Crossbeam and pillar arrangement for pergola structures

Abstract

The invention discloses a crossbeam (1) and column (2) arrangement for a pergola frame structure, wherein a column (2) is arranged and a crossbeam (1) having a cavity (4) is connected to the column (2), and the crossbeam (1) is provided with a longitudinal gutter (5). The crossbeam (1) having a lower (6a) and upper (6f) side wall (6a) bounding the cavity (4), and a first (61) and second (62) side wall connected to the lower and upper side walls (6a, 6f). A portion of one of the first and second side walls (61, 62) is formed as a gutter (5) extending along the entire length of the side wall (61, 92) and the width (Sz) of the lower side wall (6a) of the crossbeam (1) is the maximum width (Sz) of the crossbeam (1), which is equal to the width (Sz) of the column (2).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a crossbeam and column arrangement for a pergola frame structure, wherein a column is provided and a crossbeam having a cavity is connected to the column, and the crossbeam is provided with a longitudinal gutter, the crossbeam having a lower side wall bounding the cavity, an upper side wall parallel the lower side wall, and a first side wall and a second side wall connected to the lower and upper side walls.

[0002] A pergola is an open structure intended for outdoor shading and is therefore usually an aesthetically pleasing feature of well-designed gardens and parks. Its frame used to be made of wood, but nowadays it can be made of metal poles and crossbeams that connect and link them. The crossbeams support natural or artificial shading elements, such as leafy branches or a roof structure, the latter being either a continuous rigid or textile roof or a lamellar structure, possibly consisting of movable lamellas, or a combination of both. Pergolas are usually freestanding structures consisting of at least three, usually four or more columns, but may also be attached to a building wall by a crossbeam, possibly with only one column and two attached crossbeams.

[0003] Over time, the timber frame with vegetation has been replaced by a more timeless aluminium frame, while the role of shading vegetation has been taken over by textile or aluminium lamella systems. In the more common pergola structures, the crossbeam is wider than the column. The difference in width is mostly caused by the overhang of the gutter on the beam, but it is more aesthetically pleasing and uniform architecturally if the width of the column is the same as the width of the beam. However, matching the width of the column and the crossbeam raises structural issues because the same span must be bridged with a smaller cross-section.

[0004] A further requirement for the pergola design is the positioning of the motor, mechanism and drive that moves the pergola's shading mechanism, such as its slats, within the beam. Although, in the state of the art, pergola structures can be found where the width of the crossbeam of the frame is the same as the width of the column, there is insufficient space to conceal the motor, mechanism and drive that move the pergola's shading mechanism, such as its slats, within the crossbeam, so that pergola structures where the motor, mechanism and drive are located within the beam do not have the same width of column and crossbeam. In this case, to ensure accessibility to the motor, the crossbeam is made in a top-opening design, which weakens the beam statically, requiring larger cross-sections than in the case of a solid-top design. In addition, in the case of top-opening beams, access to motors, cables and control components inside the beams is only possible by dismantling the shielding structure built on the beam, which increases the installation time for subsequent maintenance and repair work and the risk of damage to the slats. A further difficulty is that the gutter mounted on the crossbeam is connected to the perpendicular crossbeam by a sealed j oint, so that rainwater from the gutter flows from the gutter to the inside of the crossbeam, causing water to pool in the crossbeam and, over time, leaks in the retrofitted external gasket, which is ageing at the joint.

[0005] However, it is recognised that if a crossbeam and column arrangement is used in the pergola structure, where the crossbeam and column, which are normally joined at right angles, are formed to the same width and the gutter is integrated with the crossbeam in such a way that the integration of the gutter and the beam do not reduce the required cross-section of the gutter, then the total width of the cross-beam does not need to be larger than the width of the column, while an area can be created in the cross section of the beam, to accommodate the housing of the motor, a mechanism and a drive of the engine driving a screening device, e.g. the lamella system. In this way, the motor housing in the beam is accessible after the guttering has been removed, so that the side of the cross-beam can be opened instead of the top, which is more favourable from a structural point of view and also makes the motor, the mechanism, the drive, the cables and the control elements inside the beam accessible even after the slats have been installed. At the same time, there is no need to discharge rainwater inside the cross-beam at the risk of stagnant water, since the flow cross-section of the gutter is entirely connected to a column of the same width as the cross-beam, and rainwater can be channelled directly into the column by means of a connection with an internal seal that is an integral part of the structure.

[0006] The objective of the invention is thus to provide a crossbeam and column arrangement for a pergola frame structure with the column and the crossbeam connected thereto having the same width such that the entire cross-section of the rain channel is located within the cross-section of the crossbeam, while at the same time an area is provided in the cross-section of the crossbeam for accommodating the motor housing of the engine that drives the shading structure.

