A retractable awning

Abstract

 A retractable awning (1) comprises: a piece of fabric (2) fixed to a crosspiece (5) which is movable along a pair of guides (4); means for providing a belt drive along the guides (4), comprising in each guide a drive pulley for transmitting the motion to the belt; and motion transmission means (6) for transmitting a synchronous rotation to the drive pulleys, each of which is keyed on its own operating shaft (11a, 11b); the transmission means (6) comprise a transmission shaft (7) independent of each of the operating shafts (11a, 11b), a gearing (10a, 10b) being interposed between the transmission shafts (7) and each of the operating shafts (11a, 11b) for the transmission of the synchronous rotation to the drive pulleys.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a retractable awning of the type having the characteristics mentioned in the preamble of the principal claim.

[0002] An awning of the aforementioned type is typically used to cover exterior spaces, and generally comprises a piece of fabric fixed to one or more cross-pieces which are movable along two lateral guides.

[0003] The mobility of the aforesaid cross-pieces and the consequent driving of the fabric from an extended position to a folded position are provided by a plurality of carriages or similar slidable elements, guided in each of the aforesaid guides. Each cross-piece carries a corresponding drive carriage at each of its opposite ends.

[0004] In each guide, the carriages are typically moved by belt systems, each comprising a drive pulley positioned at an axial end of the corresponding guide. The drive pulleys in both guides are made to rotate synchronously by an electric motor installed between the guides. To reduce the overall dimensions in the transverse direction of the awning, motors of the tubular type are advantageously used.

[0005] In a known design of a retractable awning of the type defined above, an electric motor with two outputs is used, each output being connected to a corresponding transmission member which drives a corresponding drive pulley.

[0006] There is also a known method of using an electric motor having a single output connected to a single transmission member which has two outputs. Each of these outputs transmits the motion to a corresponding drive pulley. In both of the solutions described above, the two motion outputs, whether provided on the motor or on the transmission member, are typically coaxial with the drive pulleys.

[0007] The principal drawback of these solutions is the relative complexity of the operations of connecting the motor to the drive pulleys during the assembly of the awning. In the first case, the transmission members must be installed between the outputs of the motor and the drive pulleys. In the second case, the transmission member must be connected to both drive pulleys, and must therefore extend from one of the pulleys to the other. In both cases, the motor and the transmission members are assembled at different times.

[0008] Another limitation arises from the requirement for special support members for the electric motor.

[0009] These and other problems, which are described more fully below, are overcome by the present invention by means of an awning made in accordance with the following claims.

[0010] Other features and advantages of the invention will become clear from the following detailed description of a preferred example of embodiment thereof, illustrated, for the purpose of illustration and in a non-limiting way, in the attached drawings, in which:

• Figure 1 is a perspective view of a retractable awning according to the invention shown in the closed position, with the fabric gathered at one of its ends;
• Figure 2 is a view in side elevation of the awning of Figure 1;
• Figure 3 is a perspective view of the awning of the preceding figures, shown in the open position with the fabric extended between the lateral guides;
• Figure 4 is a view in side elevation of the awning of Figure 3;
• Figure 5 is a perspective view of a detail of the awning of Figure 1;
• Figure 6 is an exploded perspective view of the detail of Figure 5;
• Figures 7 and 8 are two perspective views of two corresponding details of the awning of Figure 1.

[0011] With reference to the aforesaid figures, the number 1 indicates the whole of a retractable awning, particularly an awning for covering exterior spaces, made according to the invention.

[0012] The awning comprises an awning fabric 2 which can be moved between a closed position, with the fabric folded up to form a typical configuration of adjacent pockets 3, shown in Figure 1, and an extended position, with the fabric extended over the area covered by the awning, shown in Figure 3.

[0013] The awning also comprises a plurality of cross-pieces 5, made for example from extruded aluminium sections, spaced apart from each other and fixed to the fabric 2 by fixing means of a known type.

[0014] The cross-pieces 5 are movable along guide means comprising, in the example of embodiment of Figure 1, two lateral guides 4, which are also preferably made by extrusion of aluminium sections. At the opposite axial ends of each section 5 there are fixed corresponding carriages (not shown), engaged slidably in the cavities of the guide sections 4.

