GB2144996A - Sun canopy panels and trestles - Google Patents

Abstract

A sun canopy (100) comprises a light-weight panel (102) having a base portion to which are secured a plurality of longitudinal reflector elements between which are located fluorescent tubes (103), transverse rib sections secured to the panel at each end thereof to contain flourescent tube holders and two hollow members formed integrally with the panel along each side and rigidly secured at each end to said transverse rib sections (20). The panel is supported at each end by trestles (110) each consisting of a pair of tubular members (111, 112) joined by substantially straight portions (113, 114) providing a support and include parallel portions (115, 116) between which the panel (102) is secured, the portions (117, 118) of the legs between the ends (113, 114) and the parallel portions (115, 116) being turned inwardly at an angle to the horizontal enabling the panel to be supported at an angle to the horizontal. The flourescent tube chokes and timing gear are located in a portable unit (104) remote from the canopy (100). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to panels The present invention relates to metal panels having improved beam strength and torsional stiffness and to means for supporting such panels when used in sun canopies.

Metal panels find a variety of uses including use in sun beds and overhead sun canopies, generically referred to as sun canopies. Since panels for use in sun canopies contain a plurality of flourescent tubes of lengths approaching 2 metres they are required to have a considerable degree of both beam strength and torsional stiffness. To achieve the required strength and stiffness such panels are generally manufactured of heavy guage metal sheet which results in heavy and unwieldy constructions, which produce particular problems when the panel is to be used in a sun canopy.

There therefore exists a need for metal panels of lightweight construction that have the required degree of strength and torsional stiffness.

I have now developed a lightweight open face panel, especially useful as a sun canopy panel, comprising; a panel base portion, which may be flat or curved, of generally rectangular shape; a plurality of parallel longitudinal members extending lengthwise of the panel and secured thereto; at least two transverse rib sections secured to the panel, at least one said rib section being secured to the panel adjacent each end thereof, and at least one hollow member extending longitudinally of the panel between said transverse rib sections adjacent each end of the said panel, each end of said hollow member or members being secured to a said transverse rib section.

The longitudinal members may be of any cross-sectional shape, for example circular, rectangular or square; when the panel is to be used as a sun canopy panel they preferably have an external shape that enables them to act as reflectors for light emitted from flourescent tubes located therebetween, thus a triangular sectional member is preferred. Preferably only one flourescent tube is located between each pair of such reflector members.

The said longitudinal members may be separate members secured to the panel base or they may be formed integrally therewith, for example they may be in the form of corrugations pressed or rolled into the said panel base.

The transverse rib sections are preferably box or channel section and when the panel is to be used as a sun panel the said rib sections at each end may conveniently carry the flourescent tube holders.

The longitudinal hollow members may be tubular, square, triangular or of any other convenient cross sectional shape. It is preferred that there are two such sections extending along each longitudinal side of the panel, but sufficient torsional stiffness may be achieved by a single member extending along one side or at any point intermediate the sides and parallel thereto. It is essential that the ends of the hollow member(s) be secured to transverse ribs, e.g. by welding, riveting, swaging or gluing, round the periphery of the end of the member.

The said hollow member may be entirely separate from the base panel or it may be attached thereto along the length of the panel.

In the latter instance the hollow member(s) may conveniently be formed integrally with the panel bending the longitudinal edge portions of the base sheet into a polygon, e.g.

square, cross sectional shaped structure. It is essential in such a structure that the portion forming the original edge of the base sheet be secured along its full length to the base portion of #the panel to provide a closed structure.

The panels of this invention are especially suitable for use in overhead sun canopies and being lightweight are readily portable. However since panels and ancilliary equipment presently in use are heavy, the supporting structures are#aiso heavy and cumbersome.

