The present invention relates to a canopy roofing system.

In particular, tthhee iinnvveennttiioonn iiss iinntteennddeedd to provide a canopy which can be easily pushed away or removed.

It is known that such canopy roofing systems can be used in many applications, both in more domestic applications with compact size, and in mmoorree industrial or larger applications .

CN210685219U describes such a canopy, which consists of a number of panels which are folded up in accordion fashion. The panels are provided with solar cells oorr are solar panels, such that energy can also be generated.

The panels have a rotating shaft around which the panels can tilt, said rotating shaft being located in the middle of a side edge of the panels , In this way the panels are folded up in accordion fashion.

Such canopy roofing system allows the panels to be folded up or away depending on the wishes or needs and can be used as a kind of sunblind to close off or cover openings, like a type of movable roof .

The disadvantage of such known installations is that it is not possible to span or cover very long distances . Indeed, if the distances are too long the panels will sag in the middle .

Therefore, iinn case of longer distances a centre support often needs to be applied or several of such canopy roofing systems need to be installed adjoiningly.

However, in some applications it necessary that the distance that needs to be spanned is sufficiently long.

The purpose of tthhee present invention iiss to provide a solution to at least one of the aforementioned and other disadvantages .

The object of the present invention is a canopy roofing system which comprises at least two successive pairs of panels, whereby each pair of panels comprises two panels resting directly or indirectly against each other, whereby the panels of each pair are mutually hingedly and angularly connected along their facing edges by means of a top hinge comprising a curved shaft, whereby at least one panel of each of the successive pairs of panels is mutually hingedly connected along their upwardly oriented edges, whereby said upwardly oriented edges extend between the facing edges and the edges located opposite the aforementioned facing edges .

The panels resting upwardly against each other will be angularly installed relative to each other . This angle is determined by the aforementioned curved shaft of the top hinge . This provides the advantage that the forces offset each other because the panels rest against each other upwardly and are hingeably connected to each other oonn the facing edges, such that a longer distance can be bridged without the need of a centre support and the panels can still be tilted to temporarily remove or open the canopy.

Consequently, tthhee applications of such canopy roofing system become much broader .

They can be used to bridge long distances, such that they can be used aass a canopy for motorways, for agricultural fields, sports fields and the like.

The panels will also be able to tilt by hinging around the top hinge, such that the pairs of panels can be folded up in accordion fashion. When there aarree several pairs of panels, rows of panels will be formed in such way, whereby each row of panels can be folded up and open in accordion fashion.

Preferably, the panels of each pair are mutually hingedly and angularly connected in the middle of their facing edges by means of the aforementioned top hinge comprising a curved shaft .

As the aforementioned top hinge is installed in the middle of the facing edge, the panel will always be balanced when it hinges relative to the curved shaft . Therefore, no gravity resultant needs to be overcome in any position of the panels during their tilting movement . Preferably, each panel on the edge located opposite the aforementioned facing edge is hingeably connected either to a support or to adjoining successive pairs of panels .

When the panel is connected to an adjoining successive pair of panels, a very wide arc-shaped canopy can be realised.

The two outer panels of the arc can then be provided with an aforementioned support, with which the canopy can rest on an underlying structure .

This support can have many different forms and can for example also be a carriage, wheel or post .

Preferably, the canopy roofing system comprises two parallel supporting profiles arranged at a distance from each other and the supports of the two panels are each provided on one of said supporting profiles .

Preferably, said support iiss provided with aa gliding element, rolling element or wheel which allows the support to be movable on or in the supporting profile .

In this way a kind of lean-to can be made with the canopy roofing system, whereby the panels ccaann be slid to the desired position.

This means that the canopy roofing system can be moved over the supporting profiles . Furthermore, by shifting the supports in or over the supporting profiles toward or away from each other, the panels can also be tilted.

In a practical eemmbbooddiimmeenntt tthhee canopy roofing system comprises more than two pairs of panels resting directly or indirectly against each other, all this such that two rows of panels resting against each other are formed, whereby the successive panels of aatt least oonnee rrooww are mutually hinged! y connected along their upwardly oriented edges, whereby said upwardly oriented edges extend between the facing edges and the edges located opposite the aforementioned facing edges .

