RU2452836C1 - Folding item - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: construction.

SUBSTANCE: method consists, in particular, in formation with a loop of a substantially flat figure with three loops: a central loop and two side loops. Besides, all these loops are arranged substantially in one and the same plane. Each side loop is than taken to the central loop for formation of three turns imposed one onto the other.

EFFECT: simplified and accelerated process of item folding.

10 cl, 12 dwg

Description

The present invention relates to the field of products that contain a structure of one or more arcuate elements and which can be folded between the deployed position of use and the folded storage position, and in this folded position, the products represent a substantially circular configuration. This invention finds application, in particular, in folding products such as an awning, tent or ball device.

These products usually contain a top panel, which is often called a roof panel in the case of an awning or tent. At the same time, they speak of an arcuate structure in the case when this panel is rigidly connected with flexible structural elements that take, in the unfolded position of this product, a configuration in the form of an arc of a circle. These structural elements can be formed by flexible rods with elastic return, made, in particular, in the form of rings made of composite material, metal material or plastic material, and these rods, if necessary, are connected to each other.

In some products, these flexible rods are in a straight position in the folded state of cleaning the product and take the configuration in the form of an arc of a circle only during the installation of this product. This applies in particular to the case of certain types of awnings, usually called dome type awnings.

In other products, structural elements form a closed loop, and this loop allows, in particular, to give this product a three-dimensional configuration. Such an article is described, for example, in US Pat. No. 3,960,161. In this patent document, a closed-loop structural member is represented, in the folded position of the part, in the form of three round turns stacked on top of one another. The same holds for the awning described in patent document US 3675667.

Other examples of such products are also known, described, for example, in the following patent documents: US 5816278, US 6357510, US 5411046, US 5249592, FR 2805300, US 5137044, US 5592961, US 7246630 or US 5427381.

When such products are folded, mechanical stresses that act from the side of the flexible rods forming a structure of arched elements tend to prevent the formation of three turns superposed on one another. This is true to a greater extent, the smaller the diameter of these turns.

However, to reduce the overall dimensions of the product in its folded position, it is necessary to strive to reduce the diameter of these turns and, therefore, increase the number of turns with the original diameter of the constant structure.

The presence of turns in the amount of three pieces thus corresponds to a technical solution, satisfactory, in particular, from the point of view of the final overall dimensions and difficulties when folding the product.

Products such as those described in the aforementioned patent documents should be able to be easily and quickly folded by the user in order to obtain the product in a folded position that is not too bulky and convenient for transportation.

In each of these patent documents, folding of the product consists mainly of a shape made three-dimensional, that is, three-dimensional, in the application of one loop on another, forming the product and to be folded one into another. If necessary, if the product is converted into a three-dimensional form, it does not appear in a configuration in which the loops intended to form the final turns are already formed, the loops are superimposed on top of each other simultaneously with their formation.

In particular, in accordance with patent document US 5592961, first of all, using a loop of a structure of arcuate elements, an essentially flat figure is formed with three smaller loops located essentially in a line (i.e., with loops, the three corresponding centers of which are located essentially on one line), and then three smaller loops are applied one on top of the other with the help of opposing pressure on the two ends of the flat figure with three preformed loops, thus forcing , the two ends of this flat figure rotate in the direction of one to the other.

In each of the known patent documents, the method described in them consists in carrying out a sequence of labor-intensive steps, during which, and upon completion of which, the object to be folded turns out to be held in a three-dimensional configuration, with the exception, of course, of the final configuration in the form of three superimposed on top of one another turns, which can be likened to a substantially flat configuration, and, if necessary, an intermediate configuration, forming a substantially flat figure with three loops.

The problem that arises from the implementation of these folding methods is the difficulty of their implementation. In particular, these methods are difficult to implement by one person. Indeed, the simultaneous manipulation of three loops in three dimensions is difficult.

At the same time, the task is to arrange a product, which contains a structure formed by arcuate elements, from its expanded position to its folded position, according to which this structure, formed by arcuate elements, forms a set of three turns superimposed on one another, and which will be simple and quick to use, in particular, by one person.

Thus, the technical task of the present invention is to offer a technical solution to the above problems among other problems.