[0015] Each carriage is also fixed to the corresponding cross-piece 5 by connecting means, of the screw type for example, or of the snap-fit or other type. Drive means of a conventional type, which are not shown, are used to impart a translational movement to the front cross-piece of the awning, indicated by 5a in the drawing, along the lateral guides 4 (this cross-piece pulling the carriages of the other sections with it), thus moving the awning between the operating conditions described above. In particular, the carriages associated with the cross-piece 5a can be made to be driven by belt drive means. These drive means comprise, in each guide 4, a drive pulley positioned at the end of the guide 4 farthest from the front cross-piece 5a, and a driven pulley positioned at the opposite end of the guide 4. Each carriage associated with the cross-piece 5a is fixed by screws or other conventional means to the active branch of a belt engaged with the drive pulley and driven pulley.

[0016] Motion transmission means, indicated as a whole by 6, for transmitting a synchronous rotation to the drive pulleys extend between the guides in the proximity of the ends at which the drive pulleys are located. The transmission means 6 comprise a transmission shaft 7 extending along an axis X from one to the other of the guides 4.

[0017] Next to the guides 4 there are provided two corresponding boxlike elements 8a and 8b, by means of which the transmission means 6 are rotatably supported. The boxlike elements 8a and 8b comprise a first flange 9a and a second flange 9b respectively, for supporting the transmission means 6.

[0018] Each of the flanges 9a and 9b is fixed by screws or other conventional fixing means to the corresponding guide 4. Each of the boxlike elements 8a and 8b houses a corresponding gearing 10a, 10b for transmitting the synchronous motion from the transmission shaft 7 to a corresponding shaft 11a, 11b for operating the corresponding drive pulley, this pulley being mounted on an axial end of the shaft 11a, 11b.

[0019] The shaft 11a, 11b passes through a corresponding hole in the flange 9a, 9b.

[0020] Both of the shafts 11a and 11b are coaxial with an axis Z which is separate from the axis X and parallel thereto.

[0021] Each gearing 10a, 10b comprises a corresponding driving gear wheel 12a, 12b associated with a corresponding axial end of the transmission shaft 7, and a corresponding driven gear wheel 13a, 13b, which can engage with the corresponding gear wheel 12a, 12b and which is mounted at an axial end of the corresponding shaft 11a, 11b opposite the corresponding drive pulley.

[0022] The gear wheel 12a is fixed rigidly to the transmission shaft 7, while the gear wheel 12b can be moved by sliding axially along the transmission shaft between a free position and a position of engagement with the corresponding driven gear wheel 13b.

[0023] To enable this sliding to take place, the gear wheel 12b is provided with an axial cavity 14 which is slidably connectable to the transmission shaft 7, and with two diametrically opposed projections 15a and 15b, extending from the surface of the hole 14 in a radial direction towards the axis of rotation X. Each projection 15a, 15b can engage in a corresponding channel 16a, 16b extending axially along the transmission shaft 7.

[0024] The transmission shaft 7 is hollow and houses within itself a tubular electric motor 100, which is of a conventional type and is only shown schematically. The electric motor 100 comprises a rotor 110 which can be fixed to the transmission shaft 7 and a stator 120 which can be fixed to the first attachment flange 9a.

[0025] An insert 17, shaped in the form of a circular flange from which a cylindrical projection 18 coaxial with the axis X extends, can be fitted to the side of the second flange 9b facing the shaft 7. The projection 18 is provided with a cylindrical cavity 19, coaxial with the axis X, in which an axial pin 20 fixed to the gear wheel 12b can be rotatably supported.

[0026] The part of the boxlike element 8a, 8b which houses the gear wheel 13a, 13b comprises a lateral wall 21a, 21b projecting from the flange 9a, 9b to protect the corresponding gear wheel 13a, 13b. The part which houses the gear wheel 12a, 12b has a substantially semi-cylindrical shell 22a, 22b which can be fixed by a screw 24, parallel to the axis X, to the flange 9a, 9b. The boxlike element 8a, 8b is closed, on the side opposite the flange 9a, 9b, by a cover 23a, 23b, positioned next to the gear wheel 13a, 13b and fixed to the flange 9a, 9b by three screws 25, parallel to the axis X.