From another aspect, therefore, my invention includes a structure suitable for supporting an article such as a sun canopy panel comprising a trestle including two supporting legs between which the said article is releasably secured, each leg having an end portion for engagement with a substantially horizontal support surface whereby the article is supported in a first position, preferably parallel to said surface and at least one of said legs being shaped to provide a second portion extending from said end portion in a direction away from the opposing leg and at an angle to the horizontal whereby, when the said second portion engages the said support surface the said article is supported in a second position, which position is at angle to the first said position.

Preferably the first position is horizontal and the second said position is at an angle to the horizontal e.g. at 40 -80 to the horizontal.

Preferably also both legs include the said second portion.

The legs are preferably joined by a bridging member extending across, e.g. above, the article being supported.

The said second portions may have straight sections to engage the said support surface and maintain the article stationary in the said second position. The trestle may, however, be C-shaped in which instance the said second portions will be curved and a stop, extending outwardly of the leg, will be positioned at a predetermined distance from the end portion to define the limit of the said second portion and prevent the article being turned through an angle of more than about 80 to the horizontal.

The article being supported by the trestle may be releasably mounted on the trestle by means secured to each leg thereof.

Where the article is elongate, e.g. a sun tanning canopy, it will normally be supported by a trestle located at each end thereof.

The legs may, for example, be formed of a tubular metal, e.g. aluminium, and each leg is preferably formed from two parallel lengths of tubing joined by substantially straight portions at each end to form the end portions for engagement with the said horizontal surface.

The trestle may also be formed from a single blank of thin sheet material.

Such a trestle may comprise two upwardly extending side members joined at the top by a bridging element. Outwardly directed slots are formed in the inner walls of the side members to provide recesses in which the side portions of the panel are engaged, whereby the panel may be supported at a fixed height above a surface and in a substantially horizontal position. The side panels are dimensioned such that the height of the panel above the surface is sufficient to enable a person being treated by the sun lamp to lie on the surface beneath the panel at the required distance therefrom.

The side members and bridging element may be of a channel section, the-open side of the channel facing outwardly in respect of the side members and inwardly in respect of the bridging element.

It is preferred that the side members have portions extending outwardly from the support surface edge of the trestle and the longitudinal axis of the panel and upwardly at an angle to the horizontal, preferably of about 45 to provide secondary support surfaces. Such surfaces enable the trestles to support the panel on one side member at an angle to the horizontal so that one side of the panel is raised thereby providing a convenient way for the user to take up a lying position on the said surface before the panel is moved into the horizontal position overlying the said person.

A suitable blank from which the trestles may be formed has transverse and longitudinal lines of symmetry bisecting each other.

The panel includes two mirror image portions on either side of the transverse line of symmetry. First bend lines, one on either side and parallel to the transverse axis of symmetry, extend transversely of the blank, the portion between the said lines providing, when formed into a trestle, the upper surface of the bridging element between the side members.

Each side portion comprises two sub-portions that are also mirror images about the longitudinal line of symmetry, each said subportion being formed with a first element extending away from the transverse line of symmetry and longitudinally of the blank and a second element extending inwardly from the said first element and transversely of the blank. The inwardly extending element of each sub-portion on one side of the transverse line of symmetry meeting at the longitudinal line of symmetry to provide a side wall of the bridging element in the trestle.The edge of said second element is preferably arcuate and has a "centre" lying on the line of longitudinal symmetry on the same side of the transverse axis as the said portion and having a radius equal to the radius of the curve of the panel which it is intended to support, A slot, having parallel sides, is formed on the inside wall of the said first element of each said subportion the upper side of the said slot forming a continuation of the edge of the said second element. A second bend lines extending from a point between the ends of the slot, preferably directed outwardly of the longitudinal line of symmetry, to the end of the blank are provided on each sub-portion.A thin elongate slot having a width marginally greater than the thickness of the blank is formed about midway along said bend line and an inwardly extending tab is formed on the corresponding inner edge of the said first element of each sub-portion to correspond with the said slot.

