LOCKING SYSTEM FOR A PERGOLA-TYPE CANOPY

Abstract

 A locking system for a pergola-type canopy comprising at least one tilting part (4) joined to the transverse end member (2) by means of a joint (5) and with a free end (8), such that the tilting part (4) is located in correspondence with a portion of the transverse end member (2) which is in contact with a lateral guide (3), it also comprises at least one housing (10) in a lateral guide (3) comprising a first inclined plane (11) and a second inclined plane (12) which converge at one end in a stop (13) and they have another free end, wherein the tilting part (4) has a length (L) and wherein, between the joint (5) and the free end of the first inclined plane (11), there is a distance (d) that is less than the length (L) of the tilting part (4).

Description

Object of the invention

[0001] The present invention refers to a locking system for a pergola-type canopy which enables a tension to be generated in the canvas of the canopy such that undesired movements from the effects of wind, as well as wrinkling or water sacks in the cloth, are prevented. The system object of the invention is applicable in the construction industry, specifically in the portion dedicated to protecting the outside of facades or the portion dedicated to closures that are able to be disassembled.

Background of the invention

[0002] Pergola-type canopies are canopies for outdoor use, formed by a fabric, joined at one end to a fixed point and at the opposite end to a transverse end member, such that the transverse end member moves guided on two parallel lateral guides from the fixed point towards the end of the lateral guides opposite from the fixed point. In these pergola-type canopies, the movement of the transverse end member through the lateral guides stretches or gathers the fabric.

[0003] The pergola-type canopies known in the state of the art lock the position of the fabric when the transverse end member reaches the end of the parallel guides by means of devices like the one disclosed in document EP 2 722 460 B1, which discloses a pergola-type cover with a retractable canopy which has engagement means which are safe and effective in any position of inclination of the canopy, which has automatic electrically-actuated engagement means for the transverse end member, which fasten the transverse end member to the lateral guides by tensioning when the transverse end member is on the end of the lateral guides.

[0004] Another mechanism for fastening a pergola-type canopy is in document GR 2010 0 100 445 which discloses a locking system for the position of the canopy in a pergola, based on a locking part with a hook-shaped end which runs along a labyrinth part to pin down the canopy and fastening the position, such that the hook works by putting tension on the labyrinth part.

[0005] There is a version of a fastening device with manual actuation thereof, which can be located in any arrangement of the guide, as long as there is access for manual manipulation, access that on multiple occasions prevents this version from being able to be used.

[0006] The invention provides a system which considerably simplifies the locking mechanism of the position of the canopy, enabling the locking/unlocking of the canopy to be performed in a very simple manner.

Description of the invention

[0007] The invention discloses a locking system for a pergola-type canopy, such that the canopy comprises a transverse end member and at least two lateral guides on which the transverse end member moves, the lateral guides being joined to a fixed point on one end.

[0008] The system object of the invention comprises at least one tilting part joined to the transverse end member by means of a joint and with a free end, such that the tilting part is located in correspondence with a portion of the transverse end member which is in contact with a lateral guide, and at least one housing in a lateral guide comprising a first inclined plane and a second inclined plane which converge at one end in a stop and they have another free end, such that the tilting part has a free end and a length.

[0009] In the system object of the invention there is a distance between the joint and the free end of the first inclined plane that is less than the length of the tilting part.

[0010] In the locking system for a pergola-type canopy object of the invention the first inclined plane is longer than the second inclined plane.

[0011] The locking system for a pergola-type canopy object of the invention comprises a protective plate which covers the housing and contributes to the locking of the free end of the tilting part in the housing itself.

[0012] In the locking system for a pergola-type canopy, object of the invention the housing is a part fastened to each lateral guide.

[0013] There is an alternative embodiment of the locking system object of the invention, wherein the tilting part is joined to an elastic means configured to move the mentioned tilting part around the joint.

Description of the drawings

[0014] To complete the description, and for the purpose of helping to make the characteristics of the invention more readily understandable, the present specification is accompanied by a set of figures constituting an integral part of the same, which by way of illustration and not limitation represent the following:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a pergola canopy with the system object of the invention incorporated, showing a detail of said system.

Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the first component of the system object of the invention.

Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the housing of the system object of the invention.

Figure 4 shows a view of the system object of the invention in one position, wherein the relative position and the distances between the housing and the first component of the system object of the invention can be seen.

Figure 5 shows a sequence of the locking method of the system object of the invention.

Figure 6 shows a sequence of the unlocking method of the system object of the invention.

[0015] The various references found in the figures correspond to the following elements:

1. fabric,

2. transverse end member,

3. lateral guide,

4. tilting part,

5. joint,

6. first component,

7. fastening part,

8. free end,

9. articulated end,

10. housing,

11. first inclined plane,

12. second inclined plane,

13. stop,

14. protective plate,

L. length of the tilting part, and

d. distance between the joint and the end of the first inclined plane.

Detailed description of the invention

[0016] The object of this invention is a locking system for a pergola-type canopy, which by means of two mechanical parts and with a simple movement enables the canopy to be locked in the position wherein the two mechanical parts converge, it likewise enables the position of the canopy to be unlocked without any additional element.

[0017] A pergola-type canopy is formed by a fabric (1), joined at one end to a fixed point and at the opposite end joined to a transverse end member (2), such that the transverse end member (2) moves guided on two parallel lateral guides (3) from the fixed point towards the end of the lateral guides (3) opposite from the fixed point, extending the fabric (1) in this movement. In order to prevent the fabric (1) from folding in an undesired movement of the transverse end member (2), the pergola-type canopy requires a mechanism which locks the position of the transverse end member (2) in a point of the lateral guides (3).

