Roll-up awning

Abstract

 Roll-up awning comprising tensioning elements (3) for stretching a canvas thereon, which awning comprises a roller (4) on which the tensioning elements (3) can be rolled up, and wherein each tensioning element (3) is made of elastically deformable material and is formed by a leaf which in cross section, in opened state of the awning, takes substantially the form of a circle segment and in closed state of the awning, is wound substantially flat on the roller (4), and wherein in opened state of the awning, the leaves extend in an arch form between the roller (4) and a front part of the awning.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a roll-up awning comprising tensioning elements for stretching a canvas thereon, which awning comprises a roller on which the tensioning elements can be rolled up.

[0002] Such an awning is generally known. The known awning is normally used as a sunshade above windows or doors, or as a roof to offer protection against various weather conditions. The canvas of the awning is normally mounted on tensioning elements and the awning can be rolled up so that it is easy to store and transport if required.

[0003] A disadvantage of the known awning however is that the tensioning elements do not provide, or only inadequately provide, a supporting structure of the awning, whereby it is necessary to provide a supporting structure besides the tensioning elements.

[0004] The object of the invention is to provide a roll-up awning wherein the tensioning elements form a supporting structure which is strong enough not to collapse under wind gusts.

[0005] A roll-up awning according to the invention is therefore characterised in that each tensioning element is made of elastically deformable material and is formed by a leaf which in cross section, in opened state of the awning, takes substantially the form of a circle segment, and in closed state of the awning, is wound substantially flat on the roller, and wherein in the opened state of the awning, the leaves extend in an arch form between the roller and a front part of the awning. By using leaves firstly with a cross-section in the form of a circle segment and secondly which extend arch-like in opened state, the leaves effectively have a double curved structure. Because the leaves are also made of elastically deformable material, a supporting structure of the awning is obtained which is firstly strong and secondly sufficiently flexible. Thus a structure is obtained which is supportive and offers adequate resistance to wind gusts.

[0006] A first preferred embodiment of a roll-up awning according to the invention is characterised in that the circle segment form of the leaf is obtained from a first circle with a first radius between 3 and 4 cm, in particular 3.6 cm. A circle form with such a radius offers the advantage that firstly it gives the leaf sufficient spring force and secondly, without exerting a great force, the leaf can be returned to a flat configuration when it is rolled up and remains in this flat configuration in the rolled-up state of the awning.

[0007] A second preferred embodiment of a roll-up awning according to the invention is characterised in that said arch form is obtained from a second circle with a second radius of maximum 3 m, in particular 2.5 m. Such a second radius offers the advantage of giving the necessary flexibility in a direction perpendicular to the awning.

[0008] A third preferred embodiment of a roll-up awning according to the invention is characterised in that the awning comprises at least three leaves which are arranged substantially parallel to each other and wherein at least one cross connection is provided between the leaves. Thus a cohesive supporting structure is obtained.

[0009] A fourth preferred embodiment of a roll-up awning according to the invention is characterised in that a pretensioned spring is arranged in or next to the roller. The spring can be both a torsion spring and a tension spring. This allows winding up and unwinding of the awning because the force to be exerted is compensated by the operation of the spring.

[0010] The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to an embodiment example shown in the drawing. The drawings show:

Figure 1

a first embodiment example of a roll-up awning according to the invention in opened state;

Figure 2

the various leaves which form the supporting structure of the awning;

Figure 3

the leaf in opened state of the awning;

Figures 4, 5 and 6

the rolling up of the awning on the roller;

Figure 7

the awning in front of a house; and

Figure 8

some graphs which illustrate the torque exerted on the leaf.

[0011] In the drawings the same or analogous elements have the same reference numerals.

[0012] Figure 1 shows an embodiment example of a roll-up awning according to the invention with the awning in the opened state. The awning 1 comprises a canvas 2 which is stretched on tensioning elements 3. The awning is mounted so it can be wound up on and unwound from a roller 4. Preferably the roller is arranged in a housing 5 in which the canvas can also be accommodated when the awning is in the closed state. A spring system is connected with the roller for rolling the canvas onto the roller. It is also possible to provide an electric motor for motorised rolling up of the canvas.

[0013] The canvas is made of plastic or a natural fabric which is treated to be water-repellent. The canvas is attached to the tensioning elements either by gluing or screwing or by means of casings attached to the canvas. The use of casings offers the advantage that the tensioning elements can be arranged in the casings and cannot damage the object covered by the awning.

[0014] Figure 2 shows an example of the supporting structure of the awning. The supporting structure comprises the tensioning elements 3 which are each formed by a leaf. In the embodiment example, three leaves are used to form the tensioning elements. These three tensioning elements extend substantially parallel to each other. It is however clear that more than three leaves, or only two leaves, can be used and that this is dependent on the size of the awning. A structure with at least three leaves however offers the advantage that firstly it provides adequate stability for the awning when this is opened and secondly it still allows a limited weight. Preferably between the leaves is arranged at least one cross connection 7 to reinforce the structure and maintain a constant distance between the different leaves over time.

