U.S. patent application number 13/833626 was filed with the patent office on 2014-09-18 for method of creating living space with added ambient sound, retractable awning with source of sound beneath awning canopy, and head for retractable awning having a speaker.
This patent application is currently assigned to Lippert Components, Inc.. The applicant listed for this patent is Jeff Albrecht, Christopher S. Greer, Andrew M. Murray, Brian M. Worthman. Invention is credited to Jeff Albrecht, Christopher S. Greer, Andrew M. Murray, Brian M. Worthman.
Application Number | 20140262070 13/833626 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 50440893 |
Filed Date | 2014-09-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140262070 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Greer; Christopher S. ; et
al. |
September 18, 2014 |
Method of Creating Living Space with Added Ambient Sound,
Retractable Awning with Source of Sound Beneath Awning Canopy, and
Head for Retractable Awning Having a Speaker
Abstract
A method of creating a living space beneath an awning with added
ambient sound, a retractable awning with added ambient sound and a
head for a retractable awning having a speaker. The awning has a
canopy secured to an awning roller with the roller mounted between
opposite awning heads. A speaker is mounted in at least one of the
heads for directing sound away from the head. In a retracted
position of the awning, sound is directed away from the living
space created beneath the awning when it is deployed, and in the
deployed position with the awning extended, sound is directed into
the living space.
Inventors: |
Greer; Christopher S.;
(Leesburg, IN) ; Murray; Andrew M.; (Granger,
IN) ; Worthman; Brian M.; (Goshen, IN) ;
Albrecht; Jeff; (Goshen, IN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Greer; Christopher S.
Murray; Andrew M.
Worthman; Brian M.
Albrecht; Jeff |
Leesburg
Granger
Goshen
Goshen |
IN
IN
IN
IN |
US
US
US
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Lippert Components, Inc.
Goshen
IN
|
Family ID: |
50440893 |
Appl. No.: |
13/833626 |
Filed: |
March 15, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
160/127 ;
160/405 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04F 10/0692 20130101;
E04F 10/0666 20130101; E04F 10/0614 20130101; E04F 10/0625
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
160/127 ;
160/405 |
International
Class: |
E04F 10/06 20060101
E04F010/06 |
Claims
1. A method of creating a living space beneath an awning with added
ambient sound directed into the living space comprising the steps
of a. forming a deployable awning with opposite heads, said awning
having a deployed position and a retracted position, b. installing
a source of sound proximate at least one of said heads, with said
source of sound directed away from the living space in the
retracted position, and c. extending said awning to the deployed
position with said source of sound directed into the living
space.
2. The method according to claim 1, in which the source of sound
comprises a speaker located in said head and projecting sound from
an opening in said head, and in which method step "c" includes
directing said opening toward the living space.
3. The method according to claim 1, in which in method step "b"
sound is directed above the living space.
4. The method according to claim 1, in which the source of sound is
mounted in an opening in said head.
5. In a retractable awning having an awning canopy secured to an
awning roller, the roller being mounted in opposite heads, the
heads being secured to arms movable between a retracted position
with the canopy rolled on the roller and a deployed position with
the canopy at least partially unrolled from the roller to create a
living space beneath the awning, the improvement comprising a. a
speaker mounted at a mounting position proximate at least one of
the heads, said speaker directing sound from said mounting position
away from said head, and b. said speaker being positioned so that
in the retracted position sound is directed away from the living
space, and in the deployed position sound is directed into the
living space.
6. The retractable awning according to claim 5, in which said
mounting position comprises an opening in said head, said speaker
being located in said opening.
7. A head for a retractable awning, comprising a. an awning head
body, b. an attachment segment for securing said awning head body
to an awning support arm, c. an opening in said awning head body,
and d. a speaker located in said opening, said speaker having a
source of sound directed out of said awning head body.
8. The head according to claim 7, in which said attachment segment
comprises an attachment member extending from said awning head
body.
9. The head according to claim 7, in which said speaker has a body
which extends within said awning head body.
