Abstract:
A rotating mechanism of a sunshade is disclosed to overcome the shortcomings of complicated structure, large weight, low stability, large package volume, high cost, and carrying hard in daily using according to the prior art. The rotating mechanism of a sunshade includes a sunshade canopy, a sunshade pole, a cantilever rod and a rotary device; wherein the rotary device is installed on a top end of the sunshade pole, the cantilever rod is detachably fixed to the rotary device, and the sunshade canopy is installed at one end of the cantilever rod; wherein the rotary device drives the sunshade canopy rotating around the sunshade pole via the cantilever rod.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention is related to mechanical technology, and more particularly to a rotating mechanism of a sunshade. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Since a shading area of a sunshade moves along with movement of the sun, the position of a sunshade canopy has to be constantly adjusted in order to obtain a stationary shading area. In the prior art, as described in the Chinese patent application (No. CN00211064.4), a sunshade canopy can be 360 degree rotated along with the rotation of a sunshade pole, and the sunshade pole can be rotated on its own axis via a rotary device disposed on a sunshade base. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the structure of the prior sunshade includes a sunshade base  101  and a fixing component used for fixing the sunshade pole on the sunshade base  101 . The sunshade base  101  includes a rotary device  102  used for driving rotation of the sunshade pole. The rotary device  102  includes a rotary sleeve  103  supported and rotated by a bearing in the sunshade base  101 . The rotary sleeve  103  has engaging teeth around its surface, which can engage or disengage with a teeth locking block  104  which has an up-down stroke. A reset spring  105  is further included under the block  104 . It can be concluded that the prior sunshade has disadvantages of complicated structure, large weight, large package volume and high cost. In addition, because the sunshade canopy is rotated via the rotation of the sunshade pole disposed on the sunshade base, the stability is low and it is not easy to carry in daily using. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    In order to overcome the shortcomings of complicated structure, large weight, low stability, large package volume, high cost, and hard to be carried according to the prior sunshade, a rotating mechanism of a sunshade is proposed according to embodiments of the present invention. 
         [0004]    According to an embodiment of the present invention, a rotating mechanism of a sunshade includes: a sunshade canopy, a sunshade pole, a cantilever rod and a rotary device; wherein the rotary device is installed on a top end of the sunshade pole, the cantilever rod is detachably fixed to the rotary device, and the sunshade canopy is installed at one end of the cantilever rod;
       wherein the rotary device drives the sunshade canopy rotating around the sunshade pole via the cantilever rod.       
 
         [0006]    According to embodiments of the present invention, by adjusting the rotation of the rotary device on its own axis, the cantilever rod is driven to rotate around the sunshade pole; meantime, the sunshade canopy installed at one end of the cantilever rod is also driven to 360-degree horizontally rotate around the sunshade pole, so that the shading area under the sunshade canopy can be adjusted according to movement of the sun. Since the sunshade pole is not rotated when the shading area is being adjusted, the structure of the rotary device disposed at the top end of the sunshade pole has not to be very complicated, so that the whole sunshade has advantages of simple structure, small size and light weight. In addition, since the cantilever rod can be detached from the rotary device, the whole sunshade is easy to carry and pack. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    These and/or other aspects will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  illustrates a structure of a sunshade according to the prior art; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  illustrates a structure of a rotating mechanism of a sunshade according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  illustrates a structure of a rotary device in a rotating mechanism of a sunshade according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  illustrates a structure of a rotary device in a rotating mechanism of a sunshade according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  illustrates a structure of a rotary device in a rotating mechanism of a sunshade according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  illustrates a structure of a rotary device in a rotating mechanism of a sunshade according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of a structure of a rotary device in a rotating mechanism of a sunshade according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  illustrates a structure in a rotating mechanism of a sunshade according to an embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0016]      FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of a structure of a locking device in a rotating mechanism of a sunshade according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0017]    The embodiments of the present invention are described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and which show, by way of illustration, specific exemplary embodiments by which the invention may be practiced. Under the principle and the novel feature of the present invention, any modifications of structures, methods or functions are all considered to be within the protection scope of the present invention. 
         [0018]    In addition, the same reference signs or symbols may be repeatedly used in different embodiments for clarity and simplicity. However, these reference signs or symbols repeatedly used cannot be used to limit the relationships of structures in different embodiments. 
         [0019]      FIG. 2  illustrates a structure of a rotating mechanism of a sunshade according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0020]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , the rotating mechanism of the sunshade includes: a sunshade canopy  201 , a sunshade pole  202 , a cantilever rod  203  and a rotary device  204 . The rotary device  204  is installed on a top end of the sunshade pole  202 . The cantilever rod  203  is detachably fixed to the rotary device  204 . The sunshade canopy  201  is installed at one end of the cantilever rod  203 . For example, the sunshade canopy  201  may be hung at one end of the cantilever rod  203 . When the rotary device  204  is rotated on its own axis, the rotary device  204  drives the sunshade canopy  201  rotating around the sunshade pole  202  via the cantilever rod  203  (as shown in the bi-directional arrows in  FIG. 2 ). 
