U.S. patent application number 09/825780 was filed with the patent office on 2002-05-30 for easy deployment retractable awning.
Invention is credited to Mauldin, Garret, Thompson, Scott P..
Application Number | 20020062851 09/825780 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26942998 |
Filed Date | 2002-05-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020062851 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Thompson, Scott P. ; et
al. |
May 30, 2002 |
Easy deployment retractable awning
Abstract
A retractable awning having one edge of an awning sheet secured
to a support surface and an opposite edge secured to a roll bar
wherein the roll bar is mounted for movement between a retracted
position adjacent to the support surface and an extended position
by a pair of support arms and a pair of rafter arms with the rafter
arms including inner and outer arm segments that are pivotally
connected together by an elbow joint that automatically locks the
arms in longitudinal alignment when the awning is fully
extended.
Inventors: |
Thompson, Scott P.;
(Longmont, CO) ; Mauldin, Garret; (Arvada,
CO) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Gary M. Polumbus
Dorsey & Whitney LLP
370 17th Street, Suite 4700
Denver
CO
80205-5647
US
|
Family ID: |
26942998 |
Appl. No.: |
09/825780 |
Filed: |
April 4, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60253180 |
Nov 27, 2000 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
135/88.12 ;
135/88.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04F 10/0648 20130101;
E04F 10/0614 20130101; E04F 10/0603 20130101; E04F 10/0625
20130101; E04F 10/0651 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
135/88.12 ;
135/88.1 |
International
Class: |
E04H 015/08 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A retractable awning comprising: an elongated member; an awning
sheet, the awning sheet anchored at a first edge to a support
surface, and at a second edge to the elongated member; and at least
one rafter arm including an inner segment, an outer segment, and an
elbow member pivotally joining the inner and outer segments, the
inner segment being anchored at one end to the support surface and
being attached to the elbow member at another end, the outer
segment being attached to the elbow member at one end and being
attached to the elongated member at another end, the elbow member
having a lock mechanism, wherein the lock mechanism automatically
secures the inner and outer segments in a longitudinally aligned
relationship when the awning is moved into an extended
position.
2. The awning of claim 1, wherein the elongated member is a roll
bar, the roll bar being rotatably coupled with the at least one
rafter.
3. The awning of claim 1, wherein the at least one rafter arm
comprises a pair of rafter arms
4. The awning of claim 2, wherein the roll bar further includes a
coil spring, the coil spring rotatably biasing the roll bar
relative to the at least one rafter arm.
5. The awning of claim 1, further comprising at least one support
arm, the support arm having a first and second end, the first end
being anchored to the support surface at a vertical location below
the anchor location of the inner segment, and the second end being
operably attached with the other end of the outer segment.
6. The awning of claim 1, wherein the inner segment is pivotally
anchored to the support surface.
7. The awning of claim 5, wherein the at least one support arm is a
telescoping support arm.
8. The awning of claim 2, further comprising a roll bar lock,
wherein (i) the roll bar lock is coupled to the roll bar, (ii) the
roll bar is configured to rotate in a first direction as the
retractable awning is being extended, and rotate in a second
direction as the retractable awning is being retracted, and (iii)
rotation of the roll bar in the second direction automatically
causes the roll bar lock to lock the roll bar from rotating in the
first direction.
9. The awning of claim 8, wherein the roll bar lock further
comprises a lever to release the roll bar lock to permit the roll
bar to rotate in the first direction.
10. The awning of claim 1, wherein the elbow member lock mechanism
is released when the outer segment is pulled longitudinally
relative to the inner section when the inner and outer segments are
in the extended position in the longitudinally aligned
relationship.
11. The awning of claim 4, wherein the awning automatically
retracts from the extended position when the lock mechanism is
released.
12. The awning of claim 5, wherein a gas spring mechanism is
fixedly attached to the outer segment proximate the other end of
the outer segment, and is fixedly attached to the support arm
proximate the support arm second end.
13. The awning of claim 12, wherein the gas spring mechanism
functions as a dampener.
14. A retractable awning comprising: an elongated member; an awning
sheet; the sheet being attached with the elongated member on one
edge and with a support surface on an opposite edge; at least one
rafter arm, the rafter arm having a first end anchored to the
support surface, and a second end attached to the elongated member,
the rafter arm comprising inner and outer segments, and an elbow
member operably interconnecting the inner and outer segments, the
elbow member including first and second sections, the first section
being fixedly attached to the inner segment, and the second section
being fixedly attached to the outer segment, either of the first
and second sections including a pivot pin, and the other of the
first and second sections including an opening to pivotally receive
the pivot pin, either of the first and second segments further
including a lock pin and the other of the first and second sections
including a slot to receive the lock pin and prevent pivotal
movement of the first and second sections when the inner and outer
segments are in an extended longitudinally aligned
relationship.
15. The awning of claim 14, wherein the lock pin is released from
the slot when the outer segment is pulled longitudinally relative
to the inner segment when the inner and outer segments are in the
extended longitudinally aligned relationship.
16. The awning of claim 14, wherein the elbow member further
includes a slot covering member, the slot covering member being
moveably attached to the elbow member to selectively provide the
lock pin with access to the slot when the slot cover is in a first
position and prevent the lock pin from accessing the slot when the
slot cover is in a second position.
