Cover Mechanism

Abstract

To provide a cover mechanism capable of exposing a protected object from the indoor side.SOLUTION: A cover mechanism A that protects a protected object Q comprises an upper cover portion 10, side cover portions 12a and 12b, a cover retraction mechanism C for retracting the side cover portions 12a and 12b, and an operation portion 8 that is operated indoors by a user. The side cover portions 12a and 12b are configured to include side frames (second frames 31a and 31b) and side cover members 42a and 42b. The cover retraction mechanism C has cover member folding means 5 for folding the side cover members 42a and 42b by pulling lower ends of the side cover members 42a and 42b toward the second frames 31a and 31b. The cover member folding means 5 includes a tension spring 50, side cover string members 52a and 52b and a clamp member 53. When operated by the user, an operation part 8 causes the clamp member 53 to release the side cover string members 52a and 52b.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a cover mechanism. [Background technology]

[0002] BACKGROUND ART As a cover mechanism for protecting an object to be protected placed on an outdoor floor, for example, a cover that can be opened and closed manually is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Publication No. 53-064024 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in the above-described conventional technology, in order to expose the protected object, the user must first go outside and then manually open the cover, which is an unbearable hassle.

[0005] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems of the conventional art, and has an object to provide a cover mechanism that allows the protected object to be exposed from the indoor side. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, the cover mechanism described in the present application is attached to a screen door that is slidable laterally within a frame body, and protects an object to be protected placed on the outdoor side of the screen door, and further comprises an upper cover section that covers the top of the object to be protected, a pair of side cover sections that are configured to be expandable and contractable and that cover both sides of the object to be protected when expanded, a cover contraction mechanism that contracts the pair of side cover sections, and an operation section that is operated by a user on the indoor side, and the upper cover section is configured to include an upper frame that is arranged to be separable from the screen door at a predetermined height position, and an upper cover member that has a base end attached to the screen door and a tip end attached to the upper frame, and the pair of side cover sections are configured to include a pair of side frames that are arranged to be able to rise and fall relative to the screen door, and a pair of side cover members that are suspended from the pair of side frames and are foldable, and the pair of side cover sections The bar members are folded together to become contracted, and the cover contraction mechanism has a cover member folding means that folds the pair of side cover members by pulling the lower end of each of the pair of side cover members toward the pair of side frames, and the cover member folding means is configured to include a tension spring arranged on the screen door side, a pair of side cover side string-like members that connect one end of the tension spring to the lower end of each of the pair of side cover members via the pair of side frames, and a clamp member that releasably clamps the pair of side cover side string-like members together, and the operating unit is configured, when operated by a user, to cause the clamp member to release both of the pair of side cover side string-like members, thereby allowing the tension spring to pull the lower end of each of the pair of side cover members.

[0007] The cover mechanism includes a frame body having a first frame that is provided at a predetermined height position so as to be able to approach and separate from the screen door, and a pair of second frames that are provided so as to be able to rise and fall relative to the screen door and support the first frame, and the cover contraction mechanism further includes frame folding means for folding the frame body, the first frame functions as the upper frame, and the pair of second frames function as the pair of side frames, and the tip side portions of the pair of second frames are slidably connected to the first frame, and the frame body is provided so as to be able to slide relative to the first frame. The frame folding means is configured so that as the screen is pulled toward the screen door by the frame folding means, the pair of second frames collapse against the screen door, thereby becoming folded, and the frame folding means is configured to include a string-like member having a starting end that enters the screen door from one side of the frame body in the horizontal direction, a middle part that passes through the screen door, and a terminal end that protrudes from the screen door to the outdoors and is connected to the first frame, and the length of the terminal end of the string-like member decreases as the screen door slides, causing the string-like member to pull the first frame toward the screen door.

[0008] Another cover mechanism described in the present application is a cover mechanism that is attached to a screen door that can slide laterally within a frame body and protects an object to be protected placed on the outdoor side of the screen door, and includes an upper cover section that covers the top of the object to be protected, a front cover section that is configured to be deployable and contractible and that covers the front of the object to be protected when deployed, a pair of side cover sections that are configured to be deployable and contractible and that cover both sides of the object to be protected when deployed, a cover contraction mechanism that contracts the front cover section and the pair of side cover sections, and an operation section that is operated by a user on the indoor side, and the upper cover section has a predetermined and an upper cover member having a base end attached to the screen door and a tip end attached to the upper frame, the front cover portion includes a front frame provided so as to be able to be separated from the screen door at a predetermined height, and a foldable front cover member suspended from the front frame, and the front cover member is contracted when folded, and the pair of side cover portions include a pair of side frames provided so as to be able to swing up and down relative to the screen door, and a pair of side frames. and a pair of foldable side cover members suspended from the screen door, the pair of side cover members being in a contracted state when folded together, the cover contracting mechanism having a cover member folding means that folds the front cover member by pulling a lower end of the front cover member toward the front frame side, and folds the pair of side cover members by pulling a lower end of each of the pair of side cover members toward the pair of side frames side, the cover member folding means having a tension spring disposed on the screen door side, and one end of the tension spring a front cover side string-like member that passes through the front frame and is connected to a lower end of the front cover member; a pair of side cover side string-like members that connect one end of the tension spring to a lower end of each of the pair of side cover members through the pair of side frames; and a clamp member that releasably clamps the front cover side string-like member and the pair of side cover side string-like members together, and when operated by a user, the operating unit causes the clamp member to release all of the front cover side string-like member and the pair of side cover side string-like members, therebyThe tension spring is configured to allow the lower end of the front cover member and the lower end of each of the pair of side cover members to be pulled by the tension spring.

[0009] The cover mechanism includes a frame body having a first frame that is provided at a predetermined height position so as to be able to approach and separate from the screen door, and a pair of second frames that are provided so as to be able to swing up and down relative to the screen door and support the first frame, and the cover contraction mechanism further includes a frame folding means that folds the frame body, the first frame functions as the upper frame and the front frame, and the pair of second frames function as the pair of side frames, and tip side portions of the pair of second frames are slidably connected to the first frame, and the frame body is The pair of second frames are configured to collapse against the screen door as the first frame is pulled toward the screen door by the frame folding means, and are therefore folded.The frame folding means is configured to include a string-like member having a starting end that enters the screen door from one side of the frame body in the horizontal direction, an intermediate portion that passes through the screen door, and an end portion that protrudes from the screen door to the outdoors and is connected to the first frame, and the length of the end portion of the string-like member decreases as the screen door slides, causing the string-like member to pull the first frame toward the screen door.

[0010] The cover mechanism may further include a turntable mechanism that rotates the object to be protected in conjunction with the sliding of the screen door. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to the present invention, the side cover member can be folded and the side cover portion can be contracted by operating the operating unit from the indoor side. Contracting the side cover portion prevents the side cover portion from interfering with the protected object when the screen door slides, so the cover mechanism can be retracted from the protected object by sliding the screen door from the indoor side. This provides the advantage of exposing the protected object from the indoor side. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the arrangement of a cover mechanism. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing the entire cover mechanism according to the embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing a state in which the frame body is folded. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a schematic exploded perspective view showing the configuration of each part of the frame body. [Figure 5A] FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing a state in which the frame body is folded. [Figure 5B] 10A to 10C are schematic diagrams showing the process of unfolding the frame body. [Figure 5C] FIG. 10 is a schematic view showing a state in which the frame body is unfolded. [Figure 5D] 10A to 10C are schematic diagrams showing the process of folding the frame body. [Figure 6A] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of a frame folding means. [Figure 6B] 10 is a schematic diagram showing the process in which the first frame is pulled toward the screen door by the frame folding means. FIG. [Figure 6C] 10 is a schematic view showing a state in which the first frame is pulled toward the screen door by the frame folding means. FIG. [Figure 7A] 4 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of a cover member folding means. FIG. [Figure 7B] 10 is a schematic view showing a state in which the front cover member and the side cover member are folded by the cover member folding means. FIG. [Figure 7C] 10 is a schematic diagram showing the state of the cover member folding means when the screen door slides to the right. FIG. [Figure 7D] 10 is a schematic diagram showing the state of the cover member folding means when the screen door abuts against the right vertical frame of the frame body. FIG. [Figure 7E] 10 is a schematic diagram showing the state of the cover member folding means when the screen door slides to the left side end within the frame body. FIG. [Figure 8A]10 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which the front cover member suspension mechanism clamps the front cover side string-like member. FIG. [Figure 8B] 10 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which the front cover member suspension mechanism releases the front cover side string-like member. FIG. [Figure 9A] 10 is a schematic view showing a state in which the side cover member suspension mechanism clamps the side cover side string-shaped member. FIG. [Figure 9B] 10 is a schematic view showing a state in which the side cover member suspension mechanism releases the side cover side string-like member. FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view showing the overall configuration of the turntable mechanism. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a schematic view showing a state in which the transmission member is inserted into the belt member. [Figure 12] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of an operation unit. [Figure 13] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the internal structure of a push button portion. [Figure 14] 10 is a schematic diagram showing a connecting member attached to a frame locking portion. FIG. [Figure 15] 10 is a schematic view showing a state in which the handle portion is pulled down. FIG. [Figure 16] 16 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 15. [Figure 17] 10 is a schematic diagram showing the state of the cover mechanism when a user is about to go outside from indoors. FIG. [Figure 18] 10A and 10B are schematic diagrams illustrating behavior of the handle portion when a user pulls down the handle portion. [Figure 19] 10 is a schematic diagram showing the behavior of the front bottom plate when the front cover side string-like member is released. FIG. [Figure 20] 10 is a schematic view showing the behavior of the front cover member suspension mechanism when the front bottom plate is pulled toward the first frame side. FIG. [Figure 21] 10 is a schematic view showing the behavior of the side bottom plate when the side cover side string-like member is released from the clamp member. FIG. [Figure 22] 10 is a schematic diagram showing the positional relationship between the front cover member suspension mechanism and the side cover member suspension mechanism after the front cover member and the side cover member are folded. FIG. [Figure 23] 10 is a schematic diagram showing the state of the cover mechanism after the front cover member and the side cover member are folded. FIG. [Figure 24] 10 is a schematic diagram showing the state of the cover mechanism when a user slides the screen door to the right. FIG. [Figure 25] 25 is a schematic diagram showing the state of the cover mechanism when the user slides the screen door further to the right from the state shown in FIG. 24. [Figure 26] 10A and 10B are schematic diagrams showing the behavior of the side cover member suspension mechanism when the second frame is lowered. [Figure 27] 10A and 10B are schematic views showing the behavior of the tweezers-like members when the second frame is collapsed. [Figure 28] 10 is a schematic diagram showing the state of the cover mechanism when the user slides the screen door to the right end within the frame body. FIG. [Figure 29] 10 is a schematic diagram showing the behavior of the handle portion and the handle lock portion when a user slides the screen door to the right end within the frame body. FIG. [Figure 30] 10 is a schematic diagram showing the behavior of the turntable mechanism when a user slides the screen door to the right. FIG. [Figure 31] 10 is a schematic diagram showing the behavior of the handle portion and the handle lock portion when a user slides the screen door to the left end within the frame body. FIG. [Figure 32] 10A and 10B are schematic diagrams showing the behavior of a push button when a user presses the push button. [Figure 33] 10A and 10B are schematic diagrams showing the behavior of a frame lock unit when a user presses a push button unit. [Figure 34] 10 is a schematic view showing the positional relationship between the front cover member suspension mechanism and the side cover member suspension mechanism when the second frame is erected. FIG. [Figure 35] 10A and 10B are schematic diagrams showing the behavior of the front cover member suspension mechanism when the second frame is raised. [Figure 36] 10A and 10B are schematic diagrams showing the behavior of the side cover member suspension mechanism when the second frame stands up. [Figure 37] 37 is a schematic view showing the behavior of the side cover member suspension mechanism when the second frame is further raised from the state shown in FIG. 36. FIG. [Figure 38] 10 is a schematic view showing the behavior of the side bottom plate when the side cover side string-like member is released from the tweezers-like member in the side cover member suspension mechanism. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the same components in the embodiments described below will be designated by the same reference numerals, and redundant descriptions of those components will be omitted.

