Awning equipped with a housing and two retractable arms, and pergola equipped with such an awning
The blind system with a housing-connected winding element and spring-tensioned folding arms addresses the issue of space restriction by providing shade while maintaining user mobility through motor-driven tensioned deployment.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- FR2023010661
- Authority / Receiving Office
- FR · FR
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2023-10-05
- Publication Date
- 2026-02-20
- Estimated Expiration
- 2043-10-05
AI Technical Summary
Existing blinds for pergolas restrict the free space around the pergola due to the positioning of support arms, limiting user movement and space utilization.
A blind system with a housing-connected winding element and folding arms that are spring-tensioned and motor-driven, allowing the fabric to be wound and unwound while maintaining tension, with folding arms moving from a retracted to deployed position, and using a rail-connected sliding element for smooth operation.
The solution provides shade without restricting space, enabling easier user circulation by maintaining fabric tension and allowing the blind to be deployed without obstructing the pergola area.
Smart Images
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Abstract
Description
Title of the invention: Awning equipped with a housing and two retractable arms and pergola equipped with such an awning. Field of the invention
[0001] The invention relates to a blind provided with a fabric adapted to be wound onto a winding element in a first retracted position, also adapted to be wound into a second unrolled position, in which said blind comprises a housing to which the winding element is connected, in a mobility-rotating manner, and the free end of a fabric is attached to a weight bar, said weight bar being itself connected to said housing by means of a first and a second folding arm, which folding arms being movable from a first retracted position to a second deployed position.
[0002] The blind according to the invention is particularly suitable for a pergola.
[0003] A store, according to the introduction, is known in the prior art. Store users can increase the shaded area around a pergola by using blinds such as those described above and which are an integral part of such a pergola. State of the art
[0004] Blinds particularly suited for pergolas according to the prior art are provided with a fabric that is rolled up using a roller mechanism. The free end of such fabric is attached to a weight bar, which is itself removably fixed to the pergola so that the fabric can be deployed. Such a weight bar is typically connected to the pergola by means of a set of arms allowing the weight bar to be moved relative to the pergola.
[0005] The use of blinds as disclosed in the prior art, equipped with arms to support and move the load bar relative to the pergola, limits the free space around the pergola and, consequently, the movement of users within that space. This results from the fact that the arms are positioned in a space located below the upper end of the pergola. This means that, even if the blind provides shade, the blinds known in the prior art restrict the space around the pergola during their use.
[0006] In consideration of the above observations, there is a need to offer blinds particularly suitable for use with a pergola and allowing to create shade around the pergola, without limiting the space around said pergola and also allowing easier circulation for users. Object of the invention
[0007] According to a first aspect, the invention relates to a blind comprising a fabric adapted to be wound onto a winding element in a first retracted position and also adapted to be wound into a second unrolled position, in which the blind is provided with a housing to which the winding element is connected, in a movably rotational manner, and the free end of a fabric is attached to a weight bar, said weight bar being itself connected to said housing by means of a first and a second folding arm, which folding arms being movable from a first retracted position to a second deployed position, the weight bar being equipped with a spring allowing tensioning of the fabric.
[0008] According to one embodiment of the invention, the second ends of the foldable arms are each connected to one end of the spring by means of a cable.
[0009] According to one embodiment of the invention, respectively the second end of the first foldable arm and the second end of the second foldable arm are connected in a movable manner to a rail, said second end of the first foldable arm and said second end of the second foldable arm moving along said rail between said first retracted position and said second deployed position of the foldable arms.
[0010] According to one embodiment of the invention, the second end of the first foldable arm and the second end of the second foldable arm, respectively, are connected in a movably manner to said rail by means of a sliding element, such as a skate.
[0011] According to one embodiment of the invention, the sliding element is connected movable in rotation to the second end of the first and second foldable arms.
[0012] According to one embodiment of the invention, the winding element is provided with a drive mechanism enabling the winding element to be rotated in a first direction to wind the fabric, against the force of the spring, around the winding element and in a second opposite direction to unwind the fabric from said winding element.
[0013] According to one embodiment of the invention, said drive mechanism comprises an electric motor.
[0014] According to one embodiment of the invention, the first and second foldable arms, with their first end, are connected in a movably rotational manner to the housing, and in which the first and second foldable arms, with their second end, are connected to the load bar, said second ends of the first and second foldable arms being connected to each other by means of a spring positioned in the load bar.
[0015] According to a second aspect, the invention relates to a pergola equipped with a blind according to the invention.
[0016] According to one embodiment of the invention, the housing for the blind is formed by a beam of the pergola. Brief description of the drawings
[0017] The purpose, object and features of the invention will become clearer upon reading the following description made with reference to the figures in which:
[0018] [Fig-1] shows an embodiment of the blind according to the invention,
[0019] [Fig.2] represents a top view of the blind according to [Fig.1],
[0020] [Fig.3] shows a cross-sectional view of the blind housing according to figures 1 and 2,
[0021] [Fig.4] represents an assembly by means of which the first folding arm of the blind is connected to the dwelling, and
[0022] [Fig.5] shows the assembly of the first foldable arm according to the invention.
