The present finding regards an outdoor awning according to the preamble of the independent claim number 1.

The present awning is intended to be used for covering outdoor surfaces, protecting them from weathering agents and in particular from the sun and rain.

The present awning is indicated for obtaining pergolas, verandas and more generally cover structures, both in gardens of private homes and in open public spaces, such as restaurants, hotels, bathing establishments or other structures.

The aforesaid awning can be anchored to the building wall, to the ceiling or to a truss of a building, or it can be of isolated type, being supported by a dedicated support structure of self-bearing type.

The awning, object of the present finding, therefore falls within the industrial field of the production of awnings for covering outside settings.

Numerous solutions of outdoor awnings are known on the market, comprising a support structure which is fixed to the ground and/or abutted against a wall of a building and is provided with two lateral longitudinal members between which a sheet is suspended for covering an underlying surface of the ground. More in detail, the two longitudinal members are supported, at a front end thereof, by two vertical columns, and they are fixed, at a rear end thereof, to a vertical wall, such as the wall of a building adjacent to the surface to be covered.

In particular, awnings are known on the market of pitch type, in which the sheet of the awning is suspended above the surface to be covered, such sheet constrained to a plurality of section-breaker profiles, which are arranged transverse to the lateral longitudinal members and are slidably engaged at their ends in guides arranged on the longitudinal members themselves by means of, for example, slide trolleys.

In addition, the sheet of the awning is constrained, at a rear edge thereof, to a fixed profile fastened to the rear ends of the longitudinal members and, at an opposite front edge thereof, to a movable front profile, which is slidably constrained to the guides of the lateral longitudinal members by means of corresponding slide trolleys.

Also provided are means for driving the profiles of the awning, which comprise drive belts housed inside longitudinal members and adapted to move the section-breaker profiles and the front profile along the guides of the longitudinal members themselves, in order to move the sheet between an extended position, in which the latter is substantially spread above the surface to be covered, and a collected position, in which the aforesaid profiles are abutted against each other with the sheet which is collected in a plurality of side-by-side pitches, each of which is extended between a pair of subsequent profiles.

The two vertical columns of the support structure are connected to each other by a horizontal beam arranged along a front side of the awning and on which the two lateral longitudinal members rest. In particular, the front beam bears, fixed on the upper part, two fork-shaped support brackets, each of which sustaining the corresponding longitudinal member pivoted between its arms.

More in detail, the front ends of the longitudinal members project from the front side of the awning beyond the columns and are closed by a cover cap in order to protect the aforesaid drive means of the section-breaker profiles and the front profile.

The awning also comprises a gutter fixed on a rear face of the aforesaid horizontal beam and arranged in abutment against the two columns, which are obtained by means of two hollow tubular sections. Such gutter is adapted to receive the rainwater that descends from the sheet of the awning and is provided on its bottom wall with an opening of communication with the internal cavity of one of the columns, in order to allow the water collected in the gutter to descend inside the column and exit outside the awning through a hole obtained at the base of the column itself.

The longitudinal members are usually arranged tilted downward from their rear end (fixed to the wall) to their front end (sustained by the columns) in order to make the rainwater descend towards the front side of the awning, in a manner so as to convey the water into the aforesaid gutter.

In particular, when the sheet of the awning is brought into its extended position, the front profile fixed to its front edge is positioned above the gutter in order to convey into the latter the rainwater that descends from the sheet itself.

One drawback of the awnings of known type briefly described above is due to the fact that it is necessary to bring the front profile above the gutter in order to convey into the latter the water that descends from the sheet. This requires arranging the front profile, and hence also the longitudinal members constrained thereto, at a relatively high distance from the top of the columns on which the gutter rests, with a consequent high relative bulk of the awning.

A further drawback of the awnings of known type described above is due to the fact that they are structurally complex and costly to make.

In this situation, the problem underlying the present finding is therefore that of eliminating the drawbacks of the solutions of known type mentioned above, by providing an outdoor awning in which the structural and mechanical support components of the sheet, such as in particular the front profile and the longitudinal members, have relatively limited size.

A further object of the present finding is to provide an outdoor awning, which can be installed with its front side fit in adherence with a vertical wall.

A further object of the present finding is to provide an outdoor awning, which is structurally simple and inexpensive to attain.

A further object of the present finding is to provide an outdoor awning, which allows unloading the rainwater in an optimal manner.

A further object of the present finding is to provide an outdoor awning, which has simple and quick maintenance.

These and other objects are all attained by the outdoor awning according to the enclosed claims.