17. The awning of claim 16, wherein the slot cover is pivotally
attached to the elbow member and the first position is an up
position and the second position is a down position.
18. The awning of claim 16, wherein the slot cover in is in the
first position when the inner and outer segments are being pivoted
away from each other into the extended longitudinally aligned
position, and the slot cover is in the second position when the
inner and outer segments are being pivoted towards from each other
into a retracted position.
19. The awning of claim 16, wherein the second section includes the
pivot and lock pins, and the first section includes the
corresponding opening and slot.
20. The awning of claim 16, wherein the slot cover is biased toward
the second position.
21. The awning of claim 20, wherein a catch finger is automatically
actuated when the outer arm is retracted into a position
longitudinally adjacent to the inner member, the catch finger
holding the slot cover in the first position until automatically
released upon extension of the inner and outer rafter segments into
the extended longitudinally aligned relationship.
22. A retractable awning comprising: a roll bar; an awning sheet
anchored at one edge to a support surface, and attached to the roll
bar at an opposite edge; at least one rafter arm with first and
second ends, the first end being anchored to the support surface at
a first end, and the roll bar being rotatably coupled with the
second end, the at least one rafter arm further including an inner
segment, an outer segment, and a joint member, the inner and outer
segments being pivotally coupled to each other by the joint member,
the joint member including a lock mechanism, the lock mechanism
being engageable to prevent pivotal movement of the inner and outer
segments when the inner and outer segments are extended and
longitudinally aligned; and a spring, the spring rotatably biasing
the roll bar when the inner and outer segments are extended and
longitudinally aligned; wherein the spring bias, acting through the
awning sheet, applies a force to the lock mechanism causing the
lock mechanism to automatically engage when the awning is moved
into its extended and longitudinally aligned position.
23. The awning of claim 22, wherein the joint member further
comprises a first section being fixedly attached to the inner
segment, a second section being fixedly attached to the outer
segment, either the first or the second section including a pivot
pin with the other of the first or second section including a
corresponding pivot pin opening in which the pivot pin is pivotably
disposed, either the first or second section further including a
lock pin with the other of the first or second section including a
corresponding lock pin slot in which the lock pin may be received
to prevent pivotal movement of the pivot pin in the pivot pin
opening.
24. The awning of claim 23, wherein the force applied to the lock
mechanism causes the lock pin to be received in the lock pin
slot.
25. An elbow joint for pivotably connecting inner and outer rafter
arm segments of a retractable awning, the elbow joint comprising: a
first section, the first section being configured for being fixedly
attached to the inner segment of the rafter arm; and a second
section, the second section configured for being fixedly attached
to the outer segment of the rafter arm; wherein (i) either the
first or second section includes a pivot pin and the other of the
first or second section includes a corresponding opening to
pivotally receive the pivot pin, and (ii) either the first or
second section includes a lock pin and the other of the first or
second section includes a corresponding slot to receive the lock
pin and prevent pivotal movement about the pivot pin.
26. The elbow joint of claim 25, further comprising a slot cover,
the slot cover being movably attached to the elbow joint to
selectively provide the lock pin access to the slot in a first
position and prevent lock pin access to the slot in a second
position.
27. The elbow joint of claim 26, wherein the slot cover is
pivotally attached to the elbow joint and the first position is an
up position and the second position is a down position.
28. The elbow joint of claim 26, wherein the slot cover in is in
the second position when the first and second sections are being
pivoted towards each other, and the slot cover is in the first
position when the first and second sections are being pivoted away
from each other.
29. The elbow joint of claim 26, wherein the first section includes
the pivot and lock pins, and the second section includes the
corresponding opening and slot.
30. The elbow joint of claim 25, wherein the first and second
sections comprise a plurality of components fabricated from
extrusions.
31. A retractable awning comprising: a roll bar; an awning sheet,
the awning sheet anchored at one edge to a support surface, and at
the opposite edge to the roll bar; a roll bar lock, the roll bar
lock having a first section and a second section, the first and
second sections being rotatably coupled, the first section being
coupled to the roll bar for unitary motion therewith; and at least
one rafter arm, the rafter arm including a inner segment, an outer
segment and an elbow joint, the inner segment being anchored at one
end to the support surface, and being attached to the elbow joint
at an opposite end, The outer segment being attached to the elbow
joint at one end and being coupled with the second section of the
roll bar lock at an opposite end, the elbow joint including a lock
mechanism; wherein (i) the rafter arm lock mechanism automatically
secures the retractable awning in an deployed position with the
inner and outer segments of the rafter arm in an extended
longitudinally aligned relationship, and (ii) the roll bar lock
automatically secures retractable awning in the retracted position
with at least a portion of the awning sheet wound around the roll
bar and the rafter arm inner and outer segments longitudinally
adjacently disposed relative to each other.
32. The retractable awning of claim 31, wherein the roll bar lock
further comprises a lever for releasing the roll bar lock,
permitting the awning to be extended.
33. The retractable awning of claim 31, further comprising a
spring, the spring coupled to the roll bar to rotatably bias the
roll bar relative to the support surface when the roll bar is in an
extended position.
34. The retractable awning of claim 33, wherein the awning
automatically retracts from the deployed position to the retracted
position when the elbow joint lock mechanism is released.
