Abstract:
The invention relates to a free arm parasol which comprises a pole ( 2 ) whereon an extension arm ( 10 ) is guided such that it can be extended and detracted in the direction of the axis thereof, and can pivoted about the axis thereof. The extension arm ( 10 ) supports a parasol ( 12 ) on the end thereof and is rotationally mounted on the other end in a bearing ( 14 ). A carrier element ( 16 ), which is connected in an articulated manner to the pole ( 2 ), is connected to bearing. Also, a stopping device ( 24 ), which is used to stop the pivotable positioning of the extension arm ( 10 ), is provided on the bearing ( 14 ). Said stopping device comprises a steering bar ( 26 ) which is arranged in the extension of the extension arm ( 10 ), can be placed counter to the carrier element ( 16 ), can be locked to the carrier element ( 16 ) and can be pivoted about the axis of the extension arm ( 10 ) when in the unlocked state in order to improve the handling of the free arm parasol. Said arm is coupled in a detachable manner to the extension arm by means of a coupling device, according to a selected rotational angle in relation to the extension arm ( 10 ).

Description:
[0001]    This application claims priority of PCT application PCT/CH2006/000368 having a priority date of Aug. 25, 2005, disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The invention relates to a cantilever parasol. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    A cantilever parasol of the type mentioned at the outset is known from EP 0 830 074 B. A split bearing ring of the bearing serves as a locking device, and on the one side the end of the arm is arranged to be rotatable thereon and on the other the carrier element is articulated thereto, this carrier element in turn being supported in articulated manner on the mast. For the purpose of locking, the bearing ring may be tensioned to the arm by means of a clamping screw. A handle that projects transversely to the arm serves to pivot the arm about its axis. It is disadvantageous that both the handle and the clamping screw are arranged relatively high up above the ground and so accessibility and handling is made more difficult, in particular for short people. Moreover, two hands are needed for operation, and pivoting the arm about its axis by means of the handle requires a relatively large force. Finally, the handle, which projects transversely to the arm, is bulky and makes it more difficult to pack the cantilever parasol up for transportation thereof. 
         [0004]    WO2005/018369 discloses a cantilever parasol in which an arm is on the one hand, by one end and via a bearing, supported against a sliding sleeve that may slide along the mast and on the other hand, at its free end, carries a parasol. In the region between the bearing and the parasol the arm is supported at the upper part of the mast by means of a carrier element. By sliding the sliding sleeve downward along the mast, the arm may be folded in against the mast. The arm is mounted at the bearing and at the point of connection of the carrier element such that it may pivot about its axis. The arm is provided with a control rod that cooperates with a coupling device and makes it possible to lock the arm in various angular positions in relation to the bearing. The control rod may be locked on the mast. Although the cantilever parasol is easy to handle because the sliding sleeve and the control rod are located relatively low down, operation must be performed from the inside of the parasol, which is inconvenient and carries a risk of injury. In the folded-together condition, the cantilever parasol has a large overall height, which makes it much more difficult to transport the cantilever parasol both in the packed-up and unpacked condition, in particular for transportation in a car. 
         [0005]    DE 299 06 116 U1 discloses a cantilever parasol having a mast, in which the parasol is suspended from an arm at the upper end. The arm is guided such that it may be slid axially in a pivotal guide on the mast. The arm may be axially slid in the pivotal guide by means of a handle. The arm is provided with a toothed rack that cooperates with a toothed pinion in the pivotal guide and serves to lock the arm in the extended position. This means it is not possible to pivot the arm about its axis in the pivotal guide. In order to pivot the parasol about the axis of the arm, the parasol is arranged on a part of the arm that is mounted such that it may pivot in the arm about the axis of the arm. A tensioning cone in this part of the arm serves to fix the arm part in relation to the arm and cooperates with a tensioning cone in the arm. The tensioning cones may be clamped in relation to one another by means of a threaded pin. Because only the arm part is mounted such that it may pivot in the arm, the result is an unstable mounting of the arm part that is prone to malfunction and that moreover, because of its arrangement close to the crown, is only accessible with difficulty. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The object of the invention is to improve a cantilever parasol of the type mentioned at the outset. 
