Abstract: The present disclosure describes a retractable awning assembly. The retractable awning assembly may include a plurality of roller tube sections, at least two torsion bar sections, a pair of spring-loaded arms, a fabric cover, a plurality of front bar sections, a pair of end caps, a plurality of mounting brackets, and a plurality of hood sections. Methods of assembling the same are provided.

Abstract: A wheel assembly for luggage includes a main body having at least a slot, and a fitting member having an identification portion. The identification portion defines a shape corresponding to the shape of the slot, and engages with the slot and extends out of an outer surface of the main body. Such identification portion of different luggages is distinguished from each other, which makes the travelers can easily identify their luggage from similar luggages.

Abstract: An awning assembly includes an awning and support arms and rafters that are adapted to support the awning from a backing structure both when the awning is in an extended position and when it is in a retracted position. The support arms and rafters are mounted to the backing structure in a manner that allows for the positions of the support arms and rafters to be readily converted as the awning is extended and retracted. Additionally, the manner in which each rafter is joined to a respective support arm allows for the convenient rearrangement of the rafters and support arms to facilitate supporting of the awning in both the extended and retracted positions. A cooperative roller mechanism, on which the awning is wound and unwound, and locking device are provided to lock the awning in place. The awning assembly, in a particular embodiment, is applied to a pop-up trailer.

Abstract: A collapsible car sun shade assembly consists of a fabric having eyelets on each corner for covering at least the roof of the vehicle. The fabric has outlets covered with lids that can move upward as air pressure builds under the fabric. The fabric is deployed on telescopic pipes. The top of each telescopic pipe has an eyelet lock. The telescopic pipes are attached to dials that can be locked at any angle. The dials are fixed on a plate that is secured to the vehicle.

Abstract: A device that allows one person working alone to easily raise and lower fold-down awnings. It is secured to the underside surface of the awning in a position to receive one of the awning's telescoping support arms and maintain it in a fixed position against the awning, for faster and easier handling of the awning while it is being lowered and raised. It has a U-shaped construction, with a central space in which to hold a telescoping support arm, a narrowed area adjacent to the central space to restrict downward movement of the telescoping support arm out of the central space, opposing flared ends that help to guide a telescoping support arm through the narrowed area and into the central space, and at least one fastener hole. Although aluminum materials are preferred, the present invention device can be made from other non-corroding materials, such as but not limited to plastic.

Abstract: The invention relates to sail shaped awnings, and particularly to attached or freestanding awnings that use tensioned flexible fabric to protect against the sun, wind, rain, hail and other weather conditions. Such awnings may also incorporate firefighting characteristics. In one aspect, the invention resides in a sail shaped awning attached to a building structure, and at least one remote support or column having at least one wire or cable for tensioning the awning, is connected to the roof or roof support assembly so as to apply a downward, restraining force. Preferably, outer edge(s) of the tensioned awning fabric connected to at least one remote support or column are raised or lowered to assist in holding down the roof and to keep out debris during high winds. The outer edge(s) may be connected to hoisting cables or chains connected to winches on the remote support or column, or to telescopic columns.

Abstract: A collapsible hunter's blind apparatus, for enclosing a hunter in a truncated triangularly-shaped enclosure, comprising: first and second vertically draping camouflage panels, a first horizontal telescopic frame member for horizontally supporting the first vertically draping camouflage panel, and a second horizontal telescopic frame member for horizontally supporting the second vertically draping camouflage panel. The first and second horizontal telescopic frame members are coupled to the sides of a tree trunk via an adjustable strap member. The collapsible hunter's blind apparatus further comprises an arc-shaped strap member which provides a reciprocating force to counterbalance gravitational forces and the weight of the horizontally supported first and second vertically draping camouflage panels acting on the first and second telescopic horizontal support members, respectively, to maintain each of the first and second telescopic horizontal support members substantially horizontal.

Abstract: A retractable awning adapted to be moved between extended and retracted positions includes a pair of support arms and a pair of rafter arms each of which can be extended or retracted with the awning. A motor rotates a drive shaft and a roll bar to which an awning sheet is connected so that energization of the motor causes the awning to be wrapped around the roll bar when the awning is being retracted or unwrapped from the roll bar when the awning is being extended. A belt system is disposed in each support arm which causes the support arm to extend or retract depending upon the direction of rotation of the motor so that the arms are extended simultaneously with the unwrapping of the awning sheet from the roll bar or retracted simultaneously with wrapping of the awning sheet around the roll bar. A rigid or alternatively resilient brace extends between each support arm and an associated rafter arm for holding the rafter arms in an extended position as the awning reaches a fully extended position.

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: 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: An optionally telescoping rafter that comprises a lockable spring-biased rafter extension piece that is slidably mounted at the end of the rafter is provided. The rafter extension piece is slidable from a retracted position to an extended position in response to movement of a pivotally mounted handle on the rafter.

