Self-storing Awning

Abstract

A self-storing awning including a frame having a hood portion for attachment above a window, a roller in the hood, rope means for rotating the roller, a fabric awning having one end portion rolled upon the roller, a front bar attached to the other end of the awning fabric, awning arms longitudinally adjustably attached at their upper ends to the front bar, hinge means at the lower ends of the arms for hingedly attaching them to a wall at either side of the window, and spring means urging said awning arms outward.

Parent Case Text

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of our pending application Ser. No. 803,714, filed Mar. 3, 1969 and now abandoned.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to completely self-storing awnings, and more particularly to an awning and frame which remains on the building all year, and in which the fabric awning is completely concealable and protected by the hood of the frame when not in use, thus eliminating the labor and expense of yearly put up, take down, and storage.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Applicants are not aware of any prior constructions of self-storing awnings excepting one previously made by their assignee, The Astrup Company, which did not disclose the features of their self-storing awning frame hereinafter described and claimed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention may be briefly described as a self-storing awning for windows and the like, including an elongated hood for mounting above a window or the like. The hood is entirely closed upon its top and back. The forward edge of its bottom wall is spaced inwardly from the front of the hood. The front wall of the hood terminates at a point spaced above the bottom wall.

End brackets close opposite ends of the hood. A roller is journalled in these end brackets upon ball bearings or the like. At one end of the roller is formed a spool upon which an operating rope is coiled.

A flexible awning is rolled upon the roller, having one edge attached thereto by any suitable means, the other edge of the awning extending through the opening in the hood between the lower edge of the front wall and the forward edge of the bottom wall thereof.

This other edge of the awning is attached to a front bar carried by a pair of spaced awning arms, the lower or inner ends of which are hingedly connected to the wall of the building at opposite sides of the window. Spring means is provided for swinging the arms outwardly and downwardly upon the hinge joints, so as to keep the awning under tension at all times.

The operating rope extends downwardly from the spool, through a rope guide at the adjacent end of the hood, and is adapted to be attached to a rope cleat of conventional design upon this side of the building for holding the awning in adjusted position.

The parts are so constructed and arranged that when the awning is entirely rolled up upon the roller for self-storing as in winter, the front bar will be completely received within the hood so as to completely conceal and protect the fabric awning during winter storage or inclement weather.

It is an object of the invention to provide a self-storing awning including an elongated hood with means for mounting the same above a window or the like, the hood having an opening at its lower front corner, a roller journalled in said hood, a flexible awning having one edge portion connected to the roller, the other edge portion thereof extending through the opening in the hood, and means for extending the awning downwardly and outwardly from the hood to any desired adjustment or for rolling the awning entirely upon the roller so that it is completely concealed and protected around the hood.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a self-storing awning in which a front bar is attached to the outer edge of the awning and is adapted to be received through the opening in the front lower corner of the hood when the awning is not in use.

A further object of the invention is to provide a self-storing awning of this type in which the front bar is carried by a spaced pair of awning arms hingedly connected at their rear ends to the building on opposite sides of the window.

A still further object of the invention is to provide such a self-storing awning in which spring means urges the arms outward and downward so as to always keep the flexible awning taut.

Another object of the invention is to provide a self-storing awning of the character referred to in which the flexible awning may be rolled up to any desired adjustment by rope means upon the roller.

A further object of the invention is the horizontal adjustability of the awning arms on the front bar, allowing easy placement on the building.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of hanger brackets designed to allow placement on the building studs, and also allow the hood to be centered after the brackets are installed.

The above objects together with others which will be apparent from the drawings and following description, or which may be later referred to, may be attained by constructing the improved self-storing awning, in the manner hereinafter described in detail and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the several components of the awning frame, namely - the hanger brackets, the hood with roller therein, and the front bar carried by the swinging awning arms mounted upon spring loaded hinges, the flexible awning not being shown;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the awning in extended or lowered position;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged end elevation of the hood looking at the left-hand end thereof as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional view through the hood with the flexible awning entirely rolled up upon the roller and the front bar located within the hood, so that the awning is completely concealed and protected within the hood;

