Patent Publication Number: US-2018051467-A1

Title: Sun Shade Device

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is the U.S. national stage of International Application No. PCT/DE2016/000119, filed on 2016 Mar. 18. The international application claims the priority of DE 202015002127.1 filed on 2015 Mar. 20; all applications are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The invention relates to an awning device, comprising an awning having at least one arch element that stabilizes an arch, at least one winding shaft for winding up and off the awning, and at least one traction rope. 
     Such awnings are used for shading areas, for example terraces in front of a building or tiers of a stadium or a racetrack. In general, such an awning device comprises an awning to be wound up and off a winding shaft. 
     The winding shaft is normally driven by means of an electric motor. The awning is fixed to the winding shaft with an edge, so that the awning is wound up on the winding shaft by rotating the same, but may also be wound off from it. At the free edge of the awning approximately in parallel and opposite to the fixed awning edge, one to several traction ropes are connected and tighten the awning in a wound off state as a protective roof. The traction rope or ropes are deflected with the aid of one or several end supports which may be embodied as deflection rollers. These end supports may be located, for example, at poles, wherein weights may then be fixed to the free ends of the traction ropes deflected in this manner, which weights constantly keep the rope tense due to their weights by having a corresponding lifting and lowering path available on which they may move up and down corresponding to the length of the awning that is respectively wound up or off from the winding shaft while maintaining the pulling force exerted by them, the constant tension force thus resulting from the force of the weights fixed to the traction ropes. In addition, one or several pulley block arrangements may be present whereby the available lifting and lowering path of the weights may be reduced depending on the structural requirement and the type of traction rope installation. However, the traction ropes may also be tensioned or also wound up and off a separate winding simultaneously with any mechanism for winding up and off the awning. For this, constructions with winding motors, spring tractions and pneumatic springs are known and used. 
     Moreover, arch elements are arranged at the awning which comprise an arch turned upwards, so that the awning obtains, in the wound-off state, a shape arched to the top thus permitting rain water to flow off and not to accumulate on the awning. These arch elements are oriented approximately in parallel to the winding shaft and are straightened while the awning is being wound up when they contact the winding shaft. While the awning is being wound off, they return to their original arched shape due to the restoring force resulting from their elasticity. 
     From German patent publication DE 10 2011 122 503 A1, an awning device is known in which at least one tension bracket is arranged at the winding shaft, the awning being guided over the tension bracket. The tension bracket causes the awning to be arched to the top in a wound-off state so that rain water may flow off. In addition to the tension bracket, the awning may comprise tension elements oriented transverse to the winding direction which additionally reinforce the arched shape of the awning already formed by the tension bracket. The tension elements extend over the complete width of the awning. 
     From German patent publication DE 10 2011 122 502 A1, too, an awning device is known in which tension elements pretensioned in the shape of an arch and oriented transverse to the winding direction are arranged in the awning, the tension elements imparting a shape arched to the top to the awning by its arched pretensioning, since the tension elements, which then relax in an arcuate shape while they are being wound off from the shaft, have a shape arched to the top. The tension elements extend over the complete width of the awning. 
     From German patent publication DE 10 2013 104 777 A1, an awning device is known which comprises, at both sides of the awning, traction ropes fixed at the side of the latter facing away from the winding shaft, which are each deflected at a pole over rollers and are returned to the winding shaft on both sides of the awning, the traction ropes each being wound onto a roller arranged on the winding shaft or wound off from the latter. A weight is arranged in each of the poles and comprises rotatably mounted rollers over which the respective traction rope is guided. 
     Finally, from international patent application WO 2015/022324 A1, an awning device is known which comprises, on both sides of the awning, traction ropes fixed on the side of the same facing away from the winding shaft, the traction ropes being each windable up or off a roller rotatably mounted on a pole, wherein additionally, one tension force comparison means is provided each which causes a reduction of the traction rope supply in case of a tensile stress that is larger than the nominal tension, and an increase of the traction rope supply in case of a tensile strength that is smaller than the nominal tension. This ensures that the awning on the one hand always has the provided tension to be essentially stationarily held even if a wind is acting on it, and is on the other hand not damaged by extensive tension. 