Thus, the present invention, in accordance with its first aspect, relates to a method for folding an article that comprises a structure of folding arcuate elements containing at least one closed loop in a folded position in which this loop is presented in the form of three superimposed turns on one another. These turns are preferably round, but may also be elongated or oval.

This method consists, in particular, in the formation with the loop of the first essentially flat figure with three loops: one central loop and two side loops, all of these loops being located essentially in the same plane.

In a distinctive manner, each of said side loops is then sequentially transferred to said central loop in order to form three coils laid one on the other.

More specifically, first of all, the first of the two side loops is transferred to the central loop, and then the second of the two side loops is transferred to the central loop and the first side loop in order to form these three coils laid on one another.

In other words, first of all, they form the second essentially flat figure on the basis of the first essentially flat figure, transferring two side loops to the central loop, and then form three laid one on another round, transferring the second of two side loops to the second essentially flat figure .

Thus, the folding method is facilitated in its implementation, in particular, by the forces of one person, due to passing through a stage, as a result of which the initial loop forms a flat figure with three smaller loops.

Thus, in this case, there is essentially no need to manipulate simultaneously with the three loops designed to form the three end turns.

Keeping the loop in a substantially flat shape at the end of each step (the step of creating the first essentially flat figure with three loops located in the same plane, the step of creating the second essentially flat figure by applying the first side loop to the central loop and the step of applying the second the side loop on the system, formed by superimposing the first side loop on the central loop, that is, on the second essentially flat figure) facilitates folding, for example, keeping this system laid on the ground.

In accordance with the first embodiment, to form the first planar figure with three loops, they capture the first section of the loop representing the vertex and translate it into the plane of the additional section of this loop, also representing the vertex, so that, on the one hand, the first section intersects with the additional a plot at two intersection points, and on the other hand, so that the top of the first section is outside the top of the additional section.

Thus, using one single and fairly simple appropriate manipulation, the original loop is divided into three smaller loops located in the same plane and ready to be superimposed on one another to form three final turns.

Alternatively, in order to form a first planar shape, a first portion of the loop is captured, which is twisted so as to create a first intersection point. Then they capture the second section of the loop opposite to its first section, which is also twisted so as to create a second intersection point.

In these two alternative embodiments, for translating the first side loop into the center loop (i.e., to form a second substantially planar figure), or to transfer the second side loop to the center loop and to the first side loop forming the second essentially planar figure (i.e. for the formation of three turns stacked one on top of the other), rotate this first or second side loop around the point of its intersection with said central loop.

In accordance with another implementation option and, if necessary, in combination with the two previous alternative options, the design of the arcuate elements contains several loops having essentially the same dimensions. In this case, before the formation of the first planar figure, these loops overlap one another in such a way as to virtually form one single closed loop, to which you can then apply the above method.

Preferably, in this case, the overlapping loops are kept connected to each other by at least one fastening element, for example, by means of a diametrical belt or a connecting element, in order to facilitate subsequent manipulations with this system of overlapping loops, such as with one single loop.

According to yet another embodiment, and, if necessary, in combination with any one or more of the preceding embodiments, three superimposed turns are held together by means of a fastening element, for example, a type of diametrical belt or a type of connecting element.

In accordance with yet another embodiment, and, if necessary, in combination with any one or more of the preceding embodiments, three overlapping turns are inserted into a case, preferably substantially round, but which may also be oblong or oval.

The present invention also relates, in accordance with its second aspect, to an article containing a structure of arcuate elements, which itself, in turn, contains at least one closed loop, folded into the folding position, in which this loop appears in the form of three superimposed one on top of the turns, preferably having a substantially circular shape and obtained as a result of the folding method described above.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will be better and more fully understood from the following description of preferred embodiments of the method, which are used here as non-limiting examples, where reference is made to the figures given in the appendix, including:

- Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a structure of arched elements of an article of the type awning in an expanded position;

- Figure 2 is a schematic side view of an awning type product in an unfolded position;

- Figure 3-6 are schematic views of the various stages of the method in accordance with the invention in the first embodiment;

- Figa-7c are schematic views of the transition from the stage shown in figure 3, to the stage shown in figure 4 (the formation of the first planar figures in accordance with the first implementation method);

- Figs. 12-12 are schematic views of the various steps of the method in accordance with the invention in the second embodiment.

