Awning assembly with telescoping support arms

An awning assembly comprising:

• (a) an awning having an inner end and an outer end, the inner end adapted to be attached to a support structure;
• (b) a roller having a pair of ends and means for attaching the outer end of the awning to the roller whereby the awning can be wound and unwound on the roller;
• (c) a first telescoping support arm assembly having an upper end for rotatably supporting one end of the roller and a lower end adapted to be pivotally attached to the support structure and a second telescoping support arm assembly having an upper end for rotatably supporting the other end of the roller and a lower end adapted to be pivotally attached to the support structure, each of the telescoping support arm assemblies including an inner arm and an outer arm telescopingly engaged with the inner arm, actuating means connected to the telescoping support arm and the roller for extending the telescoping support arm when the roller unwinds the awning and for retracting the telescoping support arm when the roller winds up the awning, the inner arm of each of the telescoping arm assemblies being adapted to be attached to the support structure and the outer arm rotatably supporting an end of the roller, each of the actuating means including:
• (i) a drum connected to the roller for rotation therewith,
• (ii) a flexible elongate member attached to the drum for winding thereon as the roller unwinds the awning,
• (iii) a pulley mounted on the outer arm of the associated telescoping arm assembly adjacent the lower end thereof, and
• (iv) means on the inner arm above the pulley for engaging the flexible elongate member, the flexible elongate member extending downwardly from said engaging means around the pulley and upwardly to said drum whereby the flexible elongate member pulls the pulley upwardly to extend the telescoping arm assembly as the flexible elongated member is wound on the drum, said means for engaging the flexible elongate member including a stop member mounted on the inner arm, the flexible elongate member extending slidably through the stop member and including an abutment which is engageable with the stop member for preventing relative movement between the flexible elongate member and the stop member;
• (d) a first rafter arm assembly having an outer end for supporting one end of the roller and an inner end adapted to be attached to the support structure and a second rafter arm assembly having an outer end for supporting the other end of the roller and an inner end adapted to be attached to the support structure.