The present invention relates to an orientable roofing element for canopies, pergolas, shelters and the like.

Outdoor structures intended to form areas protected against solar radiation and/or the weather normally comprise at least one supporting column for a set of substantially horizontal (or slightly inclined) beams along which the actual roof is provided.

The roof can be fixed or movable (i.e., able to be opened and/or removable).

If the roof is movable, constructive solutions are known which adopt elements that can slide along adapted guides (be they constituted by awnings of various shapes and sizes, flat panels, shutter-like elements and the like) and other constructive solutions provided with orientable elements (such as plates, laminae and/or tiles that are variously shaped).

In this second type, the orientable elements have a fixed position, along the beams that delimit the roof, and can be rotated exclusively with respect to this position (oriented) from a closed configuration, in which they are mutually coplanar and partially superimposed, creating a continuous roof, to an open configuration, in which they are mutually parallel and substantially perpendicular to the plane on which said roof lies.

In the closed configuration they prevent the passage of the rays of the sun (since the orientable elements are generally made of nontransparent material) and generally also the seepage of water (between one element and the contiguous one there is preferably a sealing gasket).

The shape of each orientable element is such as to form an optimum evacuation path for the water that flows on its outer surface in case of rain.

Elements of the known type can have a flat upper surface: this is to entrust the draining of the rainwater to the simple flow thereof along the plane formed by the superimposed and aligned upper surfaces: in this case, however, it is necessary to provide a good inclination of the plane on which the roof lies in order to ensure correct draining.

There are also contoured orientable elements that define lateral draining channels.

However, these constructive solutions do not allow efficient draining due to the impossibility of discharging the water with progressively increasing flow rates as the amount of rain that strikes said roof increases.

The shape of the orientable elements is such that generally it is not possible to ensure their exact linearity in the configuration for use (they can be deformed due to their own weight) and therefore the sealing gaskets, interposed between contiguous orientable elements, also might not perform their task effectively.

The aim of the present invention is to solve the problems described above, providing an orientable roofing element for canopies, pergolas, shelters and the like that ensures optimum draining of the rainwater that strikes the roof constituted by a plurality of said roofing elements, regardless of the amount of incident rainwater.

Within the scope of this aim, an object of the invention is to propose an orientable roofing element for canopies, pergolas, shelters and the like that ensures optimum tightness, which avoids the seepage of water, when coupled to an adjacent roofing element.

Another object of the invention is to propose an orientable roofing element for canopies, pergolas, shelters and the like that is scarcely subject to deformations and therefore has a high mechanical rigidity.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an orientable roofing element for canopies, pergolas, shelters and the like that has low costs, is relatively simple to provide in practice and is safe in application.

This aim, as well as these and other objects that will become more apparent hereinafter, are achieved by an orientable roofing element for canopies, pergolas, shelters and the like of the type comprising at least one column with which at least one beam is associated to which at least two roofing elements are coupled rotatably, forming, in a coplanar configuration, a continuous roof, characterized in that it is constituted by a profiled element that comprises a first surface, arranged downward in the assembly configuration, which is slightly concave in a transverse direction, and a second surface, arranged upward in the assembly configuration, that has a substantially flat part extending from a first longitudinal edge to the vicinity of the centerline with an end side thereof, at least one first inclined laminar portion, associated with the end side of said part, at least one second inclined laminar portion, which is consecutive to the first one and recessed with respect to it, at least one protruding lip that is consecutive to the second laminar portion and has the end edge that is substantially aligned with said substantially flat part, said at least one first portion, said at least one second portion and said at least one lip forming a channel for the collection and flow of rainwater.

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of the orientable roofing element for canopies, pergolas, shelters and the like according to the invention, illustrated by way of non- limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an orientable roofing element for canopies, pergolas, shelters and the like according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a partial enlarged-scale review of the roofing element of Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of an orientable roofing element for canopies, pergolas, shelters and the like according to the invention and of the corresponding closure and movement accessories;

Figure 4 is a front view of the roofing element of Figure 1 ;

Figure 5 is a partial schematic perspective view of a roof of an orientable roofing element for canopies, pergolas, shelters and the like constituted by a plurality of roofing elements according to the invention;

Figure 6 is a partial schematic front view of the roof of Figure 5.

With particular reference to the figures, the numeral 1 generally designates an orientable roofing element for canopies, pergolas, shelters and the like (generally designated by the reference letter A) and the like.