In assembling the blank into a trestle it is first bent along the bend lines parallel to the transverse lines of symmetry whereby the two mirror image portions of the arms of a Ushaped structure. The sub-portions are next bent inwardly along the second bend lines and the tabs from one sub-portion inserted through the longitudinal slots of the adjacent sub-portion forming the opposite arm of the said U-shaped structure whereby side members having U-shaped or channel cross sections are formed.

The blank may be made of any suitable material, for example sheet metal or plastics material, preferably the blank is formed from a sheet of corrugated polypropylene plastics material having a construction similar to that of corrugated cardboard.

The invention also includes a sun canopy including the panel defined above supported by a trestle of one of the types as hereinafter described.

The substantially horizontal surface may be a floor, a raised platform or any convenient surface.

In order to keep down the weight of a sun tanning canopy using the lightweight panel it is desirable that heavy ancillary equipment, such as the flourescent tube chokes and any timing apparatus, should be separated from the canopy and connected thereto by suitable electrical cabling.

It is preferable that the cabling connecting the unit to the canopy be releasably attached to the canopy and/or the unit by means of suitable electrical plugs and sockets.

It is further preferable that the unit be mobile e.g. carried by castors, although it may be capable of being releasably mounted on a wall or other suitable structure.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which; Figure 1 is a diagrammatic representation of a perspective view of a fragment portion of a panel of the invention without end ribs.

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic representation of a perspective view of a transverse end rib for use with the panel of Fig. 1, Figure 3 is a diagrammatic representation of a fragment of a sun canopy employing a trestle of the present invention.

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic representation of second form of trestle for use with the panel of Figs. 1 and 2.

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic representation of a a blank from which the trestle of Fig. 4 may be formed.

A panel generally indicated at 1, consists of a curved base portion 2 formed from thin sheet aluminium to which are attached five triangular section reflector members 3 (two only shown) formed of pressed aluminium sheet. Reflectors 3 extend substantially the length of base 2 and are secured thereto by rivets 4.

Side box portion 5 is shown to have a square section and is secured along its full length to base 2 through rivets 6 passing through portion 7 that is parallel to base 2.

Side box portion 8 is shown as having trapezoidal cross section and is again secured along its full length to base 2 by rivets 10 passing through portion 9 that is parallel to said base portion 2.

Side box portion 5 is formed integrally with base 2 by four 90 bending steps, three in one direction and one in the opposite direction to provide portion 7 parallel to base 2.

Side box portion 8 is similarly formed by four bending steps at appropriate angles to ensure that portion 9 is parallel to base portion 2.

End rib section 20 is an elongate open box structure formed from pressed aluminium sheet. It has an inner face portion 21 to which are secured six flourescent lamp holders 22 positioned to allow flourescent tubes (not shown) to lie midway between each pair of reflectors 3. Rib section 20 is secured to the end of panel 1 conveniently by welding, the welding being continued around the periphery of side box members 5 and 8.

With transverse end sections 20 secured to each end of panel 1, the resultant structure is lightweight and is sufficiently strong and torsionally stiff to be used as a canopy sun panel. The total weight of the panel including flourescent tubes and wiring being less than 9Kg.

Although reflectors 3 and side box portions 5 and 8 have been shown as being secured to base 2 by rivets, other methods of securing may be used such as seam rolling, welding or gluing.

If transverse rib sections are placed intermediate the end portions of base 2, then the side box members 5 and 8 may be formed in more than one length, provided that the total of the lengths extend the full length of the panel and each end of each -section is secured to a transverse rib section.

In an alternative embodiment the box sections 5 and 8 may not be secured to the base panel along respective portions 7 and 9, but may form a cover for hollow tubular members extending between and secured to end rib section 20.

Fig. 3 illustrates a sun tanning canopy 100 of the type described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2 (one end only shown), includes a panel member 102 carrying a plurality of flourescent tubes 103 and is shown supported at an angle of about 45". The tube chokes and timing mechanism are contained in a remote control unit 104 carried on castors 105 and connected to panel 2 by cabling 106 and electrical plugs and sockets 107 and 108.

