FIELD OF APPLICATION
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The present invention relates to a windproof kit for a parasol.
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In particular, the present invention refers to a windproof kit for a beach parasol, a parasol comprising a windproof kit and a method for installing a windproof kit on a parasol.
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By windproof kit is meant a device to resist the wind, that is, a device that allows the parasol not to be blown away by wind gusts.
PRIOR ART
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Parasols comprising a vertical support pole having a first lower end to be anchored to the ground and a second upper end, longitudinally opposite to said first end, a plurality of support slats for a cover sheet are known.
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The parasol is configured to move from a first closed position, in which the slats and the cover sheet are parallel and close to the support pole, to a second open position, in which the slats and the cover sheet are substantially perpendicular to the support pole.
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In the open position, the cover sheet is configured to shade the ground.
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The parasols of known type can have either a central support pole or a side support pole.
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Several accidental modes can occur on windy days.
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On windy days, the open parasol catches air from underneath, acting as a sail, and can even kick the support pole off the ground and fly away. Depending on the strength of the parasol slats or not, it often happens that the wind overturns the slats and the cover sheet upwards. Even if the support pole is not kicked off, generally the rods bend and/or break making the parasol no longer usable.
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It may also happen that the wind pushes so hard that the rods to which the canvas is tied collapse inwards, even in this case the parasol is to be replaced.
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In the face of these inconveniences, the parasols themselves are often equipped with a cord to fix the support pole to heavy stones or stakes.
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The use of the ropes from the support pole to keep the parasol more firmly fixed to the ground is widely used but if on the one hand it helps prevent the entire parasol from flying away, it does not protect the upper part consisting of the cover sheet and the slats which can therefore still be overturned upwards or collapse inwards and break.
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To date, the need for a windproof kit for a parasol, able to protect it from strong wind gusts is increasingly felt.
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In this context, the technical task underlying the present invention is to propose a windproof kit for a parasol which obviates the drawbacks in the prior art as described above.
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A first object of the present invention is to provide a windproof kit for a parasol that is easy and quick to install on a parasol.
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A further object of the present invention is to provide a windproof kit for a parasol that takes up little space when not in use.
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Another object of the present invention is to provide a windproof kit for a parasol that is easy to use and maintain.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
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These objects are achieved in accordance with the invention with the features listed in the appended claims.
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A first object of the present invention consists of a windproof kit for parasols having the characteristics set forth in independent claim 1.
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Further advantageous features of the invention are the subject-matter of dependent claims 2 to 8.
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A second object of the present invention concerns a parasol comprising a windproof kit having the characteristics indicated in claim 9.
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A third object of the present invention concerns a method for mounting a windproof kit on a parasol having the steps indicated in claim 10.
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These and further advantages of a windproof kit for a parasol according to the invention will be highlighted more clearly in the following description of embodiments with reference to the accompanying figures.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the attached figures 1 to 8, which are to be considered merely exemplary and not limiting of the subject matter of the present patent application.
- Fig. 1 is a view showing a parasol of a known type, to which a windproof kit according to the present invention can be installed;
- Fig. 2 shows a windproof kit according to the present invention installed on the parasol of figure 1;
- Fig. 3 shows an enlarged detail of the lower part of the parasol sheet of Figure 2, at the end of a slat;
- Fig. 4 shows the various elements of the windproof kit according to the present invention;
- Fig. 5 shows the self-locking sliding element for hooking the kit of the present invention to the slat;
- Fig. 6 shows an alternative embodiment of the rigid coupling element of the kit of the present invention;
- Fig. 7 shows a second embodiment of a windproof kit according to the present invention installed on the parasol of figure 1;
- Fig. 8 shows an enlarged detail of Figure 7, near a parasol slat;
- Fig. 9 shows a connection element of two ends of a fixing rope;
- Fig. 10 shows a sliding element configured to adjust the length of the rope once installed on the parasol of figure 1;
- Fig. 11 shows an element for hooking to the slat and to the ground anchoring element the windproof kit of Fig. 7;
- Fig. 12 shows a rope constrained to the sliding element of Fig. 10;
- Fig. 13 shows an alternative embodiment of the rigid coupling element of the windproof kit of figure 7.
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In the attached figures, the corresponding elements will be identified by the same numerical references.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
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The present invention, illustrated in the attached figures, concerns a windproof kit for a parasol 1.
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The parasol on which the windproof kit according to the present invention can be installed is shown in an open configuration in figure 1.
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The parasol 1 comprises a support pole 2 (substantially vertical when in use) having a first lower end 3 to be anchored to the ground and a second upper end 4, longitudinally opposite to said first end 3, a plurality of support slats 5 for a cover sheet 6.
