WO2022023121A1 - Height-adjustable pole and/or cantilever arm - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a height-adjustable pole and/or cantilever arm, e.g. a cantilever arm of a free-standing umbrella, in particular a cantilever or pendulum umbrella. According to the invention, a construction for the height adjustment of a pole, e.g. of a free-standing umbrella, is provided for the first time, in which a gas pressure spring is set against the weight of the pole plus the weight of the umbrella canopy.

Description

Height-adjustable mast and/or extension arm

The invention relates to a height-adjustable mast and/or extension arm—for example the extension arm of a standing umbrella, in particular a so-called traffic light or pendulum standing umbrella. In the latter stand-umbrella constructions, the mast is arranged on the side, not in the middle.

It is always the heavy canopy whose weight has to be compensated for when erecting it so that a mast can be adjusted in height and/or an umbrella can be opened. With free-standing umbrellas, especially with large umbrellas, there is the middle mast construction, in which the umbrella struts can be moved radially to the middle umbrella mast when the umbrella is closed. In the case of a side mast umbrella such as the pendulum umbrella, the canopy is closed using a cantilever arm that is moved down and towards the mast on the side.

Both the mast for center mast and side mast umbrellas and the extension arm for cantilever or pendulum umbrellas are preferably designed for large umbrellas in such a way that they only reach their final length when they are unfolded. The length of the mast or the extension arm is therefore usually adjustable for large parasols.

There are various mechanisms for this, including pulley blocks, internal and external spindle and/or rack and pinion drives, telescopic sliding rods, etc., so that a mast and/or extension arm can be adjusted in length. Depending on the size of the sunshade, there is a considerable weight on the sunshade roof suspension, which is moved with the extension of the mast and/or extension arm.

It is known that the length of the mast is lengthened telescopically, for example when the canopy of a central mast umbrella is opened, by a length that is required by the canopy struts to open the canopy.

With small parasols, the mast is divided into two, so that one half serves as a shaft and the second half of the mast with the canopy can be moved within the shaft to adjust the height.

In the case of large parasols, such as those used in gastronomy, dividing the shaft into two is unthinkable because this would be unmanageable due to the weight of the canopy.

The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a structure for adjusting the height and/or length of a mast and/or extension arm, especially for standing umbrellas, which can be adjusted when the canopy is closed and/or independently of the position of the umbrella struts.

This object is solved by the subject matter of the present invention as disclosed in the description, the figures and the claims.

The solution to the problem and the object of the present invention is therefore a mast and/or extension arm of a parasol, comprising at least a first and a second section, the sections together at least part of the mast and/or the extension arm and between the two sections, connecting them along their longitudinal axis, at least one gas pressure spring is provided, via which the at least two sections of the mast and/or the extension arm can be moved relative to one another and along their longitudinal axis.

According to an advantageous embodiment, it is provided that the at least two sections can be pushed into one another in a telescopic manner. According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, three, four or more sections are provided to form a mast. On the ground side, the mast, e.g.

Gas springs are usually used to balance the weight of two elements and are known from toolmaking.

A gas pressure spring comprises a piston rod which is movably arranged within a gas-filled pressure tube, in particular a cylinder. A gas pressure spring is a pneumatically operated spring, the piston rod being moved in the cylinder by the pressure of the gas and at least one sealing ring being provided which is located on the piston rod and has a gas passage opening.

The diameter of the gas passage opening on the one hand and the gas pressure in the cylinder on the other hand largely determine the spring force of a gas pressure spring. In order to use the spring force, the cylinder is connected to one section by means of a spring bracket and fixed to the other section via the piston rod. It is particularly advantageous if a spring suspension for the piston rod is integrated in the head-side section and a device for receiving the cylinder of the gas pressure spring is integrated in the bottom-side section.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the at least two sections are tubular. It is particularly advantageous if they have diameters that differ only so slightly from one another that one section can be inserted into the other. However, there are also many alternative solutions for connecting two sections to form a mast. Coupling pieces can be used, plug-lock connections can be provided, etc. There are many known solutions available to those skilled in the art.

For example, the mast completely or partially surrounds the housing of the gas pressure spring in the retracted state. On the other hand, it can also be provided that part of the housing of the gas pressure spring makes up part of the mast.

