Covering System

Abstract

A covering apparatus comprising an extendible screen ( 3 ), a longitudinal flexible element ( 4 ) and a rotatable member ( 6 ), wherein one of the longitudinal flexible element and the rotatable member is fixed and the screen ( 3 ) is attached to the other of the longitudinal flexible element and the rotatable member so as to permit relative movement of the screen relative to the fixed part, wherein the rotatable member is frictionally engaged with the longitudinal flexible element, and wherein there is provided means for preventing rotation of the rotatable member, whereby the screen is held in position relative to the fixed part.

1 . A covering apparatus comprising an extendible screen, a longitudinal flexible element and a rotatable member, wherein one of the longitudinal flexible element and the rotatable member is fixed and the screen is attached to the other of the longitudinal flexible element and the rotatable member so as to permit relative movement of the screen relative to the fixed part, wherein the rotatable member is frictionally engaged with the longitudinal flexible element, and wherein there is provided means for preventing rotation of the rotatable member, whereby the screen is held in position relative to the fixed part. 
     
     
         2 . A covering apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the screen is extendible relative to the longitudinal flexible element, wherein the screen is attached to the rotatable member, and wherein the means for preventing rotation holds the screen in position relative to the longitudinal flexible element. 
     
     
         3 . A covering apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the rotatable member is fixed, the longitudinal flexible element is movable relative to the rotatable member, and the screen is attached to the longitudinal flexible element and wherein the means for preventing rotation holds the screen in position relative to the rotatable member. 
     
     
         4 . A covering apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the longitudinal flexible element is wound at least once round the rotatable member. 
     
     
         5 . A covering apparatus as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the longitudinal flexible element is wound at least twice round the rotatable member. 
     
     
         6 . A covering apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a second rotatable member, wherein the longitudinal flexible element is wound around the first rotatable member and the second rotatable member. 
     
     
         7 . A covering apparatus as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the longitudinal flexible element is wound around the first and second rotatable members in a figure-of-eight pattern. 
     
     
         8 . A covering apparatus as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the longitudinal flexible element passes between the first and second rotatable members, then round the second rotatable member, then between the first and second rotatable members again, then round the first rotatable member in the opposite sense to the wind around the second rotatable member, then between the first and second rotatable members a third time, before continuing in its original direction. 
     
     
         9 . A covering apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a motor for rotatably driving at least one rotatable member. 
     
     
         10 . A covering apparatus as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the means for preventing rotation is applied to the motor. 
     
     
         11 . A covering apparatus as claimed in  claim 9 , further comprising gearing between the motor and the at least one rotatable member. 
     
     
         12 . A covering apparatus as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the gearing comprises a worm gear. 
     
     
         13 . A covering apparatus as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the means for preventing rotation comprises the gearing. 
     
     
         14 . A covering apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the means for preventing rotation is a braking system. 
     
     
         15 . A covering apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the or each rotatable member has a toothed portion for driving the rotatable member. 
     
     
         16 . A covering apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the or each rotatable member has a friction hub for winding the longitudinal flexible element around. 
     
     
         17 . A covering apparatus as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein at least one groove is provided in the friction hub. 
     
     
         18 . A covering apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising a plurality of longitudinal flexible elements and wherein a roller system is provided on each longitudinal flexible element. 
     
     
         19 . A covering apparatus, comprising:
 a screen;   a longitudinal flexible element;   a roller system for attaching a leading portion of the screen to the longitudinal flexible element so that the screen is movably mounted to the longitudinal flexible element and moves with respect to the longitudinal flexible element when the roller system is operated, the roller system comprising:   a rotatable member around which the longitudinal flexible element is wound so as to create friction between the rotatable member and the longitudinal flexible element; and   a braking system for preventing rotation of the rotatable member with respect to the longitudinal flexible element.   
     
     
         20 . A covering apparatus for covering an outdoor area comprising a screen that can be operated between a retracted and an extended configuration, the screen having a leading portion and a trailing portion, the trailing portion being connected to a first support, the apparatus further comprising a plurality of longitudinal flexible elements extending from the first support to respective second supports, and the leading portion of the screen being supported by the longitudinal flexible elements as the screen is operated from the retracted to the extended configuration, wherein the leading portion of the screen is moveably mounted to the longitudinal flexible elements such that the leading portion moves with respect to the longitudinal flexible elements during operation between retracted and extended positions, and wherein at least one engaging system is provided in association with the leading portion of the screen for releasably engaging the leading portion to at least one of the longitudinal flexible elements. 
     
     
         21 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 20 , further comprising an automatic retraction system. 
     
     
         22 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the automatic retraction system comprises a tension sensor which senses the tension in the screen and causes the automatic retraction system to retract the screen when a threshold tension is exceeded. 
     
     
         23 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the automatic retraction system comprises a tension sensor which senses the tension in at least one of the longitudinal flexible elements and causes the automatic retraction system to retract the screen when a threshold tension is exceeded. 
     
     
         24 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the tension sensor is calibrated each time the screen is deployed or retracted. 
     
     
         25 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the tension sensor is located in the roller case. 
     
     
         26 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein the tension sensor forms an integral part of the clamping system. 
     
     
         27 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein the apparatus comprises a plurality of storage rollers around which the screen is wrapped when retracted.