Abstract: A releasable connection frame assembly includes a first support having a first end. Right and left connecting plates are connected to the first end, the connecting plates have alignment guides having angular guide edges and a load axis aperture. The connecting plates are reverse images of each other. A second support has a second end, an interior, opposite sides, first and second load pin apertures, and first and second release pin apertures proximate to the second end. A quick release is disposed in the second end and has a spring, first and second prongs, first and second load pins, and first and second release pins. The load pins pass through the alignment guides to releasably engage the load axis apertures to connect the first and second supports together. The release pins permit separation of the first and second supports from an engaged configuration.

Abstract: A covering for an architectural covering is provided. The covering may include a rotatable outer roller, a rotatable inner roller, a first shade secured to the outer roller, and a second shade secured to the inner roller. The outer roller may define an elongated slot extending along a length of the outer roller and opening to an interior of the outer roller. The inner roller may be received within the outer roller and may define a central longitudinal axis. The first shade may be retractable onto and extendable from the outer roller. The second shade may extend through the elongated slot and may be retractable onto and extendable from the inner roller. The elongated slot may be substantially horizontally aligned with the central longitudinal axis of the inner roller when the first shade is in a fully extended position.

Abstract: A vertical raising safety rail. The safety rail includes lower linkage arm assemblies that are connected to a base and to a center rail assembly and configured to raise or lower the center rail assembly relative to the base when a rotational force is applied to the drive shaft. The safety rail also includes upper linkage arm assemblies that are connected to the center rail assembly and to a top rail. The upper linkage arm assemblies are connected to corresponding lower linkage assemblies and are configured to move the top rail relative to the center rail assembly. When the top rail is raised, one or more safety curtains are unfurled from a take-up roller inside the top rail to provide a safety curtain in the vertical plane of the safety rail.

Abstract: A fender for a cycling apparatus is provided. The fender may include a front portion, a rear portion, and an outer surface and an inner surface that each extend from the rear portion to the front portion. The fender may further include a mount portion disposed between the rear portion and the front portion. The mount portion may include a first engagement part configured to engage with at least one blade of a pair of spaced apart blades of a fork assembly, and a second engagement part. A first engagement part may be configured minimize side-to-side motion of the fender relative to a fork assembly and a second engagement part configured to minimize fore-and-aft motion of the fender relative to the fork assembly. A fender elongated body may have a generally convex outer surface and a generally concave inner surface, the inner surface defining a hollow cavity of the body.

Abstract: A window covering comprises a head rail and slats that are suspended from the head rail and have a plurality of edges that define a front plane. A tilter assembly is operatively connected to the slats for tilting the slats and comprises a wand shaft operatively connected to a worm gear. A drive gear operatively connected to a tilt shaft, and at least one idler gear connects the worm gear to the drive gear. The axis of rotation of the wand shaft is disposed at an angle relative to the plane to space a wand controller from the front plane. The wand shaft may include a wand connector that is releasably connected to the tilter assembly.

Abstract: An arrangement for retracting and extending a roller blind web has a shaft (8) rotatably mounted in a cassette (6). A first longitudinal edge (10) of the roller blind (4) is mounted on the shaft (8) and can wind around the shaft (8). An end strip (14) is movable relative to the cassette (6) and has a housing (20) to which the second longitudinal edge (12) of the web (4) is connected. First and second gearwheels (30) with different diameters are in the housing (20) of the end strip (14) and can rotate about a common shaft (34). First and second telescopic arms (22, 24) are in the housing (20) and have first and second racks (26, 28) that engage the first and second gearwheels (30, 32). Thus, the telescopic arms (22, 24) can move simultaneously relative to the housing (20) by different distances in opposite directions.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a rotatable awning with illumination are provided. The awning includes an axial groove wherein a plurality of luminaires are located for lighting of an area below and around an extended awning. The awning includes an electromechanical rotatable conductor which provides electrical contact between a fixed portion of the awning assembly and the rotating awning roller tube. This allows for flow through of electricity or current to the luminaires and/or the awning motor internally through the roller tube.

