EP3759292B1

EP3759292B1 - Shading system with hidden blind rotation mechanism

Info

Publication number: EP3759292B1
Application number: EP18783556.6A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Alexandros MYLONAS
Original assignee: Plastics Of Southeast Europe One Man Distinctive Title Seu Plastics One Man LLC LLC
Current assignee: Plastics Of Southeast Europe One Man Distinctive Title Seu Plastics One Man LLC LLC
Priority date: 2018-03-29
Filing date: 2018-09-07
Publication date: 2022-07-27
Anticipated expiration: 2038-09-07
Also published as: RS63695B1; EP3759292A1; WO2019186213A1; GR1009514B

Description

The invention belongs to the field of engineering and in particular concerns autonomous shading pergola systems with blinds installed in open spaces and in particular pergola systems featuring blinds rotating around an axis passing through them, not folding blinds.
The technical problem of these systems is the point of installing the blinds motor, an issue causing technical difficulties, such as slow movement of the system, rusting of mechanical parts, failure in blinds synchronisation, occupying extra space.
In particular, according to the current state of the art, the motor of the system described in CN203755987U is installed inside one end of the frame encasing the blinds and, in a position, parallel to the rotation axis of the blinds. In order to transmit the drive to each of the system's blinds, additional machine components are required, and should any component fail, the entire blinds system is immobilised.
In the system described in AU2013100577A4 , the motor is located outside the frame encasing the blinds and in a perpendicular position to the rotation axis of the blinds, thus occupying extra space necessary for the system's operation.
The motor of the system described in CN2692319Y is installed inside one end of the frame encasing the blinds and in a perpendicular position to the rotation axis of the blinds. It uses one motor and one rotary drive transmission box for each separate blind, it requires a high manufacturing cost and it is difficult for all blinds to be synchronised.
Similarly, the motor of the system described in DE 10 2016 117772 A1 is installed inside one end of the frame encasing the blinds and in a vertical position to the rotation axis of the blinds. It uses one motor and one rod that connects to all the blinds of the system, transmitting the movement to them. The blinds do not rotate around the center of gravity axis but eccentrically.
Finally, in the system described in EP 2455561 A2 , the pergola has folding blinds and not blinds rotating around an axis passing through them. The motor is also installed at a position parallel to the blinds inside a structural component of the structure and causes the blinds to retract and extent by means of a sliding rail and a rope.
Another problem of the current state of the art is the speed at which the motors of the current state of the art open and close the blinds, causing the blinds to overlap hard on one another when they stop moving. This damages the blinds and stresses the entire structure.
Finally, since autonomous shading systems often occupy a large area, e.g. 6mX7m, their overall statics and the statics of their frame in particular and the way this is connected to the system support columns is a constant technical construction problem.
The present invention is defined in claim 1 and solves the above technical problems, because it features a hidden blind rotation mechanism installed inside a rotation blind, within a through inner chamber running along it. The mechanism briefly consists of a fixed motor base on one end, a drive motor, a connector, a reducer and a drive connector. The mechanism is installed inside a casing that fits perfectly to the drive connector and inside the rotation blind, and therefore when the motor moves, the blind encasing it rotates as well. At the end of the rotation blind there is a cap connected through a bar to other corresponding caps attached at the end of all blinds in the system, transmitting the drive thereto. In addition, there are water collection areas in the two side profiles of the system, i.e. where the rotation pins of the blinds end up, while in the four support columns of the system there are suitably formed structures for water drainage. Finally, all four frame support profiles rest against the four columns with hook-shaped mounting accessories.
The advantage of the present invention is that, thanks to its reducer, it solves the technical problem of fast moving and stressed blinds. Also, the mechanism installed inside one blind solves the technical problem of mechanism complexity and occupation of extra space. Furthermore, since the motor mechanism is inside the rotation blind, it is not exposed to weather conditions and is not corroded. The hook-shaped mounting accessories offer additional stability to the entire system. Finally, the system of the present invention can be easily and quickly assembled and installed in an area by two technicians, without the use of any lifting equipment.
The mechanism should be preferably installed inside the first rotating blind of the system, the rotation blind. The rest of the blinds in the system are plain blinds, with no internal mechanism. Motor drive is achieved by remote control.
The 11 drawings accompanying the invention briefly present the following:

