The present invention relates generally to an apparatus for deployment of flexible, sheet materials, and more particularly, an apparatus for retraction and deployment of a screen, canopy, or the like.
Conventional methods for retracting or deploying screens, fabrics, canopies, or other materials may spool the material about a rod or axil. In some applications, it is advantageous to hold the material in place when deployed or add rigidity to the material by, for instance, applying tension to the material through the use of rigid support members. However, this can make spooling the material difficult or impossible. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus capable of holding a canopy or other material in place when deployed while permitting convenient retraction and spooling of the canopy.
According to one embodiment of the invention, a deployable canopy apparatus includes: a first support and a second support having a first axis extending between a forward direction and a rearward direction and a second axis transverse to the first axis; a spool rod affixed to the first support and affixed to the second support; an actuator in mechanical communication with the spool rod and configured to rotate the spool rod; a first, second, third, and fourth canopy rail each having a free end and a fixed end attached to the supports, where the canopy rails have a channel and a slit extending at least partially along a length of the canopy rail from the fixed end to the free end; a first and second translating member extending between the canopy rails; a canopy secured to the spool rod having a first end secured to the first translating member, a second end secured to the second translating member, a first side defining a loop housed within the first and third canopy rails through the slits, and a second side defining a loop housed within the second and fourth canopy rails through the slits; retaining members extending through the canopy loops and secured within the canopy rail channels; and a translation drive assembly configured to translate the first translating member between the free ends and the fixed ends of the canopy rails.
In one embodiment of the invention, the translation drive assembly includes: four sliders in the respective canopy rails, where the sliders include a groove to accommodate the rail slits and where the sliders are coupled to the translating members; four spindles disposed about spindle posts that are secured to the canopy rails; first and second cable spools in mechanical communication with the spool rod such that the cable spools rotate with the spool rod; and cables affixed to the sliders and extending around the spindles through a passage in the cable spools.
In one aspect of the invention, retaining members extend through bores in the sliders, and the retaining members are formed as spring rods. In a further aspect of the invention, the canopy comprises a forward canopy section with a spool end secured to the spool rod and a rearward canopy section with a spool end secured to the spool rod. In yet another aspect of the invention, the canopy rails are attached to the supports using a hinge, including a square hinge.
For one embodiment of the invention, the actuator is made of a handle attached to the spool rod. For another embodiment of the invention, the actuator instead includes: a first sprocket disposed about the spool rod; a second sprocket disposed about a crank axil; a chain placing the first sprocket in mechanical communication with the second sprocket; and a handle in mechanical communication with the crank axil and configured to rotate the crank axil.
In another embodiment of the invention, the opposing canopy rails include a continuous segment, and the canopy can include a zipper. The invention can also include at least one transverse support member extending between the supports and feet attached to the supports. The invention may further include a swing pivot assembly affixed to the supports where the swing pivot assembly has a pin, an elbow housing, and at least one bearing, where the bearing and elbow housing are assembled about the pin. The elbow housing can include a recess to receive the bearing.
According to another embodiment of the invention, a deployable canopy apparatus includes: a first and second canopy rail having a free end and a spool end and a first axis extending along a direction from the free end to the spool end, where the canopy rails include a channel and a slit extending at least partially along a length of the canopy rails from the spool ends to the free ends. A spool rod is affixed to the first and second canopy rails along a second axis transverse to the first canopy rail first axis and the second canopy rail first axis. An actuator is in mechanical communication with the spool rod and is configured to rotate the spool rod. A translating member extends at least partially along a distance between the first canopy rail and the second canopy rail. The embodiment further includes a canopy having a spool end secured to the spool rod, a translating end secured to the translating member, a first side defining a loop housed within the first canopy rail channel, and a second side defining a loop housed within the second canopy rail channel. Retaining members extend through the canopy loops and are secured within the canopy rail channels. A translation drive assembly is configured to translate the translating member between the free ends and the fixed ends of the canopy rails.
