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(11) | EP 1 643 054 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
| published in accordance with Art. 158(3) EPC |
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| (54) | AUTOMATICALLY-HOUSED CLOSURE DEVICE FOR AWNING CASES |
| (57) The object of this invention consists of an autolocking closure for awning boxes,
this is, a closure constituted on a box that houses the shaft on which an awning fabric
is wound, provided with a load bar that locks itself in the box. The invention uses
a configuration of the box and the load bar such that it closes the box with the load
bar without a direct manipulation of the load bar. In case of a vertical elevation
of the load bar it is associated to folding arms, being locked in the box by a simultaneous
double sliding and rotation motion so that it is automatically and completely locked,
while if it is attached to the end of hinged arms the box is closed directly by locking
the bar in the box. |
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The object of this invention consists of an autolocking closure for awning boxes, this is, a closure constituted on a box that houses the shaft on which the awning fabric is wound, provided with a load bar that locks itself in the box regardless of whether the load rises vertically or is actuated by a hinged arm.
[0002] The part that closes the box is the load bar, which locks in the box and closes it using the rotation of the shaft on which the fabric is wound and the fabric traction.
[0003] The invention is characterised by the configuration of both the box and the load bar, as the box is closed by the load bar without any external participation by making the load bar lock in the box, with a combined displacement and rotation motion with respect to the point of contact of the load bar, in the case of a vertical displacement and folding arms, or locking directly in the case of hinged arms.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0004] Different systems are known for closing the load bars on the boxes which the fabric is housed.
[0005] Patent with publication number ES2122865 describes a box for awnings with several mounting positions which, as shown in figures 1 and 2 of its description, is provided with a load bar placed over a box to protect the box in which the awning fabric is housed.
[0006] The awning used in this invention has the anchoring to the load bar on its upper part, very near the point of contact between the load bar and the box, displaced slightly to the right.
[0007] In this position, the traction exerted by the fabric as it is raised and closed does not apply any torque on the load bar that allows closing it on the box seatings.
[0008] Patent with publication number ES2067390 describes an improvement made in awnings with an enveloping box that closes the awning in the folded position.
[0009] The awning box is closed by the crossbeam, which acts as a load bar and is provided with folding arms that, as shown in figures 3 to 6 of the descriptive memory, couple the load bar by producing a mainly horizontal displacement of the bar during the approach.
[0010] In this system the path of the load bar is conditioned by the extendable arms, which are joined to the box structure itself. During the adjustment and closure, as the approach is not precise, the invention includes a set of guides that orientate the load bar during the coupling process.
[0011] Similarly, this configuration is not appropriate for awning systems that are extended so that they are nearly vertical, for example, as its extension is determined by the hinges that attach the extendable arms.
[0012] Utility model with publication number ES231982U describes a support box for wound awnings, in which figures 2 and 3 of its descriptive memory show that although it is provided with a load bar that closes the box, the extendable arms of the assembly have a double set of hinged arms, as well as a wall anchoring system on which are mounted hinges displaceable on the wall anchoring elements by means of springs.
[0013] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks, developing a box and load bar assembly with folding or hinged arms, wherein the closure and insertion of the load bar on the box is accurately executed without requiring a subsequent manual adjustment or assistance.
[0014] For this purpose, it has a number of constructive characteristics that make the load bar lock on the box by means of a double displacement and rotation about the point of contact of the load bar on the box in case of a vertical displacement, so that it will be provided with folding arms, while if it has hinged arms it will lock on the box directly.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0015] The object of the invention is an autolocking closure for awning boxes, consisting mainly of a box which together with the load bar are provided with a number of constructive characteristics that allow automatically closing and adjusting the load bar on the box when the fabric is retracted.
[0016] This type of boxes includes inside it a shaft with the fabric such that the fabric is protected from the environment.
[0017] The autolocking closure or load bar can be related to folding arms or attached to the end of hinged arms placed well below the box, with the characteristic that the autolocking closure allows closing the box regardless of the type of arms on which it is mounted.
[0018] Although the load bar is generally a simple tubular bar, in this invention its configuration allows completing the closure on the box case.
[0019] As the fabric rises during its retraction, the load bar hangs from its point of union to the fabric. The centre of gravity of the load bar has been placed such that the orientation of the load bar is similar to that of the box closure.
[0020] The term similar is used because it is slightly turned, so that when as it rises it arrives at the box, the bottom part is open.
[0021] The upper edge of the load bar is the first element to establish contact with the box. This contact takes place at an oblique segment of the free upper edge of the box, so that both surfaces may slide.