The technical characteristics of the finding, according to the aforesaid objects, can be clearly seen in the contents of the below-reported claims and the advantages thereof will be clearer from the following detailed description, made with reference to the enclosed drawings, which represent several merely exemplifying and non-limiting embodiments of the invention, in which:

• figure 1 shows a top, front perspective view of the outdoor awning, object of the present finding, in accordance with a first embodiment;
• figure 2 shows a side view of the outdoor awning illustrated in figure 1;
• figure 3 shows a detail of the awning according to the present finding, reported inside the circle III of figure 2 and relative to the gutter and to the front profile of the awning, in which some parts have been removed in order to better illustrate other parts;
• figure 4 shows a side view of the outdoor awning, object of the present finding, in accordance with a second embodiment.

With reference to the set of drawings, reference number 1 indicates overall an outdoor awning, object of the present finding.

The present awning 1 is indicated for obtaining pergolas, verandas and more generally structures for covering outdoor settings, such as gardens of private homes and open public spaces, such as restaurants, hotels, bathing establishments etc.

In accordance with the embodiments illustrated in the enclosed figures, the outdoor awning 1, object of the present finding, comprises a support structure 2 provided with at least two longitudinal members 3 parallel to each other and side-by-side, each of which is extended longitudinally along a main extension direction X between a front end 4 thereof and an opposite rear end 5 thereof.

Preferably, in accordance with a first embodiment illustrated in figures 1 and 2, the support structure 2 also comprises at least two columns 6 set on the ground, each of which supporting the front end 4 of a corresponding aforesaid longitudinal member 3, as described in detail hereinbelow.

In accordance with the aforesaid first embodiment, the support structure 2 of the awning 1 is abutted against a vertical wall P (such as the wall of a building) to which the rear ends 5 of the longitudinal members 3 are anchored.

In accordance with a second embodiment illustrated in figure 4, the front ends 4 of the longitudinal members 3 are supported by a further vertical wall P' facing the other vertical wall P to which the rear ends 5 of the longitudinal members 3 are fixed, in a manner such that the support structure 2 of the awning 1 is interposed between the two aforesaid walls P and P'.

In accordance with a further different embodiment, not illustrated, the support structure of the awning is provided with two first columns placed to support the front ends of the longitudinal members and with two further second columns placed to support the rear ends of the longitudinal members themselves, in this manner obtaining a self-bearing support structure.

According to the present finding, each longitudinal member 3 of the support structure 2 is preferably obtained with a metal section (in particular made of extruded aluminum) and is provided with a longitudinal guide parallel to the aforesaid main extension direction X and to which the corresponding terminal is slidably engaged of a front profile 7 arranged transverse to the longitudinal members 3 themselves, as described in detail below.

The awning 1 also comprises a sheet 8 arranged between the longitudinal members 3 and being extended along the main extension direction X of the latter between a rear edge 9 thereof constrained to the support structure 2, and an opposite front edge 10 thereof fixed to the aforesaid front profile 7. The latter is movable along the longitudinal guides of the longitudinal members 3 between an open position, in which it is arranged at the front ends 4 of the longitudinal members 3 in order to spread the sheet 8 above a surface to be covered, and a closed position, in which the front profile 7 is preferably positioned in proximity to the rear ends 5 of the longitudinal members 3 in order to collect the sheet 8 substantially outside the surface to be covered.

Of course, without departing from the protection of the present patent, the present awning 1 can also comprise more than two longitudinal members parallel to each other, and multiple cover sheets, each arranged between a corresponding pair of side-by-side longitudinal members.

Advantageously, in accordance with the particular embodiments illustrated in the enclosed figures, the awning 1 is of pitch type and is provided with a plurality of section-breaker profiles 11, which transversely support the sheet 8 and are arranged parallel to each other and orthogonal to the longitudinal members 3. In addition, the section-breaker profiles 11 are slidably engaged, at the terminals thereof, with the longitudinal guides of the longitudinal members 3 and are movable along such guides parallel to the front profile 7.

Preferably, the awning comprises slidable guide means 12 mounted at the terminals of the front profile 7 and at the terminals of each section-breaker profile 11, and adapted to slidably support such profiles 7, 11 along the longitudinal guides of the longitudinal members 3.

In accordance with the embodiments illustrated in the enclosed figures, the aforesaid slidable guide means 12 comprise multiple slide trolleys 12', each of which is fixed to the corresponding terminal of the profiles 7, 11 and is provided with idle wheels slidably inserted inside the longitudinal guides of the longitudinal members 3 in a manner per se known to the man skilled in the art and hence not discussed in further detail herein.