[0014] Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the arrangement of the cover mechanism A. Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the entire cover mechanism A in this embodiment. Hereinafter, the horizontal direction will be referred to as the X direction, the left direction as viewed from outdoors will be referred to as the -X direction, and the right direction as viewed from outdoors will be referred to as the +X direction. Furthermore, the vertical direction will be referred to as the Z direction, the upward direction will be referred to as the +Z direction, and the downward direction will be referred to as the -Z direction.

[0015] The cover mechanism A is used in buildings such as detached houses and apartment buildings, and is attached to a screen door 93 (see FIG. 1). The cover mechanism A protects an object Q to be protected that is placed on the outdoor side (front side) of the screen door 93. Examples of the object Q to be protected include everyday items such as footwear and gardening supplies.

[0016] The screen door 93 is provided within the frame 9 so as to be slidable in the lateral direction X, and has a predetermined width (for example, approximately 950 mm). The screen door 93 is disposed on the outdoor side of the sliding door 90. Examples of the sliding door 90 include doors and windows of double sliding type, split sliding type, and single sliding type. In this embodiment, the sliding door 90 is a double sliding French window, and is configured to include an outer shoji screen 91 whose closing direction is to the left (-X direction) and an inner shoji screen 92 whose closing direction is to the right (+X direction).

[0017] In this embodiment, the cover mechanism A is configured to protect the object to be protected Q when the screen door 93 is positioned on the left side (-X direction) within the frame body 9.

[0018] The cover mechanism A includes a cover section B, a cover contraction mechanism C, a cover member suspension mechanism 6, a turntable mechanism 7, and an operation section 8 (see FIG. 2). However, for convenience of illustration, the cover member suspension mechanism 6 is not shown in FIG. 2. The configuration of each section of the cover mechanism A will be described below in order.

[0019] -Cover part- The cover portion B includes a frame body 3 and a cover member 4 (see FIG. 2).

[0020] <frame> Fig. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing the frame body 3 in a folded state. Fig. 4 is a schematic exploded perspective view showing the configuration of each part of the frame body 3. Note that the cover member 4 is not shown in Fig. 3. Also, in Fig. 4, for convenience of illustration, the outline of the front cover member 41 is shown by a two-dot chain line. Also, the configuration of each part of the second frame 31b is symmetrical to the configuration of each part of the second frame 31a, so it is not shown.

[0021] The frame body 3 has a first frame 30 that is arranged at a predetermined height (for example, a height of approximately 200 mm from the outdoor floor F) so that it can be attached to and detached from the screen door 93, and a pair of second frames 31a, 31b (a pair of side frames) that support the first frame 30 (see Figure 3).

[0022] The first frame 30 has its longitudinal direction in the horizontal direction X and is composed of an upper frame 300 (upper frame) and a lower frame 301 (front frame), both of which are formed in a substantially rectangular column shape. The upper frame 300 and the lower frame 301 are joined in a stepped manner along the diagonal direction of their respective vertical cross sections. For ease of explanation, the direction toward the inside of the longitudinal direction of the first frame 30 will be referred to as the inward direction Di, and the direction toward the outside of the longitudinal direction of the first frame 30 will be referred to as the outward direction De.

[0023] The first frame 30 is biased in a direction away from the screen door 93 by a pair of frame biasing members Sa, Sb [a frame biasing member Sa on the left side (-X direction) and a frame biasing member Sb on the right side (+X direction)] (see FIG. 4). The frame biasing members Sa, Sb have first ends engaged with the screen door 93 and second ends engaged with the inner surface 302 of the upper frame 300 that faces the screen door 93. The frame biasing members Sa, Sb are formed from compression springs.

[0024] The first frame 30 approaches the screen door 93 as it is drawn toward the screen door 93 by the cover contraction mechanism C, which will be described in detail later.

[0025] The first frame 30 can be maintained in proximity to the screen door 93 against the biasing forces of the frame biasing members Sa and Sb by a pair of frame locking portions 94a and 94b (see FIG. 3). The frame locking portions 94a and 94b are formed in a generally hook-like shape in a plan view facing each other and are provided to be swingable with the screen door 93 side as the swing base end. The frame locking portion 94a releasably engages with the first frame 30 from the left side (-X direction), and the frame locking portion 94b releasably engages with the first frame 30 from the right side (+X direction). In this specification, "engage" refers to mechanical interlocking with each other.

[0026] The side end faces 304, 305 of the upper frame 300 of the first frame 30 are provided with grooves 34a, 34b that are engageable with the frame locking portions 94a, 94b and that gradually become deeper as they approach the screen door 93.

[0027] At both end portions of the bottom surface 303 of the upper frame 300, there are provided elongated hole-shaped connected portions 32a, 32b for connecting the second frames 31a, 31b to the first frame 30 so that they can slide in the longitudinal direction.

[0028] Inner openings 35a and 35b formed in the shape of rectangular holes are provided on both side ends of an inner surface 306 of lower frame 301 that faces screen door 93. Bottom openings 36a and 36b formed in the shape of rectangular holes are provided on both side ends of bottom surface 307 of lower frame 301.

[0029] In this embodiment, the upper frame 300 and the lower frame 301 are integrally formed, which allows the number of parts to be reduced compared to when the upper frame 300 and the lower frame 301 are independent structures.

[0030] The second frames 31a, 31b (the second frame 31a on the left (-X direction) side and the second frame 31b on the right (+X direction) side) are both formed in a rectangular shape with rounded corners in a plan view, and are provided on both side ends of the first frame 30 so that they can rise and swing relative to the screen door 93. When laid down, the second frames 31a, 31b are stored below the upper frame 300 between the screen door 93 and the lower frame 301 so that their longitudinal directions are aligned with the lateral direction X (see FIG. 3).

[0031] The second frame 31a, when in a laid-down state, swings in a swing direction Ra about the swing base end 37a located on the left side (-X direction) end, thereby standing up from the screen door 93 side. Similarly, the second frame 31b, when in a laid-down state, swings in a swing direction Rb about the swing base end 37b located on the right side (+X direction) end, thereby standing up from the screen door 93 side. The second frames 31a and 31b are supported so as to be swingable relative to the screen door 93 by support pieces 95a and 95b protruding from the screen door 93 (see FIG. 4). For ease of explanation, in the swing directions Ra and Rb of the second frames 31a and 31b, the direction in which they stand up from the screen door 93 side will be referred to as the standing direction Ru, and the direction in which they fall down from the screen door 93 side will be referred to as the falling direction Rd. Furthermore, the base end side of the second frames 31a and 31b refers to the side of the swing base ends 37a and 37b, and the tip end side of the second frames 31a and 31b refers to the side opposite the base end side.

[0032] An insertion groove 314 into which the support piece 95a is inserted and an insertion hole 315 into which the swinging support shaft (not shown) of the support piece 95a is inserted are provided on the base end curved surface 310 on the base end side of the second frame 31a (see FIG. 4). Similarly, an insertion groove 314 into which the support piece 95b is inserted and an insertion hole 315 into which the swinging support shaft (not shown) of the support piece 95b is inserted are provided on the base end curved surface 310 on the base end side of the second frame 31b.

[0033] A distal end opening 316 is provided on a distal end curved surface 311 on the distal end side of each of the second frames 31a and 31b, for allowing a cover member suspension mechanism 6, which will be described later, to protrude therethrough.

[0034] A connecting portion 38 connected to the connected portion 32a of the first frame 30 and an elongated guide hole 317 that guides the connecting portion 38 along the swing direction Ra are provided on the tip side of the top surface 312 of the second frame 31a (see FIG. 4). Similarly, a connecting portion 38 connected to the connected portion 32b of the first frame 30 and an elongated guide hole 317 that guides the connecting portion 38 along the swing direction Rb are provided on the tip side of the top surface 312 of the second frame 31b.

[0035] The connecting portions 38 of the second frames 31a, 31b are slidably connected to the first frame 30. The connecting portions 38 include a shaft portion 380 along the vertical direction Z, and a head portion 381 that prevents the connecting portions 38a, 32b of the first frame 30 from coming off.

[0036] Fig. 5A is a schematic diagram showing the frame body 3 in a folded state, Fig. 5B is a schematic diagram showing the process of unfolding the frame body 3, Fig. 5C is a schematic diagram showing the frame body 3 in an unfolded state, and Fig. 5D is a schematic diagram showing the process of folding the frame body 3.

[0037] Next, the behavior of the frame body 3 will be described with reference to FIGS. 5A to 5C.

[0038] As shown in FIG. 5A, when the first frame 30 is maintained in close proximity to the screen door 93 by the frame locking portions 94a and 94b, the second frames 31a and 31b are in a collapsed state toward the screen door 93.

[0039] As shown in FIG. 5B , when the frame locking portions 94a, 94b are disengaged from the first frame 30, the first frame 30 moves away from the screen door 93 due to the biasing force of the frame biasing members Sa, Sb. As the first frame 30 moves away from the screen door 93, the connecting portions 38 of the second frames 31a, 31b slide outward De along the shapes of the connected portions 32a, 32b of the first frame 30, causing the second frames 31a, 31b to swing in the rising direction Ru and rise from the screen door 93 side. At this time, the frame body 3 is in an unfolded state. In short, as the first frame 30 moves away from the screen door 93, the second frames 31a, 31b rise from the screen door 93 side, causing the frame body 3 to unfold.

[0040] 5C, when the second frames 31a, 31b rise to approximately 90 degrees relative to the screen door 93, the second frames 31a, 31b reach their maximum standing state. At this time, the first frame 30 is at its maximum distance from the screen door 93. The connecting portions 38 of the second frames 31a, 31b are in contact with the inner peripheral wall surface ends 33a, 33b on the outward direction De side of the connected portions 32a, 32b of the first frame 30.

