FOLDABLE STRUCTURE FOR A SUNSHADE, A SHUTTER OR A FENCE

Abstract

A foldable structure for a sunshade, a shutter or a fence, comprising at least one guiding member (10); a plurality of displaceable elements (20) slidably connected to said guiding member (10) forming a row (2), a stroke end (54), a first actuator (31) connected to first displaceable element (20) of the row (2), foldable spacers (40) connecting each pair of successive displaceable elements (20), and a spacer guide (50) including successive first portion (51), second portion (52), third portion (53), wherein the second portion (52) urge the foldable spacers (40) from a first folding position to a second folding position; and wherein a second actuator (32) produces a relative movement between the second portion (52) of the spacer guide (50) and the stroke end (54) to adjust the longitude of the third portion (53), said second actuator (32) being in coordination with the first actuator (31).

Claims

1. A foldable structure for a sunshade, a shutter or a fence, comprising: at least one guiding member defining a guiding path; a plurality of displaceable elements slidably connected to the at least one guiding member in succession forming a row of displaceable elements; a stroke end limiting the movement of the displaceable elements on one end of the guiding path; a first actuator connected to the displaceable element of the row of displaceable elements more distant from the stroke end to produce the sliding movement of the displaceable element in a folding direction and in an unfolding direction following the guiding path; a spacer device comprising: foldable spacers connecting each pair of successive displaceable elements of the row of displaceable elements to each other keeping the pair of successive displaceable elements at a distance, each foldable spacer being movable between a first folding position determining a first distance between the pair of successive displaceable elements and a second folding position determining a second distance between the pair of successive displaceable elements smaller than the first distance, and a spacer guide comprising successive first portion, second portion, third portion, the first portion is parallel to the guiding path and is configured to guide and retain the foldable spacers in the first folding position, and the third portion is adjacent to the stroke end and is configured to guide and retain the foldable spacers in the second folding position, determining an accumulation area adjacent to the stroke end where a number of displaceable elements of the row of displaceable elements are accumulated in a folded position; each foldable spacer comprises a first arm freely articulated to one displaceable element and a second arm freely articulated to the following displaceable element of the row of displaceable elements, the first and second arms being freely articulated to each other; the second portion of the spacer guide is configured to guide and urge the foldable spacers from the first folding position to the second folding position during the driving produced by the first actuator in the folding direction and from the second folding position to the first folding position during the driving produced by the first actuator in the unfolding direction; and a second actuator produces a relative movement between the second portion of the spacer guide and the stroke end to adjust the longitude of the third portion to the number of displaceable elements accumulated in the accumulation area, the second actuator being in coordination with the first actuator.

2. The foldable structure according to claim 1 wherein the second portion is a cam and each foldable spacer include a cam follower complementary to the cam.

3. The foldable structure according to claim 2 wherein the cam follower is located on the articulation between the first and second arms.

4. The foldable structure according to claim 2 wherein the first portion and the third portions are parallel to the guiding path and the second portion connects the first and third portion through a ramp non-parallel to the guiding path.

5. The foldable structure according to claim 1 wherein the second portion and at least a portion of first and the third portions adjacent to the second portion are included in a movable spacer guide, the movable spacer guide being slidably guided in a direction parallel to the guiding path and being actuated by the second actuator.

6. The foldable structure according to claim 5 wherein a portion of the first portion and/or a portion of the third portion is/are telescopically connected to the movable spacer guide.

7. The foldable structure according to claim 1 wherein the coordination between the first actuator and the second actuator determine that the time required by the first actuator to move the displaceable element to which is connected a distance equivalent to the difference between the first distance and the second distance is the same that the time required by the second actuator to produce a relative movement between the second portion and the stroke end the second distance.

8. The foldable structure according to claim 7 wherein the first actuator and the second actuator are coordinated through a gear box, a gear transmission or are separated actuators coordinated through an electronic coordination.

9. The foldable structure according to claim 1 wherein the displaceable elements are elongated in a direction transverse to the guiding path or are slats.

10. The foldable structure according to claim 9 wherein the foldable structure further comprises a drive shaft parallel to or integral of the at least one guiding member and each displaceable element is an orientable slat connected to the drive shaft through a sliding carriage which comprises a transmission configured to produce the rotation of the slat in response to the rotation of the drive shaft.

11. The foldable structure according to claim 1 wherein the at least one guiding member comprises two parallel guiding members separated to each other, each displaceable element being supported on the two parallel guiding members on two opposed ends thereof.

