Flexible or portable closure – partition – or panel – With outriggers – Roll type
Reexamination Certificate
2000-10-27
2002-04-30
Lev, Bruce A. (Department: 3634)
Flexible or portable closure, partition, or panel
With outriggers
Roll type
C160S046000, C160S066000, C160S072000, C135S088110
Reexamination Certificate
active
06378591
ABSTRACT:
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT N/A
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Fabric awnings are used on the outside of structures, such as houses or recreational vehicles, to provide shade and protection from rain. Often the awnings are retractable, such that they may be unfurled or extended when their protection is desired and furled or retracted when they are not needed.
A typical retractable fabric awning system is mounted to an exterior wall of the structure by affixing one edge of the awning fabric to a rail that is fastened to the wall. An opposite edge of the awning fabric is affixed to a roller mechanism or roller bar. The fabric is wound up on the roller mechanism to furl or retract the awning and is unwound from the roller mechanism to unfurl or extend the awning. When in the unfurled position, suitable support arms are provided to hold the roller mechanism spaced from the ground and the wall, with the awning fabric stretched taut under tension between the roller mechanism and the wall. The support arms may be vertical arms that are mounted on the ground or angled arms that are mounted to the exterior wall, as in FIG.
1
. The support arms may also be rotatable and/or extensible to move with the awning fabric as it is furled or unfurled.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The p resent invention provides an arched support assembly for a fabric awning that provides bracing of the awning support structure and arching of the fabric awning. Arching of the fabric awning prevents water collection on the awning by directing water off the edges of the awning and increases headroom beneath the awning.
More particularly, the arched support assembly comprises an elongated arch member and a brace member engageable with the arch member. The arch member extends in a curved configuration from a first end to a second end. The first end is configured to mount to a support structure, such as a support surface or wall, below the fabric awning with a convex side of the arch member facing upwardly toward the fabric awning. The brace member includes a mounting mechanism at an opposite end cooperative with a fitting on another support structure, such as a support bar or a roller mechanism of the awning system. The brace member also includes a compressive element operative to place the assembly under compression between the wall and the roller mechanism.
To install the assembly, the arch member is seated at the wail beneath the awning, and the brace member is mounted to the roller mechanism. The arch member and the brace member are engaged at a first pivot point and are raised upwardly until the brace member and the arch member are under compression in a collinear disposition, bowing the awning upwardly. The brace member and the arch member are then fixed together.
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Lev Bruce A.
Sunsetter Products Limited Partnership
Weingarten Schurgin, Gagnebin & Lebovici LLP
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