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The support slats 5 start from the upper end 4, to which the cover sheet 6 is constrained, and slide radially up to the outer circumference thereof in such a way as to support the cover sheet 6 when the parasol 1 is in the open configuration.
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The parasol 1 is configured to move from a first closed position, in which the slats 5 and the cover sheet 6 are parallel, substantially vertical and close to the support pole, to a second open position, in which the slats 5 and the cover sheet 6 are substantially perpendicular to the support pole 2.
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The lower end 3 of the support pole 2 may either be directly fitted in the ground or in the sand or may be supported by a suitable ground support base, as shown in figures 1 and 2.
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In the open position, the cover sheet 6 is configured to shade the ground below.
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As shown in figure 2, the windproof kit according to the present invention comprises a rigid element 11 for removable coupling configured to be inserted, from the top and above the cover sheet 6, into the second end 4 of the central support pole 2 and at least two ropes 12a, 12b, each of which is connectable near a first end to the rigid element 11 and connectable near the opposite end to a ground anchoring element 17.
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The at least two ropes 12a, 12b of the windproof kit must be mounted on the parasol 1 in such a way that they slide above the cover sheet 6, at the slats 5.
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Depending on the strength of the wind, it is possible to mount between two and four ropes 12a, 12b, one end of each of which is constrained to a weight or ballast 17 to the ground, while the other end is slidably constrained to the rigid element 11 resting on the tip 4 of the parasol 1.
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The rigid element 11 for parasol anchoring is a disc comprising a central passage 13, configured to make the upper end 4 of the parasol pass, and a plurality of slots 14a, 14b, 14c and 14d proximate the outer circumference, each slot being configured to pass and slide one or more ropes 12a, 12b.
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The end of each rope 12a, 12b is slidably constrained on the rigid element 11 by sliding it in the slots 14a, 14b, 14c and 14d.
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Advantageously, each rope 12a, 12b comprises a sliding and self-locking element 15 comprising a housing 16 configured to stably receive within it the end of a support slat 5 of the parasol 1, as shown in detail in figure 3 (bottom-to-top view of figure 2).
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Preferably, the ropes 12a, 12b are flat and have a width of between 2 and 8 cm, preferably, a length of between 250 and 500 cm.
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The sliding and self-locking element 15 is a cam buckle comprising a housing 16 configured to receive and lock the end of a slat 5.
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Advantageously, each rope 12a, 12b comprises a sliding element (not shown in the attached figures) configured to adjust its length between the rigid coupling element 11 and the ground anchoring element.
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The ground anchoring element is a bag 17, preferably of fabric, which can be filled with a heavy material, such as, for example, sand or stones.
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When the bag 17 is empty, it can be used to contain within it the ropes and the various elements that make up the windproof kit.
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Preferably, the bag 17 has a width of between 25 cm and 45 cm and a height of between 35 cm and 50 cm.
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Advantageously, the lower end (when in use on a parasol 1) of each rope 12a, 12b comprises a double snap buckle 18 for coupling it to the bag 17 which acts as a ballast. Such a buckle is composed of a female element 18a and a male element 18b.
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A second embodiment of the windproof kit for a parasol of a known type as shown in figure 1 is illustrated in figures 7 to 13.
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As shown in figure 7, the windproof kit according to the second embodiment of the present invention comprises a rigid element 21 for the removable coupling configured to be inserted, from the top and above the cover sheet 6, into the second end 4 of the central support pole 2 of a parasol 1 and, near each slat 5, at least one rope 22a, 22b.
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In this second embodiment, the ropes 22a, 22b used are not flat, but have a cylindrical or rounded section.
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The rigid element 21 comprises a central hole, removably positionable on the upper end 4 of a parasol 1, and a plurality of holes or passages 26a, 26b configured to make a rope 22a, 22b pass as explained in the following of the present description.
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Advantageously, each pair of holes or passages 26a, 26b is placed astride each slat 5 of the parasol 1, in such a way that when the rope 22a, 22b passes inside them, it slides parallel to and at the slat 5 of the parasol 1, outside the shading sheet 6.
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The at least two pairs of ropes 22a, 22b are connectable near a first end to the rigid element 21 and connectable near the opposite end to a ground anchoring element 17.
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The at least two ropes 22a, 22b of the windproof kit must be mounted on the parasol 1 in such a way that they slide above the cover sheet 6, at the slats 5.
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Advantageously, three ropes 22a, 22b can be used, one for each slat 5 of the parasol 1. A single rope 22a, 22b comprises two opposite ends and, in use on a parasol 1, has a first portion 22a, and a second portion 22b (i.e., is bent so as to be double).
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Depending on the strength of the wind, it is possible to mount between two and four ropes 22a, 22b, one end of each of which is constrained to a weight or ballast 17 on the ground, while the other end is slidably constrained to the rigid element 21 resting on the tip 4 of the parasol 1.
