WO2005059277A1

WO2005059277A1 - Air-conditioned gazebo

Info

Publication number: WO2005059277A1
Application number: PCT/EP2004/053551
Authority: WO
Inventors: Fabrizio Caneva; Fabio Caneva
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-12-17
Filing date: 2004-12-16
Publication date: 2005-06-30
Anticipated expiration: 2006-06-17
Also published as: WO2005059277A8; ITVI20030259A1

Abstract

A gazebo (1; 100) comprising a base structure (2) from which a plurality of uprights (3) are extending, said uprights (3) supporting a covering roof (4) arranged at a certain height above at least a portion of the base structure (2). The gazebo (1; 100) is provided with radiating means (5) with circulation of carrier fluid for the conditioning of its internal room bounded by the base structure (2) and the covering roof (4).

Description

AIR-CONDITIONED GAZEBO.

The present invention relates to an air-conditioned gazebo particularly suitable to be used in the external spaces of restaurants or other commercial concerns. It is known that many business activities use public property areas such as pavements of pedestrian precincts, squares, alleys, wide stretches and so on to enlarge the commercial surface available for their premises. For a better exploitation and identification of these areas, prefabricated semipermanent structures are normally used in support of the seating capacity of the premises. Such manufactures, commonly called "gazebos", comprise metal base structures provided with flooring and protected by simple sunshades of wood or metal with waterproof fabric coverings.

Such structures define rooms, generally bounded by perimetrical barriers (flower holders, balustrades and so forth), suitable to contain the furnishings required for the function of commercial concern, such as tables, chairs and the like.

In order to overcome the unfavorable weather conditions and to allow the use in every season of the year, they are normally used direct combustion radiating generators with catalytic flame, fed by gas or electricity, commonly called "mushrooms".

These are apparatus producing air heating by "radiation", provided with a small exchange surface and a high thermal head between surrounding air and the heating element. Conversely, to obtain cooling they are generally used "conduction" apparatus using water evaporation.

The above mentioned known air-conditioned gazebos have however some recognized drawbacks.

A first drawback consists of the difficulty to obtain, with the cited air-conditioning means, an adequate uniformity of the air temperature inside the gazebo and consequently to warrant a comfortable environment for the persons standing inside it.

The direct combustion heat generators, indeed, produce a high thermal effect close to the heating element and gradually lose their efficiency in the farther zones. Consequently, the persons standing in close proximity of the generator have an excessive heat feeling, while the farther persons do not enjoy its effects. Another recognized drawback of the known air-conditioned gazebos is found when they must get cooled.

In this case, use of conduction apparatus, providing for a forced conveyance of the air to be cooled, produces the unpleasant effect of generating a cool air flow near the closest persons, eliminating, on the other hand, any benefit to major distances.

Also in this case, the limited dimension of the heat exchange surface of the system makes a uniform temperature distribution impossible. The present invention aims at overcoming the above indicated drawbacks.

A first object of the invention is to provide an air-conditioned gazebo which is more comfortable for the persons standing inside it in comparison with the above mentioned known gazebos. Another object of the invention is to provide a gazebo where it is possible to obtain a controlled and uniform temperature at any point of its internal room. The foregoing objects are attained by providing a gazebo that, according to the main claim, comprises a base structure from which a plurality of uprights, supporting a covering roof arranged at a certain height above at least a portion of said base structure, and is characterised by providing radiating means with circulation of carrier fluid for the conditioning of the internal room bounded by said base structure and said covering roof.

The foregoing objects will be better explained during the description of preferred embodiments of the invention, given as illustrative but non limiting examples with reference to the following tables of drawings, in which: - Fig. 1 is an axonometric view of the gazebo of the invention;

- Figs. 2 to 10 are axonometric views showing the various assembling phases of the gazebo of Fig. 1 ;

- Fig. 11 is a cross sectional view of the gazebo of Fig. 1 ;

- Figs 12 and 13 show two enlarged details of Fig. 11 ; - Fig. 14 shows a detail of the gazebo of Fig. 1 ;

- Fig. 15 shows an embodiment of the gazebo of Fig. 1 ; and

- Fig. 16 shows a detail of the plan view of the gazebo of Fig. 1.

As shown in Fig. 1 , the gazebo of the invention, generally indicated with numeral 1 , comprises a base structure 2 from which a plurality of uprights 3 are extending, these uprights 3 supporting a covering roof 4 arranged at a certain height above said base structure 2.

It is to be noted that the covering roof 4 may be arranged to cover only a portion of the base structure 2.

