Back to results
US 6,957,679 B2Granted
Retractable awning
AssigneePowell & Powell Supply Co., Inc.
InventorsBilly R. Powell, Tony A. Powell, Reid Powell
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A retractable awning includes a frame structure, roll bar, and a lead bar supported in cantilever fashion by a series of extendable arms that extend from the frame structure. An awning sheet is connected between the roll bar and the lead bar. When the lead bar is extended outwardly from the roll bar, the sheet awning is unrolled and supplied from the roll bar. Conversely, when the awning is retracted, the lead bar retracts towards the roll bar and in the process, the sheet awning is rolled onto the roll bar. The frame structure, roll bar and lead bar are split into at least two sections with each pair of sections including a coupler for connecting the two sections together.
Claims39
A retractable awning comprising:
- a. a frame structure forming a part of the awning;
- b. a roll bar forming a part of the awning;
- c. a lead bar forming a part of the awning;
- d. wherein the frame structure of the awning includes two separable sections;
- e. wherein the roll bar of the awning includes two separable sections;
- f. wherein the lead bar of the awning includes two separable sections;
- g. a first coupler for connecting the sections of the frame structure;
- h. a second coupler for connecting the sections of the roll bar;
- i. a third coupler for coupling the sections of the lead bar;
- j. wherein the frame structure and roll bar sections of the awning may be coupled together by the respective couplers to form the awning;
- and
- k. a pair of retractable and extendable arms interconnected between the frame structure and lead bar for extending and retracting the lead bar with respect to the frame structure.
9 more elements
A method of manufacturing and packaging a retractable awning comprising:
- a. forming a frame structure of the retractable awning into at least two separate sections;
- b. providing a first coupler for coupling the two sections of the frame structure together;
- c. forming a roil bar of the retractable awning into at least two separate sections;
- d. providing a coupler for coupling the two sections of the roil bar together;
- e. forming a lead bar of the retractable awning into at least two separate sections;
- f. providing a third coupler for coupling the two sections of the lead bar together;
- g. packaging the frame structure, roll bar and lead bar into a package where the length of the package does not substantially exceed the length of the longest section of the frame structure, roll bar, or lead bar;
- and
- h. connecting an extendable and retractable arm between one section of the frame structure and one section of the lead bar;
- and connecting a second extendable and retractable arm between the other section of the frame structure and the other section of the lead bar such that the lead bar can be extended and retracted relative to the frame structure.
7 more elements
A retractable awning, comprising:
- a. a frame structure forming a part of the awning;
- b. a lead bar forming a part of the awning;
- c. at least two separate roll bar sections forming a part of the awning with each section having opposed end portions;
- d. a coupler for interconnecting the roll bar sections, the coupler including a driver that extends from one roll bar section to the other roll bar section and connects the two sections such that the rotation of one section results in the rotation of the other section;
- and
- e. a pair of retractable and extendable arms and wherein the retractable and extendable arms are interconnected between the frame structure and the lead bar such that by extending the arms the lead bar is extended outwardly away from the frame structure and by retracting the arms the lead bar is moved inwardly towards the frame structure.
3 more elements
A retractable awning comprising:
- a. a frame structure forming a part of the awning;
- b. a lead bar forming a part of the awning;
- c. a roll bar forming a part of the awning;
- d. wherein at least one of the frame structure, lead bar or roll bar includes first and second sections with the first section being telescopically contained within the other section such that the first section can be retracted into the second section or extended from the second section;
- e. wherein the lead bar is movable back and forth with respect to the frame structure;
- f. wherein the length of at least one of the frame structure, lead bar or roll bar can be adjusted and varied by retracting one of the sections into the other section;
- and
- g. a pair of retractable and extendable arm and wherein the retractable and extendable arms are interconnected between the frame structure and the lead bar such that by extending the arms the lead bar is extended outwardly away from the frame structure and by retracting the arms the lead bar is moved inwardly towards the frame structure.
5 more elements
A retractable awning comprising:
- a. a frame structure forming a part of the retractable awning;
- b. a roll bar forming a part of the retractable awning;
- c. a lead bar forming a part of the retractable awning;
- d. wherein the lead bar of the retractable awning is movable back and forth with respect to the frame structure;
- e. wherein at least one of the frame structure, lead bar or roll bar of the retractable awning includes two sections movable with respect to each other such that the two sections can assume a shipping mode and an operative mode;
- and
- f. wherein in the operative mode the two sections of the retractable awning are generally aligned and extend a selected length;
- g. when the retractable awning assumes the shipping mode the two sections of the retractable awning are oriented with respect to each other such that the two sections of the retractable awning together assume a length substantially less than the selected length assumed when the two sections of the retractable awning assume the operative mode;
- and
- h. including first and second retractable and extendable arms where the arms are interconnected between the frame structure and the lead bar for moving the lead bar outwardly and inwardly with respect to the frame structure.
7 more elements
A method of assembling a retractable awning comprising a frame structure having two separate frame sections, a roll bar having two separate roll bar sections, a lead bar having two separate lead bar sections and an awning sheet, comprising:
- a. forming a part of the retractable awning by connecting the two separate frame sections together to farm a frame structure of the retractable awning;
- b. forming another part of the retractable awning by connecting the two separate roll bar sections together such that the rotation of one section will result in the rotation of the other section;
- c. forming another part of the awning by connecting the two separate lead bar sections together to form a lead bar far the awning;
- d. after connecting the roll bar sections and the lead bar sections, connecting the awning sheet to both the formed roll bar and the formed lead bar;
- e. interconnecting the frame structure and the lead bar by connecting a pair of retractable and extendable arms between the respective sections of the frame structure and the respective sections of the lead bar such that by extending the arms the lead bar is moved outwardly away from the frame structure and by retracting the two arms the lead bar is moved inwardly towards the frame structure.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.