EP3739143A1 - Awning with lateral guide rails and reinforcement profile - Google Patents

Abstract

An awning (10) has lateral guide rails (16) for guiding at least one movable drop profile (12) which is arranged at the free end of an awning fabric that can be wound onto a winding shaft, a reinforcing profile (20) being provided between the guide rails (16) which can be carried along when extending from the drop profile (12) up to at least one stop (30) in a central position between the guide rails (16), the reinforcing profile (20) being connected to the drop profile (12) by releasable coupling elements (25) ) can be coupled for driving and a drive is provided for adjusting the front profile (12). In order to improve the susceptibility of such systems to failure, it is proposed that the releasable coupling elements (25) build up a first holding force in the extension direction between the drop profile (12) and the reinforcement profile (20), which is higher than that on the reinforcement profile (20) Extension acting braking forces, and the drive is dimensioned such that it exerts a release force exceeding the holding force on the drop profile (12) during the decoupling process.

Description

According to the preamble of claim 1, the invention relates to an awning with lateral guide rails for guiding at least one movable drop profile, which is arranged at the free end of an awning fabric that can be wound on a winding shaft, a reinforcement profile being provided between the guide rails, which is provided when extending the drop profile can be taken along up to at least one stop in a middle position between the guide rails, the reinforcing profile being able to be coupled to the drop profile for entrainment by releasable coupling elements and a drive being provided for adjusting the drop profile.

It is already known to alternately couple the reinforcement profile by means of positive coupling elements with the drop profile and a central stop, on the one hand to ensure safe driving of the reinforcement profile on extension and on the other hand to achieve a secure positioning of the reinforcement profile on the stop. Reinforcement profiles are used to stabilize the guide rails, in particular in a direction perpendicular to the direction of extension. The movable design offers the advantage that when the curtain is in the retracted state, in which the guide rails are also less stressed due to the lack of a contact surface, for example for wind, the reinforcement profile is removed from the field of vision.

Even if the well-known positive locking of the reinforcement profile with the front profile can be locked and released again with almost no force, in practice problems can arise from the fact that the coupling elements are exposed to the weather and malfunctions occur over time because the mobility of the positive hooking coupling elements is no longer given. The movable elements also have to be set very laboriously and precisely during assembly and their position can also be adjusted over the period of operation so that the form fit can no longer be established or, worse, the form fit can no longer be canceled and then when actuated of the drive, damage to the system can occur.

From the EP 3 312 376 A1 and the EP 3 375 970 A1 an awning or a roller shutter are known in which the front profile is additionally stabilized in the extended end position by means of magnets.

The DE 20 2018 000 966 U1 shows a pergola awning without a winding shaft with several cross bars, between which fabric sections are attached and which are coupled magnetically or mechanically in a detachable manner.

The object of the invention is to improve an awning of the type mentioned at the outset in such a way that simple assembly and permanent functional reliability are guaranteed.

According to the invention, the object is achieved by an awning of the type mentioned at the outset, in which the releasable coupling elements build up a first holding force in the extension direction between the drop profile and the reinforcement profile, which is higher than the braking forces acting on the reinforcement profile during extension, and the drive is dimensioned in this way is that it exerts a release force exceeding the holding force on the drop profile when moving.

It has been shown that the requirements for a safe driving of the reinforcement profile up to its central stop, which e.g. can consist of two stop elements each assigned to a guide rail, holding forces are sufficient that are considerably below the drive forces that can be built up by the drive on the drop profile, so that the holding force for releasing the drop profile from the reinforcement profile can be easily overcome.

On the other hand, it has also been shown that the holding forces previously made possible by the form fit are not even required in order to achieve sufficient operational reliability.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention it is provided that holding elements are provided between the stop and the reinforcement profile, which build up a second holding force between the at least one stop and the reinforcement profile in the middle position, which is dimensioned such that the drive when retrieving the drop profile the second holding force overcomes.

It has been shown that the additional holding forces fix the reinforcement profile better in the extended position and that misalignments that interfere visually or impair the function of the stabilization cannot occur.