Drawing 1 illustrates, in a perspective view, the completed construction of the shading system with the hidden blind rotation mechanism; the blinds are in closed position.
Drawing 2 illustrates, in a perspective view, the hidden blind rotation mechanism disassembled and the casing where it enters.
Drawing 3 illustrates, in a perspective view, the hidden blind rotation mechanism disassembled and the casing along with the rotation blind, inside which it is installed, the motor support base and both end caps of the rotation blind. It also shows the components of both ends and the cross-section of the rotating blind and the casing cross-section on a large scale.
Drawing 4 illustrates, in a perspective view, one of the plain blinds that are part of the system, dismantled from its two end caps and the end components on a large scale and the cross-section of the blind.
Drawing 5 illustrates the system in vertical section with the blinds in open position, the drive rod, along with the composite profile of the support frame side in parallel position to the blinds at their front or back and a detail from the end of the flap overlapping the blind (Figure 5a). It also shows the system in vertical section with the blinds in closed position (Figure 5b).
Drawing 6 illustrates, in a disassembled perspective view, how to mount the blinds on the frame with details of the blind mounting profile.
Drawing 7 illustrates a side cross-section of one of the system's side profiles, in assembled view, in perpendicular position to the blinds along with part of the blind; it also shows the water collection area that both side profiles feature and part of the support column (figure 7a). It also shows one of the single side profiles in disassembled view (figure 7b).
Drawing 8 illustrates the way the four profiles of the support frame are mounted on the four columns; they are mounted by means of hook-shaped accessories fitted on both the profiles and the columns.
Drawing 9 illustrates, in perspective view, one of the support frame profiles and a system column in broken-out section view, the configuration of hook interconnection and the water drainage system.
Drawing 10 illustrates, in perspective view, the basic profile of the system column disassembled, with the hook accessories for mounting the system and a water drainage opening with the sealing fitting around the drainage opening.
Drawing 11 illustrates the disassembled support column in perspective view, with its basic profile, the four side caps, the drainage system and its ground support system.