The gas pressure spring makes it easier for the user to change the height of a mast and/or the length of an extension arm. At least part of the weight is compensated by the gas pressure spring.

The spring suspension at the upper end of the mast, which carries the weight to be compensated, for example the canopy, is preferably provided on the piston rod side. The spring suspension can be a cable, screw, hook, loop and/or ball joint to prevent twisting of the gas spring, etc., as well as any other known spring suspensions and / or combinations of spring suspensions can be realized.

On the cylinder side, the gas pressure spring is preferably arranged at the end of the mast pointing towards the mast foot. The cylinder-carrying housing of the gas pressure spring can also be mounted and/or fastened to the section of the mast to be adjusted and/or the extension arm, for example via a recess, screws, hooks, ball joint, etc.

The two ends of the gas pressure spring fastened to the mast and/or to the extension arm, which is adjustable in height or length, can be connected to the respective section in the same way or in a different way.

During operation, the height or length of the mast and/or extension arm is changed by moving the piston rod in the cylinder of the gas pressure spring.

To move the piston rod of the gas pressure spring, means are provided in and/or on the mast and/or on the extension arm, which directly—that is, directly or indirectly—that is, indirectly—cause the longitudinal displacement of the piston rod within the cylinder of the gas pressure spring. The end of the piston rod can be moved, for example, via a slide that can be moved up and down, for example, along the outside of the mast, but within a corresponding slot in the mast.

For example, the upper end of the piston rod can be linked directly or indirectly to a cable winch. The winch in turn can be powered by a motor, such as a Electric motor, a slide and / or a crank are operated.

The electric motor in turn can, for example—at least also—be operated by remote control, so that the user can use the remote control to adjust the height of the mast and/or extend the extension arm.

The means for moving the piston rod of the gas pressure spring are preferably designed in such a way that the piston rod can be fixed not only in the respective end positions, i.e. fully retracted or fully extended out of the cylinder, but also in any position relative to the cylinder. In this way, the piston rod can be held in a predetermined position. On the other hand, a stepless height adjustment of the mast and/or extension arm is also possible by fixing, for example, a slider and/or a cable of a cable winch.

The mast and/or the extension arm is lengthened or shortened by the movement of the piston rod out of the cylinder or into the cylinder.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the length adjustment of the mast and/or the extension arm corresponds directly to the length adjustment of the piston rod within the cylinder of the gas pressure spring.

According to another advantageous embodiment, the length adjustment of the mast and/or the extension arm is translated by the gas pressure spring, so that the mast can be adjusted by moving the piston rod by a specific length and/or extension arm by a multiple or part of this length.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the present invention, a screw connection is provided on the canopy side as a connection for the gas pressure spring. In this case, a screw is provided on the head side of the piston rod, which is screwed into a thread in a form-fitting manner.

According to an advantageous embodiment of this example of the invention, a non-round shape of the piston rod is provided, which is better secured against rotation within the cylinder, ie the pressure tube, than a round, radially symmetrical shape of the piston rod.

In this case, it is particularly advantageously provided that the piston rod is designed such that it cannot rotate with respect to the pressure pipe, because it has a shape that differs from the cross section of the pressure pipe. For example, it is provided that the piston rod has an ellipsoidal cross section, or an angular cross section, or a square cross section.

In this way it is achieved that the piston rod of the gas pressure spring exhibits a resistance to turning the piston rod into a thread when the head end of the piston rod for the spring suspension of the gas pressure spring is fastened. The resistance is generated by the fact that the piston rod cannot rotate freely within the pressure pipe, i.e. generally the cylinder, because the diameter of the piston rod in terms of shape, i.e. viewed in cross section, does not correspond to that of the pressure pipe, but is selected in such a way that it gets caught inside the pressure tube when turning. The limitation of the movement of the piston rod refers exclusively to the rotational movement, of course not to the mobility along the longitudinal axis of the gas pressure spring. The longitudinal movement of the piston rod within the pressure tube is essential for the function of the gas spring and must therefore under no circumstances be impaired by the change in the cross section of the piston rod.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to 3 figures of an exemplary embodiment of the invention:

It shows

Figure 1 shows the two parts 1 and 2 before assembly;

FIG. 2 shows the two sections from FIG. 1, but plugged together; and

FIG. 3 shows the installation of the two sections in the mast via a third section of the mast.