         [0021]    Those skilled in the art can understand that the cantilever rod  203  may be screwed onto the rotary device  204 , or fixed to the rotary device  204  via a dowel pin. The detailed detachably fixing manner between the cantilever rod  203  and the rotary device  204  is not limited thereto. 
         [0022]    By adjusting the rotation of the rotary device  204  on its own axis, the cantilever rod  203  is driven to rotate around the sunshade pole  202 ; meantime, the sunshade canopy  201  installed at one end of the cantilever rod  203  is also driven to 360-degree horizontally rotate around the sunshade pole  202 , so that the shading area under the sunshade canopy  201  can be adjusted according to movement of the sun. Since the sunshade pole  202  is not rotated when the shading area is being adjusted, the structure of the rotary device  204  disposed at the top end of the sunshade pole  202  has not to be very complicated, so that the whole sunshade has advantages of simple structure, small size and light weight. In addition, since the cantilever rod  203  can be detached from the rotary device  204 , the whole sunshade is easy to carry and pack. 
         [0023]    The internal structure of the rotary device  204  is described more fully hereinafter with the following embodiments. 
         [0024]      FIG. 3  illustrates a structure of a rotary device in a rotating mechanism of a sunshade according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0025]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , a rotary device  204  includes a rotating part  204   a,  and a sunshade pole  202  is hollow. The rotating part  204   a  has a rotating shaft  204   b  at the bottom thereof, and the rotating shaft  204   b  is sleeved in the sunshade pole  202  to form a revolute pair. Thus, compared with the prior rotary device which is disposed in the sunshade base, the rotary device  204  in the present invention has advantages of simple structure, small size, lightweight and low cost. 
         [0026]      FIG. 4  illustrates a structure of a rotary device in a rotating mechanism of a sunshade according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0027]    As shown in  FIG. 4 , when the sunshade is being used or moved, a rotary device  204  may be detached from a hollow sunshade pole  202 . In order to avoid the detachment of the rotary device  204 , the rotary device  204  further includes a first bushing  204   c,  at least one fastener  204   d  and a check ring  204   e.  The first bushing  204   c  is sleeved in the sunshade pole  202 , and fixed to the sunshade pole  202  via the at least one fastener  204   d.  The rotating shaft  204   b  is sleeved in the first bushing  204   c  to form a revolute pair. Meantime, the bottom of the rotating shaft  204   b  protrudes from the first bushing  204   c,  and a slot  204   f  is included at the bottom of the rotating shaft  204   b.  The check ring  204   e  is installed in the slot  204   f , which is used to avoid the rotary device  204  from axially moving along with the first bushing  204   c.    
         [0028]    In this case, when the sunshade is being used or moved, even the rotating part  204   a  is under an axial tension, the axial moving of the rotating shaft  204   b  can be stopped by the check ring  204   e,  which is blocked at the bottom of the first bushing  204   c,  so that the detachment of the rotary device  204  from the hollow sunshade pole  202  is avoided. 
         [0029]    Those skilled in the art can understand that the number of the at least one fastener  204   d  may be adjusted according to the size of the sunshade pole  202  and the fixing manner of the first bushing  204   c.  For example, in an embodiment of the present invention, as shown in  FIG. 4 , two through holes are included on a lateral surface of the sunshade pole  202 , and two threaded holes are included on a lateral surface of the first bushing  204   c  and match the two through holes respectively. In this case, two screws may be applied as fasteners  204   d.  The first bushing  204   c  is fixed to the sunshade pole  202  by screwing the two screws from the two through holes into the two threaded holes respectively. In other embodiments, only one or more than two through holes may be included on the lateral surface of the sunshade pole  202 , so only one or more than two screws may be applied as fasteners  204   d.  The number of the at least one fastener  204   d  and the fixing manner of the first bushing  204   c  is not limited thereto. 
         [0030]      FIG. 5  illustrates a structure of a rotary device in a rotating mechanism of a sunshade according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0031]    As shown in  FIG. 5 , in order to decrease the rotating friction between a rotating part  204   a  and a first bushing  204   c  and increase the wear life of a rotating part  204   a,  a rotary device  204  further includes a second bushing  204   g  sleeved in the first bushing  204   c.  A rotating shaft  204   b  is sleeved in the second bushing  204   g  to form a revolute pair. 
         [0032]    In an embodiment of the present invention, the second bushing  204   g  may be made of wear-resistant plastic. Those skilled in the art can understand that the second bushing  204   g  also may be made of bearing alloy, bronze, aluminum-based alloy, zinc-base alloy or the like. The material used for the second bushing  204   g  is not limited thereto. 
