AWNING

Abstract

An awning comprising a fabric roller, a fabric, and a drop arm. The fabric is connected to the fabric roller in the region of an inner fabric edge and to the drop arm in the region of an opposite outer fabric edge. The drop arm can be adjusted via a drive device between a fully retracted minimum position P.sub.0, in which the fabric is wound as tightly as possible on the fabric roller, and a fully extended maximum position, in which the fabric has the widest possible span. The drop arm is moved between the minimum position and the maximum position along a curved path of movement, wherein a distance to a reference plane in the maximum position is at least 8.0 times as great as a distance from the reference plane in a position extended by 50% along the reference path.

Claims

1. An awning comprising: a fabric roller that runs in a straight line in a first direction; a fabric; and a drop arm that runs in a straight line parallel to the first direction, wherein the fabric is connected to the fabric roller in a region of an inner fabric edge and to the drop arm in a region of an opposite outer fabric edge, wherein the drop arm is adjustable by a drive device in the form of at least one spring-loaded, multi-element articulated arm or in the form of at least one driven telescopic arm between a fully retracted minimum position, in which the fabric is wound up as far as possible on the fabric roller, and a fully extended maximum position in which the fabric has the widest possible span, wherein the drop arm has a reference line which runs in the longitudinal direction of the drop arm, wherein the reference line of the drop arm is moved between the minimum position and the maximum position along a curved path with a length, wherein a reference plane intersects the drop arm in its position (=12% position) extended by a distance of 0.12.Math.L (=12%.Math.L) along the movement path and defines a first intersection line which lies in the reference plane and which coincides with the reference line of the drop arm in its 12% position, wherein the reference plane intersects the drop arm in its position (=25% position) extended by a distance of 0.25.Math.L (=25%.Math.L) along the movement path and defines a 2nd intersection line which lies in the reference plane and which coincides with the reference line of the drop arm in its 25% position, and wherein a distance (b.sub.100) of the reference line from the reference plane measured normal to the reference plane in the fully extended maximum position of the drop arm is at least 8.0 times as large as a distance (b.sub.50) of the reference straight line from the reference plane measured normal to the reference plane in a position (=50% position) of the drop arm extended by a distance of 0.50.Math.L (=50%.Math.L) along the path of movement such that b.sub.1008.0.Math.b.sub.50 applies.

2. The awning according to claim 1, wherein the distance (b.sub.100) of the reference line from the reference plane measured normal to the reference plane in the fully extended maximum position of the drop arm is at least 10.0 times as large as the distance (b.sub.50) of the reference straight line from the reference plane measured normal to the reference plane in the 50% position of the drop arm, such that b.sub.10010.0.Math.b.sub.50 applies.

3. The awning according to claim 2, wherein the distance (b.sub.100) of the reference line from the reference plane measured normal to the reference plane in the fully extended maximum position of the drop arm is at least 12.0 times as large as the distance (b.sub.50) of the reference straight line from the reference plane measured normal to the reference plane in the 50% position of the drop arm, such that b.sub.10012.0.Math.b.sub.50 applies.

4. The awning according to claim 3, wherein the distance (b.sub.100) of the reference line from the reference plane measured normal to the reference plane in the fully extended maximum position of the drop arm is at least 15.0 times as large as the distance of the reference straight line from the reference plane measured normal to the reference plane in the 50% position of the drop arm, such that b.sub.10015.0.Math.b.sub.50 applies.

5. The awning according to claim 4, wherein the distance (b.sub.100) of the reference line from the reference plane measured normal to the reference plane in the fully extended maximum position of the drop arm is at least 20.0 times as large as the distance (b.sub.50) of the reference straight line from the reference plane measured normal to the reference plane in the 50% position of the drop arm, such that b.sub.10020.0.Math.b.sub.50 applies.

6. The awning according to claim 1, wherein the distance (b.sub.100) of the reference line from the reference plane measured normal to the reference plane in the fully extended maximum position of the drop arm is at least 2.5 times as large as a distance (b.sub.75) of the reference straight line from the reference plane measured normal to the reference plane in a position (=75% position) of the drop arm extended by a distance of 0.75.Math.L (=75%.Math.L) along the path of movement, such that b.sub.1002.5.Math.b.sub.75 applies.