Figure 1 schematically shows the structure of an article 1 of an awning type formed from arched elements in its unfolded position.

In this example implementation, this construction contains two closed loops 2, 2 ′. More specifically, this design represents the upper loop 2 and the lower loop 2 ′.

In order to explain the method of folding the product, which will be the subject of the subsequent presentation in this description, figure 1 also indicates the digital positions of the various points of the upper loop 2 and the lower loop 2 ′.

Thus, in this FIG. 1, two opposite ends or vertices 3a and 4a of the upper loop 2 corresponding to the two lower ends of this upper loop 2 or the two ends by which this upper loop 2 is connected to the lower loop 2 ′ in the unfolded position are numbered position. These ends or vertices 3a and 4a thus coincide with two opposite ends or vertices of the lower loop 2 ′.

In this figure 1, the two ends or vertices 10 and 11 of the upper loop 2 at the highest points of this upper loop 2 in the deployed position or at the points of this upper loop 2 that are farthest from the lower loop 2 ′ in the expanded position are also numbered.

And finally, in this figure 1 presents two other opposite ends or tops 12 and 13 of the lower loop 2 ′ at the points of this lower loop 2 ′, farthest from the upper loop 2 in the unfolded position.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of an awning 1 provided with a structure of arched elements shown in FIG. 1, with a panel 7, commonly called a roof panel and stretched between arched elements of this structure.

As is usually done, hinges 2 and 2 ′ slide in attached cases, for example, sewn to the roof panel 7.

Figure 3-6 shows the various main stages of the implementation of the folding method in accordance with the invention for the first variant of its implementation, applied to the generalized folding product, which contains at least one closed loop 2.

The application of this method to the specific case of the product 1 with two closed loops 2, 2 ′ shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 will be discussed in the following discussion.

Figure 3 presents a bottom view of a closed loop 2 of the type of loop that is shown in figure 1. Depending on the features of the product in question, for example, for the awning 1 shown in FIG. 2, this loop 2 does not have to be flat, as can be seen, in particular, in FIGS. 7a and 7b . However, the selected presentation method in a bottom view demonstrates the projection of this loop 2 into a plane, that is, its appearance in the form of a flat curve, which can be, for example, oblong or round.

In accordance with the method of this invention, for folding an article having an arc-shaped structure provided with such a loop 2, a first substantially flat shape is formed on the basis of this loop 2, comprising a central loop 2b and two side loops 2a and 2c, such as as an example, shown in figure 4.

In this embodiment, to form this first planar figure, the first portion 3 of the loop 2 containing the vertex 3a is captured and gradually transferred to the plane of the additional portion 4 of the loop 2 that contains the vertex 4a. In order to do this, pressure is applied along the axis perpendicular to the axis connecting the vertices 3a and 4a in order to compress the first portion 3 with the aim of the subsequent formation of the central loop 2b.

At the end of this operation, the first section 3 appears to intersect the additional section 4 at two intersection points 5 and 6, and the vertex 3a of the first section 3 is outside the vertex 4a of the additional section 4.

The operation intended to move from the stage shown in figure 3, to the stage shown in figure 4, as mentioned in the previous discussion, is divided into separate parts, illustrated in Fig.7a-7c with a sequence of perspective schematic views of the loop 2.

Fig. 7a thus corresponds to a perspective view of the loop 2 shown in Fig. 3, and Fig. 7c corresponds to a perspective view of the loop 2 shown in Fig. 4. At the same time, fig. 7b corresponds to the perspective view of the loop 2 in an intermediate position in the case when the first section 3 of the loop 2 is not yet completely transferred to the plane of the additional section 4.

After the first planar figure is formed in this way, one of the side loops 2a is transferred to the central loop 2b in order to form an intermediate and essentially planar figure, or the second essentially planar figure, which is shown in figure 5.

In order to transfer this side loop 2a to the central loop 2b, rotate this side loop 2a around its intersection with the central loop 2b.

