Awning assemblies

Claim 2

An awning assembly comprising: horizontal bar means for securing one edge portion of an awning formed of flexible sheet material; a cylindrical pipe having means disposed longitudinally thereof for securing an edge portion of said awning opposite said one edge portion; means defining a pair of sets of cylindrical recesses individually disposed in respective opposite ends of said pipe, the recesses of each of said sets being distributed around the respective end peripheries of said pipe; a plurality of roller bearings individually disposed in respective different ones of said recesses; a pair of hubs individually receptive of respective ends of said pipe and each having an inner diameter of a size to journal said bearings; and a pair of struts individually secured at one end to respective ones of said hubs and individually securable at the other end to respective horizontally-spaced points displaced below said bar means.

Claim 3

An awning assembly as defined in claim 1 in which the wall of said pipe is formed to include a plurality of longitudinally extending indented cylindrical slots the respective ends of which constitute said recesses.

Claim 4

An awning assembly as defined in claim 2 in which said opposite edge portion of said awning is folded into one of said slots, and an element is disposed inside the fold within said one slot to secure said opposite edge portion to said pipe.

Claim 5

An awning assembly as defined in claim 1 in which each of said bearings includes a shaft received into a respective one of said recesses and an integral enlarged head the external perimeter of which engages the interior perimeter of the respective one of said hubs.

Claim 6

An awning assembly as defined in claim 4 in which said shaft is of a diameter to be slidably received within said one recess for rotation therein.

Claim 7

An awning assembly as defined in claim 4 in which the surface of said head, opposite said shaft and facing said hub, is of semi-conical shape.

Claim 8

An awning assembly as defined in claim 1 in which each of said bearings includes a shaft, of a diameter to be grippingly received within a respective one of said recesses, and in which said shaft integrally terminates in a radially extending collar integrally beyond which is a spindle, and a cylindrical roller rotationally mounted on said spindle with the external perimeter of said roller engaging the internal perimeter of the respective one of said hubs.

Claim 9

An awning assembly as defined in claim 1 in which a rod extends lengthwise through said pipe and is connected at one end to a respective one of said hubs, a spider is disposed on said rod intermediate the ends of said pipe, and a spring is coiled around said rod and connected at its opposite ends between said spider and said one of said hubs.

Claim 10

An awning assembly as defined in claim 8 in which first and second sleeves are carried on said rod and individually affixed respectively to said one hub and said spider, and in which opposing end portions of said spring are individually threaded upon respective ones of said sleeves.

Claim 11

An awning assembly as defined in claim 8 in which the wall of said pipe is formed to include a plurality of longitudinally extending indentations, and in which the periphery of said spider is shaped to include a corresponding plurality of relieved areas respectively received by said indentations.

Claim 12

An awning assembly as defined in claim 1 in which each of said struts includes a pair of mutually telescoping members adjustably interconnectible in determination of strut length.

Claim 13

An awning assembly as defined in claim 1 and which further includes a pair of arms individually extending between said bar and the regions of the respective ends of said pipe, each arm being fixed at one end with respect to said bar and at the other end with respect to the end portion of the respective one of said struts near to said pipe.

Claim 14

An awning assembly as defined in claim 12 in which all of said arms and struts are selectively adjustable in length.

Claim 15

An awning assembly as defined in claim 12 in which said arms are hingedly fixed at both ends thereof, said struts are hingedly securable at said other ends thereof, and all of said arms and struts are selectively adjustable in length.

Claim 16

An awning assembly as defined in claim 12 which includes a first pair of first fastener parts individually disposed at respective ones of said one ends of said struts, a second pair of first fastener parts individually disposed adjacent to respective ones of said other ends of said struts, and a pair of second fastener parts, lockingly matable respectively with either of said first or second pairs of said first fastener parts, disposed individually at respective ones of said other ends of said arms.

Claim 17

An awning assembly as defined in claim 15 in which each of said arms is of tubular cross-section, each of said second fastener parts includes a space-opposed pair of slits having inwardly enlarged portions and extending in the walls of said arms from said other ends of said arms, each of said first fastener parts includes a pin having necked-down portions to accept entrance into said slits and increased-diameter portions to accept said enlarged portions, and spring means on said pin for biasing said increased-diameter portions into alignment with said slits.