12. The foldable structure according to claim 11 wherein both guiding members include the first actuator and the spacer device connected to the two opposed ends of the displaceable elements supported between the two parallel guiding members.

13. The foldable structure according to claim 1 wherein the displaceable elements projects symmetrically on both sides of the at least one guiding member.

14. The foldable structure according to claim 1 wherein the at least one guiding member and the guiding path defined by the at least one guiding member are curved.

15. The foldable structure according to claim 3 wherein the first portion and the third portions are parallel to the guiding path and the second portion connects the first and third portion through a ramp non-parallel to the guiding path.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0065] The foregoing and other advantages and features will be more fully understood from the following detailed description of an embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, to be taken in an illustrative and non-limitative manner, in which:

[0066] FIG. 1 shows a partial perspective view of a foldable structure according to an embodiment in which two parallel guiding members are two cylindrical drive shafts. Each displaceable element, of a row of displaceable elements, has two opposed ends supported on said two drive shafts through sliding carriages which further integrate a transmission which, when the drive shafts rotate along its axis parallel to the guiding path, produces the rotation of the displaceable elements along an axis perpendicular to the two guiding paths defined by both guiding members. In this view the spacer device, the first actuator and the second actuator are not shown in this figure for clarity reasons.

[0067] FIG. 2 shows a partial perspective view of a foldable structure according to an embodiment similar to that shown on FIG. 1, showing a spacer device comprising a spacer guide and foldable spacers each comprising a first and a second arms freely articulated. The drive shaft, the stroke end, the first actuator and the second actuator are not shown in this figure for clarity reasons.

[0068] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the spacer guide according to an embodiment in which said spacer guide include a movable spacer guide comprising the second portion and a portion of the first portion and a portion of the third portion, being said movable spacer guide movable in regard to the rest of the first portion and the rest of the third portion by the second actuator, and being the rest of the first portion and the rest of the third portion telescopically connected to said movable spacer guide to allow said movement of the spacer guide but maintaining the continuity of the spacer guide.

[0069] FIGS. 4a, 4b and 4c shown a lateral view, in three different folding positions, of the foldable structure according to an embodiment which includes a row of four displaceable elements, three foldable spacers, each comprising a first and a second arms freely articulated, connecting said four displaceable elements, a spacer guide with a first, second and third portions and a stroke end, wherein the first displaceable element of the row is connected to a first actuator comprising an annular band, a movable spacer guide, which is connected to a second actuator comprising an annular band for moving said movable spacer guide in a direction parallel to the guiding path, integrates the second and third portions and a part of the first portion of the spacer guide, the first actuator and the second actuator being coordinated through a mechanical transmission, shown in this figure in a simplified manner as a box connecting the annular bands of both first and second actuators.

[0070] FIGS. 5a, 5b and 5c shown a lateral view, in three different folding positions, of the foldable structure according to an embodiment which includes a row of four displaceable elements, three foldable spacers, each comprising a first and a second arms freely articulated, connecting said four displaceable elements, a spacer guide with a first, second and third portions and a stroke end, wherein the first displaceable element of the row is connected to a first actuator comprising an annular band, the stroke end is connected to a second actuator comprising an annular band for moving said stroke end in a direction parallel to the guiding path, the first actuator and the second actuator being coordinated through a mechanical transmission, shown in this figure in a simplified manner as a box connecting the annular bands of both first and second actuators.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT

[0071] The foregoing and other advantages and features will be more fully understood from the following detailed description of an embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, to be taken in an illustrative and not limitative.

[0072] According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention the foldable structure comprises a plurality of successive and parallel displaceable elements 20, which in this example are horizontal slats, forming a row 2 of displaceable elements 20.

[0073] Each displaceable element 20 has two opposed ends, each supported on a guiding member 10 in a sliding manner, so that each displaceable element 20 can slide along the guiding members following a guiding path P defined by said guiding members 10 until reaching a stroke end 54 which limits said guiding path P on one end. This embodiment is shown on FIG. 1.

