US20230184001A1

US20230184001A1 - Damping positioning device and sunshade awning

Info

Publication number: US20230184001A1
Application number: US17/547,509
Authority: US
Inventors: Andrew David Frankel; Shi-Ping Zheng; Tian-Xia Zheng
Original assignee: Zenithen Usa, Llc, D/B/A Z Company
Current assignee: Zenithen USA LLC
Priority date: 2021-12-10
Filing date: 2021-12-10
Publication date: 2023-06-15

Abstract

A damping positioning device and a sunshade awning is provided. The damping positioning device comprises a fixing member and a damping member rotatably hinged on the fixing member. The damping member is provided with a curved slot or curved hole which allows for a rod to pass through and has the function of damping positioning. The damping positioning device is adopted to position the oblique rods in the sunshade awning which plays an adjustment role, in order to make sliding-based adjustment and self-positioning, and realize the purposes of adjusting the sunshade angle and folding the sunshade awning.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention is to a sunshade awning matched for outdoor folding chairs and beds, and particularly relates to a type of damping positioning device and sunshade awning.

Technical Background

With the current urbanization development, the pace of life is accelerating, and outdoor activities have become a luxury. For this reason, the supporting outdoor appliances are also more abundant in product varieties and more refined in product design. Products such as folding chairs, beach chairs and hammocks have also become standard equipment for outdoor enthusiasts. The primary level products provide only a seat, whereas higher-level products upgrade the degree of comfort and provide additional supporting functions such as sunshade. For example:
U.S. Pat. No. 7,243,990 shows a sunshade device for covering a chair. According to the description, the sunshade device comprises a pair of upright rods, a pair of connecting elements, a pair of horizontal rods that can swing to a horizontal position, and a flexible ceiling element for covering the space above the chair. Each connecting element is connected to the bottom end of one of the upright rods and is suitable for installing the sunshade device on the chair. Each of the pair of horizontal rods is connected to an upright rod by a hinge. An oblique rod cooperates with a locking element for locking a pair of horizontal rods at an angle relative to a pair of vertical rods, wherein, one end of the oblique rod is hinged on a horizontal rod, and the other end thereof is slidably positioned on a vertical rod through a sliding sleeve. The height of the lower end of the sliding sleeve is positioned by a locking element, in order to adjust the pitch angle of a horizontal rod. The folding element formed from a combination of a pair of cross rods is connected between a pair of horizontal rods, in order to associate a pair of horizontal rods to synchronize supporting and folding. As the device has vertical rods, the height of the ceiling can be directly extended, and the swinging horizontal rods can be brought together with the vertical rods, thereby reducing the volume of the device. However, the device requires a pair of connecting elements and a pair of locking elements, and the two actions are required to complete the opening and folding of the sunshade awning, which is very inconvenient in terms of operation.
To this end, industry players have made some improvements on this basis, such as Chinese Patent Application No. CN200720009301.6, which discloses a sunshade awning frame rod set and a folding chair frame. The sunshade awning frame rod set is connected to the support rod of the support frame and includes at least one folding frame, while the folding frame comprises a plurality of support rod parts and a locking unit. The supporting rod parts and the supporting rod are connected and combined into two interlocking, diagonally foldable quadrilateral structures. The mechanism provides linkage. However, the mechanism can maintain a stable upright position only when it is locked on the support rod by the locking unit, but it also loses the function of adjusting the pitch angle of the sunshade awning.
Looking at the technical field of the existing folding sunshade devices, the positioning of sliding rods has become a key issue. How to provide a self-positioning solution for sliding adjustment of rods has become a subject of the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A purpose of the present invention is to provide a damping positioning device capable of self-positioning during the process of sliding adjustment of rods, and a sunshade awning formed by the damping positioning device, which can adjust the pitch angle and can be folded.
A technical plan of this invention was completed in the following manner:
A damping positioning device, which is characterized in that it comprises fixing members and damping members. A damping member is provided with a curved slot or a curved hole, which functions, together with the rod member, for forming damping positioning on a pass-through basis. The damping member is rotatably riveted and positioned on the fixed member by rivets.
A clamping groove is formed in the middle of the fixing member, and the damping member can be rotatably positioned in the clamping groove.
The damping member is of a symmetrical two-half structure, and the two halves are combined to form a complete arc-shaped hole.
One side of the damping member with a curved slot is attached to the side surface of the fixing member, and the curved slot is closed by the fixing member.
A sunshade awning, which comprises a bracket and a tarp arranged symmetrically on both sides. The bracket consists of a vertical rod, a horizontal rod, an oblique rod, and the above-mentioned damping positioning device, which is characterized in that the lower end of the vertical rod is locked on the fixing member of the damping positioning device, and the upper end thereof is rotatably hinged with the horizontal rod. The oblique rod passes through the curved slot or curved hole of the damping member in the damping positioning device, and the upper end thereof is rotatably hinged on the horizontal rod, and the oblique rod is used for allowing sliding relative to the damping member, so that the pitch angle of the horizontal rod and the folding structure can be adjusted. The two sides of the tarp are sleeved on the two horizontal rods.
The fixing member is provided with a tenon and is equipped with a socket that can be locked on an object, and the socket is provided with a molded mortise for insertion of the tenon.
The vertical rods, horizontal rods and oblique rods are all carbon fiber rods, and a joint assembly is provided at the hinge point. The joint assembly comprises a joint base and a rotating base. A joint base is locked at each of the two hinge points on a horizontal rod. A rotating base is locked at each end of a vertical rod and an oblique rod. Each of these rods is hinged on a joint base by means of a rotating base to form a rotatable hinge between the rods.
The damping positioning device provided by the present invention is characterized by ingenious conception, reasonable structure, convenient adjustment and damping locking. A foldable awning bracket composed of the damping positioning device has a sunshade effect with adjustable pitch, and it can be removed and folded conveniently for storage. It occupies a small space and is easy to carry. It can be widely used in outdoor facilities such as beach chairs and folding beds to provide shelter from the sun and rain.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an illustration of the damping positioning device.

