ARTICULATED ARM STRUCTURE FOR AN AWNING WITH AN INTEGRATED ELECTRICAL INSTALLATION

Abstract

An articulated arm structure for an awning with an integrated electrical installation relates to an articulated arm structure for an awning, of the type designed to have an integrated electrical installation, mainly of LED (Light Emitting Diodes) lighting, but also of electrical wiring to supply any device requiring electrical energy for its operation, and has a series of improvements which, among others, provides advantages of ease of assembly, enlargement of the lit-up area and improved aesthetics.

Claims

1. An articulated arm structure for an awning with an integrated electrical installation, of the type configured from respective straight profiles, a front one and another rear one which are joined to each other in an articulated joint of respective male and female elbows, forming an articulated arm which, in combination with another one, allows opening and closing an awning with a canvas which can be rolled on a shaft, wherein said elbows incorporate respective wire protector guiding parts, a male part and a female part which fit on the elbows, concealing and guiding a section of wiring existing between said two profiles, said wiring forming part of an integrated installation, of lighting with LED strips of or only of electrical wiring passing from one end to another of the profiles, said installation being inserted in longitudinal grooves determining housings, wherein each wire protector part is fixed to the respective elbow by means of a clip part which embraces each wire protector part and is clipped at its respective ends with the side of the elbow, such that once said clip part is fixed, it is integrated flush between both parts, the elbow and the wire protector part.

2. The structure according to claim 1, wherein the female wire protector part fitting in the female elbow of the joint, has an inner face which is smooth and free of protrusions to fit in the center of said elbow, allowing the passage of the section of wire thereon without there being any obstacle to the passage thereof.

3. The structure according to claim 1, wherein both wire protector parts have fixing feet extending on the side thereof to fit in cavities of the profiles, preventing them from being separated from the corresponding elbows.

4. The structure according to claim 1, wherein the clip parts have a C/shaped configuration embracing the wire protector parts, fitting in a slot thereof and clipping at their respective ends in respective recesses provide don both sides of the elbows.

5. The structure according to claim 1, wherein the male wire protector part has a side foot which extends to be inserted in a cavity of the front profile, preventing it from being separated from the male elbow.

6. The structure according to claim 1, wherein the female wire protector part has two side feet which extend to fit in respective cavities of the rear profile, preventing it from being separated from the female elbow.

7. The structure according to claim 1, wherein the feet extend on a side of the wire protector parts determined by a planar face located behind the slot for the insertion of the clip part, which faces the end of the corresponding profile.

8. The structure according to claim 1, wherein both elbows, the male one and the female one, have respective notches which allow increasing the available space between them and the corresponding wire protector parts, to place in them the connectors joining the LED strips with the section of wire which joins them and is placed on said joint.

9. The structure according to claim 1, wherein the slots for the insertion of the clips in the wire protectors define respective windows enlarging the space between them and the elbows for the inclusion of the connectors of the LED strips.

10. The structure according to claim 1, wherein the LED strip has approximately the same length as the profile.

11. The structure according to claim 1, wherein both clip parts have the same dimensions.

12. The structure according to claim 1, wherein both clip parts have different dimensions.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] To complete the description of the present invention and for the purpose of facilitating the understanding of the features thereof, a set of illustrative and non-limiting figures is attached.

[0019] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of the structure object of the invention, specifically an example with grooves for an integrated LED lighting electrical installation, having only depicted a portion thereof which, in any case, allows observing the main parts and elements which it comprises, as well as its configuration and arrangement.

[0020] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the structure of the invention very similar to that shown in the previous figure, in this case depicted with the profiles without including the cover of the LED strips and with the joint without including the wire protector parts coupled in the elbows thereof.

[0021] FIG. 3 shows a top plan view of the portion of structure of the invention, according to the example shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in this case including the LED strips with the connectors and the wire joining it incorporated, respectively, in the profiles and in the joint.

[0022] FIGS. 4 and 5 shows respective perspective views of another embodiment of the structure of the invention, specifically an example for integrating an installation of only electrical wiring, depicted respectively with and without the partition covering the grooves of the profiles and the wire protector parts of the elbows.

[0023] And FIGS. 6 and 7 respectively show top and bottom perspective views of the male and female wire protector parts and their respective fixing clips.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0024] Non-limiting examples of the articulated arm structure for an awning of the invention are described below with reference to the figures, which structure comprises the parts and elements which are indicated and described in detail below.

[0025] Thus, as can be seen in said figures, the structure (1) in question is configured from respective straight profiles, a front one (2) and another rear one (2) which are joined in a joint of respective male (3) and female (3) elbows, forming and articulated arm which, in combination with another one, allows opening and closing a rolling canvas awning (not shown), wherein said elbows (3, 3) respectively incorporate respective male (6) and female (6) wire protector guiding parts which, having a concordant configuration, fit onto the same, concealing and guiding a section of wiring (5) existing between the two profiles (2, 2), ensuring the passage thereof integrated in the joint in its movements of articulation, i.e., in the opening and closing of the awning, which wire (5) forms part of an integrated installation, which can be of lighting with LED strips (4), or only of electrical wiring passing from one end to another of profiles (2, 2), inserted in longitudinal grooves determining housings (13).