[0074] In this example, at least one of the guiding members 10 comprises a drive shaft 11 which can rotate along its longest axis, parallel to the guiding path P. Each displaceable element 20 is connected to said drive shaft 11 through a sliding carriage 21 which can slide long the driving shaft 11 in the guiding path P direction, and which includes a transmission 22 engaged to said driving shaft 11 to rotate together with the driving shaft 11 producing the rotation of the displaceable element 20 connected thereto along an axis transversal to the guiding path P. When the driving shaft 11 rotates, for example actuated by a motor, all the displaceable elements 20 connected to said driving shaft 11, which in this example are slats, will rotate changing their inclination. The inclination of all the displaceable elements 20 shall be placed in an optimal position to proceed with the folding of the foldable structure, for example in a position perpendicular to the guiding path P, and the displaceable elements 20 can only be rotated in a position different from said optimal position when the row of displaceable elements 2 is completely unfolded.

[0075] The proposed foldable structure further comprises, associated with each guiding member 10, a spacer device which comprises foldable spacers 40 and a spacer guide 50. Different embodiments of the spacer device are shown on FIGS. 2 to 6.

[0076] Each foldable spacer 40 connects the ends of two successive displaceable elements 20 of the row 2 of displaceable elements 20, keeping said displaceable elements 20 at a first distance, measured from the center of one displaceable element to the center of the following displaceable element, when the foldable spacer 40 is in a first folding position, and keeping at a second distance smaller than the first distance when the foldable spacer 40 is in a second folding position, also measured from center to center.

[0077] In the preferred embodiment, shown on FIGS. 2 to 5c, each foldable spacer 40 comprises a first arm 41 freely articulated to one end of one displaceable element 20 and a second arm 42 freely articulated to one end of the following displaceable element 20 of the row 2 of displaceable elements 20, being the first and second arms 41 and 42 freely articulated to each other. In this case, the first folding position is when both first and second arms 41 and 42 are aligned or forming an obtuse angle close to 180°, preferably bigger than 150°, and the second folding position is when both first and second arms 41 and 42 are forming an acute angle close to 0°, preferably smaller than 30°.

[0078] It will be understood that the arm is a bar defined between the articulation points, independently of the shape of the element constitutive of said arm.

[0079] The foldable spacers 40 are associated with a spacer guide 50, in this case by a cam follower placed in the articulation between the first and the second arms 41 and 42 and inserted in said spacer guide 50 which acts as a cam.

[0080] When the displaceable elements 20 are moved along the guiding path P, the foldable spacers 40 connected to them are also moved following the guiding path P, sliding the cam follower along the spacer guide 50.

[0081] The spacer guide 50 include successive first portion 51, second portion 52 and third portion 53. The first portion 51 is parallel to the guiding path P and is configured to retain all the foldable spacers 40 associated with said first portion 51 in the first folding position. The third portion 53 is closer to the stroke end 54 than the other segments of the spacer guide 50 and is configured to retain the folding spacers 40 associated therewith in the second folding position. The second portion 52 is interposed between the first and the third portions 51 and 53 and is configured to urge the foldable spacers 40 from the first folding position to the second folding position or vice versa when passing therethrough.

[0082] According to this construction, when the row 2 of displaceable elements 20 is moved along the guiding path in a folding direction FD to the stroke end 54, the foldable spacers 40 are retained in the first folding position when remain in the first portion 51 keeping the displaceable elements 20 separated a first distance, but when the folding spacers 40 pass through the second portion 52 and reach the third portion 53 they are urged to the second folding position by the spacer guide 50, reducing the distance between the displaceable elements 20 stored in an accumulation area adjacent to the stroke end 54 to a second distance smaller than the first distance. In an equivalent manner, when the row 2 of displaceable elements 20 are moved along the guiding path in an unfolding direction UF opposed to the folding direction FD, the opposed effect is produced increasing the distance between the successive displaceable elements 20 when passing from the third portion 53 to the first portion 51.

[0083] The displacement of the row 2 of displaceable elements 20 along the guiding path P is produced by a first actuator 31 connected to a first displaceable element 20 of the row 2 of displaceable elements 20 more distant from the stroke end 54. In this example the first actuator 31 include a motor connected to an annular chain or an annular band parallel and adjacent to the guiding member 10, shown on FIGS. 4a, 4b and 4c, being the displaceable element 20 connected to said annular chain or band. When the motor is activated the chain or band pulls the displaceable element 20 along the guiding path P in the folding direction FD or in the unfolding direction UD.

[0084] According to the embodiment shown on FIGS. 4a, 4b and 4c, the second portion 52, the third portion 53 and also a portion of the first portion 51 of the spacer guide 50 adjacent to the second portion 52 are integrated in a movable spacer guide 55. The portion of the first portion 51 integrated in the movable spacer guide 55 is telescopically connected to the rest of the first portion 51, allowing the relative movement between them and maintaining the continuity of the spacer guide 50. In FIG. 3 an alternative embodiment is shown in which also a part of the third segment 53 is telescopically connected to the movable spacer guide 55 which only comprises a part of said third portion 53 of the spacer guide 50.

