FR3053064A3 - COVERING DEVICE - Google Patents

Abstract

Covering device comprising: a support structure (2) provided with at least two columns (5) which delimit between them a corresponding lateral side (3) of the covering device, and of at least one beam (6) connecting columns (5); cover means (10) supported at least in part by the columns (5); at least one lateral protection device (12) disposed on the corresponding lateral side (3) of the covering device and provided with a protective element (13), which is arranged between the columns (5) and extends between its two lateral edges (14) fixed to said columns (5). Each column (5) is obtained by an elongated profile (7) made in a single body and integrally comprises at least one guide (16) which is slidably attached to the corresponding lateral edge (14) of the protection element (13) .

Description

COVERAGE DEVICE DESCRIPTION Field of application

The present invention relates to a cover device.

The covering device in question is intended to be used for the covering of external surfaces to protect them from climatic agents and in particular sun and rain.

The covering device in object is indicated for the realization of pergolas, verandas and more generally of structures of cover, as well in gardens of private residences as in outdoor spaces of public places, as for example restaurants, hotels, seaside establishments or other structures.

The cover device object of the present invention is therefore part of the industrial sector of the production of blinds for covering outdoor spaces.

State of the art

Numerous outdoor awning solutions are known on the market, consisting of a four-post support structure, comprising four corner columns placed in the lower part of the ground and connected in the upper part to each other by four beams arranged in parallel. two by two and between which is suspended a cover fabric of an underlying soil surface.

In particular, the patent EP 2351896 describes an example of a canopy, of the type described above, comprising several winding screens, which are arranged on the sides of the blind and which each comprise a winding roller housed inside the roller blind. the corresponding beam and carrying a rolled cloth to be stretched to close the corresponding side of said blind.

In more detail, the fabric of each winder screen is fixed at one of its upper ends to the pivoting roller and, at one of the lower ends, to an aluminum crossbar.

Each winder screen also comprises two guides intended to receive by sliding the ends of the transverse bar and arranged along the columns of the awning canopy which delimit the corresponding side of the latter.

In more detail, each guide comprises a shaped profile which is fixed, for example by means of retaining means, to one side of the corresponding column. This side of the column is provided on its outer surface with a prismatic cavity delimited by a pair of shoulders intended to receive in abutment a corresponding portion of coupling of the shaped profile of the guide.

In addition, inside each guide is housed a vertical rail inside which is inserted the corresponding lateral edge of the fabric when the latter is unrolled from the roller to close the corresponding side of the awning canopy.

In more detail, each of the lateral edges of the fabric is associated with a member of flexible thickness, generally obtained with a flexible toothing, slidable in the rail of the corresponding guide during the winding and unwinding of the fabric.

The canopy of known type described in EP 2351896 has been found in practice not without drawbacks.

A first disadvantage of this blind of known type is due to the fact that it is complex from the point of view of construction and expensive to achieve insofar as it requires the use of specific shaped profiles to hang on the columns to make the guides roller blinds.

Another disadvantage of the known type of blind described above is due to the fact that it requires long and complex operations for its assembly or for the replacement of certain components such as awnings roller blinds. Indeed, these operations necessarily require mounting and / or dismounting the shaped profiles of the guides, resulting in long operational times.

Presentation of the invention

In this situation, the main object of the present invention is to eliminate the drawbacks of the known type of solutions mentioned above, by providing a cover device that is simple from the point of view of the construction and in particular that is obtained with a reduced number of components.

Said object of the present invention has been achieved by means of a covering device comprising: a support structure provided with a plurality of lateral flanks and an upper side intended to be disposed above an underlying soil surface, said support structure comprising at least two columns which delimit between them one of said lateral flanks, each of said columns comprising an elongated profile which develops along a development axis between an upper end and a lower end intended to be laid at floor, and at least one column connecting beam at the upper ends of the elongate profiles of the columns; cover means supported at least in part by the columns and arranged at the upper side of the support structure; at least one lateral protection device arranged on the corresponding lateral side between the columns and comprising at least one protective element which extends between its two lateral edges connected to the elongate profiles of the columns, and actuating means mechanically connected to the columns; protection element and intended to move the protection element to slide along the columns. The elongate profile of each column is made in a single body and comprises integrally at least one guide which develops longitudinally along a guide direction parallel to the axis of development of the elongate profile of the column, it is fixed by sliding at the corresponding lateral edge of the protection element and it is equipped with two arms provided with independent free ends which delimit between them a longitudinal opening where the protective element is inserted by sliding.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an economic cover device to be produced and which, in particular, does not require any complex operation for the manufacture of its components.

According to this last purpose and according to a particular characteristic of the invention, the elongated profile of each column defines an interior volume where the corresponding guide is disposed.