10. The head according to claim 7, in which said source of sound is
directed through said opening.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention is directed to awnings, and particularly to a
method of creating a living space beneath an awning with added
ambient sound, a retractable awning therefor, and a head for a
retractable awning with a speaker.
[0002] Retractable awnings are used to protect a living space
formed beneath the awning when it is extended. While the invention
is described in relation to an awning having particular utility in
relation to a recreational vehicle, it can also be used in
connection with an awning on a structure, such as an awning
extensible over a patio.
[0003] In such awnings, a flexible, typically fabric, canopy is
secured at one end to a wall and has an opposite end secured to a
roller. The roller is supported at its ends by heads connected to
support arms which are displaceable between an extended position
for the awning, where the awning is deployed, and a retracted
position, where the awning is rolled onto the roller for
storage.
[0004] Awnings are usually extended in a fairly horizontal manner
so as to provide a maximum living space beneath the awning canopy
when it is extended. That living space is often used extensively by
the occupants of a recreational vehicle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The invention is directed to a method of creating a living
space beneath an awning with added ambient sound directed into the
living space. The method comprises forming a deployable awning with
opposite heads, having a deployed position and a retracted
position. A source of sound is installed proximate at least one of
the heads, with the source of sound being directed away from the
living space in the retracted position. When the awning is extended
to the deployed position, the source of sound is directed into the
living space beneath the awning.
[0006] In accordance with this form of the invention, the source of
sound comprises a speaker located in at least one of the heads and
projecting sound from an opening in the head, with the opening
being directed toward the living space in the deployed position of
the awning. In the retracted position, sound is directed above the
living space.
[0007] The retractable awning according to the invention includes a
speaker mounted at a mounting position on at least one of the
heads, with the speaker directing sound from the mounting position
away from the head. The speaker is positioned and the head is
formed so that in the retracted position sound is directed away
from the living space, and in the deployed position sound is
directed into the living space. In accordance with the preferred
form of the invention, the mounting position is an opening in the
head, with the speaker being located in the opening.
[0008] The head has an awning head body, with an attachment segment
for securing the awning head body to an awning support arm. An
opening is formed in the awning head body, and the speaker is
located in the opening, with the speaker projecting sound out of
the awning head body.
[0009] Preferably the attachment segment comprises an attachment
member extending from the awning head body. The speaker is mounted
so that it extends within the awning head body.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] The invention is described in greater detail in the
following description of examples embodying the best mode of the
invention, taken in conjunction with the drawing figures, in
which:
[0011] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a recreational vehicle having
an awning according to the invention, with the awning
retracted,
[0012] FIG. 2 is an isometric view similar to FIG. 1, but with the
awning partially extended,
[0013] FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but with the awning
fully extended to a deployed position,
[0014] FIG. 4 is an enlarged end elevational view of the
recreational vehicle illustrated in FIG. 3, further showing the
awning in the deployed position,
[0015] FIG. 5 is an enlarged illustration of an awning head
according to the invention when in the retracted position shown in
FIG. 1,
[0016] FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5, but generally in the
position shown in FIG. 2,
[0017] FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 5, but with the awning
shown generally in the position shown in FIG. 3,
[0018] FIG. 8 is an enlarged isometric view of one form of a head
for a retractable awning according to the invention, and
[0019] FIG. 9 is a front elevational view of the head shown in FIG.
8.
DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLES EMBODYING THE BEST MODE OF THE
INVENTION
[0020] A recreational vehicle 10 having an awning 12 according to
the invention as shown generally in FIGS. 1-4. The recreational
vehicle forms no part of the invention, and although the
recreational vehicle 10 is generally depicted as a motor home, it
will be evident that the recreational vehicle 10 can be any type of
recreational vehicle, whether self-propelled or not. The
recreational vehicle 10 will therefore not be described in greater
detail.
