Patent Grant
7065934
The subject invention is directed to the art of awning systems and, more particularly, to an all-season awning apparatus with an aesthetically pleasing and protective valance for use with associated permanent building structures and to methods and apparatus for attaching the protective valance to building structures. The invention will be described with particular reference thereto, however, it is to be appreciated that the invention has other applications including protective and decorative trim valances, and the like for permanent or rigid canopy structures, coverings, frameworks, or the like.
Prior art rigid metal awning structures have been provided with soft cloth valance trim. However, these structures lack eye appeal because the valance trim does not completely cover or otherwise hide from view the visible outer surfaces of the underlying rigid metal awning structure. To some observers, the “industrial” look of the awning detracts from otherwise pleasant architecture of the building structure.
As a general example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,381,844 teaches a portable two-way aluminum awning for use in connection with recreational vehicles.
More particularly, and turning now to that figure, a rigid aluminum support member 1 defines a front opening 2 for receiving associated support structures, and a rear opening 3 adapted to receive main body portions of a substantially planar aluminum awning structure 4. A plurality of adjacent slots or channels 5 are provided in the extrusion 1 for receiving a section of soft canvas or cloth valance trim.
In the prior art example described above, it is to be appreciated that in normal use the overall awning structure is viewed by an observer in the direction labeled A on the drawing figure. This being the case, the front portion 6 of the support extrusion 1 is clearly visible to the viewer. The canvas valance 7 supported in a selected one of the grooves 5 is therefore incapable of softening the aesthetics of the readily visible front portion 6 of the hard aluminum extrusion 1. In addition, the valance can provide no protection to the outer front face 6 of the extrusion 1 when supported relative to the frame 1 in the manner illustrated.
All permanent metal awning structures heretofore known are utilitarian structures lacking aesthetic sppeal. The art has long provided permanent metal awning structures where fastening screws, perimeter fascias and the like are exposed to view. These structures are often attached to beautiful homes and commercial buildings and serve to cheapen the home or building. Also, many potential home or commercial building owners were required to choose a wholly fabric awning to overcome the utilitarian appearance of the permanent metal awning structures.
Moreover, current art indicates that the canvas awning industry has failed to provide a product that can be designed to withstand the demands of seasonal snow and wind loads and as such offered products that were able to be used only on a seasonal basis and in the case of retractable awnings had to be stored away in defined wind conditions rendering them of no value when such conditions existed. Canvas or fabric awnings in the past have been fabricated and tied to metal pipe structures, and are removed and stored in the winter months in areas where snow accumulation that would damage the awning can be expected. This adds additional maintenance costs to that type of awning and does not provide for usage in the winter months.
Additionally, retractable or roll-up fabric awnings have been designed to address the seasonal removal issues but, due to structural limitations, also fail to provide permanent usage and offer little or no protection in rain or wind storms. Water ponding during a rainfall can cause them to collapse and winds over 25 miles per hour generally expose retractable awnings to torque conditions which lead to the awning being ripped away from the supporting structure. Special motorized wind sensors are installed to sense wind conditions and retract the awning with an electric motor device when these conditions arise. The present invention offers an awning system that can be installed and utilized for year-round use.
Attractive or pleasing-to-the-eye permanent awning structures having aesthetic fabric valances for covering fastening screws, perimeter fascias and the like are not found in the prior art.
There is a clear need in the awning industry for a system that provides a permanent four-season awning structure having the appearance of a work of art rather than merely a utilitarian structure. Moreover, there is a need for an aesthetic permanent four-season awning structure which combines the soft look of fabric with the durable qualities of the underlying structure that enables the fastening means and the perimeter fascias to be hidden from view. The needed awning structure would enhance the appearance of the finest homes and commercial buildings and add significant value thereto, rather than detract therefrom as is the case with the systems known prior to this disclosure. Additionally, a fabric valance is needed which can be easily removed for replacement or storage in about thirty minutes with only a common screwdriver as the required tool.
It would, therefore, be desirable to provide an awning system formed of metal and including a cloth valance trim which both covers or otherwise hides the outer visible surfaces of the awning support members and also protects those surfaces.
It is also desirable to provide a method and apparatus for supporting a cloth valance relative to awning structures to cover and protect otherwise visible surfaces of support and frame portions of the awning structures.
The subject invention provides an improvement to aluminum awning structures of the type described which produces an aesthetically pleasing and protective valance trim system for use with associate permanent building structures. In addition, the invention can be readily used in an installed base of aluminum awning structures by a simple retrofitting process. In that way, the invention is useful in not only newly manufactured products, but in devices already placed in service.
In accordance with an aspect of the invention, there is provided an all-season awning system with an aesthetically pleasing protective valance for use in connection with associated permanent building structures. The awning system includes a metal peripheral frame carrying a substantially planar main body portion and a fabric valance member substantially covering the entire front visible surfaces of the peripheral frame. The peripheral frame includes an elongate header member having first and second ends and is adapted for attachment to the associated permanent building structure. A first elongate transverse support member has first and second ends, the first end being operatively coupled with the first end of the elongate header member. A second elongate transverse support member has first and second ends as well, the first end thereof being operatively coupled with the second end of the header member. Lastly, a lateral support member is operatively coupled between the first and second free ends of the first and second elongate support members thereby forming the peripheral frame. The lateral support member forms a planar substantially rectangular front face surface having a height and width. The fabric valance member covers the entire front face height but preferably covers both the front face height and width of the front face surface of the elongate lateral support member.
In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, the first elongate transverse support member forms a planar substantially rectangular first face surface having a height and width. A first portion of the valance member substantially covers the entire first face surface height but preferably covers both the first face surface height and width of the first elongate transverse support member.