According to another particular characteristic of the invention, the interior volume is hollow. According to another particular feature of the invention, the elongated profile of each column is provided with a perimeter wall which extends around the axis of development and which has an outer surface and an inner surface which delimits the internal volume and to which are fixed the free ends of the arms of the guide.

According to another particular characteristic of the invention, the longitudinal opening of the guide extends passively between the inner surface and the outer surface of the perimeter wall of the elongate profile of the column.

According to another particular characteristic of the invention, the perimeter wall of the elongate profile is provided with several sides, each of which being delimited laterally by two longitudinal edges parallel to the axis of development of the corresponding column; the guide is disposed on the corresponding side of the column at one of the longitudinal edges of the side.

According to another particular characteristic of the invention, the sides of each column comprise at least one outer side oriented towards the corresponding lateral side, and at least two guide sides, each of which being oriented towards the guide side of the other column. which delimits the corresponding lateral flank; on each side of the guide is formed the corresponding guide which is disposed at the outer side of the corresponding column.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a simple and quick cover device to assemble.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a cover device having a simple and fast maintenance.

In accordance with these latter objects and according to a particular characteristic of the invention, the means for actuating the lateral protection device comprise a roller rotatably fixed to the support structure; the protective element comprises a fabric which wraps around the roll, and is provided with an upper edge fixed to the roll and a lower edge, upper and lower edges between which the side edges develop, each of which is equipped with a flexible engagement edge. The lateral protection device also comprises: a transverse bar fixed to the lower edge of the fabric and provided with lateral terminations slidably inserted in the longitudinal openings of the corresponding guides; two rails each of which is inserted into the corresponding guide and provided with a longitudinal groove for receiving slidably the engagement edge of the corresponding lateral edge of the fabric; the arms of each guide delimit between them an inner housing which is housed, in a retaining ratio, the corresponding rail.

According to another particular feature of the invention, the beam is provided with a first housing containing the roller, and a second housing disposed at an upper dimension of the upper ends of the elongate profiles of the columns, said second housing containing the cross bar. disposed in a raised position where the fabric is wrapped around the roll.

According to another particular characteristic of the invention, the first housing is disposed at an upper dimension of the upper ends of the elongate profiles of the columns; each beam comprising a gutter disposed below the first housing and capable of receiving the rainwater flowing from said cover means.

According to another particular characteristic of the invention, each rail develops between a first end, disposed inside the corresponding guide, and a second end which is disposed out of the guide beyond the upper end of the elongated profile of the corresponding column.

According to another particular characteristic of the invention, the covering device comprises a support body disposed in the inner housing of the corresponding guide, interposed between the lower end of the elongate profile of the corresponding column and the first end of the corresponding rail, and supporting said rail in support.

According to another particular characteristic of the invention, the support body is elastic.

According to another particular characteristic of the invention, the support body is essentially shaped in "V" and comprises two fins arranged face to face, each of which extends between a first end, free, and a second end connected to the second end of the other fin.

Brief description of the drawings

The advantages of said invention will be even more evident in the following detailed description, made with reference to the accompanying drawings, which show possible embodiments simply provided by way of example and not limiting, where: - Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the top of the covering device object of the present invention, according to a first embodiment; FIG. 2 shows a detail of the covering device illustrated in FIG. 1, relating to an angle of junction between two beams and a corresponding column, with certain parts removed in order to better highlight others; - Figure 3 shows a side view of the junction angle between the beams and the corresponding column shown in Figure 2, with some deleted parts to better highlight others; - Figure 4 shows a cross-sectional view of one of the columns of the cover device; FIG. 5 shows a detail of the column relating to a guide for a lateral protection device of the covering device; FIG. 6 shows a detail of the covering device relating to the lower end of one of the columns; - Figure 7 shows a cross-sectional view of one of the beams of the cover device; - Figure 8 shows a perspective view of the top of the cover device object of the present invention, according to a second embodiment; FIG. 9 shows a cross-sectional view of one of the columns disposed on the same lateral flank of the covering device illustrated in FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EXAMPLE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With reference to the accompanying drawings, a covering device object of the present invention has been indicated as a whole by 1.

The covering device 1 in question is suitable for producing pergolas, verandas and, more generally, structures for covering outdoor spaces, such as, for example, private residence gardens and outdoor spaces of public places, such as restaurants, hotels, bathing establishments, etc.

According to the embodiments illustrated in the accompanying figures, the covering device 1, which is the subject of the present invention, comprises a support structure 2 provided with a plurality of lateral flanks 3 and an upper side 4 intended to be disposed of. above an underlying soil surface.

In particular, the support structure 2 has a substantially parallelepipedal shape, in particular rectangular, and it has four lateral flanks 3 substantially vertical and arranged parallel two by two.

The support structure 2 is closed in the upper part of its upper side 4 which is in particular orthogonal to the lateral flanks 3 and preferably horizontal.

The support structure 2 comprises at least two columns 5, which delimit between them a corresponding lateral flank 3 of said support structure 2, and at least one beam 6 which connects said columns 5.

