devices of the set. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0023] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge from reading the description which follows, with reference to the appended figures, which illustrate: figure 1 : an isometric view of a protection device according to one embodiment; figure 2 : a side view of a protection device according to the same embodiment; figure 3: a top view of the protection device according to the same embodiment; figure 4 : a side sectional view of the protection device according to the same embodiment; Figure 5 : a top view of a protection device according to another embodiment; figure 6 : a detailed side view of a sheltering platform in an inclined position according to the same embodiment; figure 7 : a detailed view of a protection device base according to the same embodiment; figure 8 : an isometric view of a protective device assembly according to another aspect of the invention; figure 9 : a side view of a protective device assembly according to another embodiment.

[0024] For clarity, identical or similar elements are identified by identical reference signs throughout the figures.

[0025] In the description and claims, for the sake of clarity, the terminology longitudinal, transverse and vertical will be adopted without limitation with reference to the trihedron X, Y, Z indicated in the figures. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT

[0026] In reference to the figures 1 ([Fig.1 ]) has 4 ([Fig.4 ]) a protective device is illustrated 1 according to one embodiment. “Protection” means the ability of the device to protect a user or a group of users from weather phenomena that limit outdoor activities, such as rain, snow, hail or even the sun.

[0027] In a reference orientation relative to a vertical axis Z, the protection device includes a mat 10 defining a reference axis A parallel to the vertical Z. The mast 10has a hollow shape, here generally cylindrical in revolution, although any other prismatic shape is possible. The mast 10 extends vertically between a lower end portion 11 and an upper end portion 12.

[0028] The lower end 11 from the mast 10 includes at least one foot 13 configured to be anchored to the ground. The foot 13 extends generally parallel to a horizontal plane X,Y orthogonal to the vertical axis Z. The foot 13 is attached to a base 131 supporting the mast 10, so that the protection device can be moved at the convenience of a user or group of users 1. In this embodiment, the base is made mobile by means of two wheels 132 in contact with the ground, the protective device should be slightly inclined1 by tilting its mast 10 so that the wheels grip the ground.

[0029] On the upper end 12 from the mast 10 at least one sheltering platform is fixed 20 configured to protect at least one user located below in a deployed position. By "deployed position" is meant a position of use of the protection device in which the sheltering platform 20 extends generally parallel to a plane X,Y horizontal. In this deployed position, the surface of the sheltering platform 20 projected onto the ground is maximum.

[0030] The protection device 1 includes means of generating energy 31 to generate electrical energy. In this embodiment, the electrical energy generating means 31 include a wind turbine 314 in solidarity with the hosting platform 20.In the deployed position of the sheltering platform 20, an axis of rotation of the wind turbine 314 is parallel, and even coaxial with the reference axis A from the mast 10.

[0031] The mast 10 further includes a hollow structure 101 delimiting an interior space housing a gutter 312 means of energy generation 31. The gutter 312 has an entrance mouth 315 at its upper end portion and communicates with at least one opening of the sheltering platform 20 so that rainwater flowing onto the sheltering platform 20 be guided, in a deployed position of the sheltering platform 20, towards the entrance mouth 315 to feed the gutter 312. The gutter 312 is here delimited by the hollow structure 101 from the mast 10.To prevent any objects from entering that could block the gutter 312, the entrance mouth 315 can be completed with a grid filtering the flow of rainwater.

[0032] Rainwater flowing by gravity into the gutter 312 is led to a hydraulic turbine 313 forming one of the means of energy generation 31. Rainwater rotates around the reference axis A the hydraulic turbine 313 which thus generates electrical energy. The hydraulic turbine 313 is preferably a Pelton type hydraulic turbine. In order to improve the efficiency of the hydraulic turbine 313, fins generating a vortex within the rainwater flow can be housed within the gutter 312, the fins are preferably formed by the hollow structure 101 from the mast 10. In this embodiment, a reservoir316 to store rainwater which feeds the hydraulic turbine 313. The reservoir 316 is preferably included in the base 131. Such positioning allows the base to be weighted 131 of the foot 13. It can usefully form a source for a water mist sprayer 33. Connection means may also be provided to connect a tank 316 to at least one tank 316 adjacent to create a water network of a set of protection devices 1 interconnected.

[0033] Means of generating electrical energy 31 power an electric battery 32. The electric battery 32 is preferably included on the protection device 1. In this embodiment, the electric battery 32 is preferably attached to the base 131 of the foot 13. The battery 32is thus inaccessible to a group of users of the protection device 1. In addition, such battery positioning 32 also allows the base to be weighted 131. The protection device 1 is therefore more stable and the mast 10 is not affected by the weight of the electric battery. The capacity of the electric battery 32 is sized so that the protective device 1 is at least self-sufficient.

[0034] The electric battery 32 is configured to supply electrical energy to at least one piece of electrical equipment 33 in an electrical circuit. In this embodiment, the electrical equipment 33 includes by way of example at least one water mist nozzle 331 and an electrical outlet 332.

