WO2005053455A1

WO2005053455A1 - Collapsible protective screen, particularly for covering large surfaces, with reduced footprint during opening and closing

Info

Publication number: WO2005053455A1
Application number: PCT/EP2004/013510
Authority: WO
Inventors: Marco Fiocchi
Original assignee: Marco Fiocchi
Priority date: 2003-12-02
Filing date: 2004-11-26
Publication date: 2005-06-16
Also published as: ITMI20032361A1

Abstract

A collapsible protective screen, particularly for covering large surfaces, with reduced footprint during opening and closing, comprising: an elongated supporting element (2), which is designed to be arranged so that its longitudinal axis is substantially vertical; at least two arms (3), which are arranged laterally to the longitudinal axis of the supporting element; and a protective canopy (4), which lies between the arms. The arms can rotate individually, with respect to the supporting element, about corresponding pivoting axes (5), which are substantially horizontal and axe arranged proximate to their end directed toward the supporting element. The protective screen comprises opening and closure means, which are connected to the arms and can be actuated in order to turn the arms (3) about the corresponding pivoting axes with respect to the supporting element (2) from an open position, in which the arms are arranged substantially horizontally or are inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of the supporting element, to a closed position, in which the arms are gathered adntjace to the supporting element above the corresponding pivoting axis, and vice versa.