The provision of appropriate holding elements improves the functionality, especially with awnings in which the guide rails have no or only a slight slope towards the extended end position of the drop profile, because then the reinforcement profile is no longer or only to a small extent due to its own gravity against the stops can stabilize.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention it is provided that the coupling elements and / or holding elements have magnetic elements for building up the holding forces.

The permanently magnetic magnetic elements build up the holding force without moving mechanical elements and have the advantage that they support the process of coupling the reinforcement profile to the drop profile or the at least one stop, ie the holding force only has to be overcome by the drive to cancel the coupling. Since the holding force of the holding elements only during the retraction movement, the holding force of the coupling elements but only have to be overcome during the extension movement, there is also no addition of the holding forces that could additionally demand the drive.

The magnet elements can each interact with a further magnet element as a magnet pair or with an element made of magnetic material that is only magnetized in the coupled state. The use of electromagnets can be advantageous.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention it can be provided that the magnetic elements are at least partially covered with a flexible material.

The flexible material dampens the impact and avoids annoying clicking noises when the magnetic surfaces are docked together. A certain minimum distance can also be set between the magnetic surfaces, which sets the release force, which can be very high in the case of permanent magnets in direct contact, to a desired level.

An embodiment of the invention is particularly preferred in which the flexible material consists of flocking or has flocking. In principle, an advantageous effect can also be achieved with rubber pads, felt pads or similar materials that are applied to at least one magnetic surface by means of an adhesive tape. Their disadvantage, however, can be that the distance between the magnetic surfaces is quite large, because the overlay must be applied in conjunction with a layer of adhesive or adhesive tape.

The design as flocking, which can be applied directly to the surfaces or glued on by means of an adhesive tape as a carrier, has the advantage that the flocking allows a relatively strong deformation, so that the damping deceleration starts even when the surfaces are relatively far apart and However, by compressing the flocking, the two magnetic surfaces can be brought closer together, which combines high holding forces with strong noise insulation.

As an alternative to magnetically built-up holding forces, the coupling elements and / or the holding elements can also build up the holding force by means of a force fit between the drop profile and the reinforcement profile. The structure can be made, for example, similar to an electrical connector, in that spring elements cause normal forces on a friction surface.

As a further alternative to magnetic forces, the coupling elements and / or the holding elements can be designed as latching or snap-in connections, the holding forces of which are defined by the pull-out force necessary for releasing in the direction of travel. Such elements can e.g. Have spring tongues that snap in behind projections and thus build up increased holding forces, but can also be disengaged again with the application of correspondingly increased pull-out forces without breaking a real form fit, without a locking element having to be actuated separately.

Another preferred embodiment provides that the position of the at least one stop can be adjusted along the guide rails.

Who e.g. If a separate stop element is provided on each guide rail, this embodiment offers the advantage that the angular position of the reinforcement profile can be adjusted in its extended end position so that no angular misalignments occur in relation to the drop profile and / or the guide rails.

In a manner known per se, it can be provided that the drive of the drop profile takes place in the extension and retraction direction by means of a counter pull system, a spring tension system or a metal band push system.

Depending on the design effort and other framework conditions, it can be provided that the reinforcement profile and the front profile are guided in the same guide track of the guide rail or in separate guide tracks.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention it is provided that the releasable coupling elements are movably attached to the reinforcement profile and / or the drop profile for self-alignment when the holding force is built up.

The movable mounting enables the compensation of positional errors, e.g. if the front profile is inclined, which could make the coupling process more difficult or impair the retention force.

For example, the coupling elements can be at least partially articulated, for example in the form that the coupling elements designed as magnetic elements are articulated on the drop profile.

A particularly preferred embodiment of the movable mounting provides that the movably mounted coupling elements are fixed to the drop profile and / or the reinforcement profile via a ball joint. A ball joint has the advantage that it allows compensation with several degrees of freedom and can also correct more complex misalignments.

