DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a shelter for a motor vehicle. Such shelters are typically made with canopies, and have the function of sheltering the vehicle from atmospheric events while parking. In particular, the use of such shelters is particularly advantageous to keep vehicles shaded in the summer months, so as to avoid excessive overheating, in particular in public or private parking areas. Such parking areas can be located, for example, in motorway service areas, in accommodation facilities such as hotels or restaurants or in any other place where it is necessary to allow the parking of motor vehicles.

The use of canopies to protect cars from the sun is known in the state of the art. Such canopies typically comprise a pair of uprights anchored to the ground. The uprights support a cover element which, in use, is placed above the area designed for the parking of one or more vehicles.

Recently, electric traction motor vehicles have also begun to spread. Such vehicles are provided with batteries which need to be recharged while parked. Therefore, canopies equipped with photovoltaic panels have been marketed, able to independently generate part of the electricity necessary for charging vehicles. In this case, the solar panels are connected by means of suitable voltage converters to sockets, usually fixed to the uprights or to separate columns, to which the vehicles will then be connected for charging.

Disadvantageously, it has been found that the yield of the photovoltaic panels is strongly related to the orientation of the canopy. In most cases, it is not possible to ensure a southward orientation of the panels during installation, therefore the performance is often sub -optimal. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In this context, the technical task underlying the present invention is to propose a shelter for vehicles which overcomes the drawbacks of the prior art mentioned above.

In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide a shelter for vehicles able to significantly improve the performance of the photovoltaic panels installed on the cover.

The mentioned technical task and the specified aims are substantially achieved by a shelter for vehicles comprising the technical features set out in one or more of the appended claims.

In particular, a shelter according to the present invention is of the type adapted to cover at least one parking area of a vehicle. The parking area has a vehicle entry/exit direction. The shelter comprises at least one pair of columns configured to be arranged on opposite sides of the vehicle entry/exit direction.

The shelter further comprises a cover supported by columns and adapted to shelter a vehicle. The cover has a longitudinal extension direction configured to be arranged substantially parallel to the vehicle entry/exit direction. The cover comprises at least one photovoltaic panel for generating electric current.

Charging devices are electrically connected to the photovoltaic panel and can be connected to a battery of a vehicle for charging it.

The cover has a curved profile along the longitudinal extension direction and a convexity facing the opposite side with respect to the vehicle parking area.

Such a device solves the technical problem as the inventors have found a higher efficiency of the photovoltaic panels with any orientation of the cover other than the southward orientation. Such improved performance is mainly due to the curvature of the cover. LIST OF FIGURES

Further features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the description of an exemplary, but not exclusive, and therefore nonlimiting preferred embodiment of a shelter for vehicles, as illustrated in the appended figures, in which:

- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a shelter for vehicles according to the present invention, with some parts removed to better show others; and

- Figure 2 is a side view of the shelter of Figure 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to the appended figures, 1 refers to a shelter for vehicles according to the present invention. Such a shelter 1 is in particular adapted to cover at least one parking area (not shown) in which a vehicle can park.

In particular, the parking area is generally delimited by horizontal signs according to current regulations. Such an area has a vehicle entry/exit direction. In the present specification, the vehicle is considered as being inserted in the parking spot facing forward, and exits the parking spot in reverse. Of course, such an assumption is made only and exclusively to facilitate the description, and therefore is not to be considered in any way binding.

With particular reference to figure 1, the shelter 1 comprises at least one pair of columns 2, which are configured to be arranged on opposite sides of the vehicle entry/exit direction. In other words, when the vehicle is parked correctly it is arranged between the columns 2. The columns 2 can be anchored to metal bases. Depending on the installation area, the metal bases can completely replace the reinforced concrete foundations.

A cover 3, adapted to shelter a vehicle, is supported by the columns 2. Such a cover 3 has a longitudinal extension direction configured to be arranged substantially parallel to the vehicle entry/exit direction. The cover 3 has a front side 3a and a rear side 3b. It should be noted that, in accordance with the present invention, the rear side 3b is placed at a higher height with respect to the front side 3a. When the vehicle is parked, the front side 3a is arranged beyond the front end of the vehicle, while the rear side 3b extends beyond the rear end. Consequently, the cover 3 is able to keep the vehicle shaded as long as the sun is high on the horizon.

In more detail, the cover 3 is defined by a pair of side members 4, each connected to a respective column 2 and oriented along the longitudinal extension direction. A plurality of crossbeams 5 are arranged between the side members 4, preferably parallel to each other and even more preferably equally spaced. If necessary, one or more reinforcement beams 6 are arranged parallel to the side members 4.

It should be noted that the cover 3 comprises at least one photovoltaic panel 7, adapted to generate electric current. Preferably, the cover 3 comprises a plurality of photovoltaic panels 7, arranged so as to completely cover the space between the side members 4.

The photovoltaic panels 7 have a lower side 7a facing the vehicle and an upper side 7b opposite the lower side 7a. The photovoltaic panels 7 are of the type known to the person skilled in the art, however, unlike conventional photovoltaic panels, the photovoltaic panels 7 according to the present invention can have photovoltaic cells arranged on both sides 7a, 7b. Advantageously, this allows the cover 3 to generate more electricity, since the lower sides 7b are also able to generate electricity as they are struck by the solar radiation reflected by the environment.

In the preferred embodiment, the photovoltaic panels 7 are arranged in six rows of three panels each. Each row has an inclination of 2° with respect to the previous one thus forming, by virtue of connecting elements (not shown), a curvilinear profile.

The fixing system of the photovoltaic panels 7 to the cover 3 is made with an innovative system which uses longitudinal frames (upper and lower cups, not illustrated) such as to block the photovoltaic panels 7 and at the same time ensure, through plastic seals (not shown), a seal to water and atmospheric agents. The system has clear advantages in terms of speed of assembly with respect to the traditional canopies, allowing real savings in installation costs.

In accordance with the present invention, in the preferred embodiment the cover 3 has a curved profile along the longitudinal extension direction, and a convexity facing the opposite side with respect to the vehicle parking area.

In an alternative embodiment, not shown, the cover 3 has a concavity facing the opposite side with respect to the vehicle parking area. Advantageously, thereby the shelter 1 is able to collect and accumulate rainwater.

As already mentioned, the front side 3a is placed lower with respect to the upper side 3b, so the cord of the cover 3 is inclined with respect to a horizontal direction.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the above-mentioned columns 2 are connected to the cover 3 at a point between 10% and 30% of the cord, starting from the front side 3a. Advantageously, this minimizes the possibility of interference between the columns 2 and the front doors of the vehicle, when properly parked.

Since the columns 2 are tapered, i.e., they have a section which narrows from the cover 3 to the ground, the point of attachment to the respective side member 4 is identified by the median axis of the column 2.

In accordance with the present invention, the shelter 1 comprises charging means 8 of a battery of a motor vehicle, electrically connected to the photovoltaic panels 7 and connectable to the vehicle. In accordance with the present invention, said charging means 8 are housed inside the columns 2. In particular, at least one of the columns 2 a housing 9 placed near the cover 3. In particular, the charging means 8 comprise electrical conversion means 10 inserted inside the housing. The electrical conversion means 10 comprise, merely by way of example, an inverter and its control electronics, known per se to the person skilled in the art. It should be noted that the charging means 8 comprise at least one power socket 11 for electric vehicles. Such a socket 11, preferably electrically connected to both the photovoltaic panels 7 and to the grid, is in particular integrated in a column 2, even more particularly at a height which is easy to reach by the user.