     The awning devices known from prior art involve the problem that the awning surfaces are sagging in the center due to a lack of a technical solution, which is formally not aesthetic since the awning arches towards a person sitting underneath the awning. For this reason, such awnings must be installed obliquely at an angle of at least 15 degrees so that rain water may flow off. If these awnings would be installed approximately horizontally, so-called water pockets would be formed by the rain where the water accumulates and either pull the awning towards the floor or damage it due to the overload. If the arching technique for awnings known from patent publication DE 10 2011 122 502 A1 is used, the width of the awning is limited by the present arch elements, which are also referred to as tension elements in prior art, not being able to maintain their shape arched to the top if the awning is too broad. It should also be taken into consideration that the arch or tension elements consist of a permanently elastic lightweight material, such as glass-fiber reinforced plastics (GFK), so that they may be straightened every time the awning is wound up onto the winding shaft and may be thereby wound up so as to lie plane against the shaft. A further problem is that the tension elements with an arched shape required for such a construction are very expensive and elaborate to produce since they have to be constructed individually and manually as there is no known machine which may produce such long, permanently elastic profiles tensioned in an arched shape and made of glass-fiber reinforced plastics (GFK) or the like. 
     SUMMARY 
     The invention relates to an awning device  1 ,  20 ,  40 , comprising an awning  3  with at least one arch element  5  stabilizing an arch, at least one winding shaft  2  for winding up and off the awning  3 , and at least one traction rope  4 . To obtain an approx. central arch to the top to securely discharge water, according to the invention, at least one traction rope  4  is connected with a first region  6  of the awning  6 , wherein this first region  6  is tightly tensioned between the winding shaft  2  and the traction rope  4  in the wound-off state of the awning  3  due to the tensile stress of the traction rope  4 , and within this first regions  6 , a section of at least one arch element  5  is arranged, the arch element being arranged there approx. in parallel to the winding shaft  2 , the awning  3  comprises, at least on one side of the first region  6 , a second region  7  into which the at least one arch element  5  extends, the second region being mounted on the at least one arch element  5  in a loosely hanging manner, and the at least one arch element  5  is, in the non-loaded state, essentially straight or comprises, at least in one section, an arch facing to the bottom, wherein the second region of the awning  3  comprises a smaller surface tension in the pulling direction between the traction rope  4  and the winding shaft  2  than the first region  6 . 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Against this background, it is the object of the present invention to provide an awning device whose awnings have an approx. centrical arch to the top to securely discharge water and may be built clearly wider than the awning devices known from prior art, whereby not only the shading or rain protection of larger surfaces, but also the field of application of awning devices is increased. Furthermore, it is its object to provide a construction which also permits the formation of a rain-proof arch of the wound-off awning turned to the top from the awning face resting on the winding shaft in a tensioned manner, and this in a much cheaper way and advantageously using mechanically prefabricated standard hoisting gear, such as, for example, the use of permanently elastic, but stable, straight GFK battens from sailing. 
     To achieve the object, at least one traction rope is connected with one first region of the awning, wherein due to the tensile stress of the traction rope, this first region is tightly tensioned between the winding shaft and the traction rope in a wound-off state of the awning, and within this first region, a section of at least one arch element is arranged, the arch element being arranged there approximately in parallel to the winding shaft, the awning comprises, at least on one side of the first region, a second region into which the at least one arch element extends, the second region being mounted on the at least one arch element in a loosely hanging manner, and the at least one arch element is essentially straight in a non-loaded state or has an arch turned downwards at least in one section, wherein the second region of the awning comprises less surface tension than the first region in the pulling direction between the traction rope and the winding shaft. Further advantageous embodiments of the invention can be taken from the subclaims. 