Panel 102 is supported by a trestle 11 0 (a second trestle supports the other end of the panel). Trestle 110 is formed from two steel tubes 111 and 112 joined to form an endless structure having substantially straight end portions 113 and 114 which engage the floor when panel 100 is in the horizontal position.

Leg portions 115 and 116 are linked at the upper ends by bridging portion 127 which extends over and above panel 102 when panel 102 is in the substantially horizontal position legs 115 and 116 are substantially vertical. The lower end portions of legs 115 and 116 are bent inwardly at an angle of about 45 to form flat support portions 117 and 118. As illustrated in the drawing canopy 100 is supported by portions 118 of leg 15.

When the canopy is in this position the subject can take up a prone position beneath the canopy which can then be moved by the subject into a horizontal position, then being supported on ends 113 and 114 of legs 115 and 116.

Panel 102 is attached to the upper end of legs 113 and 114 by means of plastic blocks 119 and 120 which are bolted onto the tubes 111 and 112 forming the legs. Blocks 119 and 120 include supporting members 121 and 122 on which panel 102 rests. Similar support members extend inwardly on top of said panel 102 to restrain the panel against lateral movement. The trestles are positioned on the panel by sliding the latter between the pairs of support members.

Referring to Fig. 4, a trestle generally indicated at 200 has a line of symmetry A-A and is formed from a blank of corrugated polypropylene plastics material. Side members 202,202' have three sides 203, 204,205 and 203', 204' and 205' respectively. Sides 203 and 203' are of truncated triangular shape and comprise a double thickness of material, consisting of two parallel identically shaped portions of the original blank, and include slots and co-operating tabs 210,210' locking the said portions together. The fourth side of each side member is open the side members thereby having channel shaped sections.

Edges 206 and 206' form the surface engaging portions of the trestle when the panel to be supported is in the horizontal position.

The side members are joined by a bridging element 207 having rectangular upper surface 208 and side walls 209. The lower edge 219 of side wall 209 is arcuate and has substantially the same radius as the radius of curvature of the panel to be supported.

Side members 204,205 and 204',205' have lower edges 240,250 and 240', 250' respectively that extend upwardly from edges 206' at an angle of 45 to form secondary support edges.

Slots 211,211' formed in side members 202,202' are formed with the upper edge portions providing a continuation of the arcuate edge 219 of walls 209 and are arranged to receive edge portions of the panel to be supported.

In use the trestles are normally located one at either end of the panel being supported, the panel being carried in slots 211,211'.

Both trestles may be tilted about one of edge portions 206,206' onto a secondary support edge 240,250 or 240',250' so that the panel has one side raised above the level of the horizontal position to allow a person wishing to use the panel to take up a lying position on a surface below the panel. The trestles can then be tilted back along edges 206 or 206' to bring the opposite edge into contact with the surface and the panel into the horizontal position overlying the user.

The panel controls, including chokes and starters, are normally contained in a unit remote from the panel and such a unit, including the switching mechanism, may be located within reach of the person lying beneath the panel.

Fig. 5 shows a blank from which the trestle of Fig. 1 may be formed and in which like portions have like reference numerals.

The panel has lines of symmetry A-A, longitudinal and B-B, transverse which bisect each other. The blank is stamped out from a sheet of plastics material in the shape illustrated. Subsequently first parallel bend lines 260 and 261 are formed extending transversely of the blank and at equal distances from the transverse line of symmetry B-B. Second bend lines 270,270' and 271,271' are formed extending from slots 211,211 ' to the junction of sides 206,240; 206',240'; 250,206; and 250',206', respectively. Midway along each said bend line is formed an elongate slot 272,272',273,273' which has a width marginally greater than the thickness of the panel and length marginally greater than tabs 210,210'.