In more detail, each column 5 comprises an elongated profile 7 which develops along its axis of development X between an upper end 8 and a lower end 9 intended to be placed on the ground.

The beam 6 is placed at the upper ends 8 of the columns 5 and is preferably orthogonal to the latter, and in particular horizontal. Advantageously, according to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the covering device 1 comprises four columns 5, arranged in particular at the lateral angles of the support structure 2 and connected two by two by corresponding beams 6 which extend over the along the corresponding lateral flank 3 of the support structure 2, in particular so as to obtain a self-supporting structure of parallelepipedal shape. According to the embodiment illustrated in Figure 8, the cover device 1 comprises other columns 5, each being arranged along the corresponding side flank 3, in particular in the intermediate position, between two corresponding columns 5 placed in angular position.

Differently, according to another embodiment not illustrated, the support structure 2 of the cover device 1 is leaned through its lateral side 3 to a vertical wall (such as, for example, the wall of a building) to which are advantageously fixed at the rear the ends of two beams 6.

Preferably, according to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the beams 6 of the support structure 2 delimit between themselves said upper side 4 of said support structure 2 and they are preferably arranged parallel two by two and essentially horizontal.

According to the invention, the covering device 1 comprises covering means 10 supported at least in part by the columns 5, in particular by means of at least one pair of beams 6 fixed to said columns 5.

Said cover means 10 are arranged at the upper side 4 of the support structure 2, in particular between the beams 6 of the latter, and they are intended to cover the underlying floor surface to protect it for example from the sun or rain.

Advantageously, according to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the covering means 10 comprise a plurality of cover blades 11 arranged one after the other in succession and supported by a pair of parallel beams 6, one to the other. 'other. Each cover blade 11 develops along its own direction of development between two opposite ends associated with the respective beams 6.

The cover blades 11 can be actuated between a closed position, where they are arranged partly superposed one to the next to cover the underlying soil surface in order to protect the latter from the sun and / or from the rain, and an open position, where the cover blades 11 are arranged spaced apart from one another delimiting between them passage openings likely to be traversed by the light and by the air.

A particular example of the above-mentioned cover blades 11 is described in Italian Patent Application No. PD2014A000283 on page 8 line 23 to page 27 line 10.

According to a different embodiment not illustrated in the accompanying figures, the covering means 10 comprise a cover fabric, which is arranged on the upper side 4 of the support structure 2 between the beams 6 of the latter, to cover the underlying soil surface.

In particular, according to said different embodiment, the covering means 10 comprise a plurality of windbreak profiles on which the cover fabric is suspended. The said windbreak profiles are slidably attached at their ends to the corresponding longitudinal guides provided on two corresponding parallel beams 6 of the support structure 2 of the covering device 1. It is also possible to provide driving the windbreak profiles for moving the latter along the longitudinal guides to actuate the cover fabric between an extended position, where it is essentially stretched over the surface to be covered, and a folded position, where said Windbreak profiles are leaned against each other with the cover fabric folded into a plurality of side-by-side blades, each of which extends between a pair of subsequent windbreak profiles.

According to the present invention, the cover device 1 in the subject comprises at least one lateral protection device 12 disposed on the corresponding lateral side 3 of the support structure 2 between the corresponding columns 5, and operable to close the corresponding lateral sidewall 3.

In particular, the covering device 1 comprises several lateral protection devices 12 placed at the corresponding lateral sides 3 of the support structure 2 of the covering device 1.

Advantageously, the covering device 1 comprises a single lateral protection device 12 disposed on the corresponding lateral side 3 (according to the example of FIG. 1), or several lateral protection devices 12 arranged on the same lateral side 3 (according to FIG. example of Figure 8) with one of the columns 5 interposed between them.

The lateral protection device 12 comprises a protection element 13 which is arranged between the corresponding columns 5 and extends between its two lateral edges 14 fixed to said columns 5.

In addition, the lateral protection device 12 comprises actuating means 15 mechanically connected to the protection element 13 and intended to slide the latter along the corresponding columns 5 to open and close, at least in part , the corresponding lateral flank 3 of the support structure 2.

According to the basic idea of the present invention, the elongate profile 7 of each column 5 is made in a single body and it comprises integrally at least one guide 16 which develops longitudinally along a Y guide direction parallel to the development axis X of said column 5 and slidably engages the corresponding lateral edge 14 of the protection element 13.

In more detail, with reference to the embodiment illustrated in Figures 4, 5 and 9, each guide 16 mentioned above is equipped with two arms 17 provided with corresponding free ends 18 which delimit between them a longitudinal opening 19 where is inserted by sliding the protective element 13 of the corresponding lateral protection device 12.

The embodiment of the guides 16 in a single body with the elongated profile 7 of the corresponding column 5 advantageously makes it possible to produce in a single element the guide 16 and the column 5, hence a simplification of the covering device in terms of structure and production.

