Abstract: An awning assembly having an awning connection system for coupling an awning canopy to a support structure and providing a cover to the awning canopy when the awning assembly is in a closed position. The awning connection system comprises a unitary film segment having a distal end connected to the awning canopy and a proximal end for securing to the support structure. The unitary film segment further comprises an attached region for coupling the unitary film segment to the awning canopy.

Abstract: An awning includes an electronic display panel frame that has a front end and a rear end. The rear end is pivotally attached to a fixed surface at a pivot location. The awning includes at least one lift mechanism that is pivotally connected to the electronic display panel frame and to a fixed mount surface. The at least one left mechanism selectively pivots the electronic display panel frame about the pivot location between a raised position and a lowered position. When in the raised position, the front end of the electronic display panel frame is positioned at a greater distance from a ground surface than the front end of the electronic display panel frame when positioned in the lowered position.

Abstract: A retractable awning having a roller, a flexible canopy having one end secured to the roller and rollable onto the roller, and a motor operable to rotate the roller to roll the flexible canopy onto or off the roller. Top and bottom mounting arms extend from a support arm for the roller, with the bottom arm being articulated, and with an extensible strut pivotally connected to and extending between each top and bottom mounting arm.

Abstract: A raintrough support clip includes a generally cylindrical main body made from an elastically resilient material, and having a circumferential gap to facilitate mounting around an awning reel having a flexible valance sheet extending downward from the outer edge of the awning reel. The raintrough support clip also has an outrigger member extending outwardly from a lower region of the main body, with an upturned portion forming a generally U-shaped space between the outrigger and the main body. When a suitable number of the raintrough support clips are mounted along the length of the awning reel, the valance sheet may be readily deformed to form a rainwater drainage trough for receiving runoff from the awning. The drainage trough thus formed will carry runoff to one or both ends of the awning reel, thereby preventing the runoff from falling over the awning reel and forming a runoff curtain therebelow.

Abstract: A retractable awning, comprising a screen which may be extended and retracted, wherein there is provided a first motor arranged to extend the screen, a second motor arranged to retract the screen, and a control unit arranged to control the first and second motors, wherein the first and second motors are synchronized so as to maintain tension in the screen within predetermined values.

Abstract: A shade system for mounting atop a vehicle. The system features a first support panel attachable flush with the top of the vehicle via an attachment means and a second support panel pivotally attached to the first support panel. The second support panel can pivot from atop the first support panel to a vertical position perpendicular to the first support panel via a hydraulic arm. A shade housing is disposed atop the second support platform. A shade component is rolled on a spool in the shade housing. The shade component can be extended from and retracted into the shade housing. The shade component can be stabilized to keep the shade component in an extended position via a securing means.

Abstract: A clothesline cover apparatus for protecting a clothesline from the rain comprising a housing, a water-resistant housing extendable from the housing via a first telescopic pole and a second telescopic pole, and a first sensor for detecting the presence of or absence of rain. When the first sensor detects rain, a microprocessor activates a motor to extend the first and second telescopic poles out of the housing to extend the canvas over the clothesline. When the first sensor detects the absence of rain, the microprocessor activates the motor to retract the telescopic poles.

Abstract: A raintrough support clip includes a generally cylindrical main body made from an elastically resilient material, and having a circumferential gap to facilitate mounting of the main body around the awning reel of a recreation vehicle awning assembly of the type having a flexible valance sheet extending downward from the outer edge of the awning reel. The raintrough support clip also has an outrigger member extending outwardly from a lower region of the main body, with an upturned portion forming a generally U-shaped space between the outrigger and the main body. When a suitable number of the raintrough support clips are mounted along the length of the awning reel, the valance sheet may be readily deformed to form a rainwater drainage trough for receiving runoff from the awning. The drainage trough thus formed will carry runoff to one or both ends of the awning reel, thereby preventing the runoff from falling over the awning reel and forming a runoff curtain therebelow.

Abstract: The present application relates to a covering apparatus for covering an outdoor area comprising a screen (1) that can be operated between a retracted and an extended configuration, the screen having a leading portion (2) and a trailing portion (4), the trailing portion (4) being connected to a first support (5, 6), the apparatus further comprising a plurality of longitudinal flexible elements (11, 12) extending from the first support (5, 6) to respective second supports (9, 10), and the leading portion (2) of the screen (1) being supported by the longitudinal flexible elements (11, 12) as the screen (1) is operated from the retracted to the extended configuration, wherein the leading portion (2) of the screen (1) is moveably mounted to the longitudinal flexible elements (11, 12) such that the leading portion (2) moves with respect to the longitudinal flexible elements (11, 12) during operation between retracted and extended positions, and wherein at least one clamping system is provided on the leading portion

Abstract: A trailer canopy system for providing an area adjacent a trailer that is protected from inclement weather includes a canopy that is extendable from a side of a trailer. The canopy protects an area under the canopy from inclement weather when the canopy is extended from the trailer. A support bar is coupled to a free edge of the canopy positioned opposite of the trailer. Each of a pair of bracing assemblies is pivotally coupled to each of the support bar and the trailer. Each of the bracing assemblies pivots between a stored position and a deployed position. The stored position is defined when each of the bracing assemblies is positioned adjacent the side of the trailer. The deployed positioned is defined when each of the bracing assemblies extends away from the trailer and supports the support bar and the canopy over a ground surface.