Abstract: Improved veranda tent of the type whereby the winding and unwinding mechanism is provided in a top casing (2) and whereby the deployment lath (8) of the tent cloth (3) can be moved in guides, characterized in that the aforementioned guides each are formed by two parts, namely fixed guides (4-5) and movable guides (6-7), whereby these movable guides (6-7) are movable in lengthwise direction in respect to the fixed guides (4-5) and whereby the movable guides (6-7) are movable in respect to the deployment lath (8).

Abstract: A system for automatically tensioning an awning canopy while deploying a clamp arm for operative engagement with the side edge of an awning canopy, includes a clamp arm pivotally mounted on the outermost component of a telescoping rafter arm also having an innermost component. The innermost component slidably receives a gripping system that engages the inner component and becomes releasably locked thereto upon initial pivotal movement of the clamp arm. A link arm interconnects the clamp arm with the outer telescoping component such that further pivotal movement of the clamp arm causes a longitudinal extension of the rafter arm to apply tension to the awning canopy.

Abstract: A support arrangement (12) for mounting an awning or similar on a wall (14). The arrangement (12) includes a first elongate member (18) one end of which is pivotally mountable on the wall (14). The other end of the member (18) pivotally mounts a shorter second member (28). A third elongate member (32) is provided slidably mounted to the second member (28) and lockable to the first member (18) when in a parallel relationship therewith. The end of the member (32) away from the member (18) is pivotally mountable to an awning (10). By virtue of the respective sliding, pivotting and locking of the members (18,28,32), the arrangement (12) can adopt a collapsed position with the members (18,28,32) lying against each other such that the awning (10) can lie against the wall (14), or an erect condition with the members (18,28,32) in alignment and adjustable in length to provide for different inclinations of the awning (10).

Abstract: A lift handle assembly is mounted on a support arm of a awning of the type used on recreational vehicles. The lift handle assembly is used to facilitate extension of the support arm to achieve the desired length for the support arm and then locks the support arm segments together in a manner which can be released only by performing three separate steps.

Abstract: An improved adjustable rib for use with an awning support apparatus which in turn is used with an awning having one end attached to a wall and a second end attached to an awning support tube held a predetermined distance from one end of the awning, measured along the awning, by a pair of side frames attached to the wall. The improved adjustable rib includes an elongated rigid bowed housing having two open ends. Elongated and rigid flat bars, having a curvature nearly identical to that of the housing, slide within the housing and are adjustable to vary the length of the rib. Lock screws, which are screwed into a hole in each of the flat bars, are used to fix the position of the flat bars within the housing. In a second embodiment, the rib includes a smaller diameter curved tube which telescopically fits into a larger curved diameter tube having the same curvature as the smaller tube.

Abstract: A travel lock system for use on retractable awnings incorporating a support arm and a rafter arm wherein the rafter arm is adapted to be moved into a channel provided in the support arm when the awning is retracted, includes a lock arm adapted, in a locking position, to extend across the channel in the support arm to retain the rafter arm therein and further includes a cam surface so that movement of the rafter arm into the channel when the travel lock is in its locking position will not damage the travel lock but will pivot the travel lock out of its locking position to permit the rafter arm to be moved into the support arm.

Abstract: An awning support assembly for an awning apparatus (20) mounted on a vehicle (24) includes a clamp assembly (60) attachable at any point along a support tube (30) of the awning apparatus. Clamp assembly (60) has two clamp members (62,64), each having hook-shaped ends (66,68) engageable within grooves or openings in support tube (30). The opposite adjacent ends of clamp members (62,64) when drawn together pull clamp assembly (60) against support tube (24). A telescoping compression member (34) is rotatably attached to clamp (60) to push outwardly on support tube (30). A lever (90) is manually operated to extend compression member (36) to impart a desired load on support tube (30). A telescoping leg support (38) is rotatably connected to clamp assembly (60) and is locked in desired extended position by movable rack (136) engaging fixed rack (134).

Abstract: An awning assembly includes a pair of collapsible arm assemblies supporting a roller having an awning disposed on the roller and extending to a wall. Each of the arm assemblies includes a telescoping main support arm having a first channel and a second channel which extends between the wall and the roller. A telescoping rafter arm extends between the wall and a slide which is movable within the first channel. The arm assemblies are collapsible from an extended position to a stored position wherein the rafter arm is disposed in the second channel, the main support arm is held next the wall, and the awning is rolled on the roller. The main support arm has a locking ear which registers with a locking ear fixed to the wall to lock the main support arm in the stored position. A mounting bracket associated with each of the main support arms can be operated to detach the main support arm from the wall. This permits the main support arm to be moved to a vertical orientation in the extended position.

Abstract: A bracket mountable on a supporting surface for retaining a pair of awning support members in a retracted juxtapositional storage position has a pair of side plate members retained in spaced parallel vertically oriented relationship by a cross-web member defining uniform channels on opposite sides thereof. The side plate members pivotally support the lower end of one of the support members and defines a space rearwardly of the one support member into which the lower end of the other support member can be inserted to retain the support members in juxtapositional relationship adjacent to the supporting surface.