Description
[0001] This patent application claims priority of the provisional
application No. 60/263,180 entitled Easy Deployment Retractable
Awning filed on Nov. 27, 2000.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates generally to retractable
awnings and more particularly to a retractable awning having a roll
bar secured to one edge of an awning sheet the other edge of which
is anchored to a support surface and a pair of support arms and
rafter arms anchored to the support surface and supporting the roll
bar for movement between a retracted position adjacent the support
surface and an extended position wherein the awning sheet forms a
canopy across an area adjacent to the support surface. The support
arms and rafter arms automatically deploy as the roll bar is pulled
away for the support surface and an automatic lock secures the
awning in an extended position. Another lock on the roll bar
automatically secures the roll bar in a retracted position.
[0004] 2. Description of the Relevant Art
[0005] Retractable awnings have been in use for many years, with
early uses being primarily as covers for windows, doors and the
like. More recently, retractable awnings have been designed for use
on mobile structures such as recreational vehicles and mobile
homes, and, accordingly, out of necessity, the awnings have needed
to include more sophisticated systems of operation and for
retaining the awnings in either retracted or extended positions.
Further, awnings for recreational vehicles and mobile homes are
fairly long so as to extend along a substantial portion of the side
of the vehicle, and, accordingly, they are relatively heavy and are
sometimes difficult to manipulate.
[0006] Typically, a retractable awning includes an awning sheet
that is secured along one edge to the side of the recreational
vehicle or the like, with the opposite edge being secured to a roll
bar about which the awning sheet can be wrapped. The roll bar is
rotatably supported at opposite ends by support arms, which are
typically telescoping in nature and have an inner end affixed to
the sidewall of the vehicle at a location beneath the connection of
the awning sheet to the vehicle. Rafter arms are also normally
provided which extend from the roll bar to a location along the
side of the vehicle adjacent to the connection of the awning sheet
to the vehicle, with the rafter arms typically being used to retain
the awning sheet in a taut condition. The awning is moved from a
retracted position adjacent to the side of the vehicle to an
extended position by allowing the support arms to pivot about their
connection to the side of the vehicle thereby allowing the awning
sheet to unroll from the roll bar. After the awning sheet has been
fully extended, the rafter arms are locked in position to retain a
taut condition of the awning sheet, and subsequently, the support
arms are telescopically extended causing the roll bar to move
upwardly to a desired elevation.
[0007] The extension of the support arms has traditionally been
difficult due to the heavy weight of the awning structure and
further, the support arms have typically had to be moved
independently of each other thereby compounding the difficulties in
moving the awning between retracted and extended positions. The
problem is further compounded by the fact that many recreational
vehicles are owned and operated by elderly individuals who do not
always have the strength of younger individuals, and many times the
elderly have some difficulty in extending the awning to a desired
elevation.
[0008] It will be appreciated from the above that, while awnings
are desirable, not only in the recreational vehicle and mobile home
industry but also on permanent residences, they have traditionally
been difficult to operate thereby discouraging use of the awning.
An awning that could be simply moved between extended and retracted
positions without dealing separately with the support arms and
rafter arms to secure the awning in a retracted or extended
position would be desirable. An automated awning has been developed
and is described in pending application Ser. No. 09/586,945 filed
Jun. 2, 2000 for a Powered Retractable Awning, which is of common
ownership with the present application, and while the automated
awning overcomes the problems inherent in other prior art systems,
it is more expensive to manufacture due to the motorized automatic
operation of the awning. Accordingly, an awning that would be
simple to operate manually but which did not require separate and
individual manipulation of the support arms and rafter arms would
be desirable in the retractable awning industry.
[0009] It is to overcome the shortcomings in prior art awnings and
to provide a dependable and easily deployable retractable awning
that the present invention has been developed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] The present invention relates to a retractable awning, which
is easily moveable between extended and retracted positions. The
awning includes a roll bar about which an awning sheet or canopy
can be wrapped with one edge of the awning sheet being secured to a
supporting surface and the other edge to the roll bar. A pair of
support arms and rafter arms are operably supported on the support
surface and connected to the roll bar in a manner so as to permit
the roll bar to move between a position adjacent the support
surface as when the awning is fully retracted and a position
displaced from the support surface as when the awning is
extended.
[0011] A system is employed for extending and retracting the
support arms and rafter arms as the roll bar is moved between the
extended and retracted positions with the system being very similar
to that described in co-pending patent application Ser. No.
09/586,945 filed Jun. 2, 2000 for Powered Retractable Awning which
is of common ownership with the present application. As the roll
bar in the present invention moves from the retracted to the
extended position, the support arms automatically extend
telescopically while the rafter arms fold about an elbow member
approximately midway along the length of the rafter arms. When the
awning is fully deployed, it is retained in the extended position
by an automatic lock mechanism provided in the elbow member which
is not utilized in the powered retractable awning mentioned above.
The awning is simply moved from its retracted to its extended
position by pulling the awning roll away from the support surface
causing the awning sheet to unwrap from the roll and the support
arms and rafter arms to deploy until the awning is fully extended.
To retract the awning from the extended position, the lock system
in the elbow member is released by pulling outwardly on the roll
bar, which releases the lock mechanism and allows the roll bar to
retract to its position adjacent the support surface which occurs
automatically by virtue of a biasing system integrated into the
roll bar.