According to the invention, the gazebo 1 comprises also radiating means 5 with circulation of carrier fluid for the conditioning of the internal room bounded by said base structure 2 and said covering roof 4.

As to the radiating means 5, they comprise a plurality of radiating panels 6 arranged to cover the entire surface of the base structure 2 of said gazebo 1.

Each radiating panel 6 consists of a self-bearing containment envelope 7, preferably but not necessarily made of galvanized metallic sheet, inside which there are prefabricated support panels 8 of sintered foamed polystyrene on which predetermined seats 9 are made, suitable to receive the pipes 10, which convey the flow of carrier fluid.

In the predetermined seats 9 made on the support panels 8, a continuous pipe 10 made of plastic material, preferably but not necessarily crosslinked polyethylene, is arranged according to a general coil configuration.

The containment envelope 7 is filled with a moulding 11 of fluidized concrete material having the dual function of optimizing the radiating effect of the panels

6 and of creating a surface 12 levelled in the upper part of the panel 6 on which the pavement 13 of gazebo 1 can be laid and/or glued. » ••^•

Each radiating panel 6 is provided with an inlet end 14 and an outlet end 15 of the continuous pipe 10 laid inside the panel, connected to manifolds 16, 17 allowing circulation of the carrier fluid inside said pipe 10.

The radiating panels 6 are arranged leaning on the base structure 2 of the gazebo 1 so as to cover its entire surface.

As to the base structure 2, it rests on feet 18 that can be height adjusted to allow rigging of the inner surface of gazebo 1 as a function of the ground shape on which it is assembled and consists of metallic sections 19 spaced from each other to constitute the resting surface of the radiating panels 6. The metallic sections 19 define also the channels 20 required for the passage of the manifolds 16, 17 which feed the coils 21 of each radiating panel 6 with the carrier fluid.

At the corners of the base structure 2 there are fastening means 22 for mounting the vertical uprights 3 supporting the covering roof 4. The vertical uprights 3 also consist of metallic sections 23 having the lower ends 24 connected to the base structure 2 and the upper ends 25 connected to the covering roof 4 through suitable fastening means 26. In other executive embodiments not shown in the drawings, the vertical uprights may also be made of wood or finished with wood. As to the covering roof 4, it consists of a metal structure 27 connected as above described with the ends 25 of the vertical uprights 3, and on its upper part it is provided with a waterproof covering 28 preferably but not necessarily made of a PVC polyester spread textile fabric or other waterproofing materials. Along the perimeter of covering 28 there is a gutter 29 collecting and conveying to a drain the rain water.

Inside the metal structure 27 of the covering roof 4 there is a false ceiling 30 opposite to the base structure 2, inside which there are further radiating panels 6, also connected through suitable manifolds 16, 17 suitable to introduce the carrier fluid into the relevant coils 21. The manifolds 16, 17 of the radiating panels 6 arranged in the false ceiling 30 associated to the covering roof 4 and the manifolds 16, 17 of the radiating panels 6 arranged in the base structure 2, are all connected to a low temperature generator 31 controlled by a heat pump housed in the service compartment 31a seen in Fig. 16. Heating of the internal room of gazebo 1 is generally obtained using the heating of the radiating surface 32 arranged in the base structure 2 to which, in case of very low temperature, the heating effect of the radiating surface 33 inside the false ceiling 30 associated to the covering roof 4 of the gazebo 1 may be added. On the contrary, when cooling of the internal room of the gazebo 1 is required, the carrier fluid, at a temperature lower than the outside environment, is put into circulation only inside the coils 21 arranged inside the radiating panels 6 associated to the covering roof 4. In any case, it is clear that heating and cooling of the gazebo may be obtained by causing respectively the warm and cool carrier fluid to circulate at the same time along the coils of the radiating panels associated to the base 2 and the roof 4.

In other executive embodiments not shown in the drawings, the radiating panels 6 may be installed only in the base structure 2, for instance in case that there is the only need to heat the internal room of the gazebo 1 or only in the false ceiling 30 inside the covering roof 4 when there is only the need to cool the internal room of the gazebo 1.

An executive embodiment of the gazebo of the invention is shown in Fig. 15, where it is generally indicated with numeral 100, being different from the previously described embodiment because it is provided with perimetrical barriers 34 suitable to bound the area of the gazebo 100, possibly adorned with flower holders or provided with window and door frames 35 to warrant a greater insulation from the outside.

Said perimetrical barriers 34 may be made of metal, wood or other materials. On the basis of the foregoing, one can see that the gazebo of the invention, in both embodiments 1, 100, attains all the intended objects.

