Awning Rail

Abstract

An awning rail for use in attaching an awning or similar flexible sheet material to a rigid structure comprising an extruded channel member, and an elastomeric member mounted in the channel which serves to trap a cord that is provided in the periphery of conventional awnings to hold the awnings securely, and under any desired amount of tension. The structure is easy to make, and the configuration is such that the awning cord member is easily inserted or removed from the structure.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention.

The present invention relates to awning rails for attaching awnings or other flexible sheets to rigid structures.

2. Prior Art.

In the prior art there have been a wide variety of different types of anchor members for flexible or pliable sheets, such as awnings. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,553,942 shows an anchor for pliable sheet material which includes a resilient locking tab, and wherein the material is folded back around the portion of the wall of the lock and pinched into place by the wedging action of the resilient member.

The use in this particular device is for the type of a filter blanket in an air pollution control unit where the blanket is placed across an air passage.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,543,326 issued Dec. 1, 1970 to Rohrberg et al. shows a carpet clamping method and means which includes a main support member, and a locking lever that fits into place on the main support member and acts to wedge the carpet against a locking lip. In FIG. 2b of this patent, a unitary structure is shown, as well as in FIG. 3a where the parts are all formed together.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,379,237 issued Apr. 23, 1968 to H. M. Worthington shows a frame construction for screens which has a locking wall with a lock lip on it, and an interlocking wedging wall that traps the screen between the locking wall and lip and the wedge wall.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,234,106 issued Mar. 4, 1971 to M. A. Bowerman also shows a window shade attachment that has interlocking members at the lower rail of the window shade to hold the shade in place. These members are both flexible so that they may be snapped together.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,859,812 issued Nov. 11, 1968 to W. R. Swanson also shows a member that locks onto bead structures and holds flexible walls in position. U.S. Pat. No. 2,914,776 issued to L. F. Hotz on Dec. 1, 1959 shows a clamp that uses a resilient block for locking a flexible cover into place.

Also of interest is U.S. Pat. No. 2,726,056 issued Dec. 6, 1955 to R. F. Tatom et al.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a unique extruded awning rail which uses a flexible strip for holding an edge cord of an awning in position in the rail. The device is simple to manufacture, and quite rigid, and further the rigid channel member uses a base and can be easily installed on the structures to which the awning is to be attached, such as outdoor campers, camp trailers, houses, or other structures. The extruded rail is easily installed with sheet metal screws, or the like. The flexible lock strip is inserted and assembled into the rigid channel in a provided holding slot. The flexible lock strip permits the easy insertion of the edge cord of an awning into the rigid extrusion, and the holding action on the awning is not dependent upon wedging of the awning material itself, but rather the flexible strip bears against the edge cord to prevent the cord from slipping out of a provided recessed area in the rigid channel.

The awning edge cord is easy to remove from the channel in either one of two different ways. First, the flexible strip can be depressed to the bottom of the channel to provide clearance to get one portion of the edge cord of the awning out of the rigid channel member, and then the rest of the edge cord can be just peeled out. Alternately, the awning edge cord can be slid out endways of the channel as is conventionally done with the convention C-awning rail.

The rigid support channel has a backing wall that supports the flexible strip to prevent the flexible strip from moving to a position where the load from the cord would cause bending loads on the flexible strip. The flexible strip is thus loaded primarily in compression when under load from the awning.

The flexible strip, when it is inserted into the rigid channel member of the present invention also provides a cover for the attaching screws, and when utilized along a vertical wall, the awning rail provides a drip molding to catch water running down the wall. The water drains out the open end of the channel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an awning rail made according to the present invention installed on a rigid structure, and showing an awning in position;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the device of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the use of the awning rail as a drip channel.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The awning holder illustrated generally at 10 is shown mounted onto a vertical wall of a structure 11 which could be a recreational camper vehicle for example, or could be any other structure to which an awning cloth or tarpaulin or cover is to be attached. The awning 12 as shown is a flexible sheet of material having a cord 13 in the periphery thereof and enclosed within a hem 14.

