This U.S. NON-Provisional Application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to German Patent Application filing number 20 2012 012 282.7, filed Dec. 24, 2012, which is hereby incorporated by reference.
The invention relates to a self-supporting articulated-arm cassette awning, in particular for motorhomes or trailers, comprising articulated arms that can be pivoted at awning arms joints or shoulder joints. Accordingly, the entire awning is provided with brackets (shoulders) which are connected to the vehicle by means of fastening elements. The brackets or shoulders are provided for slideably receiving the joint pin and for at least limiting the twistability of the joint pin of that part of an awning arm joint or shoulder joint that is fixed to the vehicle. The invention further relates to a device for receiving the articulated arms of a self-supporting articulated-arm cassette awning, thus an awning without support legs.
In the caravan and mobile home industry, self-supporting articulated-arm cassette awnings (hereinafter also designated as awnings or cassette awnings) are known as a relatively new trend. Compared to conventional awnings in this field of use, which have support legs, the awning arm joints and therefore also the joint pins have to absorb the entire load, in particular torques. Thus, a particularly stable solution is required. The solutions currently available on the market enable only fixed inclination angles of the extended awning of optionally 5° or 15°, but no intermediate position. Also, due to the different installation heights on the side wall of the motor home or the caravan or the roof, an adjustable inclination angle would be advantageous. Another problem is that due to manufacturing tolerances in the production, a certain percentage of the awnings do not have a perfectly horizontal front rail in the extended state, which can result in customer complaints. Also, due to the different installation heights on the side wall of the motor home or the caravan or the roof, an adjustable inclination angle would be advantageous.
A continuously adjustable device would eliminate this problem since in this manner, each arm can be adjusted individually. This device is designated hereinafter as shoulder.
In addition to the inclination angle, the angle and the height of the arm when folding and retracting into the housing during the closing process should also be adjustable. The correct horizontal position is required so as to avoid a collision with the fabric roller in the case of an arm that is set too high (
Shoulder joints of articulated-arm cassette awnings with inclination adjustment which are currently typically used on the market are based on the principle of tooth segments for defining two fixed inclination angles. In addition, height correction of the awning arms can be achieved in the closed position thereof by means of oblong holes. In the case of awnings for stationary use, inclination adjustment of the extended awning is carried out via oblong holes in connection with a pin joint.
From EP 1 215 348 B1 it is known to use for articulated-arm awnings two tubular brackets for mounting the fabric shaft, each of which tubular brackets receive in their cylindrical cavity, which serves as shaft bearing receptacle, an insertable bearing journal which is twistable to a limited degree and has a cam as a twist limit stop. An adjusting screw adjustably mounted in the joint pin receptacle serves as a counter stop. The respective awning arm joint is located laterally spaced from the fabric shaft bearing and is mounted separately on an articulated-arm bracket.
Apart from the inclination angle, if possible, the angle and the height of the arm should also be adjustable for folding and retracting into the housing during the closing process. The correct horizontal position is required so as to avoid a collision with the fabric roller in the case of an arm that is set too high, and to avoid contact with the cassette housing bottom in the case of an arm that is set too low. This adjustment is required in order to ensure smooth closing. Due to production tolerances and normal play, this position can vary; however, it can also change due to wear throughout the service life. Therefore, a solution is desirable which also enables a simple adjustment in the case of service at a later time.
The above-mentioned tilt angle adjustment of the joint pin is subject matter of EP 1 760 221 B1. Here, a positive-locking joint pin receptacle with tilt angle adjustment of the pin by means of an adjusting screw and a tilting bearing is proposed.
A continuously variable adjustability of the awning arms that takes into account the torques to be expected on vehicles in the case of a self-supporting articulated-arm cassette awning, in particular if said adjustability would be combined with height adjustability, i.e., tilt adjustability of the awning arms, would eliminate the aforementioned problems. Each individual awning arm would be adjustable in multiple axes and without steps. The support elements relevant for the aforementioned purposes are also designated hereinafter as shoulder(s).