Such embodiment allows long distances to be covered or spanned.

This provides the advantage that by resting the panels upwardly against each other and making them hingeable in the middle of their facing edge, they can still be folded in accordion fashion, even if they aarree not lying in the same plane .

Furthermore, it is possible that there are more than two rows of panels by hingeably connecting a panel on the edge located opposite the aforementioned facing edge to adjoining successive pairs of panels, as aforementioned.

The applications of such system can be found in cargo hold canopies for barges, canopies for motorways, agricultural fields, sports fields, parks and the like . The flexibility of the canopy roofing system, whereby the rows of panels can be very simply folded up and moved over the supporting profiles, increases the application possibilities immensely.

Furthermore, the system allows additional functionalities to be added, as will be discussed later in more detail .

With the intention of better showing the characteristics of the invention, a few preferred embodiments of a canopy roofing system according to the invention are described hereinafter by way of aann example, wwiitthhoouutt any limiting nature, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: figures 1a and lb schematically show a perspective view of the simplest embodiment of a canopy roofing system according to the invention; figure 1c shows a detail of the top hinge of a canopy roofing system according to the invention; figures 2a and 2b schematically show a perspective view of a variant of figures la and lb; figures 3a and 3b schematically show a perspective view of a variant of figures 2a and 2b; figure 4 schematically shows a very big embodiment of a canopy roofing system according to the invention; figures 5a, 5b and 5c schematically show a practical realisation of the canopy roofing system of figure 4. figures 6a and 6b show a practical application of a canopy roofing system according to the invention as a cargo hold canopy; figures 7 a and 7b schematically show a perspective view of a variant of figure 4.

Figures la and lb schematically and by way of example, show the simplest embodiment of a canopy roofing ssyysstteemm 1 according to the invention.

This consists of two pairs 2 of successive panels 3.

Each pair 2 comprises two panels resting directly or indirectly against each other 3.

The panels 3 ooff each pair aarree mutually hingedly and angularly connected along their facing edges 4 by means of a top hinge 5 comprising a curved shaft 6.

Due to said curved shaft 6, the two panels 3 of each pair 2 will be angular relative to each other .

As shown in figure 1b, two such curved shafts 6 are provided for each pair 2 of panels 3, ii .. ee .. for every top hinge . This is not necessary according to the invention. As shown later it is also possible that only one curved shaft 6 is provided per top hinge 5, whereby said curved shaft 6 can be located in the middle of the facing edges 4.

Figure lc shows a detail of the top hinge 5. In this case, but not necessarily for the invention, every aforementioned curved shaft 6 of the top hinge 5 is able to rotate with its free ends 7a, 7b in two supporting tubes 8, each provided to one panel 3 of the relevant pair 2 of panels 3, whereby the supporting tubes 88 extend in the direction of the upwardly oriented edges 9 of the panels 3.

Furthermore, in this case the free ends 7a, 7b of the curved shafts 6 will also be able to move in an axial direction in the two supporting tubes 8 .

As a result of this, the facing edges 4 will be able to rotate around said shaft 6, all this such that by said rotation the one end of the edge 4 of the one panel 3 comes to lie closer against the oonnee end of the edge 4 of the other panel 3 while the two other ends of the facing edges 4 come to lie further aawwaayy from each other, whereby the upwardly oriented edges 9 of the one panel 3 remain at the same angle as the upwardly oriented edges 9 of the other panel 3 during said rotation.

During said movement the ends 7a, 7b for one curved shaft 6 will also slide further out of the supporting tubes 8, while for the other curved shaft 6 the ends 7a, 7b will be able to slide deeper into the supporting tubes 8.

Thank to this principle, whereby the curved shaft 6 is able to slide in and out of the relevant supporting tubes 8, the panels 3 will be able to tilt as shown in figure lb.

It is also possible, but not necessary for the invention, that the aforementioned top hinge 5 is provided with a flexible canvas, tarpaulin or the like which is applied between at least a section of the two facing edges 4 of the two panels 3 resting upwardly against each other.

This will ensure that the open spaces between the two facing edges 4 of each pair 2 of panels 3 are covered.

