Abstract:
[According to the invention, a] A guide rod [( 44 )] is provided for improving the ability of an extension arm [( 6 )], which can rotate around [the] an axis [( 24 )] thereof, [to] and pivot on a support or a pole [( 4 )]. [Said] The guide rod can be locked into different rotational [angle] angular positions with the extension arm [( 6 )] and can be retained on the support [( 4 )].

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The invention relates to an extension arm which is arranged on a support, such that it can be pivoted about its axis. According to a preferred embodiment, such an extension arm is designed as an extensible free arm and the support is designed as a pole of a free-arm sunshade.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the related art  
           [0004]    An extension arm which is arranged on a support such that it can be pivoted about its axis is known, for example, from EP 0 830 074 B1, in the case of which the extension arm is configured as an extensible free arm and the support is configured as the pole of a free-arm sunshade. In order to make optimum use of the shade as the position of the sun changes, it is possible, not just for the pole to be rotated about its own axis but also, in particular, for the extension arm to be pivoted about its axis, with the result that the sunshade can be moved into an appropriate oblique position and stopped, fixed, or locked there. For this purpose, a hand lever is fitted, for example, on the extension arm in order to pivot the extension arm, and thus the sunshade, and then to stop, fix, or lock the same in the pivoted position by means of a clamping arrangement. The disadvantage here, however, is that the hand lever fitted on the extension arm is difficult to reach as a result of the extension arm usually being located at a high level. In addition, the operation of pivoting the extension arm with the sunshade framework requires relatively large forces, which can barely be applied, if at all, by the small hand lever. Added to this is the fact that, depending on the sunshade position, such a hand lever projects to a more or less pronounced extent into the space occupied by the user, which is not just unsightly but also poses a risk of injury to the user.  
           [0005]    The same applies to the clamping lever of the clamping arrangement for arresting the extension arm in the pivoted position. In order to improve the handleability, it is known to use a worm gear mechanism. Such a worm gear mechanism not only is a relatively expensive component but also only allows slow adjustment and is barely accessible.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    The invention includes an extension arm, which is arranged on a support such that it can be pivoted about its axis, in such a way that pivoting is easily possible even with the extension arm located at a relatively high level and in the case of relatively large forces of inertia.  
           [0007]    Since the hand lever is configured as a guide rod, it is possible for the guide rod to be of a longer overall length, and thus for the extension arm to be arranged at a higher level, while such a guide rod, rather than projecting in an obstructive manner into the space occupied by the user, is nevertheless always positioned, when in use, against the support, to which it is fixed or locked in a directly or indirectly releasable manner. This means that the guide rod does not constitute any obstruction or hazard for the user and can nevertheless be handled straightforwardly and with little required force.  
           [0008]    A particularly straightforward arrangement of the guide rod on the extension arm is specified when it is possible for the latching bolt to be arranged and actuated independently of the guide rod. It is advantageous if the latching bolt is prestressed toward the latching recess by means of a prestressing spring, thus achieving reliable latching in the case of which undesired unlatching of the latching bolt is prevented. If appropriate, it is possible for the guide rod to be arranged in an articulated manner on the latching bolt and to serve for actuating the latter. This increases, however, the risk of undesired actuation, which is to be avoided for safety reasons. More advantageous therefore is a possible configuration in which the traction element is arranged such that it is protected by the guide rod, with the result that undesired actuation is largely prevented. It is also possible here for the traction element to be arranged outside the guide rod. Arranging the traction element within the guide rod results not just in better safety, but also in improved esthetics.  
           [0009]    There are various possible ways of actuating the traction element. One manner includes a handle of the guide rod which also serves for actuating the traction element. For esthetic, practical and, in particular, safety purposes, however, an arrangement of an additional catch, assigned to the handle of the guide rod, for the traction element is preferred.  
           [0010]    In order to keep the extension arm, and a sunshade, which may be fastened thereon, in the pivoted position, it is necessary to arrest (that is stop, fix, or lock) the guide rod on the support. There are various possible ways of so doing this arresting.  
           [0011]    The guide rod may have various cross sections. Particularly expedient is a D-like cross section with a rounded part and a rectilinear base part. In this case, the basic position is preferably set up such that the rectilinear base part is directed toward the support.  
