Technical Field

The present invention refers to an unwinding and/or winding device, particularly for awnings and the like.

Background Art

Known awnings, particularly for areas in an outdoor environment, generally consist of a crosspiece supported by two side poles from which two triangular covers extend, in opposite directions to each other, and the opposite vertices of which are fixed to two additional poles positioned opposite to each other with respect to the aforementioned crosspiece.

With this arrangement, the two triangular sheets define a single quadrilateral-shaped awning with the crosspiece lying along a diagonal of the awning itself.

In order to allow the awning, i.e. the two covering sheets, to be retracted, the state of the art is to use a special winding device that makes it possible to roll the two triangular sheets around a single shaft housed inside such crosspiece.

More precisely, such shaft is rotatably housed inside such crosspiece and the two triangular sheets are fixed to such shaft, at the two sides of the triangles facing each other, at two longitudinal grooves cut into the shaft on opposite sides.

In this way, starting from a configuration with the two sheets completely rolled up on such , shaft, by simultaneously pulling the two aforementioned opposite vertices, the shaft is made to rotate and the unrolling (deployment) of the entire awning is achieved.

Such rotation typically takes place in opposition to the action of elastic means which operate to induce a rotation of the shaft, to which the two triangular sheets are fixed, opposite to the unrolling rotation so as to bring about the automatic retraction (rewinding) of the two triangular sheets inside the crosspiece.

The tensioning operation takes place through the pulling action of the two vertices of the awning when the latter is completely deployed (the two triangles are joined at their hypotenuses).

The unrolling of the two triangular sheets from the shaft on which they are rolled up may take place manually or by means of automatic unwinding and/or winding devices acting on the two opposite vertices of the two triangular sheets.

More precisely, unwinding and/or winding devices are known, consisting of an electric motor that can be fixed to the pole, at the vertex of the triangular sheet to be moved, driving a reel around which a cable is wound, such cable being connected directly to the vertex of the triangular sheet to be moved.

In this way, by simultaneously winding the two cables connected to the two vertices of the two triangular sheets around the respective reels, the unrolling of the awning is achieved.

Vice-versa, by making the electric motors turn in the opposite direction, under the effect of the elastic returning action of the shaft housed in the crosspiece described previously, the retraction of the two triangular sheets into the crosspiece is achieved.

Because of the action of the wind to which the two triangular sheets are subject and because of their weight, it is necessary to guide the cables, responsible for pulling the vertices of the two triangular sheets, during their winding around the two reels, since, without appropriate measures, such windings would take place in an irregular manner with the formation of overlaid coils of cable which could give rise to malfunctions of the system.

To prevent such an eventuality, a known technique is to fit each of the two external surfaces of the two reels with an "endless" type threading in such a way as to make the two cables roll up in coils lodged in the hollows created between one crest and the next of the two threads. Such known unwinding and/or winding devices are not without drawbacks, among which it is to be noted that, following major displacements of the two triangular sheets owing to external factors such as, for example, owing to the action of the wind, and in order to prevent the coils of cable in formation from popping out, which would thus cause the formation of overlaid coils of cable, the threads of the two reels must have sufficient depth, resulting in large radial dimensions of the reels.

Such a drawback is also due to the fact that the reels must wind a length of cable of the order of a few metres and they cannot have an excessively high axial extension because there would then be an excessively high number of coils which would increase the risk of irregular windings.

Consequently, such reels present very large diameters, of the order of fifteen centimetres, which implies the use of electric motors that are sufficiently powerful, and therefore bulky and expensive, to overcome the resistant torque from pulling the cable and from the excessive lever arm on which it operates, i.e. frpm the radius of the reel.

This dimensioning results in having unwinding and/or winding devices of the known type that are very bulky and unaesthetic, as well as expensive.

A further drawback of known unwinding and/or winding devices is that they do not allow immediate rewinding of the two triangular sheets inside the crosspiece in emergency situations such as, for example, in the event of bad weather or in the absence of electricity.