7. The awning according to claim 6, wherein the distance (b.sub.100) of the reference line from the reference plane measured normal to the reference plane in the fully extended maximum position of the drop arm is at least 4.0 times as large as the distance (b.sub.75) of the reference straight line from the reference plane measured normal to the reference plane in the 75% position of the drop arm, such that b.sub.1004.0.Math.b.sub.75 applies.

8. The awning according to claim 7, wherein the distance (b.sub.100) of the reference line from the reference plane measured normal to the reference plane in the fully extended maximum position of the drop arm is at least 6.0 times as large as the distance (b.sub.75) of the reference straight line from the reference plane measured normal to the reference plane in the 75% position of the drop arm, such that b.sub.1006.0.Math.b.sub.75 applies.

9. The awning according to claim 8, wherein the distance (b.sub.100) of the reference line from the reference plane measured normal to the reference plane in the fully extended maximum position of the drop arm is at least 8.0 times as large as the distance (b.sub.75) of the reference straight line from the reference plane measured normal to the reference plane in the 75% position of the drop arm, such that b.sub.1008.0.Math.b.sub.75 applies.

10. The awning according to claim 1, wherein a maximum distance (a.sub.100) of the reference line, measured in the reference plane, from the first intersection line in the maximum position is 1.0,such that a.sub.100=1.0, and wherein the distance (b.sub.50) of the reference line, measured normal to the reference plane, from the reference plane in the 50% position of the drop rod is in a range from 0.0 to 0.20, such that 0.0b.sub.500.20 applies.

11. The awning according to claim 10, wherein the maximum distance (a.sub.100) of the reference line, measured in the reference plane, from the first intersection line in the maximum position is 1.0, such that a.sub.100=1.0, and wherein the distance (b.sub.50) of the reference line measured normal to the reference plane, from the reference plane in the 50% position of the drop rod is in the range from 0.0 to 0.14, such that 0.0b.sub.500.14 applies.

12. The awning according to claim 1, wherein the maximum distance (a.sub.100) of the reference line, measured in the reference plane, from the first intersection line in the maximum position is 1.0, such that a.sub.100=1.0, and wherein the distance (b.sub.75) of the reference line, measured normal to the reference plane, from the reference plane in the 75% position of the drop rod is in the range from 0.0 to 0.45, such that 0.0b.sub.750.45 applies.

13. The awning according to claim 12, wherein the maximum distance (a.sub.100) of the reference line, measured in the reference plane, from the first intersection line in the maximum position is 1.0, such that a.sub.100=1.0, and wherein the distance (b.sub.75) of the reference line, measured normal to the reference plane, from the reference plane in the 75% position of the drop rod is in the range from 0.1 to 0.17, such that 0.1b.sub.750.17 applies.

14. The awning according to claim 1, wherein the maximum distance (a.sub.100) of the reference line, measured in the reference plane, from the first intersection line in the maximum position is 1.0, such that a.sub.100=1.0, and wherein the distance (b.sub.100) of the reference line, measured normal to the reference plane, from the reference plane in the maximum position of the drop rod is in the range from 0.12 to 0.90, such that 0.12b.sub.1000.90 applies.

15. The awning according to claim 14, wherein the maximum distance (a.sub.100) of the reference line, measured in the reference plane, from the first intersection line in the maximum position is 1.0, such that a.sub.100=1.0, and wherein the distance (b.sub.100) of the reference line, measured normal to the reference plane, from the reference plane in the maximum position of the drop rod is in the range from 0.12 to 0.60, such that 0.12b.sub.1000.60 applies.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0038] The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus, are not limitive of the present invention, and wherein:

[0039] FIG. 1 shows a basic structure of an articulated arm awning in a schematic representation,

[0040] FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of the awning with different positions P.sub.i of the drop arm and

[0041] FIG. 3 shows exemplary movement paths of the drop arm of the awning according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0042] FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of an articulated arm awning 10, which has a fabric roller 11 in a 1st direction A, for example running horizontally, which roller is rotatably held on a supporting structure 16. A fabric 12 is attached to the fabric roller 11 with an inner end facing the fabric roller 11 and can be wound onto and unwound from said roller.