FIG. 2 is a detailed illustration of the damping positioning device.

FIG. 3 is an illustration of a damping member.

FIG. 4 is a secondary detailed illustration of a damping member.

FIG. 5 is an illustration of a sunshade awning.

FIG. 6 is an illustration of a bracket.

FIG. 7 is an illustration of the bracket in a collapsed status.

FIG. 8 is an illustration of the bracket opened to a horizontal position.

FIG. 9 is an illustration of the bracket opened to an angle of elevation.

FIG. 10 is a detailed illustration of the bracket.

Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings. Namely, in the drawings the following reference numbers refer to the following part:


	1:	Fixing member
	11:	Clamping groove
	12:	Tenon
	13:	Socket
	131:	Mortise
	2:	Damping member
	21:	Curved slot
	3:	Rod
	4:	Rivet
	5:	Vertical rod
	6:	Horizontal rod
	7:	Oblique rod
	8:	Tarp
	9:	Joint assembly
	91:	Joint base
	92:	Rotating base

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

Referring to FIGS. 1-3 , the damping positioning device comprises a fixing member 1 and a damping member 2. The damping member 2 is provided with a curved slot 21 or a curved hole. The curved slot or hole 21 and the passed-through rod 3 jointly form a damping positioning for slidable pass-through. Namely, the rod 3 is slightly deformed to pass through the curved slot 21, and then it can slide along the curved slot 21 under the action of external force to adjust the position of the rod 3. When the external force is removed, a greater resistance is generated due to the deformation of the rod, which maintains the relatively stable position of the rod 3 and the damping member 2, forming a damping positioning or locking structure.
The damping member 2 is rotatably riveted and positioned on the fixing member 1 through the rivet 4. The rod 3 and the damping member 2 can be rotated relative to the fixing member 1 to make adjustments according to different requirements.
Furthermore, a clamping groove 11 is formed in the middle of the fixing member 1, and the damping member 2 can be rotatably positioned in the clamping groove 11. This provides for better integrity and balance in forces, making a better combination. As shown in FIG. 3 , the curved slot 21 on the damping member is an open groove for easy molding, and a notch is formed in the clamping groove 11 by means of a rotatable hinge in order to prevent closing to prevent the rod from detaching. However, this structure is not the only possible arrangement. The following coordination structures can also be adopted:
One side of the damping member 2 with a curved slot is attached to the side surface of the fixing member 1, and it is stopped at the notch of the curved slot 21 by virtue of the fixing member 1. In this type of structure, the fixing member 1 does not have a clamping groove, just like a sheet structure, and the overall design can be made thinner to meet the needs and for different occasions.
In addition, referring to FIG. 4 , the damping member 2 can be a symmetrical two-part structure, and the two halves can be combined to form a complete arc-shaped hole. This type of structure can not only meet the moulding needs, but also ensure the frictional surface with the rod 3, and can also reduce any fit gap. The damping member 2 formed by combining two halves can still adopt the above-mentioned two articulation schemes and can be rotatably hinged with the fixing member 1.
Referring to FIGS. 5 to 10 , a sunshade awning is shown comprising a bracket and a tarp 8 arranged symmetrically on both sides. The bracket consists of a vertical rod 5, a horizontal rod 6, an oblique rod 7, and the above-mentioned damping positioning device, namely including the fixing member 1 and the damping member 2. The lower end of the vertical rod 5 is locked on the fixing member of the damping positioning device. The upper end thereof is rotatably hinged with the horizontal rod 6. The oblique rod 7 passes through the curved slot 21 or the curved hole of the damping member 2 in the damping positioning device. The upper end thereof is rotatably hinged on the horizontal rod 6. The oblique rod 7 is used for forming sliding relative to the damping member 7, so that the pitch angle of the horizontal rod 6 and the folding structure can be adjusted. The two sides of the tarp 8 are sleeved on the two horizontal rods 6. With the aid of the fixing member 1, it can be conveniently matched with other objects to form an adjustable and foldable sunshade awning.