[0026] And, from this already known configuration, the structure (1) is essentially distinguished in that each wire protector part (6, 6) is fixed to the respective elbow (3, 3) by means of a clip part (7) which, with a C-shaped configuration, embraces the wire protector (61, 62), fitting in a slot (8) thereof and clips at its respective ends (71) into the side of the elbow (3, 3), specifically fitting in recesses (10) provided on both sides of the elbows (3, 3) for that purpose, such that, once said clip part (7) is fixed, it is integrated flush between both parts, the elbows (3, 3) and the wire protector parts (6, 6). The dimensions of the clip parts (7) will depend on the dimensions of the wire protector parts (6, 6), each clip part (7) being able to be identical or different to the other clip part (7).

[0027] Furthermore, the female wire protector part (6) fitting in the female elbow (3) of the joint, has an inner face which is smooth and free of protrusions to fit in the center of said elbow, allowing the passage of the section of wire (5) thereon without there being any obstacle to the passage thereof.

[0028] Likewise, both wire protector parts (6, 6) have fixing feet (11) extending on the side thereof to fit in cavities (12) of the profiles (2, 2), preventing them from being separated from the corresponding elbows (3, 3).

[0029] More specifically, the male wire protector (6) has a side foot (11) which extends to be inserted in a cavity (12) of the front profile (2), preventing it from being separated from the male elbow (3). And the female wire protector (6) has two side feet (11) which extend to be fit in respective cavities (12) of the rear profile (2), preventing it from being separated from the female elbow (3).

[0030] Preferably, said feet (11) extend on the side of the wire protector parts (6, 6) determined by a planar face (9) located behind the slot (8) for the insertion of the clip part (7), which faces the end of the corresponding profile (2, 2).

[0031] Likewise, in an embodiment wherein the structure (1) incorporates an integrated installation of lighting with LED strips (4), both elbows, male (3) and female (3), of the joint have respective notches (15) which allow increasing the available space between them and the corresponding wire protector parts (6, 6), to place in them the connectors (16) joining the LED strips (4) with the section of wire (5) which joins them and is placed on said joint. Said connector (16) has a larger section than the LED strip (4) and than the wire (5), because it embraces both of them.

[0032] At the same time, the slots (8) for the insertion of the clips (7) in the wire protectors (6, 6), define respective windows enlarging the mentioned space for the inclusion of the connectors (16) of the LED strips (4).

[0033] As a result of said space increases, the connector (16) can be located between the wire protector (6, 6) and the elbow (3, 3) (instead of inside the housing (13) of the profile (2, 2) under the cover (14)), whereby it is achieved that the LED strip (4) can have the same length as the profile (2, 2), achieving it to be lit up in its entire length.

[0034] It must be indicated that the described structure (1) is preferably designed such that, upon introducing the wire protector (6, 6) in the profile (2, 2) and on the corresponding elbow (3, 3), the following occurs: [0035] the feet (11) of the wire protectors (6, 6) enter the cavities (12) of the profiles (2, 2) with reduced clearance, [0036] the inner face of the wire protector (6, 6) fits in its entire perimeter onto the outer face of the elbow (3, 3), [0037] the wire protector (6, 6) has a planar face (9) resting on the planar face of the end of the profile (2, 2).

[0038] Therefore, at that time, the wire protector (6, 6) can only move in the direction of the main axis of the profile (2, 2), which is the direction needed to introduce the feet (11) in the cavities (12) of the profile (2, 2).

[0039] In turn, said movement capacity is annulled upon incorporating the clip (7) since it fits simultaneously in the slots (8) of wire protectors (6, 6) aligned at the recesses of the elbows (3, 3), which are transverse to the axis of the profile.

[0040] The clipping of both ends (71) of the clip (7) has two functions: [0041] maintain the clip (7) inserted in said slots (8), e [0042] preventing the wire protector (6, 6) from being separated from the elbow (3, 3) because of the small clearances between the feet (11) and the cavities (12) of the profile (2, 2), necessary for being able to perform the assembly movement.

[0043] In an alternative embodiment, the structure (1) contemplates that the profile (2, 2) and the clip (7) of one of both elbows (3, 3), preferably in the female wire protector (6), are more separated from one another, to enlarge the fastening base preventing the wire protector (6, 6) from being separated from the elbow (3, 3), which base is formed by the feet (11) and the clips (7) of both wire protectors (62, 61).

[0044] To that end, the slot (8) of the female wire protector (6), instead of being parallel to the edge of the end of the profile (2), is oblique to the edge, or forming a curve in accordance with the curve of the female elbow (3).

[0045] In another embodiment, the female wire protector (6) incorporates two clips (7) and a V- or Y-shaped slot (8).

[0046] In addition, in one embodiment, the cavities (12) of the profile (2, 2) in which the feet (11) of the wire protectors (6, 6) enter, are an extension of the longitudinal grooves determining the housings (13), without being separated by a partition.

[0047] Finally, when the structure (1) incorporates an integrated installation of lighting with LED strips (4), inserted in the housings (13), these are covered with transparent or translucent covers (14), as can be observed in FIGS. 1 and 2. And, when it incorporates and integrated installation of only electrical wiring passing from one end to another of profiles (2, 2), said housings (13), as can be observed in FIGS. 3 and 4, are covered by an aluminium partition (17). The resulting inner channel serves to house the wires conducting electricity from one end to another of the arm, to supply accessories in the load bar of the awning (motor of a curtain, light, heating, sound, etc.). In any case, the wire protectors (6, 6) and clips (7) perform the same function as in the preferred configuration: covering the wires in their passage through the elbows.