Enclosable retractable awning

Claim 2

A retractable awning assembly adapted to extend outwardly from a generally vertical surface comprising in combination: a housing adapted to be mounted adjacent to said generally vertical surface, a flexible awning sheet having an inner edge mounted in said housing, a roll bar movable from a position within the housing to a position spaced from the generally vertical surface, means securing an outer edge of said awning sheet to the roll bar so that the sheet can be wrapped around the roll bar when the bar is positioned within the housing and extended between the housing and the roll bar when the roll bar is positioned at the position spaced from the generally vertical surface, a pair of main brace members each having an inner end anchored to said housing and an outer end releasably connectable to an end of said roll bar tO selectively retain the roll bar in a position spaced from the generally vertical surface, said main brace members being swingable into the housing for storage purposes, and a pair of secondary brace members each having an outer end operably connected to one end of the roll bar and an inner end releasably connectable to said generally vertical surface at a location below said housing, said secondary brace members being swingable into said housing when the roll bar is positioned therein.

Claim 3

The retractable awning of claim 1 wherein each of said main brace members and said secondary brace members are longitudinally extensible.

Claim 4

The retractable awning of claim 1 wherein said secondary brace members are pivotally connected to connection means protruding outwardly from opposite ends of said roll bar.

Claim 5

The retractable awning of claim 3 wherein said connection means have a portion extending perpendicularly to the length of said roll bar and said secondary brace members are pivotal about said perpendicular portion.

Claim 6

The retractable awning of claim 1 wherein said main brace members include a support portion and an extensible portion with the support portion being pivotally connected to the housing for movement in a horizontal plane and the main body portion being pivotally connected to the support portion for movement in a vertical plane.

Claim 7

The retractable awning of claim 1 further including a pair of bracket members mounted in said housing, said bracket members being adapted to retain and support said roll bar within the housing.

Claim 8

The retractable awning of claim 6 wherein said brackets further include means for pivotally mounting the inner ends of said main brace members.

Claim 9

The retractable awning of claim 1 wherein said housing has a closure panel pivotally connected to a body portion so as to be movable in an upward direction to open a side of the housing to allow the component parts of the awning to be moved into and out of the housing.

Claim 10

The retractable awning of claim 8 further including biasing means for biasing said closure panel into its upper open condition and securement means for holding said closure panel in its lower closed position.

Claim 11

The retractable awning of claim 1 further including torsion spring means operably mounted in said roll bar so as to be tensioned as the roll bar is rotated about its longitudinal axis when moved from the housing to its position spaced from the generally vertical surface.

Claim 12

The retractable awning of claim 10 wherein said torsion spring means includes two coil springs, one being mounted at each end of the roll bar.

Claim 13

The retractable awning of claim 11 wherein said secondary brace members are pivotally mounted at opposite ends of the roll bar to connecting rods which extend from a location interiorly of the roll bar to a location exteriorly of the roll bar and wherein said coil springs are mounted upon and concentric with the connecting rods.

Claim 14

The retractable awning of claim 12 further including collar means on the interior portion of said connecting rods, said collar means annularly seating opposite ends of said coil springs whereby torsioning of said coil springs will cause the springs to grip the collars and rotatably bias the roll bar as the roll bar is rolled away from the generally vertical surface.

Claim 15

A retractable awning assembly adapted to extend outwardly from a generally vertical surface comprising in combination: a housing adapted to be mounted adjacent to said generally vertical surface, a flexible awning sheet having an inner edge mounted in said housing, a roll bar movable from a position within the housing to a position spaced from the generally vertical surface, means securing an outer edge of the awning sheet to the roll bar so that the sheet can be wrapped around the roll bar when the bar is positioned within the housing and extended between the housing and the roll bar when the roll bar is positioned at a spaced location from the generally verTical surface, and a first pair of brace members, means interconnecting said housing and said roll bar and swingably mounting said first pair of brace members for pivotal movement into said housing regardless of the position of said roll bar, and, a second pair of brace members adapted to interconnect said roll bar and said generally vertical surface at a location which is spaced beneath said housing and means swingably mounting said second pair of brace members with said roll bar for pivotal movement into parallel relationship with said roll bar while said roll bar is positioned at a location spaced from the generally vertical surface so that both said second pair of brace members and roll bar can be moved as a unit into said housing.

Claim 16

A retractable awning assembly adapted to extend outwardly from a generally vertical surface comprising in combination: a housing adapted to be mounted adjacent to said generally vertical surface, a flexible awning sheet having an inner edge mounted in said housing, a roll bar movable from a position within the housing to a position spaced from the generally vertical surface, means securing an outer edge of the awning sheet to the roll bar so that the sheet can be wrapped around the roll bar when the bar is positioned within the housing and extended between the housing and the roll bar when the roll bar is positioned at a spaced location from the generally verTical surface, and a first pair of brace members, means interconnecting said housing and said roll bar and swingably mounting said first pair of brace members for pivotal movement into said housing regardless of the position of said roll bar, and, a second pair of brace members adapted to interconnect said roll bar and said generally vertical surface at a location which is spaced beneath said housing and means swingably mounting said second pair of brace members with said roll bar for pivotal movement into parallel relationship with said roll bar while said roll bar is positioned at a location spaced from the generally vertical surface so that both said second pair of brace members and roll bar can be moved as a unit into said housing.