The hem 14 is a folded over edge portion of the awning 12, that is stitched as at 15 to hold the cord 13 at the edge of the awning. The cord 13 held in the edge of an awning to form an enlarged hem is a standard adaptation for fastening awnings in place. Normally, however, the awnings are held in a C-shaped channel that has an opening of size which only permits the cord to be slid in endwise. The opening in the C-shape permits only the awning cloth 12 to pass out through the opening.

As shown, the channel awning holder 12 comprises a rigid channel 16, which as shown includes a first C-shaped edge portion 17, a base member 18, and a holding or lock edge portion 19 on the opposite side of the base 18 from the C-shaped edge portion 17. The opening in the edge portion 17 is substantially larger than the diameter of edge cord 13 so the hem of the awning slips easily into the edge portion. The channel 16 extends longitudinally along the edge of the structure to which the awning is to be attached. As can be seen, the holding or lock edge portion 19 has a small recess 20 defined on the inner end thereof, and an overlying support wall 21 that is inclined at an angle with respect to the base 18. The lip or wall generally defines a plane intersecting the outer end portion 17A of the C-shaped edge portion 17 on the inside surface of the end portion 17A. The wall 21 is spaced from a raised portion 18A of base 18 to form a slot opening to notch 20. The slot is partially defined by a surface 18B. The entire structure comprising the rigid channel 16 can be extruded in convenient lengths which can be then cut to the desired length for use.

A flexible lock strip 23 is mounted in the slot formed between lip or wall 21 and portion 18A of the base. The lock strip has a formed lip that fits within the notch 20 of the second edge portion 19 of the channel. The entire lock strip or member 23 can be slid in endwise into the channel 16. The ends of the channel section can be deformed once the lock strip is in place to hold the lock strip in position in the channel and prevent it from slipping out endwise. At the opposite longitudinal edge of the flexible lock strip 23 from its fastening edge there is a lip 24 extending toward the base 18. As can be seen, the space between the edge lip 24 of the flexible lock strip 23 and the end portion 17A is greater than the thickness of the awning cloth 12, but less than diameter of the cord 13.

The flexible lock strip 23 may be made of suitable thermoplastic material which is relatively rigid, but can be bent and formed manually. In order to permit the outer edge of flexible strip 23 to be bent inwardly toward the base 18 for insertion or removal of the edge cord 13, a small longitudinally extending groove 25 can be provided a short distance from the lip that fits into the notch 20. The groove extends along the line where the support surface 18B on base portion 18A for the flexible lock strip 23 ends. It can be seen that the edge portion 19 is attached to the base 18 with base portion 18A.

A suitable support wall 26 is formed on the exterior of edge portion 17 and the support wall 26 rests against the surface of the structure 11 to provide adequate support, without greatly increasing the weight of the channel. A similar support wall extends to engage the supporting structure 11 from the base portion 18A.

Suitable screws 27 extending through provided openings in the base member 18 may be used to fasten the channel 16 to structure 11. It should be noted that when the resilient or flexible lock strip 23 is slid into position underneath the support wall 21, the lock strip covers the screws 27 from view, to provide a decorative shield.

To insert the hem of the sheet 12, including the cord 13, into the channel, the hem is pushed inwardly through the opening between the end portion 17A and the edge of the flexible strip 23. The flexible strip 23 will bend toward base 18 to permit this insertion, as shown in the dotted line showing in FIG. 2. As soon as the hem and cord is pushed into place within the recesses defined by the C-shaped edge portion 17, the flexible strip 23 will spring outwardly to its solid line position shown in FIG. 2. The outer surface of the edge lip 24 stops the cord from slipping out of the channel when the sheet 12 is under tension in the normal direction as indicated by the arrow 30. The end portion 17A is round so the sheet or awning cloth 12 will tend to slip past this rounded surface when under tension, and the flexible strip 23 will thus be loaded in compression. The wall 21 is provided to support the flexible strip 23 sufficiently far along its width to insure that the flexible lock strip 23 will not bend or buckle and thus become loaded in bending. In other words, the wall 21 keeps the flexible strip 23 straight and under compression load. The wall 21 supports the lock strip 23 in direction toward edge portion 17 for a greater distance than surface 18B. The flexible strip 23 thus is semirigid, and does not bend easily. Groove 25 permits it to hinge or bend inwardly when the hem of the sheet, including cord 13, is forced into the channel.