Abstract: A combo slide-window awning system for motor homes and recreational vehicles having an extendable coach slider includes an encasement, a slider awning and a window awning. First and second roll bars are disposed within the encasement and attached respectively to the slider awning and the window awning within the encasement. Independent of operation of the roll bars enables independent operation of the slider awning and the window awning.

Abstract: A retractable cover for a slide-out unit on a recreational vehicle, mobile home, travel trailer, or the like, includes a roll bar that is movable with the slide-out unit away from the side of the vehicle with the roll bar mounted in a housing having a closure plate which is easily pivoted to an open position or removed to facilitate maintenance or removal of debris that may accumulate in the housing during a retraction of the cover. The housing is mounted on the slide-out unit with brackets permitting the brackets to be located at any position along the length of the housing and also permitting the housing to assume a length that is much greater than the width of the slide-out unit providing a better cover for the slide-out unit during inclement weather.

Abstract: An awning construction for a camping accommodation or the like, including a roof and at least one side wall, as well as a container which is mountable on a wall of a camping accommodation, which is arranged to include, in a closed position of the rest, at least the tent cloth of an awning, wherein the container includes, in mounted condition, a substantially horizontal and at least one substantially vertical section, which container further has an open position to take the awning out of the container and put it up and wherein the container is further provided with a fixing device for an edge of the tent cloth of the awning, located, in the operative position, in the container.

Abstract: A fastening assembly and method to releasably secure a panel of a novel screen room enclosure to a structure. The fastening assembly includes a clip having a channel portion fastened to a flat portion, the channel portion having an opening adapted to receive an edge of a panel, and, a locking fastener having an elongated locking member adjustable between a first position and a second position. The flat portion of the clip comprises a hole for accepting the locking fastener such that the locking member can pass through the hole when the locking member is in the first position, and cannot pass through the hole when the locking member is in the second position. A screen room enclosure to be used with an awning of a structure and releasably coupled to the structure with a fastening assembly. A method of securing a side panel of the screen room enclosure to the structure with the clip is disclosed.

Abstract: A slide-out room and awning assembly for a recreational vehicle. The assembly includes a roll enclosure for attachment to an exterior side wall of the vehicle, a roll rotationally journalled within the roll enclosure, a slide-out room for extension from the exterior side wall, an elongated trough attached to the slide-out room, and an awning fabric attached at a proximate edge to the roll and attached at a distal edge to the elongated trough. When the slide-out room is in a retracted position, the awning fabric is wrapped around the roll. When the slide-out room is in an extended position, the awning fabric is extended from the roll over a top wall of the slide-out room at a downward slope from the roll to the trough such that debris and liquid flow into the trough.

Abstract: A portable fence supported awning includes a flexible sheet mounted on a frame that has a rear frame cross member and two sets of lateral frame members. The two sets of lateral frame members are attached to the fence and can support the awning in various positions to provide the desired cover. The lateral frame members can be pivoted into and the flexible sheet can be folded into a compact state for carrying and storage.

Abstract: In a sunshade device, a roller is journalled in an elongated housing and has a screen wound therearound. The roller is biased to rotate in a screen-winding direction for winding the screen thereon. A drive gear is fixed to the roller. A threaded rod parallel to the roller is fixed in the housing, and has a follower gear sleeved threadedly thereon. The follower gear is formed with grooves arranged around the rod axis and meshing with the drive gear. Each groove has a groove bottom, and first and second groove ends formed respectively at first and second end portions of the follower gear. The groove bottom at the first groove end is displaced from the rod axis by a distance smaller than that of the groove bottom at the second groove end.

Abstract: A cable manufacture (15) formed of a steel cable (23) along the length of which a plurality of ball stops (35, 36, 37) are intermittently crimped, having a fixed loop (26) formed of itself at its one end (27) and a ball stop (37) crimped proximate to its other end (34). Any one of the ball stops (35, 36, 37) seats against the body formation of a slot (43) in a hallow roller tube (33) which forms a slot (43, 46) while loop (26) attaches to a support (61) on side panel (19) of a home (20) which forms a slot (43, 46) such as a motor home in operation of the invention. The extent of the tube's awning (32) as it unravels with roller tube (33) from a closed mode is controlled by which ball stop (35, 36, 37) seats against the body formation.