[0035] The embodiment described in the Figure 5 ([Fig.5]) differs from the previous embodiment in that the energy generation means 31 include at least one photovoltaic sensor 311 in solidarity with the hosting platform 20 and oriented in the deployed position, upwards on one side opposite the mast 10 compared to the hosting platform 20. In an alternative embodiment, the energy generating means 31 include a plurality of photovoltaic sensors 311 arranged in the form of at least one photovoltaic panel, the sheltering platform 20 consisting of at least one of the photovoltaic panels. In this configuration, the housing platform 20 is lighter, the stress on the mast 10 being then reduced.

[0036] The photovoltaic panel 31extends in a square shape. It is bordered along its four sides by heating devices or modules forming electrical equipment 33. On two opposite sides, two by two, the heating devices extend along the dimension of the edge of the photovoltaic panel 31 corresponding. On the other two sides, the heating devices extend along the dimension, on the one hand from the edge of the photovoltaic panel 31 corresponding and, on the other hand, the two widths of the heating devices on either side of the adjacent sides. In this way, a sheltering platform is obtained 20 square, despite the fact that the edges 21 house heating means. The heating modules therefore help to shelter the user and can be articulated to pivot around an axis parallel to the side of the photovoltaic panel 31 associated. Note that these heating modules surround the photovoltaic panel31 and can house other electrical equipment 33 in addition or as an alternative such as lighting etc.

[0037] There figure 6 ([Fig.6 ]) illustrates a detailed side view of the previous embodiment. In this embodiment, the housing platform 20 is mounted tilting relative to the mast 10. The hosting platform 20 is preferably mechanically connected to the mast 10 by a ball joint 102. The ball joint 102 is preferably achieved by a bevel gear.

[0038] In this configuration, a plan globally containing the sheltering platform 20 shape with the mast 10 any angle between 0° and 180°, the value of this angle being at the user's choice. The positions of the sheltering platform 20 forming an angle of 0° and 180° with the mast 10correspond to storage positions of the protection device 1. In these positions, the overall volume of the protection device 1 is minimized. The inclination of the sheltering platform 20 is preferably electrically controlled by at least one electric actuator 104, for example a stepper electric motor or a servo motor.

[0039] There figure 7 ([Fig.7 ]) illustrates a detailed view of the mobile base 131 according to the same embodiment. In this configuration, the base 131 is equipped with a pair of wheels 132 allowing mobility of the protection device 1 by a user. The base 131 delimits a hollow structure housing the electric battery 32, said battery 32 being in solidarity with the base 131. The hollow structure of the base 131is accessible through a panel pivoting around a hinge, for example for maintenance of the electric battery 32. The pivoting panel of the base 131 can be enhanced with a security lock, for example a code lock. This means that the interior structure is only accessible to authorized persons, reducing the risk of injury and intentional or accidental damage. The base 131 has a shape, for example, a cylinder, such that its upper vertical face can be decorated, for example with a wooden plate, to form a table for users of the protective device 1.

[0040] According to another aspect of the invention described in the figures 8 ([Fig.8 ]) And 9 ([Fig.9 ]), the protection device 1 is used in association with a protective device 1' adjacent to form a whole 2. The sheltering platforms 20 And20' each have at least one edge 21 and an edge 21' mechanically connected in a watertight manner by mechanical connection means 210. Thus, a user located on the periphery of the two hosting platforms 20 And 20' is sheltered from the weather. The means of mechanical connection 210 include magnets, preferably electromagnets powered by the electric battery 32. Such a connection is reliable and ensures watertightness.

[0041] In addition, the edges 21 And 21' include electrical connection means configured for transfer of electrical energy between the electrical circuits of the protective devices 1 And 1 '. The edges 21 And 21' are in fact carried by the heating modules surrounding the photovoltaic panel 31are delimited by walls made of metallic material, therefore conductive. An electrical connection is therefore ensured when the edges 21, 21' are mechanically connected. Thus, electrical equipment 33' of the protective device 1 ' can for example be supplied with electrical energy by the battery 32 of the protective device 1. Electrical connection methods 211 include magnets, preferably electromagnets. In this configuration, the mechanical connection means and the electrical connection means are shared.

[0042] In this way, the connection of two edges 21, 21' adjacent at a mechanical and electrical connection line 212, 213 of these two adjacent panels makes it possible to simply and effectively guarantee sealing in the mechanical connection and electrical transmission.

[0043] According to another embodiment, the assembly 2 is formed from a plurality of protective devices. In this configuration, the assembly 2 forms a "line" of protective devices, but any other form of assembly 2 is possible. Furthermore, the associated protective devices in the set 2 are protective devices 1 according to the same embodiment or according to different embodiments.

