The invention relates to a solar protection or wind protection device having a plurality of longitudinal rods, which have longitudinally coupled longitudinal sub-rods, having a plurality of transverse rods, which have longitudinally coupled transverse sub-rods, having at least one covering unit, which is stretched between the longitudinal rods, wherein the transverse rods at least partially connect the longitudinal rods to one another, and wherein at least one transverse rod has at least one tension adjusting device for adjusting the tension of the covering unit in the transverse direction.
Such solar protection or windbreak devices usually use fabrics such as sails or cloths as the covering unit, which are stretched by the rods. In order for the device to provide shade and wind protection as intended, the covering unit must be tensioned between the longitudinal rods to a certain extent. To achieve this, the longitudinal rods are often threaded into tabs or similar connecting loops of the covering unit and the longitudinal rods are then spread with the transverse rods accordingly to achieve the desired tensioning effect. The longitudinal rods thus preferably support the covering unit, while the transverse rods define the positions of the longitudinal rods relative to each other. It can of course also be provided that the transverse rods are connected to the covering unit.
The longitudinal rods and the transverse rods have coupled, i.e. longitudinally coupled, sub-rods at their ends. These sub-rods can be connected, for example, by means of connecting bushings into which they are inserted. This allows easy transport in a non-connected state, in that the device can be folded up very small. Once the sub-rods are longitudinally coupled, they can transmit force. For this purpose, the longitudinal rods and transverse rods are preferably elastic in design in order to form defined shapes in tension. For example, arches or domes can be formed. The connecting bushings usually have centrally arranged stops in their interiors, which only allow the sub-rods to penetrate the connecting bushing to a defined depth. This defines an end position of the sub-rods to the connecting bushing in an assembled state.
In order to be able to better adjust the degree of tension, especially when different covering units are available for exchange, tension adjusting devices are known which have tension adjusting devices at the end of the transverse rods. Often, these tension adjusting devices are designed as axial screw connections of connecting elements for connecting to the longitudinal rods and the transverse rods. By turning the connecting elements, the length of the transverse rods and thus the distance of the longitudinal rods from one another can thus be increased or decreased somewhat in order to achieve a higher tension as a result of the change in length. However, it is disadvantageous that for this purpose the connecting elements of the transverse rods must be detached from the longitudinal rods in order to carry out the change in length. Furthermore, adjustment is difficult when the device is already mostly or fully assembled because, as described, the covering unit is generally connected to the longitudinal rods and adjustment makes these areas difficult to access by the user. By being connected to the longitudinal rods, the covering unit obstructs access to the tension adjusting device, since the latter is generally not elastic or only slightly elastic. Furthermore, these tension adjusting devices are usually not elastic or have a different elasticity than the other parts of the transverse rods. Accordingly, when force is applied to the transverse rods, irregular deformation of the transverse rod occurs. This is visually unappealing.
The object of the invention is thus to avoid the disadvantages mentioned and to provide a solar protection or wind protection device which has improved operability.
According to the invention, this object is solved in that the tension adjusting device is arranged between two transverse sub-rods of the transverse rod.
This moves the tension adjusting device away from the longitudinal rod, making it more accessible to the user. This facilitates adjustability as the covering unit can be pushed away from the tension adjusting device more easily when it is further away from the longitudinal rod. This goes so far that the adjustment may even be possible with only one hand.
The longitudinal sub-rods and/or also the transverse sub-rods are preferably connected to each other by means of rubber bands extending inside the rods. The sub-rods can be detachably connected to each other by means of connecting bushings, but the individual parts are captive due to the rubber bands.
It is particularly advantageous if the tension adjusting device is arranged approximately halfway along the length of the transverse rod. This also enables a uniform shape of the transverse rod in the event of bending.
Furthermore, it may be provided that the tension adjusting device comprises a bushing longitudinally coupling two transverse sub-rods to each other and the bushing comprises at least one thread for connection to a corresponding thread of a first transverse sub-rod of the two transverse sub-rods. Preferably, this bushing receives the ends of the first and second transverse sub-rods and thus simultaneously acts as a connecting element of the two transverse sub-rods coupling them longitudinally thereto. When the bushing is rotated, its thread engages the thread of the first transverse sub-rod, which thereby moves further into the interior of the bushing, thereby changing the position of the first sub-rod relative to the bushing. The second sub-rod, on the other hand, preferably abuts a stop of the bushing and is thus in a defined position relative to the bushing. Screwing the bushing thus leads to an adjustment of the distance between the first and second transverse sub-rods, and thus to a change in the length of the transverse rod. Such an embodiment is particularly advantageous since it can be adjusted from the outside only by turning the bushing, which is particularly simple and easy to handle. Moreover, the mechanism is not visible from the outside and does not interfere visually and is protected from external mechanical or chemical stresses. Preferably, therefore, the thread of the bushing is arranged inside the bushing while the first transverse sub-rod is inserted into the bushing. Alternatively, the thread may be arranged on the outside of the bushing and a transverse sub-rod may comprise a recess at the end facing the bushing and having a corresponding thread.