[0023] Figure 1 shows an embodiment of the blind 100 according to the invention. The embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 5 is intended for use as an integral part of a pergola. The blind is specifically designed to be integrated into the profile of the Baléares® pergola. It should also be noted that the blind 100 is equipped with a fabric to provide sun protection. In Figure 1, the fabric of the blind is not shown in order to more clearly illustrate the various construction elements of said blind 100.
[0024] The blind 100 according to [Fig. 1] comprises a housing 1 and a weight bar 2. The housing 1 and the weight bar 2 are connected by means of a first folding arm 3 and a second folding arm 4. The folding arms 3, 4 are unfoldable from a first folded position, in which the folding arms are inside the housing 1, to a second deployed position in which the folding arms 3, 4 form an angle with the longitudinal axis of the housing 1. The longitudinal axis of the housing 1 is indicated by the reference L on [Fig. 2].
[0025] The folding arms 3, 4 are pivotally connected to the housing 1 at their first ends. This connection between the folding arms 3, 4 and the housing 1 is not shown in [Fig. 1]. However, in [Fig. 2], the first end of the first folding arm 3 is shown with reference numeral 31 and the first end of the second folding arm 4 is shown with reference numeral 4L.
[0026] As shown in [Fig. 1], the second end 32 of the first folding arm 3 and the second end 42 of the second folding arm 4 are connected to the load bar 2. The respective ends 32, 42 of the first and second folding arms 3, 4 are connected by means of a spring 5. A first end 51 of the spring 5 is connected by a first cable 61 to the second end 32 of the first folding arm 3. A second end 52 of the spring 5 is connected by a second cable 62 to the second end 42 of the second folding arm 4.
[0027] The assembly of the spring 5 and the cables 61 and 62 allows the first and second extendable arms 3, 4 to be pulled towards their second extended position. The spring 5 and the cables 61 and 62 respectively move the second ends 32, 42 of the first extendable arm 3 and the second extendable arm 4 away from each other, so that said extendable arms 3, 4 are forced to reach their second extended position.
[0028] As the second ends 32, 42 move away from each other, the load bar 2 moves away from the housing 1, which allows the canvas to be unrolled (not shown in [Fig.1]).
[0029] The displacement of the load bar relative to the housing 1 is determined not only by the folding arms 3, 4, but also by the awning fabric 100. As explained in detail below with reference to [Fig. 3], the awning fabric 100 is wound onto a winding element. A drive mechanism is used, on the one hand, to wind the fabric onto the winding element, against the action of the spring 5, and, on the other hand, to unwind the fabric, the spring 5 being used to maintain tension on the fabric by moving the ends 32, 42 of the arms 3, 4 apart. This means that the amount of fabric unwound depends on the mechanism connected to the winding element, which determines the amount of fabric that can be unwound. During unwinding and in the unrolled position of the canvas, the spring 5 and the cables 61, 62 maintain a certain tension on the canvas in order to keep it tightly stretched between the housing 1 and the load bar 2.
[0030] Fig. 2 represents a top view of blind 100 according to Fig. 1.
[0031] Fig. 2 shows the connection between, respectively, the first folding arm 3, the second folding arm 4 and the housing 1, and the load bar 2. As in Fig. 1, the fabric is not shown in Fig. 2 in order to clearly show the structural elements of the blind 100.
[0032] The first end 31 of the first folding arm 3 and the first end 41 of the second folding arm 4 are connected to the housing 1 by a pivot axis. The details of this connection are illustrated in [Fig. 5].
[0033] The second end 32 of the first folding arm 3 and the second end 42 of the second folding arm 4 are connected to the load bar 2 by means of a sliding element. The sliding element is itself connected to the load bar 2 by a pivot axis. The details of this connection are illustrated in [Fig. 5].
[0034] Figure 2 shows the blind 100 in its second unfolded state. It can be seen that the first unfolding arm 3 forms an angle "a" (alpha) of less than 90° with respect to the longitudinal axis L of the housing 1. This ensures that the unfolding arms 3, 4 return to their first unfolded position if a force is applied to the load bar 2 with the fabric, against the action of the spring 5. The second arm 4 forms also an angle "a" (alpha) less than 90° with the longitudinal axis L of housing 1.
[0035] Fig. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of housing 2 of blind 100 according to figures 1 and 2.
[0036] A winding element 11, around which a fabric 7 is wound, is positioned inside the housing 1. In the position shown in [Fig. 3], the fabric 7 is completely wound around the winding element 11. The winding element 11 is connected to a drive mechanism that allows the winding element 11 to rotate in two opposite directions. The drive mechanism is not shown in [Fig. 3] but is generally equipped with an electric motor. The free end of the fabric 7 is connected to the load bar 2 by means of a fastening element 22.
