Field of the invention

The present invention is in the field of shading devices. More specifically, the invention relates to a multi-angled awning device that rolls against a building or other structure by which it is entirely supported and which provides two or more shading surfaces of different inclinations in a continuous action.

Background of the invention

Shading devices are widely used for climate control as well as for energy efficiency purposes. The fluctuating seasonal weather/lighting conditions led to a demand for shading devices that enable flexible use, such as retractable awnings, rollout awnings, and the like.

While many existing awning devices offer shading surfaces of predetermined inclination, such devices disregard incoming low-angled sunlight, thus, many people find themselves heated by direct sunlight while hiding under a shading device.

The market offers multiple rollout/retractable awning devices to handle both usage flexibility and low-angled sunlight issues. Some of the mentioned awning devices provide a single shading surface of variating inclination. However, when inclined to a steep angle for blocking low-angled sunlight, limited space remains under the shading device.

Some other retractable awning devices are offered with multiple foldable shading sections, using one or more shading layers (e.g., laminates) supported and fixed to supporting frames. Unfortunately, while these devices provide flexibility while blocking low-angled sunlight, the shading layers' recurring folding and a prolonged folded state during different dry/humid/rainy periods result in accelerated damage to the shading layer. Moreover, existing retractable awning devices can be manufactured in extremely limited dimensions because their supporting frames (which are usually made of aluminum) tend to collapse (e.g., due to forces applied to the shadings by weather conditions). Furthermore, existing retractable awning devices need to be retracted to a closed position to prevent damage due to winds and other extreme weather conditions.

Furthermore, many of the abovementioned awning devices comprise multiple moving parts that get clogged with dust, thus requiring frequent maintenance.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a rollout multi-angled awning device adapted to block low-angled sunlight.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a rollout multi-angled awning device that is capable of providing one or more shading surfaces while using a single shading layer, wherein the full extension and full retraction of said multi-angled awning device can be executed in a single continuous operation.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a rollout multi-angled awning device, which utilizes a single shading layer and a minimal number of moving elements.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a rollout multi-angled awning device that overcomes the size manufacturing limitation of existing awning devices.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a retractable awning device that is weather-resistant. Thus it may be used in extreme weather conditions (i.e., it does not have to be retracted due to winds and rain).

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds. Summary of the Invention

The invention relates to a multi-angled awning device, comprising: a shading layer rolled onto/from a roller tube, and supported by two or more extension frames, wherein said roller tube and at least one of said two or more extension frames are hinged to a base frame that is adapted to be connected to a desirable existing construction, wherein said two or more extension frames configured with relative geometric dimensions and rotation control with respect to the base frame, characterized with that the relative geometric dimensions between said two or more extension frames enable gradual deployment of the extension frames, thus forming one or more shading surfaces while using a single shading layer, wherein the full extension and full retraction of said multi-angled awning device can be executed in a single continuous operation, and wherein said one or more shading surfaces are initially formed through the rotation of said two or more extension frames with respect to the base frame, while further shading surfaces are formed through the rotation of said two or more extension frames with respect to each other.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the two or more extension frames comprise one leading frame and one following frame, wherein a first shading surface is formed to an extent and inclination determined by the rotation of both extension frames with respect to the base frame, and a second shading surface is formed to an extent and inclination determined by the rotation of said leading frame with respect to said following frame.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the leading frame is longer than the following frame.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the leading frame is narrower than the following frame.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the rotation of the following frame with respect to said base frame is limited by limiting means, such as wires. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the base frame is a solid element comprising upper hinges for supporting a roller tube on which the shading layer is rolled and lower hinges to which the two or more extension frames are connected.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the upper hinges and the lower hinges are separately connected to a desirable construction.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the two or more extension frames are concentrically hinged to the base frame.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, at least one of the two or more extension frames is hinged to the base frame, and at least one of said two or more extension frames is hinged to another extension frame of said two or more extension frames.

Brief Description of the Drawings

- Fig. 1 schematically illustrates a rollout multi-angled awning device, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

- Fig. 2 schematically illustrates the device of Fig. 1 in a retracted state, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

- Figs. 3A-3B schematically illustrate the device of Fig. 1 in an initial extended state, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

- Fig. 4 schematically illustrates the device of Fig. 1 in a further extended state forming two shading surfaces, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

- Fig. 5 schematically illustrates the device of Fig. 1 in a fully extended state forming a first inclined shading surface and a second vertical shading surface, according to an embodiment of the present invention; and - Fig. 6 schematically illustrates an example of an alternative configuration of the multi-angled awning device installed on a wall, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

A detailed description of the Invention

The present invention relates to a rollout multi-angled awning device, which can also be referred to as a "multi-angled awning device" or simply an "awning device" along the description for the sake of brevity. The awning device, according to an embodiment of the invention, comprises a single shading layer rolled onto/from a roller tube that is located at a base frame and supported by integrated extension frames configured with relative geometric dimensions and rotation control that enable a gradual deployment of the extension frames to provide one or more desirably inclined shading surfaces, wherein the extension/retraction of the proposed device to multiple desirable shading states is executed in a single continuous operation. For example, one shading surface may form an upper covering (e.g., a roof), while the other shading surface may form a vertical screen (e.g., a curtain or a wall). Thus, the awning device of the present invention enables to obtain two or more different planes in a single continuous action (e.g., essentially horizontal and vertical planes).