FIG. 5 is a transverse section through the spool at the right-hand end of the roller;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view of the right-hand end portion of the hood and roller taken as on the line 6--6, FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation of the lower or inner end of one of the awning arms showing the spring hinge therefor; and

FIG. 8 is a front elevation of the awning arm and spring hinge shown in FIG. 7.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Reference is now made more particularly to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in which similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout. The frame for the self-storing awning comprises the hood indicated generally at 1, the hanger brackets 2 therefor, the roller 3 journalled within the hood, the front bar indicated generally at 4, the awning arms 5, the spring loaded hinges therefor indicated generally at 6; and the flexible awning 7 attached at one end to the roller 3 as by a piece of double adhesive tape, and at its other end to the front bar 4.

The front bar 4 as best shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4 may be an extruded structural member having a substantially horizontal bottom wall with central longitudinal slots 70 therein, substantially vertical side walls extending about halfway from the bottom to the top and inwardly upwardly disposed angular walls extending from this point to the top, the upper edges of said angular walls being slightly separated to form a longitudinal groove. As best seen in the FIGS. referred to, the cross-sectional shape of this front bar resembles generally a triangle superimposed upon a rectangle.

The hood 1 is formed of two aluminum members, namely, the rear hood 8 and the front hood 9, both of which may be in the form of extrusions. The rear hood 8 forms the back wall 10, the bottom wall 11 and approximately half of the top wall 12 of the hood, while the front hood 9 forms the abbreviated front wall 13 and the other half 14 of the top wall of the hood.

Upper and lower longitudinal ribs 15 and 16 respectively are formed upon the hood 1 adjacent the back wall 10 thereof. Each of the brackets 2 has an outwardly disposed, substantially horizontal lower flange 17 with screw threaded aperture 18 therein and a forwardly and downwardly disposed upper flange 19. Apertures 20 are formed in each bracket 2 for attaching the same to a wall or the like as indicated at 21 as by screws 22.

To mount the hood 1 above a window or the like, the brackets 2 are attached at building studs in the wall or top of the window frame by the screws 22 and the upper rib 15 of the hood is inserted beneath the upper flanges 19 of the brackets while the lower rib 16 is seated upon the horizontal lower flange 17 thereof. The hood 1 may be centered on the window after the brackets are installed.

A screw 23 is located through the threaded aperture 18 of each lower flange and engaged with the bottom wall of the hood to hold the same rigidly in position upon the brackets. The forward edge of the top wall portion 12 of the rear hood 8 is bent upwardly and backwardly, forming the hooked edge 24, and the rear portion of the top wall of the front hood 9 is offset upwardly as at 25 and then bent downwardly and forwardly, forming the hooked rear edge 26 which interlocks with the hooked front edge 24 of the rear hood. The forward edge of the bottom wall 11 is bent downwardly and backwardly forming the rearwardly hooked front edge 27.

An outwardly disposed horizontal flange 28 is formed at the lower edge of the abbreviated front wall 13 of the hood and terminates in the upwardly disposed reinforcing flange 29. A rope guide, indicated generally at 30, is located at each end of the hood 1. Each rope guide is of angular shape comprising the front vertical portion 31 and the lower horizontal portion 32.

An outwardly disposed horizontal flange 33 is formed at the upper edge of the front vertical portion 31 and terminates in a downwardly turned reinforcing flange 34. A screw 35 connects the flange 33 of each rope guide 30 to the flange 28 of the front wall 13. The rear edge of the lower horizontal portion 32 of each rope guide 30 is downwardly offset as at 36 and upwardly and forwardly bent forming the forwardly hooked edge 37 which is interlocked with the rearwardly hooked edge 27 of the bottom wall 11.

A grommet 38 is located in the lower horizontal portion 32 of each rope guide. Although the rope is located at only one end of the roller 3, the rope guides 30 are located at opposite ends of the hood for connecting the edges of the abbreviated front wall 13 and bottom wall 11 so that the same item may be used at each end of the hood.

The ends of the hood are closed by end brackets 39, each of which is rectangular in shape and provided with inturned flanges 40 at its top, bottom and side edges. An end plate 41 has an angular flange 42 at its outer end connected to the adjacent end bracket 39 by bolt and nut 43 and 44 respectively.