           [0012]    There are likewise various possible ways of configuring the extension arm. It is thus possible, for example, for it to comprise a solid profile. A hollow configuration here makes it possible to accommodate a traction element, for example, for opening and closing a sunshade canopy.  
           [0013]    The support may be of any desired design and may comprise, for example, a wall or a pole. The configuration is advantageous in particular for the use as a free-arm sunshade. In this case, the guide rod can expediently be arrested on a carriage belonging to the pole.  
           [0014]    It is particularly advantageous if the extension arm is designed as an extensible free arm and the support is designed as a pole of a free-arm sunshade, as is similarly described in EP-B1 0 741 531 and 0 830 074. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]    Advantageous configurations of the invention are described in more detail hereinbelow using the example of a free-arm sunshade and with reference to the drawings, in which:  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 1 shows the free-arm sunshade in the closed position;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 2 shows the free-arm sunshade in the open position;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 3 shows, on a larger scale and partly in section, a detail of the connection between the extension arm and the support or pole;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 4 shows a guide rod in cross section;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 5 shows the free-arm sunshade before the extension arm and the sunshade canopy have been pivoted; and  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 6 shows the extension arm and the sunshade canopy in the pivoted position.  
         [0022]    Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplification set out herein illustrates one preferred embodiment of the invention, in one form, and such exemplification is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0023]    With the exception of the specific configuration of the means for pivoting the extension arm, the free-arm sunshade illustrated in FIGS.  1  to  6  may be configured in accordance similarly with EP-B1 0 741 531 and/or 0 830 074.  
         [0024]    The free-arm sunshade illustrated in the figures has a pole  4  which is anchored, for example, in a base  2  and serves as a support for an extensible extension arm  6 . The arm  6  is arranged on a carriage  8 , which can be displaced along the pole  4 , via an pivot or articulation  10 . The extension arm  6  is supported at the top end of the pole  4  via a connecting rod  12 . For this purpose, the connecting rod is connected, on the one hand, to the extension arm  6  via an articulation  14  between the two ends of said extension arm and, on the other hand, to the top end of the pole  4  via a further articulation  16  (FIG. 2). By means of a crank  18  and of a circulating element  20  indicated in FIG. 3, the carriage  8  is moved up and down along the pole  4  from a rest position in FIG. 1, in which the extension arm  6  butts against the pole  4 , into an extended position in FIG. 2. Details of the configuration of the circulating element  20  and of the crank mechanism  18  can be gathered from EP-B1 0 741 531. EP-B1 0 830 074 describes alternative possible ways of retracting and extending the extension arm.  
         [0025]    Arranged at the end of the extension arm  6  is a sunshade canopy  22  which is closed when the extension arm is retracted, as is shown in FIG. 1, and is open when the extension arm is extended, as can be gathered from FIG. 2. There are likewise various possible ways of opening and closing the sunshade canopy, of which preferred ways can be gathered from the abovementioned specifications.  
         [0026]    Details regarding the pivoting of the extension arm about its axis  24  and the components used for this purpose can be gathered from FIG. 3 in particular. The extension arm  6  is of tubular configuration and, at its end which is directed toward the pole  4 , has a bearing ring  26  which is mounted pivotably on a supporting member  28 . The supporting member  28  is connected to the carriage  8  such that it can be pivoted via an articulation  10 . It is possible to arrange in the hollow extension arm  6 , for example, a cable pull  30  for opening and closing the sunshade canopy  22 .  