When fully extended, the proposed device provides multi-angled shading, thereby desirably blocking low-angled sunlight, and when fully retracted, it occupies minimal space while keeping the shading layer protected from dirt and weather conditions.

Another phrase that will be used along the description is the "shading layer" of an awning device, which describes a flexible and rollable sheet that can be composed of canvas woven of acrylic, cotton or polyester yarn, vinyl laminated to polyester fabric, or any other material(s) suitable to be used for shading proposes. For example, for an outdoor fabric shade solution to create a cover where protection from the sun is needed, or to provide some privacy and to reduce wind. In the following detailed description, references are made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof and which are shown by way of illustrating specific embodiments or examples. These embodiments may be combined, other embodiments may be utilized, and other changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention.

Fig. 1 schematically illustrates a rollout multi-angled awning device 100, according to an embodiment of the present invention. Device 100 comprises a shading layer 110 that forms two shading surfaces 110a and 110b of different inclinations, a base frame 120 through which device 100 can be connected to a desirable existing construction (e.g., a wall, a window frame, etc.), and two extension frames - a leading frame 130 to which the distal end of the shading layer 110 is attached, and a following frame 140, which is configured to supports shading layer 110 in a desirable deflection position, thus to form surfaces 110a and 110b of different inclinations— for example, creating a surface that serves as a top cover and another surface that serves as a screen or wall in a single roll-out action.

Base frame 120 comprises upper hinges 121 for supporting a roller tube 122, from/onto which shading layer 110 is rolled, and lower hinges 123 to which leading frame 130 and following frame 140 are concentrically connected, wherein the rotation of leading frame 130 (with respect to hinges 123) is limited by the extent to which shading layer 110 is extended from roller tube 122, while the rotation of the following frame 140 is limited by means such as wires 150 (one of which is shown in Fig. 1) connected (e.g., by shackles 151) between base frame 120 and following frame 140 in a desirable geometry (e.g., shackles 151 of wires 150 can be connected to different anchoring holes 152 of base frame 120 and following frame 140, or wires 150 of different lengths can be employed), thus enabling multiple different spans and inclinations of the first shading surface 110a.

Base frame 120 is illustrated in Fig.l as a single solid element that comprises upper hinges 121 and lower hinges 123 (i.e., the hinges 121, 123 integrated with base frame 120). According to some embodiments of the invention, the upper hinges 121 and the lower hinges 123 can be provided as separate elements (i.e., non-integrated with base frame 120). In such embodiments, the hinges 121, 123 can be mounted or connected to a desirable construction or to base frame 120, thus providing installation flexibility. Furthermore, multiple different types of hinges 121 and hinges 123, attachments 121a and 123a thereof, as well as connection means of device 100 to existing structures, can be selected by one skilled in the art for specific applications of device 100. Moreover, device 100 can be provided with additional connection holes 153, enabling installation adjustments and additional modular configurations of device 100 (also illustrated in Fig. 6).

Fig. 2 schematically illustrates device 100 in a fully retracted state (i.e., a folded position), according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which shading layer 110 is almost entirely rolled on roller tube 122, extension frames 130 and 140 are stored nearly vertical, thus consuming minimal space (i.e., also highly useful in applications of device 100, in which device 100 is pre-assembled and then transported to be installed).

Such configuration enables convenient packaging and transport of device 100 from its manufacturing site to the desired installation location.

Figs. 3A-3B schematically illustrate device 100 in an initial extended state, according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which roller tube 122 is rotated, thus a portion of shading layer 110 is extended between roller tube 122 and cylinder 131 (both shown in Fig. 3B) of leading frame 130 forming shading surface 110a, span and inclination of which is determined by the rotation of extension frames 130 and 140 with respect to the base frame 120.

