Patent Description:
The pergola is generally provided with an upper structure with which the covering elements cooperate, which generally create a desired condition of direct or indirect radiation, i.e., of passage of air, light and water, in the area below the upper structure.

The guide element is applied to maintain the covering elements under desired operating conditions, both under static operating conditions and operating conditions of reciprocal movement.

Covering apparatuses of the pergola type, typically provided with a lower support structure, formed by a plurality of vertical structural support elements, also called uprights, able to support, at a certain height, from the floor or from the ground, an upper structure having the shape of a quadrangular frame are known. This upper structure is normally composed of support elements, typically horizontal or moderately inclined in the order of <NUM>°-<NUM>°, with respect to the floor, also called carriers. In some cases, the aforementioned frame may lack a side, so that the upper support structure is substantially in the shape of a U. Alternatively, the upper support structure may also be partly attached to fixed support elements, for example to one or more walls of a building.

In any case, the upper structure is operatively associated to upper covering elements, or slats, advantageously movable between them to define at least a closing operating condition which corresponds to a covering condition, in which they are substantially adjacent to each other and define a real "roof" of the structure, and a plurality of opening conditions, which correspond to respective uncovering conditions, in which they are spaced apart from each other to define relative spaces, more or less wide, of passage of light and/or air or other atmospheric agents.

Among the various solutions of reciprocal movement of the slats, for example with rotation, folding, or others, solutions are known in which there is a relative movement between two groups of slats, so as to assume at least a substantially side by side covering condition and at least a partially superimposed condition of passage of light and air.

This type of solutions advantageously provide cam guides on which correlated cam followers will slide and which are provided on the second group of slats, i.e., the one that will be higher than the floor, in a mounted condition.

In order to simplify the mounting operations of the second group of slats, these cam guides are advantageously open upwards, so that said second group can be rested with its cam followers on the relative cam guides, avoiding lateral slipping of the slats, screwing and/or other operations that, at height, may involve operational delays and risk for the operators.

However, this simplified solution may be deficient in the event that the second group of slats receives some stress from below, for example because of direct or indirect wind, i.e., due to an accidental impact or other unforeseen factors such as branches, leaves or other objects fallen by gravity on the cam guides.

It is clear that this type of situation can lead to an at least partial exit of the cam followers from the cam guides, with possible malfunctions or, worse, damages to the pergola, and consequent costs and times for intervention and repair.

Some known solutions of covering apparatus in which the movement of the covering elements is made by using cams are described in documents <CIT>, <CIT> and <CIT>.

There is therefore a need to keep the cam followers operatively coupled with the cam guides, even in the event of unforeseen factors acting on the second group of blades or, more generally, on the cam follower, cam guides system.

In particular, one purpose of the present invention is to realize a guide element capable, on the one hand, of allowing the normal simplified mounting of the cam followers in the cam guides and, on the other hand, of substantially preventing the cam followers from accidentally exiting from the cam guides themselves.

Another purpose of the present invention is to develop a guide element that is simple and economical to realize, and that does not modify the aesthetic impact of the covering apparatus.

The present invention is set forth and characterized in the independent claims <NUM> and <NUM>.

In accordance with the above purposes, a guide element according to the invention is applied to a covering apparatus of the type having at least an upper structure, provided with a plurality of covering elements, such as for example metal slats, which are reciprocally movable between them to define at least a covering operating condition, in which they substantially prevent the passage of light and/or air through the upper structure, and a plurality of opening conditions, in which they define desired direct or indirect passages of light and/or air.

Reciprocal movement means that each covering element assumes different positions with respect to the others, both individually and in groups, as well as that this element can remain stationary and the others move reciprocally with respect to it, in order to define the aforementioned opening conditions or the covering condition.

This movement is normally guided by at least one cam guide, advantageously open upwards, and by at least one sliding element, the latter associated to at least a part of the covering elements and sliding along the cam guide.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the guide element comprises at least one containing wall, which is operatively counterposed to the cam guide, with respect to the sliding element.

In this way, the sliding element is in an intermediate housing condition and contained between the cam guide, below, and the containing wall, above.

This housing condition, on the one hand, allows the sliding element to maintain a correct and effective travel along the cam guide and, at the same time, is contained above by the containing wall.

With the solution according to the present invention there is therefore a substantial prevention of the exit of the sliding element from the cam guide, particular in the conditions in which the covering element to which said sliding element is associated is accidentally stressed.

This advantage of the present invention allows to guarantee the effective cooperation between the sliding element and the cam guide, even in circumstances in which the covering element is bounced by the action of the wind, i.e., by an accidental impact or by other external factors.

In the same way, the containing wall, being counterposed to the cam guide, defines a protection for the guide itself, limiting to a minimum the possibility that leaves or other objects may settle by gravity on this guide, which may cause the sliding element to bounce, or even deviate.