     According to the invention, the awning thus has a tightly tensioned first region in the wound-off state. For this, at least one traction rope, preferably, however, several traction ropes, is/are connected with the first region of the awning, the ropes being, in the manner known from prior art, deflected over at least one end support, for example a deflection roller, to a rope control mechanism imparting the required tensile stress to the traction rope and receiving and dispensing the latter. A tension force is exerted onto the first region of the awning via the traction ropes so that it is constantly tightly tensioned. In or on the awning, at least one arch element, preferably several arch elements spaced apart in the winding direction, is moreover arranged approximately in parallel to the winding shaft and impart a shape arched to the top to the awning, so that rain water may flow off. At least on one side of the first region of the awning, there is a second region into which the at least one arch element extends. No traction ropes are connected with this second region, so that no direct tension force acts on the second region and the surface tension there is clearly smaller than in the first region. Due to this, no tension force acts on the weight acting on the sections of the arch element extending into the second region of the awning, resulting in the section of the arch element extending into the second region of the awning being pulled down by the weight. In this way, the arch element assumes a shape arched to the top, without having to have a shape arched to the top already in a non-loaded state or having to be under a pretension in the awning resulting in a curved or arched shape. Instead, the at least one arch element in accordance with the invention is not arched in a non-loaded state, i.e. it is straight or has an arch facing to the bottom at least in one section. This is an essential aspect of the present invention. This is because thereby, the arch element can be embodied to be clearly longer as it does not have to carry the arch to the top by its own arching but instead automatically assumes, due to the different tension forces in the regions of the awning and the weight in the thus tensioned awning, a shape arched to the top and thus imparts a shape arched to the top to the awning. Here, an arch element that is not arched, i.e. straight, in a non-loaded state may be used. Moreover, an arch element may be used which comprises, in at least one section, an arch facing to the bottom in which embodiment the arch element may be even longer. 
     As was already described above, the length of arch elements in the awning devices known from prior art are limited by the fact that, due to the counterforce acting on them and the tensile stress acting on the awning, they lose their shape arched to the top if they are too long. To avoid this effect, the arch elements could consist of a more massive material. However, while the awning is being wound up on the winding shaft, the latter must straighten them, where considerably higher forces have to be spent then, and moreover, there would be a risk of cracks forming in the awning when it is being wound up. In case the arch elements have a straight design and are inserted in the awning with a pretension, so that the arch elements assume a shape arched to the top, this problem arises since, as the length of the arch elements increases, an ever higher pretension to be exerted by the awning is necessary to ensure that the arch elements in the awning are arched to the top and remain arched to the top as in the embodiments of awning devices known from prior art, wherein the weight acting on the arch elements and the tensile stress acting on the awning always acts against the shape arched to the top. 
     In contrast, in the awning device according to the invention, the shape arched to the top is achieved exactly by the acting weight, which is why the arch elements may be clearly longer and thus awnings with a considerably greater width may be realized. 
     Preferably, on both sides of the first region, one second region each is arranged, and the at least one arch element extends on either side of the first region beyond the same into the second regions, so that the arched shape of the arch element is achieved by the weight acting on the two end sections of the same. 
     To achieve that the at least one second region of the awning is not tightly tensioned and the section of the at least one arch element extending into it may move downwards to impart the desired shape arched to the top to the arch element, the second region may comprise at least one additional piece of fabric. This additional piece of fabric prevents the second region from being too tightly tensioned. It is preferably provided that several arch elements and several additional pieces of fabric are present and arranged on one or both sides of the arch elements. In this embodiment, the arch element extends with one section each into an additional piece of fabric formed in every second region, whereby these sections can yield the weight towards the bottom. 