Abstract: A retractable awning for a recreational vehicle is provided wherein the awning is stored behind a pivoting door that closes flush with the side of the recreational vehicle when the awning is not deployed over a slide-out unit. The pivoting door is adjacent the awning and the pivoting door closes flush with the side of the recreational vehicle with the awning enclosed in its side mounted compartment. With the retractable awning completely behind the plane defining the side of the recreational vehicle and protected by a locking door, the awning does not add any additional unwanted width to the recreational vehicle and is protected from unfurling during transport. An automatic locking mechanism is provided for ensuing that the door remains closed during transportation. Further, a debris clearing mechanism is preferably installed adjacent the spool which collects the retractable awning as it retracts, thereby cleaning the awning of debris prior to its withdrawal into the compartment.

Abstract: An easily deployed ridge pole is used, in combination with standard awning deployment hardware, to change the shape of the canopy fabric of an extended retractable awning. The ridge pole engages the underside of the awning fabric to impart a Mansard shape to the canopy. This shape incorporates first and second planes of canopy fabric wherein the plane closest to the RV has a less steep pitch than the plane furthest from the RV. The shape has airfoil qualities which stabilize the effects of high wind velocities on the awning. The shape also provides room under the relatively flat plane for doors under the awning to open without engaging the awning fabric. The ridge pole is supported by struts which in some embodiments provide foundations for fabric stabilizing clamps that are affixed to loose edges of canopy fabric.

Abstract: An exemplary retractable awning and method are provided for mounting to virtually any structure, such as a house trailer, recreational vehicle, house, patio, deck, and the like, to provide shade and protection from the elements. The retractable awing includes a roller tube assembly, a covering, and support arms. The roller tube assembly includes a roller tube and at least one retractable rib. The roller tube has a first end, a second end, and a rib storage groove operable to receive and store the retractable rib so that the retractable rib may couple with the roller tube and extend from a retracted position, at least partially within the rib storage groove, to an extended position. The retractable rib may have an upward arch or bend when in its extended position. The covering couples between the structure and the roller tube assembly and may be supported by the retractable rib when open. The covering provides shade and protection from the elements when open.

Abstract: Disclosed is a sunshade roll screen which has light weight, has a sufficient degree of strength, and is quickly responsive to a rush of wind or the like. Gears held in mesh with each other are formed at adjacent ends of two arms coupled in series to construct a collapsible arm link. Meshing portions of a plurality of the collapsible arm links are coupled to each other by a connecting rod. Opposite ends of each of the collapsible arm links are pivoted to a support pipe and a horizontal moving rod to construct a framework. A roll screen is stretched over the framework.

Abstract: A retractable awning for a recreational vehicle is provided wherein the awning is stored behind a pivoting door that closes flush with the side of the recreational vehicle when the awning is not deployed over a slide-out unit. The pivoting door is adjacent the awning and the pivoting door closes flush with the side of the recreational vehicle with the awning enclosed in its side mounted compartment. With the retractable awning completely behind the plane defining the side of the recreational vehicle and protected by a locking door, the awning does not add any additional unwanted width to the recreational vehicle and is protected from unfurling during transport. An automatic locking mechanism is provided for ensuring that the door remains closed during transportation. Further, a debris clearing mechanism is preferably installed adjacent the spool which collects the retractable awning as it retracts, thereby cleaning the awning of debris prior to its withdrawal into the compartment.

Abstract: A retractable awning having one edge of an awning sheet secured to a support surface and an opposite edge secured to a roll bar wherein the roll bar is mounted for movement between a retracted position adjacent to the support surface and an extended position by a pair of support arms and a pair of rafter arms with the rafter arms including inner and outer arm segments that are pivotally connected together by an elbow joint that automatically locks the arms in longitudinal alignment when the awning is fully extended.

Abstract: In an awning comprising a roller tube for winding up an awning fabric, wherein the roller tube is actuated in the winding direction by a torsion spring, provision is made for the roller tube to be disposed in a housing and supported with its one end in a first face-end cover of the housing, and for the torsion spring to be disposed in the interior of this first end of the roller tube, and for the roller tube to be supported in the region of its opposite second end via a bearing journal extending away from a face-end cover.

Abstract: In a sun room awning comprising a roll bar for rolling up an awning sheet under formation of a sheet roll and lateral guide rails for guiding the awning sheet while it is being extended, provision is made, to attain a larger drop-out range, to implement new awning configurations and to avoid the shortcomings of conventional pull systems, for the awning sheet to have push straps with an inherent stiffness in the direction of extension that can be rolled up together with the awning sheet.