Further, the fixing member 1 is provided with a tenon 12 and is arranged with a socket 13 that can be locked on an object. As shown in FIG. 5 , a socket 131 is formed on the socket 13 to provide the function of inserting the tenon 12 so that the sunshade awning can be easily assembled on an object and can also be easily disassembled therefrom. Meanwhile, the socket 13 along with an object takes up a small space and does not affect the normal use of the object. The object especially refers to items for outdoor use such as beach chairs and folding beds. Moreover, it provides a sunshade function to meet more humanistic/practical needs. In addition, the socket 13 and the mortise 131 are designed according to specific objects, but they can bias the two brackets to be slightly expanded outward, in order to tighten the tarp 8.
In order to meet the requirements for lightness and strength, the vertical rod 5, the horizontal rod 6 and the oblique rod 7 can all be carbon fiber rods. Due to the small diameter of the carbon fiber rods, there is a joint assembly 9 at each hinge point, in order to form a transitional connection and a strengthening effect. More specifically, the joint assembly 9 comprises a joint base 91 and a rotating base 92. A joint base 91 is locked at each of the two hinge points on a horizontal rod 6. A rotating base 92 is locked at each end of a vertical rod 5 and an oblique rod 7. Each of these rods is hinged on a joint base 91 by means of a rotating base 92 to form a rotatable hinge between the rods. It can also be said that the introduction of the joint assembly 9 not only serves for the rotation hinge, but also enhances the strength of the carbon fiber hinge points, especially providing a reinforcement method for the use of small-diameter rods.
The advantages of using carbon fiber rods are high deformation and high strength, so that the oblique rod 7 can slide through the curved slot 21 and can also generate greater self-positioning force together with the curved slot 21. Meanwhile, the design of the fixing member, tenon 12, properly makes the brackets on both sides to be in an outwardly extending state, and uses the outwardly-extending deformation force to tighten the tarp 8 so that even if there is no association rod member between the horizontal rods 6 in the brackets on both sides, the tarp can be kept in a good state of tension.
In the sunshade awning, the oblique rod 7 is equivalent to the position of the rod 3 in the instance of the damping member positioning device, which realizes the functions of sliding-based adjustment and self-positioning.

Claims

We claim:

1. A damping positioning device, comprising:

fixing members and damping members;

the damping member defines a curved slot or a curved hole, which functions, together with the rod member, for forming damping positioning on a pass-through basis;

and the damping member is rotatably riveted and positioned on the fixed member by rivets.

2. A damping positioning device according to claim 1, wherein a clamping groove is formed in the middle of the fixing member, and the damping member is rotatably positioned in the clamping groove.

3. A damping positioning device according to claim 2, wherein the damping member is of a symmetrical two-half structure, and the two halves are combined to form a complete arc-shaped hole.

4. A damping positioning device according to claim 1, wherein one side of the damping member with a curved slot is attached to the side surface of the fixing member, and the curved slot is closed by virtue of the fixing member.

5. A sunshade awning of claim 4, further comprising:

a bracket and a tarp arranged symmetrically on each of both sides, while each bracket consists of a vertical rod, a horizontal rod, an oblique rod, and a damping positioning device according to claim 4, wherein the lower end of a vertical rod is locked on a fixing member of the damping positioning device, and the upper end thereof is rotatably hinged with the horizontal rod;

the oblique rod passes through the curved slot or curved hole of the damping member in the damping positioning device, while its upper end is rotatably hinged on the horizontal rod; and

wherein with the help of the oblique rod sliding relative to the damping member, the pitch angle and folding structure of the horizontal rod can be adjusted; and the two sides of the tarp are sleeved on two horizontal rods.

6. A sunshade awning according to claim 5, wherein the fixing member is provided with a tenon, and is equipped with a socket that can be locked on an object, and the socket is provided with a molded mortise for insertion of the tenon.

7. A sunshade awning according to claim 5, wherein vertical rods, horizontal rods and oblique rods are all carbon fiber rods;

a joint assembly is provided at each hinge point;

the joint assembly comprises a joint base and a rotating base;

a joint base is locked at each of the two hinge points on a horizontal rod;

a rotating base is locked at each end of a vertical rod and an oblique rod; and

each of these rods is hinged on a joint base by means of a rotating base, so as to form a rotatable hinge between the rods.