Finally, another side loop 2c is transferred to the central loop 2b and the first side loop 2a, i.e., to the second substantially flat figure, in the same way.

More specifically, in order to translate this side loop 2c to the center loop 2b and side loop 2a, this side loop 2c is rotated relative to the point 6 of its intersection with the center loop 2b.

After completing these operations, loop 2 is presented in the form of three turns 2a, 2b and 2c superimposed on one another, as shown in FIG. 6.

These coils preferably have a substantially circular shape, but they can also be oblong or oval.

Moreover, if necessary, it is possible to insert these three coils 2a-2c superimposed on top of one another into a cover specially provided for this purpose, preferably having a circular shape.

In order to facilitate this insertion into the case and to exclude the possible repeated and untimely deployment of the loop 2, it is possible to provide for a connecting element that allows holding these three turns 2a to 2c connected together. This may involve, for example, a diametrical belt, which is preferably elastic, or one or more connecting bonds.

The application of the method presented in the foregoing description to the awning 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 requires that two loops, that is, the lower loop 2 ′ and the upper loop 2, be interconnected or superimposed so as to form virtually one single loop 2 before forming the first flat figure, and then three superposed turns on one another.

In this implementation example, the overlapping of two loops 2 and 2 ′ on one another is ensured by combining the vertices or ends 12 and 13 of the lower loop 2 ′, which are farthest from the upper loop 2 in the unfolded position, respectively, with the ends or vertices 10 and 11 of the upper loop 2, the most remote from the lower loop 2 ′ in the deployed position.

At the same time, the user holds the lower loop 2 ′ and the upper loop 2 at the level of the corresponding vertices 13 and 11 with one hand and holds the lower loop 2 ′ and the upper loop 2 at the level of the vertices 12 and 10, respectively.

Combined in this way and superimposed on one another, the lower loop 2 ′ and the upper loop 2 form in this case virtually one single loop 2, as shown in FIG. 3 or 7a.

In order to facilitate the manipulation of this virtual loop 2, which actually contains two loops, the lower loop 2 ′ and the upper loop 2 connected to each other or superimposed on one another, it is possible to keep these two loops 2 and 2 ′ in the connected position by at least one fastening element (for example, using one or more connecting bonds).

The user must still flip this virtual loop 2 so that its convexity is oriented upward, as shown in FIG. 7a, but not in a downward direction, as shown in FIG. 1, in order to implement the method folding described in detail above with reference to figures 3-6 and 7a-7c.

In accordance with another implementation option, the formation of the first planar figure with three loops 2a, 2b, 2c can be provided in another way, as shown in Fig.8-12.

In this embodiment, the first portion 8 of the loop 2 is captured, as shown in FIG. 8, which is twisted so as to create a first intersection point 5 as shown in FIG. 9.

And finally, they capture the second section 9 of loop 2, opposite the first section 8, which in turn is twisted so as to create a second intersection point 6 as shown in FIG. 10.

In this figure 10, the first planar figure with three loops, i.e. with one central loop 2b and with two other side loops 2a and 2c, contains three loops 2a through 2c located essentially in one line (in the sense that the corresponding the centers of these loops are essentially on the same line), while in the first embodiment (see FIG. 4) two side loops 2a and 2c are offset with respect to the central loop 2b so as to form a trefoil type shape (in the sense that the corresponding centers of these loops form in vertices of an essentially isosceles triangle or, if necessary, an equilateral triangle).

Then, in the same manner as in the first embodiment, the side loops 2a and 2c are sequentially transferred to the central loop 2b in order to form the three superimposed turns 2a, 2b, 2c shown in Fig. 12.

Therefore, in order to transfer the side loop 2a to the central loop 2b and thus form a second substantially flat figure, they act in the same way as in the first embodiment, namely, turn the side loop 2a around its intersection point 5 with the central loop 2b .

In addition, in order to transfer this side loop 2c to the central loop 2b and the side loop 2a forming a second substantially flat figure, this side loop 2b is rotated about its intersection point 6 with the central loop 2b.

Of course, in this embodiment, and also at the end of these operations, the loop 2 is presented in the form of three superimposed turns 2a, 2b and 2c, preferably having a substantially circular shape, or possibly elongated or oval.