         [0027]    Arranged on the outside of the bearing ring  26  is an adjustment ring  32  which can be pivoted about the bearing ring and bears a latching bolt  36  in a housing  34 . Said latching bolt is prestressed toward the bearing ring  26 , and/or latching recesses  40  arranged therein, by means of a spring  38 . The bearing ring  26  has a plurality of circumferentially distributed latching recesses  40 , of which the angle positions correspond to the adjustment positions of the extension arm  6  and thus of the sunshade canopy  22 . Articulated on the housing  34  (FIG. 3) of the latching bolt  36 , via a bearing bolt  42 , is a guide rod  44 , designed as a tube. Provided in the interior of the guide rod  44  is a traction element  46  which is connected to the latching bolt  36  in a pivotable manner via a coupling ring  48 . The traction element  46  projects downward through the guide rod  44  and is provided there with a catch  49  which is assigned to an eyelet-like handle  50  of the guide rod  44 , as can be gathered from FIGS. 5 and 6 in particular. In the rest position, the guide rod  44  is latched to the carriage  8 , and thus to the pole  4 , via a fork-like arresting member  52 , as can be gathered from FIGS. 1 and 2 and also FIG. 6. By virtue of the guide rod  44  being arranged in an articulated manner on the housing  34  via the bearing bolt  42 , the arresting action of the guide rod  44  on the arresting member  52  is maintained even when the extension arm  6  is moved out of its rest position in FIG. 1 into the extended position in FIG. 2 and vice versa. The guide rod is retained in a longitudinally displaceable manner in the fork-like arresting member  52  in order for it to be possible for it to follow the movements of the articulation bolts  10  and  42  when the extension arm  6  is retracted and extended.  
         [0028]    The pivoting of the extension arm  6  and thus of the sunshade canopy- 22  takes place as follows. If the sunshade canopy  22 , and thus the extension arm  6 , is located in the basic position, in which the sunshade canopy is located horizontally, then the guide rod  44  is released from the arresting member  52  and the latching bolt  36  is released from the latching recess  40  via the catch  49  and the traction element  46 . With the extension arm  6  at rest and/or the sunshade canopy  22  horizontal, the guide rod  44  can then be pivoted laterally to the extent which corresponds to the subsequent pivot angle of the sunshade canopy and which is shown in FIG. 5. Thereupon, the latching bolt  36  is brought into engagement with an offset latching recess  40  (the latter nevertheless not being illustrated specifically), with the result that, when the guide rod  44  is pivoted in relation to the carriage  8  and/or the pole  4 , the extension arm  6 , and thus the sunshade canopy  22 , is pivoted by the previously selected angle position, as is shown in FIG. 6. The pivoted position is fixed by virtue of the guide rod  44  being latched to the arresting member  52 . By virtue of the guide rod  44  being released from the arresting member  52  and the guide rod  44  being pivoted back into the position shown in FIG. 5, it is possible to eliminate the pivoted position of the sunshade canopy  22  and/or the extension arm  6 . Following release of the latching bolt  36  from the recess  40  by means of the traction element  46 , the guide rod  44  can be pivoted back freely again into the basic position, in which the guide rod  44  latches on the carriage  8  by way of the arresting element  52 . In this position, the latching bolt  36  also latches again in the corresponding basic-position latching recess on the bearing ring  26 , with the result that the extension arm  6  and/or the sunshade canopy  22  is fixed in the horizontal, basic position.  
         [0029]    The guide rod  44  therefore allows straightforward pivoting of the extension arm and thus of the sunshade canopy, the length of the guide rod being selected such that, even with the extension arm located at a high level, the guide rod  44  and the handle  50  are easily accessible. By virtue of the lever transmission, the length of the guide rod  44  in particular also allows easy pivoting of the sunshade canopy  22  and/or the extension arm  6 . This configuration allows round or polygonal sunshades of, for example, 3 to 5 m in diameter to be easily handled.  
         [0030]    According to FIG. 4, the guide rod has a D-like cross section with a rounded part  54  and a rectilinear base part  56 . The basic position is preferably set up here such that the base part  56  is directed toward the pole  4  and/or the carriage  8 . The shape of the guide rod can thus be better adapted to the profile of the pole  4  and of the carriage  8 , and it provides a good grip for the eccentric bearing bolt  42  guided through the guide rod.  
         [0031]    While this invention has been described as having a preferred design, the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.  
         [0032]    List of Designations  
                                                       2   Base           4   Pole           6   Extension arm           8   Carriage           10   Articulation           12   Connecting rod           14   Articulation           16   Articulation           18   Crank           20   Circulating element           22   Sunshade canopy           24   Axis           26   Bearing ring           28   Supporting member           30   Cable pull           32   Adjustment ring           34   Housing           36   Latching bolt           38   Spring           40   Latching recess           42   Bearing bolt           44   Guide rod           46   Traction element           48   Coupling ring           49   Catch           50   Handle           52   Arresting member           54   Rounded part           56   Rectilinear base part