AU635433B2

AU635433B2 - Retractable shade cover

Info

Publication number: AU635433B2
Application number: AU80353/91A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Rodney Lee Montgomery
Original assignee: SHADE WORKS Pty Ltd
Current assignee: SHADE WORKS Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1990-07-10
Filing date: 1991-07-10
Publication date: 1993-03-18
Anticipated expiration: 2011-07-10
Also published as: AU8035391A

Description

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AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 Name of Applicant SHADE WORKS PTY. LTD.

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6 Actual Inventor(s) Address for Service Invention Title RODNEY LEE MONTGOMERY GRANT ADAMS COMPANY, Patent Trade Mark Attorneys Level 9, National Mutual Centre, 144 Edward Street, BRISBANE. QLD. 4000

AUSTRALIA.

"RETRACTABLE SHADE COVER" Details of Associated Provisional Applications Numbers PK 1097 The following statement is a full description of the invention including the best method of performing it known to me.

THIS INVENTION relates to a retractable shade cover. The invention is particularly suitable for, but not limited to, a shade cover for pools, patios and the like.

At present, there is no simple, inexpensive method for providing selective shade over a pool, patio or the like. On method is the use of tiltable panels or blades mounted in a horizontal rectangular frame and operated by an electric motor and linkages to selective open and close the blades. Such a unit is sold under the Trade Mark "VERGOLEX".

It is an object of the present invention to provide a simple, effective retractable shade cover.

It is a preferred object that the cover be inexpensive to install and maintain.

It is a further preferred object that the cover be of aesthetic appeal both when extended and retracted.

Other preferred objects will become apparent from the following description.

.i In a broad aspect, the present invention resides in a retractable shade cover including: at least two elongate support members supported at their respective ends in a spaced apart 25 generally parallel disposition; a panel of flexible shade material; a pair of end bars attached at or adjacent to the respective ends of the panel; means to slidably support the end bars substantially transversely to the elongate support members; a plurality of intermediate bars attached .to the panel; and means to slidably support the intermediate bars substantially transversely to the elongate support members.

Whilst the present specification and claims use the term 'shade' in defining the retractable shade cover of this invention, the mechanisms used in achieving a retractable shade cover have more general application to the support of panels of fabric, mesh, plastic, etc., for a variety of shading, screening, curtaining purposes. With this in mind the term 'shade' is defined for the purposes of this specification to include not only the use of shade cloth materials but other opaque materials for screening or curtaining, transparent or translucent materials for light control etc. and generally any material whether for shade, weather protection, etc.

The term 'bar' is used to define that means 15 which provides transverse support to the retractable *see shade cover. In this specification, the term is to include rod and tube of plastics or metals, or composites such as glass reinforced materials, of any suitable cross-sectional geometry.

20 Depending on the width of the cover, there are two or more flexible members at, eg. 3-3 metre spacing.

The ends of the flexible members may be attached to buildings, garden walls, poles, posts or the like. The flexible members may include woven nylon or wire cables; nylon or hemp ropes or the like.

The end bars are preferably enclosed in otransverse pockets or tubes at the respective ends of S the panels and may be supported on the flexible members by hooks, eyes or the like.

The intermediate bars are preferably located in transverse, parallel, spaced pockets formed integrally with, or attached to, the panels.

Preferably, the intermediate bars are spaced above the panels and slide along the flexible members. Plastic tubes, axially located, may be provided rotatably on the intermediate bars, to roll along the flexible members.

The panel may comprise a plurality of sections sewn or welded together along joint lines. Each section of shade material may comprise shade cloth, woven shade mesh or the like. One or more cf the sections may be totally opaque. Preferably, an intermediate bar is provided at each joint line.

A sash cord (or cords) may be attached to the end bar (or bars) to enable the cover to be extended or retracted.

In certain applications, a pair of the panels may be respectively supported on the flexible members "and arranged to be retracted to respective ends thereof.

To enable the invention to be fully 15 understood, a preferred embodiment will now be described 5555 with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIG. 1 is a view of the cover in its extended position; FIG 2. is a view of the cover in its gos. 20 retracted position; the FIG 3. is a plan view of the arrangement of the flexible members and bars; FIG 4. is a view of the support of one of the end bars; and FIG 5. is a view of the support of one of the intermediate bars.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the shade cover is arranged to selective shade a swimming pool 11.

A pair of wire cables 12, 13 are attached at one end to a building wall W and at the other end to a pair of posts (not shown).

