US3847171A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Motorized awning control apparatus
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-05-29
•
Granted: 1974-11-12
•
Expires: 1993-05-29
Abstract
Abstract An improved awning control apparatus for connection to a support structure wherein the awning is secured to the support structure on one end thereof and to a shaft on the opposite end thereof. The shaft is rollingly supported at one end thereof by a support assembly, having a portion pivotally secured to the support structure and another portion connected to the shaft. The awning control apparatus includes a motor supported within the shaft, having a drive shaft extending from the shaft and secured to a portion of the support assembly, the motor being positioned and connected to rotate the shaft in a releasing direction to releasingly unroll the awning from the shaft and to rotate the shaft in a storing direction to storingly roll the awning about the shaft.
Inventors
- 👤 R Akers
- 👤 H Westfall
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 13:06
CPC Classifications
E; E04; E04F; E04F10/00; E04F10/02; E04F10/06; E04F10/0644; E04F10/0648; B; B60; B60P; B60P3/00; B60P3/32; B60P3/34; B60P3/341; B60P3/343; E04F10/0611; E04F10/0614; E06; E06B; E06B9/00; E06B9/56; E06B9/68; E06B9/72; E04F10/0603; E04F10/0625; E04F10/0651; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S135/00; Y10S135/903; Y10S135/904
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
385 words
Awning control apparatus for connection to a support structure, comprising: a shaft, having opposite ends and an opening extending a distance axially therethrough intersecting one of the ends thereof; an awning, having a roll end and a support end, the roll end of the awning connected to the shaft and the support end of the awning connectable to the support structure; a motor, having a drive shaft extending therefrom, disposed within a portion of the opening in the shaft and the drive shaft extending a distance beyond the end of the shaft intersected via the shaft opening, the motor having a first driven position applying torque to the drive shaft in a direction tending to rotate the shaft in one direction and a second driven position applying torque to the drive shaft in a direction tending to rotate the drive shaft in an opposite direction with respect to the first driven position; means connected to the shaft and the motor securing the motor to the shaft; a first support connector having one end portion pivotally connectable to the support structure, generally below the connection between the support structure and the awning; means connected to the end portion of the first support connector, opposite the end portion of the first support connector connectable to the support structure, and having a portion securedly connecting the drive shaft of the motor to the first support connector, thereby securing the drive shaft in a stationary position relative to the first support connector; a second support connector having one end portion pivotally connectable to the support structure, generally below the connection between the support structure and the awning; means having one portion secured to the shaft generally near the end thereof, opposite the end portion of the shaft connected to the motor, and one other portion journally connected to the end of the second support connector, opposite the end portion connectable to the support structure; and means connected to the motor and having a portion positionable in a forward position positioning the motor in a first driven position rotating the shaft in a storing direction storingly rolling the awning about the shaft and positionable in a reverse position positioning the motor in a second driven position rotating the shaft in a releasing direction releasingly unrolling the awning from the shaft.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
385 words
Awning control apparatus for connection to a support structure, comprising: a shaft, having opposite ends and an opening extending a distance axially therethrough intersecting one of the ends thereof; an awning, having a roll end and a support end, the roll end of the awning connected to the shaft and the support end of the awning connectable to the support structure; a motor, having a drive shaft extending therefrom, disposed within a portion of the opening in the shaft and the drive shaft extending a distance beyond the end of the shaft intersected via the shaft opening, the motor having a first driven position applying torque to the drive shaft in a direction tending to rotate the shaft in one direction and a second driven position applying torque to the drive shaft in a direction tending to rotate the drive shaft in an opposite direction with respect to the first driven position; means connected to the shaft and the motor securing the motor to the shaft; a first support connector having one end portion pivotally connectable to the support structure, generally below the connection between the support structure and the awning; means connected to the end portion of the first support connector, opposite the end portion of the first support connector connectable to the support structure, and having a portion securedly connecting the drive shaft of the motor to the first support connector, thereby securing the drive shaft in a stationary position relative to the first support connector; a second support connector having one end portion pivotally connectable to the support structure, generally below the connection between the support structure and the awning; means having one portion secured to the shaft generally near the end thereof, opposite the end portion of the shaft connected to the motor, and one other portion journally connected to the end of the second support connector, opposite the end portion connectable to the support structure; and means connected to the motor and having a portion positionable in a forward position positioning the motor in a first driven position rotating the shaft in a storing direction storingly rolling the awning about the shaft and positionable in a reverse position positioning the motor in a second driven position rotating the shaft in a releasing direction releasingly unrolling the awning from the shaft.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