For this extent of shading by single shading surface, following frame 140 is carried leaning over leading frame 130 and wires 150 are loosened. This is enabled by the respective geometric dimensions of extension frames 130 and 140, essentially comprising two side arms and a horizontal cylinder, wherein leading frame 130 is longer and narrower than following frame 140, i.e., side arms 132 are longer than side arms 142 while cylinder 141 is wider than cylinder 131. Therefore, in this extension state of device 100, the span and inclination of shading surface 110a are determined by the rotation of extension frames 130 and 140 with respect to the base frame 120.

According to an embodiment of the invention, while the geometric dimensions of extension frames 130 and 140 affect the extension of device 100 (i.e., span and inclination of shading surfaces 110a and 110b, as further illustrated in Fig. 4), it also affects its operation, for example, device 100 can be provided with side arms 132 and 142 having a larger and heavier distal end (i.e., near to cylinders 131 and 141 correspondingly), thus shifting their center of gravity away from hinges 123 and providing an easier extension of device 100. For example, the side arms may have a conic-like form, in which the wider end of the conic-like form is located at the distal end of each side arm (i.e., thereby setting the center of gravity away from the hinges of the base frame).

It can be understood that further rotation of roller tube 122 results in the additional portion of shading layer 110 extended, thus further rotation of leading frame 130 and following frame 140 with respect to base-frame 120 to an extent where wires 150 limits further rotation of following frame 140. From that position, further extension of shading layer 110, and hence, the gradual lowering of cylinder 131 with respect to cylinder 141, results in a smooth transition of shading surface 110a to be supported by cylinder 141 and in the formation of a second shading surface of shading layer 110 as will be illustrated in Fig. 4.

Fig. 4 schematically illustrates device 100 in a further extended state forming two shading surfaces, according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which roller tube 122 is further rotated to roll off a further portion of shading layer 110, thus leading frame 130 is further rotated with respect to following frame 140, while the rotation of following frame 140 is limited by wires 150. Cylinder 131 is lowered with respect to cylinder 141, thus, shading surface 110a is supported between roller tube 122 and cylinder 141 of following frame 140. A second shading surface 110b is formed between cylinder 141 and cylinder 131, providing protection from lowangled sunlight.

Therefore, in this extension state of device 100, the span and inclination of shading surface 110a is determined by the maximal rotation of following frame 140 with respect to base frame 120 (i.e., limited by the length of wires 150 and location of its anchoring point 152 thereof to base frame 120 and to following frame 140), while the span and inclination of shading surface 110b is determined by the rotation of leading frame 130 with respect to following frame 140.

Fig. 5 schematically illustrates device 100 in a fully extended state, forming a first inclined shading surface and a second vertical shading surface, according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which roller tube 122 is further rotated to roll off a further portion of shading layer 110, thus leading frame 130 is further rotated with respect to following frame 140 thereby further deflecting shading surface 110b to a vertical position, providing protection from low-angled sunlight.

Fig. 6 schematically illustrates an example of an alternative configuration of a rollout multi-angled awning device 700 installed on a wall 200, according to an embodiment of the present invention. Rollout multi-angled awning device 700 comprises a following frame 140 that is connected to hinges 123 (similarly to device 100), and a leading frame 730 is shorter than the leading frame 130 of device 100, thus lighter and smaller space consuming than frame 130.

Leading frame 730 is rotatably connected to desirable connection holes 153 along the following frame 140 correspondingly to its selected length, keeping relative geometric dimensions and rotation axes of extension frames 730 and 140 such as to provide a similar operation as device 100. In a similar manner to device 100, the span and inclination of shading surface 110a is determined by the maximal rotation of following frame 140 with respect to base frame 120 (i.e., limited by the length of wires 150 and location of its anchoring point 152 thereof to base frame 120 and to following frame 140), while the span and inclination of shading surface 110b is determined by the rotation of leading frame 730 with respect to following frame 140.

As will be appreciated by the skilled person, the arrangement described in the figures results in a rollout multi-angled awning device that can provide one or more shading surfaces while using a single shading layer. Moreover, the full extension and full retraction of the multi-angled awning device can be executed in a single continuous operation. In addition, the awning device results in a fabric (or other material) projection that provides weather protection, privacy, or decoration and is wholly supported by the structure (e.g., a balcony or other part of a building) to which it is attached. Depending on the structure on which the awning device is installed, in addition to the two or more shading surfaces, the shaded space may remain vented, as no shading is provided from the sides.

While the abovementioned illustrations of device 100 relating to a specific embodiment, these illustrations also disclose the plurality of possible configurations of the proposed device for providing multiple different shading areas, angles, installation height, etc. applicable for specific structures, weather conditions, and external restraints, where a person skilled in the art will readily appreciate alternative designs in which device 100 may be realized, such as, without departing from the principals claimed by the present invention and without exceeding the scope of the claims. For example, the proposed device may be extended and retracted by either manual or motorized means known in the art.