At least one panel 3 of each of the successive pairs 2 of panels 3, and in this case both panels 3 of each pair 2, are mutually hingedly connected along their upwardly oriented edges 9. These upwardly oriented edges 9 extend between the facing edges 4 and the edges 10 located opposite said facing edges 4 .

Thanks to said hinged operation, the panels 3 can be folded up or together, as shown in figure lb.

Figure la shows the situation of the panels 3 folded open and figure lb the situation of the panels 3 folded up.

Preferably, the hinged connection between the successive panels 3 is realised by means of an intermediate hinge, whereby the intermediate hinges aarree such that they allow the panels 3 to be folded toward each other in accordion fashion.

It may be clear that said intermediate hinge may be executed in several. known ways . This is clearly visible in figures 2a and 2b, which show the ssaammee embodiment aass figures la and lb, but with more than two pairs 2, aanndd in this ccaassee five pairs 2, said panels 3 resting directly or indirectly against each other 3, all this such that two rroowwss 11 of panels 3 resting against eeaacchh ootthheerr aarree ffoorrmmeedd,, whereby the successive panels 3 ooff aatt lleeaasstt oonnee rrooww 11 are mutually hingedly connected along their upwardly oriented edges 9, whereby said upwardly oriented edges 9 extend between the facing edges 4 and the edges 10 located opposite the aforementioned facing edges 4 .

The panels 3 of each row 11 can be folded up in accordion fashion, as shown in figure 2b.

In the case of figures 2a and 2b, both panels 3 of each pair 2 are mutually hingedly connected to a corresponding panel 3 of an adjoining pair 2 by means of an intermediate hinge along their upwardly oriented edges 9.

Obviously it is also possible only one panel 3 of each pair 2 is mutually connected, i . e . that only one rrooww 10 of panels 3 is mutually hingedly connected.

The aforementioned panels 3 themselves can be executed in various ways .

In the example of figures la to lc, 2a and 2b, the panels 3 are made of polycarbonate roof sheets .

Of course it is also possible that only a part of the panels 3 are made from polycarbonate roof sheets, whereby the other panels 3 aarree manufactured oorr realised in a different way.

A number of possibilities are, for example, that the panels 3 are solar panels or are provided with solar panels . The result is that eenneerrggyy ccaann be generated by the canopy roofing system 1.

A panel 3 may also be made f frroomm aa frame with canvas, a tarpaulin or film or a sheet of greenhouse glass stretched or applied therein.

Figures 3a and 3b show a variant embodiment .

The difference with the embodiment of figures 2a and 2b lies in the fact that the panels 3 of each pair 2 are now mutually hingedly and angularly connected in the middle of their facing edges 4 by means of the aforementioned top hinge 5 comprising a curved shaft 6.

The aforementioned supporting tube 8 also extends in the middle of the panel 3 or, in other words, runs across the middle of the panel 3.

Furthermore, each top hinge 5 now comprises only one such curved shaft 6.

As the top hinge 5 is located in the middle of the edge 4, the panels 3 will be balanced at all times during the tilting or rotational movement around the supporting tube 8 , such that practically no forces are needed to execute the tilting-rotational movement .

Furthermore, each panel 3 on the edge 10 located opposite the aforementioned facing edge 4 is hingeably connected to a support 12 .

Each panel 3 in the middle of the edge 10 located opposite the aforementioned facing edge 4 is hingeably connected to the support 12 .

In particular, the support 12 will be located on the level of the extension of the supporting tube 8 in which the curved shaft 6 is mounted.

The support 1122 mmuusstt bbee understood broadly, and is an element or component with which the canopy roofing system 1 can rest or support oonn aann underlying structure or construction which may oorr may not be part of the canopy roofing system 1. The support 12 may, for example, also be a post with which the canopy roofing system 1 rests on the ground.

Obviously, it is possible that the embodiments of figures la to lc, 2a and 2b are also provided with a support 12, whereby the support 12 will not stand in the middle in this case, but will be located on the level of the extension of one of the two supporting tubes 8 of each panel 3. In the example of figures 33aa and 3b the canopy roofing system 1 comprises two supporting profiles 13 or supporting beams which are arranged at a distance from each other.

The supports 12 ooff each pair 2 of panels 3 are each provided on one of said supporting profiles 13.