There follows a detailed description of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings and an example of application of the inventive concept it comprises, with reference to the accompanying drawings.
As illustrated in drawings 1 and 6, the shading system is comprised of blinds (5, 6) placed parallel to one another and of their support frame. The two sides of the support frame are in perpendicular position to the blinds and parallel to one another (1, 3). At the top of each side, there is a blind mounting profile (55) with shaped recesses (57) in order for the blinds to be fitted therein and profile caps (56) with corresponding recesses (57a) for securing the blinds and keeping them at the correct distance from one another. The other two sides of the support frame are in parallel position to the blinds (2, 4), one in front of them and one behind them, so they too are parallel to one another and have room for housing electronic and electrical systems, e.g. led lighting because no water can enter there. During the system's operation, the blinds (5 and 6) open and close by means of a remote control, rotating at about 140 degrees from their initial position and returning to the initial position by rotating to the opposite direction. The frame with the blinds rests against four support columns (7).
As illustrated in Drawings 2, 3 and 5, the first rotating blind in the system is the rotation blind (6) where the hidden blind rotation mechanism is installed, inside a casing (8). The hidden blind rotation mechanism is comprised in series by a support base (9) for the motor, by a motor (10), with a fixed (10a) and a rotating (10b) part, by a fixed connector (11), by a rotating connector (12), by a reducer (13) and by a rotary drive connector (14) shaped externally as a polygon.
A gear reducer (13) with a fixed external shell (11a) is used to reduce the rotations featuring a reducer input (12a) and a reducer output (14a). The external shell (11a) is affixed to the connector (11) which is connected to the fixed part of the motor (10a). The reducer input (12a) is connected to the rotating connector (12) which is connected to the rotating end of the motor (10b). The rotary drive of the motor (10) is transmitted to the reducer (13), the speed is reduced at a rate equal to the transmission ratio of the reducer and the drive is transmitted via the reducer output (14a) to the rotary drive connector (14) on to the casing (8) and then the entire rotation blind (6) moves.
The hidden rotation mechanism enters a through casing (8) which has a chamber of polygonal cross-section on the inside in order to couple with and follow the movement of the rotary drive connector (14) with the external polygonal shape. The through casing (8) has protrusions (16) on the outside along its length. The through casing (8), bearing the hidden rotation mechanism inside it, slides into the rotation blind (6) and along its length, inside a through chamber (15) it has inside it, in the centre and along its length. The chamber (15) has recesses (17) on its inner surface and along its length corresponding to the protrusions (16) that the through casing (8) bears on its outer surface and along its length. The protrusions (16) of the casing (8) slide into the recesses (17) of the rotation blind (6). Thus, the three components, the rotary drive connector (14), the through casing (8) and the rotation blind chamber (6) are manufactured with very strict tolerances so that each component can follow the movement of the other one without delay. They are assembled by clamping fit and thus the drive is smooth and there is no delay in transmitting the drive to the rotation blind (6) when starting and restarting the system.
The rotary drive connector (14), the through casing (8) and the chamber (15) of the rotation blind (6) can be formed in any other external/internal shape provided it is ensured that all three of these components will strictly follow one another's movement.
At both ends of the rotation blind (6) (drawing 3) there are two caps, the motor cap (18) at the end of the blind where the motor mechanism (10) is located and the drive cap (19) on the other end of the blind, from where the drive is transmitted to the rest of the blinds.
The motor cap (18) is of equal length to the length of the rotation blind (6) cross-section that it will cover. The cap (18) has perforations (22) from which the motor (10) exits and is connected to the motor support base (9) by means of a fuse (23). The motor cap (18) is permanently secured to the rotation blind (6) and to the through casing (8) by means of self-perforated screws (35).
The drive cap (19) is secured by means of self-perforated screws (35) to the blind (6) and has a hole (25), the centre of which lies in the imaginary extension of the imaginary rotation axis of the rotation blind (6). A rotation pin (26) is permanently affixed to this hole (25).
The drive cap (19) is longer than the rotation blind (6) cross-section that it will cover. It has an extension (28) with a hole (29) at its end though which a pin (31) passes and connects the rotation blind (6) with a drive bar (30) (drawing 3, drawing 5 figure 5a). The drive bar (30) is straight, compact, uniform, smoothly formed and robust; it has perforations (32) along its length, equal in number to the rotation blinds (5) of the system. At each point where the bar (30) connects to the blinds (5) there are friction minimising and anti-blocking means, a washer (33) and a spacer (34) and a fastening nut (31a) (drawing 3). The drive cap (19) with its extension (28) is connected to the drive bar (30) and transmits the drive of the rotation blind (6) to the drive bar (30). The drive is transmitted to the rest of the blinds (5) without delay due to the fact that the bar (30) is smoothly formed and uniform.
Only the rotation blind (6) has a specially formed cap (18) for routing the motor (10) as well as a drive cap (19), whereas all other plain blinds (5) have different caps. In particular, at both ends of each plain blind (5) there are two caps, the plain cap (20) and the connection cap (21) (drawing 4). The plain cap (20) is of equal length to the length of the cross-section of the blind (5) that it will cover. It is secured to the blind (5) by means of self-perforated screws (35) and has a hole (25), the centre of which lies in the imaginary extension of the imaginary rotation axis of the blind (5). A rotation pin (26) is permanently affixed to the hole (25) by which one side of the blind (5) is fixed and mounted on one side (1) of the frame. Each pin (26 and 26a) of the blinds enters one of the formed recesses (57) of the blind mounting profile (55) (drawing 6). Each pin (26 and 26a) has a through hole in the centre for routing cables used for lighting the blinds. Each pin (26, 26a) ends up in a head-shaped form so that the sub-load prevents it from exiting the recesses (57, 57a) and the plug (27). In addition, the use of the plug (27) at the point of the recesses (57, 57a) between the profiles (55, 56) contributes to proper sealing of the sensitive area of rotating pins (26, 26a). The external geometry of the plug (27) ensures position precision and "locking" the pins (26, 26a) into place and consequently the position of the blinds (5, 6).