[0085] The movable spacer guide 55 is connected to a second actuator 32 which produces the movement of the movable spacer guide 55 in a direction parallel to the guiding path P, as shown in FIGS. 4a, 4b and 4c. This movement produces an approach or a retreat of the second portion 52 to the stroke end 54, changing the longitude, in the direction parallel to the guiding path, of the third portion 53 comprised between the second portion 52 and the stroke end 54, which determines the size of the accumulation area where the displaceable elements 20 with respective foldable spacers 40 in the second folding position are accumulated.

[0086] In the example shown on FIGS. 4a to 4c, the second actuator 32 comprises an annular chain or an annular band connected to the same motor which actuates the first actuator 31 through a gear box with a transmission relation adapted to produce the adequate coordination between the first actuator 31 and the second actuator 32, said transmission being shown in as simplified manner as a box connecting both annular chains or annular bands in the drawings.

[0087] When the row 2 of displaceable elements 20 is completely unfolded, with all the foldable spacers 40 associated with the first portion 51 placed in the first folding position, but said row 2 still being in contact with the stroke end 54, the distance between the second portion 52 and the stroke end 54 is minimal, with a size equal or smaller than the space occupied by one single displaceable element 20.

[0088] As the first actuator 31 pushes the displaceable elements 20 in the folding direction FD against the stroke end 54, and the last displaceable element 20 of the row of displaceable elements 20 reaches the stroke end 54, the foldable spacer 40 connecting said last displaceable element 20 with the adjacent displaceable element 20 reach the second portion 52 of the spacer guide 50.

[0089] The movement of the second portion 52 produced by the second actuator 32, increasing its distance with the stroke end 54, produces the folding of the foldable spacer 40 associated therewith from the first folding position to the second folding position, and reduces the distance between the two adjacent displaceable elements 20, until said foldable spacer 40 is completely folded in the second folding position and reaches the third portion 53 by the movement of the movable spacer guide 55. At this point, the distance between the stroke end 54 and the second portion 52 determine an accumulation area adequate to store two displaceable elements 20 close to each other with the interposed foldable spacer 40 in the second folding position.

[0090] Because the reduction of the distance between said two adjacent displaceable elements 20, the total longitude of the row 2 of displaceable elements 20 is reduced, permitting the displacement of the displaceable elements 20 with respective foldable spacers 40 associated with the first portion 51 of the spacer guide 50 in the folding direction FD despite that the displaceable element 20 in contact with the stroke end 54 cannot proceed its movement in the folding direction FD.

[0091] This process continues with the successive displaceable elements 20, moving the second portion 52 away from the stroke end 54, increasing the size of the accumulation area and increasing the number of displaceable elements 20 close to each other with the interposed foldable spacer 40 in the second folding position accumulated in said accumulation area.

[0092] To obtain a smooth folding of the foldable structure the first actuator 31 and the second actuator 32 shall be coordinated to ensure that the velocity of the displacement of the row 2 of displaceable elements 20 is in coordination with the velocity of the movement of the second portion 52 and therefore with the velocity of the increase of the accumulation area where the displaceable elements 20 of the row 2 of displaceable elements 20 shall be stored.

[0093] The time needed by the first actuator 31 to move the first displaceable element 20 connected to the first actuator 31 a distance equivalent to the difference between the first distance and the second distance is the same time needed by the second actuator 32 to move the second portion the second distance in an opposed direction.

[0094] According to an alternative embodiment shown in FIGS. 5a to 5c, the second actuator is not connected to any part of the spacer guide, which is static, but to the stroke end 54, producing a movement of said stroke end 54 in the folding direction FD or in the unfolding direction UD, being the first and second actuator being also coordinated in the same manner described above in this case, but producing the movement of the stroke end 54 and of the row 2 of displaceable elements 20 in the same direction but at different velocity. In this example the increase of the accumulation area is produced without moving the second portion 52 of the spacer guide 50 but moving the stroke end 54 away from said second portion 52 increasing the storage capacity of said accumulation area.

[0095] It will be understood that various parts of one embodiment of the invention can be freely combined with parts described in other embodiments, even being said combination not explicitly described, provided there is no harm in such combination.