         [0033]      FIG. 6  illustrates a structure of a rotary device in a rotating mechanism of a sunshade according to an embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of a structure of a rotary device in a rotating mechanism of a sunshade according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0034]    As shown in  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 7 , a rotary device  204  further includes a supporting part  204   h.  The supporting part  204   h  is articulated with a rotating part  204   a.  A cantilever rod  203  passes through the supporting part  204   h  to form a sliding pair. In this case, while the position of a sunshade canopy  201  is adjusted in a range of 360 degrees via the rotary device  204 , the cantilever rod  203  can be concurrently rotated via the articulated connection between the rotating part  204   a  and the supporting part  204   h.  So the sunshade canopy  201  can be raised or lowered. Meanwhile, the distance between the sunshade canopy  201  and the sunshade pole  202  can also be adjusted by sliding the cantilever rod  203  in the supporting part  204   h.  In this case, comparing with the structure illustrated in the embodiment of  FIG. 5 , the adjusting range of the shading area under the sunshade canopy  201  is larger and the adjusting manner is more flexible. 
         [0035]      FIG. 8  illustrates a structure in a rotating mechanism of a sunshade according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0036]    As shown in  FIG. 8 , in order to lock the position of a sunshade canopy  201  and the rotating angle of a cantilever rod  203 , the rotating mechanism of the sunshade further includes a link rod  205  and a locking device  206 . One end of the link rod  205  is articulated with a cantilever rod  203 ; the other end of the link rod  205  is articulated with the locking device  206 . The locking device  206  is installed on the sunshade pole  202 . Since no matter where the articulated connection between the link rod  205  and the cantilever rod  203  is set, the cantilever rod  203  can be driven by the link rod  205 , so the position of the articulated connection between the link rod  205  and the cantilever rod  203  is not limited thereto. 
         [0037]    When the locking device  206  is unlocked, the locking device  206  can be rotated on the axis of the sunshade pole  202 , so that the link rod  205  can also be rotated around the sunshade pole  202 . Meantime, the locking device  206  can be axially moved along with the sunshade pole  202 , so the link rod  205  can also be rotated via the articulated connection between the link rod  205  and the locking device  206  to raise or lower the sunshade canopy  201 . 
         [0038]    When the locking device  206  is locked, the locking device  206  is fixed to the sunshade pole  202 , so the link rod  205  which is articulated with the locking device  206  also cannot be moved or rotated. Thus the position of the sunshade canopy  201  and the rotating angle of the cantilever rod  203  are locked. 
         [0039]    It can be concluded that the locking device  206  can also be used for adjusting the position of the sunshade canopy  201  and the rotating angle of the cantilever rod  203 . In an embodiment of the present invention, to facilitate the adjustment via the locking device  206 , a handle  206   e  is further included and fixed to the locking device  206 , so that the position of the sunshade canopy  201  and the rotating angle of the cantilever rod  203  can be more easily adjusted via the handle  206   e.    
         [0040]      FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of a structure of a locking device in a rotating mechanism of a sunshade according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0041]    As shown in  FIG. 9 , a locking device  206  includes a locking knob  206   a,  a locking screw  206   b  and a locking piece  206   c.  The locking piece  206   c  has an opening  206   d.  A sunshade pole  202  is sleeved in the locking piece  206   c.  The locking screw  206   b  crosses through the opening  206   d  and is screwed into the locking knob  206   a.  Thus the locking of the locking piece  206   c  can be loosened or tightened by adjusting the gap of the opening  206   d,  and the gap of the opening  206   d  can be adjusted via the rotation of the locking screw  206   b,  which can be driven by the rotation of the locking knob  206   a.    
         [0042]    When a sunshade provided by an embodiment of the present invention is being used, the rotating angle of the locking device  206  can be firstly adjusted via the handle  206   e  which is fixed to the locking piece  206   c,  until the cantilever rod  203  and the sunshade canopy  201  are rotated to a suitable angle around the sunshade pole  202 . Then, by moving the locking device  206  along with the sunshade pole  202  axially via the handle  206   e,  the sunshade canopy  201  is adjusted to a suitable height. By rotating the locking knob  206   a,  the position of the sunshade canopy  201  is fixed. When the shading area under the sunshade canopy  201  is needed to be changed, the locking device  206  has to be unlocked by inversely rotating the locking knob  206   a  in advance, and then the position of the sunshade canopy  201  can be changed by repeating the adjusting operations above. 
         [0043]    In an embodiment of the present invention, as shown in  FIG. 8 , the rotating mechanism of the sunshade further includes a first limited block  207  and a second limited block  208 . The first limited block  207  is fixed to the cantilever rod  203  to limit the axial movement of the cantilever rod  203 . The second limited block  207  is fixed to the sunshade pole  202  to limit the axial movement of the locking device  206 . However, the number, position and shape of the limited blocks are not limited thereto. 
         [0044]    Those skilled in the art can understand that, the present invention is not limited to the details described in above embodiments. Under the principle and the novel feature of the present invention, the present invention may also be realized in other embodiments. Therefore, all the embodiments described above should be considered as preferable examples rather than limitations of the technical scheme of the present invention, any modifications under the principle and the novel feature of the present invention are all considered to be within the protection scope of the present invention. Furthermore, the reference signs or symbols used cannot be used for limiting the protection scope of the present invention. 
         [0045]    Those skilled in the art can also understand that, although the present invention is described with embodiments for clarity, each embodiment may include more than one technical scheme. The embodiments described in the specification should be considered as a whole. Those skilled in the art may obtain other new embodiments by combing the technical schemes described in the embodiments of the specification.