[0041] 5D , when the first frame 30 approaches the screen door 93, the connecting portions 38 of the second frames 31a, 31b slide inward in the Di direction along the shapes of the connected portions 32a, 32b of the first frame 30, causing the second frames 31a, 31b to swing in the collapse direction Rd and collapse toward the screen door 93. At this time, the frame body 3 is in a folded state. In short, the frame body 3 is folded by the second frames 31a, 31b collapsing toward the screen door 93 as the first frame 30 approaches the screen door 93. With this structure of the first frame 30 and the second frames 31a, 31b, the frame body 3 can be easily folded by bringing the first frame 30 close to the screen door 93.

[0042] <Cover material> The cover member 4 includes an upper cover member 40, a front cover member 41, and a pair of side cover members 42a and 42b (see FIG. 2).

[0043] The upper cover member 40 is formed in the shape of a foldable accordion sheet. The base end of the upper cover member 40 is attached to the screen door 93, and the tip end of the upper cover member 40 is attached to the inner surface 302 of the upper frame 300 of the first frame 30 of the frame body 3 (see FIG. 4).

[0044] Therefore, when the first frame 30 moves away from the screen door 93, the tip end of the upper cover member 40 moves away from the base end, causing the upper cover member 40 to unfold. In the unfolded state, the upper cover member 40 covers at least the upper part of the protected object Q (see FIG. 2). In this specification, the term "cover" is not limited to completely concealing something, but also includes covering something to the extent that it generally blocks out wind, rain, etc.

[0045] When the first frame 30 approaches the screen door 93, the tip end of the upper cover member 40 approaches the base end, causing the upper cover member 40 to be folded.

[0046] The front cover member 41 is formed in the shape of a foldable accordion sheet, and is suspended from the lower frame 301 of the first frame 30.

[0047] A front bottom plate 43 is attached to the lower end of the front cover member 41 (see FIG. 4). The front cover member 41 is suspended by the weight of the front bottom plate 43. The front cover member 41 is folded when the front bottom plate 43 is pulled toward the first frame 30.

[0048] The top surface 44 of the front bottom plate 43 is provided with protrusions 45a and 45b that can be inserted into the bottom openings 36a and 36b of the lower frame 301.

[0049] When the first frame 30 is suspended from the lower frame 301 while the first frame 30 is separated from the screen door 93, the front cover member 41 covers the front of the object to be protected Q (see FIG. 2).

[0050] The side cover members 42a, 42b are formed in the shape of a foldable accordion sheet. The side cover member 42a is suspended from the second frame 31a, and the side cover member 42b is suspended from the second frame 31b. Side bottom plates 46a, 46b are attached to the lower ends of the side cover members 42a, 42b (see FIG. 4). The side cover members 42a, 42b are suspended by the weight of the side bottom plates 46a, 46b. The side cover members 42a, 42b are folded when the side bottom plates 46a, 46b are pulled toward the second frames 31a, 31b.

[0051] When the side cover members 42a, 42b are suspended from the second frames 31a, 31b in a state in which the second frames 31a, 31b stand upright from the screen door 93 side, they cover both sides of the object to be protected Q (see FIG. 2).

[0052] <Cover section summary> The cover part B described above can be summarized as follows.

[0053] First, the upper cover portion 10 is formed by the first frame 30 and the upper cover member 40 (see FIG. 2).

[0054] In this embodiment, the upper cover part 10 is configured to be expandable and contractable. Specifically, the expanded state of the upper cover part 10 refers to a state in which the upper cover member 40 is unfolded. In the expanded state, the upper cover part 10 covers the upper side of the protected object Q.

[0055] The contracted state of the upper cover part 10 refers to the state in which the upper cover member 40 is folded.

[0056] The first frame 30 and the front cover member 41 form the front cover portion 11 (see FIG. 2).

[0057] The front cover part 11 is configured to be expandable and contractible. The expanded state of the front cover part 11 refers to a state in which the first frame 30 is separated from the screen door 93 and the front cover member 41 is suspended from the first frame 30. In the expanded state, the front cover part 11 covers the front of the protected object Q.

[0058] The contracted state of the front cover portion 11 refers to a state in which the front cover member 41 is folded. In other words, the front cover portion 11 contracts when the front bottom plate 43 at the lower end of the front cover member 41 is moved toward the first frame 30.

[0059] Such upper cover part 10 and front cover part 11 shield the protected object Q from wind, rain, and the like, and therefore deterioration of the protected object Q can be effectively suppressed.

[0060] Furthermore, the second frames 31a, 31b and the side cover members 42a, 42b form a pair of side cover portions 12a, 12b (see FIG. 2).

[0061] The side cover portions 12a, 12b are configured to be expandable and contractible. The expanded state of the side cover portions 12a, 12b refers to a state in which the side cover members 42a, 42b are suspended from the second frames 31a, 31b when the second frames 31a, 31b are raised from the screen door 93 side. In the expanded state, the side cover portions 12a, 12b cover both sides of the protected object Q.

[0062] The contracted state of the side cover portions 12a, 12b refers to the state in which the side cover members 42a, 42b are folded. In other words, the side cover portions 12a, 12b contract when the side bottom plates 46a, 46b at the lower ends of the side cover members 42a, 42b are moved toward the second frames 31a, 31b. Contracting the side cover portions 12a, 12b prevents the side cover portions 12a, 12b from interfering with the protected object Q when the screen door 93 slides.

[0063] By using such side cover parts 12a and 12b, deterioration of the object to be protected Q can be more effectively suppressed compared to when the object to be protected Q is covered only by the upper cover part 10 and the front cover part 11.

[0064] The configuration of the cover portion B is not limited to the above, and may be configured by a combination of the upper cover portion 10 and the side cover portions 12a and 12b.

[0065] The upper cover portion 10 is not limited to the above, and may be configured, for example, to hang down from the frame body 3 in a tent shape and cover both sides or the front of the object Q to be protected.

[0066] Further, the second frames 31a and 31b may simply support the first frame 30 so that it can be separated from the screen door 93 at a predetermined height.

[0067] Furthermore, the upper frame 300 and the lower frame 301 may be structured independently of each other.

[0068] Moreover, the upper cover member 40, the front cover member 41, and the side cover members 42a, 42b may be formed from a plate material that can be folded in an accordion-like shape.

[0069] Furthermore, the top cover member 40, the front cover member 41, and the side cover members 42a, 42b may be configured to be simply foldable in half.

[0070] Furthermore, the top cover member 40, the front cover member 41, and the side cover members 42a, 42b may be waterproofed, stain-resistant, or the like.

[0071] Furthermore, the second frames 31a and 31b described above are configured to be able to swing up and down in a double door manner, but are not limited to this, and may be configured to be able to swing up and down in a parallel link manner.

[0072] -Cover contraction mechanism- The cover contraction mechanism C has a frame folding means 2 that folds the frame body 3 by pulling the first frame 30 toward the screen door 93, and a cover member folding means 5 that folds the front cover member 41 and folds the side cover members 42a, 42b (see Figure 2).

[0073] <Frame folding method> Fig. 6A is a schematic diagram showing the entire frame folding means 2. Fig. 6B is a schematic diagram showing the process in which the first frame 30 is pulled toward the screen door 93 by the frame folding means 2. Fig. 6C is a schematic diagram showing the state in which the first frame 30 has been pulled toward the screen door 93 by the frame folding means 2. For convenience of illustration, the second frame 31b and upper cover member 40 are omitted from the illustration.

[0074] The frame folding means 2 is configured to include a string-like member 20 having a starting end 21 that enters the screen door 93 from the upper end of the left vertical frame 9a on the left side (-X direction) of the frame body 9, a middle portion 22 that passes through the screen door 93, and a terminal end 23 that protrudes from the screen door 93 to the outdoors and is connected to the first frame 30 (see FIG. 6A). In this specification, "connected" refers to being mechanically connected. The string-like member 20 is formed, for example, from a wire or wire rope made of a metal (such as stainless steel) that has excellent tensile rigidity.

[0075] The intermediate portion 22 is provided with, in this order from the starting end 21 side to the terminal end 23 side, a turning portion 25 turned by a turning pulley 24, a vertically disposed portion 26 disposed in the vertical direction Z within the left vertical frame 93a of the screen door 93, and a loosened portion 27 that turns toward the center of the horizontal direction X in the screen door 93 and can be loosened. At least the portion of the string-like member 20 other than the loosened portion 27 is in a tensioned state (not loosened state).

[0076] The total length of the string-like member 20 remains constant regardless of the sliding of the screen door 93. Therefore, the lengths of the starting end 21, middle portion 22, and end portion 23 of the string-like member 20 each change as the screen door 93 slides.

[0077] Next, the behavior of the cover contracting mechanism C will be described with reference to FIGS. 6A to 6C.

[0078] 6A, when the screen door 93 is located at the left side (-X direction), the first frame 30 is spaced apart from the screen door 93, and the second frames 31a and 31b stand upright from the screen door 93. At this time, the loosened portions 27 of the string-like members 20 are in a maximally loosened state.

[0079] As shown in Figure 6B, as the screen door 93 slides from the left (-X direction) side end to the right (+X direction), the middle portion 22 is pulled toward the starting end 21, increasing the length of the starting end 21 and gradually removing the relaxation of the relaxed portion 27 in the middle portion 22.

[0080] When the screen door 93 slides a predetermined distance (for example, about 600 mm) from the left side edge (-X direction), the relaxation of the relaxed portion 27 is completely removed.

[0081] Furthermore, when the screen door 93 slides to the right (+X direction), as shown in FIG. 6C , the middle portion 22 is pulled toward the starting portion 21 and the terminal portion 23 is pulled toward the middle portion 22, increasing the length of the starting portion 21 and decreasing the length of the terminal portion 23. As the length of the terminal portion 23 decreases, the first frame 30 connected to the terminal portion 23 is pulled toward the screen door 93. The frame folding means 2 pulls the first frame 30 toward the screen door 93 as the length of the terminal portion 23 of the string-like member 20 decreases due to the sliding of the screen door 93. As the first frame 30 is pulled toward the screen door 93, the second frames 31a and 31b collapse toward the screen door 93, folding the frame body 3. In this way, the frame folding means 2 pulls the first frame 30 toward the screen door 93, folding the frame body 3.

[0082] With such a frame folding means 2, the frame body 3 can be easily folded by simply sliding the screen door 93, which has the effect of preventing the frame body 3 from getting in the way when the user is working outdoors, for example.

[0083] Furthermore, since the first frame 30 is close to the screen door 93, the tip end of the upper cover member 40 is close to the base end, which also has the effect of making it easy to fold the upper cover member 40.

[0084] The configuration of the frame folding means 2 is not limited to the above, and in essence, it is sufficient that the structure can pull the first frame 30 toward the screen door 93 by utilizing the sliding (linear movement) of the screen door 93.For example, it may be a structure that uses a lever, link, slider, etc. to convert the direction of movement caused by the sliding of the screen door 93 into the direction in which the first frame 30 moves toward or away from the screen door 93.