A panel :f shade cloth 14 is made up of sections 15 of woven shade cloth sewn or welded together along seams 16.

At each end of the panel 14, an end bar 17 has a length of metal or plastic pipe (not shown) received within a canvas pocket 18 sewn to the respective end of the panel. A pair of eye bolts 19 are secured to the pipe and their eyes 20 are slidably mounted on the respective cables 12, 13. A sash cord 21 may be attached to a loop 22 onr. each eye bolt 19, the cords being arranged to be pulled by the operator to move the end bars 17 along the cables 12, 13.

At each seam 16, an intermediate bar 23 is provided to support the panel 14. Each intermediate bar 23 has a metal or plastic pipe 24 received in elongate pockets 25 sewn to the seams 16, with a gap between adjacent pockets 25 to receive the respective cables 12, *13. A plastic tube 26 is rotatably mounted on the pipe 24 and is axially located by rings 27, 28. The tube 26 o rolls along the top of its associated cable 12, 13 where the pockets 25 space the panel 14 below the cables 12, 13 to eliminate (or reduce) the likelihood of chafing of the panel 14 on the cables 12, 13.

20 The cover 10 is assembled as shown in the drawings and can be easily moved between the extended and retracted positions of FIGS 1 and 2 respectively.

SIt will be noted that the intermediate bars 23 ensure that the shade cloth panel 14 is neatly draped into even concertina-like folds in the retracted position. The cover is lightweight and easy to use and aesthetically appealing.

If preferred, different coloured sections of shade cloth may be used, and the sections may have varying percentages of shade (eg, 25%, 50%, 75% or Some of the sections 15 may be transparent or opaque.

While one end of the cover 10 has been shown supported by the wall W, both ends of the cables 12, 13 may be supported by free-standing poles or posts, or one or both ends may be supported by respective walls, 6 verandah posts or the like.

Various changes and modifications may be made to the embodiments described without departing from the present invention.

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Claims

1. A retractable shade cover including: at least two elongate support members supported at their respective ends in a spaced apart generally parallel disposition; a panel of flexible shade material; a pair of end bars attached at or adjacent to the respective ends of the panel; means to slidably support the end bars 1i substantially transversely to the elongate support members; a plurality of intermediate bars attached to the panel; and means to slidably support the intermediate bars substantially transversely to the elongate support members.

2. A retractable shade cover as claimed in Claim 1 wherein: the intermediate bars are provided with rotatable tubular means thereabout at the point of contact with the elongate support members, the intermediate bars being supported, in use, above the elongate support members, moving therealong as the rotatable tubular means roll over the elongate support 0 25 members.

3. A retractable shade cover as claimed in Claim 2 wherein: the intermediate bars are attached to the panel by insertion into pockets in the panel, the 30 pockets being cut away to expose the rotatable tubular roller means for passage of the elongate support means thereunder.

4. A retractable shade cover as claimed in Claim 3 wherein: the pockets are formed at the points of joining shade material to enclose a passage above the panel through which an intermediate bar may be passed.

A retractable shade cover as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 4 wherein: the end bars are supported beneath the elongate support members on hooks, eyes, or the like, slidably engaged with the elongate support members.

6. A retractable shade cover as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 5 wherein: the elongate support members are cables, wires, or the like which are provided with end means by which they may be mounted, stretched taut, between two 0. S* end points to span over a space to be shaded.

7. A retractable shade cover as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 6 wherein: 15 there are two panels supported beneath the S* elongate support members which close towards their middle and open to their ends.

8. A retractable shade cover as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 6 wherein: 20 the panel is fixed in position at one end and the other end is movable by pulling on cords or the •0 like attached to the other end.

9. A retractable shade cover substantially as t hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED this tenth day of July 1991. oo*. SHADE WORKS PTY. LTD., by their Patent Attorneys, GRANT ADAMS COMPANY. ABSTRACT A retractable shade cover (14) is hung beneath a pair of cables (12, 13) stretched over an area to be shaded. The shade cover (14) is a material supported by a plurality of bars (17, 23) which bars (17, 23) are transverse and mounted to the two cables (12, 13). The shade cover material is fitted with transverse pockets at spaced apart points in which the support bars (24) are received. The pockets (15) are cut away at the region of the cables (12, 13) to permit the cables (12, 13) to pass under the bars The bars may be provided with rotatable sleeves (26) at the point of the cable (12, 13) to provide reduced friction at their points of support on the cables. 0 0. 6