AWNING DEVICES

Abstract

An awning device includes a roll-up awning, an electric motor for rotating the roll-up awning, which motor is electrically supplied by one or more wires, a supply cable having one or more wires, an electrical coupling for coupling the wires of the supply cable to the wires of the motor, which coupling includes a male and female component which can be coupled together electrically and mechanically, wherein the male component has at least one contact pin and the female component comprises at least one contact socket.

Claims

1.-28. (canceled)

29. An awning device comprising a roll-up awning, an electric motor for rotating the roll-up awning, which motor is electrically supplied by one or more wires, a supply cable comprising one or more wires, an electrical coupling for coupling the wires of the supply cable to the wires of the motor, which coupling comprises a male and female component which can be coupled together electrically and mechanically, wherein the male component comprises at least one contact pin and the female component comprises at least one contact socket, wherein the male component comprises a printed circuit board (PCB) on which the least one contact pin is electrically coupled to at least one printed conductor on the printed circuit board, which at least one printed conductor is electrically coupled to at least one wire of a first of the motor and supply cable, wherein the female component comprises a printed circuit board (PCB) on which the at least one contact socket is electrically coupled to at least one printed conductor on the printed circuit board, which at least one printed conductor is electrically coupled to at least one wire of the other of the motor and the supply cable, wherein the male component comprises a housing which encloses the printed circuit board, and/or wherein the female component comprises a housing which encloses the printed circuit board.

30. The awning device according to claim 29, wherein the male component comprises a housing which encloses the printed circuit board.

31. The awning device according to claim 30, wherein the female component comprises a housing which encloses the printed circuit board.

32. The awning device according to claim 31, wherein each of the housings comprises a shell which partially or fully provides the housing outside and surrounds the printed circuit board, wherein the printed circuit board in the shell is enclosed by a polymer volume which fills the shell.

33. The awning device according to claim 30, wherein the male and female components are suitable for coupling of both housings, in a coupling direction, and comprises steering elements which steer the movement of the male and female components during coupling of the male and female component in the coupling direction.

34. The awning device according to claim 33, wherein the male component has one or more protrusions in the coupling direction, and the female component has one or more recesses corresponding to the protrusions in the coupling direction; and/or the female component has one or more protrusions in the coupling direction, and the male component has one or more recesses corresponding to the protrusions in the coupling direction.

35. The awning device according to claim 33, wherein at least one of the steering elements of one of the components makes contact in the coupling direction with the corresponding steering element of the other component, before one or more contact pins of the male component can make electrical contact with the corresponding contact socket of the female component.

36. The awning device according to claim 29, wherein one of the wires of the motor and one of the wires of the supply cable is an earthing conductor.

37. The awning device according to claim 36, wherein the male and female components are suitable for coupling in a coupling direction, and during coupling in the coupling direction, the contact pin or contact socket coupled to the earthing conductor of the supply cable makes contact with the corresponding contact socket or contact pin coupled to the earthing conductor of the motor, before one or more other contact pins of the male component can make electrical contact with the corresponding contact sockets of the female component.

38. The awning device according to claim 30, wherein the at least one contact pin is axially surrounded by an electrically isolating wall, wherein there is no contact between the pin and this wall.

39. The awning device according to claim 30, wherein the at least one contact socket is axially surrounded by an electrically isolating wall, wherein there is contact between the socket and this wall along the axis of the socket.

40. The awning device according to claim 30, wherein the at least one contact pin is axially surrounded by an electrically isolating wall, wherein there is no contact between the pin and this wall, and wherein the at least one contact socket is axially surrounded by an electrically isolating socket wall, wherein there is contact between the socket and this socket wall along the axis of the socket, and wherein the socket wall fits between the contact pin and the wall surrounding the contact pin.

41. The awning device according to claim 40, wherein a sealing ring is provided for making a watertight contact between the wall around the contact pin and the socket wall.

42. The awning device according to claim 30, wherein the supply cable comprises M1 wires, the male or female component comprises N1 contact pins or contact sockets, wherein N1>=M1 and M1>=2.

43. The awning device according to claim 42, wherein the motor comprises M2 wires, the male or female component comprises N2 contact pins or contact sockets, wherein N2>=M2 and M2>=2.

44. The awning device according to claim 43, wherein M1=M2 and N1>M1 or N2>M2.

45. The awning device according to claim 29, wherein the male component comprises a housing which encloses the printed circuit board, and wherein the female component comprises a housing which encloses the printed circuit board, the male and female components are suitable for coupling of both housings in a coupling direction and comprises steering elements which steer the movement of the male and female components during coupling of the male and female component in the coupling direction.

46. The awning device according to claim 45, wherein the at least one contact pin is axially surrounded by an electrically isolating wall, wherein there is no contact between the pin and this wall.

47. The awning device according to claim 46, wherein the at least one contact socket is axially surrounded by an electrically isolating wall, wherein there is contact between the socket and this wall along the axis of the socket.