In particular, the elongated profile 7 is obtained by a single metal profile (which produces the column 5 and the corresponding guide 16), preferably obtained by extrusion.

In particular, with reference to the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 9, the elongate profile 7 of each column 5 is provided with a perimetrical wall 20 which extends around the axis of development X of the column 5, preferably in quadrangular cross section.

In particular, the perimeter wall 20 of the elongate profile 7 is provided with several sides 21, for example four, preferably planar.

In more detail, each side 21 is delimited laterally by two longitudinal edges 60 parallel to the axis of development X of the corresponding column 5 and which define, in particular, the longitudinal edges of the elongated profile 7 of said column 5.

Preferably, the guide 16 is disposed on the corresponding side 21 of the column 5 at one of the longitudinal edges 60 of said side 21.

In particular, the sides 21 of each column 5 comprise at least one outer side 21 'which is oriented towards the corresponding lateral side 3 of the covering device 1, and at least two guide sides 21 ", each of which being oriented towards the side 21 "of the other column 5 which defines the corresponding lateral flank 3. The corresponding guide 16 is formed on each guide side 21".

Preferably, according to the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 9, the elongated profile 7 of each column 5 comprises several guides 16, each of which being disposed on the corresponding guide side 21 "of the perimeter wall 20 adjacent to the protective device. corresponding lateral 12.

In particular, the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4 relates to the cross-section of one of the columns 5 placed in the angular position of the support structure 2, where the guides 16 are positioned on the guide sides 21 ". the perimeter wall 20 of the column 5 arranged perpendicularly with respect to the other, with the column 5 which comprises two outer sides 21 'orthogonal to one another and oriented towards the corresponding lateral sides 3 (orthogonal l one to the other) of said support structure 2. The exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 9 relates to the cross section of one of the columns 5 placed along said lateral flank 3 of the support structure 2 between two corresponding columns 5 in angular position; in this last embodiment, the guides 16 are positioned on the guide sides 21 "of the perimeter wall 20 of the column 5 arranged in opposite directions with respect to each other and facing the corresponding lateral protection devices 12 disposed on the corresponding lateral side 3 of the support structure 2, with the column 5 which comprises a single outer side 2 Γ which extends between the two guide sides 21 "(orthogonal thereto) and facing the lateral flank 3.

Advantageously, each guide 16 is arranged on the corresponding guide side 21 "at the outer side 2Γ of the corresponding column 5, so that, in particular, the corresponding protection element 13 is slidable (with its edges 14 disposed within the corresponding guides 16) substantially coplanar with the outer sides 21 'of the corresponding columns 5 (where, in particular, the term "coplanar" means that the plane of the outer sides 21' and the plane of the protection element 13 are at a distance of between 0 and 4 cm from each other).

In particular, each guide 16 is disposed on the corresponding guide side 21 "at the longitudinal edge 60 which separates said guide side 21" from the outer side 21 'of the column 5, preferably at a distance from said longitudinal edge 60 between 0 and 4 cm from each other.

Advantageously, the elongated profile 7 of each column 5 delimits an interior volume 22, preferably hollow.

In particular, the perimeter wall 20 of the elongate profile 7 of each column 5 is provided with an outer surface 23 (which defines the sides of the column 5 externally) and an inner surface 24 which delimits said internal volume 22.

The guide 16 is disposed in the inner volume 22 of the corresponding column 5, in particular by entering through the inner surface 24 of the perimeter wall 20 of the elongate profile 7 of said column 5.

In particular, the free ends 18 of the arms 17 of the guide 16 are fixed (in a single body) to the inner surface 24 of the perimeter wall 20 of the elongated profile 7 of the column 5, so that said arms 17 enter completely. in the inner volume 22 of the column 5 without exceeding the outer surface 23 of the latter. Advantageously, the longitudinal opening 19 of the guide 16 extends passively between the inner surface 24 and the outer surface 23 of the elongated profile 7 of the column 5, so as to allow the introduction of the lateral edge 14 of the protective element. 13 within said guide 16.

Preferably, the two arms 17 of each guide 16 develop projecting relative to the inner surface 24 of the perimeter wall 20 of the elongate profile 7 of the corresponding column 5, and in particular they delimit between them an inner housing 25 in which is inserted the corresponding lateral edge 14 of the protection element 13.

Advantageously, the two arms 17 of each guide 16 develop longitudinally along the entire development of the column 5 along the corresponding axis of development X between the lower end 9 and the upper end 8 of the elongate profile 7 of said column 5.

Advantageously, the two arms 17 of each guide 16 develop transversely between the corresponding free ends 18 (which delimit between them the longitudinal opening 19) and corresponding opposite ends fixed 26 connected to one another.