[0044] Naturally, the invention is described in the foregoing by way of example. It is understood that those skilled in the art are able to carry out different variant embodiments of the invention without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0045] For example, the means of generating electricity 31 can include at least one photovoltaic sensor 311, a wind turbine 314 and a gutter312 associated with an electric turbine 313.

[0046] Electrical connection methods 211 can be used outside of a combination of several protection devices 1 in a set 2, for example to add electrical equipment 33 additional, for example electric heating.

[0047] It is emphasized that all features, as they emerge for a person skilled in the art from this description, the drawings and the attached claims, even if they have been specifically described only in relation to other specific features, both individually and in any combinations, may be combined with other features or groups of features disclosed herein, provided that this has not been expressly excluded or that technical circumstances make such combinations impossible or meaningless, as long as these combinations fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. Protection device (1) such as a parasol comprising at least one pole (10) defining a vertical reference axis (A) extending between a lower end portion (11) comprising at least one foot (13) configured to be anchored to the ground and an upper end portion (12) to which at least one sheltering platform (20) is attached, the platform being configured to protect at least one user located underneath in a deployed position, the protection device (1) comprising power-generating means (31) for generating electrical power for supplying at least one electric battery (32), and configured to supply electrical power to at least one electrical unit (33) of the protection device (1), the power-generating means (31), the electric battery (32) and the electrical unit (33) being interconnected in an electrical circuit of the protection device (1), the protection device (1) being characterized in that the sheltering platform (20) comprises an edge (21) delimiting a closed contour and comprising: - mechanical connection means (210) configured to mechanically and sealingly connect at least one portion of the edge (21) of the sheltering platform (20) to at least one portion of an edge (21') of a sheltering platform (20') of an adjacent protection device (1'); and - electrical connection means (211) configured to transfer electrical power between the electrical circuit of the protection device (1) and at least one electrical circuit of the adjacent protection device (1').

2. Protection device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the power-generating means (31) comprise at least one photovoltaic sensor (311) secured to the sheltering platform (20) and oriented in the deployed position upward on a side opposite the pole (10) with respect to the sheltering platform (20).

3. Protection device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the power-generating means (31) comprise at least one channel (312) and a hydraulic turbine (313) located at least partly in the path of the channel (312) so as to conduct rainwater by gravitational flow toward the hydraulic turbine (313) in order to rotate it, preferably about the reference axis (A).

4. Protection device (1) according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the power-generating means (31) comprise at least one wind generator (314) secured to the sheltering platform and placed above the sheltering platform (20) in the deployed position, an axis of rotation of the wind generator (314) preferably being coincident with the reference axis (A) of the pole (10).

5. Protection device (1) according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the pole comprises a hollow structure (101) delimiting an interior space housing the channel (312) and having an inlet mouth (315) at the upper end portion thereof and communicating with at least one opening in the sheltering platform (20) so that rainwater flowing onto the sheltering platform (20) is guided, in a deployed position of the sheltering platform (20), toward the inlet mouth (315) in order to supply the channel (312), the channel (312) preferably being delimited by the hollow structure (101) of the pole (10).

6. Protection device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sheltering platform (20) is mounted so as to be inclinable with respect to the pole (10), the sheltering platform (20) preferably being mechanically connected to the pole (10) by a ball-and-socket joint (102), the inclination of the sheltering platform (20) also preferably being electrically controlled by at least one electric actuator (104), for example an electric stepper motor.

7. Protection device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the foot (13) of the pole is secured to a movable base (131), the electric battery (32) preferably being secured to the movable base (131) so as to ballast the parasol pole, the base (131) preferably also being fitted with wheels (132).

8. Protection device (1) according to any of the preceding claims in combination with claim 2, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of photovoltaic sensors arranged in the form of at least one photovoltaic panel, the sheltering platform (20) consisting of at least one of the photovoltaic panels.

9. Protection device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the electrical unit(s) (33) is / are selected from the following electrical units: at least one electrical heating means, for example a heating resistor, at least one lighting device, for example an LED lamp, at least one air conditioner, at least one fan, at least one misting device, at least one electrical socket, at least one electrical apparatus charging interface, for example a wireless charging transmission medium, and at least one Internet access device, for example a WiFi terminal or a WiFi repeater.

10. Protection device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is at least energy self-sufficient.

11. Protection device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mechanical connection means (210) preferably comprise magnets, the magnets preferably also being electromagnets.

12. Protection device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the electrical connection means preferably comprise magnets, the magnets preferably also being electromagnets.

13. Protection device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mechanical connection means (210) and the electrical connection means (211) are shared.

14. Set (2) of at least two adjacent protection devices (1, 1') according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that each protection device (1, 1') of the set (2) is mechanically connected by mechanical connection means (210) to at least one other of the protection devices (1, 1') of the set (2), and each protection device (1, 1') of the set (2) is electrically connected by electrical connection means (211) to at least one other of the protection devices (1, 1') of the set (2).

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