Indeed, in the event of sudden storms, such as summer storms during which strong gusts of wind occur, a possible power failure, for example owing to the storm itself, would make it impossible to close the awning, leaving it to the mercy of the wind, with the risk that the awning could be damaged or even that it could be swept away by the force of the wind owing to the sail effect of the awning in its open configuration.

More precisely, to prevent such a drawback, some known unwinding and/or winding devices are fitted with a mechanical system, consisting of a crank associable with the drive shaft of each electric motor, in such a way as to allow a forced rotation of the electric motors with consequent rewinding of the two triangular sheets.

This manoeuvre, in addition to entailing discomfort for the user owing to the physical effort required to overcome the resistance of the electric motors, is usually excessively slow, to the point where the user would not succeed in rapidly closing the awning before the action of the wind has damaged the awning itself and/or its components in some way.

A further drawback of known unwinding and/or winding devices is that they are generally not protected from the elements and, therefore, their useful life is drastically reduced as their exposure to the elements increases. Disclosure of the Invention

The aim of the present invention is to devise an unwinding and/or winding device of reduced dimensions that allows easy and regular winding and unwinding of the triangular sheets of awnings and the like.

Within this aim, an object of the present invention is to devise an unwinding and/or winding device that is simple to make, simple to use, and has low costs.

A further object of the present invention is to devise an unwinding and/or winding device that allows immediate rewinding of the sheet with which it is associated, in emergency situations and even in the absence of electricity.

A further object of the present invention is to devise an unwinding and/or winding device that is sufficiently protected from the elements in order to limit the onset of breakages owing to excessive wear of the parts.

This aim, as well as these and other objects which will become better apparent hereinafter, are achieved by an unwinding and/or winding device, particularly for awnings and the like, comprising a rotating shaft rotatably coupled to a supporting element for the rotation of said rotating shaft about its longitudinal axis, a flexible element being provided as well, a portion of which is associable with a covering sheet to be tensioned and fixed, at one of its ends, to said rotating shaft for the unwinding or winding of said flexible element, respectively, from or onto said rotating shaft, characterised in that it comprises a slider that moves with respect to said supporting element in parallel with said longitudinal axis and kinematically associated with said rotating shaft by means of motion conversion means for converting the rotary motion of said rotating shaft into a translational motion of said slider, during its unwinding or its winding, respectively, from or onto said rotating shaft, said flexible element being guided by said slider.

Brief description of the drawings

Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become better apparent from the detailed description that follows of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of an unwinding and/or winding device, particularly for awnings and the like, according to the invention, illustrated by way of a non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an awning in its closed configuration with two unwinding and/or winding devices applied, according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the awning shown in Figure 1 in its open configuration;

Figure 3 is a front elevation view of the unwinding and/or winding device, particularly for awnings and the like, according to the invention, with the slider located in a first position corresponding to the closed configuration of the awning shown in Figure 1 ;

Figure 4 is a front elevation view of the unwinding and/or winding device, particularly for awnings and the like, according to the invention, with the slider located in a second position corresponding to the open configuration of the awning shown in Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along the line V-V of the unwinding and/or winding device shown in Figure 4;

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail of the unwinding and/or winding device shown in Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken along the line VII- VII of the unwinding and/or winding device shown in Figure 3;

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken along the line VIII- VIII of the unwinding and/or winding device shown in Figure 4;

Figure 9 is a sectional view of a further embodiment of the unwinding and/or winding device shown in Figure 5;

Figure 10 is a sectional view of the embodiment of the unwinding and/or winding device shown in Figure 9 during a phase of emergency closing of the awning.

Ways of carrying out the Invention

With reference to the figures, an unwinding and/or winding device, particularly for awnings and the like, generally designated by the reference numeral 1 , is applicable to an awning 2, particularly for outdoor areas.

More precisely, the awning 2 is generally composed of a substantially horizontal main crosspiece 3 which is substantially circular in cross-section, rotatably supported by a first pair of vertical poles 4 and 5, on which two covering sheets 6 and 7, both substantially triangular in shape, can be wound.