In a preferred embodiment, it is provided that the thread of the first transverse sub-rod is arranged in the region of the end of the first transverse sub-rod facing the bushing, and a second transverse sub-rod has no thread at the end of the second transverse sub-rod facing the bushing. Preferably, the second transverse sub-rod is flat at its end facing the bushing.
It is particularly advantageous if the thread of the bushing has a stop against which a second transverse sub-rod rests in the assembled state. In this way, a particularly compact and easy-to-manufacture design of the bushing is found. The bushing can be designed as a tube, in the interior of which a constriction is provided in which the thread is arranged. Thus, the constriction acts as a retaining member of the thread and the end wall of the constriction acts as a stop for the second transverse sub-rod.
Furthermore, it can be provided that the thread of the bushing is arranged in the area of about one third of the longitudinal extension of the bushing. This leaves a particularly large amount of space for the arrangement of the second transverse sub-rod in the bushing, which ensures a particularly stable connection with the latter. This is not necessary for the first transverse sub-rod, since this is in any case in a sufficiently firm connection with the bushing by means of the thread. This means that the bushing can be made shorter.
If the thread of the first transverse sub-rod has an external diameter d, and the second transverse sub-rod has, at least in the region of the end facing the bushing, a recess whose internal diameter D is greater than the external diameter of the thread, the first transverse sub-rod can be partially accommodated by the second transverse sub-rod if the threads interlock to such a depth that the thread of the first transverse sub-rod extends as far as the second transverse sub-rod. In this way, the thread of the first transverse sub-rod can also be made particularly long and the length adjustment of the transverse rod can extend over a particularly large range.
In order to be able to use different covering units of very different sizes, it can be provided that at least one transverse rod has at least one extension sub-rod which can be coupled longitudinally to at least one transverse sub-rod. With these removable extension parts, the length can be greatly increased.
If the transverse rods are connected to the longitudinal rods at least partially via elastic gripping clamps, the connection of the transverse rods to the longitudinal rods can be easily established. The connection via the gripping clamps allows on the one hand a displaceability of the transverse rods along the longitudinal rods and on the other hand also an easy mounting and dismounting. For this purpose, the gripping clamp is pressed against the longitudinal rod with force, as a result of which the clamp bends up elastically and thus encompasses the longitudinal rod. For this purpose, the gripping clamp preferably has a cylindrical part which connects to the transverse rod and an at least partially elastic gripping part which can partially embrace the longitudinal rod. This also results in a rotatability about the longitudinal axis of the longitudinal rod.
Furthermore, it may be advantageous if a head rod and a foot rod connect at least two longitudinal rods to each other at their ends, and the head rod and the foot rod each comprise a connecting member for fastening the solar protection or wind protection device to a suitable base such as a sun lounger, wherein the connecting members are pivotable about an axis of rotation transverse to the longitudinal axis of the head rod or foot rod. This allows the device to be ideally aligned depending on the sun or wind conditions, and to be readjusted at any time. Preferably, the connecting members are also pivotable about a tilt axis, wherein the tilt axis is arranged substantially parallel to the head or foot rod, depending on which rod the connecting member is arranged on. Alternatively, the connecting member may also be connected to the support in such a way that pivotability about a tilt axis results, for example via a clamp connection.
Connecting members preferably have toothed, interlocking rotating parts which can be twisted against each other in a relaxed position and pressed against each other in a tensioned position and thus fixed to prevent undesired twisting but still allow good adjustability.
The head and foot rods can be designed like the transverse rods, but can also be stronger and mechanically stronger, especially if they are to bend the longitudinal rods into defined shapes. The head and foot rods can have tension adjusting devices like the transverse rods.
Preferably, side parts are also provided which comprise the longitudinal rods which are not connected to the other longitudinal rods via transverse rods, but are preferably only movably connected to the other rods at their ends in a very particularly preferable manner. Thus, a side part sloping in the direction of the ground can be formed by gravity pulling this longitudinal rod in the direction of the ground.
It can be provided that the longitudinal rods or the head or foot rods have connection means for wheels, castors, skids or similar means of locomotion. In this way, such means of transport can be attached to the device in order to better transport the sun or wind sail in the assembled state. In the simplest case, holes may be provided in the longitudinal rods in the region of their ends through which connecting members such as screws or axles of the means of locomotion are passed.
In the following, the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to non-limiting embodiments shown in the figures, wherein:
In
Such an embodiment with interlocking toothed plates allows for good adjustability. Alternatively, an embodiment may also provide an axle rotatably connecting a first connecting part of the connecting member 30 connectable to the head or foot rod 15 to a second connecting part of the connecting member 30 for connection to the suitable base. In this case, a locking body such as a ball is pressed onto the axle via a spring member, thereby preventing unwanted rotation due to wind or other external forces. Only when sufficient force is applied, such as by the hand of the user, is the spring force overcome and the device can be pivoted. In this regard, the axle may have surface modifications such as indentations or projections at least in the region of the locking body in order to improve the connection to the locking body. Preferably, the force of the spring can be adjusted by an adjusting screw. This allows a user to initially determine how much force is required to pivot the device by adjusting the set screw.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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A 50169/2019 | Mar 2019 | AT | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/AT2019/060314 | 9/24/2019 | WO | 00 |