[0021] The awning 12 is a typical deployable awning with opposite
heads 14 and 16 mounting an awning roller. Except for the heads 14
and 16, the awning can made of any of a number of different types
of awnings, and one form of awning is disclosed in co-pending U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 13/523,559, filed Jun. 14, 2012, the
disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
[0022] The awning 12 includes a canopy 18 secured to an awning
roller 20 extending between the opposite heads 14 and 16. Each of
the heads 14 and 16, in turn, is secured to arms of a support
system 22, which is described in greater detail in incorporated
application Ser. No. 13/523,559. The support system 22 mounts the
awning 12 for extension or retraction between a retracted position
shown in FIG. 1 with the canopy 18 rolled onto the roller 20 and
deployed position shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 with the canopy 18 at
least partially unrolled from the roller 20 to create a living
space 24, as best shown in FIG. 4. While the living space 24
preferably is the area beneath the canopy 18 when unrolled to the
deployed position illustrated in the drawing figures, since that
area is protected by the overhead canopy 18, it will be evident
that the living space can be somewhat greater or smaller than that
depicted in the drawing figures, as desired by the persons
utilizing the awning 12.
[0023] As will be known to persons skilled in the art, the heads 14
and 16 can be essentially identical, performing the functions of
extending and retracting the awning 12. It is preferred that each
of the heads 14 and 16 include added ambient sound, as described in
greater detail below, although it will be evident that only one of
the heads 14 and 16 can be so-equipped. Equipping both heads 14 and
16, however, provides the ability to project stereophonic sound in
a well-known fashion. Therefore, when the heads are being described
in FIGS. 5-9, while only the head 16 is actually depicted, the
description of the head 16 is also relevant to the head 14.
[0024] The head 16 includes an awning head body 26. An attachment
segment, in the form of an attachment member 28, extends from the
awning head body 26 for securing within an arm 30 of the support
system 22. The heads 14 and 16, and the attachment members 28 can
be formed of various materials, such as molded plastic, and the
heads 14 and 16 can be made of multiple pieces, as required.
[0025] The head 16 includes an opening 32 in which a speaker 34 is
mounted, with the body of the speaker 34 extending into the head
16. The speaker 34 can be mounted in any conventional fashion, and
preferably extends within the head 16 so that sound emitted from
the speaker 34 is directed out of the awning body 26 through the
opening 32.
[0026] The speaker 34 may be conventional, and preferably is a
wired speaker connected to a source of electrical signals for
producing sound projecting from the speaker 34, with wires passing
from the awning head body 26 into the arm 30 and thence into the
recreational vehicle 10. Alternatively, the speakers 34 can be
wireless. The means of supplying electrical signals to the speakers
34, such as a radio or CD player, is conventional, and is therefore
not described in greater detail.
[0027] While, in the preferred form of the invention, the speaker
34 is in the heads 14 and 16, the speaker 34, or an additional
speaker or speakers, can also be located on or in the arms of the
support system 22. The speakers must be aimed into the living space
24 when the awning 12 is deployed.
[0028] The heads 14 and 16 also can include an aperture 36 for
access to the interior of the heads should manual extension or
retraction of the awning 12 be required, if there is an electrical
failure. A cap 38 is used to seal the aperture 36. The heads 14 and
16 may also include an aesthetic indentation 40 which may include a
logo or label (not illustrated), as desired.
[0029] In the method of creating the living space 24 beneath the
awning 12 with added ambient sound directed into the living space
24, the awning 12 is first located in the retracted position shown
in FIG. 1. As the awning 12 is extended to the deployed position
shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the speakers 34 move from a position with
sound directed away from the living space 24 until the awning is
extended to the deployed position shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, with
sound emanating from the speaker 34 into the living space 24. When
the awning 12 is retracted as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, sound from
the speaker 34 is directed above and away from the living space 24.
Only when the awning 12 is extended to the deployed position shown
in FIGS. 3 and 7 is the speaker 34 aimed toward the living space
24. Thus, depending on the geometry of the awning 12 and the extent
of its deployed position, the opening 32 is formed in the heads 14
and 16 such that, in the deployed position, the speaker 34 extends
toward, and projects sound into, the living space 24.
[0030] Various changes can be made to the invention without
departing from the spirit thereof or scope of the following
claims.
* * * * *