     It may be furthermore provided that an additional piece of fabric adjacent to the winding shaft is present, so that the section of the arch element projecting into the second region of the awning and the second region of the awning may move downwards along the approximately straight winding shaft without any tensions and following gravity to form the arch towards the center of the winding shaft without being held up by the awning itself. 
     The additional pieces of fabric are preferably designed like a triangle so that the tension of the second region continuously decreases from its side facing the first region to its side facing away from the first region. Preferably, the transitions between the additional pieces of fabric and the fabric blank running approximately in a straight manner and in parallel to the winding shaft, are rounded in a radius to here create a smooth transition without the formation of ribbings later. 
     As an alternative to the additional pieces of fabric, the awning may have, at least in the pulling direction, a higher elasticity in the second region than in the first region, wherein the second region may comprise a unidirectional or bidirectional elasticity. Due to a higher elasticity of the second region compared to that of the first region, too, it is achieved that the section of the at least one arch element, preferably the plurality of arch elements, extending into the second region may move downwards by the action of the weight, whereby the desired shape arched to the top is imparted to the arch element. 
     In a preferred embodiment of the awning device according to the invention, a plurality of arch elements is present, wherein an outer arch element may be present in addition which is embodied to be bending and/or has an arched shape. As will be clear with reference to the figures, the width of the second region decreases towards the side of the awning facing away from the winding shaft and finally becomes nearly zero, which is why no shape arched to the top may be imparted to an outer arch element in the manner illustrated above. For the outer arch element to nevertheless assume this shape, it may be designed to be bending, so that it buckles upwards due to the shape of the awning arched to the top caused by the other arch elements and thus adapts to the shape of the other arch elements in the loaded state. 
     Additional pieces of fabric arranged in the second region, or else a higher elasticity of the second region, may lead to an uneven winding up of the awning if the awning is wound up across its complete width by a winding shaft at a uniform winding speed and with the same diameter. To solve this problem, at least one spring element essentially extending in the winding direction may be embedded in the second region of the awning. Preferably, this spring element is embedded in the margin of the second region of the awning. Particularly preferred, the spring element consists of spring steel. Due to its elasticity, the spring element resists the winding-up, which, in case of a winding-up accomplished by a driven winding shaft, results in the spring element not adapting to the winding shaft or the already wound-up awning, but lifting off from the latter and surrounding the winding shaft in the form of a spiral after several rotations of the same. This in turn increases the winding diameter, so that the winding diameter with which the second region is wound up is larger than the winding diameter with which the first region is wound up. By this, the awning is uniformly wound up across its complete width although in the second region, additional pieces of fabric are present or although it has a higher elasticity. The increase of the winding diameter here exactly corresponds to the dimensions of the additional pieces of fabric in the winding direction or the difference in elasticity between the first region and the second region, since a further increase of the winding diameter is counteracted if the tension of the second region is equal to the restoring force of the spring element. 
     In an alternative embodiment, this problem may also be solved by the winding shaft having a plurality of sections, wherein that section which is provided for winding up the second region has a correspondingly larger diameter than that section which is provided for winding up the first region. In this embodiment, the winding shaft has a plurality of sections of different diameters, wherein a section with a smaller diameter of the winding shaft is associated with the first region of the awning than with the at least one second region of the awning. 
     The mentioned problem may also be solved by the winding shaft having a plurality of sections, wherein that section which is provided for winding off the second region is embodied to rotate at a higher winding speed than that section which is provided for winding up the first region. In this embodiment, a section of the winding shaft is associated with the first region of the awning which has a lower winding speed than the section of the winding shaft associated with the at least one second region. The different winding speeds of the sections of the winding shaft can be realized in that the sections are driven by a driving means which cooperates with one or several transmissions disposed within or outside the winding shaft, or that the sections are driven by independent driving means. In the first alternative, one transmission may be associated with each section wherein the transmission ratio is selected such that the desired winding speeds are adjusted. However, it is also possible to connect two sections of a winding shaft each via a transmission with the corresponding transmission ratio and to only drive one section of the winding shaft by means of one driving means. By the transmission with a corresponding transmission ratio arranged between two sections of the winding shaft, the rotation of one section caused by the driving means is transmitted to the adjacent section, wherein, however, the winding speeds of the sections differ due to the transmission ratio. Of course, the sections of the winding shaft may be driven by independent driving means which cause the respective section to rotate at the desired winding speed. 