Advantageously, the rear edge 9 of the sheet 8 is fixed to a rear profile 13, which is extended parallel to the front profile 7 and to the section-breaker profiles 11 and is fixed to the longitudinal members 3 at the rear ends 5 of the latter.

Preferably, the sheet 8 is provided with a terminal portion 8' fixed between the rear profile 13 and an anchorage bracket 14 for the support structure 2 fixed to the wall P, in order to prevent the fall of water between the rear profile 13 and the wall P themselves.

Advantageously, the awning 1 comprises drive means (not illustrated in the enclosed figures) which are adapted to drive the front profile 7 and the section-breaker profiles 11 to slide along the longitudinal guides of the longitudinal members 3.

More in detail, the drive means preferably comprise two drive belts, each of which wound around a first and a second transmission pulley rotatably constrained to the support structure 2 respectively at the front 4 and rear 5 ends of the longitudinal members 3.

In particular, each drive belt is housed inside a corresponding aforesaid longitudinal member 3 and carries fixed the slide trolley 12' of the terminal of the front profile 7 constrained to the longitudinal guide of such longitudinal member 3.

In operation, the second transmission pulleys are driven to rotate around an axis of rotation thereof by means of a motor or in a manual manner (for example by means of a control rod engaged through a joint with the shaft of the second pulleys) in order to move the drive belts to advance in a first advancing sense in order to drive the front profile 7 towards the open position, and in a second opposite advancing sense in order to drive the front profile 7 towards the closed position.

In particular, when the front profile 7 is moved from the closed position to the open position, it drives the section-breaker profiles 11 therewith by means of the sheet 8 constrained to the profiles 7, 11 themselves.

When the front profile 7 is moved from the open position to the closed position, the latter pushes the section-breaker profiles 11 towards the rear ends 5 of the longitudinal members 3, abutting them against each other with the sheet 8 that is collected in a plurality of side-by-side pitches, each of which extended between a pair of subsequent profiles.

Advantageously, the support structure 2 of the awning 1 is provided with a protection roof 15 arranged above the longitudinal members 3, being extended along a smaller section of the latter starting from their rear ends 5, and below which the sheet 8 is collected when the front profile 7 is brought into closed position.

In accordance with a different embodiment, not illustrated, the present awning is of rolling type and comprises, in a manner per se known to the man skilled in the art, a roller for winding the sheet arranged at the rear ends of the longitudinal members.

According to the present finding, the present awning 1 comprises a gutter 16, which is fixed to the support structure 2 at a front side 40 of the awning 1 itself, is arranged transverse to the longitudinal members 3 at the front ends 4 of the latter, and is advantageously connected to such front ends 4 of the longitudinal members 3 as described in detail below.

More in detail, with reference to figure 3, the gutter 16 is provided with a rear containment wall 17 delimited on the upper part by a first longitudinal edge 17', and with a front containment wall 18 on the lower part connected to the rear containment wall 17 by means of a bottom wall 19 and delimited on the upper part by a second longitudinal edge 18'. The latter defines, with the first longitudinal edge 17' of the rear containment wall 17, an inlet opening 20 adapted to allow the entrance into the gutter 16 of rainwater susceptible to descending from the sheet 8 when the front profile 7 is placed in the open position.

In particular, with reference to the embodiments illustrated in the enclosed figures, the gutter 16 is extended longitudinally between the two longitudinal members 3 and is advantageously placed as a transverse connection of the front ends 4 of the latter. Preferably, the gutter 16 is obtained with at least one metal section, in particular extruded, with the containment walls 17, 18 arranged orthogonal to the bottom wall 19. Advantageously, the gutter 16 is closed at its two end sides by corresponding lateral walls 21 fixed to the containment walls 17, 18 preferably by means of connection screws inserted in corresponding first holes made on the lateral walls 21 themselves and screwed in second holes, which are in particular obtained by means of shaped projections of the containment walls 17, 18 being extended inside the gutter 16. Preferably, in accordance with the embodiments illustrated in the enclosed figures, the longitudinal members 3 are arranged tilted downward from their rear end 5 to their front end 4 in order to facilitate the descent of the rain water from the sheet 8 towards the front edge 10 of the sheet 8 itself in a manner such to convey the water into the gutter 16.

Advantageously, in accordance with the first embodiment illustrated in figures 1 and 2, the bottom wall 19 of the gutter 16 is fixed on the top of the columns 6 of the support structure 2 as an upper connection of the latter.