182 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first and the second support connectors are each defined further to include: a rod member having one end pivotally connectable to the support structure, generally below the connection between the support structure and the awning; and a base membEr having one end portion telescopingly connected to the end of the rod member, opposite the end of the rod member connectable to the support structure, the end of the base member, opposite the end thereof telescopingly connected to the rod member, being connectable to one end portion of the shaft; and wherein the motor is connected to the shaft and to one of the base members such that the weight of the motor, the shaft and the first and the second support connectors cooperate with the pivotal connection between the first and the second support connectors and the shaft and the end of the first and the second support connectors are pivotally connectable to the support structure to pivotally bias the shaft in a pivotal direction generally away from the support structure maintaining the awning taut.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
117 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein each base member includes a hollow opening extending a distance therethrough intersecting the end thereof telescopingly connected to one of the rod members, and wherein the apparatus is defined further to include: a pair of stops, one stop disposed in the hollow opening of each base member and securedly connected in a predetermined position thereto, each stop engaging the end of the rod member telescoped in the base member limiting the movement of each rod member in one direction with respect to the base member telescopingly connected thereto, the stops cooperatingly positioning the rod members and the base members of the first and the second support connectors in a storing position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
151 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein each base member includes a hollow opening extending a distance therethrough intersecting the end thereof telescopingly connected to one of the rod members, and a plurality of spaced openings formed through each base member intersecting the hollow opening extending through a portion of each base member; and wherein the apparatus is defined further to include: a pair of screw members, one screw member threadedly insertable through predetermined, selected openings formed through each base member to a position wherein a portion of each screw member is disposed within a portion of the hollow opening of one of the base members and engageable with the end of the rod member telescoped in the base member limiting the movement of each of the rod members in the base members in one direction, the screw members cooperatingly positioning the rod members and the base members in predetermined telescoped positions.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
127 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means positioning the motor in the first and the second driven positions is defined further to include: a motor power source connected to the motor; a motor control interposed between the motor and the motor power source, having a forward position, a reverse position and an off position, the motor control connecting the motor power source to the motor positioning the motor in the first driven position in the forward position of the motor control, connecting the motor power source to the motor positioning the motor in the second driven position in the reverse position of the motor control and interrupting the continuity and disconnecting the motor and the motor power source in the off position of the motor control.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
124 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means connecting the drive shaft of the motor to the first support connector is defined further to include: a shaft support block secured to the first support connector, having one opening extending therethrough and another opening extending through a portion thereof intersecting the first-mentioned opening, one end of the drive shaft extending through a portion of the first-mentioned opening and a portion of the drive shaft disposed near the intersection of the first-mentioned and the last-mentioned openings; and means disposed through the last-mentioned opening in the shaft support block engaging the drive shaft and the shaft support block securing the drive shaft to the shaft support block, thEreby securing the drive shaft to the first support connector.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
90 words
The apparatus of claim 1 defined further to include: a pair of brace members, each brace member having one end pivotally connected to the support structure and the opposite end thereof removably connectable to one of the first and the second support connectors, the braces cooperating to brace the first and the second support connectors in an unrolled position of the awning and in one position of each brace member thereby preventing the rotation of the first and the second support connectors in a direction generally toward the support structure.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
164 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the opening in the shaft is defined further as extending axially therethrough intersecting the opposite end of the shaft, and wherein the means connecting the shaft and the second support connector is defined further to include: a plug disposed in the opening of the shaft generally near one end of the shaft, opposite the end portion connected to the motor; means connected to the shaft and to the plug securedly connecting the shaft and the plug; a shaft extension having one end secured to the plug and the opposite end portion extending a distance beyond the end of the shaft opposite the end of the shaft connected to the motor, a portion of the shaft extension journally connected to a portion of the second support connector; and means connected to the shaft extension and engageable with a portion of the second support connector retaining the shaft extension in an assembled position journally connected to the second support connector.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
68 words
The apparatus of claim 1 defined further to include: a cap, having a cap opening formed through a portion thereof, a portion of the cap insertable within a portion of the opening in the shaft generally near the end portion of the shaft connected to the motor, the drive shaft extending through the cap opening and the cap substantially encompassing a portion of the opening in the shaft.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-11-11 | 1978-05-13 | 1978-11-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-11-11 | 1982-05-13 | 1982-11-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-11-11 | 1986-05-13 | 1986-11-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |