Patent Publication Number: US-4320792-A

Title: Device for adjusting the height and protrusion of a rollable sun-blind

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a device for adjusting the height and protrusion or overhang of a sun-blind and, more particularly, of a rollable sun-blind. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Desirable features of rollable sun-blinds include adjustable positioning and ease of storing of the sun-blind. These features are generally found in rollable sun-blinds heretofore. Previous sun-blinds, however, were deficient in that some were controlled by a hand winch which was encumbering, heavy and required a great deal of effort to operate. In addition the pivotable arm which determined the protrusion or overhang of the sun-blind had its fulcrum at a fixed point thereby limiting the positioning of the sun-blind. 
     Other sun-blinds are wound by helicoidal springs and have pivotable arms which cannot be arrested at desired points intermediate its position. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is among the principal objects of the invention to provide a device applicable to a rollable sun-blind which permits the automatic positioning of the blind, both in height and protrusion or overhang without the need for any type of winch or the use of any other type of equipment for its manipulation. 
     It is another object of the invention to maintain the desired position of the sun-blind despite the force of gravity acting on the blind and its respective frame work, the forces produced by re-winding the blind on the upper roller, and the force of wind or other atmospheric agents. 
     Further objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the following specification and in part will be obvious therefrom without being specifically referred to, the same being realized and attained as pointed out in the claims hereof. 
     With the above and other objects of the invention in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination of various devices, elements and parts, as set forth in the claims hereof, one embodiment of the same being illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in the specification. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference is had to the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a fragmentary elevational view of an embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a fragmentary large scale perspective view of a detail shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a large scale sectional view, taken along the line I--I of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is a large scale sectional view, taken along the line II--II of FIG. 1; and 
     FIG. 5 is a large scale sectional view, taken along the line III--III of FIG. 1. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In carrying the invention into effect in one of the embodiments which has been selected for illustration in the accompanying drawings and for description in the specification, and referring now particularly to FIG. 1, there is provided a reel means, such as wind-up roller 1, which dispenses a sun-blind 2. This sun-blind 2 passes over a directing means such as an idle return roller 3. The end of the sun-blind 2 is fastened to a pipe 4, within a longitudinal groove 5 thereof. The pipe 4 is secured to the end of a projecting means such as two pivotable arms 6. Each of these arms 6 has its fulcrum at axis 7, on moving means or slider 8. This slider 8, shown in FIG. 2, moves in the inner groove of a longitudinal guide means, such as the vertical slide 9, which is hollow and has a slot extending throughout its length. 
     The slider 8 includes a channel 10; at each end thereof one terminal section 11 is fastened, only one terminal section 11 being shown in FIG. 2. Each terminal section 11 is inserted into the channel section 10, so that holes 12, and 12&#39; are aligned. The terminal sections 11 and the shaped section 10 are then fastened to one another by a fastening element extending through the aligned holes 12 and 12&#39;. 
     FIG. 3 shows interlocking means or a clutch fastened on the two terminal sections 11 of the slider at hole 13. A headless screw 14 is threaded into the hole 13 of the terminal section 11. The headless screw 14 exerts pressure on a rigid disk 15, which is in contact with the top of a cup spring 16. A second cup spring 16&#39; is disposed between the first cup spring and the washer 17. The bottom surface of the washer 17 contacts the inner surface of the vertical slide 9. On a terminal section 11 are two cavities 11a, into which two washers 18 and 18&#39;  are inserted. These washers 18 and 18&#39; exert pressure on the inner surface of the slide 9 along the edges 19, so that between the terminal section 11 and the slide 9 are two opposed clutch surfaces. This pressure exerted on the slide 9 can be adjusted by means of headless screw 14. The headless screw 14 can be locked on the terminal section 11 by means of a nut 20. Elevator means, operable to position the projecting means 6, include moving means 8, longitudinal guide means 9, and interlocking means 14, 15, 16, 16&#39;, 17, 18, 19, and 20. 
     A part of the terminal section 11 is fastened to the channel 10 of the slider 8 by pivoting means, such as a shaft 21, as shown in FIG. 4, extending through aligned holes 12 and 12&#39;. This shaft 21 is threaded into the aligned holes 12 and 12&#39;, and is secured by a nut 22. A drum 23 is mounted on the shaft 21, so that it can rotate freely. The return roller 3 is attached to the drum 23. Another part of the terminal section 11&#39; is mounted on the channel 10 in the same manner, with the exception that the hole 12 is not threaded. The absence of any thread in the hole 12 permits the insertion of a bolt 24 thereinto, which bolt 24 is screwed onto a cylinder 25. This cylinder 25 has a groove 26 formed along its diameter on one side, which matches the complimentary upper part 10&#39; of the channel 10 in such a manner that it eliminates any rotation between the two pieces. There is a clutch washer 28 disposed between the head 27 of the arm 6 and the cylinder 25. The head 27 is formed with a split 29, as shown in FIG. 1, in order to permit the tightening of the head 27 by means of the bolt 30. This bolt 30 adjusts the friction between the surfaces contacting the washer 28. It will therefore be appreciated that the pivot means, in this example, the cylinder 25, the head 27, and the washer 28 are normally unlocked for unhindered pivot movement, but may be locked by tightening of the bolt 30, so as to arrest the arm 6 in any desired position. The cylinder has a polygonal cavity 31, which permits the insertion of a circular cap 32. The cap 32 is shaped so as to fit into the cavity 31. The circular cap 32 is fastened to the cylinder 25 by means of a screw 33. 
     The arm 6 has a quadrangular section, which is inserted into the head 27 to match therewith. The pipe 4 is mounted on the other end of the arm 6 to a suitably anchored edge of the blind 2. 
     The sun-blind 2, in its closed position, occupies very little space, as the slider 8 can be brought into its extreme upper position with the idle roller 3 touching the rolling-up mechanism 1. The pivotable arm 6 can be positioned so as to overlap the slider 8, while the pipe 4 is positioned beneath the return roller 3. 
     The length of the slider 8, as well as that of arm 6, can vary according to the type of the desired blind, and this variability is easily attained by cutting the channel 10 and arm 6 to a predetermined length, while all the other elements remain the same. 
     The functioning of this device provides a sun-blind which is extremely simple and requires little effort to operate. 
     I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the exact details of construction shown and described, for obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.