Shading device with a shading element provided with flexible links

Abstract

Shading device comprising: - a supporting structure (1) which includes at least a first beam (7A) and a second beam (7B) extending opposite each other in a longitudinal direction; - an opacity element (2) includes a flexible link (6) repeating a cyclic pattern in the longitudinal direction, this cyclic pattern comprising at least: an upper transverse strand (9) which connects the two beams; a lower transverse strand (8) which connects the two beams; a loop (10A) around the first beam; a loop (10B) around the second beam.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The invention relates to the technical field of climate control of buildings and other installations, and more specifically to shading devices that allow solar radiation to be blocked at least partially for the purposes of solar protection and temperature regulation. PREVIOUS ART

[0002] Shade systems are commonly used in many areas such as residential buildings, commercial premises, agricultural facilities, etc. These shade systems include, for example, tensioned fabrics, parasols, blinds, pergolas, etc.

[0003] These shading devices generally lack dynamic shading control, and when they do include this function, they are complex and expensive. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The invention aims to improve prior art shading devices.

[0005] To this end, the invention aims at a shading device conforming to the claims.

[0006] According to another object, the invention relates to a method of producing a shading device in accordance with the claims.

[0007] The shading device according to the invention makes it possible to create shaded areas by means of high reliability and longevity, which is essential in a field where these outdoor installations may be exposed to the elements (sun, weather, etc.) all year round.

[0008] The invention is suitable for both fixed structures, possibly demountable, and mobile structures.

[0009] The combination of strands and loops, according to the arrangement described, allows for a combination of fixed and mobile shading.

[0010] Specifically, the shading is modulated according to the wind, with a decrease in shading capacity when wind is present. Climate control is thus implemented without any sensors or motors, and therefore at a lower cost, with denser shading when there is no wind, and reduced shading when there is wind, precisely when shading is least needed.

[0011] The shading device and method according to the invention may include the additional features defined in the dependent claims, alone or in combination. PRESENTATION OF THE FIGURES

[0012] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following non-limiting description, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: there figure 1 is a perspective view of an example implementation of the shading device according to the invention; the figure 2 is a view of the obscuring element of the shading device; the figure 3 is a partial perspective view of an edge of the shading device; the figure 4 is a top view of the shading device; the figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the shading device; the figure 6 illustrates the cyclical pattern of the obscuring element of the shading device; the figure 7 is a schematic top view of the shading device; the figure 8 illustrates an example of winding that produces the cyclic pattern; the figure 9 is a cross-sectional view of the shading device according to one variant; the figure 10 is a top view of the shading device according to one variant; the figure 11 is a top view of the shading device according to one variant; the figure 12 illustrates the shading system in transport configuration; the figure 13 is a schematic view of the shading device during production; the figure 14 illustrates a variant arrangement of the upper and lower strands of the shading device; the figure 15 illustrates another variant of the arrangement of the upper and lower strands of the shading device; the figure 16 illustrates another variant of the arrangement of the upper and lower strands of the shading device.

[0013] The similar elements common to the various embodiments bear the same reference numbers to the figures. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0014] There figure 1 is an illustrative example of a shading device according to the invention, which is suitable for creating shaded areas in habitats or other installations, in urban or rural areas.

[0015] There figure 1 This illustrates an example of an application in which the shading device is arranged as a pergola-type element, allowing for the creation of movable shade on a terrace or garden. figure 1 is a general perspective view illustrating such an example.

[0016] The shading device here comprises a supporting structure 1 and an occulting element 2 equipped with opaque elements for the dynamic occultation of light and thermal radiation.

[0017] The supporting structure 1 can be made of any mechanical element adapted to position the shading element 2 in the desired space and orient it so that it fulfills its shading function in the desired area. In this example, the supporting structure comprises a frame 4 which is supported on one side by two uprights 3 and on the other side by fixing elements in a wall 5.

[0018] There figure 2 is a partial view, from below, of the shading device showing a portion of the occulting element 2.

[0019] The obscuring element 2 is achieved here by the arrangement of a flexible link 6 (which may consist of one or more sections). This flexible link can be made of any wire element suitable for being set in motion by the natural conditions of the location; for example: strings; ropes; cables; braids; wires; etc.

[0020] The flexible tie 6 can be made of any flexible material, and is preferably made of a low-elasticity and durable material, given its exposure. The flexible tie is advantageously made of a polymer, and preferably polypropylene.

[0021] There figure 3 is a partial side view of frame 4 of the supporting structure 1 and illustrates the arrangement of the flexible link 6 around a beam 7 of frame 4. The flexible link 6 is arranged along lower strands 8, upper strands 9 and loops 10 around the beam 7.

[0022] There figure 4 is a schematic top view of the shading device. The supporting structure 1 of the shading device comprises at least two beams 7A, 7B.