Fig. 1

einen Querschnitt durch einen in Führungsschienen geführten Verbund aus Ausfallprofil und Verstärkungsprofil;

Fig. 2

einen Querschnitt des Verbundes kurz vor Erreichen eines Anschlages für das Verstärkungsprofil;

Fig. 3

einen Querschnitt des Verbundes beim Erreichen des Anschlages;

Fig. 4

einen Querschnitt des Verbundes nach dem Lösen von Kupplungselementen zwischen Ausfallprofil und Verstärkungsprofil;

Fig. 5

einen Querschnitt des Verbundes nach dem Überfahren des Anschlages durch das Ausfallprofil;

Fig. 6

eine teilgeschnittene Seitenansicht der Kupplungselemente des Verbundes mit geschlossenen Kupplungselementen;

Fig.7

eine Seitenansicht ähnlich Fig. 6, jedoch mit von dem Verstärkungsprofil weg geneigt ausgerichtetem Ausfallprofil;

Fig. 8

eine Schnittdarstellung der Kupplungselemente auf einer Anlagenseite in der Draufsicht.

Further features, details and advantages of the invention emerge from the wording of the claims and from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawings. Show it:

Fig. 1

a cross section through a composite of front profile and reinforcement profile guided in guide rails;

Fig. 2

a cross section of the composite shortly before reaching a stop for the reinforcement profile;

Fig. 3

a cross section of the composite when reaching the stop;

Fig. 4

a cross section of the composite after loosening coupling elements between the front profile and reinforcing profile;

Fig. 5

a cross-section of the composite after driving over the stop by the drop profile;

Fig. 6

a partially sectioned side view of the coupling elements of the assembly with closed coupling elements;

Fig. 7

a side view similar Fig. 6 , but with the front profile inclined away from the reinforcement profile;

Fig. 8

a sectional view of the coupling elements on one side of the system in a top view.

Fig. 1 shows a cross-section of part of an awning 10, the essential components of which are a winding shaft (not shown) with a cloth curtain (also not shown) that can be wound thereon, a drop profile 12 on which the cloth curtain is fixed in a piping groove 14, two lateral guide rails 16, which can be supported on floor supports (not shown) and have guide tracks 18 between which the drop profile 12 is guided, a reinforcement profile 20 which can be moved between a retracted end position and a support position in which it is supported on stop elements 22 (see FIG Figs. 3 to 5 ), which together form a stop 30, and a drive system (not shown). Such awnings are also referred to as pergola awnings, which - as shown in the figures, can have a slope towards the extended end position in order to allow the flow to ease of rainwater. However, systems with horizontal, curved guide rails or guide rails that rise in whole or in part over their length are also possible, which then have a suitably modified drainage system for rainwater.

The reinforcement profile 20 is designed to be displaceable so that it can be moved into a retracted position with the drop profile 12 when the curtain is not extended, so as not to be visually disruptive when it is not needed. The forces required for displacement are also applied by the drive system of the drop profile 12, the drop profile 12 and the reinforcement profile 20 forming a coupled composite in the area between the retracted end position of the curtain and the support position. The reinforcement profile 20 has a bearing plate 24 which is guided on the guide rail in a suitable manner, not shown in detail.

The drop profile 12 is coupled to the reinforcement profile 20 by means of releasable coupling elements 25, which are designed here as first magnetic elements 26, which are mounted on the bearing plate 24 of the reinforcement profile 20, and magnetic counterparts 28 which are connected to the front profile 12. The first magnetic elements 26 and / or the magnetic counterparts 28 can be designed as permanent magnets, the elements, which may not be designed as permanent magnets, being made of ferromagnetic, non-magnetized material.

The first magnetic elements 26 and the magnetic counterparts 28 are designed such that the reinforcement profile 20 can be carried along between the retracted end position and the stop 30 formed from the two stop elements 22 each assigned to a guide rail 16 in a central position on the guide rails 16, i.e. that the frictional and weight forces cannot trigger any decoupling. The drive (not shown) of the drop profile, on the other hand, is dimensioned so that it can overcome the magnetic forces for decoupling when the reinforcement profile 20 has placed itself against the stop 30 and the drop profile 20 is to be moved further into its extended end position Fully open the drop profile 20 connected fabric curtain.