The main crosspiece 3 has two longitudinal and diametrically opposite grooves, in one of which the sheet is fixed which consists of the union along the hypotenuse of the two triangular covering sheets 6 and 7 at their two hypotenuses 9 and 10.

In this way, by turning the main crosspiece 3 around its longitudinal axis 8 it is possible, depending on the direction of rotation applied to the main crosspiece 3, to bring about the unwinding or winding of the two triangular covering sheets 6 and 7 on the main crosspiece 3.

In more detail, beginning from a closed configuration of the awning 2, i.e. a configuration in which the two covering sheets 6 and 7 are completely wound around the main crosspiece 3, the two covering sheets 6 and 7 are pulled by their ^' vertices 1 1 and 12, respectively opposite to the two hypotenuses 9 and 10, in such a way as to unroll from the main crosspiece 3 consequently causing the rotation of the main crosspiece 3 around its longitudinal axis 8 in opposition to return elastic means, not shown.

As will become more apparent hereinafter, the function of the return elastic means is to tighten the two covering sheets 6 and 7 during their unwinding and to make them roll around the main crosspiece 3 if the pull exercised on the vertices 11 and 12 should fail.

The assembly formed by the main crosspiece 3, by the first pair of vertical poles 4 and 5, by the two covering sheets 6 and 7 and by the return elastic means associated with the main crosspiece 3, is in itself known, and therefore will not be described further.

The awning 2 as a whole comprises a second pair of vertical poles 13 and 14 located opposite to each other with respect to the main crosspiece 3 in such a way as to define, if seen in plan view, together with the first pair of vertical poles 4 and 5, a quadrilateral on which the main crosspiece 3 lies along one of the two diagonals.

With particular reference to Figures from 3 to 10, to each vertical pole 13 and 14 a device 1 can be fixed that is operatively connected to a respective covering sheet 6 or 7, at its vertex 1 1 or 12, in such a way as to provide the pull necessary for the unwinding of the two covering sheets 6 and 7 from the main crosspiece 3.

More precisely, each device 1 comprises a rotating shaft 15 rotatably coupled to a supporting element 16, jointly connected to the respective vertical pole 13 or 14, for the rotation of the rotating shaft 15 about its longitudinal axis 17.

In the embodiment shown in the figures, the supporting element 16 consists of a tubular body that can be coaxially fixed to the respective vertical pole 13 or 14 at its upper end, at the end opposite to the support base 18 of the same vertical pole 13 or 14, and the rotating shaft 15 is also coaxial with the respective vertical pole 13 or 14.

Inside the supporting element 16, drive means 19 operatively connected to the rotating shaft 15 for its rotation about its longitudinal axis 17 are housed, at least in part.

More precisely, the drive means 19 comprise a motor of the electric type whose stator is jointly connected to the supporting element 16 and, in rotation, of the rotating shaft 15 in such a way that the axis of rotation of the rotor is substantially coaxial with the rotating shaft 15.

In addition, the device 1 comprises a flexible element 20, consisting for example of a cord, rope or nautical line (the possible use of a steel cable is not excluded), a portion 21 of which is associable with the respective covering sheet 6 or 7 to be tightened and fixed, at a first one of its ends 22 and by means of a stop 38, to the rotating shaft 15 for the unwinding or winding of the same flexible element 20, respectively, off or onto the rotating shaft 15 following rotations of the rotating shaft 15 about its longitudinal axis

17 applied by the drive means 19.

Advantageously, an endless screw 23 is fitted on the rotating shaft 15, hence firmly connected, in rotation, to the rotating shaft 15, and supported at its two ends by a pair of bearings 24 and 25 firmly connected, in translation, respectively to the supporting element 16 and to a covering element 26 described hereinafter.

In this way, the flexible element 20 winds or unwinds, respectively, in or from coils lodged in the hollows defined between one crest and the next of the threaded profile of the endless screw 23, which is defined on the rotating shaft 15.