48. The awning device according to claim 45, wherein the at least one contact pin is axially surrounded by an electrically isolating wall, wherein there is no contact between the pin and this wall, and wherein the at least one contact socket is axially surrounded by an electrically isolating socket wall, wherein there is contact between the socket and this socket wall along the axis of the socket, and wherein the socket wall fits between the contact pin and the wall surrounding the contact pin.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0104] With a view to giving a more detailed description of the features of the invention, several preferred embodiments are described below by way of non-limiting example with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

[0105] FIG. 1 illustrates schematically an awning device according to the invention.

[0106] FIGS. 2 and 3 indicate schematically parts of a male and female component respectively, which form part of an awning device according to the invention.

[0107] FIG. 4 indicates schematically a male and female component which form part of an awning device according to the invention.

[0108] FIGS. 5a and 5b indicate schematically how, according to some embodiments of the invention, the earthing conductors make electrical contact first during coupling of the male and female components.

[0109] FIG. 6 indicates schematically parts of the housing of a female component which forms part of an awning device according to the invention.

[0110] FIG. 7 indicates schematically a female component which forms part of an awning device according to the invention, which is configured symmetrically.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0111] The present invention is described below with reference to specific embodiments.

[0112] It is clear that although the embodiments and/or materials for obtaining embodiments according to the invention are discussed, various modifications or amendments may be made without deviating from the functional scope and/or spirit of this invention. The present invention is by no means limited to the above-described embodiments, but may be realised according to different variants without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0113] An awning device 100 according to the invention is shown in FIG. 1 and comprises a roll-up awning 101 and an electric motor 102 for rotating the roll-up awning. The motor 102 is electrically powered by four wires 103, one of which is the earthing conductor. The awning device 100 furthermore comprises a supply cable 104 comprising four wires 105, one of which is the earthing conductor. For coupling the wires 105 of the supply cable 104 to the wires 103 of the motor 102, an electrical coupling 200 comprising a male 210 and a female 220 component is provided, the two of which may be coupled together electrically and mechanically. In this embodiment, the male connector 210 is already connected to a mounting piece 110, which in turn is already attached in the housing of the awning device before the canvas packet comprising the roll-up awning 101 and the electric motor 102 is inserted in the direction indicated with numeral 111.

[0114] A top and bottom view of a part of the male component 210 are shown in FIG. 2. The male component comprises a printed circuit board 213 (PCB) on which electrical connectors, being contact pins 212a to 212d, are electrically coupled to printed conductors 214 on the printed circuit board 213. These printed conductors are electrically coupled to wires of the supply cable 104. This is achieved using copper griplets 216 coated with nickel. The male component 210 in this embodiment comprises four contact pins 212a to 212d. Contact pin 212a is coupled to the wire conducting the neutral, contact pins 212b and 212c are each coupled to a wire carrying an alternating current phase. The contact pin 212d is the contact pin 218 coupled to the earthing and is slightly longer than the other contact pins. In the centre, the male component has an earthing fin 227 which serves to earth the housing.

[0115] The female component 220 in FIG. 3 comprises a printed circuit board 223 (PCB) on which electrical connectors, being contact sockets 222a to 222d, are electrically coupled to printed conductors 224 on the printed circuit board 223. The printed conductors are electrically coupled to the wires 103 of the motor 102. This is achieved using griplets 226 identical to the griplets 216. The female component 220 comprises four contact sockets 222a to 222d. The contact socket 222d is the contact socket 228 coupled to the earthing and is slightly longer than the other contact sockets. Contact socket 222a is coupled to the wire conducting the neutral, contact sockets 222b and 222c are each coupled to a wire carrying an alternating current phase.

[0116] The printed circuit boards 213 and 223 have a length of around 35 to 58 mm and a width of around 12 to 15 mm, are 1.6 mm thick and are made of glass fibre-fabric reinforced epoxy The conductors 214 and 224 preferably have a surface area weight of 1 to 2 ounces per square foot and are made of copper, in some cases with a hard gold coating. The conductors coupled to the earthing wires preferably have a surface area weight of 2 ounces per square foot. The cross-sectional area of the conductor is preferably 0.106 mm.sup.2 or more for a surface area weight of 2 ounces per square foot.

[0117] The contact pins are made of copper, preferably with a hard gold coating, and have a length of around 0.22 inch, except for that coupled to the earthing conductor which has a length of 0.28 inch. The diameter of the contact pins is 0.05 inch. The contact sockets are made of copper, preferably with a hard gold coating, and have a length of 0.25 inch and an opening diameter suitable for receiving 0.05 inch pins.

[0118] Because the contact pin connected to the earthing and the contact socket connected to the earthing are longer, on coupling of components 210 to 220, this contact pin and socket make contact first before the three other contact pins and sockets make contact.

[0119] The male and female components 210 and 220 together with their housings are shown in FIG. 4.

[0120] The printed circuit boards are completely enclosed by the respective housing 230 or 250.

[0121] In the housing 230, the four contact pins are axially surrounded by an electrically isolating wall 233, wherein no contact is made between the contact pins 212 and this wall 223. The contact pins 212 do not protrude outside the wall 233 in the axial direction, and an open zone 234 remains between the wall 233 and the contact pin 212. As well as protecting the contact pins, this wall 233 has a second function, namely secondary guidance of the coupling movement.