[0085] <Cover member folding means> FIG. 7A is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of the cover member folding means 5. FIG. 7B is a schematic diagram showing the state in which the front cover member 41 and the side cover members 42a, 42b are folded by the cover member folding means 5. FIG. 7C is a schematic diagram showing the state of the cover member folding means 5 when the screen door 93 slides to the right. FIG. 7D is a schematic diagram showing the state of the cover member folding means 5 when the screen door 93 abuts against the right vertical frame 9b of the frame body 9. FIG. 7E is a schematic diagram showing the state of the cover member folding means 5 when the screen door 93 slides to the left side edge within the frame body 9. For convenience of illustration, the second frame 31b, side cover member 42b, and side bottom plate 46b are omitted from the illustration.

[0086] The cover member folding means 5 includes a tension spring 50, a frame body side string-like member 51, a front cover side string-like member 52c, a pair of side cover side string-like members 52a, 52b, and a clamp member 53 (see Figures 2 and 7A).

[0087] The tension spring 50 is disposed within the left vertical frame 93a of the screen door 93, and expands in the vertical direction Z to store elastic energy.

[0088] The frame-side string-like member 51 connects the upper end of the tension spring 50 to the upper end of the right vertical frame 9b on the right side (+X direction) of the frame 9, and is redirected from the tension spring 50 side by a redirecting pulley 54 and arranged on the right vertical frame 9b side of the frame 9 (see Figure 7A). The frame-side string-like member 51 is formed, for example, from a wire or wire rope made of a metal (stainless steel, etc.) that has excellent tensile rigidity. The frame-side string-like member 51 is in a tensioned state (not relaxed). The overall length of the frame-side string-like member 51 remains constant regardless of the sliding of the screen door 93.

[0089] The front cover side string-like member 52c connects the lower end of the tension spring 50 to the front bottom plate 43 at the lower end of the front cover member 41 via the first frame 30, and is arranged from the tension spring 50 side through the screen door 93 to the first frame 30 side.

[0090] The side cover side string-like members 52a, 52b connect the lower end of the tension spring 50 to the side bottom plates 46a, 46b at the lower ends of the side cover members 42a, 42b via the second frames 31a, 31b, and are arranged from the tension spring 50 side through the screen door 93 to the second frames 31a, 31b.

[0091] The front cover side string-like member 52c and the side cover side string-like members 52a, 52b are formed of, for example, a wire or wire rope made of metal (such as stainless steel) that has excellent tensile rigidity.

[0092] The portions of the front cover side string-like member 52c and the side cover side string-like members 52a, 52b that pass through the screen door 93 are provided with, in order from the tension spring 50 side, a clamped portion 55 that is clamped by the clamp member 53 and a loosened portion 56 that can be turned to the right (+X direction) and loosened. At least the portions of the front cover side string-like member 52c and the side cover side string-like members 52a, 52b other than the loosened portion 56 are in a tensioned state (not loosened). The overall lengths of the front cover side string-like member 52c and the side cover side string-like members 52a, 52b remain constant regardless of the sliding of the screen door 93.

[0093] The clamp member 53 releasably clamps the front cover side string-like member 52c and the side cover side string-like members 52a, 52b, and is fixed within the left vertical frame 93a of the screen door 93. The clamp member 53 includes a pair of receiving members 530, 531 and a pair of fitting members 532, 533 that can be fitted into the receiving members 530, 531 from below (-Z direction). The inner surfaces of the receiving members 530, 531 that face each other are tapered downward (-Z direction). The outer surfaces of the fitting members 532, 533 that face each other are tapered downward (-Z direction), and the inner surfaces that face each other are formed so as to be parallel to each other.

[0094] When the fitting members 532, 533 of the clamp member 53 are fitted into the receiving members 530, 531, the fitting members 532, 533 are drawn toward each other by a wedge effect, causing the clamp member 53 to clamp the clamped portions 55 of the front cover side string-like member 52c and the side cover side string-like members 52a, 52b together with the fitting members 532, 533. When the fitting members 532, 533 are released from the receiving members 530, 531, the wedge effect is released, causing the clamp member 53 to release the clamped portions 55 of the front cover side string-like member 52c and the side cover side string-like members 52a, 52b.

[0095] The clamping member 53 is configured to clamp the front cover side string-like member 52c and the side cover side string-like members 52a, 52b when the screen door 93 abuts against the right vertical frame 9b of the frame body 9, and to release the front cover side string-like member 52c and the side cover side string-like members 52a, 52b when it receives force from the operating unit 8. The behavior of the clamping member 53 will be described in detail later, along with the structure of the operating unit 8.

[0096] Next, the behavior of the cover member folding means 5 will be described with reference to FIGS. 7A to 7E.

[0097] As shown in FIG. 7A , when the screen door 93 is positioned at the left (−X direction) end within the frame 9, the clamp member 53 clamps the front cover side string member 52c and the side cover side string members 52a, 52b, and the tension spring 50 is pulled and stores elastic energy. The slack portions 56 of the front cover side string member 52c and the side cover side string members 52a, 52b are completely relaxed. At this time, the first frame 30 is separated from the screen door 93, and the second frames 31a, 31b are raised from the screen door 93 side. The front cover member 41 is suspended from the lower frame 301 of the first frame 30, and the side cover members 42a, 42b are suspended from the second frames 31a, 31b.

[0098] As shown in FIG. 7B, when the clamp member 53 releases the front cover side string-like member 52c and the side cover side string-like members 52a and 52b, the elastic energy of the tension spring 50 is released.

[0099] The front bottom plate 43 at the lower end of the front cover member 41 is pulled toward the first frame 30 via the front cover side string member 52c by the elastic energy of the tension spring 50. In this way, the front cover member 41 is folded.

[0100] Similarly, the side bottom plates 46a, 46b at the lower ends of the side cover members 42a, 42b are pulled toward the second frames 31a, 31b via the side cover side string members 52a, 52b by the elastic energy of the tension spring 50. In this manner, the side cover members 42a, 42b are folded.

[0101] In this way, the cover member folding means 5 folds the front cover member 41 and also folds the side cover members 42a and 42b.

[0102] At this time, the front cover member 41 and the side cover members 42a, 42b are maintained in a folded state by a cover member suspension mechanism 6, which will be described later.

[0103] 7C, when the screen door 93 slides from the leftward (-X direction) end to the rightward (+X direction) within the frame 9, the tension spring 50 is pressed downward (-Z direction) by the frame-side string-like member 51 a distance equal to the sliding distance of the screen door 93, and moves closer to the clamp member 53. The downward pressing of the tension spring 50 causes relaxation of the slack portions 56 in the front cover-side string-like member 52c and the side cover-side string-like members 52a and 52b.

[0104] At this time, as explained above, the first frame 30 is pulled toward the screen door 93, and the pulling of the first frame 30 toward the screen door 93 causes further slack in the slack portion 56 of the front cover side string-like member 52c.

[0105] 7D, when the screen door 93 abuts against the right vertical frame 9b of the frame body 9, the clamping member 53 clamps the clamped portions 55 of the front cover side string-like member 52c and the side cover side string-like members 52a, 52b. At this time, the loosened portions 56 of the front cover side string-like member 52c and the side cover side string-like members 52a, 52b are in a maximally loosened state and have a predetermined loosened length (for example, about 200 mm).

[0106] 7E, with the clamping members 53 still clamping the front cover side string-like member 52c and the side cover side string-like members 52a, 52b, as the screen door 93 slides to the left (-X direction) side end within the frame body 9, the frame body side string-like member 51 attempts to pull the tension spring 50 upward (+Z direction) by a distance equal to the sliding distance of the screen door 93, but the movement of the tension spring 50 is restricted by the clamping members 53. As a result, the frame body side string-like member 51 pulls the tension spring 50, and elastic energy is again stored.

[0107] 7E, the slack portions 56 of the front cover string-like member 52c and the side cover string-like members 52a, 52b remain in a maximally relaxed state. As will be described in detail later in conjunction with an example of use of the cover mechanism A, the slack portions 56 of the front cover string-like member 52c are used when suspending the front cover member 41 from the lower frame 301, and the slack portions 56 of the side cover string-like members 52a, 52b are used when suspending the side cover members 42a, 42b from the second frames 31a, 31b.

[0108] To summarize the cover contraction mechanism C described above, the cover contraction mechanism C contracts the upper cover portion 10 by folding the upper cover member 40 with the frame folding means 2. The cover contraction mechanism C also contracts the front cover portion 11 by folding the front cover member 41 with the cover member folding means 5, and contracts the side cover portions 12a and 12b by folding the side cover members 42a and 42b with the cover member folding means 5.

[0109] In addition, the cover member folding means 5 may be composed of three independent mechanisms for folding the front cover member 41 and the side cover members 42a, 42b, respectively, for example, a mechanism using three independent tension springs and three independent clamp members.

[0110] -Cover member suspension mechanism- The cover member suspension mechanism 6 suspends the front cover member 41 and the side cover members 42a, 42b when the second frames 31a, 31b rise from the screen door 93 side. This makes it possible to cover the front and both sides of the protected object Q in conjunction with the rising of the second frames 31a, 31b. The specific configuration of the cover member suspension mechanism 6 will be described below, but the behavior of the cover member suspension mechanism 6 will be described in detail later together with an example of using the cover mechanism A.

[0111] The cover member suspension mechanism 6 includes a front cover member suspension mechanism 60 that suspends the front cover member 41, and side cover member suspension mechanisms 61a and 61b that suspend the side cover members 42a and 42b. The front cover member suspension mechanism 60 is disposed inside the lower frame 301 of the first frame 30 (see FIGS. 8A and 8B), and the side cover member suspension mechanisms 61a and 61b are disposed inside the second frames 31a and 31b (see FIGS. 9A and 9B).

[0112] <Front cover member suspension mechanism> Fig. 8A is a schematic diagram showing the state in which the front cover member suspension mechanism 60 clamps the front cover side string-like member 52c. Fig. 8B is a schematic diagram showing the state in which the front cover member suspension mechanism 60 releases the front cover side string-like member 52c. For convenience of illustration, the front cover member 41 is omitted from Figs. 8A and 8B.

[0113] The front cover member suspension mechanism 60 holds the front cover member 41 in the folded state by clamping the front cover side string members 52c connected to the front bottom plate 43 (see FIG. 8A). The front cover member suspension mechanism 60 releases the front cover side string members 52c, allowing the front cover member 41 to suspend due to the weight of the front bottom plate 43 (see FIG. 8B).

[0114] The front cover member suspension mechanism 60 is configured to release the front cover side string-like member 52c by the pressing force received from the side cover member suspension mechanisms 61a, 61b when the second frames 31a, 31b rise from the screen door 93 side.

