[0001] The present invention relates to an articulated arm of the type used to support and
extend tents, in particular awnings for protecting terraces, balconies and the like
from sunlight.
[0002] The articulated arm of the present invention is of the type comprising a pair of
articulated half-arms movable from a non-operative bent position and an extended position,
and provided with an elastic member, fastened to each of said half-arms, which opposes
to the bending of the arm.
[0003] Articulated arms as set forth above are used to keep the awnings' cloth extended,
as well as to take part in unwinding said awnings.
[0004] The elastic member is located so as to keep the arm extended, i.e. to keep it in
its normal operative position, when the load to which the elastic member is subjected
is not so heavy as to damage with time said elastic member.
[0005] In fact, whichever elastic member, if subjected to a heavy stretching load, suffers
damage with time with a reduction of the elastic constant.
[0006] If the standstill during which the arm is stored in the bent position and the elastic
member is subject to the maximum load is limited in time, for example one night or
a few days, the elastic member remains undamaged.
[0007] If, on the contrary, standstills are longer, the arm may lose part of its functionality
and should be replaced, as articulated arms are built using box-like members and parts
which are irreversibly fixed and cannot be disassembled to replace the elastic member.
[0008] Said dangerous standstills are, for example, winter, when extremely cold temperatures
facilitate the yielding of metal springs of elastic members, or storage periods before
sale.
[0009] As it is known, awnings are sold in specific time of the year, which takes place
during the pre-summer season. If awnings are not sold during the same season of their
manufacture, they will most probably not be sold until the following season, when
the articulated arms may have suffered severe functionality loss.
[0010] The technical problem which underlies the present invention is to provide an articulated
arm as to overcome the drawbacks mentioned with reference to the prior art.
[0011] Said problem is solved by an articulated arm for the support and the extension of
awnings, comprising:
* a first and a second half-arms, connected at their respective close ends thereof
by means of an intermediate joint, and each provided with a respective articulated
end opposed to said close end, said first and second half-arm being movable between
a non-operative bent position and an extended supporting position of the articulated
arm; and
* an elastic member, fastened to said first and second half-arms, which opposes to
the bending of said articulated arm;
characterized in that it comprises loosening means of said elastic member, which
are joined to one of said first or second half-arms, which is operable when said articulated
is the bent position.
[0012] The main advantage of the articulated arm according to the present invention lies
in the possibility of releasing said elastic member, thus preventing it from yielding
during standstills.
[0013] The present invention will be hereinafter disclosed according to a preferred embodiment
thereof, shown as a non-limiting example. Reference will be made to the figures of
the annexed drawings wherein:
figure 1 shows a partly sectioned perspective view of an awning in its extended position,
incorporating an articulated arm according to the present invention;
figure 2 shows a partly sectioned perspective view of the articulated arm of figure 1 in an
operative mode;
figure 3 shows a partly sectioned perspective view of the articulated arm of figure 1 in a
non-operative mode; and
figure 4 shows a partly sectioned perspective view from a different angle of a detail of the
articulated arm of figure 1.
[0014] With reference in particular to figure 1, the outdoor awning of the type which is
mounted on a vertical wall and is apt to extend in order to create a shady area, is
indicated 1 as a whole.
[0015] It comprises a winding roller 2, rotatably connected to the vertical wall at its
ends, which is provided with rotating means 3 of the passive kind, i.e. that can to
rotate the roller in each of the two rotation directions only when it is outerly operated
by means of a hook 4 and a rod, not shown.
[0016] Opposed to the roller 2, which is horizontally mounted, is a horizontal bar 5 which
can be operated, as it will be made clear herebelow, so as to be approached or moved
away from said roller 2.
[0017] A cloth 6, which is wound around the roller 2 and is fastened as usual to the bar
5, extends between the roller 2 and the bar 5. In order to keep the cloth 6 always
extended, the awning 1 comprises elastic return means which, as it will be made clear
herebelow, operate independently from said rotating means 3 of the winding roller
2.
[0018] Moreover, the awning 1 comprises a pair of supporting arms 7, symmetrically placed
at the sides of the cloth 6, which can extend and be bent in order to wind and unwind
the awning 1.
[0019] According to the present invention every supporting arm 7 that, in this preferred
embodiment are identical, have a first and a second half-arm, respectively indicated
8 and 9.
[0020] The half-arms 8, 9 consist of an elongated box-like member 10 which is hollow. They
are connected therebetween along respective first and second close ends 11 and 12
by an intermediate joint 13 comprising a first vertical-axis rotating pin 14. The
intermediate joint 13 defines a bending whose inner side is oriented toward the outside
of the awning 1.
[0021] Both close ends 11,12 are open at their respective hollow sections defined by the
box-like member 10.
[0022] The arm 7 comprises a first articulated end 15, opposed to the first close end 11
of the first half-arm 8, and a second articulated end 16, opposed to the second close
end 12 of the second half-arm 9.
[0023] The second articulated end 16 is rotatably connected to the horizontal bar, while
the first articulated end, is rotatably connected to a supporting member 17 apt to
be fastened to the wall in a suitable position.