The outdoor structures A, such as canopies, pergolas, shelters and the like, with which it is possible to associate an orientable roofing element 1 according to the invention comprise preferably at least one column (generally two, if they are adjacent to the wall of a building, or four, if they are self-supporting), with which at least one beam (generally two lateral beams, a front one and a rear one, in the case of small and medium-sized structures) is associated; at least two roofing elements 1 are coupled rotatably to said beam and form, in a coplanar configuration, a continuous roof B.

Each roofing element 1 is constituted by a profiled element that comprises a first surface 2, arranged downward in the assembly configuration, which is slightly concave in a transverse direction.

The concavity of the surface 2 has the purpose of increasing the flexion rigidity of the roofing element 1 : the surface 2, being slightly curved in a transverse direction, in fact ensures an increase in rigidity (the roofing element 1 does not sag due to its own weight) and therefore preserves its correct linearity and shape.

The roofing element 1 is furthermore provided with a second surface 3, which is arranged upward in the assembly configuration and has a substantially flat part 4 that extends from a first longitudinal edge to the vicinity of the centerline, with an end side thereof

The surface 3 also comprises at least one first inclined laminar portion 6, which is associated with the end side 7 of the part 4, and at least one second inclined laminar portion 8, which is consecutive to the first portion 6 and recessed with respect to it. It is specified that there is also at least one protruding lip 9, which is consecutive to the second laminar portion 8 and whose end edge 10 is substantially aligned with the substantially flat part 4.

It is important to note that the at least one first portion 6, the at least one second portion 8 and the at least one lip 9 form a channel 1 1 for collecting and draining rainwater.

According to a specific constructive solution of unquestionable interest in application, the at least one first inclined portion 6 in turn comprises a first strongly inclined wall 12, which is consecutive to the substantially flat part 4, blended with a second slightly inclined wall 13.

With particular reference to constructive solutions of assured effectiveness, the at least one second inclined portion 8 in turn comprises a first strongly inclined face 14, which is consecutive to the at least one first portion 6, blended with a second slightly inclined face 15.

It is specified that within the scope of this constructive solution, the second wall 13 and the second face 15 are at different heights (in particular, the wall 13 is arranged at a higher level than the second face 15 and this prevents the stagnation of water on the second wall 13, optimizing the evacuation of the flow of rainwater).

The constructive solutions described above allow delimiting a channel 1 1 for the flow and collection of rainwater that is suitable for draining even minimal amounts of water in relation to the presence of slopes that will cause the rapid flow of said water toward the second face 15, in order to expel it laterally from one of the two end fronts of said roofing element 1.

In order to optimize the draining of the water collected in the channel 1 1, an angle with a breadth preferably comprised between 30° and 70° is delimited between the protruding lip 9 and the region of the second inclined portion 8 that is contiguous thereto (in particular between the lip 9 and the face 15 in the example given above). Experimental tests have found that optimum results for rapid draining can be achieved by adopting an angle with a breadth comprised between 45° and 55°.

This angle is arranged at the part at a lower level of the channel 1 1 , i.e., the part that will be subjected to the highest hydrostatic pressure upon the presence of water in said channel 1 1.

The fact that this angle is acute (with breadths in the order of those described) causes an evident acceleration of the flow of water that drains from the end fronts of the roofing element 1 upon increases in hydrostatic pressure; the consequence is a higher efficiency in the evacuation of the water that is present in the channel 1 1 , ensuring optimum operation of the outdoor structure A (canopy, pergola, shelter and the like) provided with the roofing elements 1 according to the invention.

Any increase in the level of water contained in the channel 1 1 therefore causes a consequent increase in the pressure in the lower part of said channel 1 1 (proximate to the angle described earlier), with consequent increase of the rate of water draining in a longitudinal direction with respect to said roofing element 1.

The fact that the lower surface 2 is concave in a transverse direction furthermore allows provision of a channel 1 1 in which the first and second walls 12 and 13 and the first and second faces 14 and 15 are all inclined in the same direction, with a progressive reduction of the height at which the bottom of said channel 1 1 is located as one moves toward the lip 9.

It should be noted that the lip 9 comprises, at its upper end edge 10, at least one seat 16, 17 for at least one sealing gasket 18, 19.

The upper end edge 10 of the lip 9 comprises a band 20 that is substantially parallel to the first substantially flat part 4 and is provided with a respective first seat 16 for a respective first sealing gasket 18, and a ridge 21 , which is directed toward the at least one second inclined portion 8 and is consecutive to the band 20 and provided with a respective second seat 17 for a respective second sealing gasket 19.

