TITLE: EXTENDIBLE ROOF

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention concerns canopies which extend over footpaths in city streets, yards and gardens of private houses or commercial premises such as taverns.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Fabric awnings which create shade and can be pulled out over a pavement using a pole

and hook by the business owner are known. These remain above head height and allow pedestrians to walk beneath them. In European cities it is known to have a row of shops set back from the building perimeter, the space in front of the shops forming a cloister with pillars supporting the mass of the building above the cloister.

If a restaurateur wishes to have street exposure, the front of the restaurant which borders the pavement may be partially open to passers by who can see tables and chairs and some decor. These premises are frequented by birds as well as customers. In inclement weather the restaurateur may extend an awning of the type described above, but the presentation lacks intimacy and weather protection. Consequently the winter months are less profitable.

Homeowners who have outside entertainment areas are similarly vulnerable to the weather. Wineries and some taverns have outside areas for which temporary shade or wind protection would be welcome.

US Patent No. 5,167,097 discloses a retractable roof for a stadium building which rests on a wall structure having a pair of parallel opposed side walls and end walls. The roof has a pair of parallel arched vaults which are movably mounted on the side walls. A row of trucks carry each arched vault along a set of tracks fixed on opposed side walls. The vaults move telescopically in order to close the roof. A disadvantage of this type of retractable roof is that it uses a pair of opposed side walls to rest on and move on into extended and retracted position.

US Patent No. 6,044,593 discloses a free-hanging metal canopy which can be mounted on to the side of an existing building structure and extend 6-12 feet beyond the building. The canopy's framework has a plurality of right-triangle-shaped trusses arranged in parallel to form a truncated right triangle so that the roof has an inclined top. The ratio of the horizontal length to vertical height of the framework is in the range of 3: 1 to 6:1. Steel angles are bolted to each side of vertical members which form the vertical height of the framework. The steel angles are used to affix the roof to the side wall of the building. A disadvantage of this type of roof is that it is not retractable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The apparatus aspect of the invention provides a canopy assembly for installation outside but close to a building comprising ground engaging posts supporting a static frame adjacent the building, a mobile frame underlying the static frame and connected thereto, the mobile frame being extendible in order to project at least partially beyond the static frame and retractable to lie beneath the static frame and means to move the mobile frame between the extended and retracted positions.

The posts may be situated as a pair at or near the perimeter of the building where it adjoins the outside area.

The static frame may include a pair of rails lying parallel to the direction of movement of the mobile frame.

The mobile frame may have at least one pair of carriages for engaging the rails.

The frame may have a pair of channels to accommodate the rails and carriages so as to obscure the rails and carriages from persons on the ground. The channels may extend to substantially the full depth of the mobile frame. There may be two pairs of carriages and the mobile frame may be cantilevered from the carriages. The carriages accordingly engage both the top and bottom of the rail.

The mobile frame may have a front end and a pair of sides and one or more blinds may depend from the front end and the sides in order to define a space outside the building covered in on three sides for the comfort of customers seated in the customers space. The blinds may be motorised. The space may be separated from the front of the building by a walkway for pedestrians leaving free passage for pedestrians who do not wish to be customers. The customers in the outside customer space are served by staff crossing the walkway. Preparation surfaces, refrigerators, sinks, coffee making machines and bins are all in the space within the building.

The mobile frame may have a space heater which directs warm air into the customer

space. When the heater is a gas heater, the gas supply may be through a resilient conduit which is pre-shaped to extend and retract by flexing in a predetermined mode.

The mobile frame may have loudspeakers and lights. The speakers wire leads may also pass through like resilient conduits as described above. The music may be played on a sound unit inside the building. The lights, speakers, blind operation and frame movements may be controlled by a console inside the building.

The means for moving the mobile frame may be a pair of endless, rotatable chains mounted on the sides of the static frame.

The endless chains may run on sprockets and the carriages may be fixed to a link whereby rotation of the sprocket produces rectilinear motion of the carriages.

As the frames can be braced to keep their shape after manufacture, close alignment of the parts can be arranged during installation and a small wattage motor suffices to move the mobile frame. The sideways forces are not large, the main force being the mass of the cantilevered frames. Wind forces on the frames are resisted by the posts.

The front edge of the static frame is always exposed to indicate the name of the business. When the building contains a cafe, the cafe front may be closed by a rolling shutter which closes off the entrance to the cafe itself.

If the same installation is added to the rear elevation of a dwelling for the purpose of outdoor entertainment, the canopy construction is the same. The canopy will overlie a patio or paved area and access to this area from the dwelling will be through a door. The console inside the dwelling controls the functions in the same way.

The term 'frame' is intended to include a roof, shade mesh or other weather barrier. A frameless or monocoque structure would work but would likely be more expensive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

One embodiment of the invention is now described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side view of the building against which the canopy assembly is installed.

Figure 2 is the same view as Figure 1 but with the canopy in the retracted mode.

Figure 3 is the same view as Figure 2 but with the canopy in the extended position.

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic front view of a fragment of the canopy, namely the pillar and superimposed frames.

Figure 5 is a side view of the frames with an end cover on the static frame removed to the drive arrangement.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the static frame with side louvres removed.