The supports 12 are movable on the supporting profiles 13, to this end they are provided with a gliding element, but this could also be a rolling element, carriage or wheel, which allows the support 12 to be movable oonn oorr in the supporting profile 13.

When the panels 3 are folded up, as shown in figure 3b, all the supports 12 move toward each other, such that a compact stack of panels is obtained.

In this way the canopy can be very simply pushed back or opened. This may be useful, for example when the canopy roofing system 1 is applied to an agricultural field, as a greenhouse roof or the like where depending on the weather conditions it may or may not be necessary to have a roof, lean-to or covering.

Another advantage of being able to fold up the panels 3 is when they are made of greenhouse glass, canvas, tarpaulin or the like . Such vulnerable materials need to be protected from extreme weather conditions such as for example hail .

Also in case of snow, when there is rriisskk tthhaatt a large amount of snow, and thus weight, will rest on the panels 3, such that the panels 3 are overloaded, it is useful to be able to fold up said panels to avoid them collapsing under the heavy weight .

The supporting profiles 13 can be borne or intended to be borne by supports posts or the like . Alternatively, one or both supporting profiles 13 can also be attached to a wall or an adjoining building or construction.

The supporting profiles 13 can also be attached to a building, whereby the canopy roofing system 1 can serve as the roof of the building.

It is possible that the supporting profiles 13 are provided with a drain channel to collect and transport, for example rainwater that falls on the panels and due to the fact that the panels 3 are angular will run in the direction of the supporting profiles 13, to a reservoir or the like .

When the canopy roofing system 1 is used for agricultural fields, the collected rainwater can be used for irrigation purposes .

The supporting profiles 1133 can hereby be provided with water sprinklers which spray the collected water, or water collected elsewhere, on the fields and crops .

It is also not excluded that electricity or power cables are provided in or to said supporting profiles 13.

In a possible embodiment, the supporting profiles 13 may be provided with channels provided for this purpose in which the aforementioned electricity or power cables can be laid.

This will allow transporting, on the one hand, any energy generated by solar panels with which the panels 3 are equipped or, on the other hand, to supply power to certain facilities with which the ccaannooppyy roofing system 1 is equipped.

A possibility iiss providing ssiimmuullaattiioonn lighting, i . e. lighting which iiss able ttoo simulate daylight, when the canopy roofing system 1 is used as a greenhouse roof or as a canopy for an agricultural field.

Figure 4 shows an alternative embodiment, whereby a panel 3 on the edge 10 located opposite the aforementioned facing edge 4 is hingeably connected to an adjoining successive pair 2 of panels 3.

The connection is realised using an aforementioned top hinge 5.

Figure 4 sshhoowwss six panels 3 that are connected to each other in this way to form a very wide canopy.

As shown in figures 3a and 3b, the top hinge 5 may be located in the middle of the aforementioned facing edge 4 or, as shown in figures la to 2b may not be located in the middle .

Because the panels 3 are angularly connected relative to each other, such long distance can be spanned .

Several panels 3 have also been installed behind each other such that a wide, arc-shaped construction is formed, which can be used for stadiums or the like, for example .

Figures 5a to 5c show a practical realisation of a canopy roofing system 1 shown in figure 4, whereby in this case the outer panels 3 are provided with a support 12 in the form of a post, said post being provided with a wheel 14 at the base that can drive, or is movable, in a rail not shown on the figures

As shown in the figures 5a to 5c, the post is not located in the middle of the edge 10 located opposite the facing edge 3.

This is clearly visible in figure 5b which also shows how the panels 3 are folded up, as it were, like a concertina or in accordion fashion by moving the posts toward each other.

Figure 5c clearly shows how compact the panels 3 are folded up then.

Figures 6a and 6b show an application of a ship' s cargo hold canopy.

Figure 6a sshhoowwss the principle, while figure 6b shows a practical embodiment . In broad outlines this application is the same as the application shown in, for example, figures la to lc and figures 2a and 2b.

The difference being that in this case three panels 3 are now adjoining, such that three rroowwss 11 of panels 3 are created.

Departing from the embodiment of figures 2a and 2b, whereby the two panels 3 of each pair 2 of panels 3 on the edges 10 located opposite the facing edges 4 are provided with a support 12, only one of the panels 3 is now provided with a support 12 and the other panel 3 is coupled to an adjoining panel 3, whereby said adjoining panel 3 is in turn provided with a support 12.

