OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention herein makes reference to a door device for caravan awnings, tents
and similar products, which contributes essential novel characteristics and substantial
advantages in relation to the means known and used for the same purposes in the current
stage of technical advancement.
[0002] More specifically, the invention proposes to incorporate a rigid structural frame
in this type of door, made from tubular elements coupled in a telescopic manner consecutively,
and covered with the same material used to manufacture the awning. The sizes of these
elements enable them to be adjusted by virtue of the telescopic nature of the connections
between the tubular elements that make up the said structural frame.
[0003] The field of application for this invention is, obviously, within the industrial
sector dedicated to the manufacture and marketing of objects related to leisure and
free time, such as motor homes, tents and other products of a similar nature.
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] In general the use, which is growing on a daily basis, of vehicles such as motor
homes or caravans towed by another vehicle is widely known, as are tents and other
similar products with a view to enjoying free time and for leisure purposes during
holiday periods or for other types of festivities. The type of vehicles mentioned
offer the user the possibility to travel around in total comfort, they can be parked
in selected locations and can be lived in, as they have all the elements necessary
to be able to stay in them for relatively long periods of time. The fact that these
vehicles can travel to the places where any other vehicle can go, means that the user
can decide to park in natural spots and thus be in contact with nature for as long
as desired.
[0005] These concepts can also be applied to tents, which can be erected in preestablished
places reserved for this purpose, normally in the country or in mountainous areas
that offer the user an attraction from the point of view of the area where they are
located.
[0006] However, understandably, the interior area of the vehicle, or the interior area of
the other facilities mentioned, do not tend to be as spacious as required and, in
addition, the user often wants to relax by being in closer contact with the nature
of the location where he/she has installed him/herself. Therefore, and in order to
be more comfortable and to increase the space in the vehicle or tent, sheltered spaces
known as awnings were created, which can be attached to the vehicle or tent and they
provide additional space for the users. They offer the advantage of having a roof
and protect against any inclemency of the weather.
[0007] In existing awnings, the access doors comprise an element or closure panel that normally
consist of a piece of the same material as the awning, or of a different material,
and the closed position is generally attained by tying together tapes that are located
along the perimeter of the closure element.
[0008] This type of closure element tends to be uncomfortable to use given the way it has
been devised and in addition, when you want to leave the access open, you have to
tie it up manually to one of the sides.
[0009] For all these reasons, the main object of the invention is to develop a door that
resolves the disadvantages of the current systems. This objective has been fully achieved
with the device designed by this invention, by virtue of which a door frame element
has been developed using a rigid structured frame, based on consecutive tubular elements
connected to each other in a telescopic manner and covered by an element made from
the same cloth or material as the rest of the awning, similar to that used in awnings
based on preceding techniques. The structure is attached to the front upright post
of a standard awning, with a vertical axis of rotation, and given its angle with respect
to the vertical plane the door itself adopts the two stable extreme open and close
positions due to gravity.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] These and other characteristics and advantages of the invention can be observed more
clearly in the following detailed description of the preferred realisation mode, but
they are only provided for illustration purposes and are not limiting, in relation
to the drawings attached, in which:
[0011] Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of a door device built according to the guidelines
of this invention.
DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED REALISATION MODE
[0012] In accordance with the above description, this invention has been developed with
a view to provide a door device for awnings and similar structures, which considerably
improves the use possibilities of these doors, the invention is a door that has rigid
characteristics derived from the tubular frame incorporated in the door.
[0013] Indeed, if you look at the schematic illustration in Figure 1, an awning structure
can be seen, indicated by numerical reference (1), assembled on a frontal upright
post (2). When viewed from the front, it stands in a vertical direction, but normally,
when seen from a lateral view, it inclines backwards (i.e. towards the interior space),
as it ascends. This circumstance, together with the incline of the remaining upright
posts, increases the supportive base as well as the size of the interior space. In
addition, the backward incline of upright post (2), also favours the position of the
door invented, which will be explained subsequently.
[0014] The door plan has been indicated by number (3) and in this illustration the structure
of the perimeter frame (4) can be observed, made up of parts that can be connected
together by means of telescopic connections. The means to tighten them up have been
envisaged, such as screws (5) or similar, for the mutual fastening of the parts that
are connected telescopically. Upright post (2) has also been made up from two or more
parts that are connected telescopically, mutually fastened to each other by a tightening
device, such as a screw (5) or something of a similar nature.
[0015] Understandably, when this device is used the dimensions of the door can vary, within
predetermined limits, by using the same tubular structure 4, and by fastening a closure
plane (3), adapted to the final dimensions of the door.
[0016] As seen in this Figure, the innermost upper and lower tubular parts, indicated with
reference number (4), are linked to hollow couplings (6) that can be fixed to the
frontal upright post (2) and fastened at the upper end by the stops provided (7),
fastened with screws. With this very simple method the door has the necessary vertical
axis of rotation required, between the extreme open and close positions. These extreme
positions are stable positions as the backward incline of the upright pole (2), means
that the door 'falls' due to gravity. In any case, the use of traditional ties (8)
has been envisaged to fasten the door in closed position.
[0017] Understandably, the different tubular parts that make up frame (4) are metallic elements,
conveniently protected to avoid rust or deterioration as they are installed outdoors
and thus exposed to the environmental inclemencies where installed.
[0018] It is not considered necessary to further extend the contents of this description
for an expert in the matter to understand its scope and the advantages derived from
the invention, and for the development and implementation of the object of the invention.
[0019] However, it should be understood that the invention has been described according
to a preferred realisation mode, therefore it may be susceptible to modifications
that do not represent any modification to the fundamentals of the said invention,
these modifications may particularly affect the shape, size and/or materials used
in the manufacture of the assembly or any of its parts.