Patent Publication Number: US-2022235555-A1

Title: Electric awning structure

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     Field of Invention 
     The present invention relates to an electric awning structure, and more particularly to an electric awning structure powered by solar panels. 
     Description of Related Art 
     Accordingly, the first type of known awning structure, as disclosed in EP patent 3015618A1, comprises a support structure provided with at least two lateral beams that are parallel to each other and side-by-side, each longitudinally extended along a corresponding first extension direction; a plurality of covering blades arranged one after the other according to said first extension direction, each of such covering blades extended along a second extension direction substantially orthogonal to said first extension direction, and provided with two opposite ends associated with said respective lateral beams; said covering blades being movable between a closure position, in which said covering blades are arranged partially superimposed, each over the next, covering an underlying ground surface, and at least one open position, in which said covering blades are arranged each spaced from the next, delimiting passage openings between them. Said awning structure further comprises: movement means actuatable to slide along at least one of said lateral beams between a retreated position and an advanced position; a plurality of orientation guides fixed along at least one of said lateral beams at the ends of said plurality of covering blades, each of such orientation guides at least partially extended along a path which is arranged on a plane substantially orthogonal to the second extension directions of said covering blades and is extended between one first part closer to said movement means and at least one second part further from said movement means. 
     Alternatively, the second type of known awning structure, as disclosed in the EP Patent 3,348,741 A1, comprises a supporting structure provided with at least two substantially parallel beams, between which a plurality of elongated and mutually juxtaposed orientable slats are interposed, each slat having the mutually opposite ends articulated about respective rotation pivots which are substantially aligned and associated with respective bars that can slide along said beams, means of actuation with alternating translation of said bars along said beams for a functional stroke and means of moving said slats between a closed configuration, in which they are arranged partially superimposed in pairs to define a continuous covering surface, and a fully open configuration, in which they are spaced apart in pairs to define a plurality of slots for the passage of light and/or air, passing through a plurality of partially open configurations, the closed configuration and the fully open configuration being assumed by said slats at the end positions of said bars along said functional stroke, characterized in that said movement means comprise, for each slat, at least one lever which is articulated to one end of said slat and to the beam that is adjacent thereto, respectively by way of a first articulation pivot and a second articulation pivot which are substantially parallel to the rotation pivots of said slat. 
     The third type of awning structure in the prior art, as shown in  FIGS. 8 to 10 , mainly has the plurality of louvers  50 , a plurality of louver securing members  60 , and at least one driving structure  70 . One end of the louver  50  is provided with an insertion portion  51 , and a locking portion  52  is provided at the middle section of the bottom surface of the louver  50 . The louver securing member  60  has a fixed end  61 , a locking end  62 , and an inlay groove  63  near the fixed end  61 . The locking end  62  is provided with a locking groove  621 , and a locking point  622  is formed by the locking groove  621 . The driving structure  70  has a driving plate  71 , a linkage rod  72  and a control device  73 . The connecting part  51  of the louver  50  is inserted into the inlay groove  63  of the louver securing member  60 , the locking part  52  at the middle section of the louver  50  engages with the locking groove  621  of the louver securing member  60 , and the locking point  622  of the locking end  62  locks the locking part  52  of the louver  50 , and finally the fixed end  61  of the louver securing member  60  is connected to the driving plate  71  so that the louver  50  is fixed to the driving structure  70 . Therefore, the control device  73  of the driving structure  70  moves the linkage rod  72  to drives the driving plate  71  to control the louver  50  to open or close. 
     However, the above conventional structures still have the following problems in actual use: The first and second conventional structures are both connected to the louver by the levers, and then the levers are connected to the supporting structure through the lever pivots. When the length of the louver is too long, its midsection will sag due to weight, which will deform the louver. Furthermore, in the third conventional structure, the louver are embedded on to the louver securing member, and the louver securing member is pivotally assembled on the supporting structure, which is easy to assemble, but the strength of the embedded structure is poor causing the louver to fall off easily. 
     Therefore, it is desirable to provide an electric awning structure to mitigate and/or obviate the aforementioned problems. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     An objective of present invention is to provide an electric awning structure, which is capable of improving the above-mention problems. 