The trestle is assembled from the blank by bending along bend lines 260 and 261 to bring the portions on either side of transverse axis B-B into parallel relationship. Portions of the blank are then bent along lines 270,271 and tabs 210 inserted into the corresponding slots 272 and 273 to form one side member (202) of the trestle. The blank is then bent along bend lines 270',271' and tabs 210 inserted into the corresponding slots 272',273' to form the other side member (202') of the trestle.

The bend lines 270,271;270'271' are formed to diverge outwardly from slots 211 so that the inside dimensions of the resultant trestle are wider at the bottom than at the top.

Claims (20)

1. An open face panel suitable for use as a sun canopy panel comprising a flat or curved base portion of generally rectangular shape; a plurality of parallel longitudinal members extending lengthwise of the panel and secured thereto; at least two transverse rib sections secured to the panel, at least one said rib section being secured to the panel adjacent each end thereof, and at least one hollow member extending longitudinally of the panel between said transverse rib sections adjacent each end of the said panel, each end of said hollow member being secured to a said transverse rib section.

2. A panel according to claim 1 wherein the longitudinal members have an essentially triangular cross section and act as reflectors for light emitted from flourescent tubes when positioned therebetween.

3. A panel according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the transverse rib sections are of box or channel section.

4. A panel according to any one of claims 1-3 when used as a sun canopy panel and wherein the transverse rib sections adjacent each end of the panel carry flourescent tube holders.

5. A panel according to any one of claims 1-5 wherein the longitudinal members are discrete members secured to the panel base.

6. A panel according to any one of claims 1-5 wherein a single longitudinal hollow member extends lengthwise along said panel intermediate the sides thereof, the said hollow member being rigidly secured to the transverse rib sections adjacent each end of the said panel.

7. A panel according to any one of claims 1-5 wherein two longitudinal hollow members extend along each side of the panel, the ends of both members being rigidly secured to the transverse rib sections adjacent each end of the said panel.

8. A panel according to claim 6 or claim 7 wherein at least one said hollow member extending along a side of the panel is formed integrally therewith, the side portion of the panel base being bent into a polygonal section shape and rigidly secured to the panel base.

9. A trestle suitable for supporting a panel a according to any one of claims 1-8 comprising two supporting legs between which said panel is releasably secured, each leg having an end portion for engagement with a substantially horizontal surface whereby the trestle supports an article in a first position and including a second portion extending from said first end portion in a direction away from the opposing leg and at an angle to the horizontal whereby, when the second portion engages the said support surface the trestle supports an article in a second position, which position is at an angle to the first said position.

10. A trestle according to claim 9 wherein said legs are joined by a bridging member extending over the said panel.

11. A trestle according to claim 9 or claim 10 wherein the said second portions have straight sections to engage the said support surface.

12. A trestle according to claim 10 or claim 11 wherein the trestle is C-shaped and includes a stop extending outwardly of a leg and positioned at a predetermined distance from the said end portion to define the limit of the second portion.

13. A trestle according to any one of claims 9-12 wherein the trestle is formed from two parallel tubes joined at their ends.

14. A trestle according to claim 10 wherein the said legs comprise two upwardly extending members. outwardly directed slots being formed in the inner walls of said members to provide recesses to receive the side portions of the said panel.

15. A trestle according to claim 14 wherein the side members and bridging element have a channel cross section, the open side thereof facing outwardly from the side members and downwardly from the bridging element.

16. A trestle suitable for supporting the panel of any one of claims 1-8 substantially as described with reference to Fig. 3 of the drawings.

17. A trestle suitable for supporting the panel of any one of claims 1-8 substantially as described with reference to Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings.

18. A sun canopy comprising a panel as claimed in any one of claims 1-8 and supported by a trestle as described in any one of claims 9-17.

19. A sun canopy according to claim 18 wherein the flourescent tube chokes and timing apparatus are contained in a unit remote from the said panel and joined thereto by electrical cabling.

20. A sun canopy substantially as described with reference to Fig. 3 of the drawings.