[0023] The first beam 7A and the second beam 7B extend opposite each other, along a longitudinal direction L.

[0024] The spacing distance between the two beams 7A, 7B is measured along a transverse direction T which is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and in the same plane.

[0025] The two beams 7A and 7B must extend opposite each other to allow the passage of a flexible strand from one beam to the other. In this example, the two beams 7A and 7B are parallel, but they can alternatively form an angle.

[0026] There figure 5 is a schematic cross-section illustrating the arrangement of the two beams 7A, 7B and the flexible link 6.

[0027] The flexible link 6 can be made of a single continuous element or several segments. The flexible link 6 is arranged within the obscuring element 2 with: upper strands 9 transverse which are stretched between the two beams 7A, 7B; lower strands 8 transverse which are slack, connecting the two beams 7A, 7B; a loop 10A around the first beam 7A; a loop 10B around the second beam 7B.

[0028] Loops 10A, 10B are defined here precisely as a portion of a curved flexible link that returns to its starting point by rotating around the beam (7A, 7B). In other words, a loop 10A, 10B is an arrangement of the flexible link 6 in which the latter makes at least one complete turn around the beam 7A, 7B.

[0029] In this particularly advantageous example, the upper strands 9 are taut while the lower strands 8 are slack. However, variations can be implemented; see the end of the description.

[0030] The upper strands 9 are taut, that is to say they extend substantially in a straight line between their starting point on one of the beams 7A and their ending point on the other beam 7B.

[0031] The lower strands 8 are slack, meaning they are dangling in the sense that their shape is relative to gravity, and they are mobile under the effect of an external force. The lower strands 8, which are slack, have a sag F which is preferably between 10 and 20 cm, and preferably between 10 and 15 mm.

[0032] Within the obscuring element 2, the flexible link 6 cyclically repeats a pattern created by an arrangement around and between beams 7A and 7B. Beams 7A and 7B each exhibit: an upper face 12A, 12B; an lower face 13A, 13B; an inner side 14A, 14B; an outer side 15A, 15B.

[0033] There figure 6 is a schematic top view illustrating this cyclic pattern alone.

[0034] In this didactic illustration, the flexible link 6 is considered to have a starting point 11 on the upper face 12A of the first beam 7A. From this starting point 11, the flexible link 6 extends along a transverse upper strand 9 which is taut until it reaches the upper face 12B of the second beam 7B.

[0035] The flexible link 6 then makes a loop 10B around the second beam 7B, descending along the outer flank 15B, passing under the lower face 13B (which is schematically represented by an oblique section in dotted lines on the figure 6 ), then goes up along the inner flank 14B, then passes over the upper face 12B, goes back down again along the outer flank 15B, and then comes against the lower face 13B.

[0036] From this lower face 13B, the flexible link 6 forms a lower strand 8 by extending transversely towards the first beam 7A, this lower strand 8 being therefore relaxed, forming an arrow F.

[0037] The flexible link 6 then forms a loop 10A around the first beam. At the end of the slack lower strand 8, the flexible link 6 joins the underside 13A of the first beam 7A.

[0038] The flexible link 6 then goes up along the outer flank 15A, then extends obliquely over the upper face 12A, so as to go down along the inner flank 14A and come onto the lower face 13A, coming against the lower strand 8. The flexible link then goes up along the outer flank 15A to its arrival point 16.

[0039] From this arrival point 16, the flexible strand can reproduce this pattern again cyclically.

[0040] In this example, loops 10A, 10B make a single turn around beam 7A, 7B. Alternatively, loops 10A, 10B can make multiple turns.

[0041] There figure 7 illustrates this repetition of the cyclical pattern. The figure 7 is a top view in the form of a schematic representation. For clarity of the figure, the lower strands 8 and the upper strands 9 have been illustrated respectively with different hatching.

[0042] There figure 7 This illustrates the fact that, in top view, the upper strands 9 and the lower strands 8 are juxtaposed. Although positioned at different heights, they are consecutive along the longitudinal direction L.

[0043] There figure 8 schematically illustrates the unitary cyclic motif of the figure 6 in a loose manner, schematically showing the path of the different portions of the flexible link 6.

[0044] Thus, thanks to the longitudinal juxtaposition (following a vertical view) of the lower strands 8 and the upper strands 9, as well as the relaxed nature of the lower strand, the shading device allows for optimized shading in that the direct vertical solar rays are almost completely blocked, and part of the oblique radiation is transmitted, so that the proportion between shading and brightness is optimized to promote cooling while preserving brightness.

[0045] Furthermore, the taut state of the upper strands 9 allows for the production of fixed shade, as the strands remain essentially stationary, even in windy conditions. The lower strands 8, on the other hand, can move due to their loose and swaying nature. In windy conditions, the movement of these lower strands 8 will modulate the shaded areas, with shade production decreasing proportionally to the wind speed.