The stop elements of the stop 30 are of course attached to the guide rails 16 in such a way that they do not protrude into the travel path of the drop profile 20.

A further magnetic counterpart 32 for interacting with second magnetic elements 34 of the reinforcement profile 20 is also provided on the stop elements of the stop 30. The second magnetic elements 34 and the magnetic counterparts 32 of the stop 30 form holding elements 35 for securing the extended position of the reinforcement profile 20. The magnetic forces here ensure a stable, defined position of the reinforcement profile 20 in its extended position and avoid a visually disturbing misalignment, which also Could impair the stabilization function. The magnetic forces are in turn designed so that the drive can easily overcome the holding force when the drop profile 12 is retrieved.

The sequence of adjusting and coupling the reinforcement profile 20 with the drop profile 12 and the stop elements of the stop 30 is illustrated with reference to Figs. 1 to 5 described in more detail.

Fig. 1 shows the composite of front profile 12 and reinforcement profile 20 during the process between the stop 30 (see Figs. 2 to 5 ) and a retracted end position, not shown. The composite is produced by the magnetic coupling of the magnetic elements 26 assigned to the reinforcement profile 20 with the magnetic counterparts 28, the magnetic forces being designed to be greater than all counterforces to be expected during normal operation due to the method and possibly other influences.

Fig. 2 shows the composite of front profile 12 and reinforcement profile 20 in a position approaching the stop 30, which is reached a short time later when extending further, as in FIG Fig. 3 shown. At this point in time, both the magnetic coupling elements 25 between the drop profile 12 and the reinforcement profile 20 and the magnetic holding elements 35 between the reinforcement profile 20 and the stop 30 are connected.

If the drop profile 12 is moved further in the direction of its extended end position, the coupling elements 25 are released from one another, as in FIG Fig. 4 is shown. An increase in force to be overcome by the drive can only be determined for a very short distance, since the magnetic forces decrease sharply even with a short distance between the first magnetic elements 26 and the magnetic counterparts 28. The reinforcement profile 20 now rests on the stop elements of the stop 30 under the hold of the magnetic forces of the holding elements 35.

In Fig. 5 the drop profile 12 is shown in a position in which it has already passed over the stop 30 of the reinforcement profile 20. It can now be moved further in the direction of its extended end position, which is not shown.

The retrieval process takes place in the reverse order, the takeover of the reinforcement profile 20 from its central position resting on the stop 30 by a recovery movement of the drop profile 12 from the position shown in FIG Fig. 3 position shown.

The formation of the coupling elements 25 and the holding elements 35 with the aid of magnetic elements offers the advantage that they are maintenance-free and particularly insensitive to contamination. However, it is also possible to use mechanical friction or locking elements in order to build up the necessary coupling forces between the drop profile 12 and the reinforcement profile 20 and / or holding forces between the stop 30 and the reinforcement profile 20. A form fit is avoided in any case, which relies on actively moving elements in order to move a pawl or latch out of the positively acting closed position.

In order to ensure a flat alignment of the magnet pairings when using magnet elements 26 in order to build up a maximum holding force, it can be expedient to attach the magnet elements and / or the counterparts movably to the component belonging to them in order to enable compensation during the coupling. One such solution is in Figures 6 to 8 which show an attachment of the first magnetic elements 26 via a ball joint 38.

In Fig. 6 the composite of drop profile 12 and reinforcement profile 20 is shown, wherein the magnetic element 26 of the reinforcement profile 20 is shown in surface contact with the magnetic counterpart 28. The latter is rigidly mounted on the front profile 12.

The magnetic element 26 is connected via a bolt 40 to a ball head 42 which is rotatably received in a ball socket 44 which is fixed on the bearing plate 24. If the front profile 12 is inclined (tilting or twisting), as shown in FIG Fig. 7 is illustrated as tilting, or to an inclined position of the reinforcement profile 20, the magnetic element 26 can also rotate by the corresponding angle in the ball socket 44, so that the flat contact of the magnetic element 26 on the magnetic counterpart 28 is maintained and thus the full holding force is available.