It should also be noted that the longitudinal edge 5 of the first substantially flat part 4 comprises a protruding laminar tab 22 that is inclined and directed downward in the assembly configuration.

When the roofing elements 1 are arranged in a mutually coplanar configuration in an outdoor structure A, an end crest 23 of the longitudinal edge 5 and the laminar tab 22 of a first roofing element 1 surmount the lip 9 of a contiguous roofing element 1 , abutting against the corresponding sealing gaskets 18 and 19.

The high rigidity of each roofing element 1 and the presence of two mutually substantially oblique gaskets 18 and 19 (which therefore operate in different directions on the contiguous roofing element 1) minimize (and substantially eliminate) the risks of the seepage of water between one roofing element 1 and the next.

It should be specified that in order to allow convenient and easy orientation of the roofing element 1 according to the invention said roofing element comprises a longitudinal internal cavity 24, which has a substantially polygonal cross-section (preferably a square one, with particular reference to the constructive solution shown in the accompanying figures), arranged at the centerline and integral with the internal face of the lower surface 2 and with the internal face of the first inclined portion 6.

The cavity 24 is designed to accommodate a respective pivot 25 that is shaped complementary to said cavity 24: the pivot 25 is functionally associated with a corresponding movement element (for example a gearmotor and/or a winch for manual actuation).

It is specified that the roofing element 1 comprises, integral with at least one internal surface thereof, at least one contoured protrusion 26 intended to accommodate at least one respective coupling means, such as a nail, a screw 27, a rivet and the like, for the association of a respective closure panel 28 with at least one front of the roofing element 1. The closure panel 28, in this case, will comprise a first opening 29, aligned with the longitudinal internal cavity 24, for accommodating the movement pivot 25, and a second opening 30, aligned with the angle delimited between the protruding lip 9 and the region that is adjacent thereto of the second inclined portion 8, for the outflow of the rainwater.

The second opening 30 in turn comprises a lower notch 31 for triggering a water evacuation flow: the notch 31 is particularly useful in case of a small accumulation of water within the compartment delimited between the protruding lip 9 and the region that is contiguous thereto of the second inclined portion 8; in this case, any thin film of water would in fact adhere to the surfaces without draining away if said notch 31 , which facilitates draining also by capillary action, were not present.

The pivot 25 is kept in the correct alignment with the roofing element 1 by means of respective bushes 32 associated with the outdoor structure A in which the roofing elements 1 are installed. Brackets 33 are provided which are intended to couple rigidly the pivots 25 of all the roofing elements 1 in order to be able to move them by means of a single common actuator.

It is specified that once the rain stops it is possible to utilize the particular shape of the roofing elements 1 according to the invention to eliminate stagnating water drops on the upper surface of the roof B.

By imposing a rotation of the roofing elements 1 that moves them into a configuration that is close to the vertical one, the stagnating water in fact flows into the part of the channel 11 that is delimited between the second face 15 and the lip 9: this V-shaped part behaves like a gutter intended to convey the water that is gathering thereat. In this case also, the converging shape of this part ensures an increase in the draining rate of the water upon an increase in the level thereof. The particular shape of the roofing element 1 furthermore prevents that, in this configuration which is proximate to the vertical one, dripping from it might occur, since the stagnating water is collected entirely within the V-shaped part described earlier.

Advantageously, the present invention solves the problems described above, proposing an orientable roofing element 1 for canopies, pergolas, shelters and the like (outdoor structures A) that ensures optimum draining of rainwater that affects the roof B, constituted by a plurality of said roofing elements 1 , regardless of the amount of incident rainwater. In particular, the shape of the channel 1 1 is even such as to cause an increase in the speed of the water flow being expelled when the pressure in said channel 1 1 increases (that is, when there is a large amount of water contained in said channel 1 1).

Conveniently, the orientable roofing element 1 ensures an optimum seal thanks to the presence of the two oblique gaskets 18 and 19, avoiding the seepage of water, when coupled to a contiguous roofing element 1.

Conveniently, the orientable roofing element 1 is scarcely subject to deformations and is therefore mechanically very rigid thanks to the concavity of its lower surface 2: this ensures that the gaskets 18 and 19 operate in an ideal manner with respect to the surfaces on which they abut.

The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the accompanying claims; all the details may furthermore be replaced with other technically equivalent elements.

In the examples of embodiment shown, individual characteristics, given in relation to specific examples, may actually be interchanged with other different characteristics that exist in other examples of embodiment.

In practice, the materials used, as well as the dimensions, may be any according to the requirements and the state of the art.

Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.