In particular, each guide 16 is provided with a bottom wall 27 which connects the fixed ends 26 of the arms 17 of the guide 16 and preferably arranged in closure of the bottom of the inner housing 25 of said guide 16.

Advantageously, the two arms 17 develop parallel to each other with the bottom wall 27 preferably orthogonal to said arms 17.

According to the embodiment illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, said actuating means 15 of the lateral protection device 12 (intended to move the protective element 13 thereof) comprise a roller 28 fixed by rotation to the support structure 2 and arranged in particular with a rotation axis W orthogonal to the development axes X of the columns 5. Advantageously, the roller 28 is housed inside the beam 6 of the support structure 2 arranged along the sidewall corresponding lateral 3 of the latter, in particular with the axis of rotation W parallel to said beam 6.

In addition, the protective element 13 of the lateral protection device 12 comprises a fabric 29 which wraps around said roller 28.

In particular, the fabric 29 is made of fabric or plastic, obscuring or transparent type, depending on the function that said fabric 29 is intended to fill, such as for example to shelter a space of the sun and / or wind and / or, more generally, climatic conditions of the external environment.

In more detail, the fabric 29 has a preferably rectangular shape and is provided with an upper edge, attached to the roller 28, and a lower edge. Between the upper edge and the lower edge of the fabric 29 are developed the lateral edges 14 of the protection element 13, each of which is provided with a corresponding flexible and sliding engagement edge 30 along the corresponding guide 16 during winding and unwinding of said fabric 29.

The lateral protection device 12 furthermore comprises a transverse bar 31 fixed to the lower edge of the fabric 29 and provided with lateral terminations 32 slidably inserted into the longitudinal openings 19 of the corresponding guides 16.

In particular, the crossbar 31, preferably obtained with an aluminum profile, develops parallel to the axis of rotation W of the roller 28 between its two opposite lateral ends.

Advantageously, the two lateral terminations 32 are mounted, for example by means of screws or other similar fastening means, to the corresponding lateral ends of the transverse bar 31 to close said lateral ends.

The lateral protection device 12 comprises two rails 33, each of which is introduced into the corresponding guide 16 and provided with a longitudinal groove 34 intended to receive by sliding the engagement edge 30 of the corresponding lateral edge 14 of the fabric 29 and opened towards the longitudinal opening 19 of the guide 16.

From an operational point of view, the roller 28 of the lateral protection device 12 can be actuated to rotate about its axis of rotation W, preferably by means of a motor or manually (for example by means of a control rod fixed to through a hinge to the roller shaft 28), to unroll or wind the fabric 29 around said roller 28.

In particular, the fabric 29 can be moved from the roll 28 between a folded position, where the fabric 29 is wound around the roll 28 with the cross bar 31 preferably placed in a raised position at the corresponding beam 6, and an extended position, where the fabric 29 is unwound from the roll 28 out of the beam 6, to close the corresponding lateral side 3 of the support structure 2, totally or even partially.

Advantageously, with reference to the example of FIG. 5, each lateral termination 32 of the transverse bar 31 is provided with a guide fin 35 which protrudes laterally in extension of said transverse bar 31 and which is slidably fastened between the two arm 17 of the corresponding guide 16 passing through the longitudinal opening 19 delimited free ends 18 of said two arms 17. For this purpose, in particular, the thickness DI of the guide fin 35 is slightly smaller than the width D2 longitudinal opening 19 between the two arms 17 to define a sliding play.

The guide 16 has the longitudinal opening 19 with the width D2 less than the width D3 of the inner housing 25 of the guide 16 and preferably the width D4 of the rail 33 in order to retain in the inner housing 25 said rail 33 in a retaining relationship . Advantageously, the arms 17 of the guide 16 are provided with corresponding inner faces 36 arranged face to face from which corresponding folded portions 37 are developed for retaining the rail 33 in the inner housing 25 of the guide 16, in particular by the interposition elastic elements (not shown in the accompanying figures) between the folded portions 37 and the rail 33.

The rail 33 may take various forms to mate in sliding relationship with a number of commercially available engagement edge making solutions attached to the side edges 14 of the fabric 29.

For example, each engagement edge 30 of the fabric 29 is obtained by flexible toothing protruding laterally from the corresponding lateral edge 14 suitably reinforced by a support ribbon. In correspondence, the rail 33 is shaped in the form of an elongated body, advantageously obtained by plastic extrusion, for example with two portions folded towards one another delimited from one another by the longitudinal groove 34 through which passes the fabric 29 and intended to engage the engaging edge 30 to retain it by sliding on the rail 33.

Advantageously, the protection element 13 is intended to rub between the arms 17 of the guides 16, in particular with the lateral terminations 32 of the transverse bar 31, so that said arms 17 hold said protection element 13 between them.