Once the hem of the sheet is installed in the channel, the attachment will withstand loads on the sheet in a wide range of angles with respect to the channel. The flexible member 23 will continue to be loaded in compression because of the rounded end 17A around which the sheet is mounted.

The removal of the hem 14, including the cord 13, from the channel can be done in two ways. First, one short section of the flexible strip 23 can be bent inwardly to the dotted line position of FIG. 2 and the lock hem and cord can be pulled out of the channel through the space left. Then the rest of the hem can be pulled out. The flexible strip will slip inwardly toward the base as the hem is pulled out. This is possible because there is no dependence upon a wedging action of the members for holding as is done in many prior devices. Additionally, because of the space between the end 24 of the flexible strip 23 and the end 17A of the C-shaped edge portion 17 of the rigid channel, the entire awning can be slid longitudinally or endwise out of the channel in a conventional manner as now done with C-shaped channels used at the present time. Again, the absence of a wedge type lock for the sheet permits this type of movement.

In FIG. 3, the use of the channel on a vertical wall shows an additional benefit that is achieved when water tends to run down the wall. The water will be deflected to the outer side of the wall 21, and onto the outer side of the flexible member 23, and the water will then drop into the trough formed by the C-shaped edge portion 17. The water will then run out endwise out the channel and will not run down the vertical wall to cause streaking or staining of the wall. Further, this prevents dripping of water. The unit thus doubles as a drip rail.

The channel is easily extruded, low in cost, and easily used. The insertion or removal of the cord member is quick, and the awning is held securely. The flexible strip 23 is easily molded and assembled in the rigid channel as needed. The strip can be of polypropylene, vinyl or ABS plastic, or other suitable material. The lock strip also could be made of flexible metal if desired.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A fastening device for attaching awnings or similar sheets having an enlarged hem adjacent the edges thereof to a support structure, said device including an elongated member having a base, a first edge portion and a second edge portion spaced from the first edge portion; means to attach said device to a support structure; said first edge portion including a wall extending from the base to form a concave surface facing the second edge portion, said concave surface being of size to receive at least a portion of a hem of a sheet to be held; a flexible lock strip; said second edge portion defining a generally longitudinally extending slot facing said concave surface, said flexible lock strip having a first edge configured to correspond to and being mounted in said slot, said flexible lock strip extending obliquely to the base from said slot toward said wall forming said concave surface, and a second edge of said flexible lock strip being spaced from said wall a distance less than the thickness of a hem of a sheet to be held with the flexible lock strip in a normal rest position, said second edge of said flexible lock strip engaging a hem positioned in the concave surface to lock such a hem in said device, said flexible lock strip being depressable toward said base to permit releasing a hem positioned in the concave surface.

2. The combination as specified in claim 1 wherein said first edge portion wall comprises a wall member formed in a C-shape, said wall having an edge spaced from said base, said edge being rounded to permit a sheet held by said device to slide around said rounded edge when such a sheet is under tension.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said lock strip has a first surface facing said base and a second surface facing away from said base, said slot being partially defined by a support surface on said second edge portion of said elongated member which engages the first surface of said lock strip, said support surface terminating to permit a substantial portion of said lock strip extending toward said wall to be unsupported from movement toward said base, and wherein said elongated member has a wall fixed to the second edge portion and extending toward said first edge portion for a greater distance than said support surface, said last mentioned wall overlying the second surface of said lock strip.

4. The combination as specified in claim 3 and a relief groove defined in said first surface of said lock strip and extending along the lock strip adjacent the support surface, said relief groove permitting the unsupported portion of said lock strip to be hinged toward said base.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said device is fastened to said support structure with fastening members extending through said base, said lock strip overlying said fastening members to shield said fastening members from external view.