[0012] One end of the roll bar includes a unique roll lock, which
automatically prohibits movement of the roll after it has been
fully retracted thereby securing the awning in a retracted position
with the support arms and rafter arms fully retracted and
positioned adjacent to the support surface.
[0013] While the awning sheet in the preferred embodiment described
in detail hereafter is designed to wrap around the roll bar, it
will be appreciated that the roll bar could be fixedly positioned
adjacent to the support surface, and the awning sheet unwrapped
therefrom by extending a lead bar connected to an edge of the
awning sheet away from the support surface. In other words, the
lead bar could replace the roll bar at the outer edge of the awning
sheet with the inner edge being secured to the roll bar rather than
directly to the support surface. The rest of the awning would be
substantially unchanged and within the knowledge of one skilled in
the art.
[0014] Other aspects, features, and details of the present
invention can be more completely understood by reference to the
following detailed description of the preferred embodiment, taken
in conjunction with the drawings and from the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a recreational vehicle having
an awning in accordance with the present invention added
thereon.
[0016] FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view taken along line 2-2
of FIG. 1.
[0017] FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary section similar to FIG. 2
with the awning in a retracted position.
[0018] FIG. 4 is an exploded isometric view of the elbow joint of a
rafter arm used in the awning of FIG. 1.
[0019] FIG. 5 is an isometric view of the base member, the slide
member, and the lock/ramp member of the elbow joint according to
one embodiment of the invention.
[0020] FIG. 6 is a fragmentary vertical section taken through a
rafter arm and the elbow joint of FIG. 4, with the rafter arm in an
extended position.
[0021] FIG. 7 is a section similar to FIG. 6 indicating the
extension of the outer segment of the rafter arm to release the
elbow joint from its locked and extended position.
[0022] FIG. 8 is a section similar to FIG. 6 with the elbow lock
released.
[0023] FIG. 9 is a section similar to FIG. 6 showing the pivotal
movement of the outer reflex arm segment about the elbow joint
during retraction of the awning.
[0024] FIG. 10 is a section similar to FIG. 6 showing the pivotal
movement of the outer reflex arm segment about the elbow joint
during retraction of the awning, wherein retraction is nearly
complete.
[0025] FIG. 11 is a section similar to FIG. 6 showing the rafter
arms and the elbow joint in a folded position.
[0026] FIG. 12 is a section similar to FIG. 6 showing the reflex
arm extended just after extension of the outer reflex arm but prior
to the locking of the elbow joint.
[0027] FIG. 13 is an exploded view of the roll bar lock mechanism
looking outwardly from the roll bar.
[0028] FIG. 14 is an isometric exploded view of the lock mechanism
looking in towards the end of the roll bar.
[0029] FIG. 15 is a view looking into the end of the roll of the
awning of FIG. 1 with the end cap of the roll removed and with the
lock in an unlocked position permitting clockwise rotation.
[0030] FIG. 16 is a view similar to FIG. 15, indicating the
automatic locking feature wherein the roll is locked presenting
clockwise rotation when the roll is rotated counterclockwise.
[0031] FIG. 17 is a view similar to FIG. 15 showing the lock in the
locked position preventing clockwise rotation but permitting
counterclockwise rotation.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0032] Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 2, a recreational vehicle 20
having the awning 22 of the present invention mounted thereon is
shown. The awning as possibly best seen in FIG. 2 includes an
awning sheet or canopy 24 secured along an inner edge to a support
surface 26, which in the disclosed embodiment is the sidewall of
the recreational vehicle with its outer edge secured to a roll bar
28 about which the awning sheet is adapted to be wrapped. The
awning further includes a pair of telescopic support arms 30 at
each end with an inner end of each support arm being pivotally
anchored to the support surface 26 at relatively low location and
an outer end pivotally and operatively connected to the roll bar. A
pair of rafter arms 32 also interconnects the support surface to
the roll bar with each rafter arm having an inner end secured to
the support surface, adjacent the connection of the awning sheet 24
to the support surface, and an outer end pivotally and operatively
connected to the roll bar. The rafter arms are identical and have
inner and outer segments 34 and 36, respectively, with the inner
segment being connected at an inner end 38 to the support surface
and being of channel shaped construction so as to open upwardly,
and the outer segment of square tubular cross section having its
outer end 40 operably connected to the roll bar and its inner end
42 connected to the outer end 44 of the inner segment by an elbow
member 46. The square tubular outer segment 36 is adapted to be
nested in the channel-shaped inner member 34 when the rafter arms
are folded as when the awning is in the retracted position of FIG.
3.
[0033] In accordance with the present invention, the support arms
30 automatically and telescopically extend or retract,
respectively, and the rafter arms 32 automatically unfold and fold,
respectively, as the roll bar is moved between the retracted and
extended positions. The operation of the support arms and rafter
arms is controlled with a system described in the afore-noted
co-pending application Ser. No. 09/586,945, filed Jun. 2, 2000,
entitled Powered Retractable Awning, which is of common ownership
with the present application and which is hereby incorporated by
reference. The primary difference between the system described in
the aforenoted pending application and the present invention
resides in the manner in which the support arms and rafter arms are
locked in an extended position when the awning is fully extended.