Claim 18

An awning assembly as defined in claim 16 in which one of said increased-diameter portions tapers gradually into the adjacent one of said necked-down portions.

Claim 19

An awning assembly as defined in claim 16 in which one end of each of said pins extends individually througH one of a corresponding other end of a respective one of said struts as a hinge-pin therefor.

Claim 20

An awning assembly as defined in claim 1 which further includes locking means disposed at one of said hubs for automatically preventing rotation of said pipe upon positioning of said pipe adjacent to said bar.

Claim 21

An awning assembly as defined in claim 19 in which said locking means includes an opening in said one hub, a stub receivable in said opening and insertable therethrough in the path of said bearings, a member pivoted to swing said stub into said path upon abuttment against the region of said bar, and a spring for biasing the inner end of said stub out of the path of said bearings.

Claim 22

An awning assembly comprising: horizontal bar means for securing one edge portion of an awning formed of flexible sheet material; a cylindrical pipe having means disposed longitudinally thereof for securing an edge portion of said awning opposite said one edge portion; a pair of hub assemblies individually mounting respective ends of said pipe for rotation thereof; a pair of struts individually secured at one end to respective ones of said hubs and individually securable hingedly at the other end to respective horizontally spaced points displaced below said bar means; a pair of arms individually extending between said bar and the regions of the respective ends of said pipe, each arm being hingedly fixed at one end with respect to said bar and coupled at the other end with respect to the end portion of the respective one of said struts near to said pipe; a first pair of fastener parts individually disposed at respective ones of said one ends of said struts; a second pair of first fastener parts individually disposed adjacent to respective ones of said other ends of said struts; and a pair of second fastener parts, lockingly matable respectively with either of said first or second pairs of said first fastener parts, individually disposed at respective ones of said other ends of said arms.

Claim 23

An awning assembly comprising: horizontal bar means for securing one edge portion of an awning formed of flexible sheet material; a cylindrical pipe having means disposed longitudinally thereof for securing an edge portion of said awning opposite said one edge portion; a pair of hub assemblies individually mounting respective ends of said pipe for rotation thereof; a pair of struts individually secured at one end to respective ones of said hubs and individually securable hingedly at the other end to respective horizontally spaced points displaced below said bar means; a pair of arms individually extending between said bar and the regions of the respective ends of said pipe, each arm being hingedly fixed at one end with respect to said bar and coupled at the other end with respect to the end portion of the respective one of said struts near to said pipe; a first pair of fastener parts individually disposed at respective ones of said one ends of said struts; a second pair of first fastener parts individually disposed adjacent to respective ones of said other ends of said struts; and a pair of second fastener parts, lockingly matable respectively with either of said first or second pairs of said first fastener parts, individually disposed at respective ones of said other ends of said arms.

Claim 24

An awning assembly as defined in claim 21 in which each of said arms is of tubular cross-section, each of said second fastener parts includes a space-opposed pair of slits having inwardly enlarged portions and extending in the walls of said arms from said other ends of said arms, each of said first fastener parts includes a pin having necked-down portions to accept entrance of said slits and increased-diameter portions to accept said enlarged portions, and spring means on said pin for biasing said increased-diameter portions into alignment with said slits.

Claim 25

An awning assembly as defined in claim 22 in which one of said increased-diameter portions tapers gradually into the adjacent one of said necked-down portions

Claim 26

An awning assembly as defined in claim 22 in which one end of each of said pins extends individually through one of a corresponding other end of a respective one of said struts as a hinge-pin therefor.

Claim 27

An awning assembly as defined in claim 21 which further includes locking means disposed at one of said hubs for automatically preventing rotation of said pipe upon positioning of said pipe adjacent to said bar.

Claim 28

An awning assembly as defined in claim 25 in which said locking means includes an opening in said one hub, a stub receivable in said opening and insertable therethrough in a position to block rotation of said pipe, a member pivoted to swing said stub into said opening upon abuttment against the region of said bar, and a spring for biasing the inner end of said stub out of said position.