[0007] It is also intended that, in a preferred embodiment, the engine housing is accessible by removing a side the of the crossbeam without disassembling the shielding structure. Our objective is also to preferably drain the rainwater from the gutter directly into the column.

[0008] Our object is achieved by providing a crossbeam and column arrangement for a pergola frame structure, wherein a column is arranged and a crossbeam having a cavity is connected to the column, and the crossbeam is provided with a longitudinal gutter, the crossbeam having a lower side wall bounding the cavity, an upper side wall parallel thereto, and a first side wall and a second side wall connected to the lower and upper side walls, and at least a portion of at least one of the first and second side walls is formed as a gutter extending along the entire length of the side wall and the width of the lower side wall of the crossbeam is the maximum width of the crossbeam, which is equal to the width of the column.

[0009] The crossbeam is connected to the column along a section perpendicular to the lower and upper side walls.

[0010] The column is hollow and having a drainage opening along the section connected to the crossbeam.

[0011] At least a portion of each of the first and second side walls extending along the entire length thereof is configured as a gutter.

[0012] A space for a drive is formed in the cavity of the crossbeam and a portion of the side wall of the crossbeam formed as a gutter is releasably connected to the side wall.

[0013] The portion formed as a gutter is connected to the side wall along two parallel generatrixes of the side wall.

[0014] The portion formed as a gutter is hingedly connected to the side wall along a generatrix of the side wall.

[0015] Thus, in the most preferred embodiment of the crossbeam and column arrangement, the crossbeam is a two-part beam where one part of the crossbeam serves a static function and the other part provides drainage, where applicable, by being opened from the inside of the pergola, i.e. in the direction of the connection of the slats, and then removed to provide access to the motor, mechanism and drive. The openable feature has been achieved by integrating the necessary longitudinal drainage gutter, which is a consequence of the pergola's rain protection function, into the beam, specifically into the openable part of the beam, and by ensuring that the width of the pergola's beams in both directions (perpendicular to each other), viewed together with the integrated gutter, is the same as the width of the columns forming part of the pergola's frame structure, thirdly, the beam is designed in such a way that, after opening and removing the openable part, the motor, the drive and the complete mechanical system (pushrods, bearing-mounted levers) can be placed inside the beam and are completely concealed when the openable part is replaced and closed again. The frame structure of the pergola consists essentially of the new design principle of crossbeams described above and arranged in a horizontal plane, with the same design both parallel to the longitudinal axis of the slats and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the slats, a column or column stub (depending on the installation position) connecting the crossbeams, the slats connected to the crossbeams and the motor, drive and complete mechanical system concealed in the crossbeams. The new design of the crossbeam consists of two special parts, the opening part on the inner side is equipped with a longitudinal gutter, the crossbeam has, in cross-section, a lower side delimiting the cavity, an upper side parallel to it, an inner side wall connected to the lower and upper sides and an outer side wall. The inner side wall is the side wall which joins the lamellae.

[0016] The invention is described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawing. In the drawing Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the crossbeam and column arrangement according to the invention, Figure 2 shows a preferred embodiment of the crossbeam and column arrangement according to the invention in cross-section of the crossbeam.

[0017] Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of a crossbeam 1 and column 2 arrangement of the invention, which can be used in the frame structure of a pergola, for example. Of course, the frame structure can be formed from several crossbeam 1 and column 2 arrangements according to the invention, for example comprising four columns 2 connected by hollow crossbeams 1 each having a cavity 4, along connecting sections 3 of the columns as shown in the Figure 1. Preferably, the column 2 is of a square based column 2 and accordingly may have up to four connecting sections 3. For example, in a pergola frame structure of four columns 2, each column 2 is connected to two crossbeams 1 along two connecting 3 sections of the column 2. The crossbeam 1 and column 2 arrangement according to the invention is formed by one column 2 and at least one crossbeam 1.

[0018] In the illustrated embodiment, the crossbeam 1 and column 2 arrangement according to the invention has a hollow crossbeam 1 having an inner cavity 4, connected to the column 2, which is provided with longitudinal gutter 5. The crossbeam 1 has a lower side wall 6a delimiting the cavity 4, an upper side wall 6f parallel thereto, a first side wall 61 connected to the lower and upper side walls 6a,6f and a second side wall 62. The crossbeam 1 is connected to the column 2 along the connecting section 3 of the column 2 perpendicular to the parallel lower and upper side walls 6a,6f.

[0019] In order to avoid the use of a guttering channel extending beyond the side wall 62, at least a portion of at least one of the first and second side walls 61,62 extending along the entire length H of the side wall 61,62 is configured as a gutter 5, such that the gutter 5 extends into the inner cavity 4 of the crossbeam 1 and therefore does not extend beyond the width Sz of the lower side wall 6a of the crossbeam 1, such that the width of the lower side wall 6a of the crossbeam 1 is the maximum width Sz of the crossbeam 1, which is equal to the width Sz of the column 2.