Fig. 8 shows the ball joint in a section rotated by 90 degrees, which also shows a track 46 of the reinforcement profile 20 in the guide rail 16 as a top view. The bearing plate 24 with which the magnetic element 26 is connected to the reinforcement profile here via the ball joint 38 can also be seen clearly here. The ball joint 38 is fastened with a simple screw connection 48 in a recess 50 in the bearing plate 24.

The magnetic element 26 and / or the magnetic counterpart 28 can be provided with flocking, or alternatively with an elastic coating, in order to dampen the noise when the connection is established

The invention is not restricted to one of the embodiments described above, but can be modified in many ways.

All of the features and advantages arising from the claims, the description and the drawing, including structural details, spatial arrangements and process steps, can be essential to the invention both individually and in a wide variety of combinations.

List of reference symbols

10

awning

12

Drop profile

14th

Keder groove

16

Guide rails

18th

Guideways

20th

Reinforcement profile

22nd

Stop elements

24

Bearing plate

25th

Coupling elements

26th

first magnetic elements

28

magnetic counterparts

30th

attack

32

magnetic counterparts (stop)

34

second magnetic elements

35

Holding elements

38

Ball joint

40

bolt

42

Ball head

44

Ball socket

46

Guide track of the reinforcement profile

48

Screw connection

50

Recess

Claims (15)

Awning with lateral guide rails (16) for guiding at least one movable drop profile (12), which is arranged at the free end of an awning fabric that can be wound on a winding shaft, a reinforcing profile (20) being provided between the guide rails (16), which is Extending from the drop profile (12) to at least one stop (30) in a middle position between the guide rails (16) can be taken along, the reinforcing profile (20) being able to be coupled to the drop profile (12) by releasable coupling elements (25) for entrainment and a drive for adjusting the drop profile (12) is provided, characterized in that the releasable coupling elements (25) build up a first holding force in the extension direction between the drop profile (12) and the reinforcement profile (20) which is higher than that on the Reinforcing profile (20) braking forces acting when extending, and the drive is dimensioned in such a way that it ei during the process of decoupling ne exerts a release force exceeding the holding force on the front profile (12). Awning according to claim 1, characterized in that holding elements (35) are provided between the stop (30) and the reinforcement profile, which build up a second holding force between the at least one stop (30) and the reinforcement profile (20) in the middle position is dimensioned such that the drive overcomes the second holding force when the drop profile (12) is retrieved. Awning according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the coupling elements (25) and / or holding elements (35) have magnetic elements (26, 34) for building up the holding forces. Awning according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the magnetic elements (26, 34) each interact with a further magnetic element (28, 32) or with an element made of magnetic material. Awning according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the coupling elements and / or the holding elements build up the holding force through a force fit between the drop profile (12) and the reinforcement profile (20). Awning according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the coupling elements and / or the holding elements are released as latching or snap connections, the holding forces of which are defined by the pull-out force necessary for releasing in the direction of travel. Awning according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the position of the at least one stop (30) is adjustable along the guide rails (16). Awning according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the front profile (12) is driven in the extension direction by means of a counter-pull system, a spring-loaded system or a metal strip push system. Awning according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the reinforcement profile (20) and the front profile (12) are guided in the same guide track (18) of the guide rail (16) or in separate guide tracks. Awning according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the coupling elements (25) are designed as magnetic elements (26). Awning according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the releasable coupling elements (25) are movably mounted on the reinforcement profile (20) and / or the drop profile (12) for self-alignment when building up the holding force. Awning according to claim 11, characterized in that the coupling elements (25) are at least partially articulated. Awning according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that movably mounted coupling elements (25) are fixed to the drop profile (12) and / or the reinforcement profile (20) via a ball joint (38). Awning according to one of Claims 10 to 13, characterized in that the magnetic elements (26) are at least partially covered with a flexible material. Awning according to claim 14, characterized in that the flexible material consists of flocking or has flocking.

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