The flanges 40 at the top, bottom and front edges of the end brackets 39 are located within the corresponding walls of the hood while the flange 40 at the rear edge of the end bracket is located outside of the back wall 10 of the hood. Screws 45 connect the bottom wall 11, top wall 12 and front wall 13 of the hood to the corresponding flanges 40.

A spool 46 is located on one end of the roller 3, and an operating rope 47 has one end connected to the spool by any conventional means, the rope being coiled upon the spool and the other end thereof being threaded through the rope guide grommet 38 and attached to a conventional rope cleat 47' as shown in FIG. 2. A rope stop 47.sup.a if fixed upon the rope 47 to prevent the awning from unrolling beyond the desired projection.

The lower end of each awning arm 5 has a hinge attachment, indicated generally at 48, connected thereto. This attachment comprises the cup portion 49, into which the lower end of the awning arm 5 may be received and fixed therein by any conventional means, and an ear 50 having an aperture 51 therein.

The ear 50 is received between the spaced ears 52 upon the hinge bracket 53. A hinge pin 54 is located through the apertures 55 in the bracket ears 50 and the aperture 51 in the hinge attachment 48. The hinge brackets 53 are attached to the sides of the window frame or to the wall, at each side of the window as by screws 56.

An arm spring, indicated generally at 57, is associated with the hinge joint of each awning arm 5. Each arm spring includes the spring arms 58, each having a hooked upper end 59 which engages the rear or inner side of the corresponding awning arm 5. The spring arms 58 converge upwardly from the outer ends of the coils 60 which are located around opposite end portions of the hinge pin 54 between the hinge bracket ears 52 and the washers 61 on the hinge pin.

One washer 61 is stopped by the head 62 of the hinge pin and the other washer by the cotter pin 63. The inner ends of the spring coils 60 are joined by an upwardly and rearwardly disposed U-shaped portion 64 of the spring, the closed end of which contacts the upper edges of the ears 52 on the hinge bracket 53.

Each of the awning arms 5 is preferably an aluminum tube, to the upper end of which is connected an adapter 65, preferably of hexagonal shape. The adapter has a depending, rounded shank 66 received in the upper open end of the tubular awning arm 5. A carriage bolt 67 is threaded into the upper end of the adapter 65 and is located through a central aperture 68 in the arm adjusting channel 69.

The upper end of the bolt 67 is received in the longitudinal slot 70 in the extruded front bar 4, the head 71 of the bolt overlaying the side edges of the slot 70. When the bolt 67 is tightened it draws the upper edges of the channel member 69 into the longitudinal grooves 72 in the front bar 4. The upper ends of the awning arms 5 may be adjusted longitudinally of the front bar 4 to desired position and the bolts 67 tightened to hold them in adjusted position. This horizontal adjustability of the awning arms 5 upon the front bar 4 allows easy placement of the awning on a building.

A longitudinal groove 73, of circular cross-section, is formed in the top of the front bar 5, as best shown in FIG. 4, to receive the outer edge of the flexible awning 7, which is formed into a tubular casing as indicated at 74. A rope 75 is located within the tubular casing 74, whereby the rope filled casing may be longitudinally slidably received in the rounded groove 73 in order to attach the front bar to the front edge of the awning 7.

The ends of the roller 3 are journalled upon the end brackets 39 as best shown in FIG. 6. An aluminum rivet 76 is located through a central aperture 77 in the end bracket 39. A plastic bushing 78 is located around the rivet 76 and within a hollow trunnion 79. The inner race 80 of a flanged ball bearing is mounted upon the hollow trunnion 79 and the outer race 81 of the ball bearing is located within the end of the hollow roller 3.

All parts of the improved awning frame are preferably constructed of aluminum excepting the awning arm springs 57, the plastic bushings 78 and the ball bearings 80-81, in order that it will not rust in any kind of weather.

OPERATION

The improved self-storing awning eliminates winter storage expense as it remains on the building throughout the entire year. The awning arm springs 57 urge the awning arms 5 outward and downward as far as the adjustment of the awning rope 47 will permit. By loosening the awning rope 47 sufficiently, the awning 7 can be lowered to below center position for added protection to carpets, drapes and other interior furnishings from damaging sun rays even on bright winter days.