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Each rope 22a, 22b is removably fixed to the free end of the slat 5 and to the anchoring element 17 by means of a carabiner 25.
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In particular, the double rope 22a, 22b is made to pass through the second carabiner 25 constrained to the bag 17.
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The two opposite ends of the rope 22a, 22b are each constrained, for example by means of a knot, to an anchoring element 24 of the ends. Preferably, the anchoring element of the ends 24 is a metal element, of elongated shape, with two opposite through holes configured to make the rope 22a, 22b pass.
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The knot at each free end of the ropes 22a, 22b prevents them from slipping off and constrains it to the anchoring element 24, preferably at a point located at the length of the slat 5.
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Preferably, each rope 22a, 22b has a length of between 450 and 600 cm, preferably of between 520 and 560 cm.
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Advantageously, each rope 22a, 22b comprises a sliding element 23 configured to adjust its length between the rigid coupling element 21 and the ground anchoring element 17. The sliding element 23 comprises a central hole 23a, configured to make the two portions 22a, 22b of a rope pass internally, two protuberances 23c, opposite to said central hole 23a, configured to form a recess or cavity 23b between them. Each protuberance 23b comprises a through hole.
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The ground anchoring element is a bag 17, preferably of fabric, which can be filled with a heavy material, such as, for example, sand or stones.
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When the bag 17 is empty, it can be used to contain within it the ropes and the various elements that make up the windproof kit.
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Preferably, the bag 17 has a width of between 25 cm and 45 cm and a height of between 35 cm and 50 cm.
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Advantageously, the lower part (when in use on a parasol 1) of the rope 22a, 22b is made to pass through a second carabiner 25, forming a loop, to removably couple it to the bag 17 which acts as a ballast.
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The mounting of the windproof kit illustrated in figures 7 to 13 comprises the following steps:
- inserting a first free end of the rope 22a into the hole 26a of the upper central rigid element 21;
- inserting the first free end into the second hole 26b of the rigid element 21;
- inserting said first free end into a first hole of the anchoring element 24 at a slat 5, for example by means of a knot that prevents it from slipping off;
- inserting the second free end of the rope 22b into the central hole 23a of the sliding element 23;
- inserting said second free end into a second hole of the anchoring element 24 at a slat 5, for example by means of a knot that prevents it from slipping off;
- anchoring a first carabiner 25 at a slat 5, under the sheet 6 of the parasol 1;
- passing the rope portions 22a, 22b inside the first carabiner 25 constrained to the slat 5 (as shown in figure 8);
- constraining a second carabiner 25 to a ground anchoring element 17;
- making the rope 22a, 22b and the sliding element 23 pass internally to the second carabiner 25;
- slidably constraining the rope 22a, 22b on the groove 23b of the sliding element 23 (as shown in figure 12);
- adjusting, by acting on the sliding element 23, the length of the rope 22a, 22b in such a way that it is of the length necessary to join the central rigid element 21 with the anchoring element 17 with the right tension.
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In this way, the two portions of rope 22a, 22b will tend to join or touch at the slat, without slipping on the sides of the same during use.
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As described in relation to the second embodiment of the windproof kit, it refers to a single rope 22 with a circular section with two opposite ends that are constrained to the ends of the element 24, creating two portions of rope 22a, 22b which slide from the central rigid element 21, through the first carabiner 25 (constrained to the slat 5), to the sliding element 23 and to the second carabiner 25 constrained to the ground anchoring element 17.
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A second object of the present invention concerns a parasol comprising a windproof kit having the characteristics described above.
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A third object of the present invention concerns a method for mounting a windproof kit on a parasol 1 as described above, having the steps of:
- inserting a rigid coupling element 11 on said second end 4 of the central support pole 2 so that it rests on the cover sheet 6;
- connecting a first end of at least two ropes 12a, 12b to said rigid element 11 and
- connecting a second end of these ropes 12a, 12b, opposite to said first end, to a ground anchoring element 17.
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Each rope 12a, 12b is made to slide inside an element 15 until the free end of each slat 6 is housed inside a special housing 16, as shown in figure 3.
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The windproof kit according to the present invention can be easily and quickly associated with a parasol 1 having a shape, central or side support pole, or diameter of any type, making it an easily and quickly adaptable system.
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It is clear that the specific features are described in relation to different embodiments of the invention with exemplary and non-limiting intent.
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Obviously, a person skilled in the art will be able to make further modifications and variants to the present invention, in order to meet contingent and specific needs. For example, the technical features described in relation to one embodiment of the invention may be extrapolated therefrom and applied to other embodiments of the invention. Such modifications and variants are moreover contained within the scope of protection of the invention, as defined by the following claims.