Description

COLLAPSIBLE PROTECTIVE SCREEN, PARTICULARLY FOR COVERING LARGE SURFACES, WITH REDUCED FOOTPRINT DURING OPENING AND CLOSING Technical Field The present invention relates to a collapsible protective screen, particularly for covering large surfaces, with reduced footprint during opening and closing. Background Art In many cases and in the most disparate sectors, the need is felt to adequately cover areas, even large areas, simply to protect them from adverse weather or protect the items placed in such areas. Such a need is particularly felt, for example, in outdoor parking lots for cars or in farming during particularly damaging atmospheric phenomena, such as for example hail. Currently available protective screens are constituted by simple canopies, which can be arranged so as to cover the area to be protected, but generally require a large supporting structure, which can cause bulk problems and generally requires a substantial financial and logistic commitment. Sunshades having a circular or polygonal plan shape, which can cover even medium-sized areas, are also used as covering elements, generally with the function of providing shelter against the rain or the sun. Currently commercially available sunshades are capable of covering areas of approximately 10 square meters and have the advantage of being extremely compact when closed. However, these sunshades suffer the drawback of requiring, for opening and closing them, the availability of considerable free space in order to allow rotation, upwardly during opening and downwardly during closing, of the arms that support the canopy. This movement may be hindered by the presence, on the area to be covered, of the items to be protected, particularly if their height is considerable with respect to the height at which the canopy of the sunshade is arranged in the open position. Disclosure of the Invention The aim of the present invention is to solve the problems described above by providing a collapsible protective screen, particularly for covering large surfaces, that does not require, for opening or closure, considerable f ee space on the surface that is to be covered by the protective screen. Within this aim, an object of the invention is to provide a collapsible protective screen that can be used to protect items that almost reach the height at which the canopy of the protective element is arranged in the open position. Another object of the invention is to provide a protective screen that notwithstanding its considerable dimensions can be opened and closed easily. Another object of the invention is to provide a protective screen that can be produced at low cost. This aim and these and other objects that will become better apparent hereinafter are achieved by a collapsible protective screen, particularly for covering large surfaces comprising: an elongated supporting element, which is designed to be arranged so that its longitudinal axis is substantially vertical; at least two arms, which are arranged laterally to the longitudinal axis of said supporting element; and a protective canopy, which lies between said arms; said arms being individually rotatable, with respect to said supporting element, about corresponding pivoting axes, which are substantially horizontal and are arranged proximate to their end directed toward said supporting element; characterized in that it comprises opening and closure means, which are connected to said arms and can be actuated in order to turn said arms about the corresponding pivoting axes with respect to said supporting element from an open position, in which said arms are arranged substantially horizontally or are inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of said supporting element, to a closed position, in which said arms are gathered adjacent to said supporting element above the corresponding pivoting axis, and vice versa. Brief Description of the Drawings Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the description of preferred but not exclusive embodiments of the protective screen according to the invention, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a schematic side elevation view of the protective screen according to the invention in a first embodiment, shown only partially for the sake of simplicity; Figure 2 is a top plan view of the protective screen according to the invention, in the first embodiment; Figure 3 is a schematic side elevation view of the protective screen according to the invention in a second embodiment, shown only partially for the sake of simplicity; Figure 4 is a partially sectional schematic side elevation view of the protective screen according to the invention in a third embodiment, shown only partially for the sake of simplicity; Figures 5 to 9 are schematic views of different embodiments of actuation elements of the protective screen according to the invention; Figure 10 is an enlarged-scale transverse sectional view of the supporting element shown in Figures 7 to 9, taken at the arm pivoting region; Figure 11 is an enlarged-scale transverse sectional view of an arm of the protective screen according to the invention. Ways of carrying out the Invention With reference to the figures, the protective screen according to the invention, generally designated by the reference numerals la, lb, lc in the different embodiments, comprises: an elongated supporting element 2, which is designed to be arranged so that its longitudinal axis is substantially vertical; at least two arms 3, which are arranged laterally to the longitudinal axis of the supporting element 2; and a protective canopy 4, which lies between the arms 3. The arms 3 can rotate individually, with respect to the supporting element 2, about corresponding pivoting axes 5, which are substantially horizontal and are arranged proximate to their end that is directed toward the supporting element 2. The protective screen according to the invention comprises opening and closure means, which are connected to the arms 3 and can be actuated in order to turn the arms 3 about their corresponding pivoting axes 5, with respect to the supporting element 2, f om an open position, in which the arms 3 are arranged substantially horizontally or are inclined with respect to the axis of the supporting element 2, to a closed position, in which the arms 3 are gathered adjacent to the supporting element 2 above the corresponding pivoting axis 5, and vice versa. The number of arms 3 and their angular spacing about the axis of the supporting element 2 may vary according to the covering requirements. Thus, for example, if the protective screen is designed to cover an area that is adjacent to a wall or for similar requirements, in which the supporting element 2 must be installed adjacent to a wall in general, the arms may even be two in number. In the more frequent case in which the supporting element 2 is installed at the center of the area to be covered, the arms 3 are at least four in number, arranged radially about the axis of the supporting element, without excluding the possibility that the canopy 4 may cover, about the longitudinal axis of the supporting element 2, an angle of less than 360°. The illustrated embodiments, for the sake of simplicity, refer to a protective screen with four arms 3. The supporting element 2, in the different illustrated embodiments, is constituted by a pole, which is preferably hollow and has a circular cross- section and can be fixed to the ground in a per se known manner, for example by bolting its base to anchoring elements embedded beforehand in the ground. Such pole can be made, for example, of aluminum alloy so as to achieve suitable strength and a modest weight. The opening and closure means comprise, for each one of the arms 3, a connecting element, which connects at least one region of the corresponding arm 3, which is spaced from the pivoting axis 5, to a connection region 8, which is located on the supporting element 2 above the pivoting region of the arms 3. The arms 3 may be pivoted directly to the supporting element 2 about the pivoting axes 5 or advantageously, as shown, they may be pivoted to a ring 6a, 6b, which can slide along the supporting element 2 externally, as shown in Figures 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 or internally, as shown in Figures 7, 8, 9, 10. In this last case, the supporting element 2 is necessarily hollow in order to accommodate the ring 6b and the walls of the supporting element 2 are provided with grooves in order to allow wings of the ring 6b to protrude