Therefore, with the solution according to the present invention, the possible malfunctions due to the exit of the sliding element from the cam guide are substantially eliminated, consequently also reducing the times and the costs of maintenance and repair of the covering apparatus to which the present invention applies.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the containing wall has a longitudinal shaping coordinated to the shaping of the cam guide.

This advantageous solution allows to guarantee a substantial uniformity of containment intervention in case of accidental lifting and, at the same time, to limit to a minimum possible vibrations and noise that may occur.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, in which the cam guide comprises at least a first guide segment and a second guide segment contiguous and inclined with respect to the first guide segment, the containing wall has a longitudinal shaping coordinated both to the shaping of the first guide segment and to the shaping of the second guide segment.

In other words, the containing wall follows in a coordinated manner the course of the cam guide, so as to guarantee its effective containment action substantially in whatever position the sliding element is located and, therefore, substantially under any operating condition of reciprocal positioning of the covering elements.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, in which the cam guide is obtained on a guide profile, the guide element is provided with a support wall, which is inclined with respect to the containing wall, and with means for coupling with the cam guide, of the selectively removable type.

This aspect of the present invention allows, on the one hand, to selectively couple the guide element to the covering apparatus and, on the other hand, defines a structural impediment to the accidental exit of the sliding element from the cam guide, along a direction inclined with respect to the one managed by the containing wall.

These characteristics allow the sliding element to be contained in different directions, thus substantially preventing it from exiting from the cam guide, regardless of the type and of the direction of action of the accidental stress.

In addition, these features allow the guide element to be selectively removed and applied, for example during the steps of mounting the covering elements, in order to reduce the times and costs of intervention for mounting or replacing the covering elements, as well as to facilitate the same mounting operations for the benefit of the use and safety of operators.

Alternatively, or in association with this feature of selective removability, the containing wall may comprise at least a through aperture, which allows the insertion of the sliding element.

In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, a rest wall is provided, which is placed operatively side by side with the cam guide and substantially counterposed to the containing wall.

In this way, a sliding seating is defined between the containing wall, the support wall and the rest wall, i.e., according to variants only between two of the three walls, within which the sliding element at least partially slides.

In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, the coupling means comprise at least a coupling wall, selectively associable with the guide profile, and at least a coupling member provided at least partly on the coupling wall and at least partly on the guide profile.

In accordance with an advantageous embodiment variant of the present invention, the coupling member comprises at least a male interlocking element, provided on the coupling wall and at least a female interlocking element, provided on the guide profile.

According to some variants, this type of male-female coupling can be provided with a coupling system with screw and threaded hole, i.e., with bolt, or with dowel and slot, i.e., with elastic clips, as well as by shaped coupling between the coupling wall and the guide profile, i.e., other removable coupling solutions of substantially known type.

Reference will now be made in detail to the possible embodiments of the invention, of which one or more examples are illustrated in the accompanying figures by way of non-limiting example. The phraseology and terminology used herein is also for non-limiting exemplary purposes.

The attached figures refer to a covering apparatus and a guide element <NUM> applied to a covering apparatus, in this case, an outdoor pergola <NUM>.

By way of description only, the pergola <NUM> typically comprises four vertical uprights <NUM> conformed to maintain an upper frame <NUM> under a desired lifting condition, the latter substantially formed by four horizontal carriers <NUM>, possibly provided with relative gutters, not illustrated in the drawings.

Said frame <NUM> is conformed to support a plurality of covering slats <NUM> and <NUM>, arranged substantially parallel to each other, so as to occupy the internal space thereof.

In this case, the slats indicated with reference numeral <NUM> are fixed with respect to the upper frame <NUM>, while the slats indicated with reference numeral <NUM> are movable with respect to the slats <NUM>.

In particular, each slat <NUM> is attached longitudinally to the opposite carriers <NUM> of the frame <NUM>, while each slat <NUM> is attached longitudinally to opposite movement profiles <NUM> (only schematized in the figures), and which are associated sliding and substantially parallel with respect to the aforementioned carriers <NUM>.

The movement profiles <NUM> are connected to an actuator (not illustrated) that causes their selective movement in one direction or the other, with respect to the carriers <NUM> to which they are associated.

Furthermore, for each side of the structure <NUM> a guide profile <NUM>, attached substantially parallel to the corresponding carrier <NUM>, is provided.

At least one cam guide <NUM>, which comprises, in this case, a substantially V-shaped path defined by two first segments <NUM> with substantially linear course, and two second segments <NUM>, inclined downwards with respect to the first segments <NUM>, in continuity with each other, is obtained on one edge of said guide profile <NUM>.

The movement profile <NUM> is also associated with relative cam follower elements <NUM> which cooperate with the cam guides <NUM> to cause the reciprocal positioning between the slats <NUM> and <NUM> in the envisaged operating conditions.

