Cover design for retractable awnings

Abstract

A retractable awning assembly includes a roller, arm assemblies supporting ends of the roller, an awning rail securable to a support wall, a flexible canopy rollable on the roller and having an outer edge secured to the roller and an inner edge connected to the awning rail, and an articulated protective cover connecting the flexible canopy to the awning rail. The protective cover includes a plurality of slats hingedly connected one to another along adjacent edges such that the cover protects the canopy when in a retracted position and is an extension of the canopy when in an extended position. Each of the slats has an upper surface and a flat stop at a forward edge. The flat stop engages the upper surface of the adjacent slat when in the extended position to restrict water passage therebetween. The awning rail also has a flat stop at an outer edge which engages the upper surface of the slat connected thereto when in the extended position to restrict water passage between the awning rail and the articulated cover. The awning rail preferably includes a retainer, a vertical leg securable to the wall, and a horizontal leg connecting and spacing apart the retainer and the vertical leg. The retainer and the vertical leg each extend above the horizontal leg to form a laterally extending gutter to direct water away from the cover. The vertical leg extends below the horizontal leg and is provided with fastener openings therebelow the gutter and substantially hidden from view.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.