[0024] The first articulated end 15 comprises an articulation member 18 which has a bushing
19 having a vertical axis. The articulation member 18, made of metal, is simply forced
inside the box-like member 10, which is also metallic, closing the corresponding opening.
[0025] The bushing 19 houses a second rotating pin 20, connected to the supporting member
17.
[0026] According to the present invention the elastic return means of arms 7 formed by an
elastic member, indicated 21 as a whole, which is joined to said first and second
half-arm 8,9.
[0027] The elastic member 21 is of the elongated type and comprises a first end 22 which
is connected to the first half-arm 8 at the articulation member 18, and a second end
23 which is connected to the second half-arm 9 at a point thereof, for example the
second articulated end 16.
[0028] The elastic member 21 comprises an helical spring 24 connected to a flexible member
25, in particular a roller chain.
[0029] The helical spring 24 is entirely housed inside the first half-arm 8 in the respective
box-like member 10. It ends with a hook 26 connected to the first link of the roller
chain 25 which is housed inside said first and second half-arms 8,9 in their respective
box-like members 10. The chain 25 runs through the opened close ends 11,12 and it
is in contact with the first rotating pin 14 on the outer side of the bending between
the first and the second half-arm.
[0030] The elastic member 21 is stretched between its ends 22, 23. Therefore, it tends to
assume the configuration of lesser length, or extension, pressing the first rotating
means 14 to a direction which proceeds from the outer to the inner side of the bending.
In other words, the elastic member 21 opposes to the bending of the arm 7 and tends
to keep the half-arms 8,9 in the position which is closer to their reciprocal alignment,
i.e. in the extended position supporting the bar 5 and the cloth 6.
[0031] The arm 7 according to the invention comprises, as it will be made clearer herebelow,
loosening means 27 of said elastic member 21 which in the present embodiment are joined
to the first half-arm 8.
[0032] In the present embodiment, said loosening means are provided with a screw coupling
indicated 27 as a whole, of, for example, the open-sleeve type. The latter is located
next to the first articulated end 15.
[0033] The screw coupling 27 comprises a first screw 28, engaged to a first end 29 of the
sleeve which is indicated 30. The first screw 28 is provided with a circular eye 31
which is hooked to the helical spring 24 by a second hook 32.
[0034] The first screw 28 is actually secured or fastened to the respective first end 29
of the sleeve 30. Instead of said screw, the screw coupling can comprise a connecting
member integrally built with the sleeve 30 however, in order to use the standard screw
couplings which are easily available on sale, it is sufficient to skillfully break
the thread of the first screw 28 in order to prevent it from turning, acting so that
its transmission efficiency is lower than the transmission efficiency of the second
screw coupling screw indicated 33.
[0035] The second screw 33 is engaged to the second end 34 of the sleeve 30. It is provided
with an Allen head 35 which is secured into a first flared hole 36; drilled through
the articulation member 18 and the bushing 19. The Allen head 35 is free to rotate
in the first hole 36 which is opened into the opening of the bushing 19.
[0036] The bushing 19 is provided with a second hole 37 opposed to the first hole 36. Obviously,
the holes 36, 37 are continuously aligned with the axis of the screw coupling 27,
with the first half-arm 8 and with the portion of the elastic member 21 which is housed
inside the first half-arm 8.
[0037] The pin 20 is also provided with a third hole 38 corresponding to said first and
second holes 36, 37. Said holes 36, 37, 38 make up, when they are aligned, an access
opening to the Allen head 35; an Allen wrench B can be inserted through this opening
in order to reach the screw coupling 27, i.e. the loosening means of the arm 7.
[0038] The loosening means can be operated when the arm 7 is in its non-operative bent position,
i.e. it is possible to go through said access opening 36,37,38 when the first half-arm
8 and the second half-arm 9 closely bent and parallel therebetween (figures 2, 3)
and to the horizontal bar 5, to the winding roller 2 and to the wall, not shown.
[0039] To this purpose, the third hole 38, of the cylindrical type, has a fixed axis which
is parallel to the first half-arm 8 when the arm 7 is in the bent position, allowing
the alignment of the holes 36,37,38 only in this particular position.
[0040] In said position it is possible, by operating on the Allen head 35 by means of the
wrench B or by a similar tool, to loosen the elastic member 21 from an operative position,
which in the bent positions corresponds to the maximum load applied to said elastic
member 21, to an unloaded position of partial loosening wherein the elastic features
of the elastic member 21, and in particular the helical spring 24, are not deteriorated.
[0041] When the member 21 is in its operative position, it is possible to maneuver the awning
1 by acting on the rotating means 3 in the usual way. The elastic return means, consisting
of the elastic members 21 of each arm 7, cooperate in unwinding the same awning 1
and to keep the cloth 6 extended.
[0042] During the operative period of the awning 1, for example in summer, the awning is
kept constantly unwound or it is subjected to an unwinding-winding cycle corresponding,
for example, to the day-night cycle.
[0043] Therefore, during the operative period, the elastic member 21 is seldom subjected
to the maximum load and anyway for limited periods of time.