laterally from the supporting element 2 in order to support the arms 3 that are pivoted to said wings. If the arms 3 are directly pivoted to the supporting element 2 about the pivoting axes 5, the opening and closure means may be constituted, for each arm 3, by a cable that connects the corresponding arm 3 to the connection region 8 and can be pulled, in order to turn the corresponding arm 3 about its pivoting axis 5 in one direction, from the open position to the closed position, or be released in order to allow the rotation of the corresponding arm 3 in the opposite direction about its own pivoting axis 5, from the closed position to the open position. With particular reference to the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2, the connecting element is constituted by a bar 7, which is pivoted with one of its ends to the corresponding arm 3 and, with its other end, to the connection region 8 provided on the supporting element 2 above the pivoting region of the arms 3. In this embodiment, the bar 7 can be replaced with a cable that connects the corresponding arm 3 to the connection region 8. In both cases, rotation of the arms 3 about the corresponding pivoting axis 5 for opening or closing the protective screen can be achieved by sliding the ring 6a, 6b upwardly or downwardly. In the embodiment shown in Figure 3, the connecting element is constituted by a cable 9, which runs at least from a region of the corresponding arm 3 that is spaced from the pivoting axis 5 to the connection region 8, where a first guiding element 10 is provided, which is constituted for example by a pulley, and from there to the ring 6a. Preferably, the cable 9 is connected, with one of its ends, to the body of the pulley 10, engages a second pulley 11 or other guiding element, which is connected to an intermediate region of the arm 3, and then engages a third pulley 12, which is connected to the arm 3 proximate to its end that lies opposite with respect to the end that is pivoted about the axis 5. From the third pulley 12, the cable 9 returns to the first pulley 10 and from there descends to the ring 6a. In this embodiment also, the protective screen can pass from the open position to the closed position by sliding upwardly or downwardly the ring 6a along the supporting element 2. As an alternative, or in order to reduce the extent of the sliding of the ring 6a that is required to close or open the protective screen, it is possible to act directly on the cables 9 by pulling or releasing them. In this case, the sliding of the ring 6a along the supporting element 2 may be used in order to vary the height at which the arms 3 are to be positioned, particularly when the protective screen is opened. Figure 3 illustrates an embodiment that uses an external ring 6a, but the ring 6a may be replaced with a ring 6b that slides inside the supporting element 2. The embodiment shown in Figure 4 is similar to the embodiment of Figure 3, and for this reason the elements that are similar to the elements of Figure 3 have been designated by the same reference numerals. In this embodiment, the cable 9, instead of being connected to the ring 6a, descends to the base of the supporting element 2, from which it can be easily tensioned or released. The cable 9 can pass externally with respect to the supporting element 2 or, as shown, can pass at least partially within the supporting element 2 and exit from it proximate to the base, where an additional pulley 13 is provided. In this embodiment, transition from the open position to the closed position or vice versa of the protective screen is the result of the combination of the sliding of the ring 6a along the supporting element 2 and of the pulling or release of the cable 9. In this embodiment, according to the requirements, the cables 9 may optionally converge, descending toward the base of the supporting element 2, into a single cable, or may remain separate in order to allow to control one arm 3 separately from the others, as will be described in greater detail hereinafter. Conveniently, the protective screen according to the invention comprises actuation means, which act on the ring 6a, 6b in order to produce its sliding along the supporting element 2. Figures 5 to 9 illustrate embodiments of the actuation means. In the embodiment shown in Figure 5, the actuation means comprise a device with a double pulley or with two sets of pulleys, such as for example a hoist or the like, generally designated by the reference numeral 14, which connects the ring 6a to the ground or to the base of the supporting element 2 and can be used to cause the downward sliding of the ring 6a in contrast with a spring 15, which assists the upward motion of the ring 6a, in addition to the upward motion of the ring 6a produced by the weight of the arms 3 and of the canopy 4 when the cable 14a of the hoist or the like is released. In the embodiment shown in Figure 6, the actuation means comprise two devices with a double pulley or with two sets of pulleys, such as for example a hoist or the like, generally designated by the reference numerals 16 and 17, which are respectively connected in a downward region and in an upward region to the ring 6a and can be used to produce the downward or upward sliding of the ring 6a. In Figures 7 to 9, the actuation means comprise a threaded shaft 19, which is supported, so that it can rotate about its own axis, which is orientated vertically, within the supporting element 2. The threaded shaft 19, which is prevented from performing an axial translational motion, is coupled to a female thread 20, which is formed in the ring 6b so that a rotary actuation of the threaded shaft 19 about its own axis causes the upward or downward sliding of the ring 6b, rotation whereof is prevented by the coupling of the wings of said ring in the grooves of the supporting element 2 from which they protrude. The threaded shaft 19 can be actuated rotationally about its own axis by means of a gearmotor 21, which is arranged outside the supporting element 2, as shown in Figure 7, or by means of a crank 22 that can be operated manually or by means of a motor 23 arranged inside the supporting element 2. The canopy 4 can be connected to the arms 3 by providing, in the arms 3, appropriate seats 24, which have an access slot that is smaller than the remaining part of the seats 24 and are designed to receive a folded-over side of the canopy 4, which is enlarged by inserting in the fold bars 25 that prevent extraction of the canopy from the corresponding seat. Obviously, the canopy 4 can also be connected to the arms 3 in other known ways. Operation of the protective screen according to the invention is evident from what has been described and illustrated, and in particular it is evident that by sliding the ring 6a, 6b along the supporting element 2 and/or by pulling or releasing the cables 9, the arms 3 are turned about the corresponding pivoting axis 5 from the open position to the closed position or vice versa. Owing to the fact that the arms 3, in order to pass from the closed position to the open position, rotate downwardly and vice versa in order to pass from the open position to the closed position, the protective screen according to the invention can be opened without problems at a height that is only slightly greater than the height of the items to be protected, achieving particularly effective protection. Moreover, the particular opening and closing movement makes the protective screen according to the invention particularly suitable for providing protective cover of crops of considerable height. It should be noted that the sliding of the ring 6a, 6b along the supporting element 2 and/or the pulling of the cables 9 is adjusted so that in the open position the arms 3 are slightly inclined upwardly or downwardly in order to drain the water or other element against which the screen performs its protective action. If the arms 3 are inclined upwardly, it is possible to provide, as shown in Figure 2, openings of the canopy 4 adjacent to the supporting element 2 in order to drain the water or hail or snow. Moreover, if the cables 9 can be operated individually, it is possible to pull the cables 9 connected to certain arms 3 more than those connected to other arms 3, in order to obtain, in the open position, a differentiated arrangement of the arms 3 in order to meet particular covering requirements, such as for example covering of sloping or stepped ground. The cables 9, as well as the cables of the hoists used to move the rings