Figure 7 is a detail of the carriage of the canopy assembly.

Figure 8 is a diagrammatic plan of the fuel and power supply to the heater and blower.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION WITH RESPECT TO THE DRAWINGS

Referring firstly to Figures 1-3, the front of the building 2 has a rectangular opening 4. The space 6 inside the building accommodates a refrigerator 8, food preparation surfaces 10 and a wall mounted control console 12.

Hollow metal pillars 14, 16 have baseplates 18 which can be bolted to the concrete floor of the building. The pillars are located on each side of the rectangular opening 4 in the building which is to receive the installation. The vacant space which is to take the roof

structure must be 7.5m wide, 5m deep and 3m high. Once the pillars which are 3.2m high are fixed in position, the static frame 22 and the mobile frame 24 suspended beneath the static frame are placed between the pillars and raised by jacks to bring the static frame to ceiling height. The static frame is 6m x 2.5m and the mobile frame is the same size. In the retracted position the frames lie substantially superimposed. In the extended position the overlap is 1.7m and the mobile frame is 1.8m from the face of the building.

Referring now to Figure 4, cleats 26 are welded to the pillars and static frame 22 is bolted to the cleats.

Both rectangular frames are made of square section steel tubes 28 with zig zag struts 30.

The static frame has LH and RH parallel tracks 32, 34 close to the sides of the interior space 6. The mobile frame is of similar construction to the static frame, but along the LH and RH edges is a channel 36, 38. The channels extend the full depth of the frame and each accommodates a pair of carriages 40 (one shown) which ride on the tracks 32, 34.

The carriages are bolted to the mobile frame 24.

The carriages are fastened to links of endless chains 44 which are carried on sprockets 46, 48. Sprockets 46 (one shown) are joined by drive shaft 50. Drive shaft 50 is rotated by electric motor 52 and worm and pinion gearbox (not shown). Static frame 22 and the mobile frame beneath is protected from rain by SNAPLOK™ roof panels 54 which pitch from the front to the rear adjacent the front of the building where the panels discharge into a transverse gutter 56. Gutter 56 discharges into an open topped box 58 mounted on the face of the building from which it reaches pavement level through a down pipe 60.

Mobile frame 24 droops downwards and its roof panels 62 discharge into the roadway just like a fabric awning. The forward part of the mobile frame has a pair of end blinds 64 and a pair of side blinds 66. These create a sheltered space 68. A gas heater and blower 70 sends warm air into this space. Gas is supplied via a coiled resilient hose 72 which flexes as the mobile frame extends and retracts.

Speakers 74 installed in the static frame deliver music from a CD player inside the building. Lights 76 are supplied through coiled conduit 78.

The static frame extends about 2.5m over the pavement and the mobile frame extends a further 1.7m. In Figure 6, C-section spars (not shown) extend width wise across the frame to support the SNAPLOK™ roof panels. Ducts 80 run alongside the sides of the frame and are closed in by vertical louvres (not shown). These make air available to the heater for displacement towards the table and chairs (see Figure 3).

The functions of the canopy are controlled from the console 12 (Figure 1) namely mobile frame movement, raising and lowering of the blinds, heating and lighting. Limit switches control the travel of the mobile frame in known manner. Retraction takes about 25 seconds.

Referring now to Figure 7, a carriage which has been found to be especially suitable for taking the weight of the mobile frame 24 is a Luxford SWL 750kg carriage. Tracks 32 and 34 are steel poles suspended horizontally from the static frame 22 by hangers 80. Carriage body 82 is of Y-section in order to provide bearings for two sets of four wheels 84, 86 (see Figure 5) arranged at 45° to the horizontal. The body has bearings for a vertical pair of wheels 88 which engages the lower sector of the track poles. The circumferential surface of each wheel is flat or convex. Such carriages resist racking forces in the mobile frame. Each wheel has a 750kg support capacity. Upstand 89 is welded to the floor of the frame 24 and is joined to carriage body 82 by bolts (not shown).

hi Figure 8 the current for the blower lights and other electrical equipment is supplied through a flexible armoured cable 90 of the type which is made of interfitting galvanised rings about 50mm in diameter. Gas is supplied through a flexible plastic pipe 72 which lies in a horizontal loop to one side of the heater. The heater is a CELMEC 2400/01 UP3 tube heater with a capacity of 53mj/hr. Air is drawn sideways through ducts 50 and directed downwardly into space 68.

We have found the advantages of the above embodiment to be:

1. Creates a sheltered, walk through seating space for customers.

2. Utilises pavement space at minimum cost.

3. Adaptable to home entertainment areas utilising garden space.

4. A pair of canopies can face each other so as to close over a ground area or swimming pool.

It is to be understood that the word "comprising" as used throughout the specification is to be interpreted in its inclusive form, ie. use of the word "comprising" does not exclude the addition of other elements.

It is to be understood that various modifications of and/or additions to the invention can be made without departing from the basic nature of the invention. The mobile frame could be moved by a rack and pinion or linear actuators of the screw and nut type or equivalent hydraulic or pneumatic mechanism. These modifications and/or additions are therefore considered to fall within the scope of the invention.