Structure with multiple functions, used as a covering

• US 7,752,815 B2
• Filed: 08/01/2005
• Issued: 07/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: L.A.S.P. System Italia S.R.L.
• Original Assignee: L.A.S.P. System Italia S.R.L.
• Inventors: Lauria, Agostino, Lauria, Massimiliano, Lauria, Alessandro
• Primary Examiner(s): KATCHEVES, BASIL S
• Application Number:
  US10/573,648
• Publication Number:
  US 20080244989A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,807 Days
• Field of Search: 52/66, 52/67, 52/64, 52/72, 52/6
• US Class Current: 52/66
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 7/166 characterised by a translation movement of the movable roof part, with or without additional movements
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 3/165 having movable parts

Abstract

A structure used as a covering and, having different functions, includes several section bars (700, 701, 101′) preferably made of aluminum or generally of light metal, which form uprights (701) and horizontal support beams (101′; 700). The structure includes aseismatic elements (306; 307; 319) at the interconnection or branching points between the horizontal section bars (beams) and the vertical section bars (uprights), and at the base of the uprights. At these points there are also provided elements (2, 303, 304, 308) to promote the downflow of rainwater. The structure is equipped with at least one telescopic roof that may be transparent or not. Additional functions provided by the structure are the anti-wind function, the water drainage from the roof, the self-cleaning function used for automatically cleaning the, roof with water jets and scraping gaskets, etc.

Claims

1. A aseismatic structure usable as a covering, comprising:

horizontal support beams (101′

, 700);

a plurality of uprights (701, 701), each upright having a base, connected to the horizontal support beams (101′

, 700) at respective interconnection regions between said uprights (701, 701) and the horizontal support beams (101′

, 700);

telescopic coverings being supported by the uprights and the horizontal support beams, the covering being formed by several sections configured to be inserted into each other in telescopic-like fashion when the telescopic coverings is opened;

vibration preventing means (306;

307;

319) in the interconnection regions between said uprights (701, 701) and the support beams (101′

, 700) and at the bases of the uprights (701, 701), the vibration preventing means configured to allow an oscillation of the structure in all directions; and

anti-wind means comprised of;

rotatable structurals (708) configured to open and close apertures (11) in the telescopic coverings in response to strong gusts of wind so that said strong gusts escape from an inner space of the structure; and

rotation means (310, 311) inserted between a lateral edge of at least one of the telescopic coverings and the lateral structurals configured such that a strong wind will cause a transversal rolling movement of the structure such that the telescopic coverings yield in response to gusts of the wind.

2. The structure according to claim 1,

wherein a first subset (703, 704) of said lateral structurals (702, 703, 704) are movable and are received inside the horizontal support beams (700) and form trolleys configured to support and displace said sections of the telescopic coverings,

wherein a second subset (702) of lateral structurals are stationary and extend along a whole length of the structure.

3. The structure according to claim 1, further comprising:

means (329, 330, 331) for restricting an angle of absolute oscillation of the uprights relative to a base plane defined by the telescopic coverings.

4. The structure according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the telescopic coverings is made of transparent material.

5. A aseismatic structure usable as a covering, comprising:

horizontal support beams (101′

, 700);

a plurality of uprights (701, 701), each upright having a base, connected to the horizontal support beams (101′

, 700) at respective interconnection regions between said uprights (701, 701) and the horizontal support beams (101′

, 700);

telescopic coverings being supported by the uprights and the horizontal support beams, the covering being formed by several sections configured to be inserted into each other in telescopic-like fashion when the telescopic coverings is opened;

vibration preventing means (306;

307;

319) in the interconnection regions between said uprights (701, 701) and the support beams (101′

, 700) and at the bases of the uprights (701, 701), the vibration preventing means configured to allow an oscillation of the structure in all directions;

drainage and guiding means for draining and guiding water from the telescopic coverings to the ground, said drainage and guiding means including;

first longitudinal channels inside the support beams (700) upwardly open and configured for downflow of the water from the telescopic coverings to the uprights (701, 701);

second longitudinal channels formed inside the uprights (701, 701), leading to plates (1, 2) located at the base of each upright (701, 701) where some (307) of said vibration preventing means (306;

307;

319) are also located.

6. The structure according to claim 5, further comprising:

means (329, 330, 331) for restricting an angle of absolute oscillation of the uprights relative to a base plane defined by the telescopic coverings.

7. The structure according to claim 5, wherein at least one of the telescopic coverings is made of transparent material.

8. A aseismatic structure usable as a covering, comprising:

horizontal support beams (101′

, 700);

a plurality of uprights (701, 701), each upright having a base, connected to the horizontal support beams (101′

, 700) at respective interconnection regions between said uprights (701, 701) and the horizontal support beams (101′

, 700);

telescopic coverings being supported by the uprights and the horizontal support beams, the covering being formed by several sections configured to be inserted into each other in telescopic-like fashion when the telescopic coverings is opened;

vibration preventing means (306;

307;

319) in the interconnection regions between said uprights (701, 701) and the support beams (101′

, 700) and at the bases of the uprights (701, 701), the vibration preventing means configured to allow an oscillation of the structure in all directions; and

stationary arcuate beams (22) configured to contain a whole upper portion of the telescopic coverings, said stationary arcuate beams (22) including channels for receiving pressurised water to be sprayed on the telescopic coverings for cleaning.