[0044] The standstill period of the awning 1 is for example winter, or the period before
sale or also, and this is the longest period of all, if the awning is not sold during
the top selling season, i.e. before summer, and remains unsold until the following
top selling season.
[0045] During such standstill periods the awning 1 is usually stored with the arms 7 in
a completely bent position: in this case, in order to prevent the damaging of the
elastic member 21, it is sufficient to operate the loosening means 27 and move the
elastic member 21 to the unloaded position.
[0046] This loosening operation can be carried out directly at the factory, while the elastic
member 21 will be placed in its operative position after sale. Furthermore, the elastic
member 21 will have to be loosened during maintenance operations, scheduled during
the season which immediately follows summer.
[0047] The articulated arm described above can rely to different embodiments which would
anyway fall within the scope of the present invention.
[0048] In particular, the articulated arm can be of the type comprising a plurality of articulated
half-arms, provided with one or more elastic members to be loosened.
[0049] Furthermore, the elastic member can be modified in its shape and position in order
to meet different requirements of structural setting. In a similar way the loosening
means can form a part of the elastic member which can be placed in different positions,
not only in proximity of the winding roller but also, for example, in proximity of
the horizontal bar or the intermediate joint.
[0050] The screw coupling can be replaced by similar loosening systems, such as a releasing
and hooking system provided with hollows or other limit stops.
[0051] Besides the above-mentioned advantage, the articulated arm can be made with simple
modifications of extremely low design impact and low costs.
[0052] Moreover, it can also be used to adjust the load to which the elastic member is subjected.
Such adjustment can be carried out at the factory, and allows the use of standard
helical springs suiting different articulated arms instead of calibrated springs.
[0053] In order to meet further contingencies, a man skilled in the art will be able to
provide the above-described articulated arm with further different variations and
all of them, however, falling within the protective scope of the present invention,
as defined by claims annexed hereinafter.
1. . An articulated arm (7) for the support and extension of awnings (1) comprising:
* a first and a second half-arm (8, 9), connected at respective close ends (11, 12)
by means of an intermediate joint (13) and each provided with a respective articulated
end (15, 16) opposed to said close end (11, 12) said first and second half-arm (8,
9) being movable between a non-operative bent position and an extended, supporting
position of the articulated arm (7); and
* an elastic member (21) connected to said first and second half-arm (8, 9) which
opposes to the bending of said articulated arm (7); characterized in that it comprises:
* loosening means (27) of said elastic member (21) which are joined with said first
or second half-arm (8,9), which are operable in the bent position of said articulated
arm (7).
2. The articulated arm (7) according to claim 1, wherein the elastic member (21) is of
the elongated type.
3. The articulated arm (7) according to claim 2, wherein said first and second half-arm
(8, 9) are formed by an elongated box-like member, said elastic member (21) being
housed inside said first and second half-arms (8, 9).
4. The articulated arm (7) according to claim 3, wherein said elastic member (21) comprises
an helical spring (24) housed inside said first half-arm.
5. The articulated arm (7) according to claims 3 or 4, wherein said intermediate joint
(13) defines a bending and comprises a pin (14), said elastic member (21) having a
first end (22) connected to the first half-arm (8), and a second end (23) connected
to the second half-arm (9), and being in contact with said pin (14) at the inner side
of the bending.
6. The articulated arm (7) according to claim 5, wherein said elastic member (21) comprises
a flexible member (25) which is in contact with said pin (14).
7. The articulated arm (7) according to claim 6, wherein said flexible member comprises
a roller chain (25).
8. The articulated arm (7) according to one of preceding claims, wherein said loosening
means comprise a screw coupling (27).
9. The articulated arm (7) according to claim 8, comprising a first and a second articulated
end (15, 16) of said first and second half-arm (8,9) respectively, said screw coupling
(27) being placed next to one of said articulated ends (15, 16) which comprises an
articulation member (18) presenting an opening (36, 37, 38) which can be accessed
in order to operate said screw coupling (27) when the articulated arm (7) is in the
bent position.
10. The articulated arm (7) according to claim 9, wherein said articulation member (18)
comprises a bushing (19) which houses a rotating pin (20), said bushing having a first
and a second hole (36, 37) aligned with the turnbuckle's (27) axis and said rotating
pin (20) having, at said first and second hole (36, 37) a third cylindrical hole (38)
whose axis is parallel to one of said first and second half-arms (8, 9), which corresponds
to said articulation member (18) when the articulated arm (7) is in its bent position,
said first, second and third hole being in alignment therebetween when the arm (7)
is in its bent position so to realize said opening.
11. The articulated arm (7) according to claim 10, wherein said articulation member is
located at said first articulated end (15).
12. The articulated arm (7) according to one of claims 8 to 11, wherein said screw coupling
comprises a sleeve (30) and a screw (28) having a secured head which is free to rotate
inside said first hole (36) of the bushing (19).
13. The articulated arm (7) according to claim 12, wherein the sleeve (30) is an open
sleeve.
14. The articulated arm (7) according to claim 12, wherein the head (35) is an Allen head.
15. An awning (1) comprising at least one articulated arm (7) according to any of preceding
claims.