6a, 6b, can be locked for example by means of jam cleats or clamcleats ^® or the like. The type of canopy 4 can vary according to the protection that is to be achieved; for example, if the screen must provide protection against rain or snow, the canopy 4 is waterproof; if instead it has to provide shelter against hail, it can be provided as a net or otherwise perforated so as to offer limited resistance to the wind. Optionally, the protective screen according to the invention may be completed by anchoring tension elements, which connect the arms 3 to the ground so as to increase the stability of the protective screen. The connection region 8, instead of being arranged directly on the supporting element 2, as shown, may be arranged on an auxiliary ring, which is arranged above the ring 6a, 6b and can slide on command along the supporting element 2, like the ring 6a, 6b. The sliding of the auxiliary ring allows to position the arms 3 and therefore the canopy 4 at different heights according to the requirements even if the connecting elements are of a rigid type, as in the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2. Moreover, it should be noted that the canopy 4 may include solar panels for generating electric power in order to supply for example the motor 23 or the gearmotor 21 or for other applications. In practice it has been observed that the screen according to the invention fully achieves the intended aim, since its operation is not limited by the presence of the items to be protected, it can be opened and arranged at a height that is only slightly greater than the height of the items to be protected, and is extremely simple to use. Another advantage of the protective screen according to the invention is that it is structurally simple and can be manufactured at low cost. In the examples of embodiments described above, individual characteristics, given in relation to specific examples, may actually be interchanged with other different characteristics that exist in other examples of embodiments. The protective screen thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims; all the details may further be replaced with other technically equivalent elements. In practice, the materials used, as well as the dimensions, may be any according to requirements and to the state of the art. The disclosures in Italian Patent Application no. MI2003A002361 from which this application claims priority, are incorporated herein by reference.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A collapsible protective screen, particularly for covering large surfaces, comprising: an elongated supporting element, which is designed to be arranged so that its longitudinal axis is substantially vertical; at least two arms, which are arranged laterally to the longitudinal axis of said supporting element; and a protective canopy, which lies between said arms; said arms being individually rotatable, with respect to said supporting element, about corresponding pivoting axes, which are substantially horizontal and are arranged proximate to their end directed toward said supporting element; characterized in that it comprises opening and closure means, which are connected to said arms and can be actuated in order to turn said arms about the corresponding pivoting axes with respect to said supporting element from an open position, in which said arms are arranged substantially horizontally or are inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of said supporting element, to a closed position, in which said arms are gathered adjacent to said supporting element above the corresponding pivoting axis, and vice versa.