The connection cap (21) (drawing 4) covers the other end of the blind (5) and is longer than the length of its cross-section (5). It is secured to the blind (5) by means of self-perforated screws (35) and has a hole (25), the centre of which lies in the imaginary extension of the rotation axis of the blind (5). A rotation pin (26a) is permanently affixed to the hole (25) by which the other side of the blind (5) is fixed and mounted on the other side (3) of the frame. It also has an extension (28) with a hole (29) at its end through which a pin (31) passes to connect the cap (21) with the drive bar (30). The extension (28) of the cap (21) of the plain blind (5) has the same size as the extension (28) of the drive cap (19) of the rotation blind (6). The straight drive bar (30) is connected to the rotation blind (6) and to all blinds (5) through the connection caps (21) and transmits the rotary drive it obtains from the rotation blind (6) to all blinds (5).
A plug (27) is fitted to all three caps (19, 20, 21) on the pins (26 and 26a) for optimum rotation of the blind (5), with a composition containing graphite.
All caps (18, 19, 20, 21) are formed with a finish of water dripper (drawing 5) at their bottom. All caps (18, 19, 20, 21) have holes (24) for system ventilation and for removing any condensation and moisture (drawings 3, 4).
As illustrated in drawings 4, 5, all blinds (5, 6) are openly formed for water drainage (36) on one side along their entire length and an overlapping flap (37) on the other side along their entire length. The open formation for water drainage (36) that all blinds (5, 6) have on one side along their entire length is similar to that in all caps (18, 19, 20, 21) covering the edges of the blinds (5, 6) that also have the corresponding formation for drainage (36a) (drawings 3, 4). Likewise, all caps (18, 19, 20, 21) are similarly formed to the overlapping flap (37) of the blinds (5, 6). Therefore, the caps (18 and 19) of the rotation blind (6) are similarly formed (28a and 28) to the overlapping flap (37) and the caps (20 and 21) of the plain blind (5) are similarly formed (28a and 28) to the overlapping flap (37).
The overlapping flap (37) has a recess at its end along its entire length for sealing means (58) and formed protrusion (59) for better sealing (drawing 5). As illustrated in drawings 4, 5, when the blinds move (open position, Drawing 5, figure 5a), the water drainage formation (36) is open and when the blinds are in horizontal position (closed position, Drawing 5, figure 5b) the formation (36) is overlaid by the overlapping flap (37) of the immediately adjacent blind (5). When it rains, rainwater is collected on the closed surface of the blinds. Rainwater may enter between the blinds, despite the sealing means that the overlapping flap (37) has, or when the blinds open, any water on the top surface of the blinds may run and be collected in the drainage formations (36). In all these cases, water is collected and then routed to both ends of the blinds, where it enters the two sides of the frame that are in perpendicular position to the blinds, the water collection and drainage sides (1, 3) (drawing 7). Then it runs inside the water dripper (38) located on both sides of the water collection and drainage sides (1, 3), guided by a water dripper cap (39). The water dripper (38) ends up in protrusions (60) (drawing 9). Water passes through the protrusions (60) via an opening (40) and is guided through the four support columns (7) of the system ( drawings 7, 9, 10, 11), with each of them having an opening (42) on the side, corresponding to the opening (40). The four support columns (7) of the system each have an internal profile (48) with a water collecting siphon (43) connected to a tube (44) with circular cross section that ends up to a corner tube (45) with cap (46). The water falls through the columns (7) and exits on the floor. The columns are covered with caps (47) along their length, with each column closing on top by means of a top cap (50) and having a clamped seating system (49).
The frame profiles (1, 2, 3, 4) have a cap (54) on their side and at their two ends, with each profile having a hook-shaped (51a) accessory (53a), having a connection protrusion (52a) and an opening (40) equal to the cross section of the water dripper (38) (drawing 9). To install the system, each column (7) is fixed to the ground by a clamped seating system (49) (drawing 11). Each column (7) has an accessory (53) with a hook (51) at its top side part and at the point where it contacts the sides (1, 2, 3, 4), corresponding to the hook (51a) of the profiles (1, 2, 3, 4) and below it has a spacer (52) fitted (drawing 8). Each profile (1, 2, 3, 4) is fitted between two columns (7) and is secured by the two hook formations, the profile (51a) and the column (7) (51) and at the same time the column spacer (52) is screwed with the connection protrusion (52a) of the profile. At the same time, the profile of the water dripper (38) is inserted through its projections (60) into the opening (42) that each column (7) has on the side, using the sealing means (41) that the column (7) has (drawings 9, 10). Each column has two accessories (53) with a hook (51) corresponding to the hook (51a) of the frame profiles (1, 2, 3, 4) and two spacers (52), at the point where it contacts the two frame profiles, resting thereon. This way the four-sided profile (1, 2, 3, 4) is secured on the support columns (7) and at the exact same height with them.
Then the rotation blind (6) and the plain blinds (5) are installed as follows ( drawings 5, 6, 7): The rotation blind (6) is inserted first. On one side, the motor support base (9) is mounted on the side (1) of the blind mounting profile (55) within the formed recesses (57) of the profile (55) and this is how one end of the rotation blind (6) is mounted on one side of the frame. The other end of the rotation blind (6) is fitted and mounted on the opposite side (3) of the profile (55) by means of a rotation pin (26) (drawing 3) again in the formed recesses (57). A plug (27) is fitted on the pin (26), for optimum rotation of the blind, with a composition containing graphite. Similarly, the plain blinds (5) have rotation pins (26, 26a) at their ends (20,21) whereby the plain blinds (5) are installed using their ends, with one end in each formed recess (57), on either side of the two profiles (55) on the two frames (1, 3). They are installed on the two profiles (55) caps (56) with corresponding recesses (57a) for securing the blinds and keeping them apart at a proper distance from one another when they move (drawing 6).
The drive bar (30) connects all blinds together, both the rotation blind (6) and the plain blinds (5), by means of the extensions (28) that the drive cap (19) and the caps (21) of plain blinds (5) have on their ends (drawing 3, drawing 5, figure 5a). The system is ready for use by the user.
For technical reasons, the first and last blind (5) of the system may be fixed without these two blinds being connected to the drive transmitting bar (30).
The system is operated by the user by remote control or via a mobile phone. A speaker, a heater or a socket can be installed on both sides (2, 4) of the support frame that are in parallel position to the blinds, i.e. one in front of them and one behind them and not featuring water drippers (38) and therefore no water enters therein.
The system can be used in all autonomous shading systems (pergolas) installed in open spaces in cottages, outdoor restaurant areas, gardens, etc. Its gaps can also be covered by means of an insect screen or sliding windows.