Abstract: An awning includes a roller assembly having a torsion spring, a canopy connected between a wall the roller assembly, and a pair of “four-bar” arm assemblies supporting opposite ends of the roller assembly. The arm assemblies move the roller assembly between a retracted position and an extended position, where the torsion spring biases the roller assembly toward the retracted position. Each arm assembly includes a vertically extending base arm secured to the wall, a bottom arm having a first end pivotally connected to the base arm, an extended arm having a first end pivotally connected to the bottom arm and a second end supporting the roller assembly, and a top arm having a first end pivotally connected to the base arm and a second end pivotally connected to the extended arm. Each arm assembly also includes a force producing member extending between the base arm and the bottom or top arm to move the arm assembly toward the extended position.

Abstract: An automatic retractable awning assembly includes a roller, a flexible canopy rollable on the roller and having an inner edge for connection to a wall and an outer edge secured to the roller, a torsion spring operably connected to a first end of the roller to bias the roller to roll the canopy onto the roller, a pair of arm assemblies supporting opposite ends of the roller and operable to move the roller between a retracted position adjacent the wall and an extended position spaced from the wall, and an electric motor operably connected to a second end of the roller with a gear train to selectively rotate the roller in either direction.

Abstract: A slide-out, intended for being applied to an outer wall of a caravan, mobile home or similar vehicle which is provided with an extensible part (4). The slide-out includes at least a wind-up roller (6) for the tent cloth (5). The wind-up roller (6) is provided in a closed casing (2) which is attached at the wall of the caravan. The free extremity of the tent cloth (5) is fixed at the outermost upper corner (9) of an extensible part (4).

Abstract: A retractable awning assembly includes a spring-biased roller assembly, a flexible canopy having an inner edge for connection to a wall and an outer edge secured to the roller assembly, and a pair of arm assemblies supporting opposite ends of the roller assembly and operable to move the roller assembly between a stored position adjacent the wall and a sheltered position spaced from the wall. Each arm assembly has an extendable support arm, a pneumatic cylinder operably connected to the support arm for extending and retracting the support arm, and an extendable rafter arm including a pair of parallel pneumatic cylinders for extending and retracting the rafter arm. The support arm has a pair of laterally spaced apart wheels which are rotatable about a generally horizontal axis, an upper end operably connected to the roller assembly and a lower end pivotably securable to the wall. The rafter arm has an upper end pivotably securable to the wall and a lower end pivotally connected to the support arm.

Abstract: An awning includes a roller assembly having a torsion spring, a canopy connected between a wall the roller assembly, and a pair of “four-bar” arm assemblies supporting opposite ends of the roller assembly. The arm assemblies move the roller assembly between a retracted position and an extended position, where the torsion spring biases the roller assembly toward the retracted position. Each arm assembly includes a vertically extending base arm secured to the wall, a bottom arm having a first end pivotally connected to the base arm, an extended arm having a first end pivotally connected to the bottom arm and a second end supporting the roller assembly, and a top arm having a first end pivotally connected to the base arm and a second end pivotally connected to the extended arm. Each arm assembly also includes a force producing member extending between the base arm and the bottom or top arm to move the arm assembly toward the extended position.

Abstract: A clamp for securing a canopy to a telescoping rafter while simultaneously securing the rafter is provided by the present invention. A handle is pivotally mounted on a rafter arm used to support and extend a retractable awning canopy. When the handle is rotated to a first position, the clamp is disengaged and a rafter arm may be extended freely. When the handle is rotated to a second position a spring lock is engaged by a cam attached to the handle, such that the spring lock secures the position of a first member relative to a second member of the telescoping rafter. At least one end of the handle includes a pair of clamping jaws for securing a canopy to the handle. The clamping jaws are tightened or loosened by a thumb screw connecting the jaws. The thumb screw may also be used to secure the handle to the rafter when the handle is not in use.

Abstract: A retractable awning for use on mobile homes, recreational vehicles or the like having slide-out units as a part thereof includes an awning sheet that is secured along an inner edge to the side of the mobile home with the opposite edge being secured to a torsionally biased roll bar rotatably disposed on the outer ends of support arms pivotally mounted to the outer face of the slide-out unit. A flexible tie-down strap secures the awning in an extended position with the support arms projecting substantially horizontally away from the outer wall, and upon release of the tie-down strap, the awning automatically retracts to a position immediately adjacent to the outer wall of the slide-out unit. The awning sheet always overlies the top wall of the slide-out unit when the slide-out unit is extended and regardless of whether or not the awning is extended or retracted.