Figure 1 shows on the one hand the part 1 and on the other hand the part 2. According to the embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 1, the gas pressure spring is located in the part 1 with a connection 7 at the bottom in the part 1 and anchored therein a cylinder 3. From the cylinder 3, the pressure tube of the gas pressure spring, the piston rod 4 protrudes in full length, whereby its head-side end 5 is without connection.

According to Figure 1, the two sections 1 and 2 are not yet connected. Part 2 shows a device 6 for recording of the head-side end 5 of the piston rod 4, for example a thread 6. The thread 6 is connected to a cable winch 8 via a cable. The cable winch 8 is operated via the crank 9.

Figure 2 shows the same parts 1 and 2 but built together. Section 2 is pushed over part of section 1 with the lower end. The head end 5 of the piston rod 4 is screwed to the thread 6 in the section 2 .

Finally, FIG. 3 shows a larger section of the mast 13 than the two previous figures; three sections 1, 2 and 11 of the mast 13 are shown here. The section 1 , which is inserted upwards into the section 2 , is connected to the section 11 via the connection 10 . In this case, the connection 10 is pushed into a complementary element 12 . The two parts 11 and 1 from FIG. 3 thus have the same diameter and cannot be pushed into one another.

The gas pressure spring can form a part of the mast and/or the extension arm via its housing, via the cylinder, the piston rod and/or in some other way, ie it can also influence the mast visually.

This is not mandatory, however, because gas pressure springs are also very effective in small radii and therefore the gas pressure spring together with the spring suspension can also "disappear" optically in the cavity of the mast and/or the extension arm. The present invention provides for the first time a structure for adjusting the height of a mast, for example a parasol, in which the weight of the mast plus the weight of the canopy is opposed by a gas pressure spring. The present invention is the first to provide a construction for adjusting the length or height of a mast, for example a parasol, in which the weight of the mast plus the weight of the canopy is countered by a gas pressure spring.

The installation of a gas pressure spring, which is available in very small radii, can be done completely inconspicuously within the mast and/or the extension arm and still have a great effect.

On the other hand, the housing of the gas spring can also enhance the look of the mast and/or extension arm.

Claims

patent claims 1. Mast (13) and/or extension arm of a parasol, comprising at least a first (1) and a second section (2), the sections (1,2) together forming at least part of the mast (13) and/or extension arm and between the two sections (1,2), connecting them along their longitudinal axis, at least one gas pressure spring with cylinder (3) and piston rod (4) is provided, via which the at least two sections (1,2) of the mast (13) and/or the extension arm are movable relative to each other and along their longitudinal axis, the piston rod (4) having a non-round shape which prevents it from rotating within the cylinder (3). 2. Mast and/or extension arm according to claim 1, comprising at least one further section (11), ie a total of three sections. 3. Mast and/or extension arm according to one of the preceding claims, in which the piston rod (4) of the gas pressure spring is arranged with the head-side end (5) closer to the canopy than the cylinder (3) of the gas pressure spring. 4. Mast and/or extension arm according to one of the preceding claims, in which the piston rod (4) of the gas pressure spring is connected directly or indirectly to a cable winch (8) on the head side. 5. Mast and/or extension arm according to one of the preceding claims, in which the cable winch (8) is coupled to a crank (9). 6. mast and / or extension arm according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cable winch (8) is coupled to an electric motor. 7. mast and / or extension arm according to claim 6, wherein the electric motor can be controlled via a remote control. 8. mast and / or extension arm according to one of the preceding claims which is infinitely adjustable in height. 9. Mast and/or extension arm according to one of the preceding claims, in which the piston rod (4) of the gas pressure spring is fastened on the head side by means of a screw (5) in a corresponding thread (6) of the section (2). 10. Mast and/or extension arm according to one of the preceding claims, in which the piston rod (4) of the gas pressure spring is angular or oval. 11. Mast and/or extension arm according to one of the preceding claims, in which the housing of the gas pressure spring visibly forms part of the mast and/or extension arm. 12. Mast and/or extension arm according to one of the preceding claims, in which the gas pressure spring is arranged inside the mast and/or the extension arm so that it is invisible from the outside.