[0018] The system object of the invention comprises in the preferred embodiment two tilting parts (4) in the transverse end member (2), in correspondence with the portions of the transverse end member (2) which are in contact with the lateral guides (3). Each tilting part (4) is joined to the transverse end member (2) by means of a joint (5) which enables the free rotation of the tilting part (4) with respect to the transverse end member (2); furthermore, the tilting part (4) has a certain length (L) which is important for the operations of the system object of the invention.

[0019] In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the tilting part (4) makes up a first component (6) which, in addition to the tilting part (4) and the joint (5), has a fastening part (7) for fastening to the transverse end member (2) which incorporates the joint (5) and joins the tilting part (4) to the transverse end member (2). The joint (5), as explained previously, enables the free movement of said tilting part (4) around the joint (5) itself with respect to the transverse end member (2), thus the tilting part (4) has a free end (8) and an articulated end (9).

[0020] The tilting part (4) is a part that is fastened to the joint (5), and the movement thereof depends either on the force of gravity or on an elastic means (not shown in any figure) to which the mentioned tilting part (4) is fastened.

[0021] The system object of the invention comprises, in each lateral guide (3) of the pergola-type canopy, at least one housing (10). In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the housing (10) is a part fastened to each lateral guide (3), however it could be that each lateral guide (3) has a housing (10) incorporated in the lateral guide (3) itself. The housing (10) comprises two inclined planes (11, 12) which converge making up a stop (13). The two inclined planes (11, 12) of the housing (10) are divided in a first inclined plane (11) that is approximately horizontal and a second inclined plane (12) that is approximately vertical. The first inclined plane (11) is longer than the second inclined plane (12), so that the first inclined plane (11) can guide the tilting part (4) towards the stop (13) when the tilting part (4) rotates around the joint (5) having passed the end of the second inclined plane (12).

[0022] Thus, the housing (10) is configured to, if desired, house in the stop (13) the free end (8) of the tilting part (4) preventing a movement of the transverse end member (2) towards the fixed point of the canopy, as explained later in this specification, and to enable a free movement of the transverse end member (2) towards the fixed point of the canopy, if that is what is desired, performing a movement of the transverse end member (2) on the lateral guides (3) and without needing any additional components.

[0023] In order to finish defining the system object of the invention, it is necessary to define that between the joint (5) and the housing (10), specifically between the joint (5) and the end of the first inclined plane (11) there is a distance (d) that is less than the length (L) of the tilting part (4).

[0024] The locking of the canopy is performed according to the following sequence of movements:

• the transverse end member (2) moves on the lateral guides (3) moving away from the fixed point of the canopy until it passes the second inclined plane (12), at which point the free end (8) of the tilting part (4) falls on the first inclined plane (11),
• the transverse end member (2) moves in the direction towards the fixed point of the canopy, such that the free end (8) of the tilting part (4) stays pinned in the stop (13) of the housing (10), thereby preventing the movement of the transverse end member (2) and the canopy therefore staying pinned in that position.

[0025] To unlock the canopy, the following sequence of movements is performed:

• the transverse end member (2) is moved away from the fixed point until the tilting part (4) moves out of the housing (10) by the effects of gravity or by the effects of an elastic means,
• the transverse end member (2) is moved towards the fixed point of the canopy, such that the tilting part (4), in the movement of the transverse end member (2) towards the fixed point of the canopy, makes contact with the end of the first inclined plane (11), but such that the free end (8) of the tilting part (4) does not point towards the stop (13), this is achieved by the effects of the relationship between the distance (d) between the joint (5) and the end of the first inclined plane (11) and the length (L) of the tilting part (4).

[0026] In order to protect the housing (10) and improve the operation of the system object of the invention, guiding the movement of the tilting part (4) in the interaction thereof with the housing (10), the system object of the invention comprises a protective plate (14) which covers the inclined planes (11, 12) and the stop (13) and contributes to the pinning of the free end (8) of the tilting part (4) in the stop (13) itself.

[0027] The invention is not intended to be limited to the specific embodiment described in this document. Those skilled in the art may develop other embodiments in light of the description made herein. As such, the scope of the invention is defined by the following claims.

Claims

1. A locking system for a pergola-type canopy, such that the canopy comprises a transverse end member (2) and at least two lateral guides (3) on which the transverse end member (2) moves, the lateral guides (3) being joined to a fixed point by one end, characterised in that the system comprises:

- at least one tilting part (4) joined to the transverse end member (2) by means of a joint (5) and with a free end (8), such that the tilting part (4) is located in a portion of the transverse end member (2) close to a lateral guide (3),

- at least one housing (10) in a lateral guide (3) comprising a first inclined plane (11) and a second inclined plane (12) which converge at one end in a stop (13) and they have another free end,

wherein the tilting part (4) has a length (L) and wherein, between the joint (5) and the free end of the first inclined plane (11), there is a distance (d) less than the length (L) of the tilting part (4).

2. The locking system for a pergola-type canopy, according to claim 1, characterised in that the first inclined plane (11) is longer than the second inclined plane (12).

3. The locking system for a pergola-type canopy according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises a protective plate (14) which covers the housing (10).

4. The locking system for a pergola-type canopy according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the housing (10) is a part fastened to each lateral guide (3).

5. The locking system for a pergola-type canopy according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the tilting part (4) is joined to an elastic medium configured to move the mentioned tilting part (4) around the joint (5).

Drawing