     In order to achieve the above mentioned objective, An electric awning structure has a supporting structure, a plurality of louvers, a plurality of louver securing members and a plurality of driving plates. The supporting structure has the plurality of standing columns, and at least four crossbeams to form a frame above the standing columns. The supporting structure is equipped with at least one power storage device and a control device, and the louver securing members are secured to the louvers so that the louvers are pivoted between the two crossbeams. The plurality of louver securing members are connected to the driving plate, and each the driving plate is connected to each driving member. The solar panel is connected to the power storage device which is connected to the control device, and the control device is connected to a pulling device set on the crossbeam and having a pull bar connected to the driving member. 
     Other objects, advantages, and novel features of invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is the three-dimensional combination diagram of a preferred embodiment according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a three-dimensional exploded view of the preferred embodiment according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic drawing of the combination of the louver and the louver securing member of the preferred embodiment according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a drawing showing the power storage device and the control device connecting to the solar panel and the pulling device according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  shows the pull bar of the pulling device being pulled to close the louver according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  shows the pull bar of the pulling device being pulled to open the louver according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  shows the control device being used to close or open the louver through remote control according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is an exploded view of the louver and the louver securing member of prior art. 
         FIG. 9  shows the combination of the louver and the louver securing member according to the prior art. 
         FIG. 10  is shows the louver in use according to the prior art. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Please refer to  FIGS. 1 to 4 . An electric awning structure comprises: a supporting structure  10 , a plurality of louvers  20 , a plurality of louver securing members  30  and a plurality of driving plates  40 . The supporting structure  10  has a plurality of standing columns  11 , and at least four crossbeams  12  forming a frame mounted above the plurality of standing columns  11 . The supporting structure  10  comprises at least one power storage device  13  and a control device  14 . Each of two facing sides of each two crossbeams  12  respectively have a plurality of locking members  121 , and two ends of each louver  21  respectively has at least two securing apertures  21  provided with a corresponding screw  22 . A front end and rear end of each louver securing member  30  respectively have a through aperture  31 , and an upper end and lower end of each louver securing member  31  respectively have a through hole  32  and an insertion hole  33 . The screw  22  passes through each through aperture  31  of the louver securing member  30  to lock the louver securing member  30  with the securing aperture  21  of the louver  20 . The insertion hole  33  of each louver securing member  30  accepting a respective locking member  121  of the crossbeam  12 , and the plurality of screwing members  122  engages with the locking member  121  to assemble each louver  20  between two of the crossbeams  12 . The through holes  32  of the plurality of louver securing member  30  are connected to the driving plates  40 , and each driving plate  40  is connected to a driving member  41 . At least one solar panel  16  is installed on the crossbeam  13  via a bracket  15 , the solar panel  16  is electrically connected to a power storage device  13  connected to a control device  14 , and the control device  14  is connected to a pulling device  17 . The pulling device  17  is mounted on the crossbeam and has a pull bar  171 , the pull bar  171  is connected to the driving member  41 , and the control device  14  controls movement of the pull bar  141  to drive the driving plates  40  to close or open the louvers  20 . 
     In actual use, please refer to  FIGS. 5 to 7 , when a user wants to open the louvers  20 , by operating the control device  14  to extend the pull bar  171  of the pulling device  17 , and the driving members  41  drive the driving plates  40  to control the louvers  20  to open. On the other hand, when the louver  20  is to be closed, the user can operate the control device  14  to retract the pull bar  171  of the pulling device  17  to make the driving members  41  to drive the driving plates  40  to close the louvers  20 . 
     Moreover, the crossbeam  12  further has a plurality illuminating devices  18   
     Furthermore, the pulling device  17  is installed below the solar panel  16 . 
     In addition, the driving plates  40  are installed on a same side as the louvers  20  on the crossbeam  12 . 
     Also, the driving plates  40  are installed on both sides of the crossbeam  12 . 
     Besides, the pulling device  17  is a hydraulic cylinder. 
     Alternatively, the pulling device  17  is a pneumatic cylinder. 
     Furthermore, the control device  14  is remote controlled by a remote controller  19 , as shown in  FIG. 7 . 
     In addition, the power storage device  13  and the control device  14  are integrated. 
     With the above structure, because the louvers  20  are locked to the louver securing members  30  by the screws  22 , and the locking member  121  and the screwing member  122  are assembled on the supporting structure  10 , it is less likely to fall off during operation, and its overall structural strength is also stronger. When the louvers  20  are longer in length, the middle section is less likely to sag and deform due to weight reduction, which greatly improves the durability of the structure. 
     Although the present invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of invention as hereinafter claimed.