Water accumulation prevention systems, devices and methods for awning structures
OwnerRobert B. Thomasinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A bow system is provided for coupling between a pair of arm members of an awning structure in a mounting region located beneath an area corresponding to a leading portion of an awning sheet thereof. A bow member of the bow system is aligned generally parallel to a lead member of the awning structure and is configured to flex upwardly to elevate a portion of the awning sheet when the awning is in a deployed configuration to prevent the accumulation of water or debris thereon. The bow member may automatically flex as the awning structure moves from a retracted configuration toward the deployed configuration. Other prop devices and methods of preventing the accumulation of water or debris on awning structures using bow systems and other prop devices are also provided.
Claims20
A bow system for a retractable awning having a base member and a lead member that is retractably extendable to move between an extended position in which an awning sheet is supported in a cantilevered manner between the base member and the lead member and a retracted position, the lead member coupled to the base member by a pair of extendable arms, the bow system comprising:
- a pair of couplers, each coupler having a base portion configured to engage a portion of a respective one of the pair of extendible arms of the awning and having a bow support portion coupled to the base portion to move relative the base portion during extension and refraction of the awning;
- and
- a bow coupleable at intermediate positions along a longitudinal length thereof to the pair of extendible arms of the awning by the pair of couplers, the bow including a bow member configured to flex into a curved configuration as the awning moves from the retracted position to the extended position, and the bow including a tension device coupled between opposing ends of the bow member to assist in moving the bow member to the curved configuration as the awning moves toward the extended position.
An awning system, comprising:
- an awning having an awning sheet coupled between a base member and a lead member to form a canopy structure when the awning is in a deployed configuration in which the lead member is spatially offset from the base member, the lead member supported in space at least in part by a pair of arm members when the awning is in a deployed configuration;
- and
- a bow system coupled between the pair of arm members in a mounting region located beneath an area corresponding to a leading portion of the awning sheet adjacent the lead member when the awning is in the deployed configuration, the bow system including a bow member aligned generally parallel to the lead member and configured to flex upwardly to elevate a portion of the awning sheet when the awning is in the deployed configuration and including a pair of couplers, each coupler having a base portion configured to engage a portion of a respective one of the pair of arms of the awning and having a bow support portion coupled to the base portion to move relative the base portion as the awning moves between the deployed configuration and a retracted configuration.
An awning system, comprising:
- an awning having an awning sheet coupled between a base member and a lead member to form a canopy structure when the awning is in a deployed configuration in which the lead member is spatially offset from the base member, the lead member supported in space at least in part by a pair of arm members when the awning is in a deployed configuration;
- and
- a bow system coupled between the pair of arm members in a mounting region located beneath an area corresponding to a leading portion of the awning sheet adjacent the lead member when the awning is in the deployed configuration, the bow system including a bow member aligned generally parallel to the lead member and configured to flex upwardly to elevate a portion of the awning sheet when the awning is in the deployed configuration and including a pair of couplers, each coupler configured to engage a portion of a respective one of the pair of arms of the awning and to receive one of opposing ends of the bow member, a distance between the couplers being less than a length of the bow member such that, when the bow member is received in the couplers and tensioned, the bow member flexes upwardly to elevate the portion of the awning sheet.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.