         [0007]    Because the locking device has a control rod that is aligned such that it forms an extension to the arm, that may be angled in relation to the carrier element and that may on the one hand be latched to the carrier element and may on the other hand, in the unlatched condition, be pivoted about the axis of the arm and is detachably coupled to the arm by means of a coupling device at selectable angles of rotation in relation to the arm, the functions and settings that are required of the cantilever parasol may be performed simply and easily. The control rod puts the accessibility of the operating members at a smaller height above the ground, with the result that they are accessible even to relatively short people. Moreover, the operating members are located on the outside of the parasol, as a result of which operation is more convenient and more secure against accidents. Because of the lever arm formed by the control rod, it is also simpler and easier to pivot the arm about its axis. Because the control rod serves on the one hand to pivot the arm about its axis and on the other to lock the pivot position by latching the control rod to the carrier element, operation is made substantially simpler and can moreover be performed with one hand. However, the control rod also serves to extend and retract the arm along its axis, as a result of which this function of the cantilever parasol is made simpler and easier. 
         [0008]    A particularly advantageous embodiment is where the bearing for the end of the arm is arranged in a housing on which on the one hand the carrier element is articulated and on the other hand a housing part that carries the control rod is mounted such that it may pivot about the axis of the arm, and in which the coupling device is arranged. As a result, the sensitive parts of the cantilever parasol are arranged in a housing, which on the one hand protects the sensitive parts from soiling and on the other also serves to provide functional reliability and protection from accidents. It is thus now virtually impossible for a person operating the parasol to be injured when handling it. 
         [0009]    The further embodiment of the cantilever parasol is particularly advantageous, in accordance with which the coupling device has a first coupling part, which is arranged at the end of the arm, non-rotatably but slidably in the direction of the axis of the arm. The coupling part is pretensioned by means of a spring toward a second coupling part that is connected non-rotatably to the control rod. Associated with the first coupling part is a pressure piece that is actuable for the purpose of releasing the coupling device by means of a cam part on the control rod when the latter is pivoted out into an uncoupling region. Various regions are conceivable for the uncoupling region. It is advantageous if the uncoupling region of the control rod lies between the position in which the control rod is locked on the carrier element and the extended position, which runs in the axial direction of the arm. In this case, the control rod can be coupled and uncoupled to the arm at a good operating height. It is furthermore particularly advantageous if the control rod has, on either side of the cam part, support faces that cooperate with the pressure piece, in order to fix the control rod in the positions on either side of the cam part temporarily. 
         [0010]    For the coupling device there is a vast range of possible embodiments, from a force-fitting construction of the coupling to a form-fitting one. The force-fitting construction makes a very fine adjustment possible but requires a relatively large amount of pretension of the coupling parts toward one another. For this reason, an embodiment of the coupling device is advantageous, in accordance with which the coupling device is of form-fitting construction and preferably takes the form of a toothed coupling. 
         [0011]    To avoid malfunction of the cantilever parasol, it is advantageous if the pivot angle of the arm is preferably limited by stops. 
         [0012]    Functioning of the cantilever parasol is furthermore substantially improved by constructing the cantilever parasol such that the arm and the control rod are constructed to be hollow for the purpose of guiding a tensor member for opening and closing the parasol. In this case, the embodiment is particularly advantageous, in accordance with which a cable winder for the tensor member is provided at the free end of the control rod, by means of which the parasol can be opened and closed. 
         [0013]    Locking of the control rod on the carrier element is performed, preferably by means of a clip, as a result of which the control rod is on the one hand locked quickly and simply and on the other hand the locking can be released again just as quickly and simply. 