     One embodiment of the awning device according to the invention will be illustrated again below with reference to the figures. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  shows an embodiment of the awning device according to the invention in a perspective view, 
         FIG. 2  shows the embodiment of the awning device according to the invention in a plan view, 
         FIG. 3  shows the embodiment of the awning device according to the invention in a front view, 
         FIG. 4  shows the first embodiment of the awning device in a side view, 
         FIG. 5  shows a second embodiment of the awning device in a top view, 
         FIG. 6  shows a third embodiment of the awning device in a top view, 
         FIG. 7  shows the third embodiment in a frontal view, 
         FIG. 8  shows the sections (fabric blanks) from which the awning of the third embodiment is formed in a detailed view, 
         FIG. 9  shows a first embodiment of a bending profile in a side view and an enlarged view, 
         FIG. 10  shows the first embodiment of the bending profile in straight shape, 
         FIG. 11  shows a second embodiment of a bending profile in a side view and an enlarged view, and 
         FIG. 12  shows the second embodiment of the bending profile in a bend shape in a side view and an enlarged view. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1  shows, in a perspective view, a first embodiment of the awning device  1  according to the invention, comprising a winding shaft  2 , an awning  3 , traction ropes  4  which are deflected over non-depicted end supports, a plurality of arch elements  5  and an outer arch element  9 . The awning consists of a first region  6  and two second regions  7  which are disposed on either side of the first region  6 . The transitions between the first region and the second regions  7  are indicated as lines  14 . The arch elements  5  are arranged in the first region  6  of the awning  3  and extend on both sides into the second regions  7  which each comprise closer additional pieces of fabric  8 . The additional pieces of fabric  8  are arranged on both sides of the sections of the arch elements  5  extending into the second regions  7 . The arch elements  5  themselves in this embodiment have a non-arched shape in a forceless, i.e. non-loaded state, and they only arch due to the weight acting on the sections of the arch elements  5  extending into the second regions  7 . This effect is achieved in the first region  6  of the awning  3  due to the tension of the first region  6  which is exerted by the traction ropes  4  on the one hand, and by the fact that the second regions  7  are not tightly tensioned on the other hand. 
     The outer arch element  9  is also non-arched in this embodiment in a non-loaded state and only assumes a shape arched to the top due to the tension within the first region  6 , wherein the outer arch profile  9  may have a smaller cross-section to this end. It is, of course, also possible to use an outer arch element  9  which has a shape arched to the top already in a non-loaded state. It is furthermore possible to use a bending outer arch element  9 . For the winding-up of the awning  3  onto the winding shaft  2  to be uniform, a spring steel wire is embedded in the margin  10  of every second region  7  which, due to its resilient elasticity, causes an increase of the winding diameter on the sections of the winding shaft  2  associated with the second regions  7 . In the process, the spring steel wire is spirally wound around the winding shaft  2 , wherein the winding layers of the spring steel wire do not rest upon each other due to the restoring force acting against its bending but are spaced apart from each other, which in turn results in the illustrated increase of the winding diameter. 
     In each one of the second regions  7 , one spring element  11  is provided which is a spring steel wire and which increases the winding diameter in the second regions  7  so that these may be uniformly wound up together with the first region  6 . 
