Abstract:
An arm bearing for an articulated-arm awning having a pillow block hinged on a bracket. The pillow block is provided on one end with at least one bearing eye for receiving one awning arm in rotary fashion. A threaded rod limits the tilting angle between the bracket and the pillow block. A first end of the threaded rod being adjustably screwed into a locating opening in the bracket and a second end of the threaded rod being provided with a head that rests against a stop on the pillow block in a maximally tilted angular position. The arm bearing includes a locking member with which the threaded rod can be fixed on the stop. The locking member includes a locking slide that can be coupled with the awning arm via a connection element to induce rotary movement of the awning arm to disengage the locking slide.

Description:
CROSSREFERENCE TO PENDING APPLICATION 
   This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/110,803 filed on Dec. 2, 2002, now abandoned which is a continuation national phase entry in the United States under 35 U.S.C. § 371 of pending international application PCT/EP00/09621 filed on Sep. 30, 2000 which designates the U.S. and which claims priority of German utility model No. 299 18 156.1 filed on Oct. 14, 1999. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to an arm bearing for an articulated-arm awning having a pillow block, that is hinged on a bracket so as to tilt about a tilting axis and that is provided on one of its ends with at least one bearing eye for receiving one awning arm in rotary fashion, and having further a threaded rod for limiting the maximum tilting angle between the bracket and the pillow block, a first end of the threaded rod being adjustably screwed into a locating opening in the bracket and a second end of the threaded rod being provided with a head that rests against a stop on the pillow block in the maximally tilted position, and having finally a locking member by means of which the head of the threaded rod can be fixed on the stop in the maximally tilted angular position. 
   An arm bearing of this kind is known from German Utility Patent No. G 87 09 415 U1. 
   In the case of the known arm bearing, also known as tilting joint because of the pivoting connection between the pillow block and the bracket, the locking member consists of an angle element which has one of its ends connected to the rotatable end of the awning arm, while its other end projects freely. The arrangement is sized so that any rotation of the awning arm will cause the second leg of the angle element to be rotated over the head of the threaded rod whereby the latter is fixed on the stop of the pillow block. One thereby implements an upthrust protection which prevents the tilted pillow block from returning inadvertently into a non-tilted position. This might otherwise happen, for example, when the awning is fully extended and when a gust of wind hits against the awning fabric from below. 
   The design of the known arm bearing is comparatively simple. It does not, however, provide the possibility to decouple the fixed condition of the threaded rod from the rotary position of the awning arm if this should become necessary. It is for this reason that the known arm bearing as such cannot be used as a rigid arm bearing with adjustable tilting angle. 
   EP 0 397 906 A1 likewise discloses an arm bearing for an articulated-arm awning where the pillow block and the bracket are arranged to be pivoted about a tilting axis one relative to the other. The upthrust protection is again constituted by a locking member, configured in this case as a linearly movable locking slide. In view to the problem underlying that publication, that slide is independent of a stop, which may be additionally provided, and is easy to produce. An alternative use of that tilting-joint arm bearing as a rigid arm bearing with adjustable tilting angle is, however, not envisaged. 
   It is the object of the present invention to improve an arm bearing of the before-mentioned kind so that it can be used easily as either a tilting-joint arm bearing or a rigid arm bearing with adjustable tilting angle. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   This object is achieved, in the case of the arm bearing described at the outset, by the fact that the locking member comprises a linearly movable locking slide that can be coupled with the awning arm via a connection element, which latter translates the rotary movement of the awning arm to a linear movement of the locking slide. 
   The present arm bearing distinguishes itself from the known arm bearings in that a connection element is provided which when eliminated or removed results in the locking slide being decoupled from the movement of the awning arm. This in turn has the result that the locking slide is capable of fixing the head of the threaded rod on the stop, irrespective of the rotary position of the awning arm, so that the awning arm will retain the tilting angle once adjusted, irrespective of the position of the awning arm. This is the function of a rigid awning arm whose tilting angle can be adjusted with the aid of the threaded rod. 
   In contrast, when the connection element is used, then the rotary position of the awning arm will influence the linear position of the locking slide. This then results in the locking slide releasing the tilting joint between the pillow block and the bracket, as a function of the angular position of the awning arm, so that the pillow block can be turned up. The arrangement then acts as a tilting-joint arm bearing in that operating mode. 
   From the above it results that the arm bearing according to the invention can be converted from a tilting-joint arm bearing to a rigid arm bearing and vice versa simply by the optional use of the connection element. As will be apparent from the embodiments that will be described hereafter, the possibility to use the connection element optionally can be implemented in a very simple way, in technical and constructional terms. Consequently, the arm bearing according to the invention can be optionally used as a tilting-joint arm bearing or a rigid arm bearing with the same ease. 
   The object underlying the present invention is thus perfectly achieved. 
