Fan-type sunshade or weather protection device

Abstract

The invention relates to a fan-shaped sun or weather protection device ( 1 ) having radially extending bars ( 2, 3, 7, 7 ′), wherein the bars ( 2, 3, 7, 7 ′) are moved between a closed and a spread state of the fan ( 1 ) by means of a preloading element ( 5 ). When the fan is closed ( 13 ), driving energy is stored in the preloading element ( 5 ), which driving energy is subsequently used to drive the spreading of the fan ( 1 ). An angle of inclination of the fan ( 1 ) about a tilt axis can also be set by actuating the adjustment apparatus ( 9 ), wherein said adjustment is preloaded by means of a further preloading element ( 10 ).

1 . A fan-type sunshade or weather protection device, hereinafter referred to as a fan, comprising a plurality of spars extending substantially radially with respect to the shape of the outspread fan, wherein the spars are displaceable between a closed and an outspread state of the fan, wherein the spars are displaceable in a first movement from a first to the second of the said two states, and substantially in a plane, and wherein said spars are displaceable in a second movement from the second to the first of the said states and substantially in the said plane, wherein the spars include a first spar and a second spar.
 characterized by 
 a first biasing member, connected with the first spar at a first radial intermediate position along the first spar and to the second spar at a second radial intermediate position along the second spar, and arranged between the first and second intermediate positions, such that, in the first movement of the spars, the first biasing member can store a driving energy of the first movement, and that it can use the stored energy to drive the second movement 
 
     
     
         2 . The fan of  claim 1 , comprising a damping element for damping the first and/or second movement of the spars. 
     
     
         3 . The fan of  claim 1 , wherein the first biasing member and/or the damping element comprise a gas pressure spring. 
     
     
         4 . The fan of  claim 1 , wherein:
 each of said plurality of spars is supported in a hub joint element of the fan;   the fan comprises a first reference axis which extends along the first spar;   the fan comprises a second reference axis which extends along the second spar;   in the outspread state of the fan, the first and second axes intersect at a reference point;   the first biasing member is connected to the first spar at the first intermediate position, at a first distance from the reference point by means of a first rotation joint;   the first biasing member is connected to the second spar at the second intermediate position at a second distance from the reference point by means of a second rotation joint; and   the second distance is greater, or preferably at least 1.5 times greater, or preferably at least 1.8 times greater than the first distance.   
     
     
         5 . The fan of  claim 1 , wherein:
 in the outspread state of the fan, a first axis of the first biasing element extending through the first and second joints is at a first angle to the second spar, and wherein the first is less than or equal to 45 degrees,   and/or   in the closed state of the fan, the first axis is at a second angle to the second spar, wherein the second angle is at least 5 degrees.   
     
     
         6 . The fan of  claim 4 , wherein:
 in the outspread state of the fan, the first joint and the second joint are a third distance apart;   in the closed state of the fan, the first joint and the second joint are a fourth distance apart;   wherein the fourth distance is at least 50% larger than the third distance.   
     
     
         7 . The fan of  claim 1 , wherein the first biasing member is arranged such that, in the outspread state of the fan, it can keep a canopy of the fan taut. 
     
     
         8 . The fan of  claim 1 , comprising a first release mechanism for actuating the second movement. 
     
     
         9 . The fan of  claim 1 , comprising attachment means wherein the hub element is rotatably mounted on the attachment fitting about a tilting axis extending in said plane, wherein an angle of inclination of the fan is adjustable with respect to the attachment fitting. 
     
     
         10 . The fan of  claim 9 , comprising a second biasing member for biasing said rotation of the hub element about the tilting axis with respect to the attachment fitting. 
     
     
         11 . The fan of  claim 9 , in which the attachment comprises a latch member and a plurality of latch engagement openings or recesses, whereby, when carrying out said tilt adjustment, the latch member can latch into one of the engagement openings or recesses, thereby holding the fan at the given angle of inclination. 
     
     
         12 . The fan of  claim 11 , comprising a release mechanism for disengaging the latching member. 
     
     
         13 . The fan of  claim 1 , comprising a closing mechanism for folding the fan together, whereby the closing mechanism comprises a drive mechanism and a pulling means for pulling at least two of the spars together. 
     
     
         14 . The fan of  claim 12 , wherein at least a portion of the release mechanism or of the pulling means passes through a cavity in one of the spars. 
     
     
         15 . A sunshade or weather protection device comprising a first fan according to  claim 1  and a second fan according to  claim 1 , wherein one of the first and second spars of the first fan is rigidly or integrally joined with one of the first and second of the second fan, and/or wherein the hub element of the first fan is rigidly or integrally joined with the hub element of the second fan.