The covering element 26 consists of a tubular body fitted with play at least on the rotating shaft 15 and fitted for mechanical interference, with the aid of a tab 27, on the supporting element 16 such that it is jointly connected to the supporting element 16. The same covering element 26 houses the drive means 19 within it, at least in part.

According to the invention, the device 1 comprises a slider 28 that moves with respect to the supporting element 16 in parallel with the longitudinal axis 17 and is kinematically associated with the rotating shaft 15 by means of motion conversion means 29 for converting the rotary motion of the rotating shaft 15 into a translational motion of the slider 28.

More precisely, the slider 28 defines a cable tray 30 such as to guide the flexible element 20 during its unwinding or its winding, respectively, off or onto the rotating shaft 15.

Advantageously, the motion conversion means 29 comprise at least one ferrule or a half-ferrule 31 that is jointly connected, in translation, to the slider 28 and the same endless screw 23 which is firmly connected, in rotation, to the rotating shaft 15.

More precisely, a portion of the covering element 26, located at the rotating shaft 15, defines a slit 32 extending substantially in parallel with the longitudinal axis 17 for the guided sliding of the slider 28 with respect to the covering element 26.

In this way, rotations of the rotating shaft 15 with respect to the supporting element 16, i.e. with respect to the covering element 26, entail translations of the slider 28 along the slit 32.

In addition, the flexible element 20 passes through the slit 32 allowing its unwinding or winding, respectively, from or onto the endless screw 23.

With particular reference to the Figures from 1 to 8, the portion 21 of the flexible element 20 can be directly fixed to the vertex 1 1 or 12 of the respective covering sheet 6 or 7.

In this way, the unwinding or winding of the flexible element 20, respectively, from or onto the rotating shaft 15 is followed, respectively, by the rolling or the unrolling of the respective covering sheet 6 or 7 onto or from the main crosspiece 3. With particular reference to Figures 9 and 10, in a further embodiment of the device 1 , in order to reduce by half the pull that would result if the flexible element 20 were directly fixed to the vertex 1 1 or 12 of the respective covering sheet 6 or 7, i.e. in order to lower the torque required for the drive means 19 in order to consequently decrease the radial dimensions, there is a system of return pulleys.

Advantageously, there is a first return pulley 33 rotatably associated with a flap of the respective covering sheet 6 or 7.

More precisely, the first pulley 33 is fixed to a cable 37 fixed, in turn, to the vertex 1 1 or 12 of the respective covering sheet 6 or 7, on which the flexible element 20 is partly wound.

The flexible element 20 is partly wound around the first return pulley 33, at the portion 21 and it has a second end 34, opposite to the first end 22, associated with the rotating shaft 15, which can be removably fixed to a fastener 35 associated, in turn, with either the supporting element 6 or the covering element 26.

In addition, such kinematism, as will be better described hereinafter, is particularly advantageous for the automatic rewinding of the respective covering sheet 6 or 7.

For preventing the formation of dangerous eyelets defined by the flexible element 20 with the supporting element 16, there is a second return pulley 36 rotatably associated with either the supporting element 16 or the covering element 26.

The second return pulley 36 is located between the slit 32 and the fastener 35 with the flexible element 20 partly wound around it.

The operation of the unwinding and/or winding device 1, particularly for awnings and the like, is as follows.

Starting from the closed configuration of the awning 2 and simultaneously operating both drive means 19, for each device 1 the respective rotating shaft 15 is made to rotate around its longitudinal axis 17. The rotation applied to the endless screw 23, fitted on the rotating shaft 15, causes the slider 28 to move along the slit 32.

Initially, the slider 28 is positioned in its upper limit position and, because of the coupling between the endless screw 23 and the ferrule 31, which is firmly connected, in translation, to the slider 28, makes the slider 28 move downwards.

During this translation the flexible element 20, which is guided by the same slider 28 across the cable tray 30, is wound in coils around the rotating shaft 15 in the hollows of the endless screw 23 defined between one crest and the next of the thread of the same endless screw 23.