[0027] In an awning made according to the invention, it is possible to install the guides 4 initially, complete with the carriage driving means and the flanges 9a, 9b from which project the shafts 11a, 11b, each of which carries the gear wheel 13a, 13b at one of its ends. Since the electric motor 100, the transmission shaft and the driving gear wheels 12a, 12b form a unit which can be manipulated individually, these components can be fixed simultaneously to one of the guides by fixing the stator 120 of the electric motor 100 to the flange 9a. The installation of the motor 100 and of the transmission means is completed by sliding the gear wheel 12b from the free position to the position of engagement with the gear wheel 13b, resulting in its engagement (with the pin 20 rotatably supported in the cavity 19 fixed to the flange 9b).

[0028] The number of operations required to mount the awning assembly is thus considerably reduced, while the complexity of these operations is also decreased.

[0029] The invention also makes it possible to protect the motor 100 and of the gearings 10a, 10b adequately from atmospheric agents, since these parts are housed, respectively, within the transmission shaft and within the boxlike elements 8a, 8b.

[0030] Thus the invention resolves the initial problem and provides the advantages described above over the known art.

Claims

1. A retractable awning (1), comprising:

- a piece of fabric (2) fixed to at least one cross-piece (5) which can be moved along at least one pair of guides (4);

- means for providing a belt drive along the said guides, comprising, in each guide, at least one drive pulley for transmitting the motion to the said belt; and

- motion transmission means (6) for transmitting a synchronous rotation to the said drive pulleys;

characterized in that

- each of the said drive pulleys is mounted on its own operating shaft (11a, 11b); in that

- the said transmission means (6) comprise a transmission shaft (7) independent of each of the said operating shafts (11a,11b); and in that

- a gearing (10a, 10b) is interposed between the said transmission shaft (7) and each of the said operating shafts (11a, 11b) for the transmission of the said synchronous rotation.

2. A retractable awning (1) according to Claim 1, in which each of the said gearings (10a, 10b) comprises a driving gear wheel (12a, 12b) associated with a corresponding axial end of the said transmission shaft (7) and a driven gear wheel (13a, 13b) associated with one of the said operating shafts (11a,11b), the said driving and driven gear wheels being engageable with each other.

3. A retractable awning (1) according to Claim 2, in which at least one of the said driving gear wheels (12a, 12b) is movable by sliding along the said transmission shaft (7) between a free position and a position of engagement with the said driven gear wheel (13a, 13b).

4. A retractable awning (1) according to Claim 3, in which the said sliding is guided by means and counter-means for axially sliding the parts with respect to each other, provided on the said driving gear wheel (12a, 12b) and on the said transmission shaft (7) respectively.

5. A retractable awning (1) according to Claim 4, in which the said axial sliding means comprise:

- an axial hole (14) in the said driving wheel (12a, 12b), connected to the said transmission shaft (7); and

- a projection (15a, 15b) extending from the surface of the said hole (14) in a radial direction towards the axis of rotation of the transmission shaft (7),

and the said axial sliding counter-means comprise a channel (16a, 16b) extending axially along the said transmission shaft (7), in which the said projection (15a, 15b) is slidably engageable.

6. A retractable awning (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the said transmission shaft (7) is hollow.

7. A retractable awning (1) according to Claim 6, in which the said transmission shaft (7) is driven by means of an electric motor (100) housed within the said transmission shaft (7).

8. A retractable awning (1) according to Claim 6, in which the said transmission shaft (7), the said driving wheels (12a, 12b) of each of the said gearings (10a, 10b) and the said electric motor (100) form a unit which can be handled individually.

9. A retractable awning (1) according to Claim 7 or 8, in which the said electric motor (100) comprises:

- a stator (120) which can be fixed to one of the said guides (4) at one axial end of the said transmission shaft (7); and

- a rotor (110) which can be fixed to the said transmission shaft (7) with respect to rotation.

10. A retractable awning (1) according to Claim 9, in which a first attachment flange (9a) for the said stator (120) can be fixed to one of the said guides (4).

11. A retractable awning (1) according to Claim 10, in which the other of the said guides (4) comprises a second flange (9b) provided with means for rotatably supporting the said driving gear wheel (12a, 12b) in the said position of engagement.

12. A retractable awning (1) according to Claim 11, in which the said means for rotatable support comprise a cylindrical cavity (19) coaxial with the axis of rotation of the said transmission shaft (7).

13. A retractable awning (1) according to Claim 12, in which the said driving wheel (12a, 12b) comprises an axial pin (20) which can be rotatably supported in the said cavity (19).

14. A retractable awning (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the said transmission shaft (7) substantially extends from one to the other of the said pair of guides (4).

Drawing