         [0014]    To prevent the arm from being extended unintentionally, the further development of the cantilever parasol is advantageous. Here, the arm may be latched in its extended position by means of a latch that can be released by hand again by means of a release member. The cantilever parasol having the extendable and retractable arm and the simple, combined operating elements does not only make it possible to operate the cantilever parasol simply and easily, but also, finally, makes it possible to fold it together in a manner suitable for transportation to give a compact, slender package, which is shortened such that in particular it may even be transported by car. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]    Exemplary embodiments of the invention are described below in more detail and with reference to the drawings, in which: 
           [0016]      FIG. 1  shows a cantilever parasol in the spread condition, in side view; 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  shows the cantilever parasol from  FIG. 1 , in the folded-together condition; 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  shows the cantilever parasol from  FIG. 1 , in the locked condition, as a detail in vertical section and on a larger scale; 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  shows the free end of the control rod, with a cable winder in diagrammatic and partly exploded view; 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  shows the cantilever parasol from  FIG. 3 , in a detail on an even larger scale; 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  shows the rear bearing of the arm according to  FIG. 5 , in a partly exploded view; 
           [0022]      FIG. 7  shows the cantilever parasol from  FIG. 3 , with the control rod released; 
           [0023]      FIG. 8  shows the cantilever parasol from  FIG. 3 , with the coupling device released; 
           [0024]      FIG. 9  shows the cantilever parasol from  FIG. 3 , with the control rod aligned in the longitudinal direction of the arm; 
           [0025]      FIG. 10  shows the frame of the folded-together and partly dismantled cantilever parasol from  FIG. 1 , in a pack; and 
           [0026]      FIG. 11  shows the packed-up cantilever parasol from  FIG. 10 , with the parasol added. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0027]      FIG. 1  shows a cantilever parasol in its extended position, with the parasol open, and  FIG. 2  shows this cantilever parasol in the closed, folded-up position. The cantilever parasol has a mast  2 , which may be anchored in the ground  4  or in a base  6 . At the upper end of the mast  2 , on a sliding bearing  8 , an arm  10  is mounted such that it may be extended and retracted in its longitudinal direction and such that it may pivot about its axis. The sliding bearing  8  is arranged on the mast  2  such that it may pivot by way of an articulation means  9 . At one end the arm carries a parasol  12  and at the other end the arm  10  is mounted in a bearing  14  such that it may pivot about its axis. The bearing  14  is supported against the mast  2  by way of a carrier element  16 . To this end, the carrier element  16  is secured to the bearing  14  by way of an articulation means  18  and to a carrier sleeve  22 , which is arranged on the mast  2 , by way of an articulation means  20 . There is a locking device  24  on the bearing  14 , for locking the pivot position of the arm  10  in a selectable pivot position. To this end, the locking device is fitted with a control rod  26  that is aligned such that it forms an extension to the arm  10  and that may be angled in relation to the carrier element  16  by way of an articulation means  27 . The control rod may be latched to the carrier element  16  by means of a latching device  28 . In the unlatched condition, the control rod  26  may be pivoted about the axis of the arm and may be detachably coupled to the arm by means of a coupling device  30  at selectable angles of rotation in relation to the arm, as will be apparent in detail from the embodiments and figures below. In this case, the control rod does hot project in a manner risking accidents, even when the parasol is positioned obliquely. 
         [0028]    As can be seen from  FIG. 3 , the arm  10  is latched in the extended position by means of a latch  32  that is pretensioned outward by way of a spring  34 . By means of a release member  36 , which can be operated from an advantageous operating height by means of a push rod  38  and a handle (which is not illustrated in greater detail), the latch  32  may be pressed inward in opposition to the force of the spring  34 , whereupon the arm  10  may be retracted in the axial direction, into the folded-up position that is shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0029]    The arm  10  and the control rod  26  are hollow in form and are constructed to receive a tensor member  40 , preferably a cable, which makes it possible to open and close the parasol in a manner that is not illustrated in greater detail but is known. A deflection member  44  is provided on the bearing  14 , in the region of the articulation means  27  of the control rod  26 , and this deflects the tensor member  40  out of the arm  10  and into the control rod  26  and guides it to a cable winder  46  that is arranged at the end of the control rod. The tensor member  40  may be wound up by means of a hand crank  48  in order to open the parasol  12 , and unwound in order to close the parasol. A clip  50  of the locking device  24  is also arranged on the housing of the cable winder  46 , as can be seen in particular from  FIG. 4 . 
         [0030]      FIGS. 5 to 9  show the construction of the bearing  14  and the construction of the control rod  26  and the coupling device  30  and functioning thereof in detail, with extension and retraction of the arm, opening and closing of the parasol and oblique positioning thereof at a combined operating point at a preferred operating height outside the parasol being grouped together. 