According to a different embodiment not illustrated in the accompanying figures, the protective element 13 of the lateral protection device 12 comprises a rigid panel, for example made of glass, which can be displaced vertically by the actuating means 15 along corresponding guides 16 of the columns 5. Advantageously, with reference to the embodiments illustrated in FIG. 7, each beam 6 of the support structure 2 of the covering device 1 is provided with a first housing 38 where the roller 28 is housed. , and a second housing 39 where is housed the crossbar 31 arranged in the raised position where the fabric 29 is wound around the roller 28.

Preferably, the second housing 39 of the beam 6 is disposed below the first housing 38 where the roller 28 is housed.

Optionally, the second housing 39 is provided with an upper opening 40, by means of which said second housing 39 is connected to the first housing 38 to allow the fabric 29 to reach the roller 28, and a lower opening 41, through which the web 29 and the crossbar 31 may pass during the movement of said web 29, to allow the web 29 and the crossbar 31 to enter and exit the second housing 39.

Preferably, the second housing 39 of the beam 6 is disposed above the upper ends 8 of the corresponding columns 5 and aligned with the corresponding guides 16 according to the Y guide directions thereof.

In this way, conveniently, when the crossbar 31 is brought into its raised position (where it is disposed within the second housing 39 of the beam 6), the cross bar 31 is positioned out of the guides 16 of the corresponding columns 5 .

In particular, the second housing 39 is in communication, at its lower opening 41, with the guides 16 corresponding columns 5 to allow the crossbar 31 and the fabric 29 to enter the guides 16 and out of the latter during the movement of said fabric 29.

Advantageously, with reference to the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the end portion of each beam 6 is connected to the corresponding column 5 by means of a connecting plate 42 fixed on the upper end 8 of the elongated profile 7 of said column 5, the beam 6 being in particular disposed above the upper ends 8 of the elongate profiles 7 of the corresponding columns 5.

Preferably, with reference to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7, each beam 6 comprises a support profile 43 fixed to the corresponding columns 5, in particular by means of said connection plates 42, and a cover profile 44 fixed to the support profile 43 for the frontal closure of the first housing 38 and conveniently second housing 39 of the beam 6.

In particular, each beam 6 comprises a gutter 45 fixed to the support profile 43 below the first housing 38 (in which the roller 28 is housed) and capable of receiving the rain water flowing from the covering means 10 ( for example, roofing blades 11 or cover fabric) of the covering device 1.

The predisposition of the first housing 38 (which contains the roller 28) of each beam 6 above the channel 45 and the second housing 39 (which contains the crossbar 31 in the raised position) provides an optimization of congestion of said beam 6, with consequent advantages of the cover device 1 in terms of construction.

Advantageously, each rail 33 of the lateral protection device is developed between a first end 46, disposed inside the corresponding guide 16, and a second end 47, which is disposed out of the guides 16 beyond the upper end 8 of the elongate profile 7 of the corresponding column 5 and in particular it is disposed inside the second housing 39 of the corresponding beam 6.

In this way, when the cross bar 31 is brought into its raised position (where it is disposed in the second housing 39 of the beam 6 out of the guides 16), the engagement edges 30 of the fabric 29 remain attached to the corresponding rails. 33 ensuring that, when the fabric 29 is brought into the deployed position, the crossbar 31 and the fabric 29 will fit properly in the guides 16, resulting in complete operational reliability of the cover device 1.

Advantageously, with reference to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6, the covering device 1 comprises a support body 48 disposed in the inner housing of each guide 16 and interposed between the lower end 9 of the elongate profile 7 of the column. 5 and the first end 46 of the corresponding rail 33. Said support body 48 supports the rail 33 in order to maintain the latter with its second end 47 disposed above the upper end 8 of the corresponding column 5.

In particular, the support body 48 is disposed in abutment on a base portion 49 of the corresponding column 5 disposed at the lower end 9 of the latter. Preferably, the support body 48 is elastic because it is made of a flexible material such as plastic.

In this way, in particular, it is possible to elastically deform the support body 48 to introduce it into the inner housing 25 of the guide 16 through the longitudinal opening 19 of the latter. Once completely introduced into the inner housing 25, the support body 48 will tend to return, by springback, to the original configuration (not deformed) assuming in particular a width greater than the width D2 of the longitudinal opening, remaining fixed in the inner housing 25 of the guide 16.

In particular, the support body 48 is shaped essentially in "V" and it comprises two fins 50 arranged face to face, each of which extends between a first end, free, and a second end connected to the second end of the other wing. In order to introduce the support body 48 into the inner housing 25 of the guide 16, it suffices to push the fins 50 of said support body 48 towards each other so as to pass the latter through the longitudinal opening 19 of the guide 16. Once the support body 48 is fully inserted into the inner housing 25, the two wings 50 will move away from each other by springback, preventing the support body 48 out of the housing 25 of the guide 16 through the longitudinal opening 19 of the latter.