2. The protective screen according to claim 1, characterized in that said opening and closure means comprise, for each one of said arms, a connecting element that connects at least one region of the corresponding arm that is spaced from the pivoting axis of the corresponding arm to a connection region, which is arranged on said supporting element above the pivoting region of said arms.

3. The protective screen according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that said connecting element is a cable-like element, which can be pulled in order to turn the corresponding arm about its pivoting axis in one direction from said open position to said closed position or can be released in order to allow the rotation of the corresponding arm in the opposite direction about its pivoting axis from said closed position to said open position.

4. The protective screen according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that said connecting element is a bar-like element, which is pivoted with one of its ends to said arm and with its other end to said connection region on the supporting element.

5. The protective screen according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that each one of said arms is pivoted to a ring, which is arranged about said supporting element and can slide along said supporting element in order to vary the height of said arms and/or to cause the passage of said arms from said open position to said closed position or vice versa.

6. The protective screen according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said cable-like element runs from said arm to a first guiding element, which is connected to said connection region on said supporting element, and from said first guiding element to said ring, to which it is connected, in order to tension said cable-like element when said ring slides downwardly along said supporting element.

7. The protective screen according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said cable-like element runs from said arm to a first guiding element, which is connected to said connection region on said supporting element, and from said first guiding element to a region that is proximate to the base of the supporting element, and in that said cable-like element can be pulled in order to cause the transition of the corresponding arm from said open position to said closed position or can be released in order to transfer the corresponding arm from said closed position to said open position.

8. The protective screen according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said cable-like element runs from a connecting point arranged on said connection region to at least one second guiding element on said arm and from said second guiding element to said first guiding element connected to said connection region on the supporting element.

9. The protective screen according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said cable-like element runs, from said first guiding element to said ring or from said first guiding element to said region proximate to the base of the supporting element, at least partially inside said supporting element, which is at least partially hollow.

10. The protective screen according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said ring can slide inside said supporting element, which is at least partially hollow.

11. The protective screen according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said ring can slide externally with respect to said supporting element.

12. The protective screen according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cable-like elements that are connected to the various arms converge in a single cable-like element, which can be pulled in order to move said arms from said open position to said closed position.

13. The protective screen according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least one second guiding element arranged on said arm comprises two second guiding elements, which are arranged respectively in an intermediate region and in a region that is proximate to the end of the corresponding arm that lies opposite the pivoted end.

14. The protective screen according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said opening and closing means comprise actuation means, which act on said ring in order to make it slide along said supporting element.

15. The protective screen according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said actuation means comprise at least one elastic element that contrasts the sliding of said ring along said supporting element in a sliding direction.

16. The protective screen according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said actuation means comprise at least one hoist device.

17. The protective screen according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said actuation means comprise a motor that is kinematically connected to said ring with its output shaft.

18. The protective screen according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said actuation means comprise at least one crank, which can be operated manually and is kinematically connected to said ring.

19. The protective screen according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said connection region on the supporting element is formed by an auxiliary ring, which is arranged above said ring and can slide along said supporting element.

20. The protective screen according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said arms, in said open position, are inclined upwardly or downwardly with respect to said supporting element.

21. The protective screen according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least two arms comprise at least four arms, which are arranged radially around the axis of said supporting element.

22. The protective screen according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said canopy includes solar panels for generating electric power.