   The arm bearing according to the invention offers a number of additional advantages, especially when employed in the preferred embodiments defined in the dependent claims. Specifically, the production costs of the arm bearing according to the invention can be kept low due to the fact that the dual use now permits the production numbers to be increased considerably. Further, it is now possible due to the measure according to the invention to convert such an arm bearing to the respective alternative use even after several years of operation. And in addition, the preferred embodiments of the arm bearing according to the invention also have very small overall dimensions and are particularly simple and robust. 
   It is understood that the features recited above and those yet to be explained below can be used not only in the respective combination indicated, but also in other combinations or in isolation, without leaving the context of the present invention. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings and are explained in more detail in the description which follows. In the drawings: 
       FIG. 1  shows a perspective representation of an arm bearing according to the invention used as tilting-joint arm bearing; 
       FIG. 2  shows the arm bearing of  FIG. 1 , with part of the pillow block removed in order to demonstrate the function of the locking member; 
       FIG. 3  shows the arm bearing according to  FIG. 1  in a tilted position; 
       FIG. 4  shows the arm bearing of  FIG. 3 , again with part of the pillow block removed; 
       FIG. 5  shows the arm bearing of  FIG. 1  used as a rigid arm bearing with adjustable tilting angle; 
       FIG. 6  shows the arm bearing of  FIG. 5 , again with part of the pillow block removed; 
       FIG. 7  shows the arm bearing according to  FIG. 5 , but with a firmly adjusted tilting angle of 0°; 
       FIG. 8  shows the arm bearing of  FIG. 7 , again with part of the pillow block removed; and 
       FIG. 9  shows a preferred embodiment for adjusting the maximum tilting angle and/or the desired rigid tilting angle of the arm bearing according to the invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   In  FIGS. 1 and 2 , an arm bearing according to the invention is designated in its entirety by reference numeral  10 . 
   The arm bearing  10  comprises a bracket  12  with a pillow block  14  arranged thereon to pivot about the tilting axis  16  in a direction indicated by arrow  18 . The bracket  12  and the pillow block  14  comprise for this purpose bores that are aligned one with the other and through which a bolt  20  is passed in the direction of the tilting axis  16 . 
   The end of the pillow block  14  is provided with a bearing eye  22  on which is rotatably seated a link rod  24  of an awning arm nor shown in detail. The awning arm consists, in the conventional way, of a hollow aluminium section fitted on the link rod  24 . The link rod  24  is thereby connected with the awning arm so intimately that the terms “link rod” and “awning arm” will be used hereafter as synonyms for the sake of simplicity. 
   The awning arm  24  is seated in the bearing eye  22  for rotation about a rotary axis  26  in the direction indicated by arrow  28 . That rotary movement takes place when the awning is extended. 
   Reference numeral  30  designates a threaded rod which, in the present case, extends crosswise to the tilting axis  16 , from the pillow block  14  to the bracket  12 . The first end  32  of the threaded rod  30  is screwed into a transverse bore in a bolt  34  with a corresponding internal thread, not visible in this representation. The bolt  34  thus forms a seat for the threaded rod  30 . 
   Additionally, the threaded rod  30  is fixed in its respective instantaneous position by a spring element not shown in the drawing, which urges a pin laterally into the thread of the threaded rod  30 . This arrangement works as a protection against torsion. Alternatively, the latter may, however, be implemented also in the conventional way, using a grub screw. 
   The bolt  34  is received in mutually aligned bores  36  arranged in parallel to the tilting axis  16 , but above the latter, in mutually parallel legs  38 ,  40  of the bracket  12 . The threaded rod  30  therefore has its first end  32  extending between the two legs  38 ,  40  of the two-piece bracket  12 . 
   The second end of the threaded rod  30  carries a head  42  with a hexagon socket  44  provided in its end face. The hexagon socket  44  is capable of receiving a hexagon wrench by means of which the threaded rod  30  can be threaded a greater or lesser length into the bolt  34 . 
   As can be seen in  FIG. 1 , the pillow block  14  is provided with a substantially oval passage opening  46  through which the head  42  of the threaded rod  30  can be passed. In  FIG. 2 , the housing element  48  comprising the passage opening  46  has been removed to reveal the “insides” of the pillow block  14 . In practice it is, however, not possible to remove the housing element  48  of the arm bearing  10 . 
   As can be seen in the representation of  FIG. 2 , the pillow block  14  is provided in its interior with a stop  50  which, in conjunction with the head  42  of the threaded rod  30 , acts to limit the maximum tilting angle α of the pillow block  14  in the direction indicated by arrow  18 . The tilted condition of the arm bearing  10  is illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 ; from  FIG. 4  it is apparent that the rear end  52  of the head  42  comes to rest against the stop  50  when the maximum tilting angle α is reached. 
   Reference numeral  60  designates a locking member assembly which acts to fix the head  42  of the arm bearing  30  on the stop  50  in the tilted position of the awning arm  10  illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . It is thus prevented that the rear end  52  of the head  42  may come free of its contact with the stop  50  which would mean that the pillow block  14  would swing up abruptly against the direction indicated by arrow  18 . The locking member  60  therefore constitutes an upthrust protection. 