The predisposition of the support body 48 as the support of the corresponding rail 33 makes it possible to obtain advantageous operational simplifications in the assembly of the covering device 1, and in particular of the lateral protection device 12 of the latter, as described in a more detailed manner. detailed below.

A method of assembling the covering device 1 indicated above is described below in detail.

Advantageously, the method comprises a mounting mounting phase of the support structure 2 of the covering device 1. In particular, in said mounting phase the columns 5 are erected and fixed to the ground and the beams 6 are fixed to the columns 5, by also mounting the covering means 10 on the support structure 2.

In particular, in the mounting phase, the support profiles 43 of the beams 6 are fixed to the corresponding columns 5, preferably by means of corresponding connecting plates 42.

Advantageously, the method provides for engaging the upper edge of the fabric 29 of each lateral protection device 12 with the corresponding roller 28 and for fixing the transverse bar 31 at the lower edge of said fabric 29.

In addition, the assembly method provides for mounting the roller 28 on the support structure 2 of the covering device 1, in particular having the roller 28 inside the first housing 38 of the corresponding beam 6.

The method provides for introducing each rail 33 into the inner housing 25 of the corresponding guide 16 and arranging the transverse bar 31 above the upper ends 8 of the elongated profiles 7 of the columns 5, in particular at the second housing 39 of the corresponding beam 6.

In addition, the method provides for introducing the lateral terminations 32 of the crossbar 31 into the longitudinal openings 19 of the corresponding guides 16 and to introduce the engagement edge 30 of each lateral edge 14 of the fabric 29 into the longitudinal groove 34 of the corresponding rail 33, in particular by lowering the cross bar 31 along the corresponding columns 5.

In particular, the method makes it possible to associate the transverse bar 31 with the guides 16 while maintaining the transverse bar 31 parallel to the axis of rotation W of the roll 28, without the operator having to carry out maneuvers that are inconvenient for tilting said bar. transverse 31 to introduce its lateral terminations 32 in the guides 16.

It is also planned to raise the second end 47 of each rail 33 out of the inner housing 25 of the corresponding guide 16 beyond the upper end 8 of the elongated profile 7 of the corresponding column 5, while maintaining the first end 46 of the rail 33 in the inner housing 25 of said corresponding guide 16. This lifting is obtained, in particular, by grasping the second end 47 of the rail 33 with the aid of a tool, for example a clamp, and by extracting said second end 47 out of of the corresponding guide 16 above the upper end 8 of the corresponding column 5. Next, the assembly method provides for placing the support body 48 in the inner housing 25 of the corresponding guide 16 between the lower end 9 of the extended profile 7 of the corresponding column 5 and the first end 46 of the corresponding rail 33 by placing said first end 46 on the support body 48, so as to to maintain the rail 33 with its second end 47 disposed out of the corresponding guide 16 above the upper end 8 of the corresponding column 5.

Advantageously, the assembly method provides for fixing the cover profile 44 to the support profile 43 of the corresponding beam 6 in order to close frontally the first housing 38 (containing the roll 28) and preferably the second housing 39 (containing the crossbar 31 arranged in the raised position).

In particular, the operational phases described above advantageously make it possible to mount, in a simple and rapid manner, the transverse bar 31 and the fabric 29 of the lateral protection device 12 to the corresponding guides 16 which, being in a single body with the columns 5, are already solidly attached to the latter before assembly of the covering device 1.

In the case where it is necessary to carry out maintenance operations of the covering device 1, for example to replace the fabric 29 of the lateral protection device 12, it suffices to remove the support profile 44 from the corresponding beam 6 and lift the crossbar 31 above the upper ends 8 of the columns 5, bringing the crossbar 31 and the fabric 29 out of the corresponding guides 16.

Then, it is planned to remove the support bodies 48 of the corresponding guides 16 so as to lower the rails 33 by bringing the second ends 47 of the latter inside the guides 16 below the upper ends 8 of the corresponding columns 5 In this way, by lowering the rails 33, the engagement edges 30 of the fabric 29 are disengaged from said rails 33, which makes it possible, for example, to replace the fabric 29.

It is possible to refit the web 29 and the cross bar 31 in the guides 16 through the operational phases described above of the aforementioned assembly method.

In particular, the predisposition of the rails 33 and the support bodies 48 according to the present invention makes it possible to carry out the maintenance operations of the lateral protection devices 12 by removing a limited number of elements of the covering device 1, for example only the roofing profile 44 of the beams 6. The invention thus conceived thus achieves the prefixed goals.