[0020] In view of the need to drain away the rainwater that accumulates in the gutter 5 during use, drainage opening 7 are provided in the connecting section 3 of column 2, on the surface corresponding to gutter 5, which opens into the interior cavity 4 of column 2, and allow rainwater to drain to a drainage outlet located near the bottom of column 2, which are not shown on the drawing but are well known to the person skilled in the art. In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, an area extending in the full length of one of the first and second side walls 61,62 is formed as a gutter 5. However, an embodiment not shown in the drawing is also possible, in which both first and second side walls 61,62 of the crossbeam 1 are configured as gutter 5. In this case, it will of course be necessary to provide two drainage openings 7 corresponding to the gutters 5, on the connecting section 3 of column 2.

[0021] If the crossbeam 1 and column 2 arrangement according to the invention is to be used in a pergola frame structure provided with a movable shading device, a drive space 8 can be formed in the cavity 4 of the crossbeam 1, which is shown in Figure 2 in the cross section of the crossbeam 1, illustrating the preferred embodiment of the crossbeam 1 and column 2 arrangement according to the invention. The drive space 8 may also accommodate the drive for moving the movable shading structure and, where applicable, the motor for driving the drive, which are not shown in the figure because they are not part of the 1 crossbeam and 2 column arrangement of the invention. However, the figure shows an example of arrangement of a fastener 9 for securing the drive. With a drive arranged in the drive space 8 formed in the cavity 4 of the crossbeam 1, it may be necessary that the crossbeam 1 of the crossbeam 1 and column 2 arrangement according to the invention be openable. Therefore, in a preferred embodiment, a region of the side wall 62 of the crossbeam 1 formed as a gutter 5 is releasably connected to the side wall 62 along two parallel generatrixes 621,622 of the side wall 62. In this case, as shown in Figure 2, the region formed as a gutter 5 may be releasably attached to the sidewall 62 on a portion of the sidewall 62 outside the area of the gutter 5 by means of flexible ribs 10,11 arranged along generatrixes 621,622, and may be removed if necessary, and the drive space 8 becomes accessible. In a still more preferred embodiment, the region of the gutter 5 in the side wall 62 is hingedly connected along a generatrix 622 of the side wall 62 to a portion of the side wall 62 outside the area of the gutter 5 and is foldable e.g. upwardly if required.

[0022] The advantage of the crossbeam 1 and column 2 arrangement according to the invention, compared to the prior art solution, is that its column 2 and the connected crossbeam 1 have the same width such that the entire cross-section of the gutter 5 is located within the cross-section of the crossbeam 1, at the same time, a drive space 8 can be formed in the cross-section of the crossbeam 1 to accommodate a drive mechanism, which moves the shading structure and accessible by removing the sides walls 61,62 of the crossbeam 1 without dismantling the shading structure, and discharging the rainwater from the gutter 5 directly into the column 2.

Claims

1. A crossbeam (1) and column (2) arrangement for a pergola frame structure, wherein a column (2) is arranged and a crossbeam (1) having a cavity (4) is connected to the column (2), and the crossbeam (1) is provided with a longitudinal gutter (5), the crossbeam (1) having a lower side wall (6a) bounding the cavity (4), an upper side wall (6f) parallel thereto, and a first side wall (61) and a second side wall (62) connected to the lower and upper side walls (6a, 6f), characterized in that at least a portion of at least one of the first and second side walls (61, 62) is formed as a gutter (5) extending along the entire length of the side wall (61, 92) and the width (Sz) of the lower side wall (6a) of the crossbeam (1) is the maximum width (Sz) of the crossbeam (1), which is equal to the width (Sz) of the column (2).

2. The crossbeam (1) and column (2) arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the crossbeam (1) is connected to the column (2) along a section (3) perpendicular to the lower and upper side walls (6a, 6f).

3. The crossbeam (1) and column (2) arrangement according to claim 2, characterized in that the column (2) is hollow and having a drainage opening (7) along the section (3) connected to the crossbeam (1).

4. The crossbeam (1) and column (2) arrangement according to claim 3, characterized in that at least a portion of each of the first and second side walls (61,62) extending along the entire length (H) thereof is configured as a gutter (5).

5. A crossbeam (1) and column (2) arrangement according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that a space (8) for a drive is formed in the cavity (4) of the crossbeam (1) and a portion of the side wall (61,62) of the crossbeam (1) formed as a gutter (5) is releasably connected to the side wall (61,62).

6. The crossbeam (1) and column (2) arrangement according to claim 5, characterized in that the portion formed as a gutter (5) is connected to the side wall (61,62) along two parallel generatrixes (621,622) of the side wall (61,62).

7. The crossbeam (1) and column (2) arrangement according to claim 6, characterized in that the portion formed as a gutter (5) is hingedly connected to the side wall (61,62) along a generatrix (622) of the side wall (61,62).

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