In order to be able to compensate, among other things, production tolerances of awning holders in the caravan sector as well as different installation conditions for self-supporting articulated-arm cassette awnings, a continuously variable inclination adjustment of a stable design is to be implemented. Furthermore, it is desirable to align the articulated arms in such a manner that neither the awning fabric nor the fabric struts to be extended rub in an undesirable manner against the housing on the vehicle. For solving the first-mentioned problem, the invention proposes a self-supporting articulated-arm cassette awning. Accordingly, a generic self-supporting articulated-arm cassette awning is provided in the case of which the torques occurring when the awning is completely or partially extended are transmitted to the brackets or shoulders in that at least one, in particular, at least one multi-part bracing or clamping means is provided which can be inserted, in particular slid, into at least one of the brackets or shoulders and which acts in particular radially with regard to the brackets or shoulders. The bracing or clamping means can be twisted with regard to the associated bracket or shoulder about its longitudinal axis, at least to a limited degree. The bracing or clamping means can receive the joint pin in a positive-locking or nonpositive-locking manner. The invention is based on the basic concept of providing a clamping and/or bracing means in the region of the joint pin for transmitting the torque to the awning bracket.
Another solution concept for a generic self-supporting articulated-arm cassette awning provides to coaxially integrate the height adjustment of the articulated arms and the continuously variable inclination adjustment into the articulated arm receptacle of the bracket. This can be carried out in that at least one height adjustment and/or tilt adjustment means and at least one twisting means of the associated joint pin, which twisting means is continuously adjustable about its longitudinal axis, are arranged coaxial to each other in the bracket. In particular, it can be provided that the joint pin, which is twistable about its longitudinal axis, in particular to a limited degree, is arranged in a sleeve-like bracing or clamping means in a positive-locking manner, and is transversely displaceable and/or tiltable with regard to its longitudinal axis.
The solution described here is easier, more compact and more cost-effective than the known solutions. Furthermore, it can be integrated in existing awnings through a simple exchange. The right and left shoulders consist of identical components. A continuously adjustable inclination angle facilitates, among other things, adjustment of the awning during production and installation.
There are different ways of carrying out the invention, as will be apparent from the following description and the dependent claims.
The aforementioned and claimed components as well as the components described in the exemplary embodiments and to be used according to the invention are not subject to any particular exceptions in terms of their size, shape, material selection and technical concept so that the selection criteria known in the field of use are applicable without restrictions.
Further details, features and advantages of the subject matter of the invention arise from the sub-claims and the following description and the associated drawing in which—by way of example—an exemplary embodiment of a self-supporting articulated-arm cassette awning is illustrated. Also, individual features of the claims or the embodiments can be combined with other features of other claims and embodiments.
In the
a shows the right shoulder in the assembled state;
b shows the left shoulder in the assembled state;
a shows the cross-section A-A of the shoulder according to
b shows the cross-section B-B of the shoulder according to
c shows the cross-section C-C of the shoulder according to
d shows the cross-section C-C of the shoulder according to
e shows the cross-section C-C of the shoulder according to
a shows the longitudinal section D-D of the shoulder according to
b shows the longitudinal section D-D of the shoulder according to
c shows the longitudinal section D-D of the shoulder according to
d shows the longitudinal section D-D of the shoulder according to
e shows the longitudinal section D-D of the shoulder according to
a shows a view of the end face of an articulated-arm cassette awning with a shoulder according to the
b shows a view of the end face of the same articulated-arm cassette awning with a shoulder according to the
c shows a view of the end face of the same articulated-arm cassette awning with a shoulder according to the
a shows a front view of the same articulated-arm cassette awning with a shoulder according to the
b shows a front view of the same articulated-arm cassette awning with a shoulder according to the
c shows a front view of the same articulated-arm cassette awning with a shoulder according to the
All exemplary embodiments have in common that a shoulder joint 10 has a bracket or shoulder II (
The inclination angle of the extended awning arm or articulated arm 20 is adjusted by twisting the joint pin I and the clamping pieces III and IV about the common longitudinal axis 12 of the two clamping pieces III and IV by means of a further threaded pin IX. The further threaded pin IX, which in the illustrated and, in this respect, exemplary embodiment is screwed into the upper region of the shoulder or bracket II, presses against the rear clamping piece IV. Through this, twisting of the clamping pieces III and IV about their longitudinal axis 12 is achieved. After completed adjustment of the desired angle, the two clamping pieces III and IV are then fixed in their adjusted twist or inclination angle position (
The adjustment range is limited by in each case two limit stops X (
Another advantage of this construction is that a right (
The above-described construction is designed for the use of a wall-mounted awning. The same concept can also be adapted for other awnings. As another example of use (
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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20 2012 012 282 U | Dec 2012 | DE | national |
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Number | Date | Country |
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1215348 | Jun 2002 | EP |
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20140182792 A1 | Jul 2014 | US |