   In the present case, the locking member  60  comprises a locking slide  60  that can be moved linearly in a bore in the pillow block  14 , in parallel to the tilting axis  16 . The locking slide  62  is formed in the present case by a solid circular bolt made from stainless steel. It is connected via a cross-member  64  with a push rod  66  that extends in the pillow block  14 , likewise in parallel to the tilting axis  16 . The push rod  66  is biased by a spring  68  bearing against a projection  70  in the pillow block  14 . The free end  72  of the push rod  66  projects from the housing element  48  of the pillow block  14  and rests against an eccentric, in the present case cam-shaped, outer contour  74  of the link rod  24 . 
   In the case of the illustrated arm bearing, the locking slide  62  and the push rod  66  form a single piece, connected via the cross-member  64 . In a different embodiment not shown in the drawings, the locking slide  62  may alternatively be connected with the cross-member  64  in detachable fashion so that the connection element can be removed without any necessity to exchange the locking slide  62 . 
     FIGS. 1 and 2  show the locking member  60  in its unlocked position in which the head  42  of the threaded rod  30  can pass through the passage opening  46  of the pillow block  14 . The pillow block  14  is tilted up against the bracket  12 . 
   In contrast, in the representations of  FIGS. 3 and 4  the pillow block  14  is tilted down in the direction of arrow  18 , and the head  42  of the threaded rod  30  is secured by the locking member  60 . The locking slide  62  therefore occupies a locking position in which it engages the hexagon socket of the head  42  laterally only to such an extent that the threaded rod  30  can be adjusted even in the locked position. 
   As appears from the representation of  FIGS. 1  to  4 , locking and unlocking of the threaded rod  30  is achieved by displacing the locking slide  62  linearly in parallel to the tilting axis  16 . This is effected with the aid of the push rod  66  whose linear position is determined by the cam-shaped outer contour  74  of the link rod  24 . The force of the spring  68  tends to move the locking slide  62  into its locking position. Correspondingly, the spring  68  is in its relaxed state when the locking slide  62  occupies its locked position. 
   The push rod  66  and the cross-member  64  form together a connection element that establishes an operative connection between the locking slide  62  and the link rod  24  so that the angular position of the link rod  24  about the rotary axis  26  influences the linear position of the locking slide  62 . In the absence of such operative connection, the locking slide  62  remains in its respective linear position, irrespective of the rotary position of the link rod  24 . 
   This relationship has been utilized in the embodiment of the arm bearing, that will be described hereafter with reference to  FIGS. 5  to  8 , for realizing an arm bearing with adjustable tilting angle. Identical elements of these embodiments have been designated by the same reference numerals as in the previously described Figures. 
   In  FIGS. 5 and 6 , a second embodiment of the arm bearing according to the invention is designated in its entirety by reference numeral  80 . 
   The arm bearing  80  differs from the arm bearing  10  described before essentially by the fact that the connection element comprising the cross-member  64  and the push rod  66  is missing. The bore  82 , in which the push rod  66  of the arm bearing  10  was guided, is therefore empty. 
   Given the fact that there is no operative connection between the link rod  24  and the locking slide  62 , the head  42  of the threaded rod  30  will remain fixed on the stop  50 , irrespective of the particular position of the link rod  24 . The pillow block  14  therefore retains the adjusted tilting angle α irrespective of the position of the link rod  24 . In the representation of  FIGS. 5 and 6  the tilting angle α is equal to 60°. 
   The arm bearing  80 , therefore, constitutes a rigid arm bearing whose tilting angle α can be adjusted using the threaded rod  30  by screwing the threaded rod  30  a greater or shorter length into the bolt  34 . 
     FIGS. 7 and 8  show the arm bearing  80  with a firmly adjusted tilting angle of α=0°. Here again, the tilting angle α is independent of the rotary position of the link rod  24  due to the missing connection element. 
     FIG. 9  shows an especially preferred possibility of adjusting the tilting angle α of the arm bearings  10 ,  80 . The solution consists of an adjusting device  88  in the form of a standard drive mechanism  90  known as such, which is connected with the threaded rod  30  via a coupling pin  92 . The coupling pin  92  comprises a hexagon head  94  which corresponds exactly to the hexagon socket  44  of the head  42 . 
   The standard drive mechanism  90  can be operated in the known way via its annular operating element  96  using a crank not shown in the drawing. It then transfers the rotary movement of the crank to the coupling pin  92  and, thus, to the threaded rod  30 . 
   According to a further embodiment, a mounting plate carrying a cardan joint is arranged on the end face of the pillow block  14 . One end of the cardan joint is equipped with a hexagon pin that can be fitted in the hexagon socket  44  of the threaded rod  30 , while an operating element, such as the operating element  96 , can be fitted on the other end for driving the cardan joint.