[0022] This support point is placed slightly above and outward with respect to the point of union of the fabric and the load bar. Pulling the load bar exerts a torque on it that makes the lower edge of the load bar move toward the bottom edge of the box case.
[0023] This rotation is combined with the small elevation remaining to close the box, so that both edges of the load bar are snugly fitted on the box case.
[0024] There must be a certain distance, separation or leverage arm between the fabric wind and the point of support of the upper edges of the load bar and the box case, as this distance together with the fabric traction force determine the torque on the load bar.
[0025] If the winding has a small diameter it is possible for the vertical line along which the load bar rises to be very near the shaft, so that the first support of the load bar overshoots the inclined segment and enters the box cavity directly.
[0026] This problem is solved in this invention by using a shaft with a diameter such that when added to the increase in the diameter caused by the fabric winding, the vertical line of ascent will be sufficiently separated from the shaft to ensure a correct first support of the load bar.
[0027] As the oblique segment of the upper edge is prolonged in a horizontal segment and the lower edge is a small vertical wall, the load bar can enter along a vertical or horizontal displacement vector, since any of these entries (and their intermediate trajectories) lack any mechanical interferences to prevent the correct entry. The use of different types of arms, not necessarily those used in the examples of the preferred embodiment, are examples of embodiments that result in intermediate trajectories which are all considered to belong to the invention.
[0028] The entry of the load bar along a horizontal displacement vector allows the use of this box with a hinged arm instead of closing by hanging the bar. When the hinged arm is in a vertical position, near the closure, the displacement vector tangential to the circular trajectory produced by the hinged arm is horizontal or nearly horizontal, so that this entry is possible.
[0029] For the same reason, it is possible to use hinged arms that are not straight, as the kinematics of the load bar motion is not affected by these other configurations.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0030] This descriptive memory is completed by a set of drawings meant to illustrate the preferred embodiment and not limiting the invention in any way.
Figure 1,2 and 3 show a sectional view of the case and the load bar in a rising sequence with the final closed position in the vertical rise option.
Figure 4 shows another mode of using the box with the load bar with hinged arms in an open position.
Figure 5 shows the previous embodiment in a closed position.
Figures 6 and 7 show an alternative embodiment similar to the previous one in which the fabric is attached to the rear of the load bar at a lower point, where the fabric is wound around the lower part of the shaft.
EXAMPLE OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0031] In view of the aforementioned figures, an example of a preferred embodiment of the invention is described below together with an explanation of the drawings.
[0032] Figure 3 shows a cross section of the invention corresponding to the closed position of the load bar (2) on the box (1), inside which is the fabric (3) wound about a shaft (4).
[0033] Represented under the load bar (2) are the arms (5) used to attach the load bar (2) to the rail or place provided with the anchoring elements that secure the load bar (2) after it is lowered.
[0034] Figure 1 shows the assembly when extended. The load bar (2) is suspended from the fabric (3) through the anchoring point (14). As near the anchoring (14) the fabric (3) rests on a segment above the surface of the load bar (2), the upper projection (9) of the load bar (2) constitutes the last point of contact and thus this is where the traction of the fabric on the load bar (2) takes place.
[0035] Also shown is the centre of gravity (6), which at all times tends to be aligned vertically with the point of contact of the projection (9) of the load bar (2) with the fabric (3).
[0036] As shown in figure 3, the load bar (2) has a slight inclination that does not correspond to the orientation it will adopt in the closure, due to the alignment of the centre of gravity (6) with the point of the projection (9) of the load bar (2) that is along the vertical line of the fabric (3).
[0037] The inclination of the load bar (2) has been adjusted by a projection or protrusion (9) of the upper part of the load bar (2), and has also been used to adjust the rising horizontal position of the load bar (2) to ensure a correct support of the upper part of the bar (2) on the ramp (7) of the box.
[0038] An oblique ramp (7) is provided on the upper edge of the case of the box (1) that will ensure that the load bar (2) locks in the box (1).
[0039] As can also be seen, the upper part of the load bar (2), above the projection defining the point of support (9) of the fabric (3), has a curved surface (8) that in combination with the ramp (7) will help lock the load bar (2) in the box (1).
[0040] Figure 2 shows the moment in which the upper curved edge (8) of the load bar (2) contacts the oblique ramp (7) at a point (10) of this ramp (7).
[0041] The traction of the fabric (3) exerted by a force labelled F will always be along a direction tangential to the winding, forcing the load bar (2) to find its seating.