Features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention are better understood when the following detailed description of the invention is read with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:
The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown. However, the invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the representative embodiments set forth herein. The exemplary embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be both thorough and complete and will fully convey the scope of the invention and enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make, use, and practice the invention.
Relative terms such as lower or bottom; upper or top; upward, outward, or downward; forward or backward; and vertical or horizontal may be used herein to describe one element's relationship to another element illustrated in the figures. It will be understood that relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations in addition to the orientation depicted in the drawings. By way of example, if a component in the drawings is turned over, elements described as being on the “bottom” of the other elements would then be oriented on “top” of the other elements. Relative terminology, such as “substantially” or “about,” describe the specified materials, steps, parameters, or ranges as well as those that do not materially affect the basic and novel characteristics of the claimed inventions as whole (as would be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art).
Disclosed is a deployable canopy apparatus. Although the inventive canopy apparatus is generally described with reference to embodiments utilized in outdoor furniture, those skilled in the art will recognize that the apparatus can be used in a variety of circumstances where it is desired to perform deployment or retraction of flexible fabric or sheet materials.
Referring to
The chair 8 shown in
The pivot pin 24 resides within a pivot bore 32 in the stanchion 12 such that the flanged end 25 abuts an outer-facing surface of the stanchion 12. The spacer 29, a bearing 22, and the elbow housing 21 are assembled around the pivot pin 24 over the retaining end 26 such that the spacer 29 and bearing 22 are enclosed within the elbow housing 21. A second bearing 22 is optionally assembled around the pivot pin retaining end 26 and seated within a recess 33 in the elbow housing 21. The washer 28 and c-clip 30 are also assembled around the pivot pin retaining end 26, and the c-clip 30 is seated within the pivot pin annular groove 27. Set screws 31 secure the bearings 22 within the elbow housing 21.
Skilled artisans will recognize that
The canopy apparatus includes a forward canopy 40 and a rearward canopy 42. The canopies have a first side 44, a second side 45, a translating end 46, and a spool end 47. The canopy first side 44 and second side 45 are retained by canopy rails 50 attached to the stanchions 12. The canopy spool ends 47 are secured to a canopy spool rod 52, as shown in
At the canopy spool ends 47, the canopies can be overlapped and secured together with two lines of stitching or an adhesive along an axis extending from the first sides 44 to the second sides 45, thereby forming a loop 48 of fabric to accommodate the spool rod 52. The canopies are then secured to the spool rod 52 with bolts, screws, rivets, anchors, buttons, an adhesive, or any suitable affixing means. The canopy embodiment shown in
Attachment of the canopy translating end 46 to the translating member 54 is illustrated in
In one embodiment, the canopy apparatus utilizes a single canopy with a first and second end secured to the first and second translating members 54 as well as a first side defining a loop 48 and a second side defining a loop 48 where the first and second sides are secured within the canopy rails 50. The canopy is secured to the spool rod 52 at a point between the first and second ends, and the canopy may define a loop extending between the first and second sides to accommodate the spool rod 52.