[0115] Specifically, the front cover member suspension mechanism 60 includes a pair of pad members 62a, 62b arranged in order from the front cover side string-shaped member 52c in the outward direction De, which releasably clamp the front cover side string-shaped member 52c, pressed members 63a, 63b which receive pressing force from the side cover member suspension mechanisms 61a, 61b, and biasing members 64a, 64b which bias the pad members 62a, 62b in the inward direction Di, as well as convex members 65a, 65b which are arranged on the inner side of the bottom surface 307 of the lower frame 301 and can engage with the pressed members 63a, 63b (see Figure 8A).

[0116] The pad members 62a, 62b are each formed from a rubber material or the like that provides high friction with the front cover side string-like member 52c and has excellent grip. The pad member 62a is disposed on the left side (-X direction) of the front cover side string-like member 52c and is connected to the pressed member 63a by a connecting member 66a. The pad member 62b is disposed on the right side (+X direction) of the front cover side string-like member 52c and is connected to the pressed member 63b by a connecting member 66b. The pad members 62a, 62b clamp the front cover side string-like member 52c by the biasing forces of the biasing members 64a, 64b.

[0117] The pressed members 63a, 63b are provided so as to be slidable in the inward direction Di and the outward direction De. The pressed members 63a, 63b include pressed pieces 67a, 67b protruding from the inner openings 35a, 35b in the lower frame 301, and concave notches 68a, 68b on the bottom surface side that can engage with the convex members 65a, 65b.

[0118] When the pressed members 63a, 63b receive a pressing force in the outward direction De from the side cover member suspension mechanisms 61a, 61b at the pressed pieces 67a, 67b, they slide along the outward direction De and separate the pad members 62a, 62b from the front cover side string members 52c via the connecting members 66a, 66b (see FIG. 8B ). In other words, the pad members 62a, 62b release the front cover side string members 52c due to the pressed members 63a, 63b sliding in the outward direction De. At this time, the pressed members 63a, 63b engage with the convex members 65a, 65b at the concave notches 68a, 68b, and are maintained in a state of sliding in the outward direction De due to interference with the side cover member suspension mechanisms 61a, 61b (described later) at the pressed pieces 67a, 67b. In other words, the pressed members 63a, 63b engage with the convex members 65a, 65b at the concave notches 68a, 68b, and the pressed pieces 67a, 67b interfere with the side cover member suspension mechanisms 61a, 61b, thereby maintaining the pad members 62a, 62b in a state in which the front cover side string-like member 52c is released.

[0119] The biasing member 64a has a first end engaged with the inner surface of a side end surface 308 on the left side (-X direction) of the lower frame 301, and a second end engaged with the pressed member 63a (see FIG. 8A). The biasing member 64b has a first end engaged with the inner surface of a side end surface 309 on the right side (+X direction) of the lower frame 301, and a second end engaged with the pressed member 63b. The biasing members 64a and 64b are formed of compression springs.

[0120] The convex members 65a, 65b are formed in a generally triangular shape in a front view, and have a height that allows the pressed members 63a, 63b to ride up when sliding toward the outward direction De. The convex members 65a, 65b are disposed at positions where they engage with the concave notches 68a, 68b of the pressed members 63a, 63b when the pressed members 63a, 63b have slid toward the outward direction De.

[0121] Due to the engagement between the convex members 65a, 65b and the pressed members 63a, 63b, the pressed members 63a, 63b are maintained in a state in which they slide toward the outward direction De, i.e., the pad members 62a, 62b are each separated from the front cover side string-shaped member 52c (see Figure 8B).

[0122] The engagement between the convex members 65a, 65b and the pressed members 63a, 63b is released by the front bottom plate 43 being pulled toward the first frame 30. Specifically, when the protrusions 45a, 45b on the front bottom plate 43 are inserted into the bottom openings 36a, 36b of the lower frame 301, the pressed members 63a, 63b receive a pressing force in the upward direction (+Z direction) from the protrusions 45a, 45b and move away from the convex members 65a, 65b. In this way, the engagement between the convex members 65a, 65b and the pressed members 63a, 63b is released.

[0123] Furthermore, when the protrusions 45a, 45b on the front bottom plate 43 are inserted into the bottom openings 36a, 36b on the lower frame 301, the pressed members 63a, 63b move over the interfering portions of the side-cover member suspension mechanisms 61a, 61b. In this way, the interference between the pressed members 63a, 63b and the side-cover member suspension mechanisms 61a, 61b is released.

[0124] The pressed members 63a, 63b, which have been released from engagement with the convex members 65a, 65b and interference with the side cover member suspension mechanisms 61a, 61b, slide in the inward direction Di due to the biasing force of the biasing members 64a, 64b, allowing the pad members 62a, 62b to clamp the front cover side string-like member 52c again.

[0125] <Side cover member suspension mechanism> Fig. 9A is a schematic diagram showing a state in which the side-cover member suspension mechanism 61a clamps the side-cover side string-shaped members 52a. Fig. 9B is a schematic diagram showing a state in which the side-cover member suspension mechanism 61a releases the side-cover side string-shaped members 52a. Note that, for convenience of illustration, the side-cover member 42a is not shown in Figs. 9A and 9B. The following description will be made using Figs. 9A and 9B, which show one side-cover member suspension mechanism 61a. The other side-cover member suspension mechanism 61b has a configuration symmetrical to the illustrated side-cover member suspension mechanism 61a, except for the fact that it clamps and releases the side-cover side string-shaped members 52b.

[0126] The side cover member suspension mechanisms 61a, 61b clamp the side cover side string members 52a, 52b connected to the side bottom plates 46a, 46b to maintain the side cover members 42a, 42b in a folded state (see FIG. 9A). The side cover member suspension mechanisms 61a, 61b release the side cover side string members 52a, 52b to allow the side cover members 42a, 42b to suspend due to the weight of the side bottom plates 46a, 46b (see FIG. 9B). The side cover member suspension mechanisms 61a, 61b are configured to release the side cover side string members 52a, 52b due to the pressing force received from the shafts 380 of the connecting portions 38 of the second frames 31a, 31b when the second frames 31a, 31b rise from the screen door 93 side.

[0127] The side cover member suspension mechanisms 61a, 61b are configured to include a tweezers-like member 610 that releasably clamps the side cover side string-like members 52a, 52b, a biasing member 611 for closing the tweezers-like member 610, a pressed member 612 that receives a pressing force from the shaft portion 380 of the connecting portion 38 in the second frame 31a, a convex member 613 that can engage with the pressed member 612, and a pressing member 69 that presses the front cover member suspension mechanism 60.

[0128] The tweezers-like members 610 include a movable clamping plate 614 that moves in the falling direction Rd relative to the side-cover side string-like members 52a, and a fixed clamping plate 615 that is fixed in the standing direction Ru relative to the side-cover side string-like members 52a. When the tip of the movable clamping plate 614 moves in the standing direction Ru, the tweezers-like members 610 close and clamp the side-cover side string-like members 52a. When the tip of the movable clamping plate 614 moves in the falling direction Rd, the tweezers-like members 610 open and release the side-cover side string-like members 52a. The tip of the movable clamping plate 614 is attached to the pressed member 612.

[0129] The biasing member 611 has a first end engaged with the inner surface of the side surface 313 of the second frame 31a on the side in the falling direction Rd, and a second end engaged with the pressed member 612. The biasing member 611 is formed of a compression spring. The biasing member 611 biases the tip end of the movable clamping plate 614 of the tweezers-shaped member 610 in the standing direction Ru via the pressed member 612, thereby closing the tweezers-shaped member 610.

[0130] The pressed member 612 is provided so as to be slidable along the swing direction Ra of the second frame 31a on the side of the falling direction Rd relative to the shaft portion 380 of the connecting portion 38. The pressed member 612 includes a pressed surface 616 that is curved along the outer shape of the shaft portion 380 on the shaft portion 380 side of the connecting portion 38, and a concave notch 617 that can engage with the convex member 613 on the side of the tip of the second frame 31a.

[0131] When the pressed surface 616 of the pressed member 612 receives a pressing force in the falling direction Rd from the shaft portion 380 of the connecting portion 38, the pressed member 612 slides in the falling direction Rd and separates the tip end of the movable clamping plate 614 of the tweezers-shaped member 610 from the fixed clamping plate 615 (see FIG. 9B ). In other words, the pressed member 612 opens the tweezers-shaped member 610 by the pressing force received in the falling direction Rd from the shaft portion 380 of the connecting portion 38.

[0132] The convex member 613 is formed in a shape of a plate material with a convex shape that is generally triangular in plan view added thereto, and is disposed at a position where it engages with a concave notch 617 in the pressed member 612 when the pressed member 612 slides in the falling direction Rd (see FIG. 9A). The convex member 613 is also provided so as to be able to retreat from the pressed member 612.

[0133] The engagement between the convex member 613 and the pressed member 612 maintains the pressed member 612 in a state where it has slid in the falling direction Rd. In other words, the convex member 613 maintains the tweezers-like member 610 in an open state.

[0134] The pressing member 69 is provided so as to be swingable in a swing direction α around a swing shaft 690 along the vertical direction Z, and includes a pressing piece 691 extending from the swing shaft 690 and protruding from the tip opening 316 of the second frame 31a, and a connecting piece 692 protruding from the swing shaft 690 in the falling direction Rd and connected to the convex member 613 by a connecting member 618. The pressing piece 691 is a portion that interferes with the pressed pieces 67a, 67b of the pressed members 63a, 63b described above.

[0135] When the pressing member 69 receives a force from the inward direction Di at the pressing piece 691, it swings in the swing direction α.

[0136] The engagement between the convex member 613 and the pressed member 612 is released by the pressing member 69. Specifically, when the pressing member 69 receives force from the inward direction Di from the pressed members 63a, 63b of the front cover member suspension mechanism 60 at the pressing piece 691, the pressing member 69 swings in the swing direction α around the swing shaft portion 690. As the pressing member 69 swings in the swing direction α, the connecting piece 692 pulls the convex member 613 via the connecting member 618 in a direction to retract from the pressed member 612. In this way, the engagement between the convex member 613 and the pressed member 612 is released.

[0137] The pressed member 612, which has been released from engagement with the convex member 613, slides along the standing direction Ru due to the biasing force of the biasing member 611, and allows the tweezers-like members 610 to close again.

[0138] -Turntable mechanism- Fig. 10 is a schematic plan view showing the overall configuration of the turntable mechanism 7. Fig. 11 is a schematic view showing a state in which the transmission member 72 is inserted into the belt member 71.

[0139] The turntable mechanism 7 rotates the protected object Q in conjunction with the sliding of the screen door 93, and is configured to include a turntable main body 70 on which the protected object Q can be placed, a belt member 71 that rotates the turntable main body 70, and a transmission member 72 that transmits the sliding of the screen door 93 to the belt member 71 (see Figure 10).

[0140] The turntable main body 70 is disposed so that the top surface is at approximately the same height as the outdoor floor F. On the outer periphery of the turntable main body 70, gear teeth (not shown) that mesh with the belt member 71 are formed.