In the aforenoted pending application, the locking system for
retaining the components in their extended position is incorporated
near the outer ends of the support arms and rafter arms adjacent to
the roll bar, whereas in the present invention, the locking system
is incorporated into the elbow member 46 between the inner and
outer sections of the rafter arms. A complete description of the
system by which the support arms and rafter arms are moved between
their extended and retracted positions will not be made herein as
it is fully described in the aforenoted co-pending application and
one skilled in the art would be capable of incorporating the system
disclosed in the aforenoted co-pending application into the awning
of the present invention as described herein.
[0034] The roll bar 28 of the awning 22 of the present invention
includes a conventional internal coil spring (not seen), which
biases the roll bar toward the retracted position of FIG. 3. As the
roll bar is moved from the retracted to the extended position, the
coil spring is tensioned so that when the support arms and rafter
arms are no longer bracing the roll bar and holding it in the
extended position, the coil spring causes the roll bar to rotate
counterclockwise, as viewed from the right end of the roll bar in
FIG. 1, thereby causing the awning sheet 24 to wrap therearound,
which in turn pulls the roll bar toward the support surface and
thus toward its retracted position. The coil springs are well known
in the industry and by way of example it could be of the type
disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,530,389, entitled Retractable Awning
with Improved Set-Up Capability, which is of common ownership with
the present application and is hereby incorporated by
reference.
[0035] While the support arms 30 of the awning of the present
invention are substantially identical to those of the aforenoted
co-pending application, as mentioned previously, the rafter arms 32
differ in the way in which the inner 34 and outer 36 segments of
the arms are pivotally connected. In accordance with the present
invention, the elbow member 46 permits pivotal movement of the
rafter arm segments upon predetermined conditions being satisfied
and also automatically lock the segments in folded and unfolded
conditions.
[0036] The elbow member 46 is probably best seen in FIGS. 4 through
12 to include two basic components, a base member 48 and a yoke
member 50. One end of the yoke member 50 is bifurcated to define
two horizontally spaced arms 56. The opposite end is also
bifurcated to define two shorter horizontally spaced arms 58. Each
of the two shorter arms has a fastener boss 59 disposed on its
inner surface. The square tubular inner end 42 of the outer rafter
arm segment 36 is slidably received over the two shorter arms 58 of
the yoke member 50 and is secured thereon with fasteners 60 passing
through the fastener bosses 59 as seen in FIGS. 6-12. The yoke
member 50 thereby forms an inward axial extension from the outer
rafter arm segment 36 when the awning is extended. As shown in FIG.
4, the yoke member 50 may be fabricated from three pieces: two
outer portions of leg 56 and the remainder of yoke member 50. The
outer portions of each of the bifurcated legs 56 are joined to the
remainder of the yoke member at tongue and groove mating surfaces
85 and secured in place by wedge pins 87.
[0037] The base member 48 is adapted to be received in an open
outer end 44 of the inner rafter arm segment 36 and is secured
therein with fasteners 64 through fastener holes 66 provided in the
base member 48 as seen in FIGS. 6-12. The base member 48 is
connected in the open front end 44 of the inner rafter arm segment
so that the front end 65 of the base member 48 is contiguous with
the outer end 44 of the inner rafter arm segment.
[0038] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the base member 48 is elongated
and has a hollowed interior defining a slide cavity 68. A preferred
embodiment of the base member 48 comprises two separate extruded
pieces, 48a and 48b. The first piece 48a comprises a bottom wall 49
including a front end 65 and a front wall 51 of a slide cavity 68.
The second piece 48b comprises a bottom wall 53 with a back end 55,
as well as, rear and top walls 57 and 61 of the slide cavity 68.
The two pieces are joined together at tongue and groove mating
surfaces 63 and secured in place by a pair of wedge pins 67. The
top wall 61 of the slide cavity 68 terminates at an annular wall
69, wherein the inner surface of the annular wall 69 forms a
fastener boss 70. A portion of the outer surface of the annular
wall 69 is spaced from a concave face 71 of the front wall 51 of
the slide cavity 68 to form a curvilinear receiving slot. A
traverse fastener hole 72 passes through the front wall 51.
[0039] The slide cavity 68 is adapted to receive a slide member 82
of a somewhat ovular configuration for longitudinal slidable
movement therein. The slide member 68 has an elongated opening 75
passing transversely therethrough. A latch finger 84 extends from
the top wall of the slide member 82 towards the front wall 51 of
the slide cavity 68. A spring anchor 78 depends downwardly from the
bottom surface of the latch finger 84. Furthermore, lock/ramp
member 74 is pivotably connected to the base member 48 by an
arcuate protrusion 77 that depends from the bottom of the lock/ramp
member 74, and is slidably received into a curvilinear receiving
slot formed by the surface of the front wall 51 and the annular
wall 69. Furthermore, a spring anchor 79 depends from the arcuate
protrusion 77 proximate its bottom end. The lock/ramp 74 is
prevented from sliding traversely out of the curvilinear receiving
slot by two plates 80 that each span a side of the arcuate
protrusion 77 and are secured to the base member by fasteners 81
that pass through the fastener boss 70 and the traverse fastener
hole 72 that are located on either side of the curvilinear
receiving slot. When the lock/ramp member 74 and the sliding member
82 are in operative connection with the base member 48, a coil
spring 90 is attached to the slide member anchor 78 on one side and
the lock/ramp member anchor 79 on the other side, effectively
biasing the slide member 82 towards the front wall 51 of the slide
cavity 68 and biasing the lock/ramp member 74 in a counterclockwise
direction about the curvilinear receiving slot.