Abstract: A sheltering device configured for being installed over a designated object such as a vehicle's roof. The sheltering device includes: a single flexible cover having a shape of varying width; foldable supporting arms, attachable to the cover; and a retractable mechanism configured for folding and unfolding the foldable supporting arms for folding and unfolding the cover. The foldable supporting arms are configured to simultaneously move along predefined non-parallel trajectories when unfolding, to allow the flexible cover, attached thereto, to unfold in a forward and sideways movement throughout the unfolding movement, while creating two (or more) stable supporting points suspended in air at its distal edges and/or along the bars, which provide tension to the cover attached in all required direction, thus eliminating the necessity of using a ridged connection between these distal edges.

Abstract: Shade structures include awning fabrics carried by awning rolls from which they may be extended to provide shade to areas, and into which they may be retracted when shade is not needed. Closed systems are disclosed in which one or more awning fabrics can be extended through a single drive system. In particular embodiments, the shade structures cover large surface areas and include solar cells for the generation of photovoltaic power.

Abstract: An intermediate support for a retractable roll awning. The support is positioned between two end brackets and provides additional support. The support includes a two support surfaces for supporting the roll awning in two directions. Alternatively, the support may comprise a single curved support surface. The support surface or surfaces include an arrangement for reducing friction.

Abstract: In an awning, in particular a sun room awning, comprising a fabric-roll shaft for retracting and extending an awning fabric; wherein the inward end of the awning fabric is joined to the fabric-roll shaft and the outward end of the awning fabric to a drop-out bar, and the drop-out bar is run in lateral guide rails; wherein elastic pull straps act on the drop-out bar on the side opposite the awning fabric, the pull straps being deviated by a deflection pulley in the vicinity of the end of the guide rail, and reversed towards the fabric-roll shaft and wound on the fabric-roll shaft upon extension and unwinding of the awning fabric and exercising tensile stress on the drop-out bar and thus on the awning fabric; wherein unwinding the awning fabric and winding up the pull straps take place by an electric motor drive of the fabric-roll shaft, and switchgear is provided for switching off the drive of the fabric-roll shaft upon complete extension; it is provided that the switchgear acts on the drive of the fabric-roll

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 awning tension assembly and method allows the awning of a recreational vehicle to be secured during storms and gusty winds. The assembly is affixed to the ends of fluted awning roll bars and includes a clip which fits within a roll bar flute for securement. The assembly can be installed and adjusted to provide the requisite tension required and can be easily removed when no longer needed.

Abstract: A canopy may be mounted on the luggage rack of the vehicle by a pair of brackets. The canopy may be fitted on nearly any luggage rack by adjusting the placement of the brackets. The canopy is enclosed by an enclosure, and rolls up onto a carriage in the enclosure. To erect the canopy, the bag is unzipped, the canopy is extended, and aluminum support posts are extended to support the canopy. The canopy is supported along its sides by a pair of rafters that are similarly extended. The canopy provides shelter and protection when it is needed, and is easily stored in its enclosure for transport.

Abstract: A motor-driven blind for a curved back window of a motor vehicle. A winder roller has an end of a cloth fixed thereto and the other end fixed to a pull-bar. Two arms are hinged at ends to the pull-bar and hinged at the other ends to carriages slidable in slideway which is substantially parallel to the axis of the winder roller. A drive device synchronously moves the carriages, and hence the ends of the arm in opposite directions in the slideway to thereby deploy the cloth. The pull-bar is elastically deformable in a direction perpendicular to the cloth.

Abstract: A motorized roller blind comprises a housing in which at least one roller member is rotatably mounted, and a strip of material forming the blind member which is fixed to the roller member at one end and to a pull bar at the other end. Actuating means comprise first and second links each having a first end pivotally fixed to the pull bar in the vicinity of a respective end thereof, and a second end pivotally fixed to a coupling member which is itself fixed to a respective end of a rack drive member adapted to be displaced by a drive pinion drive by a motor.

Abstract: A window screen or shade, in particular for motor vehicles, includes a wind-up roller biassed in the wind-up direction that is rotatably journalled in a base and on which shade or screen web is secured with one end. The other edge of the web is mounted in an end rail, which is engaged by at least one extension element of an extension structure located in the vicinity of the wind-up roller, in order to unwind the web counter to the biassing of the spring mechanism for the wind-up roller. To enable dispensing with additional guide elements for the end rail, which support the window shade in the direction at right angles to the spread-open web, the extension element is substantially rigid, at least in a direction at right angles to the plane of the web defined by the extended web, and when the web is extended can move in a plane parallel to this plane of the web.