Claims

Shading system with a plurality of blinds (5), a hidden blind rotation mechanism, the blinds (5) resting against a support frame that has four sides, of which two sides (1, 3) are perpendicular to the blinds (5) and for collecting and draining water with a water dripper (38), and two sides (2, 4) are parallel to the blinds, and a drive bar (30) for the blinds, the support frame rests against four supporting columns (7), each of them has inside its inner profile (48) a clamped seating system (49), said blinds (5) being openly formed for water drainage (36) on one side along their entire length and having an the- overlapping flap (37) on the other side along their length and two caps (18, 19, 20, 21) at their ends, wherein said shading system is being comprised of:
- the support frame having four support profiles (1, 2, 3, 4),

- at least one rotation blind (6) featuring a through chamber (15) inside it along its length,

- the four supporting columns (7),

- two profiles (55) with formed recesses (57),
characterised by the fact that
- each support profile (1, 2, 3, 4) has a hook-shaped (51a) accessory (53a) at each end, and each of the support profiles (1, 3) for the two sides perpendicular to the blinds (5) has a connection projection (52a) and an opening (40) equal in size with the water dripper (38) cross-section,

- said shading system has said hidden blind rotation mechanism (10, 11, 12) with a reducer (13) installed inside the through chamber (15) of the rotation blind (6),

- each supporting column (7) has an opening (42) at its side, corresponding to the opening (40) of one of the support profiles (1,3) for the two sides perpendicular to the blinds (5) and with sealing means (41), and each column has two hook (51) accessories (53) corresponding to the hook (51a) of the frame profiles (1, 2, 3, 4) and two spacers (52),