[0040] To assemble the elbow member 46, the slide member 82 is slid
into the slide cavity 68, and the lock/ramp arcuate protrusion 77
is slid into the curvilinear receiving slot. The coil spring 90 is
attached to both spring anchors 78 and 79, and the side plates 80
are positioned in place and secured by fasteners 81. The base
member unit is then slid in-between the bifurcated arms 56 of the
yoke member 50 and a pivot pin 52 is slid through a passageway in
one of the spaced arms 56, concurrently through a bushing sleeve 54
and the elongated opening 75 in the slide member 82, and finally,
through the corresponding passageway in the other spaced leg 56.
Once the fastener is secured, the outer rafter arm segment 36 by
way of yoke member 50 is pivotly joined to the base member 48 and
the inner rafter arm segment 34.
[0041] FIG. 5 illustrates the various components that comprise the
base member assembly: the base member first piece 48a, base member
second piece 48b, ramp/lock member 74, and slide member 82. In the
preferred embodiment, each of these components is extruded and then
cut to the proper width. All the traversely aligned features of the
assembly such as fastener bosses and holes, and spring anchors are
integrally formed in each of the parts, thereby minimizing the
number of subsequent machining operations necessary to complete the
components. Once each of the components has been extruded, cut and
deburred, the only necessary machining operation is to drill the
vertical fastening holes 66 into the first and second base member
pieces 48a and 48b. It can be appreciated that minimizing the
number of operations necessary to produce the base member assembly
significantly reduces the cost of the elbow member 46.
[0042] As mentioned previously, the elbow member 46 is adapted to
automatically lock the rafter arm segments in longitudinal
alignment when the awning is extended. It is also designed to
automatically release the locked relationship by a slight
longitudinal extension of the rafter arm segments when they are in
the extended position, which allows the rafter arm segments to fold
relative to each other as the awning is retracted in a manner to be
described hereafter.
[0043] With reference to FIGS. 6-12, the operation of the elbow
member 46 can be best understood. In FIG. 6, a vertical section of
the elbow member is shown with the inner 34 and outer 36 rafter arm
segments in their longitudinally aligned relationship, as when the
awning is fully extended. It will be appreciated that the pivot pin
52 extends transversely through the elongated opening 75 defined in
the slide member 82 and is positioned at the inner end of the
opening, i.e. the end closest to the support surface 26 of the
vehicle on which the awning is mounted. It will also be appreciated
that a ramp pin 94, which extends horizontally through the arms 56
of the yoke member 50 and a sleeve 95 as best seen in FIG. 4, is
trapped and caught in a slot 83 formed by the bottom wall 49 and a
forward extending portion 85 of the front wall 51, both of the
first base member piece 48A. In this position the yoke member 50
and the front rafter segment 36 is prevented from pivoting relative
to the base member 48 about the pivot pin 52. The slide member 82
is also shifted inwardly towards the support surface 26, or to the
leftmost position within the slide cavity 68 so that the latch
finger 84 is disengaged from a latch finger catch 86 formed by the
upper surface of the arcuate protrusion 77 near its end and the
bottom surface of the top wall 61 of the slide cavity 68. The
lock/ramp member 74 is also inclined relative to the length of the
rafter arm through the pivotal mounting thereof and the bias of the
coil spring 90 urging the lock/ramp member 74 in a clockwise
direction.
[0044] In order to release the lock in the elbow member 46 so that
the rafter arm segments can fold and allow the awning to retract,
the roll bar 28 is manually pulled outwardly or downwardly thereby
slightly extending the outer rafter arm segment 36 relative to the
inner arm segment 34 as shown in FIG. 7. In this position, it will
be appreciated that the ramp pin 94 has been shifted outwardly
forcing the lock/ramp member to temporarily pivot counterclockwise
against the bias of the coil spring 90 to allow the ramp pin 94 to
slide therebeneath. The pivot pin 52 is also pulled outwardly,
permitting the slide member 82 encouraged by spring 90 to slide
outwardly to the right until the end of latch finger 84 engages the
end of the arcuate protrusion 77. However, the lock/ramp member 74
does not pivot enough to allow the latch finger catch 86 to open
enough to receive the latch finger 84. It will be appreciated that
once the ramp pin 94 is pulled completely out from under the
lock/ramp 74 as shown in FIG. 8, the outer rafter arm segment 36 is
free to pivot counterclockwise about the pivot pin 52.
[0045] By releasing the roll bar 28, after having manually pulled
it outwardly or downwardly, the spring bias from the coil spring 92
in the roll bar causes the awning sheet 24 to commence wrapping
about the roll bar, the awning begins to move toward its retracted
position and in doing so the support arms 30 telescopically slide
within each other and the rafter arms start to fold. As shown in
FIG. 9, the outer rafter arm segment rotates counterclockwise at
pivot pin 52 as pivot pin 52 slides inwardly within the elongated
opening 75 of the slide member 68, initially guided by the
lock/ramp member 74 which is in contact with the ramp pin 94 of the
yoke member 50. Once the ramp pin 94 has been guided over the ramp
pin slot 83, the ramp pin separates from the lock/ramp member 74,
and the counterclockwise rotation of the outer rafter segment
relative to the inner segment continues as illustrated in FIG. 10.