In this case, it is also possible to insert three of these coils 2a to 2c superimposed on top of one another into a cover, preferably having a substantially circular shape and specially provided for this.

Similarly, to facilitate this insertion into the case and to prevent re-deployment of the loop 2 in an untimely manner, a tie-in element can be provided to hold these three turns 2a to 2c connected together, such as, for example, a diametrical belt, preferably elastic, or one or more connecting bonds.

The present description is given here only as an example and is not, therefore, restrictive to the present invention.

In particular, the present invention is not limited to folding the awning shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, but can also be applied to the awning, the construction of which, made of arcuate elements, represents one single loop 2 or more than two loops 2, 2 ′.

In addition, as indicated in the introductory part of the present description, the method in accordance with the invention is not limited to folding the awning, but relates to folding any product having a structure made of arcuate elements and containing at least one closed loop, so that this loop was represented, in the folded position, in the form of an overlap of three turns on one another. Because of this, this method also applies to other examples of similar products, such as tents or folding devices for playing ball.

And finally, the present invention is not limited to the two methods of its implementation presented in the foregoing description for forming the first flat figure with three loops. Other ways of forming such a figure can be considered, if only they pass through this stage of forming the first plane figure with three loops, that is, with three loops located essentially in the same plane, which can then easily be transferred to one another, how about this It was said above.

Claims (10)

1. The method of folding the product (1), which contains a structure of one or more folding arcuate elements containing at least one closed loop (2) in the folded position, in which said loop (2) takes the form of three superimposed turns (1) 2a, 2b, 2c), preferably round, consisting, in particular, in the formation with said loop (2) of the first substantially flat figure comprising a central loop (2b) and two side loops (2a, 2c), characterized in that this method further comprises and a second substantially planar figure based on said first planar figure by folding the first loop (2a) of the two side loops (2a, 2c) down onto the central loop (2b), and then in the formation of said three superposed turns ( 2a, 2b, 2c) by folding the second loop (2c) of these two side loops (2a, 2c) down onto said second, substantially flat figure. 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that for the formation of the first flat figure capture the first section (3) of the loop (2) representing the top (3A), and translate it into the plane of the additional section (4) of the mentioned loop (2), representing vertex (4a), so that the said first section (3) intersects with the mentioned additional section (4) at two intersection points (5, 6), and so that the vertex (3a) of the said first section (3) is outside the vertex (4a) an additional section (4). 3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that for the formation of a second, essentially flat figure, by folding the first side loop (2a) down on the central loop (2b), or for forming three superimposed turns (2a, 2b, 2c), by folding the second side loop (2c) down onto the second, essentially flat figure, rotate this so-called first or second side loop (2a, 2c) around the point (5, 6) of its intersection with the aforementioned central loop (2b). 4. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that for the formation of the first flat figure, the first section (8) of the loop (2) is captured and twisted in such a way as to create the first intersection point (5), and then the second section (9) is captured loops (2), opposite to its first section (8), which are twisted so as to create a second intersection point (6). 5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that for forming a second, essentially flat figure, by folding the first side loop (2a) down onto the central loop (2b), or for forming three turns superimposed on top of each other (2a, 2b, 2c), by folding the second side loop (2c) down onto the second, essentially flat figure, rotate this so-called first or second side loop (2a, 2c) around the point (5, 6) of its intersection with the aforementioned central loop (2b). 6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the design of the arcuate elements contains several loops (2, 2 ′) of essentially the same size, and said loops (2, 2 ′) are superimposed on one another so as to virtually form one single closed loop (2). 7. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that the loops (2, 2 ′) superimposed on one another are kept connected together by means of at least one fastening element. 8. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that three superposed turns (2a, 2b, 2c) are held together by means of a fastening element, preferably of the type of a diametrical belt. 9. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that three superimposed turns (2a, 2b, 2c) are inserted into a case, preferably made essentially round. 10. An article (1) containing a structure of arched elements, which contains at least one closed loop (2) folded into the folding position, said loop (2) being presented in the form of three turns superimposed on top of each other (2a, 2b, 2c), preferably substantially circular, characterized in that said three turns (2a, 2b, 2c) are formed using the method in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 9.

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