The canopy rails 50 can be formed as a unitary piece with the stanchion 12 or rigidly secured to the stanchion 12 through, for example, welding, fastening, or an adhesive. The canopy apparatus can utilize one canopy rail 50 attached to each stanchion 12 where the canopy 50 rails each include a forward and rearward segment. The forward and rearward segments can be formed as a unitary piece or as two separate pieces releaseably affixed together or affixed to the stanchions 12. The forward and rearward segments can include separate channels 86, slits 88, and other features discussed in more detail below. Alternatively, some embodiments may not utilize stanchions 12 or vertically aligned supports, and the spool rod 52 and one or more transverse support members connect between the first and second canopy rails 50. In yet other embodiments, the canopy apparatus can utilize four canopy rails 50 where each canopy rail 50 has a free end and a fixed end secured to the stanchion 12. The canopy rails 50 can have any suitable cross sectional shape, such as squared, rectangular, or circular similar to the tubular extrusion depicted in
The embodiment depicted in the attached figures utilizes four canopy rails 50 that are hingedly affixed to the stanchions 12 so that the canopies can be raised or lowered. The exemplary canopy rails 50 shown in
Those of skill in the art will appreciate that
Retaining the canopy within the canopy rails 50 can be described with reference to
The c-channel 86 retains the canopy and is formed with a slit 88 that runs along the length of the canopy rail 50 and that is defined by opposing shoulders 89. The first 44 and second 45 sides of the canopy terminate in a loop 48 formed, for instance, by folding the canopy over itself and sewing or otherwise securing the canopy to itself. The loop 48 is inserted into the c-channel slit 88, and a retaining member 90 is passed through the loop 48 within the c-channel 86 as illustrated in
In one embodiment, the retaining members 90 are formed as spring rods that provide a bias, which holds the canopy taut when the canopy is at least partially deployed. When the canopy is in the fully retracted state depicted in
The canopy moves between the deployed and retracted states as the translating member 54 translates along the length of the canopy rails 50 via a translation drive assembly. Canopy deployment and retraction is better understood with reference to
A spindle assembly includes a spindle 116, a spindle post 118, and spindle cover 120. End caps 122 are coupled to the fixed end 49 and or free end 51 of the canopy rails 50 and help secure the spring rod 90 within the c-channel 86. The ends of the spring rod 90 are threaded and extend partially through an aperture 124 in the end caps 122. Locking nuts 126 secure the spring rod 90 ends to the end caps 122. The end caps 122 are secured to the canopy rail 50 using screws, bolts, rivets, or any suitable fastener or affixing means known to one of skill in the art.
The spring rod 90 runs through the retaining member bore 110 in the slider 102, and the slider grooves 112 accommodate the shoulders 89 of the canopy rail slit 88 so that the slider 102 can translate within the c-channel 88 along the length of the spring rod 90. The cable 130 runs through the c-channel 86 and the first slider cable aperture 106, loops around the spindle 116, and runs back through the second slider guide block cable aperture 108. The cable 130 is secured to the slider second cable aperture 108 by, for example, the cable locks 128 shown in
The spindle post 118 is inserted into a slot 119 that extends partially along the length of the c-channel 86 and held in place by fastener hardware, such as the washer and wing nut shown in
The actuation assembly shown in
The crank sprocket 172 is housed within the stanchion 12, and the crank bushing 173, washers 174, and crank wheel 176 are assembled about the crank axil 175. The chain 160 is housed within the stanchion 12 and places the crank sprocket 172 in mechanical communication with the spool sprocket 158 such that as the crank assembly 170 is rotated using the crank handle 177, the cable spool assembly 162 and spool rod 52 also rotate. The crank sprocket 172 is sized larger than the spool sprocket 158 such that a single rotation of the crank wheel 176 results in multiple rotations of the cable spool assembly 162 and spool rod 52. Instead of a chain with crank and spool sprockets 172 and 158, a combination of belts and pulleys could also be used.
The actuation assembly depicted in
The cables 130 facilitate mechanical communication between the sliders 102 of the forward canopy 40 and the sliders 102 of the rearward canopy 42 at the first and second canopy sides 44 & 45. A first cable 130 runs from the slider 102 associated with the forward canopy 40 first side 44 to the corresponding slider 102 associated with the rearward canopy 42 first side 44 through the corresponding c-channels 86 of the canopy rails 50 and through a passage in a first spool hub 166. Likewise, a second cable 130 runs from the slider 102 associated with the forward canopy 40 second side 45 to the corresponding slider 102 associated with the rearward canopy 42 second side 45 through the corresponding c-channels 86 of the canopy rails 50 and through a passage in a second spool hub 166. The spool hub 166 includes a one-way bearing that is engaged when the cable 130 is being spooled about the hub 166 but disengaged as the cable 130 is unspooled.