       FIG. 2  shows the first embodiment of the awning device  1  according to the invention in a plan view. The additional pieces of fabric  8  are embodied in a triangular shape in the second regions  7  and are arranged on either side of the sections of the arch elements  5  projecting into the second regions  7 , wherein the length of the additional pieces of fabric  8  increases in the winding direction, starting from the sides of the second regions  7  facing the first region  6  towards the sides of the second regions  7  facing away from the first region  6 . Furthermore, in every second region  7 , an additional piece of fabric  8  is provided adjacent to the winding shaft  2  and is also embodied in a triangular shape. 
       FIG. 3  shows a front view of the first embodiment of the awning device  1  according to the invention. The first region  6  is tightly tensioned due to the pulling force exerted by the traction ropes  4 . The second regions  7  are not tightly tensioned due to the additional pieces of fabric  8  arranged therein, so that the sections of the arch elements  5  projecting into the second regions  7  move downwards due to the weight acting on them, and thus the arch elements  5  assume a shape arched to the top. The outer arch element  9  adapts to the arched shape of the first region  6 , but it may also have an arched shape already in the non-loaded state. By the weight acting on the end sections of the arch elements  5 , these move downwards whereby an arch of the arch elements  5  facing upwards is achieved. Point  15  acts as a center of motion for the movement  19  directed downwards and the movement  16  directed upwards. Both movements of each arch element  5  result from the weight acting on the end sections of the arch elements  5 . 
       FIG. 4  shows the first embodiment of the awning device in a side view. 
     In  FIG. 5 , a second embodiment of the awning device  20  according to the invention is shown. In contrast to the first embodiment, it additionally has a spring angle  30  acting as a ramp for the arch elements  5 . It consists of an elastic material, for example of spring steel, and supports the erection of the arch elements  5  when they approach the winding shaft  2 , so that the first region  6  is relieved during the winding-up and vibrations of the arch elements  5  during the winding-up are moreover avoided. The spring angle may be fixed to a wall near the winding shaft  2 . Furthermore, the second regions  7  comprise recesses facing the winding shaft  2 . 
       FIG. 6  shows a third embodiment of the awning device  40  according to the invention. It only has one arch element  5  and a different shape of the second regions. The regions A, B, C, D, E and F are regions where sections of the awning overlap. In these regions, the different sections of the awning are sewn together. 
       FIG. 7  shows the third embodiment in a front view. 
       FIG. 8  shows the sections (fabric blanks)  27 ,  28 ,  29  from which the awning of the third embodiment is formed by sewing. The regions indicated by A overlap each other in the completed awning and are sewn together. The same applies to the regions indicated at B, C, D, E and F. 
       FIGS. 9 and 10  show a first embodiment of a bending profile  50  which may be used as an outer arch element  9 . The bending profile consists of two straight legs  22  and a joint  21  connecting the two legs  22 . In the front faces of the inclined legs  22  facing each other, a mount  23  for magnets  24  is arranged. The magnets  24  may be neodymium magnets which are particularly suited due to their high magnetization. The magnets  24  take care that the bent shape is maintained and the bending profile only assumes its straight shape again when it approaches the winding shaft during the winding process which may be supported by the aforementioned spring angles  30 . 
       FIGS. 11 and 12  show a second embodiment of a bending profile  60  which may be used as an outer arch element  9 . The bending profile  60  consists of two arched legs  62  and a joint  61  connecting the two legs  62 . In the front faces of the inclined legs  62  facing each other, a mount  63  for magnets  64  is arranged. 
     LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 
     
         
           1  awning device 
           2  winding shaft 
           3  awning 
           4  traction rope 
           5  arch element 
           6  first region 
           7  second region 
           8  additional piece of fabric 
           9  outer arch element 
           10  margin 
           11  spring element 
           14  transition line 
           15  center of motion 
           16  movement 
           19  movement 
           20  awning device 
           21  joint 
           22  leg 
           23  mount 
           24  magnet 
           27  section 
           28  section 
           29  section 
           30  spring angle 
           40  awning device 
           50  bending profile 
           60  bending profile 
           61  joint 
           62  leg 
           63  mount 
           64  magnet