[0015] The leaves are preferably made of stainless steel, more particularly austenitic 1.4310 hard-rolled stainless steel, code AISI 301 4/4 hard. However other metals such as titanium are also possible, but these are less suitable for economic reasons. Plastic materials can also be used, provided that they have the necessary flexibility and rigidity. When stainless steel leaves are used, the leaf preferably has a thickness between 0.3 and 1 mm, in particular 0.5 mm, and a width between 45 and 55 mm, in particular 50 mm. The dimensions given here offer the advantage that they form a good compromise between firstly an acceptable weight and secondly an adequate stability of the awning.

[0016] Figure 3 shows the leaf 3 with the awning in the opened state. As shown in this figure, the leaf in cross-section, in opened state of the awning, has substantially the form of a circle segment. Furthermore the leaf, still with the awning in opened state, extends in an arch form between the roller 4 and the front part 8 of the awning. The circle segment form is obtained by a first circle (partially shown in dotted line) with a first radius R1 between 3 and 4 cm, in particular 3.6 cm. The arch form is obtained from a second circle with a second radius R2 between 2 and 3 m, in particular 2.5 m.

[0017] The circle segment form of the leaf in cross-section is obtained by bending a plate which was originally flat. It is however also possible to produce the leaf by extrusion. Because the leaf has this circle segment form, it has a flexible character which will be explained further below. This circle arcuate form of the awning in the opened state is achieved because the awning extends from the roller and is subject to gravity. The curved form of the leaves and the fact that these are rolled up on the roller ensures that the awning first extends upwards in order then to curve down under the influence of gravity.

[0018] The flexibility acquired by the leaf because it is bent in the form of a circle segment also offers the possibility that the leaf, when rolled up onto the roller 4, will deform in order to be wound around the roller in substantially flat form. On unwinding of the leaf, this will again assume the circular segment form. The transition from the flat to the curved circle segment form is illustrated in figures 4, 5 and 6. In particular figure 4 shows how the leaf 3, before it comes into contact with the roller 4, still completely has the circle segment form. If now, as shown in figure 5, the leaf is rolled up around the roller, the contact between the leaf and the roller, and the rotation of the roller, ensure that the leaf, by its spring force and flexibility, will bend and assume the flat form of the roller casing. If the leaf is now unrolled again (figure 6), the circle segment form is taken up again because the leaf comes clear of the roller.

[0019] Because the leaves extend in the arch form with the awning in opened state, and because the leaves are under spring force, a flexibility is produced in the awning which can resist a pressure of at least 800 MPa on the awning without the leaves collapsing. Figures 8a and 8b respectively illustrate the torque (N) which can be exerted on the leaf as a function of the length of the chord spanned by the circle with radius R2, respectively the width of the leaf, for a leaf with a width of 50, 75 and 100 mm respectively and a thickness of 5, 10 or 20 mm. Figure 8c is a combination of figures 8a and 8b for a leaf with a thickness of 0.5 mm. As these figures show, the torque is almost continuous which means that the leaf itself - if it temporarily collapses - can return to the original state. The graphs also show that the torque is significantly determined by the width of the spring and by the length of the circle segment. As a result the person skilled in the art can also select the material thickness and the chord length as a function of the area to be protected.

[0020] Figure 7 shows diagrammatically a fragment of a façade of a building fitted with a roll-up awning according to the invention. The awning is suitable for various sizes of window and can either normally hang down as shown in figure 7a or be supported to extend away from the facade as shown in figure 7b.

[0021] The awning can furthermore be placed on the roof of a vehicle and thus protect the vehicle.

Claims

1. Roll-up awning comprising tensioning elements for stretching a canvas thereon, which awning comprises a roller on which the tensioning elements can be rolled up, characterised in that each tensioning element is made of elastically deformable material and is formed by a leaf which in cross section, in opened state of the awning, takes substantially the form of a circle segment and in closed state of the awning, is wound substantially flat on the roller, and wherein in opened state of the awning, the leaves extend in an arch form between the roller and a front part of the awning.

2. Roll-up awning according to claim 1, characterised in that the circle segment form of the leaf is obtained from a first circle with a first radius between 3 and 4 cm, in particular 3.6 cm.

3. Roll-up awning according to any of claims 1 or 2, characterised in that said arch form is obtained from a second circle with a second radius of maximum 3 m, in particular 2.5 m.

4. Roll-up awning according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the awning comprises at least three leaves which are arranged substantially parallel to each other and wherein at least one transverse connection is arranged between the leaves.

5. Roll-up awning according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the leaf is made of stainless steel and has a thickness between 0.3 and 1 mm, in particular 0.5 mm, and wherein the leaf has a width between 45 and 55 mm, in particular 50 mm.

6. Roll-up awning according to claim 5, characterised in that the stainless steel is selected such that it can withstand the pressure of at least 800 MPa on the awning in opened state without the leaves collapsing.

7. Roll-up awning according to any of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that a pretensioned spring is arranged in the roller.

8. Roll-up awning according to any of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that guide elements are arranged along an outer casing of the roller for guiding the leaves when rolling up on the roller.

Drawing