[0043] At the opposite end, the fabric 12 is provided with a drop arm 13 parallel to the 1st direction A, for example running horizontally. The drop arm 13 is attached to the supporting structure 16 by a drive device 14 which has two spring-loaded articulated arms 15. The drop arm 13 can be moved away from the fabric roller 11 as a result of the drive device 14, as a result of which the fabric 12 is unwound from the fabric roller 11 and stretched out. Accordingly, the fabric 12 can be wound onto the fabric roller 11 by pulling in the drop arm 13 in the direction of the fabric roller 11.

[0044] In a minimum position P.sub.0 (see FIG. 2), the fabric 12 is wound up as far as possible onto the fabric roller 11 and the drop arm 13 is accordingly retracted as far as possible and arranged close to the fabric roller 11. This position is shown at the left in FIG. 2. When the fabric 12 is unwound and stretched as far as possible from the fabric roller 11, the drop arm 13 is in its fully extended maximum position P.sub.100, which is shown in FIG. 2 at the right. Between the minimum position P.sub.0 and the maximum position P.sub.100, the drop arm 13 moves on a downwardly curved path B having length L.

[0045] The drop arm 13 has a reference line R which runs in the longitudinal direction of the drop arm 13. For the further considerations, it is assumed that the reference line R of the drop arm 13 is moved between the minimum position P.sub.0 and the maximum position P.sub.100 along the curved movement path B.

[0046] A reference plane BE intersects the dropout rod 13 in its position P.sub.12 (=12% position) extended by a distance of 0.12.Math.L (=12%.Math.L) along the movement path B and defines an intersection line S.sub.1, which lies in the reference plane BE and which coincides with the reference line R of the drop arm 13 in its 12% position P.sub.12.

[0047] The reference plane BE intersects the drop arm 13 in its position P.sub.25 (=25% position) extended by a distance of 0.25.Math.L (=25%.Math.L) along the movement path B, and defines a 2nd intersection line S.sub.2 which lies in the reference plane BE and which coincides with the reference line R of the drop arm 13 in its 25% position P.sub.25.

[0048] In FIG. 2, various intermediate positions P.sub.i are shown. The index i, which can be between 0 and 100, results from the degree by which the reference straight line R of the drop arm 13 is extended as a percentage of the maximum movement distance L along the movement path B.

[0049] Due to the curvature of the movement path B, a distance b.sub.100, measured normal to the reference plane BE, of the reference line R of the drop arm 13 from the reference plane BE in the fully extended maximum position P.sub.100 of the drop arm 13 is significantly larger, and at least 8.0 times as large, as a distance b.sub.50, measured normal to the reference plane BE, of the reference line R of the drop arm 13 from the reference plane BE in a position P.sub.50 (=50% position) of the drop arm 13 extended by a distance of 0.50.Math.L (=50%.Math.L) along the movement path B; i.e., b.sub.1008.0.Math.b.sub.50 applies.

[0050] Preferably, it is provided that the distance b.sub.100 of the reference line R of the drop arm 13 from the reference plane BE, measured normal to the reference plane BE in the fully extended maximum position P.sub.100 of the drop arm 13, is at least 2.5 times as large as a distance b.sub.75 of the reference straight line R from the reference plane BE measured normal to the reference plane BE in a position P.sub.75 (=75% position) of the drop arm 13 extended by a distance of 0.75.Math.L (=75%.Math.L) along the path of movement B; i.e., b.sub.1002.5.Math.b.sub.75 applies.

[0051] FIG. 3 schematically shows two exemplary movement paths B.sub.1 and B.sub.2. In a first movement path B.sub.1, the distance from the reference plane BE to the intermediate position P.sub.50 is only slightly overlinear. In the region between the intermediate positions P.sub.50 and P.sub.75, the curvature of the movement path B.sub.1 initially increases slightly, while it increases significantly in the end region of the movement path B1 between the intermediate position P.sub.75 and the maximum position P.sub.100.

[0052] A second movement path B.sub.2 is characterized by the fact that it is also only slightly overlinear in a region up to the intermediate position P.sub.50, but with a greater inclination in relation to the reference plane BE, and after that has a relatively large curvature.

[0053] The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are to be included within the scope of the following claims.