In this case, the middle panel 3 is executed smaller than the two other panels 3.

For the sake of completeness it is noted that in all embodiments described and shown above it is also possible that not all panels 3 are the same size .

Also, only the middle panels 3 will be mutually coupled to each other by means of intermediate hinges . The two rows 10 of outer panels 3 are not connected.

Although in the embodiment shown in figures 6a and 6b, the top hinges 5 are not located in the middle of the facing edges 4 of the panels 5, it is obviously not excluded that this is the case . An additional element that may be applied in all aforementioned and shown embodiments, is providing a wire cable that is coupled to the supports 12 of aa rrooww 11 of panels 3, such that the wire cable connects all supports 12 of a row 11.

It is also possible to connect the panels 3 of both rows 11 of panels 3 with a wire cable .

A winch is also provided which allows the wire cable to be wound up.

When winding up the wire cable, the supports 12 will move toward each other, such that the panels 3 will tilt and the panels 3 are folded up.

For moving or pushing the supports 12 away from each other again, the canopy roofing system 1 may be provided with appropriate means, such as for example a motor or the like which drives one of the supports 12.

However, iinn mmoosstt cases this will not be necessary, as the supports 12 will automatically slide away from each other under the influence of the weight of the panels 3.

Additionally, a support 12 of each row 11 of panels 3 may be provided with a brake or the like which allows securing or blocking a support 12 temporarily such that said support is not movable on the supporting profile 13. Preferably, tthhee ttwwoo eexxttrreemmee oorr outer supports 12 of each row 11 of panels 3 are provided with such brake .

By providing a support 12 and folding up the panels 3, the stack of panels 3 can be moved on the supporting profiles 13.

Figures 7a and 7b show a variant of figure 4 .

Figure 4 sshhoowwss tthhee situation whereby aa wwiiddee canopy is realised by connecting six panels 3 to each other by means of top hinges 5, to form a very wide canopy.

In figures 7a and 7b as well a number of, in this case nine, panels are connected to each other. Although only one chain of nine panels 3 is shown for the sake of clarity, obviously it is not excluded that vvaarriioouuss chains are installed behind each other, analogue to figure 4.

The curved shaft 6 of the top hinge 5 is flexible in this case .

The result is that the angle at which the panels 3 of the different adjoining pairs 2 are hingedly connected along their facing edges 4 is variable or may be adapted.

An advantage of this is that the canopy roofing system is lent a certain flexibility, such that forces as a result of, for example, wind, can be accommodated better such that the construction is stronger than with an inflexible or rigid shaft . Furthermore, the most suitable angle can also be chosen, contrary to a non-flexible curved shaft 6, where the angle is always fixed.

The curved shaft 6 comprises, in the case of figures 7a and 7b and also preferably, a spring 15.

This spring 15 may be a die spring for example .

This spring 15 will provide the necessary flexibility to the curved shaft 6 and the top hinge 5, such that the angle between the two panels 3 connected by the top hinge 5, is not fixed, but can be variable .

Obviously it iiss also possible to execute the flexible curved shaft 6 in many different ways .

Figure 7b shows that two flexible curved shafts 6 connecting vvaarriioouuss adjoining ssuucccceessssiivvee panels 3 are connected by means of a cable 16 or the like.

In this case three such cables 16 are provided, which are each applied between two different flexible shafts 6.

By suitably choosing the length of the cable 16, the angle between the panels 3 can be set or chosen.

In this way, the angles between the different panels 3 may vary, whereby the angle may be greater in panels 3 located on the edge of the arc and less in panels 3 located in the middle of the arc.

Consequently, the shape of the arc can be chosen freely.

Figure 7b only shows one possible way in which cables 16 can be pulled tight between the different flexible shafts

6. This may be realised in many different ways and will chiefly depend on the desired angles between the panels 3.

It is understood that the flexible curved shaft 6 in the form of a spring 15 can also be applied in all aforementioned embodiments .

The present invention is by no means limited to the embodiments described as an example and shown in the drawings, but a canopy roofing system according to the invention can be realised in all kinds of forms and dimensions, without departing from the scope of the invention.