- said two profiles (55) are with formed recesses (57), each located on the top Z of one of the two profiles (1, 3) of the support frame laid perpendicularily to the blinds, and with two profile (55) caps (56) with corresponding recesses (57a).
Shading system, according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that the rotation blind (6) has recesses (17) on the inner surface of the through chamber (15) and along its length, by the fact that the hidden blind rotation mechanism is installed within a casing (8) that has a chamber with a polygonal cross-section on the inside and protrusions (16) on the outside along its length corresponding to the recesses (17) inside the blind (6) and sliding into them, with the mechanism being comprised of, serially connected,
- a motor support base (9),

- a motor (10), with a fixed (10a) and a rotating (10b) part,

- a fixed connector (11),

- a rotating connector (12),

- a reducer (13) with a fixed external shell (11a), with reducer input (12a) and reducer output (14a), where the external shell (11a) is affixed to the connector (11) which is connected to the fixed part of the motor (10a), while the reducer input (12a) is connected to the rotating connector (12) which is connected to the rotating end of the motor (10b) and

- a rotary drive connector (14) shaped externally as a polygon, by the fact that the motor cap (18) at one end of the rotation blind (6) where the motor mechanism (10) is located has a cap (18) of equal length to the cross-section of the rotation blind (6), a perforation (22) at the imaginary extension of the imaginary rotation axis of the rotation blind (6) for the motor (10) output and its fitting to the support base (9),
while the drive cap (19) at the other end of the rotation blind (6) is longer than the cross-section of the rotation blind (6) it covers, with a hole (25) in the imaginary extension of the imaginary rotation axis of the blind (6), where a rotation pin (26) is permanently affixed, with an extension (28) having a hole (29) at its end and a pin (31) for connecting the blind (6) to the drive bar (30),
by the fact that the cap (20) at one end of the plain blind (5) is of equal length to the length of the cross-section of the blind (5) it covers, with a hole (25) in the imaginary extension of the imaginary rotation axis of the blind (5), where a rotation pin (26) is permanently affixed for fitting this side of the blind to one side of the frame (1),

the connection cap (21) at the other end of the blind (5) is longer than its cross-section (5), with a hole (25) in the imaginary extension of the rotation axis of the blind (5), where a rotation pin (26a) is permanently affixed for fitting this side of the blind to the other side of the frame (3), with an extension (28) having a hole (29) at its end and a pin (31) connecting to the drive bar (30),

by the fact that a plug (27) is fitted on the pins (26 and 26a) to all three caps (19, 20, 21) that have a pin, with a composition containing graphite and by the fact that the pins (26, 26a) have a through hole in the centre and end up in a head-shaped form,

and by the fact that all four caps (18, 19, 20, 21) are secured to the blinds (5,6) by means of self-perforated screws (35).
Shading system with according to claims 1 and 2, characterised by the fact that the caps (18, 19, 20, 21) covering the edges of the blinds (5, 6) have water drainage formation (36a) corresponding to the formation (36) of the blinds (5, 6),
that the overlapping flap (37) has a recess at its end along its entire length for sealing means (58) and formed protrusion (59) and by the fact that the caps (18 and 19) of the rotation blind (6) are similarly formed (28^a and 28) to the overlapping flap (37) and the caps (20 and 21) of plain blinds (5) are similarly formed (28a and 28) to the overlapping flap (37).
Shading system with according tc claims 1, 2 and 3 characterised by the fact that the rotary drive connector (14), the through casing (8) and the chamber (15) of the rotation blind (6) can be formed in any other external or internal shape accordingly, provided it is ensured that the components connector (14), casing (8) and rotation blind (6) will strictly follow one another's movement.
Shading system according to claim 1 characterised by the fact that both profiles of the support frame that are parallel to the blinds (2, 4), one in front of them and one behind them, have room for housing electronic and electrical systems and by the fact that both profiles of the support frame (1, 3) that are perpendicular to the blinds contain a water dripper (38) inside them ending up to protrusions (60) with sealing means (41).