[0141] The belt member 71 is wound around a group of pulleys (not shown) and is provided so as to be able to rotate. The belt member 71 has an overall width greater than that of the screen door 93. A plurality of tooth grooves 73 are formed at a regular pitch on the outer periphery of the belt member 71 (see FIG. 11).

[0142] The power transmission member 72 is formed in a shape that opens downward (in the -Z direction), and is suspended from the screen door 93 side. The power transmission member 72 descends and is inserted between the tooth grooves 73 of the belt member 71, thereby engaging with the belt member 71. The power transmission member 72 ascends and moves away from the belt member 71, thereby releasing the engagement with the belt member 71.

[0143] When the screen door 93 slides to the right (+X direction) with the transmission member 72 engaged with the belt member 71, the sliding of the screen door 93 is transmitted to the belt member 71 by the transmission member 72, causing the belt member 71 to move clockwise in a plan view. As the belt member 71 moves, the turntable main body 70 rotates counterclockwise in a plan view, which in turn causes the protected object Q on the turntable main body 70 to rotate.

[0144] In this embodiment, the gear ratio between the turntable main body 70 and the belt member 71 is set so that when the screen door 93 slides from the left side (-X direction) end to the right side (+X direction) end within the frame body 9, the turntable main body 70 rotates 180 degrees.

[0145] In this way, the turntable mechanism 7 rotates the object to be protected Q in conjunction with the sliding of the screen door 93.

[0146] With such a turntable mechanism 7, for example, if the protected item Q is footwear, even if the user takes off the footwear on the turntable main body 70 while keeping it in the direction of the user's movement (facing the screen door 93) when going indoors from outdoors, by sliding the screen door 93 to the right (+X direction), the footwear, which is the protected item Q, can be rotated to an orientation that is easy to put on while keeping it in the direction of the user's movement (away from the screen door 93) when the user next goes outdoors from indoors.

[0147] -Operation unit- Fig. 12 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of the operating unit 8. Fig. 13 is a schematic diagram showing the internal structure of the push button unit 80. Fig. 14 is a schematic diagram showing connecting members 800 and 801 attached to frame locking units 94a and 94b. Fig. 15 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which the handle unit 81 has been pulled down. Fig. 16 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in Fig. 15.

[0148] The operating unit 8 is operated by the user on the indoor side and includes a push button unit 80 configured to be pushed by the user, a handle unit 81 configured to be held by the user and pulled down, and a handle lock unit 82 that releasably holds the handle unit 81 in the pulled-down position. The push button unit 80 and the handle unit 81 are provided on the left vertical frame 93a of the screen door 93 on the indoor side (see Figure 12).

[0149] The push button section 80 is configured to cause the frame lock sections 94a and 94b to release the first frame 30 when operated by a user.

[0150] A connecting member hook portion 83 that protrudes and bends upward is provided on the back side of the push button portion 80 (see FIG. 13). First ends of the connecting members 800, 801 are hooked onto the connecting member hook portion 83. The connecting member hook portion 83 is configured to pull the connecting members 800, 801 in response to a user's pressing operation on the push button portion 80, for example, by using a telescopic structure or the like at the tip portion.

[0151] A second end of connecting member 800 is attached to the left side (-X direction) of frame locking portion 94a, and a second end of connecting member 801 is attached to the right side (+X direction) of frame locking portion 94b (see FIG. 14). When the user presses push button portion 80, frame locking portion 94a is pulled from the left side (-X direction) by connecting member 800 and swings away from first frame 30, and frame locking portion 94b is pulled from the right side (+X direction) by connecting member 801 and swings away from first frame 30.

[0152] In this way, the push button unit 80 causes the frame lock units 94a and 94b to release the first frame 30 when operated by the user.

[0153] When the handle 81 is pulled down by the user, it causes the clamp member 53 in the cover member folding means 5 of the cover contracting mechanism C to release the front cover side string-like member 52c and the side cover side string-like members 52a, 52b (see FIGS. 12 and 15). At the same time, the handle 81 is configured to engage the transmission member 72 in the turntable mechanism 7 with the belt member 71.

[0154] The handle portion 81 has a rectangular outer shape and is provided so as to be slidable in the vertical direction Z within a rectangular box-shaped holder 84 that opens toward the indoor side (see Figures 12 and 15). The handle portion 81 is urged upward (in the +Z direction) by a urging member 86. A first end of the urging member 86 is engaged with the bottom surface of the handle portion 81, and a second end of the urging member 86 is engaged with the inner surface of the bottom surface of the holder 84. A concave notch 85 is provided on the left-hand edge (in the -X direction) of the handle portion 81, with which the handle lock portion 82 can engage. The urging member 86 is formed from a compression spring.

[0155] The handle portion 81 is connected to the fitting members 532, 533 of the clamp member 53 by connecting members 810, 811 (see FIG. 12). When the user pulls down the handle portion 81, it pushes down the fitting members 532, 533 via the connecting members 810, 811. When the fitting members 532, 533 are pushed down by the handle portion 81 and come out of the receiving members 530, 531, the clamp member 53 releases the front cover side string-like member 52c and the side cover side string-like members 52a, 52b (see FIG. 15).

[0156] In this way, the handle portion 81 causes the clamp member 53 to release the front cover side string-like member 52c and the side cover side string-like members 52a and 52b.

[0157] As described above, when the clamp member 53 releases the front cover side string-like member 52c and the side cover side string-like members 52a, 52b, the elastic energy of the tension spring 50 pulls the front cover member 41 toward the first frame 30, and also pulls the side bottom plates 46a, 46b at the lower ends of the side cover members 42a, 42b toward the second frames 31a, 31b. In other words, when the handle portion 81 is pulled down by the user, it allows the tension spring 50 to pull the front bottom plate 43 and the side bottom plates 46a, 46b, and ultimately allows the front cover member 41 and the side cover members 42a, 42b to be folded.

[0158] Such handle portion 81 allows the side cover members 42a, 42b to be folded from the indoor side, and further allows the side cover portions 12a, 12b to be contracted. Contracting the side cover portions 12a, 12b prevents the side cover portions 12a, 12b from interfering with the protected object Q when the screen door 93 slides, and therefore makes it possible to retract the cover mechanism A from the protected object Q by sliding the screen door 93 from the indoor side. In this way, an effect is achieved in which the protected object Q can be exposed from the indoor side.

[0159] Furthermore, the handle portion 81 is connected to the transmission member 72 of the turntable mechanism 7 by a rod member 812 (see FIGS. 12 and 15). The rod member 812 is formed of a metal material such as stainless steel. When the handle portion 81 is pulled down by the user, the rod member 812 lowers the transmission member 72 onto the belt member 71. The lowered transmission member 72 engages with the belt member 71.

[0160] In this way, the handle portion 81 engages the transmission member 72 of the turntable mechanism 7 with the belt member 71 .

[0161] The handle locking portion 82 includes an abutment plate 87 that protrudes from the rightward (+X direction) side end of the screen door 93 so as to be able to abut against the right vertical frame 9b of the frame body 9, and a pipe-shaped member 88 that has a first end attached to the abutment plate 87 and a second end that passes through the screen door 93 and wraps around to the handle portion 81 side (see Figures 12, 15, and 16). The handle locking portion 82 is biased to the rightward (+X direction) by a biasing member 89, and is pushed to the leftward (-X direction) by abutting against the right vertical frame 9b of the frame body 9.

[0162] The second end of the pipe-shaped member 88 is disposed at a position where it engages with the recessed notch 85 in the handle portion 81 when the handle portion 81 is pulled down.

[0163] When the user pulls down the handle 81, the pipe-shaped member 88 of the handle locking member 82 is temporarily pushed away from the handle 81, and then engages with the concave notch 85 of the handle 81 due to the biasing force of the biasing member 89 (see FIG. 15). The engagement between the handle locking member 82 and the handle 81 keeps the handle 81 in the pulled-down state.

[0164] In this way, the handle locking portion 82 holds the handle portion 81 in the pulled down state.

[0165] In addition, when the abutment plate 87 in the handle locking portion 82 abuts against the right vertical frame 9b of the frame body 9 and is pushed to the left (-X direction), the pipe-shaped member 88 retreats from the handle portion 81, thereby releasing the engagement between the handle locking portion 82 and the handle portion 81.

[0166] In this way, the handle locking portion 82 releases the handle portion 81.

[0167] When the handle portion 81 is released from the handle lock portion 82, the biasing force of the biasing member 86 pulls up the fitting members 532, 533 via the connecting members 810, 811. The fitting members 532, 533 are pulled up from the handle portion 81 and fitted into the receiving members 530, 531, causing the clamping member 53 to clamp the clamped portions 55 of the front cover side string-like member 52c and the side cover side string-like members 52a, 52b (see FIG. 12).

[0168] Furthermore, when the handle portion 81 is released from the handle lock portion 82 , the transmission member 72 is raised via the rod member 812 to release the engagement between the transmission member 72 and the belt member 71 .

[0169] Furthermore, even if the cover part B is configured as a combination of the upper cover part 10 and the side cover parts 12a, 12b, the effect of being able to expose the protected object Q from the indoor side as described above remains unchanged.

[0170] Furthermore, the configuration of the handle portion 81 is not limited to the above, and for example, a structure that causes the clamp member 53 to release the front cover side string-like member 52c and the side cover side string-like members 52a, 52b, and a structure that lowers the transmission member 72 in the turntable mechanism 7 to engage with the belt member 71 may be provided independently.

[0171] -Example of use of the cover mechanism- FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram showing the state of the cover mechanism A when a user is about to go outside from indoors. FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram showing the behavior of the handle portion 81 when the user pulls down the handle portion 81. Note that the tension spring 50 is not shown in FIG. 18. FIG. 19 is a schematic diagram showing the behavior of the front bottom plate 43 when the front cover side string-like member 52c is released. FIG. 20 is a schematic diagram showing the behavior of the front cover member suspension mechanism 60 when the front bottom plate 43 is pulled toward the first frame 30. FIG. 21 is a schematic diagram showing the behavior of the side bottom plate 46a when the side cover side string-like member 52a is released from the clamp member 53. FIG. 22 is a schematic diagram showing the positional relationship between the front cover member suspension mechanism 60 and the side cover member suspension mechanism 61a after the front cover member 41 and the side cover members 42a and 42b are folded.

[0172] FIG. 23 is a schematic diagram showing the state of the cover mechanism A after the front cover member 41 and the side cover members 42a, 42b are folded. FIG. 24 is a schematic diagram showing the state of the cover mechanism A when a user slides the screen door 93 to the right. FIG. 25 is a schematic diagram showing the state of the cover mechanism A when the user further slides the screen door 93 to the right from the state shown in FIG. 24. Note that the top cover member 40 is not shown in FIG. 25. FIG. 26 is a schematic diagram showing the behavior of the side cover member suspension mechanism 61a when the second frame 31a is lowered. FIG. 27 is a schematic diagram showing the behavior of the tweezers-shaped member 610 when the second frame 31a is lowered. FIG. 28 is a schematic diagram showing the state of the cover mechanism A when a user slides the screen door 93 to the right end within the frame 9. FIG. 29 is a schematic diagram showing the behavior of the handle portion 81 and the handle lock portion 82 when a user slides the screen door 93 to the right end within the frame 9. 30 is a schematic diagram showing the behavior of the turntable mechanism 7 when a user slides the screen door 93 to the right. Note that the object to be protected Q is not shown in FIG.