[0046] The shading system described in this example is simple to construct and inexpensive. However, it allows for the production of adjustable shade in synergy with the wind.

[0047] There figure 9 is a cross-sectional view similar to the figure 5 and illustrates a variant of the shading device. According to this variant, the supporting structure 1 also includes retaining flanges 17 which are fixed to the beams 7A, 7B. These retaining flanges 17 can be fixed by any mechanical fixing to the beams 7A, 7B, but also glued, braced, etc.

[0048] In this example, the retaining flanges 17 can be made from rectangular cross-section bars. These are screwed onto the beams 7A, 7B, by means of screws (not shown) passing between the strands of the flexible link.

[0049] There figure 10 illustrates an example where these retaining flanges 17 are part of a frame 4. In this variant, the load-bearing structure 1 comprises two separate beams 7A, 7B and the retaining flanges 17 form two lateral portions of the frame 4.

[0050] There figure 11 This illustrates another variant in which the retaining flanges 17 are independent and are directly fixed to each of the beams 7A, 7B. The load-bearing structure 1 can then include any other element necessary to maintain the beams 7A, 7B in their respective positions. The beams 7A, 7B can also each be mounted on portions of the frame and not require a frame, as long as a fixed distance between the two beams 7A, 7B is maintained.

[0051] Note that, even without a retaining flange 17 (as in the example of the figure 5 ), the loops 10A, 10B are still held in place thanks to the edges due to the square section of the beams 7A, 7B, so that the windings which govern the tightening of the upper strands 9 as well as the relaxed character of the lower strands 8 are fixed.

[0052] The retaining flanges 17 however allow this retention to be increased and also allow the cross-sectional shape of the beams 7A, 7B to be varied, for example for round sections.

[0053] The retaining flanges 17 can also allow for a transport configuration, as illustrated in the figure 12 .

[0054] There figure 12 Figure 1 illustrates the beams 7A, 7B of a supporting structure 1 of a shading device according to the invention, in transport configuration. In this configuration, the retaining flanges 17 hold the flexible link 6 in place at the loops 10A, 10B, fixedly on the two beams 7A, 7B.

[0055] Beams 7A and 7B can then be brought closer together as shown in the figure 12 . In this configuration, beams 7A, 7B can be placed against each other and arranged in a package whose transverse dimensions will be considerably reduced.

[0056] The shade system can therefore be delivered or sold ready to assemble, possibly with a frame to be assembled for the supporting structure 1 and possible uprights 3 or any other additional element.

[0057] There figure 13 illustrates the process according to the invention with a step of setting up the flexible link 6 between the two beams 7A, 7B, with a winding beam 20 adapted to maintain a gap between the lower strands 8 following a predetermined deflection F'.

[0058] There figure 13 illustrates an occulting element 2 during production. The two beams 7A, 7B are mounted on a production base 19 which allows the spacing of the two beams 7A, 7B to be fixed and the two beams 7A, 7B to be maintained at a relative distance from a winding beam 20.

[0059] The base 19 can for example be made up of two end plates fixed on the end of the beams 7A, 7B.

[0060] On the figure 13 , this base 19 is schematically represented by a triangular end piece (seen in transparency in this schematic view), each end of which fixes one of the beams 7A, 7B, 20.

[0061] The winding beam 20 is located midway between the two beams 7A and 7B. It is also offset, along the longitudinal direction L, by a distance corresponding to a deflection F' which is approximately 10% greater than the deflection F (see figure 5 ) that one wishes to obtain.

[0062] With beams 7A and 7B thus positioned in base 19, the flexible link 6 can then be installed, repeating the cyclic pattern illustrated in the longitudinal direction L. figures 6 And 8 .

[0063] The winding is done by stretching the strands both the upper strand 9 and the lower strand 8 between their respective beams, that is to say between the two beams 7A, 7B, for the upper strand 9 and between the beam 7A, the winding beam 20 and the beam 7B, for the lower strand 8.

[0064] The optional retaining flanges 17 can be fitted at this stage.

[0065] The beams 7A, 7B and the blackout element 2 thus produced can then be extracted from the base 19 and the winding beam 20 is thus also extracted.

[0066] The shading system can then be completed by installing other elements of the supporting structure 1, an optional upright 3, etc. The shading system can also be directly packaged and shipped in its aforementioned transport configuration.

[0067] Various implementation options are possible. In particular, the load-bearing structure 1 can have any type of configuration allowing the beams 7A, 7B to be held opposite each other, such as modular frames, mounted on a large structure, frames supported by four uprights, frames on suspension elements, etc.

[0068] THE figures 14 à 16 They also illustrate variants of the arrangement of the upper strands 8 and lower strands 9, with loops 10A, 10B which remain as described previously.

