Sun Shading Arrangement
A sun shading arrangement is disclosed as including a sun shading portion, an arm arrangement connected with the sun shading portion, and a support portion connected with the arm arrangement, and the support portion is a double-helical structure. The arm arrangement includes at least two arms which are pivotable relative to each other, and a locking mechanism with a switch which is swivelable between a locked position in which the arms are locked against relative pivotable movement relative to each other and an unlocked position in which the arms are pivotable relative to each other.
This invention relates to a sun shading arrangement, and in particular such a sun shading arrangement allowing selective prevention of exposure to sunlight.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONIn some prior art sun shading arrangements, once the arrangement is set, it is not possible to adjust the orientation or position of the light-blocking element relative to the rest of the arrangement, such that a user has to adjust his/her own position relative to the light-blocking element for obtaining the appropriate effect. Although it is possible, in some other prior art sun shading arrangements, to change the orientation or position of the light-blocking element relative to the rest of the arrangement, as the support arm with which the light-blocking element is engaged is rather long, there is the problem that the arrangement may topple over the user in use, thus causing inconvenience and even danger to the user.
Yet some other prior art sun shading arrangements, e.g. beach umbrellas, are designed to be fixed to the sand in the beach. It is well known that it is very difficult, if at all possible, to securely fix such arrangements to sand in the beach.
It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a sun shading arrangement in which at least one of the aforesaid shortcomings is mitigated, or at least to provide a useful alternative to the public.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAccording to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sun shading arrangement including a sun shade member, an arm arrangement connected with said sun shading member, and a support member connected with said arm arrangement, wherein at least part of said support member is a double-helical structure.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sun shading arrangement including a sun shading member, an arm arrangement connected with said sun shading member, and a support member connected with said arm arrangement, wherein said arm arrangement includes at least two arm members which are pivotable relative to each other, and a locking assembly with a switch member which is swivellable between a locked position in which said arm members are locked against relative pivotable movement relative to each other and an unlocked position in which said arm members are pivotable relative to each other.
Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
It can be seen that the sun shades 10 and 30 differ only in respect of their respective support parts 16 and 32.
Turning now to
At a rear end of the frame 40 are two headers 54, between which a roller 56 is installed. Around the roller 56 is wound a piece of light-blocking cloth 58. At a free end of the cloth 58 is a tongue 60 with a hole for receiving a finger 62 on the rod 46. Thus, by pulling the tongue 60, the cloth 58 may be unwound and may be kept at the extended unwound configuration by having the finger 62 inserted within the hole of the tongue 60. A torsion spring (not shown) is provided in the roller 56 for biasing the cloth 58 towards the wound up configuration.
As shown in
The first arm segment 64 is pivotable relative to a sun shade fixing part 76 for engagement with the sun shade part 12 about a pivot 77. The second arm segment 66 is provided with a rotatable locking ring 78 which, when loosened, allows the first arm segment 64 to slide lengthwise relative to the second arm segment 66, to adjust the length of the first arm segment 64 exposed out of the second arm segment 66, and allows the first arm segment 64 to rotate freely relative to the second arm segment 66 about their common longitudinal axis by at least 360° in both directions to adjust the orientation of the sun shade fixing part 76. The ring 78 may be rotated to lock the first segment 64 against movement relative to the second arm segment 66.
As shown more clearly in
Similarly, a body 92 of the pivot 70 is fixed to the second arm segment 66 by a pin 90. The pivot 70 includes a piston 94, a stator 96, a clutch 98 and a cover 100.
As to the locking mechanism 20, such includes a switch 102, a piston 104, a ring 106, a coil spring 108, a clutch 110, a stator 112 and a cover 114, to be further discussed below.
As shown in
The structure of the screw-like portion 120 is shown in more detail in
Screw-like portions 120 may be mass produced by moulding. In order to allow for moulding, the shape of the double-helical structure of the portion 120 has to be modified by removing some of the materials in the portions marked by M in
It can be seen from
The switch 102 of the locking mechanism 20 is shown in more detail in
As shown in
The ring 106 is shown in
Various views of the clutch 110 are shown in
As to the stator 112, such is in a generally ring shape and has an inner periphery lined with troughs 170 for receiving the claws 166 of the clutch 110, and intervening crests 172.