[0037] The drive mechanism can rotate the winding element 11 in a first direction allowing the fabric 7 to be wound around the winding element 11. In the example illustrated in [Fig.3], this first direction is the counterclockwise direction.
[0038] From the position illustrated in [Fig. 3], the drive mechanism can rotate the winding element 11 in a second direction, i.e., clockwise. When this rotation causes the fabric 7 to unwind, the load bar 2 can move away from the housing 1. This movement is made possible by the spring force applied to the ends 32, 42 of the unfolding arms 3, 4 by means of the spring 5 and the cables 61, 62 (see also [Fig. 1]).
[0039] According to the example of the embodiment illustrated in [Fig.3], the load bar 2 is essentially in the form of a C. The spring 5 is attached to the load bar 2. In addition, two pulleys are attached to the load bar to guide the cables 61, 62 (not shown in [Fig.3]) to the ends 32, 42 of the folding arms 3, 4.
[0040] The load bar 2 is provided with a rail 21 intended to receive sliding elements 82 connected to the second end 32, 42 of the first folding arm 3 and the second folding arm 4, respectively.
[0041] Figure 3 represents only the first unfolding arm 3. Figure 3 shows that this first unfolding arm 3 is positioned such that when the unfolding arm 3 moves from the first undeployed position, as shown in Figure 3, to the second deployed position, the arm does not move in a horizontal direction, but at an angle to the horizontal, away from the housing 1. In other words, according to the example illustrated in Figure 3, the load bar 2 moves to the left and downwards when the canvas 7 is unrolled.
[0042] Figure 4 shows an assembly 80 for connecting the first extendable arm 3 to the load bar 2. The assembly 80 includes a connecting element 81 adapted for to be inserted into the end of the folding arm 3. The folding arm 3 is typically made of aluminum. The connecting element 81 is typically made of plastic, or aluminum.
[0043] The assembly 80 further includes a sliding element or skate 82 intended to slide in the rail 21 of the load bar 2. The connecting element 81 and the sliding element 82 are connected by means of an axis 83, which also constitutes the pivot axis of the assembly 80 during the use of the blind 100.
[0044] It will be understood that the end of the second arm 4 is also provided with an assembly 80.
[0045] Figure 5 shows the assembly of the first arm 3 according to the invention. The first end 31 of the arm 3 is provided with a connecting element 81 adapted to form a pivot axis with the housing 1. The second end 32 of the arm 3 is provided with the assembly 80 of Figure 4.
Claims
Demands
1. A pergola equipped with a blind (100) comprising a fabric (7) adapted to be wound onto a winding element (11) in a first retracted position and also adapted to be wound into a second extended position, wherein the blind (100) is provided with a housing (1) to which the winding element (11) is connected, in a movably rotatable manner, and the free end of a fabric (7) is attached to a weight bar (2), said weight bar (2) being itself connected to said housing by means of a first (3) and a second folding arm (4), said folding arms (3, 4) being movable from a first retracted position to a second extended position, characterized in that the respective first end (31, 41) of the first (3) and second folding arm (4) is pivotally connected to the housing (1), and the respective second end (32,42) of the first (3) and second (4) folding arms is connected to the load bar (2), in which the housing (1) is formed by a beam of the pergola, in which said second end (32, 42) of the first (3) and second (4) folding arms are connected to each other by means of a spring (5) adapted to exert a force on the first (3) and second (4) folding arms in the direction of their second deployed position, the load bar (2) being equipped with the spring (5) allowing tensioning of the fabric (7).
2. Pergola according to claim 1, wherein the second ends (32, 42) of the folding arms (3, 4) are each connected to one end (51, 52) of the spring (5) by means of a cable (61, 62).
3. Pergola according to claim 1 or 2, wherein respectively the second end (32) of the first folding arm (3) and the second end (42) of the second folding arm (4) are movably connected to a rail (21), said second end (32) of the first folding arm (3) and said second end (42) of the second folding arm (4) moving along said rail (21) between said first retracted position and said second deployed position of the folding arms (3,4).
4. Pergola according to claim 3, wherein the second end (32) of the first folding arm (3) and the second end (42) of the second folding arm (4), respectively, are connected in such a way mobile audit rail (21) using a sliding element, such as a skate (82).
5. Pergola according to claim 4, wherein the sliding element (82) is movable in rotation to the second end (32, 42) of the first and second folding arms (3, 4).
6. Pergola according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the winding element (11) is provided with a drive mechanism enabling the winding element (11) to be rotated in a first direction to wind the fabric (7), against the force of the spring (5), around the winding element (11) and in a second opposite direction to unwind the fabric (7) from said winding element (11).
7. Pergola according to claim 6, wherein said drive mechanism comprises an electric motor.
8. Pergola according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first (3) and second folding arms (4), with their first end (31, 41), are movably connected in rotation to the housing (1), and wherein the first (3) and second folding arms (4), with their second end (32, 42), are connected to the load bar (2), said second ends (32, 42) of the first (3) and second folding arms (4) being connected to each other by means of a spring (5) positioned in the load bar (2).