[0069] There figure 14 This illustrates a variant with the upper strands 9 and the lower strands 8 slack. Thus, the flexible link 6 is arranged here within the blackout element 2 with: upper strands 9 transverse which are relaxed, connecting the two beams 7A, 7B; lower strands 8 transverse which are relaxed, connecting the two beams 7A, 7B; a loop 10A around the first beam 7A; a loop 10B around the second beam 7B.

[0070] This variant of the figure 14 allows for greater modulation of shading, and can, for example, be reserved for geographical areas with little wind.

[0071] There figure 15 This illustrates a variant with the upper strands 9 and the lower strands 8 under tension. To implement this variant, the flexible link must have sufficient elasticity to allow some movement of the strands 8 and 9. Thus, the flexible link 6 is arranged here within the blackout element 2 with: upper strands 9 transverse which are stretched between the two beams 7A, 7B; lower strands 8 transverse which are stretched between the two beams 7A, 7B; a loop 10A around the first beam 7A; a loop 10B around the second beam 7B.

[0072] This variant of the figure 15 allows for a lower modulation of the shading, and can be reserved, for example, for very windy geographical areas.

[0073] There figure 16 This illustrates a variant with the upper strands 9 slack and the lower strands 8 taut. Thus, the flexible link 6 is arranged here within the blackout element 2 with: upper strands 9 transverse which are stretched between the two beams 7A, 7B; lower strands 8 transverse which are stretched between the two beams 7A, 7B; a loop 10A around the first beam 7A; a loop 10B around the second beam 7B.

Claims

1. A shading device comprising a supporting structure and an opacity element, characterized in that - the supporting structure (1) comprises at least a first beam (7A) and a second beam (7B) extending opposite each other along a longitudinal direction (L); - the obscuring element (2) comprises a flexible link (6) repeating a cyclic pattern along the longitudinal direction (L), this cyclic pattern comprising at least: an upper transverse strand (9) which connects the two beams (7A,7B); a lower transverse strand (8) which connects the two beams (7A,7B); a loop (10A) around the first beam (7A); a loop (10B) around the second beam (7B).

2. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that at least one of the transverse strands (8,9) is a strand stretched between the two beams (7A, 7B).

3. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in thatat least one of the transverse strands (8,9) is a slack strand connecting the two beams (7A, 7B).

4. Device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that in this the upper transverse strand (9) is stretched between the two beams (7A, 7B), and in that the lower transverse strand (8) is relaxed by connecting the two beams (7A,7B).

5. A shading device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the flexible link (6) consists of a thread made of a polymer material, or a braid of such a thread.

6. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the transverse strand (8) which is relaxed has a deflection (F) of 10 to 20 centimeters, and preferably of 10 to 15 centimeters.

7. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the supporting structure (1) includes a frame (4) adapted to maintain the first beam (7A) and the second beam (7B) at a predetermined spacing.

8. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The first beam (7A) and the second beam (7B) are substantially parallel.

9. Device according to any one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that, each of said beams (7A,7B) comprises, extending in the longitudinal direction (L), an upper face (12A,12B), a lower face (13A,13B), an outer flank (15A,15B), and an inner flank (14A,14B), and in this the cyclic motif is composed successively of: - the upper transverse strand (9) which connects the upper face (12A) of the first beam (7A) and the upper face (12B) of the second beam (7B); - the loop (10B) around the second beam (7B), the flexible link (6) running along: the outer flank (15B) by a first portion; the lower face (13B); the inner flank (14B); the upper face (12B) coming against the upper transverse strand (9); again the outer flank (15B) coming against said first portion; - of the lower transverse strand (8) which connects the lower face (13A) of the first beam (7A) to the lower face (13B) of the second beam (7B);- of the loop (10A) around the first beam (7A), the flexible link (6) running along: the outer side (15A) by a first portion; the upper face (12A); the inner side (14A); the lower face (13A) coming against the lower transverse strand (8); again the outer side (15A) coming against the said first portion.; 10. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the supporting structure (1) includes retaining flanges (17) fixed to the beams (7A,7B) and holding said loops (10A,10B) in place.

11. A method for producing a shading device according to claims 1 to 10, said method being characterized in that It includes a step of setting up the flexible link (6) between the two beams (7A, 7B), with a winding beam (20) adapted to maintain a gap between the lower transverse strands (8) according to a predetermined deflection (F').

12. Method according to claim 11, characterized in that The step of setting up the flexible link (6) is carried out on a base (19) mutually fixing the first beam (7A), the second beam (7B), and the winding beam.

13. A method according to claim 11 or 12, where they depend on claim 10, characterized in that It includes a transport configuration step in which the beams (7A, 7B) are brought together and arranged in a package, the retaining flanges (17) holding the flexible link (6) in place at the loops (10A, 10B), fixedly on the two beams (7A, 7B).

Images