With particular reference to Figures from 1 to 8, this winding tightens the part of the flexible element 20 that is not wound around the endless screw 23, by pulling the portion 21, which is directly fixed to the vertex 1 1 or 12 of the respective covering sheet 6 or 7, so as to overcome the resistance to rotation of the main crosspiece 3 applied by the return elastic means associated with it, with consequent unrolling of the respective covering sheet 6 or 7 from the main crosspiece 3.

With particular reference to Figures 9 and 10, similarly, this winding tightens the part of the flexible element 20 that is not wound around the endless screw 23, by pulling the portion 21, associated with the system of return pulleys 33 and 36, so as to apply a pull to the first return pulley 33 which is directly fixed to the cable 37 fixed, in turn, to the vertex 1 1 or 12 of the respective covering sheet 6 or 7.

This pull is such as to overcome the resistance to rotation of the main crosspiece 3 applied by the return elastic means associated with it, allowing the unrolling of the respective covering sheet 6 or 7 from the main crosspiece 3.

Irrespectively of the presence of the system of return pulleys 33 and 36, the rotation of each rotating shaft 15 continues until the user locks the system and, at the most, until the complete unrolling of the covering sheets 6 and 7 from the main crosspiece 3.

The rolling-up phase of the covering sheets 6 and 7 on the main crosspiece 3 takes place by inverting the direction of rotation of the drive means 19, i.e. by making the rotating shafts 15 turn in the direction opposite to the one described previously.

Such counter-rotation leads to a release of the flexible elements 20, unwinding them from the respective endless screws 23, because they are connected to the covering sheets 6 and 7 which are pulled by the elastic action applied by the return elastic means associated with the main crosspiece 3.

With particular reference to Figures 9 and 10, with the awning 2 in its open configuration, if it is necessary to close it rapidly, for example in the event of bad weather, and if the drive means 19 cannot be used, for example owing to a lack of electricity, it is possible, by disengaging the second ends 34 of the two flexible elements 20 from the respective fasteners 35, to disengage the cables 37 connected to the respective first return pulleys 33 from the devices 1 allowing the immediate rolling up of the two covering sheets 6 and 7 on the main crosspiece 3.

Once the emergency has passed, the entire system can be restored by unwinding the flexible elements 20 from the respective endless screws 23, by operating the drive means 19, and manually restoring, for each device 1 , the kinematic connection and the link previously interrupted, respectively, between the pulleys 33 and 36 with the flexible element 20 and the second end 34 of the flexible element 20 with the fasteners 35.

In practice it has been observed that the unwinding and/or winding device, particularly for awnings and the like, according to the present invention, fully achieves the intended aim and objects, because it allows both the reel consisting of the flexible element and the drive means associated with it to be encapsulated inside the vertical pole because both are of reduced maximum diameters compared to those of the state of the art. This encapsulation allows an aesthetically pleasing product to be produced while ensuring, at the same time, the possibility of easy and regular winding and unwinding of the flexible element on the special rotating shafts, without the action of external agents such as, for example, the wind being able in any way to intervene by damaging the device or the awning in its entirety in any way.

A further advantage of the unwinding and/or winding device, particularly for awnings and the like, according to the present invention, consists in that the various components subject to possible damage over time are protected by suitable covering elements in such a way as to be protected from atmospheric agents, as well as from any external object that could damage them, so as to prolong their useful life.

A further advantage of the unwinding and/or winding device, particularly for awnings and the like, according to the present invention, is that it allows immediate closure of the awning even in the absence of electricity without entailing discomfort for the user owing to manual actuation of the various kinematic systems present.

A further advantage of the unwinding and/or winding device, particularly for awnings and the like, according to the present invention, consists in being structurally simple, easy to produce and with low cost.

The unwinding and/or winding device, particularly for awnings and the like, thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims.

In addition, all the details may be replaced by other technically equivalent elements.

In practice the materials employed, provided they are compatible with the specific use, as well as the dimensions and the contingent shapes, may be any according to requirements and to 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.