As shown in
When the switch 102 is at the locked position, as shown in
It should be pointed out that the spring 108 in the locking mechanism 20 may be dispensed with. In this case, when the locking mechanism 20 is in the unlocked configuration, the ring 106 may slide freely between a first position in which the recesses 162 receive the legs 156 of the switch 102 and a second position in which it is in contact with the inner surfaces of the claws 166 of the clutch 110. When the locking mechanism 20 is in the locked configuration, the ring 106 is forced by the legs 156 of the switch 102 to remain in the aforesaid second position to prevent relative movement between the clutch 110 and the stator 112, thus performing a locking function.
Returning now to
It should be understood that the term “sun shading arrangement” as used in this specification is meant to encompass arrangements intended for at least partially shielding off sunlight or UV, and thus includes, amongst others, beach umbrellas and the like.
It should be understood that the above only illustrates examples whereby the present invention may be carried out, and that various modifications and/or alterations may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention.
It should also be understood that certain features of the invention, which are, for clarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the invention which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any appropriate sub-combinations.
Claims
1. A sun shading arrangement including: a sun shading member; an arm arrangement connected with said sun shading member; and a support member connected with said arm arrangement; wherein at least part of said support member is a double-helical structure.
2. An arrangement according to claim 1 wherein said support member is generally cylindrical in shape.
3. An arrangement according to claim 1 wherein said double-helical structure runs along at least part of the length of said support member.
4. An arrangement according to claim 3 wherein said double-helical structure runs along a majority of the length of said support member.
5. An arrangement according to claim 1 wherein said support member includes a generally conical free first longitudinal end.
6. An arrangement according to claim 1 wherein each helix of said double-helical structure has a leading edge.
7. An arrangement according to claim 6 wherein said leading edges of said helixes are substantially parallel to each other.
8. An arrangement according to claim 6 wherein said leading edges of said helixes lie substantially on the same plane.
9. An arrangement according to claim 6 wherein the upper surface of the leading edge of said helix is slanted relative to the longitudinal axis of said support member by from 40° to 80°.
10. An arrangement according to claim 1 wherein said support member is engaged with a turn bar which is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said support member.
11. An arrangement according to claim 1 wherein said turn bar is engaged with said support member adjacent a second longitudinal end of said support member.
12. A sun shading arrangement including: a sun shading member; an arm arrangement connected with said sun shading member; and a support member connected with said arm arrangement; wherein said arm arrangement includes:
- at least two arm members which are pivotable relative to each other; and
- a locking assembly with a switch member which is swivellable between a locked position in which said arm members are locked against relative pivotable movement relative to each other and an unlocked position in which said arm members are pivotable relative to each other.
13. An arrangement according to claim 12 wherein said switch member comprises at least one leg member in contact with a ring member, wherein swiveling of said switch member causes said ring member to move along a path generally parallel to an axis of swiveling of said switch member.
14. An arrangement according to claim 13 wherein when said switch member is swiveled from said locked position to said unlocked position, said ring member moves closer to said switch member.
15. An arrangement according to claim 14 further including biasing means for biasing said ring member towards said switch member.
16. An arrangement according to claim 13 wherein said locking assembly further includes a clutch member with a plurality of claw members, and wherein said clutch member is received within a stator member for relative rotational movement about a common longitudinal axis.
17. An arrangement according to claim 16 wherein said stator member includes a number of troughs each for receiving at least part of a respective claw member of said clutch member.
18. An arrangement according to claim 16 wherein said claw members are resiliently movable relative to a body of said clutch member.
19. An arrangement according to claim 18 wherein a free end of each said claw member is movable radially relative to the body of said clutch member.
20. An arrangement according to claim 14 wherein when said switch member is in said locked position, a stopping portion of said ring member is engaged with inner surfaces of the claw members to prevent inward radial movement of said free ends of said claw members, thus preventing relative rotational movement between said clutch member and said stator.
21. An arrangement according to claim 14 wherein when said switch member is in said unlocked position, a stopping portion of said ring member is out of engagement with inner surfaces of the claw members to allow inward radial movement of said free ends of said claw members, thus allowing relative rotational movement between said clutch member and said stator.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 19, 2006
Publication Date: Jun 19, 2008
Inventor: Kar Wun CHAN (Kowloon)
Application Number: 11/612,536
International Classification: A45B 11/00 (20060101);