By manipulation of the awning rope 47, the awning may be easily rolled up to let in light on dark dreary days. When completely rolled up for winter storage, or protection against heavy rain, the fabric awning 7 is completely concealed and protected within the aluminum hood, as shown in FIG. 4.

The horizontal adjustment of the awning arms upon the front bar 4 allows easy alignment of the awning frame on a building. The awning fabric will have long life because there are no ropes to wear on the fabric awning as in conventional awnings.

After the awning has been stored for the winter, as shown in FIG. 4, no labor or expense is required for putting up the awning in the spring or summer. All that is necessary is that the awning rope 47 be untied from the the cleat 47' and the arm springs 57 permitted to swing the awning arms 5 outwardly and downwardly to the desired position when the awning rope may again be tied upon the cleat 47' and the awning is ready for use.

Instead of placing the hood 1 on the building face as shown in the drawings, the hood may be inverted and placed on an overhang at a window.

Claims

We claim:

1. A self-storing awning including an elongated hood of substantially square cross-sectional shape, having top, bottom, rear and front sides, the front side terminating at a point spaced above the bottom and the bottom side terminating at a point spaced rearwardly from the front forming an elongated opening at the lower front corner of the hood, means for mounting said hood on an outer wall of a building, a roller journaled in said hood, a sheet of flexible awning material rolled upon said roller and having one end connected thereto, a spaced pair of awning arms, means for hingedly mounting the awning arms spaced below the hood, a front bar connected to the other end of the sheet of awning material, the front bar being a structural member having a substantially horizontal bottom wall with a central longitudinal slot therein, substantially vertical side walls extending from opposite edges of the bottom wall about halfway to the top and then being inclined inwardly and upwardly and slightly spaced at the top forming a longitudinal groove, a longitudinally disposed tubular casing communicating with the longitudinal groove, means longitudinally adjustably connecting the upper ends of the awning arms to the front bar, said last means including a bolt carried by each awning arm and located through said bottom wall central longitudinal slot with the bolthead being within the front bar, spring means upon the outside of the awning arms for urging the upper ends of the awning arms outwardly and downwardly away from the hood, in which said front bar may be received through said elongated opening at the lower front corner of the hood whereby the entire sheet of awning material and the front bar may be concealed and protected within said hood, and means associated with the roller for holding the awning arms in adjusted position.

2. A self-storing awning as defined in claim 1 in which the sheet of awning material has a casing in its other end located in said longitudinal groove and a rope located in said casing.

3. A self-storing awning including an elongated hood of substantially square cross-sectional shape, having top, bottom, rear and front sides, the front side terminating at a point spaced above the bottom and the bottom side terminating at a point spaced rearwardly from the front forming an elongated opening at the lower front corner of the hood, means for mounting said hood on an outer wall of a building, a roller journalled in said hood, a sheet of flexible awning material rolled upon said roller and having one end connected thereto, a spaced pair of awning arms, means for hingedly mounting the awning arms spaced below the hood, a front bar connected to the other end of the sheet of awning material, means longitudinally adjustably connecting the upper ends of the awning arms to the front bar, said last named means comprising a longitudinally disposed slot in the bottom of said front bar, and a bolt threaded into the upper end of each awning arm and located through said slot, the head of said bolt overlaying the side edges of said slot, spring means upon the outside of the awning arms for urging the upper ends of the awning arms outwardly and downwardly away from the hood, in which said front bar may be received through said elongated opening at the lower front corner of the hood whereby the entire sheet of awning material and the front bar may be concealed and protected within said hood, and means associated with the roller for holding the awning arms in adjusted position.

4. A self-storing awning as defined in claim 3 in which the front bar is a structural member having a substantially horizontal bottom wall, and substantially vertical side walls extending from opposite edges of the bottom wall about half-way to the top and then being inclined inwardly and upwardly and slightly spaced at the top forming a longitudinal groove.

5. A self-storing awning as defined in claim 4 in which the sheet of awning material has a casing in its other end located in said longitudinal groove, and a rope located in said casing.