[0122] The contact sockets 222 of the female component 220 are axially surrounded by an electrically isolating socket wall 255, wherein contact is made along the entire socket wall 255 in the axial direction. The socket wall 255 at the top is level with or, as shown in this embodiment, protrudes slightly above the contact socket 222. The socket wall 255 fits between the contact pin 212 and the wall 233 which surrounds the contact pin. It fits and thus slides into the open zone 234. The socket wall 255 has a guiding function during coupling of the male and female components. The socket wall is slightly conical, and if the socket wall 255 and open zone 234 do not precisely lie opposite one another during coupling, the conical wall of the socket wall 255 will steer the incoming sockets 222 into the correct position.

[0123] At the bottom of each contact socket 222, around the socket wall 255 surrounding this contact socket, a sealing ring 256 is provided for a watertight seal of the coupled contact pin and socket. This ring 256 also fits into a small recess 235 which is provided in the wall 233 at the top.

[0124] In another embodiment (not shown), the female component has two guide pins which, during coupling with the male component, slide into two openings of the housing of the male component. These pins and openings are, amongst others, steering elements which steer the movement of the male and female component during coupling of the male and female component in the coupling direction.

[0125] The housing of the female component may also comprise a stiffening zone which increases the stiffness of the entire housing.

[0126] A detail of the coupling between a male and female component 210 and 220 is shown in FIGS. 5a and 5b. In detail, a contact pin 218 is shown which is electrically coupled to the earthing, and a contact pin 212 (being contact pin 212a, 212b or 212c) which is electrically coupled to a current-conducting or current-carrying wire or the neutral. During coupling of a male and female component 210 and 220 in the coupling direction 500, contact pin 218 will first make contact with the corresponding contact socket 222. This is shown in FIG. 5a. Only then, as shown in FIG. 5b, will the other contact pins 212 make contact with their corresponding contact sockets 222.

[0127] FIG. 6 shows in detail how the housing of the female component 220 is produced. A shell 260 consisting of carrier piece 261 and a cover or closing piece 262 is provided.

[0128] The shell is made of PA or PVC and has a minimum wall thickness of 0.5 to 2 mm.

[0129] The printed circuit board, which is connected to the supply cable and provided with the contact sockets, is positioned in the carrier piece 261. The open volume above and below the printed circuit board in the carrier piece 261 is filled with a polymer volume, which polymer is preferably PA or PVC. This polymer is melted during casting. After filling with polymer, the closing piece 262 is mounted, wherein the contact sockets are guided into the upright parts 263, and the polymer volume can cool and harden.

[0130] The male component 210, of which FIG. 6 shows the carrier piece 271, is produced similarly.

[0131] FIG. 7 shows an alternative component which is suitable for mounting in an awning device which can be mounted on both the left and right.

[0132] In this embodiment, the female component 1220 is coupled to the wires of the supply cable 104, again with griplets 1226, and this female component has an earthing fin 1227. Six contact sockets 1222 are connected on the PCB 1223. The contact sockets 1222d are coupled to the earthing wires. The two contact sockets 1222a are connected to the neutral wire of the supply cable. On connection on both left and right to the male component which only comprises four pins, in both cases the earthing pin and neutral pin are connected to the earthing socket 1222d and the neutral socket 1222a, by making contact with one of the two sockets 1222a or 1222d. The two remaining contact sockets 1222b and 1222c are each electrically coupled to one of the current-carrying wires of the supply cable. In both mounting options, either left or right, one of the current-carrying contact sockets makes contact with one contact pin and can thus transmit current.

[0133] Although the present invention has been illustrated by means of specific embodiments, it will be clear to the person skilled in the art that the invention is not limited to the details of the above illustrative embodiments, and that the present invention may be carried out with various changes and modifications without thereby departing from the area of application of the invention. Therefore, the present embodiments have to be seen in all respects as being illustrative and non-restrictive, and the area of application of the invention is described by the attached claims and not by the above description, and therefore any changes which fall within the meaning and scope of the claims are therefore incorporated herein. In other words, it is assumed that this covers all changes, variations or equivalents which fall within the area of application of the underlying basic principles and the essential attributes of which are claimed in this patent application. In addition, the reader of this patent application will understand that the terms “comprising” or “comprise” do not exclude other elements or steps, that the term “a(n)” does not exclude the plural and that a single element, such as a computer system, a processor or another integrated unit, can perform the functions of various auxiliary means which are mentioned in the claims. Any references in the claims cannot be interpreted as a limitation of the respective claims. The terms “first”, “second”, “third”, “a”, “b”, “c” and the like, when used in the description or in the claims, are used to distinguish between similar elements or steps and do not necessarily indicate a sequential or chronological order. In the same way, the terms “top side”, “bottom side”, “above”, “below” and the like are used for the sake of the description and do not necessarily refer to relative positions. It should be understood that these terms are interchangeable under the appropriate circumstances and that embodiments of the invention can function according to the present invention in different sequences or orientations than those described or illustrated above.