Abstract: A retractable, roller-mounted fabric awning enclosed in a box-type assembly, which together with a releasable front bar, to which a front end of the awning is attached, thus forming a fully-enclosed housing for the awning, is provided for mounting on recreational vehicles and the like. A security lock mechanism to secure the front bar which contains a pair of pivotally mounted articulated folding support arms and a pair of pivotally mounted telescoping support legs, when the awning is in a retracted position, is provided to prevent the inadvertent detachment of the front bar from its releasably interlocking relationship with the awning box assembly while the awning is in a retracted position, and particularly when the vehicle to which the awning box assembly is mounted is being driven.

Abstract: An automatic lock for a rolling grille or the like is enclosed in guide means on each side of the opening to be closed and is actuated by an effort to open the grille by applying external forces opposite the direction of closure but released by lift tension.

Abstract: An assembly for covering a swimming pool when it is not in use. A roll member is rotatably mounted at one end of the pool for rolling up and unrolling a sheet of material of dimensions for covering the pool. A scissor type extension device moves the outer end of the sheet toward the other side of the pool when unwinding. The scissor device is moved between the retracted and extended positions by a rotating screw. An electrical motor rotates the screw and the roll member. A slide track mechanism submerges the entire assembly when rolled up.

Abstract: Arrangement for covering a chip transport box including a cover which is adapted to be rolled up on and unrolled from a shaft and a swinging arm provided at each of two opposite walls of the chip transport box whereby one end of the swinging arm is pivotally journalled at the respective wall and at least one piston and cylinder unit connected to at least one of the swinging arms and to said wall for swinging the swinging arms and for extending the cover across the chip transport box from one side thereof to the other.

Abstract: Awning mechanism for store-front awnings and the like to provide protection against sunlight, rain, etc. The awning mechanism includes a primary awning roller on which the awning cloth is wound and which is provided with means for imparting rotation thereto. A parallel drop tube is affixed to scissor-jack extension arms which hold the drop tube at variable distances from the primary awning roller. In one embodiment of the invention, the drop tube contains a rotatable reversing roller and a longitudinal slot which permits looping the awning cloth over the reversing roller. After the awning cloth emerges from the drop tube, it depends freely therefrom to constitute a flyer of variable length. The reversing roller is provided with separate rotating means so as to permit an independent adjustment of the length of the dependent portion of the awning.

Abstract: An awning assembly including an awning, a pair of main support arms, and a pair of rafter arms is collapsible from an extended position to a stored position. In the stored position the awning assembly is enclosed in a box which is mounted to a wall. In the extended position the rafter arms extend from the box and the main support arms extend from the wall to support the awning. The box can be formed in four lightweight interlocking extrusions. A bracket braces the interlocking extrusions, supports the awning in the stored position, and elevates the rafter arms within the box. A foot is pivotal on each of the main support arms to permit attachment of the main support arm to the wall or ground.

Abstract: Awning apparatus for travel trailers, mobile homes, and the like for canopy awnings of the type having a canopy attached at a fixed rail on the vehicle and at a wind-up roller bar. The roller bar includes springs for asserting wind-up tension on the canopy at all times such that movement of the roller bar from the canopy in-use position spaced from the vehicle to a storage position adjacent the vehicle is accompanied by an automatic wind-up of the canopy around the roller bar. A four point suspension system is provided for supporting the roller bar which includes side arms engageable with respective opposite ends of the roller bar and rafter arms engageable with the roller bar at positions intermediate the ends of the roller bar. To accommodate adjustment and connection of the rafter bars, the roller bar is provided with a slot engageable with an enlarged ball end portion of the rafter bars.

Abstract: The shaft on which the awning web may be rolled up is mounted in a housing with a substantially cylindrical inner cavity having a slot along its length for passage of the web. C-shaped brackets, open in the region of the slot, can be slid onto the housing, with notches locking on ridges of the housing to prevent relative rotation, and these brackets may be clamped on wall-mounted bases at an adjustable angle by means of clamping shells affixed to the mounting bases. The extension arms linked to the bottom slat have their inner ends mounted on the forward portions of two of the brackets and these arms fold up against the housing as the bottom slat is pulled up against the housing when the awning is retracted.