[0173] FIG. 31 is a schematic diagram showing the behavior of the handle portion 81 and the handle lock portion 82 when a user slides the screen door 93 to the left end within the frame 9. FIG. 32 is a schematic diagram showing the behavior of the push button portion 80 when a user presses the push button portion 80. FIG. 33 is a schematic diagram showing the behavior of the frame lock portions 94a, 94b when a user presses the push button portion 80. Note that the frame biasing members Sa, Sb are not shown in FIG. 33. FIG. 34 is a schematic diagram showing the positional relationship between the front cover member suspension mechanism 60 and the side cover member suspension mechanism 61a when the second frame 31a rises. FIG. 35 is a schematic diagram showing the behavior of the front cover member suspension mechanism 60 when the second frame 31a rises. Note that the front cover member 41 is not shown in FIG. 35. FIG. 36 is a schematic diagram showing the behavior of the side cover member suspension mechanism 61a when the second frame 31a rises. Figure 37 is a schematic diagram showing the behavior of the side cover member suspension mechanism 61a when the second frame 31a is further raised from the state shown in Figure 36. In Figures 36 and 37, the outline of the connected portion 32a of the upper frame 300 of the first frame 30 is shown by a thick two-dot chain line. Figure 38 is a schematic diagram showing the behavior of the side bottom plate 46a when the side cover side string-like member 52a is released from the tweezers-like member 610 of the side cover member suspension mechanism 61a. Note that the side cover member 42a is not shown in Figure 38.

[0174] 17 to 38, a specific example of use of the above-described cover mechanism A will be described, along with a series of operations performed by each part of the cover mechanism A. In the following example of use, the protected object Q is footwear such as slippers.

[0175] <Initial state> As shown in FIG. 17, when the screen door 93 is located at the left side (-X direction) end within the frame body 9, the first frame 30 is spaced apart from the screen door 93, and the second frames 31a and 31b stand upright from the screen door 93 side. The front cover member 41 is suspended from the lower frame 301 of the first frame 30, and the side cover members 42a and 42b are suspended from the second frames 31a and 31b. In the frame folding means 2 of the cover contraction mechanism C, the slack portion 27 of the string-like member 20 is maximally relaxed. In the cover member folding means 5, the tension spring 50 is pulled and stores elastic energy, and the clamp member 53 clamps the front cover string-like member 52c and the side cover string-like members 52a and 52b.

[0176] Also, although not shown, the footwear that the user took off the last time they came indoors from outdoors is placed on the turntable body 70 of the turntable mechanism 7 in the direction of the user's movement (facing the screen door 93).

[0177] <When going from indoors to outdoors> When the user wants to go outside from indoors, first, the user pulls down the handle 81 of the operation unit 8 as shown by the arrow (1) in FIG.

[0178] When the handle portion 81 is pulled down, the clamp member 53 in the cover member folding means 5 releases the front cover side string-like member 52c and the side cover side string-like members 52a, 52b, as shown by arrow (2) in Figure 18, and the transmission member 72 in the turntable mechanism 7 engages with the belt member 71, as shown by arrow (3) in Figure 18.

[0179] As shown by arrow (4) in FIG. 18, the front cover side string-like member 52c and the side cover side string-like members 52a and 52b are pulled toward the frame body 9 by the elastic energy of the tension spring 50.

[0180] Next, the front cover string member 52c is pulled toward the frame body 9 as shown by the arrow (5) in Fig. 19, and the front bottom plate 43 is pulled toward the lower frame 301 of the first frame 30 as shown by the arrow (6) in Fig. 19. In this way, the front cover member 41 is folded.

[0181] By pulling the front bottom plate 43, as shown in Fig. 19, the protrusions 45a, 45b on the front bottom plate 43 are inserted into the bottom openings 36a, 36b of the lower frame 301. Due to the pressing force from the protrusions 45a, 45b, in the front cover member suspension mechanism 60, the pressed members 63a, 63b move away from the convex members 65a, 65b, as shown by arrow (7) in Fig. 19, and the engagement between the convex members 65a, 65b and the pressed members 63a, 63b is released.

[0182] Furthermore, the pressed members 63a, 63b climb over the pressing pieces 691 of the side cover member suspension mechanisms 61a, 61b, and interference between the pressed members 63a, 63b and the side cover member suspension mechanisms 61a, 61b is released.

[0183] 20, the pressed members 63a, 63b slide again in the inward direction Di due to the biasing forces of the biasing members 64a, 64b, and the pad members 62a, 62b again clamp the front cover side string-like member 52c, thereby maintaining the front cover member 41 in the folded state.

[0184] Furthermore, by pulling the side cover side string members 52a as shown by arrow (9) in Fig. 21, the side bottom plate 46a is pulled toward the second frame 31a as shown by arrow (10) in Fig. 21. In this way, the side cover member 42a is folded. Although not shown, by pulling the side cover side string members 52b, the side cover member 42b is also folded in the same manner.

[0185] At this point, as shown in the positional relationship between the front cover member suspension mechanism 60 and the side cover member suspension mechanism 61a in Figure 22, the pressed piece 67a of the pressed member 63a in the front cover member suspension mechanism 60 is located to the side in the inward direction Di with respect to the pressing piece 691 of the pressing member 69 in the side cover member suspension mechanism 61a. Although not shown, the positional relationship between the front cover member suspension mechanism 60 and the side cover member suspension mechanism 61b is similar.

[0186] The state of each part of the cover mechanism A after the steps up to this point have been completed is shown in Figure 23. At this time, the slack portion 27 of the string-like member 20 in the frame folding means 2 remains maximally relaxed.

[0187] Next, the user slides the screen door 93 to the right (+X direction) from the indoor side, as shown by arrow (11) in Figure 24. When the user slides the screen door 93 about 600 mm from the left side (-X direction) end within the frame body 9, the slack in the slack portion 27 of the string-like member 20 in the frame folding means 2 is completely removed, as shown in Figure 24.

[0188] Furthermore, when the user slides the screen door 93 further to the right (+X direction) as shown by arrow (12) in Fig. 25, the first frame 30 connected to the end 23 of the string-like member 20 is pulled toward the screen door 93 as shown by arrow (13) in Fig. 25. The pulling of the first frame 30 folds the upper cover member 40, and thus the upper cover part 10 contracts.

[0189] At this time, as shown in FIG. 25, the loosened portions 56 of the front cover side string-like members 52c and the side cover side string-like members 52a, 52b in the cover member folding means 5 become loose.

[0190] By pulling the first frame 30, the second frame 31a falls toward the screen door 93 as shown by the arrow (14) in Figure 26. Although not shown, the second frame 31b also falls toward the screen door 93 in the same manner.

[0191] 26, when the second frame 31a falls down, the pressing piece 691 of the pressing member 69 in the side cover member suspension mechanism 61a comes into contact with the pressed piece 67a of the pressed member 63a in the front cover member suspension mechanism 60 along the inward direction Di. As shown by arrow (15) in Fig. 26, the pressing member 69 in the side cover member suspension mechanism 61a receives a force from the pressed member 63a in the front cover member suspension mechanism 60 in the inward direction Di and swings in the swing direction α.

[0192] As the pressing member 69 swings, the convex member 613 is pulled in a direction retracting from the pressed member 612, as shown by arrow (16) in FIG. 26, and the engagement between the convex member 613 and the pressed member 612 is released. As shown by arrow (17) in FIG. 26, the pressed member 612, which has been released from engagement with the convex member 613, slides along the standing direction Ru. Due to the biasing force of the biasing member 611, the tweezers-like members 610 close again, as shown by arrow (18) in FIG. 27, and again clamp the side cover side string-like members 52a. Although not shown, the tweezers-like members 610 of the side cover member suspension mechanism 61b also clamp the side cover side string-like members 52b again. In this way, the side cover members 42a, 42b are maintained in the folded state.

[0193] Eventually, as shown in Fig. 28, when the user slides the screen door 93 to the rightward (+X direction) end within the frame 9, the abutment plate 87 of the handle locking portion 82 of the operating unit 8 abuts against the right vertical frame 9b of the frame 9, as shown by arrow (19) in Fig. 29, and the pipe-shaped member 88 retracts from the handle portion 81, as shown by arrow (20) in Fig. 29. The biasing force of the biasing member 86 causes the handle portion 81 to move upward (in the +Z direction), as shown by arrow (21) in Fig. 29. The handle portion 81 pulls up the fitting members 532, 533 of the cover member folding means 5 via the connecting members 810, 811, as shown by arrow (22) in Fig. 29, and also raises the transmission member 72 of the turntable mechanism 7 via the rod member 812, as shown by arrow (23) in Fig. 29. In this way, the clamp member 53 again clamps the front cover side string-like member 52c and the side cover side string-like members 52a, 52b, and the engagement between the transmission member 72 and the belt member 71 is released.

[0194] At this time, as shown in FIG. 28, the loosened portions 56 of the front cover side string-like members 52c and the side cover side string-like members 52a, 52b in the cover member folding means 5 are in a maximally loosened state.

[0195] Furthermore, while the user slides the screen door 93 from the leftward (-X direction) end to the rightward (+X direction) end within the frame body 9, the sliding of the screen door 93, as indicated by arrow (24) in FIG. 30, is transmitted to the belt member 71 by the transmission member 72 in the turntable mechanism 7, causing the belt member 71 to move clockwise in plan view, as indicated by arrow (25) in FIG. 30. As the belt member 71 moves, the turntable main body 70 rotates counterclockwise in plan view, as indicated by arrow (26) in FIG. 30. In this way, the footwear, which is the protected item Q, is oriented in a way that is easy to put on, while remaining in the user's direction of travel (away from the screen door 93).

[0196] In this way, the object to be protected Q can be exposed from the indoor side using the cover mechanism A.

[0197] <When entering indoors from outdoors> When a user enters a room from outdoors, the user first removes footwear, which is the protected object Q, on the turntable main body 70 of the turntable mechanism 7 while keeping the footwear in the user's direction of travel (facing the screen door 93). The user enters a room and slides the screen door 93 from the right side (+X direction) end to the left side (-X direction) end within the frame body 9 from the indoor side.

[0198] As shown by arrow (1) in Figure 31, the tension spring 50 in the cover member folding means 5 stores elastic energy. The slack portions 56 in the front cover side string-like members 52c and the side cover side string-like members 52a, 52b remain in a maximally relaxed state.

[0199] Next, the user presses the push button portion 80 of the operation unit 8. When the user presses the push button portion 80, the connecting members 800 and 801 are pulled by the push button portion 80, as shown by the arrow (2) in FIG.