When the canopy is in the fully deployed position, a length of each cable 130 is spooled around the spool hub 166, and the unspooled cable 130 portion is at its shortest length, as measured from the spool hub 166, through the c-channel 86, through the first cable aperture 106, around the spindle 116, and to the second cable aperture 108. As the crank handle 177 is rotated, the spool rod 52 also rotates, thereby wrapping both the forward 40 and rearward 42 canopies around the spool rod 52 in a nested, or spiraled configuration. Canopy deflectors 68, such as the deflector 68 shown in
As the canopies become wrapped about the spool rod 52, a tension is created in the canopies that operates on the translating members 54 and causes the translating members 54 and sliders 102 to translate along the canopy rails 50 towards the spool rod 52. The cables 130 are likewise placed under tension as the translating members 54 translate, and the cables 130 become unspooled from the cable spool hubs 166. When the canopies are in the fully retracted, or stowed, position, the unspooled cable 130 portion is at its greatest length.
If the crank handle 177 is then rotated in the opposite direction, the cables 130 begin to spool around the cable spool hubs 166, thereby placing the cables 130 under tension. The tension is transferred to the slider 102 at the second cable aperture 108, and the sliders 102, translating members 54, and canopies begin to translate along the canopy rails 50 away from the spool rod 52 in the direction of the canopy rail free ends 51.
Skilled artisans will recognize that the embodiments shown in the attached figures and described above are not intended to be limiting, and other translation drive assemblies can be used to implement the present invention. For example, in one embodiment, the translation drive can utilize a worm-gear configuration where sprockets assembled about the spool rod 52 drive worm gears that extend along the length of the canopy rails 50 and through a threaded bore in the sliders 102. When a crank handle 177 or other actuator rotates the sprocket, the worm gear translates the slider 102 along the length of the canopy rail 50. In yet another embodiment, the translation drive can include sprockets or pulleys affixed to the sliders 102 that are connected by a chain or belt to sprockets or pulleys assembled about the spool rod 52 such that the sliders 102 translate when a crank handle 177 or other actuator is rotated. A combination of servo motors connected to the sliders via chains or belts could also be used to translate the sliders and deploy or retract the canopies. These are just a few non-limiting examples of translation drive configurations that can be utilized to implement the present invention.
Other embodiments may include features, like the exemplary support handle 182 shown in
In yet another embodiment, the forward canopy 40 and rearward canopy 42 are configured to tilt forward and backward about the stanchions 12, as shown in
The canopy is tilted by releasing the tilt lock 204 and tilting the canopy assembly forward or rearward until one of the tilt surfaces 207 frictionally engages the tilt stop 206, as depicted in
The forward canopy 40 and rearward canopy 42 can be stabilized with the threaded rail anchor 69 and fastener 71 shown in
The embodiments shown in the attached figures depict a chair 8 suspended from the canopy apparatus 10 by the transverse support members 14, but those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the canopy apparatus can be utilized in conjunction with other types of furniture in other configurations. For instance, the exemplary embodiment depicted in
The system can comprise a canopy, screen, or fabric made of a flexible, sheet material. The canopy material can comprise, for example and without limitation, a polyvinyl chloride coated aramid fabric, Mylar®, vinyl, nylon, polyester, polypropylene, fiberglass, canvas, or combinations thereof. The canopy can be formed as a continuous, nonporous or woven sheet. The components of the invention can be constructed from any suitable rigid material, including, but not limited to, various metals, plastics, fiberglass, composite materials, wood, or combinations of such materials.
Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the components of the invention can be assembled and secured together using any suitable technique, such as brazing, welding, soldering, adhesives, or fastening with bolts, screws, rivets, anchors, or the like. In yet other embodiments, one or more of the components can be integrally formed.
Although the foregoing description provides embodiments of the invention by way of example, it is envisioned that other embodiments may perform similar functions and/or achieve similar results. Any and all such equivalent embodiments and examples are within the scope of the present invention.
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