In this case, by way of non-limiting example, each cam follower element <NUM> comprises a support and a wheel, which translates along the first <NUM> and second <NUM> segments of the corresponding cam guide <NUM>.

With particular reference to <FIG>, a guide element <NUM> according to the present invention generally comprises a containing wall <NUM>, a support wall <NUM>, a rest wall <NUM> and a coupling wall <NUM>.

Advantageously, the guide element <NUM> is made by moulding plastic material, but it is not excluded that it can be made of metallic material, both by plastic deformation and by chip removal, i.e., to provide that its walls <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> can be made individually and coupled together in an integral manner, for example by welding, i.e., removable, for example by screwing, interlocking or otherwise.

The containing wall <NUM> has a course correlated to the shaping of the cam guide <NUM>, as defined by the V-shaped combination of the first segments <NUM> and of the second segments <NUM>.

Operatively, the containing wall <NUM> is substantially counterposed to the cam guide <NUM>, with respect to the position of the cam follower element <NUM>, so as to contain, with a desired tolerance, any detachments of the latter from the cam guide <NUM> itself, particularly upwards.

The support wall <NUM> is obtained substantially orthogonal to the containing wall <NUM> and defines a substantial structural impediment to the accidental exit of the sliding element <NUM> from the cam guide <NUM>, along a lateral direction. Furthermore, the support wall <NUM> defines a connection between the containing wall <NUM> and the rest wall <NUM>.

In fact, the latter is obtained counterposed to the containing wall <NUM>, so as to be placed operatively side by side with the cam guide <NUM>.

This conformation connected between the containing wall <NUM>, the support wall <NUM> and the rest wall <NUM>, defines a sliding seating <NUM>, inside which at least an end element of the wheel of the cam follower element <NUM> slides.

Therefore, this configuration allows to keep the cam follower element <NUM> contained at least between the containing wall <NUM> and the support wall <NUM>, during the steps of travel of the cam guide <NUM> and, therefore, to guarantee a correct movement of the slats <NUM>, with respect to the slats <NUM>, regardless of external accidental actions such as wind, impacts or other.

The coupling wall <NUM> extends, in this case, below the rest wall <NUM> so as to offer its widest surface to the guide profile <NUM>. In fact, the coupling wall <NUM> is operatively in contact with the guide profile <NUM>.

Two coupling screws <NUM> are provided on the coupling wall <NUM>, which are screwed into two corresponding coupling holes <NUM>, the latter obtained in coordination on the guide profile <NUM>.

Therefore, by means of the coupling screws <NUM> screwed into the corresponding holes <NUM>, the coupling wall <NUM> is coupled to the guide profile <NUM> and then the guide element <NUM> to the pergola <NUM>, see for example <FIG>.

Clearly, the reverse operation is carried out by unscrewing the coupling screws <NUM>, that is, the guide element <NUM> is temporarily disengaged from the pergola <NUM>.

In the variant illustrated in <FIG>, it can be noted how the entire guide element <NUM> is elongated with respect to the solution described so far and illustrated so as to cover the entire operating travel "S" of the cam follower element <NUM>. In this solution, in fact, the covering wall <NUM>, the support wall <NUM>, and the rest wall <NUM>, cover the entire distance that can be travelled by the cam follower element <NUM>, guaranteeing its containment and the correct cooperation with the cam guide <NUM>, substantially under all possible operating conditions.

In this solution, an aperture <NUM> can be provided, by means of which an insertion from above of the cam follower element <NUM>, with relative movement profile <NUM> and covering slats <NUM>, is allowed or favoured.

With particular reference to the variant illustrated in <FIG>, in which between the two second guide segments <NUM>, it can be provided for a third guide segment <NUM>, the covering wall <NUM> is conformed with a shaping similar to the cam guide <NUM> defined by the three guide segments <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM>.

According to some variants, not illustrated in the attached figures, the covering wall <NUM> is conformed in coordination with the cam guide <NUM>, even under conditions in which the three guide segments <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM>, individually or in free combination with each other, have a curvilinear conformation (regular or irregular).

It is clear that modifications and/or additions of parts may be made to the covering apparatus <NUM> as described heretofore, without departing from the field and scope of the present invention, as defined by the claims.

Claim 1:
Covering apparatus (<NUM>) comprising at least one guide profile (<NUM>) on which at least one fixed cam guide (<NUM>) is obtained to which at least one sliding element (<NUM>) is slidably associated, and a guide element (<NUM>) distinct from said guide profile (<NUM>) and comprising at least one containing wall (<NUM>) operatively counterposed to said cam guide (<NUM>) with respect to said sliding element (<NUM>), characterized in that said guide element (<NUM>) comprises coupling means having at least one coupling wall (<NUM>), selectively associable with said guide profile (<NUM>), and said covering apparatus (<NUM>) comprises at least one coupling member (<NUM>, <NUM>) provided at least partly on said coupling wall (<NUM>) and at least partly on said guide profile (<NUM>).