More particularly, it is attained the object to provide an air-conditioned gazebo which is more comfortable for the persons standing inside it in comparison with the prior art gazebos. It is also attained the object of providing a gazebo in which, in view of the presence of radiating means with a broad exchange surface, it is possible to obtain a controlled and uniform temperature in any point of the internal room of said gazebo.

The shape of the gazebo of the invention may be of any kind with relation to the architectural structures of the environment and to the adaptation ©f the structure with respect to the reference space conditions.

Also the provision of possible perimetrical barriers made of any desired material and shape (glass closures, flower holders, balustrades and so forth) will be dictated by the environment and season conditions. Modifications and variations neither described nor shown in this specification may be made in the executive phase to the gazebo of the invention.

The foregoing and other possible variations, when falling within the scope of the appended claims, should be considered covered by the present patent.

Claims

CLAIMS 1 ) A gazebo (1 ; 100) comprising a base structure (2) from which a plurality of uprights (3) are extending, said uprights (3) supporting a covering roof (4) arranged at a certain height above at least a portion of said base structure (2), characterised by providing radiating means (5) with circulation of carrier fluid for the conditioning of the internal room bounded by said base structure (2) and said covering roof (4). 2) The gazebo (1 ; 100) according to claim 1 ) characterised in that said radiating means (5) are associated to said base structure (2) of said gazebo (1 ). 3) The gazebo (1 ; 100) according to claim 1 ) characterised in that said radiating means (5) are associated to a false ceiling (30) arranged below said covering roof (4) of said gazebo (1 ). 4) The gazebo (1 ; 100) according to claim 3) characterised in that said radiating means (5) are associated both to said base structure (2) and said false ceiling (30) covering said gazebo (1 ). 5) The gazebo (1 ; 100) according to claim 1 ) characterised in that said radiating means (5) consist of modular radiating panels (6) suitable to be connected to each other to define a radiating surface (32) associated to said base structure (2) of said gazebo (1 ). . tv 6) The gazebo (1 ; 100) according to claim 3) characterised in that said radiating means (5) consist of modular radiating panels (6) suitable to be connected to each other to define a radiating surface (33) associated to said false ceiling (30) of said gazebo (1 ). 7) The gazebo (1 ; 100) according to any of claims 5) or 6) characterised in that each of said radiating panels (6) comprises a self- bearing containment envelope (7) in which there are:

- a plurality of continuous pipes (10) arranged as a coil (21 ) suitable to receive the flow of a carrier fluid; - one or more support panels (8) provided with seats (9) suitable to receive said pipes (10);

- a moulding (11) of self-levelling material suitable to fill the hollow spaces between said pipes (10) and said support panels (8). 8) The gazebo (1 ; 100) according to claim 7) characterised in that said containment self-bearing envelope (7) is made of a galvanized metallic sheet. 9) The gazebo (1; 100) according to claim 7) characterised in that said continuous pipe (10) is made of crosslinked polyethylene. 10) The gazebo (1 ; 100) according to claim 7) characterised in that said support panels (8) are made of sintered foamed polystyrene. 11 ) The gazebo (1 ; 100) according to claim 7) characterised in that said self-levelling moulding (11 ) is a concrete material. 12) The gazebo (1 ; 100) according to any of claims 5) or 6) characterised in that said radiating panels (6) are provided with a pavement (13). 13) The gazebo (1 ; 100) according to claim 12) characterised in that said pavement (13) is made of wood. 14) The gazebo according to claim 12) characterised in that said pavement is made of plastic material. 15) The gazebo (1 ; 100) according to claim 1 ) characterised in that said base structure (2) is provided with feet (18) whose height may be adjusted, in order to adapt it to the shape of the ground on which it is assembled. 16) The gazebo (100) according to claim 1) characterised in that said gazebo (100) is provided with perimetrical barriers (34). 17) Tfae gazebo (100) according to claim 16) characterised in that said perimetrical barriers (34) comprise window and door frames (35). 18) The gazebo (100) according to claim 16) characterised in that said perimetrical barriers (34) comprise metal parapets. 19) The gazebo (1 ; 100) according to claim 1 ) characterised in that said support uprights (3) comprise metallic sections (23). 20) The gazebo according to claim 1) characterised in that said support uprights are made of wood. 21 ) The gazebo (1 ; 100) according to claim 1 ) characterised in that said base structure (2) is made of metallic sections (19) connected to each other through fastening means. 22) The gazebo (1 ; 100) according to claim 1 ) characterised in that said covering roof (4) comprises a metal structure (27) provided with a waterproof covering (28). 23) The gazebo (1 ; 100) substantially as herein before described and shown in the drawings.