During the counterclockwise pivoting of the outer rafter arm
segment at pivot pin 52, pivot pin 52 slides within the elongated
opening 75 as is appropriate. For instance, after the ramp pin 94
separates from the lock/ramp 74 until the outer segment is
perpendicular to the inner segment, the pivot pin 82 is located
against the left side of the elongated opening 75. Once the angle
between the two segments is reduced to less than perpendicular, the
pivot pin 52 slides to the right until it rests against the right
side of the elongated opening 75. Upon completion of the awning
retraction, the outer rafter arm segment 36 nests within the inner
channel-shape member 34 as shown in FIG. 11. It will be appreciated
that as the outer rafter arm segment completes its pivotal
rotation, the ramp pin 94 impacts the lock/ramp member 74 proximate
the lock/ramp member's innermost end and pivots the lock/ramp
member downwardly, thereby opening up the latch finger slot 86 a
sufficient amount to permit the latch finger 84 to slide
therebetween. Once the latch finger 84 is engaged within the latch
finger slot 86, the lock/ramp member 74 is effectively locked in a
retracted position as well, wherein the outward most end of the
lock/ramp 74 is upwardly disposed uncovering the ramp pin slot
83.
[0046] When extending the awning from the fully retracted position
of FIG. 11, the awning roll bar 28 is manually pulled away from the
support surface 26 thereby causing the rafter arms 32 to unfold. It
will be appreciated that when the unfolding occurs the latch finger
84 is not released from the latch finger catch 82. When the rafter
arms are fully unfolded, the elbow member 46 assumes the position
illustrated in FIG. 12 with the ramp pin 94 now disposed outwardly
from the ramp pin slot 83 and the lock/ramp member 74 is still
retained in a counterclockwise pivoted position defining a gap
therebeneath for the ramp pin 94 to slide when the roll bar is
released and the inner 34 and outer 36 rafter arm segments are
allowed to retract axially relative to each other. This movement
causes the ramp pin 94 to slide beneath the outer end of the
lock/ramp member 74 and engage and become confined by the ramp pin
slot 83 as illustrated in FIG. 6. As the ramp pin 94 is moving
inwardly from its position of FIG. 12 to its position of FIG. 6,
the pivot pin 52 is also moving inwardly and engages the inner end
of the slide member 82 to force it inwardly within the slide cavity
68 thereby releasing the finger catch 76 and allowing the lock/ramp
member 74 to pivot clockwise from its position of FIG. 12 to its
position of FIG. 6.
[0047] To assist in securing the awning in the retracted position,
a roll bar lock 100 is incorporated into one end of the roll bar,
which is the right end as viewed in FIG. 1 for purposes of the
present disclosure. The lock 100 is best illustrated in FIGS.
13-17. The end of the roll bar 28 is provided with a collar 102.
The collar is secured to the roll bar 28 for unitary rotation
therewith and has concentric inner 104 and outer 106 cylindrical
walls. A plurality of internal ratchet teeth 108 are formed in a
circular array on the inside surface of the outer cylindrical wall
106. The inner and outer collar surfaces 104 and 106, respectively,
cooperate with (1) a two-part lock finger 110, which includes a
wedge component 112 and an actuator component 114, (2) a leaf
spring 116, and (3) a lock spring 118 to selectively secure the
roll bar 28 in a locked position. An end cap 120 mounted on a
bracket 90 at the outer end of the associated support arm 32
encloses the components of the lock mechanism and is fixedly
mounted relative to the collar 102. The bracket has a cylindrical
shaft that extends from it. The cylindrical shaft covered by a
plastic bushing 92 is rotatably received in the inner surface of
the inner wall 104. The end cap 120 includes a pivot pin 124 and a
mounting pin 126, which slidably abut a flat radial surface 128 of
the collar 102 when the end cap is positioned on the end of the
roll bar. The actuator component 114 and the wedge component 112 of
the lock finger are pivotally mounted on the pivot pin 124 in
contiguous side-by-side relationship and are keyed together so that
they pivot in unison about the pivot pin. The actuator component
114 includes an actuating finger 130 that projects downwardly
through a notch 132 formed in the end cap 120 so as to be exposed
externally of the roll bar 28 for manual manipulation. The actuator
component also has a groove 134 adapted to receive one end of the
leaf spring 116 with the opposite end of the leaf spring being
mounted on the mounting pin 126. The leaf spring functions as an
over center spring as best seen in FIGS. 15-17 so that in an
unlocking position (FIG. 15), the leaf spring 116 is bowed upwardly
while in a locking position of FIGS. 16 and 17, the leaf spring
bows downwardly, but in either position it serves to releasably
secure the actuator component in a selected locking or unlocking
position.
[0048] The inner collar cylindrical wall 104 has a pair of mounting
tabs 136 at circumferentially spaced locations adapted to mount and
retain the ends of the lock spring 118. The lock spring has a catch
142 that extends from the spring at one of the mounting tabs 136.