[0200] As shown by arrow (3) in Fig. 33, the frame locking portion 94a is pulled from the left side (-X direction) by the connecting member 800, causing it to swing away from the first frame 30 as shown by arrow (4) in Fig. 33. Similarly, as shown by arrow (5) in Fig. 33, the frame locking portion 94b is pulled from the right side (+X direction) by the connecting member 801, causing it to swing away from the first frame 30 as shown by arrow (6) in Fig. 33. The first frame 30, which has been released from the frame locking portions 94a and 94b, is moved away from the screen door 93 as shown by arrow (7) in Fig. 33 by the biasing forces of the frame biasing members Sa and Sb.

[0201] As the first frame 30 moves away from the screen door 93, the second frame 31a rises from the screen door 93 side as shown by arrow (8) in Figure 34. Although not shown, the second frame 31b also rises from the screen door 93 side in a similar manner.

[0202] Furthermore, as the second frame 31a is raised, the pressing piece 691 of the pressing member 69 in the side cover member suspension mechanism 61a comes into contact with the pressed piece 67a of the pressed member 63a in the front cover member suspension mechanism 60 from the inward direction Di. Although not shown, the pressing piece 691 of the pressing member 69 in the side cover member suspension mechanism 61b also comes into contact with the pressed piece 67b of the pressed member 63b from the inward direction Di.

[0203] The pressed member 63a abutted by the pressing member 69 in the side cover member suspension mechanism 61a slides in the outward direction De as shown by the arrow (9) in Figure 34. Although not shown, the pressed member 63b in the front cover member suspension mechanism 60 also slides in the outward direction De in the same manner.

[0204] As shown by arrow (10) in FIG. 35, the pressed members 63a and 63b in the front cover member suspension mechanism 60 separate the pad members 62a and 62b from the front cover side string members 52c via the connecting members 66a and 66b, respectively.

[0205] In this way, when the second frames 31a, 31b rise from the screen door 93 side, the front cover member suspension mechanism 60 releases the front cover side string-like member 52c by the pressing force received from the side cover member suspension mechanisms 61a, 61b.

[0206] When the front cover string members 52c are released, the front cover member 41 is suspended by the weight of the front bottom plate 43, as shown by arrow (11) in Figure 35. At this time, the slack portions 56 of the front cover string members 52c shown in Figure 28 are used to suspend the front cover member 41. When the front cover member 41 is suspended, the slack in the slack portions 56 of the front cover string members 52c is completely removed.

[0207] As shown in Fig. 36, as the second frame 31a rises, the shaft 380 of the connecting portion 38 of the second frame 31a comes into contact with the inner peripheral wall surface end 33a on the outward direction De side of the connected portion 32a of the upper frame 300 of the first frame 30. When the second frame 31a further rises from this position, as shown by arrow (12) in Fig. 37, the shaft 380 of the connecting portion 38 receives a pressing force from the inner peripheral wall surface end 33a of the connected portion 32a of the upper frame 300 and moves in the falling direction Rd along the guide hole 317. As shown by arrow (13) in Fig. 37, the pressed member 612 of the side cover member suspension mechanism 61a receives a pressing force in the falling direction Rd from the shaft 380 of the connecting portion 38, and opens the tweezers-like member 610 as shown by arrow (14) in Fig. 37. When the tweezers-like members 610 of the side cover member suspension mechanism 61a are opened, the side cover side string-like members 52a are released. Although not shown, in the side cover member suspension mechanism 61b, the side cover side string-like members 52b are similarly released.

[0208] In this way, when the second frames 31a, 31b stand up from the screen door 93 side, the side cover member suspension mechanisms 61a, 61b release the side cover side string-like members 52a, 52b due to the pressing force received from the shaft portion 380 of the connecting portion 38 in the second frames 31a, 31b.

[0209] When the side cover string members 52a are released, the side cover member 42a is suspended by the weight of the side bottom plate 46a, as shown by arrow (15) in Figure 38. Although not shown, the side cover member 42b is also suspended in a similar manner. At this time, the slack portions 56 of the side cover string members 52a, 52b shown in Figure 28 are used to suspend the side cover members 42a, 42b. When the side cover members 42a, 42b are suspended, the slack in the slack portions 56 of the side cover string members 52a, 52b is completely removed.

[0210] In this way, the cover member suspending mechanism 6 suspends the front cover member 41 and the side cover members 42a, 42b when the second frames 31a, 31b stand up from the screen door 93 side.

[0211] As described above, the cover mechanism A can be realized using only a mechanical configuration, without using an electrical circuit.

[0212] The above-described embodiments and examples are illustrative in all respects and are not intended to be limiting. Therefore, the technical scope of the present invention should not be interpreted solely by the above-described embodiments and examples, but should be defined based on the claims. Furthermore, all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims are included. [Explanation of symbols]

[0213] A Cover mechanism B Cover 10 Upper cover 11 Front cover 12a, 12b Side cover part 3 Frame body 30 1st Frame 300 upper frame 301 Lower Frame 31a, 31b Second frame 4 Cover member 40 Upper cover member 41 Front cover member 42a, 42b Side cover members C Cover contraction mechanism 2 Frame folding means 20 String-like member 21 Starting end 22 Middle section 23 Termination 5. Cover member folding means 50 Tension spring 51 Frame side string-like member 52a, 52b Side cover side string-like member 52c Front cover side string-shaped member 53 Clamping member 6 Cover member suspension mechanism 7 Turntable mechanism 8 Control section 9 Frame 93 Screen door 302 inner side 303 Bottom 304 side end face 305 side end face Q Protected object X horizontal direction Z direction

Claims

1. A cover mechanism attached to a screen door that can slide laterally within a frame body and protects an object to be protected that is placed outside the screen door, The device further includes an upper cover section that covers the upper side of the protected object, a pair of side cover sections that are configured to be expandable and contractible and that cover both sides of the protected object when expanded, a cover contraction mechanism that contracts the pair of side cover sections, and an operation section that is operated by a user on the indoor side, The upper cover portion is an upper frame that is provided so as to be separable from the screen door at a predetermined height; an upper cover member having a base end attached to the screen door and a tip end attached to the upper frame; The pair of side cover portions are A pair of side frames provided so as to be able to swing up and down relative to the screen door; a pair of foldable side cover members suspended from the pair of side frames, and the pair of side cover members are folded together to be in a contracted state; The cover contraction mechanism includes: a cover member folding means for folding the pair of side cover members by pulling the lower end portions of the pair of side cover members toward the pair of side frames; The cover member folding means A tension spring disposed on the screen door side; a pair of side cover side string members that connect one end of the tension spring to a lower end of each of the pair of side cover members via the pair of side frames; a clamping member that releasably clamps the pair of side cover side string-like members together, A cover mechanism characterized in that, when operated by a user, the operating unit causes the clamp member to release both of the pair of side cover side string-like members, thereby allowing the tension spring to pull in the lower end portions of each of the pair of side cover members.

2. 2. The cover mechanism of claim 1, The device comprises a frame body having a first frame that is provided at a predetermined height position so as to be able to approach and separate from the screen door, and a pair of second frames that are provided so as to be able to rise and fall relative to the screen door and support the first frame, The cover contraction mechanism includes: The frame folding device further includes a frame folding means for folding the frame body, the first frame functions as the upper frame, the pair of second frames function as the pair of side frames, The tip side portions of the pair of second frames are slidably connected to the first frame, The frame body is configured to be in a folded state by the pair of second frames collapsing against the screen door as the first frame is pulled toward the screen door by the frame folding means, The frame folding means A cover mechanism comprising a string-like member having a starting end that enters the screen door from one side of the frame body in the horizontal direction, an intermediate portion that passes through the screen door, and an end portion that protrudes from the screen door toward the outdoors and is connected to the first frame, wherein the length of the end portion of the string-like member decreases as the screen door slides, thereby causing the string-like member to pull the first frame toward the screen door.

3. A cover mechanism attached to a screen door that can slide laterally within a frame body and protects an object to be protected that is placed outside the screen door, The device comprises an upper cover section that covers an upper portion of the protected object, a front cover section that is configured to be expandable and contractable and that covers the front of the protected object when expanded, a pair of side cover sections that are configured to be expandable and contractable and that cover both sides of the protected object when expanded, a cover contraction mechanism that contracts the front cover section and the pair of side cover sections, and an operation section that is operated by a user on the indoor side, The upper cover portion is an upper frame that is provided so as to be separable from the screen door at a predetermined height; an upper cover member having a base end attached to the screen door and a tip end attached to the upper frame; The front cover portion is a front frame that is provided so as to be separable from the screen door at a predetermined height; a foldable front cover member suspended from the front frame, the front cover member being folded to be in a contracted state; The pair of side cover portions are A pair of side frames provided so as to be able to swing up and down relative to the screen door; a pair of foldable side cover members suspended from the pair of side frames, and the pair of side cover members are folded together to be in a contracted state; The cover contraction mechanism includes: a cover member folding means for folding the front cover member by pulling a lower end portion of the front cover member toward the front frame side, and for folding the pair of side cover members by pulling a lower end portion of each of the pair of side cover members toward the pair of side frames side, The cover member folding means A tension spring disposed on the screen door side; a front cover side string-like member that connects one end of the tension spring to a lower end of the front cover member via the front frame; a pair of side cover side string members that connect one end of the tension spring to a lower end of each of the pair of side cover members via the pair of side frames; a clamp member that releasably clamps the front cover string member and the pair of side cover string members together, A cover mechanism characterized in that, when operated by a user, the operating unit causes the clamp member to release the front cover side string-like member and all of the pair of side cover side string-like members, thereby allowing the tension spring to pull in the lower end of the front cover member and the lower end of each of the pair of side cover members.

4. 4. The cover mechanism according to claim 3, The device comprises a frame body having a first frame that is provided at a predetermined height position so as to be able to approach and separate from the screen door, and a pair of second frames that are provided so as to be able to rise and fall relative to the screen door and support the first frame, The cover contraction mechanism includes: The frame folding device further includes a frame folding means for folding the frame body, the first frame functions as the upper frame and the front frame; the pair of second frames function as the pair of side frames, The tip side portions of the pair of second frames are slidably connected to the first frame, The frame body is configured to be in a folded state by the pair of second frames collapsing against the screen door as the first frame is pulled toward the screen door by the frame folding means, The frame folding means A cover mechanism comprising a string-like member having a starting end that enters the screen door from one side of the frame body in the horizontal direction, an intermediate portion that passes through the screen door, and an end portion that protrudes from the screen door toward the outdoors and is connected to the first frame, wherein the length of the end portion of the string-like member decreases as the screen door slides, thereby causing the string-like member to pull the first frame toward the screen door.

5. 5. A cover mechanism according to claim 1, further comprising: A cover mechanism further comprising a turntable mechanism that rotates the protected object in conjunction with the sliding of the screen door.

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