In accordance with a still further aspect of the invention, the second elongate transverse support member defines a planar substantially rectangular second face surface having a height and width. A second portion of the fabric valance member substantially covers the entire second face surface height but preferably covers both the second face surface height and width of the second elongate transverse support member.
In its preferred form, the fabric valance member is carried on the lateral support member and on the first and second elongate transverse support members using a tube and resilient groove attachment system. A first elongate tubular member is carried in a fold formed by an upper edge of the fabric valance member. A second elongate attachment member provided with a slot for receiving the tubular member is operatively coupled with the support members. The walls forming the slot or groove of the second elongate attachment member are resiliently biased to permit insertion of the tubular member and valance fold using modest pressure and to hold the valance in place under normal loads. The fabric valance member can be selectively removed by simply decoupling the elongate tubular member from the attachment member slot.
The use of the described arrangement significantly enhances the aesthetic appeal of existing aluminum awning structures and provides a degree of protection thereof.
In view of the above, it is an advantage of the invention to provide an all season awning system with an aesthetically pleasing protective valance for use with associated permanent building structures.
It is another advantage of the invention to provide an all-season metal awning system with a fabric valance disposed to hide the metal frame from view.
It is another advantage of the invention to provide an awning system that can be installed and utilized for year-round use.
Still another advantage of the invention is to provide an aesthetic permanent four-season awning structure with a soft look fabric combined with the durable qualities of a metal structure that enable the fastening means and fascias to be hidden from view.
Still other advantages and benefits of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading and understanding of the following detailed description.
The invention may take physical form in certain parts and arrangements of parts, a preferred embodiment of which will be described in detail in the specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and wherein:
a is an enlarged portion of
Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for the purposes of illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention only and not for purposes of limiting same,
With continued reference to
The elongate header member 24, preferably formed of aluminum, defines a first end 40 and a second end 42. As shown best in
The first elongate transverse support member 26, preferably formed of aluminum, defines first and second ends 50, 52, respectively. The first end 50 of the transverse support member 26 is operatively coupled with the first end 40 of the header member 24 as shown using any suitable means such as, sheet metal screws, fasteners or the like.
Similarly, the second elongate transverse support member 28, preferably formed of aluminum, defines a first end 60 and a second end 62. The first end 60 of the second elongate transverse support member 28 is operatively coupled with the second end 42 of the header member 24 again, using fasteners, sheet metal screws, or any other suitable means.
The elongate lateral support member 30 is coupled to the first and second transverse support members 26, 28 as illustrated. A first end 70 of the lateral support member 30 is operatively coupled with the second end 52 of the transverse support member 26 and a second end 72 of the lateral support member 30 is operatively coupled with the second end 62 of the second transverse support member 28.
As shown best in
With continued reference to
Lastly with reference to
In the preferred embodiment, all of the peripheral frame 20 structure as well as the substantially planar main body portion 22 of the subject system is formed of metal, preferably aluminum. The fabric valance member 32 is preferably formed of any water resistant and fade-resistant material such as, for example, Sunbrella™ fabric. The fabric valance member 32 is held on the lateral support member 30 to substantially cover and hide the entire front face height 76 of the front face surface 74 from view. In that way, an aesthetically pleasing and protective covering is provided for the peripheral frame 20 of the subject awning system 10. This significantly improves the overall appearance of the awning structure and provides a degree of protection to the peripheral frame.
Preferably, as illustrated in the drawing figures, a first portion 80 of the valance member 32 extends to cover the entire first face surface 54 of the first transverse support member 26 when viewed in the direction labeled A′. Similarly, a second portion 82 of the valance member 32 covers substantially the entire second face surface 64 of the second support member 28 when viewed in the direction labeled A′. In that way, substantially the entire visible peripheral frame 20 of the subject awning system 10 is protected and hidden from view and the view thereof is enhanced by the aesthetically pleasing valance 12.
In its preferred form, the fabric valance member 32 includes an upper end 100 carrying an elongate tubular member 120 in a fold 102 provided in the upper end 100. The lower end 104 of the valance member 32 includes a similar fold 106 selectively carrying a weight device 108 so that the valance 12 is better able to resist wind gusts and the like.
As best shown in enlarged detail in
It is to be appreciated that the attachment means 121 extends not only across the entire longitudinal length of the lateral support member 30 but also along the entire longitudinal length of both the first transverse support member 26 and the second transverse support member 28. In that way, the first and second portions 80, 82 of the valance member 32 are carried on the first and second transfer support members 26, 28. Preferably the attachment arrangement of the first and second portions 80, 82 of the valance member 32 on the first and second transverse support members 26, 28 is as described above in connection with the lateral support member 30. In this way, the entire valance member 32 can be selectively installed onto the peripheral frame 20 as desired and removed therefrom when deemed necessary or appropriate or as desired.
The invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiment. Obviously, modifications and alterations will occur to others upon reading and understanding this specification. As an example other forms or techniques for attaching the valance to one or more of the support members can be used such as hook and latch systems, decorative snaps, or the like. It is intended to include all such modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalence thereof.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2189567 | Miller | Feb 1940 | A |
| 3100012 | Dunn | Aug 1963 | A |
| 3612145 | Darula et al. | Oct 1971 | A |
| 5148640 | Reilly, Sr. | Sep 1992 | A |
| 5381844 | Struben | Jan 1995 | A |
| 6494246 | Blevins | Dec 2002 | B1 |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20050115163 A1 | Jun 2005 | US |