Claims (14)

A covering device (1), comprising: - a supporting structure (2) provided with a plurality of lateral flanks (3) and an upper side (4) intended to be disposed above a ground surface under -continuous; said support structure (2) comprising: - at least two columns (5) which delimit between them one of said corresponding lateral flanks (3), each column (5) comprising an elongate profile (7) which develops along a development axis (X) between an upper end (8) and a lower end (9) intended to be placed on the ground; - At least one beam (6) connecting said columns (5) at the upper ends (8) of the elongate profiles (7) of said columns (5); - covering means (10) supported at least in part by said columns (5) and arranged at the upper side (4) of said support structure (2); - at least one lateral protection device (12), which is arranged on said corresponding lateral flank (3) between said columns (5) and comprising: - at least one protective element (13), which extends between its two side edges (14) attached to the elongated profiles (7) of said columns (5); actuating means (15) mechanically connected to said protection element (13) and intended to move said protection element (13) to move it along said columns (5); said covering device (1) being characterized in that the elongate profile (7) of each of said columns (5) is made in a single body and comprises integrally at least one guide (16) which develops longitudinally along a direction (Y) parallel to the axis of development (X) of the elongate profile (7) of said column (5), it is slidably attached to the corresponding lateral edge (14) of said protection element (13) and is equipped with two arms (17) provided with corresponding free ends (18) which delimit between them a longitudinal opening (19) where said protective element (13) is inserted by sliding. 2. Cover device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the elongated profile (7) of each of said columns (5) defines an interior volume (22) wherein said corresponding guide (16) is disposed. 3. Cover device (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that said inner volume (22) is hollow. 4. Cover device (1) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the elongated profile (7) of each of said columns (5) is provided with a perimeter wall (20) which extends around said axis of development (X) and provided with an outer surface (23) and an inner surface (24) which delimits said inner volume (22) and to which are fixed the free ends (18) of the arms (17) of said guide (16). 5. Cover device (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the longitudinal opening (19) of said guide (16) extends passively between the inner surface (24) and the outer surface (23) the perimeter wall (20) of the elongate profile (7) of said column (5). 6. Cover device (1) according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the perimeter wall (20) of said elongated profile (7) is provided with several sides (21), each of which is delimited laterally by two longitudinal edges ( 60) parallel to the axis of development (X) of said corresponding column (5); said guide (16) being disposed on the corresponding side (21) of the column (5) at one of the longitudinal edges (60) of said side (21). 7. Cover device (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that the sides (21) of each of said columns (5) comprise at least one outer side (2Γ), which is oriented towards said corresponding lateral flank (3) , and at least two sides (21 "), each of which is oriented towards the guide side (21") of the other said column (5) which defines said corresponding lateral flank (3); on each of said guide sides (21 ") being provided said corresponding guide (16) which is disposed at said outer side (2Γ) of said corresponding column (5). 8. Cover device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that: - the actuating means (15) of said lateral protection device (12) comprises a roller (28) rotatably fixed to said structure support (2); said protective element (13) comprises a fabric (29) which wraps around said roller (28), and is provided with an upper edge attached to said roller (28) and a lower edge, upper and lower edges; between which are developed said side edges (14) each of which being provided with a flexible engagement edge (30); said lateral protection device (12) also comprising: - a transverse bar (31) fixed to the lower edge of said fabric (29) and provided with lateral terminations (32) slidably inserted in the longitudinal openings (19) of said corresponding guides ( 16); - two rails (33) each of which is inserted into said corresponding guide (16) and is provided with a longitudinal groove (34) for slidingly receiving the engagement edge (30) of the corresponding lateral edge (14) of said canvas (29); the arms (17) of each of said guides (16) delimit between them an inner housing (25) which is housed, in a retaining ratio, said corresponding rail (33). 9. Cover device (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that said beam (6) is provided with a first housing (38), which accommodates said roller (28), and a second housing ( 39) disposed at an upper dimension of the upper ends (8) of the elongate profiles (7) of said columns (5) and in said second seat (39) is accommodated said transverse bar (31) disposed in a raised position where said fabric (29 ) is wound around said roller (28). 10. Cover device (1) according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that: - said first housing (38) is disposed at an upper dimension of the upper ends (8) of the elongated profiles (7) of said columns (5). ); - Each of said beams (6) comprises a gutter (45) disposed below said first housing (38) and capable of receiving rainwater flowing from said cover means (10). 11. Cover device (1) according to one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that each said rail (33) is developed between a first end (46) disposed within said corresponding guide (16) and a second end (47), said second end (47) being disposed out of said guide (16) beyond the upper end (8) of the elongated profile (7) of said corresponding column (5). 12. Cover device (1) according to claim 11, characterized in that it comprises a support body (48) disposed in the inner housing (25) of said corresponding guide (16) interposed between the lower end ( 9) of the elongate profile (7) of said corresponding column (5) and the first end (46) of said corresponding rail (33), and supporting said rail (33) in support. 13. Cover device (1) according to claim 12, characterized in that said support body (48) is resilient. 14. Cover device (1) according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that said support body (48) is shaped essentially in "V" and that it comprises two fins (50) arranged face to face, each which extends between a first end, free, and a second end connected to the second end of said other fin (50).