[0042] The seating and upper coupling (or first seating) of the load bar (2) is achieved by sliding along the direction of the arrow (11) tangent to the surface defined by the oblique segment (7); the bottom coupling (or second seating (15)) is achieved by the rotation caused by the torque due to the force F.
[0043] As shown in said figure, the force F produces a torque equal to the product F. d1, where d1 is the perpendicular distance from the traction point of the free end of the fabric (3) to the contact point (10) of the curved surface (8) of the load bar (2) with the oblique segment (7) of the box case (1). This torque causes a clockwise rotation (12) (in the selected view) with respect to the point of contact (10).
[0044] On the other hand, the weight (mg, mass times the acceleration due to gravity) of the load bar (2) applied at the centre of gravity (6) produces an anticlockwise torque that opposes the aforementioned torque, equal to the product
where d2 is the perpendicular distance from the centre of gravity (6) to the vertical line above the current instantaneous rotation point (10).
[0045] Therefore, as the load bar (2) locks in the box case (1) its upper part will be engaged by displacement, while its bottom part will mainly be seated (15) by a rotation (12).
[0046] In this example of embodiment the upper seating has a horizontal configuration with the internal segment (7) oblique in its innermost part. The lower seating (15) is vertical and straight. The configuration of these seatings allows the entry along a vertical displacement vector for vertical entry and a horizontal one for the configurations described below. The configuration of these seatings is not limited to these shapes, as it is enough that they allow an interference-free entry in the range of angles so that the mode of operation agrees with that of the invention.
[0047] Figure 4 shows another form of embodiment in which the load bar (2) is joined to the ends of hinged arms (13). The fabric (3) is joined to the top part of the load bar (2) and winds around the top of the shaft (4). The locking takes place simply by the rotation imposed by the hinged arms (13), so that the displacement vector of the load bar (2), tangent to the trajectory at all times, is approximately horizontal during the entry and closure.
[0048] With this trajectory and orientation of the load bar, it can be seen that both the upper and lower support have an orientation that admits both a lower vertical entry and a lateral horizontal entry, without mechanical interference as mentioned before.
[0049] Figure 5 shows how the load bar (2) is locked in the case of the box (1) in this new embodiment.
[0050] Figure 6 shows an alternative embodiment similar to that of figure 4. In this case the fabric (3) is joined to the lower part of the load bar (2) and wound on the lower part of the shaft (4).
1. Autolocking closure for awning boxes from among awning boxes provided with a case
that houses a shaft on which the awning fabric is wound and a load bar which, after
the fabric has been retracted, completes the closure of the case of the box, characterised in that the closure for boxes is compatible with the load bar connected to folding arms and
to a hinged arm system, for which it is provided with:
• A case of the box (1) with an opening having an upper edge that includes a first seating with an oblique inner segment (7) and a bottom edge with a second seating (15) of the load bar (2); and
• A load bar (2) provided with at least one anchoring (14) for the fabric (3) with a support point (9) for the fabric (3) so that when the load bar (2) is hung from the fabric (3) it is aligned with its centre of gravity (6), assuming an orientation so that when it is raised and retracted the top edge of the load bar (2) is first to meet the upper searing of the case of the box (1), through a surface (8) that by its weight causes a torque, such that at this point (10) of contact of the upper seating (8), the load bar (2) sides to its final position and, with respect to this same point, due to the traction of the fabric (3), the torque simultaneously causes a rotation that brings the lower seating of the load bar (2) and the casing (15) near each other.
2. Autolocking closure for awning boxes as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the support point of the fabric (3) on the load bar (2) is engaged by a protrusion
(9) that determines the correct inclination of the load bar (2) during the vertical
rise.
3. Autolocking closure for awning boxes as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the diameter of the fabric wound on the shaft is at least large enough so that the
vertical tangent places the load bar (2) that hangs from the fabric (3) beyond the
inner end of the oblique segment (7) of the first seating.
4. Autolocking closure for awning boxes as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the opening of the case of the box (1) and the seatings has a configuration that
admits the entry of the load bar (2) until it closes the box along an upwards vertical
and lateral horizontal displacement vector, as well as all the intermediate situations,
without any mechanical interference preventing this closure.
5. Autolocking closure for awning boxes as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the load arm has folding arms (5).
6. Autolocking closure for awning boxes as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the load bar (2) is joined to the wall by a hinged arm (13).
7. Autolocking closure for awning boxes as claimed in claim 6, characterised in that the fabric (3) is wound with an upper entry.
8. Autolocking closure for awning boxes as claimed in claim 6, characterised in that the fabric (3) is wound with a lower entry.