         [0031]    The bearing  14  is equipped with a housing  52  that is divided in its longitudinal direction and comprises the housing halves  52   a  and  52   b . Bearing rings  54   56  are arranged on the arm  10  and are mounted in corresponding bearing rims  58   60  of the housing  52 . At the end of the arm  10 , a sleeve  62  is mounted slidably in the arm in the axial direction thereof. Grooves  64  on the outside of the sleeve  62 , and springs  66  on the inside of the arm  10 , ensure that the sleeve  62  is guided non-rotatably in the arm. A pin  70  that is arranged in bores  68  in the arm reaches through an elongate slot  72  in the sleeve  62  and limits the axial slide travel of the sleeve  62 . A pressure spring  74  is supported against the pin  70  and serves to pretension the sleeve  62  in opposition to the control rod arrangement. The sleeve  62  carries a radially projecting cam  76 , which cooperates with stops  78  in the housing  52  and limits the angle of pivoting of the arm  10  about its axis. Of the stops  78 , only one is illustrated in the housing half  52   a . A similar stop is also provided in the housing half  52   b.    
         [0032]    The sleeve  62  is part of the coupling device  30  and contains a first coupling part  80 , which cooperates with a second coupling part  82  that is associated with the control rod  26 . The coupling parts  80 ,  82  may be constructed to be form-fitting or force-fitting. In the present example, the coupling device is form-fitting, with coupling parts  80 ,  82  having toothed rings. 
         [0033]    The second coupling part  82  is connected non-rotatably to the control rod  26 . To this end, the second coupling part  82  is arranged in a housing part  84  that carries the control rod  26  and is mounted in the housing  52  such that it may pivot about the axis of the arm  10  by means of a bearing  85 . The control rod  26  is furthermore pivotal about the articulation means  27  that is aligned transversely to the axis of the arm. The control rod  26  has a cam part  86 , which brings about opening of the coupling device  30  and cooperates with a pressure piece  88  that is mounted on a flange  90  of the sleeve  62 , which carries the first coupling part  80 . The control rod  26  has support faces  92 ,  94  on either side of the cam part  86 , and these cooperate with the pressure piece  88  and keep the control rod  26  releasably in the position in  FIG. 7 , where it is pivoted inward, or in  FIG. 9 , where it is pivoted outward, respectively. 
         [0034]      FIG. 5  shows the control rod  26  in the latched condition, in which the clip  50  of the latching device  28  is latched to the carrier element  16 , with the result that it is not possible to pivot the control rod  26  either about the axis of the arm  10  or about the axis of the articulation means  27 . In this condition, the first coupling part  80  and the second coupling part  82  are latched, with the result that it is no longer possible to pivot the arm about its axis or, consequently, to pivot the parasol. 
         [0035]      FIG. 7  shows the control rod  26  in the unlatched condition, in which the control rod are pivotal about the axis of the arm. Because the coupling parts  80   82  are in engagement, the arm may at the same time be pivoted about its axis. 
         [0036]    In order to lock the arm in a selected pivot position, the control rod  26  must first of all be pivoted outward into the uncoupling region, which is illustrated in  FIG. 8 , in that the cam part  86  slides the pressure piece  88  in opposition to the force of the spring  66  until the first coupling part  80  and the second coupling part  82  are disengaged, as shown in  FIG. 8 . In this uncoupled position, the control rod  26  can first of all be pivoted freely about the axis of the arm, at an angle that is intended to correspond to the pivot angle of the arm which is desired later on and hence to correspond to the desired oblique position of the parasol  12 . Then, in this pivoted position, the control rod is pivoted back again toward the carrier element and so the coupling parts  80  and  82  are brought into engagement. It is then possible for the arm and hence the parasol to be brought into the pivot position which was previously desired, by pivoting the control rod  26  back parallel to the carrier element  16 . By latching the control rod  26  to the carrier element  16  by means of the latching device  28 , in a manner similar to the position in  FIGS. 2 and 5 , the pivotal position of the arm  10  and hence of the parasol  12  is then secured. The control rod  26 , which is latched to the carrier element  16 , consequently no longer projects dangerously transversely away from the arm. The arm  10  and hence the parasol  12  are pivoted back into the initial position, which is shown in  FIG. 1 , by performing the procedures in the reverse order. 