9. The structure according to claim 8, further comprising:

gaskets/seals (305) on a lower arcuate side (101″

) of said stationary arcuate beams (22) configured to perform a scraping action on the surface of the telescopic coverings for cleaning dirt/debris during a movement of the telescopic coverings.

10. The structure according to claim 8, further comprising:

means (329, 330, 331) for restricting an angle of absolute oscillation of the uprights relative to a base plane defined by the telescopic coverings.

11. The structure according to claim 8, wherein at least one of the telescopic coverings is made of transparent material.

12. A aseismatic structure usable as a covering, comprising:

horizontal support beams (101′

, 700);

a plurality of uprights (701, 701), each upright having a base, connected to the horizontal support beams (101′

, 700) at respective interconnection regions between said uprights (701, 701) and the horizontal support beams (101′

, 700);

telescopic coverings being supported by the uprights and the horizontal support beams, the covering being formed by several sections configured to be inserted into each other in telescopic-like fashion when the telescopic coverings is opened; and

vibration preventing means (306;

307;

319) in the interconnection regions between said uprights (701, 701) and the support beams (101′

, 700) and at the bases of the uprights (701, 701), the vibration preventing means configured to allow an oscillation of the structure in all directions,

wherein said vibration preventing means located at the bases of the uprights (701, 701) comprise shock absorbers (307) including a pair of arcuate leaf springs of high-quality high-carbon steel in connection with a shaped body of EPDM, and also including helical springs interposed between said arcuate leaf springs, and further including a plane base of stainless steel, said shock absorbers (307) being evenly distributed at the base of each upright in order to allow oscillations of the respective upright (701, 701) for enabling the uprights to oscillate in all directions.

13. The structure according to claim 12, further comprising:

means (329, 330, 331) for restricting an angle of absolute oscillation of the uprights relative to a base plane defined by the telescopic coverings.

14. The structure according to claim 12, wherein at least one of the telescopic coverings is made of transparent material.

15. A aseismatic structure usable as a covering, comprising:

horizontal support beams (101′

, 700);

a plurality of uprights (701, 701), each upright having a base, connected to the horizontal support beams (101′

, 700) at respective interconnection regions between said uprights (701, 701) and the horizontal support beams (101′

, 700);

telescopic coverings being supported by the uprights and the horizontal support beams, the covering being formed by several sections configured to be inserted into each other in telescopic-like fashion when the telescopic coverings is opened; and

vibration preventing means (306;

307;

319) in the interconnection regions between said uprights (701, 701) and the support beams (101′

, 700) and at the bases of the uprights (701, 701), the vibration preventing means configured to allow an oscillation of the structure in all directions,

wherein the vibration preventing means at the interconnection regions between the uprights (701, 701) and the support beams (101′

, 700) comprise;

a first component (306), comprising three pieces of die-cast aluminium forming together a triangle and an arc of a circle of 90°

, and at least one internal spring (10) allowing the compression and expansion of two of the three pieces;

a second component (319), comprising a flat plate of aluminium surmounted by a double capital with an articulation joint, the second component also configured to direct water towards inner channels of the uprights (701, 701).

16. The structure according to claim 15, further comprising:

means (329, 330, 331) for restricting an angle of absolute oscillation of the uprights relative to a base plane defined by the telescopic coverings.

17. The structure according to claim 15, wherein at least one of the telescopic coverings is made of transparent material.

18. A aseismatic structure usable as a covering, comprising:

horizontal support beams (101′

, 700);

a plurality of uprights (701, 701), each upright having a base, connected to the horizontal support beams (101′

, 700) at respective interconnection regions between said uprights (701, 701) and the horizontal support beams (101′

, 700);

telescopic coverings being supported by the uprights and the horizontal support beams, the covering being formed by several sections configured to be inserted into each other in telescopic-like fashion when the telescopic coverings is opened; and

vibration preventing means (306;

307;

319) in the interconnection regions between said uprights (701, 701) and the support beams (101′

, 700) and at the bases of the uprights (701, 701), the vibration preventing means configured to allow an oscillation of the structure in all directions,

wherein the horizontal support beams comprise;

timing belts internal to the support beams and configured to drive any of movable trolleys and structurals associated with each of the telescopic coverings; and

gearwheels (313) internal to the support beams, for directly transmitting a motion transmitted by a driving shaft (315, 316), transmission pulleys (313P), and belt tensioners (317).

19. The structure according to claim 18, further comprising:

means (329, 330, 331) for restricting an angle of absolute oscillation of the uprights relative to a base plane defined by the telescopic coverings.

20. The structure according to claim 18, wherein at least one of the telescopic coverings is made of transparent material.