The columns 6 are preferably obtained by means of hollow metal tubular sections, obtained in particular by means of extrusion.

Advantageously, the bottom wall 19 of the gutter 16 is provided with an outlet opening 22 that places the interior of the gutter 16 in communication with the internal cavity of one of the columns 6, in order to allow the water collected in the gutter 16 to descend inside such column 6 and exit to the outside through a drain opening 23 obtained at the base 6' of the column 6 itself.

In accordance with the second embodiment illustrated in figure 4, the front containment wall 18 of the gutter 16 is fixed to the vertical wall P', in particular by means of support brackets (not illustrated) preferably provided with a support base on which the bottom wall 19 of the gutter 16 is fixed in abutment, in order to sustain the front ends 4 of the longitudinal members 3, which are connected to the gutter 16 itself as described in detail below. Preferably, in accordance with the aforesaid second embodiment, the water collected in the gutter 16 is conveyed to the ground by means of a drain duct (not illustrated) connected to the outlet opening 22 obtained in the bottom wall 19 of the gutter 16 itself.

In accordance with the idea underlying the present finding, the front profile 7 of the awning 1 is provided with at least one appendage 24, which is projectingly extended towards the front side 40 of the awning 1, has the front edge 10 of the sheet 8 fixed, and is placed at a greater height than that of the first longitudinal edge of the rear containment wall 17 of the gutter 16. More in detail, when the front profile 7 is brought into its open position, the appendage 24 is placed above the bottom wall 19 of the gutter 16 between the first and the second longitudinal edge 17', 18' of the latter, in order to convey into the gutter 16 itself the rainwater susceptible to descending from the sheet 8 when it is spread above the surface to be covered.

In this manner, in particular, when the transverse profile 7 is brought into the open position, the appendage 24 is capable of passing above the first longitudinal edge 17' of the rear containment wall 17 of the gutter 16, being arranged at least partially above the inlet opening of the latter in order to convey to its interior the water that descends from the sheet 8, without having to bring the entire transverse profile 7 above the gutter 16. This allows, in particular, maintaining the front profile 7 at a lower height than the awnings of known type mentioned above, and at the same time obtaining the rear containment wall 17 of the gutter 16 with a height (e.g. about 6 cm) sufficient for preventing the water entering the gutter 16 itself from exiting outside the inlet opening 20 of the latter.

Advantageously, the appendage 24 has cross section of lower height than that of the front profile 7, and preferably equal to about a quarter of the height of the front profile 7 itself.

In accordance with the embodiments illustrated in the enclosed figures, the front profile 7 of the awning 1 is preferably obtained with a metal tubular section, in particular made of extruded aluminum, and is provided with an upper face 25, connected by means of the slide trolleys 12' to the longitudinal guides of the longitudinal members 3, and with a front face 26 directed towards the front side 40 of the awning 1.

Advantageously, the appendage 24 is extended substantially as an extension of the upper face 25 of the front profile 7, preferably projecting cantilevered from the front face 26 of the front profile 7 itself.

Advantageously, the appendage 24 is provided with a free first end portion 27, to which the front edge 10 of the sheet 8 is fixed, and with an opposite second end portion 28 constrained to the front face 26 of the front profile 7.

In particular, the first (free) end portion 27 of the appendage 24 is provided with a constraining seat 29 in which a reinforcement bolt rope 30 of the front edge 10 of the awning 8 is inserted. Preferably, the front edge 10 of the awning 1 is provided with a valance 31 which projects forwardly downwards from the first end portion 27 of the appendage 24 in order to help convey the water descending from the sheet 8 towards the underlying inlet opening 20 of the gutter 16.

Advantageously, the appendage 24 is longitudinally extended substantially for the entire length of the front profile 7 so as to tension the front edge 10 of the sheet 8 fixed to the appendage 24 itself.

In accordance with the particular embodiments illustrated in the attached figures, the appendage 24 is made as a component separate from the front profile 7, it is made in particular of a metal profile, preferably of extruded aluminum, and is fixed to the front face 26 of the front profile 7 as described in detail hereinbelow.

Advantageously, the second end portion 28 of the appendage 24 is constrained to the front face 26 of the front profile 7 by means of a fixing foot (not illustrated in the attached figures) inserted in a retaining relationship in a groove obtained on the front face 26 of the front profile 7 itself.

In particular, in addition or as an alternative to the aforesaid fixing foot, the appendage 24 is fixed to the front profile 7 by means of fixing screws (not illustrated in the attached figures) screwed at corresponding first and second holes aligned with each other and respectively obtained on the second end portion 28 of the appendage 24 and on the front face 26 of the front profile 7.