         [0037]      FIG. 9  shows the control rod  26  in a position in which it virtually forms an extension to the arm  10 . The support face  96 , which cooperates with the pressure piece  88 , keeps the control rod  26  in the extended position. In this position, the coupling parts are in engagement. This position primarily serves for extending and retracting the arm in the axial direction and for folding the cantilever parasol together in such a way as to save space ( FIGS. 2 and 11 ). 
         [0038]      FIGS. 10 and 11  show the cantilever parasol in folded-together and partly dismantled form, in a packing container  96  that serves in particular for transportation and in some cases also for storage of the cantilever parasol. In this case, the parasol  12  is removed from the arm  10 , and the mast  2  is broken into two parts  2   a  and  2   b  that may be pushed telescopically into one another. The arm  10 , which may also comprise parts that may be pushed telescopically into one another, is laid with the broken mast  2  and the carrier element  16  and the control rod  26  in the lower part of the packing container  96 , as shown in  FIG. 10 . The folded-together parasol  12  is laid in a second layer over this, as can be seen from  FIG. 11 . The parasol may where appropriate also be connected in articulated manner to the arm, with the result that the step of removing it is dispensed with and the parasol may be laid in the packing container together with the arm. Thus, even a relatively large cantilever parasol may be folded together compactly and transported in the minimum of space, with the result that the maximum dimensions for transportation by post and/or in a car—which are currently a length of 2 meters—may be observed. The possibility of packing compactly also minimizes the risk of damage during transportation. 
         [0039]    The novel cantilever parasol has quite decisive advantages. The operating elements for extending and retracting the arm, opening and closing the parasol and positioning the latter obliquely are at a convenient operating height and outside the parasol, even in the case of large parasols. The means of extending, opening and positioning obliquely and locking in the oblique position are grouped together in a single operating unit, which is formed by the control rod together with the cable winder. Opening and closing the parasol and extending the arm may be performed at the same time or independently of one another. 
         [0040]    The compact overall construction of the cantilever parasol on the one hand and the way in which the articulation means are fixed also give a high degree of stability and resistance to wind. 
         [0041]    The sensitive drive parts of the cantilever parasol, in particular the coupling device and the active parts of the control rod, are accommodated in a housing that on the one hand protects them from the influence of soiling and weather and on the other also protects the person operating the parasol from the risk of injury. Moreover, the housing makes it possible for the cantilever parasol to have a rounded overall construction, which does not merely improve the appearance of the cantilever parasol but also reduces the risk of injury. 
         [0042]    Pivoting the arm and hence positioning the parasol obliquely bring about only negligible alteration in the tension of the tensor member, for example the cable, when the parasol is open. 
       LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 
       [0000]    
       
           2  Mast 
           4  Ground 
           6  Base 
           8  Sliding bearing 
           9  Articulation means for  8   
           10  Arm 
           12  Parasol 
           14  Bearing 
           16  Carrier element 
           18  Articulation means for  14   
           20  Articulation means for  2   
           22  Carrier sleeve 
           24  Locking device 
           26  Control rod 
           27  Articulation means for  26   
           28  Latching device 
           30  Coupling device 
           32  Latch 
           34  Spring 
           36  Release member 
           38  Push rod 
           40  Tensor member 
           44  Deflection member 
           46  Cable winder 
           48  Hand crank 
           50  Clip for  28   
           52  Housing 
           52   a  Housing half 
           52   b  Housing half 
           54  Bearing rings 
           56  Bearing rings 
           58  Bearing rim 
           60  Bearing rim 
           62  Sleeve 
           64  Groove 
           66  Spring 
           68  Bore 
           70  Pin 
           72  Elongate slot 
           74  Pressure spring 
           76  Cam 
           78  Stop 
           80  First coupling part 
           82  Second coupling part 
           84  Housing part 
           85  Bearing of  84  in  52   
           86  Cam part 
           88  Pressure piece 
           90  Flange 
           92  Support face 
           94  Support face 
           96  Packing container