As mentioned previously, the inner and outer cylindrical surfaces
104 and 106 rotate with the roll bar 28 and, accordingly, the lock
spring 118 also rotates with the roll bar while the two-part lock
finger 110 and the leaf spring 116 remain fixed relative to the end
cap 120, which does not rotate with the roll bar. As best seen in
FIGS. 15-17, when the lock finger 110 is in the locking position of
FIG. 17, the wedge component 112 engages a ratchet tooth 108 and
prevents the roll bar 28 from rotating in a clockwise direction,
which is the direction of rotation when the awning is being
extended from its retracted position. However, as indicated in FIG.
17, the roll bar may rotate in a counterclockwise direction, i.e.
the direction of rotation when the awning is being retracted, since
the wedge component of the lock finger ratchets across or slides
over the ratchet teeth 108 when rotated counterclockwise. As
mentioned previously, the lock finger 110 is releasably retained in
the locking position by the over center leaf spring 116 as best
illustrated in FIG. 17. Pivotal movement of the lock finger 130 in
a counterclockwise direction causes the leaf spring to go over
center and bow upwardly thereby releasably holding the lock finger
into the unlocked position of FIG. 15. In this position, it will be
appreciated that the wedge component is disengaged from the ratchet
teeth so as to allow free rotation of the roll bar in a clockwise
direction to allow the awning to move from the retracted to the
extended position.
[0049] The wedge component has an upper cam surface 144 and a catch
notch 146, which cooperate with the lock spring catch 142 to
automatically move the lock finger from the unlocked position of
FIG. 15 to the locked position of FIG. 17 under predetermined
conditions as shown in FIG. 16. When the lock finger 110 is in the
unlocking position of FIG. 15, a rounded backside of the lock
spring catch engages the cam surface 144 of the wedge component 112
as the roll bar is rotated in a clockwise position, but due to the
resiliency of the lock spring, it merely slides past the wedge
component so that the lock finger does not inhibit clockwise
rotation of the roll bar. The awning can thereby be unrolled to the
extended position without being inhibited or blocked by the lock
finger 110. However, when the roll bar begins a counterclockwise
rotation, as when the awning is being retracted, the catch section
142 on the lock spring engages the catch notch 146 of the wedge
component thereby pivoting the lock finger 110 in a clockwise
direction about the pivot pin overcoming the bias of the leaf
spring 116 so that the leaf spring passes over center into a
downwardly bowed orientation as shown in FIG. 17 and with the wedge
component then engaged with a ratchet tooth of the collar 102. As
mentioned previously, however, the roll bar 28 is permitted by the
wedge component to rotate in a counterclockwise direction as the
wedge component slides over the ratchet teeth, but once the awning
is fully retracted, the roll bar is prevented from a reverse or
clockwise direction of rotation. The awning thereby is locked in
the retracted position until the lock finger 110 is moved manually
from the locking position of FIG. 15 to the unlocking position of
FIG. 17.
[0050] When the lock finger 110 is in the unlocking position of
FIG. 15, the lock finger engages one end of the notch 132 formed in
the end cap which prevents further rotation of the lock finger in a
counterclockwise direction as might be encouraged by engagement of
the lock spring with the cam surface 144 of the wedge component as
the lock spring passes thereover during a clockwise rotation of the
roll bar.
[0051] A pair of gas springs 148 (FIG. 2) bridges the wedge-shaped
gaps between the outer ends of a support arm 30 and an associated
rafter arm 32 when the awning is extended. The gas springs are
pivotally mounted at fixed locations at their opposite ends to an
associated support arm and rafter arm. In this manner, the gas
springs cushion movements of the roll bar when the awning is
extended but follow the associated support arm and rafter arm when
the awning is moved between extended and retracted positions. It
should be pointed out that the mounting of the ends of the gas
springs at fixed locations is a departure from the manner in which
a similar gas spring is mounted in the afore-noted pending
application, the disclosure of which has been incorporated herein
by reference.
[0052] It will be appreciated from the above description that a
retractable awning has been described, which is very easily movable
from a retracted to an extended position and from the extended
position to a retracted position. To move the awning from the
retracted position to an extended position, it is simply necessary
to move the lock finger of the roll lock from the locking position
of FIG. 17 to the unlocking position of FIG. 15, and then to
manually pull the roll bar away from the support surface which
automatically causes the support arms to telescopically extend and
the rafter arms to unfold. When the awning reaches the fully
extended position with the rafter arms segments in longitudinal
alignment, the elbow member automatically locks the rafter arms in
longitudinal alignment thereby holding the awning in the extended
position. To then move the awning from the extended to the
retracted position, it is simply necessary to further extend the
awning roll slightly away from the support surface by manually
pulling outwardly or downwardly on the roll bar causing the rafter
arm segments to extend longitudinally of each other, which releases
the lock in the elbow member allowing the rafter arm segments to
fold relative to each other while the support arms telescopically
collapse and the roll bar moves toward the support surface with the
awning sheet being wrapped therearound. Upon reaching the fully
retracted position, the roll bar lock automatically secures the
roll bar in the retracted position of the awning until the lock
finger is manually released for a subsequent deployment of the
awning.
[0053] Although the present invention has been described with a
certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present
disclosure has been made by way of example, and changes in detail
or structure may be made without departing from the spirit of the
invention as defined in the appended claims.
* * * * *