More in detail, the second end portion 28 of the appendage 24 is provided with an enlarged base 28' arranged in abutment on the front face 26 of the front profile 7 and on which the first holes in which the aforesaid fixing screws are inserted are preferably obtained.

In accordance with a different embodiment, not illustrated, the appendage is made in a single body with the front profile, preferably with a single metal profile obtained by extrusion.

Advantageously, the support structure 2 comprises two first brackets 32, each of which is fixed to the bottom wall 19 of the gutter 16, and two second brackets 33, each of which is fixed to the front end 4 of the corresponding longitudinal member 3 and is hinged to the corresponding first bracket 32, in order to connect the gutter 16 to the longitudinal members 3.

In particular, each first and second bracket 32 and 33, preferably made of metal material, are hinged with each other by means of a horizontal pin 34 inserted in corresponding pivot holes obtained on the brackets 32, 33 themselves.

Advantageously, upon installation of the awning 1, it is possible to determine the inclination of the longitudinal members 3, which preferably is substantially comprised between 0° and 16°, rotating the latter around the pin 34 of the brackets 32, 33 before fixing on a wall the rear ends 5 of the longitudinal members 3 themselves.

Preferably, the first and the second bracket 32, 33 are shaped as a fork, and the second bracket 33 has its arms 33' preferably shaped as an elbow and having a first end thereof hinged to the first bracket 33 and a second end thereof fixed to the front end 4 of the corresponding longitudinal member 3.

In particular, the arms 33' of the second bracket 33 are developed at least partially as an extension of the front end 4 of the longitudinal member 3 which preferably does not project forwardly from the front side 40 of the awning 1.

Advantageously, each first bracket 32 is arranged inside the gutter 16 and is provided in particular with a base portion 32' fixed in abutment on the bottom wall 19 of the gutter 16.

In accordance with the first embodiment illustrated in the figures 1 and 2, the bottom wall 19 of the gutter 16 is fixed at the top of the columns 6 of the support structure 2 and is interposed between the top of the columns 6 themselves and the first brackets 32. More in detail, preferably, each first bracket 32 is fixed at the top of the column 6 by means of second fixing screws (not illustrated in the attached figures) inserted in corresponding third and fourth holes aligned with each other and obtained respectively on the base portion 32' of the first bracket 32 and on the bottom wall 19 of the gutter 16. In particular, the shaft of the second fixing screws is screwed in a threaded hole obtained in a tubular steel core inserted inside the column 6 at the top of the latter.

In accordance with the embodiments illustrated in the attached figures, the front containment wall 18 of the gutter 16 is placed to cover the front of the aforesaid first and second brackets 32, 33.

With reference in particular to the second embodiment illustrated in figure 4, the arrangement according to the present finding of the front containment wall 18 of the gutter 16 in front of the brackets 32, 33 and the front ends 4 of the longitudinal members 3, allows advantageously installing the awning 1 with its front side 40 abutted against the vertical wall P' in adherence with the latter, substantially without leaving air gaps for the passage of water between the vertical wall P' and the awning 1 themselves. Moreover, the aforesaid arrangement of the front containment wall 18 of the gutter 16 allows fixing the awning 1 to the vertical wall P' by anchoring the gutter 16 itself to the latter by means of preferably the support brackets described above, without having to employ further anchoring beams with a consequent constructional simplification of the awning 1.

Preferably, the front containment wall 18 of the gutter 16 is made in two portions 35, 36, of which a first portion 35 is fixed in a single body to the bottom wall 19, and a second portion 36 is removably fixed to the aforesaid first portion 35. In particular, the second portion 36 is delimited on the upper part by the second longitudinal edge 18' of the front containment wall 18 and on the lower part by a first longitudinal coupling edge 37 engaged with a second longitudinal coupling edge 38 which delimits on the upper part the first portion 35 of the front containment wall 18 itself.

Preferably, the second longitudinal coupling edge 38 is provided with a retaining seat in which an enlarged profile of the first longitudinal coupling edge 37 is inserted in retaining relationship, the enlarged profile being countershaped with respect to the retaining seat itself.

Advantageously, in particular in the first embodiment of the present finding illustrated in figures 1 and 2, the obtainment of the front containment wall 18 of the gutter 16 in the aforesaid two portions 35, 36 allows an easy access to the first transmission pulleys of the drive belts of the front profile 7, removing only the second portion 36, in order to carry out maintenance operations such as the tensioning of the drive belts.

The finding thus conceived therefore achieves the pre-established objects.