1 AWNING AND FRAME ASSEMBLY THEREFOR Technical Field This invention relates to an awning and in particular to an awning for use with a motor vehicle. The present invention also relates to a frame assembly for an awning. The 5 frame assembly and awning are particularly suited for use with vehicles but have other applications for shading or providing weather protection. Background Art Awnings of many different designs are currently available for use in providing shade in many different situations and generally comprise a support frame and a cover 10 material of canvas or similar weatherproof fabric which can be supported by the frame. Commonly awnings are used in connection with buildings to shade particular parts of a building or prevent sun entering windows. Awnings may also be used with building to increase the usability of an outdoor area for example to provide protection from the sun or from adverse weather conditions. The support frames are either of a fixed construction or 15 can be erected from a folded position to an erected or expanded position in which the support frame is either self-supporting or supported by additional frame elements such as upright posts. Awnings are also commonly used with caravans to extend the living area of a caravan. Awnings of this type usually include a collapsible support frame which is 20 mounted to the side of the caravan and which can be extended to one side of the caravan. The cover fabric in this type of awning is often wound about a spring loaded roller and is withdrawn from the roller as the frame is extended. In the erected positions, it is usually necessary to provide upright poles to support the frame. Awnings of this type may also be used on recreational vehicles being mounted directly to the vehicle or via brackets to roof 25 racks for the vehicle. Whilst awnings of this type effectively provide shading or shelter to one side of a caravan or vehicle, it would be desirable to provide an awning which could provide shading or shelter to the side and the rear of a vehicle, caravan or the like. Awning assemblies which are currently available do not effectively provide this facility or if they do 30 enable shading or shelter to the side and rear of a vehicle, have frame assemblies which either project above or outwardly of a vehicle to such an extent that they cause excessive wind resistance when the vehicle is travelling on a road or constitute an unsafe projection to the side of the vehicle.
2 It would be desirable to provide an awning and a frame assembly therefore which is an effective alternative to the prior art and which is particularly but not exclusively suited for use with vehicles and which is capable of providing shelter to one side of and/or to the rear of a vehicle. 5 Summary of the Invention The present invention provides in a preferred aspect although not necessarily the broadest aspect, a frame assembly for an awning comprising an elongated main support member adapted to be supported in a substantially horizontal attitude, means at one end of said main support member for mounting a plurality of first support arms to said main 10 support and a further support arm mounted to the main support member adjacent the end thereof opposite said one end, said first and further arms being pivotally movable is use about a substantially vertical axis between a folded position in which said arms extend substantially longitudinally of said main support member and an erected position in which said arms extend outwardly from said main support member and in which said 15 arms can support cover means. Preferably the further arm in the erected position extends substantially normal to the main support member. Preferably also in said erected position, one of the first support arms is at a non included angle of approximately 270 degrees to the main support member. This permits 20 the main support member of the frame to be mounted to a vehicle to extend along one side thereof and the one first support arm to extend along or across the rear of the vehicle. Further in the erected position another of the first support arms is substantially normal to the main support member. Preferably the mounting means for mounting the first support arms comprises 25 pivot means which allow the above movement of the first support arms. Preferably the pivot means includes at least one pivot member or link is capable of being pivoted to a position extending at a non-included angle of approximately 270 degrees to the main support member. Preferably the first support arms are pivotally connected at one end to the at least one pivot member or link at respective pivot connections spaced apart 30 longitudinally of the at least one pivot member or link. Preferably the at least one pivot member or link comprises a pair of spaced apart pivot members or links between which the corresponding ends of the first support arms are located. Preferably the pivot connections comprise pivot pins or axles extending between the pairs of pivot members 3 or links and through the corresponding ends of the first support arms. Preferably, the at least one pivot member or link is pivotally connected to a pivot support member. Suitably the pivot support member is pivotally connected to the main support member. Preferably the pivot support member is pivotal between a first attitude 5 in the folded position of the frame assembly and a second attitude in the erected position of the frame assembly. Preferably in the first attitude, the pivot support member extends substantially at right angles to the main support member. In the second attitude, the pivot support member suitably extends substantially longitudinally of and comprises an extension of the main support member. 10 Preferably the at least one pivot support member comprises a second pivot link. Preferably the second link is stepped outwardly intermediate its ends to define inner and outer flanges. Preferably the at least one pivot support member comprises a pair of spaced apart pivot links. Preferably the main support member comprises an elongated hollow member and preferably a channel shaped member and the inner flanges of the 15 respective second links extend into the channel shaped member and are pivotally connected to the flanges of the channel shaped member. Preferably the outer flanges are stepped outwardly from the inner flanges. The flanges may be of similar width to the width of the flanges of the main support member. Preferably the step between the flanges forms a stop which can abut at least the end of the main support member to locate the 20 pivot support members in their position in substantial longitudinal alignment with the main support member. The step may also abut the side of the main support member to define a stop to locate the pivot support members in their position substantially normal or at right angles to the main support member. Preferably the further support arm is movable from a folded position in which it 25 is substantially juxtaposed with the main support member and the first support arms when in their folded attitude and the erected position in which the further support arm extends outwardly of the main support member. Preferably where the main support member comprise a hollow elongated housing or channel-sectioned member, the further support arm is located substantially 30 within the housing or channel-sectioned member and extends longitudinally thereof when in its folded position. Preferably the channel shaped housing member includes opposite side flanges and the first and further support arms are pivotally mounted between the opposite side flanges. Preferably the support arms are of similar length and 4 of similar length to the housing member. Preferably in the unfolded or erected position of the frame assembly, the support arms are adapted to be supported at their free end by upright posts which may be guyed. The support arms for this purpose suitably include an end fitting adapted to cooperate 5 with an upright post. Suitably the end fitting is aperture to receive a pointed end or pin at the upper end of an upright post. In another aspect, the present invention provides an awning comprising a frame assembly as described above and cover means attachable to the frame assembly. Preferably the cover means comprises a shade or weather-proof cover material or fabric 10 and is attachable to respective arms of the frame assembly and preferably also to the elongated member. Preferably the elongated member has on its operative upper side a channel or track into which an edge portion of the cover means is adapted to be received. Suitably the channel or track is a re-entrant track adapted to capture and edge portion of the cover 15 means. A corresponding channel or track may be provided on the other side of the elongated member. An additional channel or track may be provided on the underside of the main support member for engagement by a fabric wall or the like which may hang therefrom. Preferably attachment or fastening means are provided to attach the cover 20 material to the respective arms. Such attachment means may comprise sleeves on the underside of the cover material for receipt of respective arms. Preferably the sleeves are located at the position of the arms in the erected position of the frame assembly. Alternatively the arms may be attached to the cover material by other attachment or fastening means such as Velcro-type hook and loop or touch and grip material or 25 material loops which may receive the arms. When designed for use with a vehicle, the elongated support member is suitably adapted to be mounted to the roof racks of a vehicle through suitably mounting brackets so as to extend longitudinally of the vehicle and to one side of the vehicle. The channel or track on the other side of the elongated member permits the awning to be used on one 30 side or the other side of the vehicle. Preferably the main support member includes means to capture one or more mounting bolts for engagement with the mounting brackets. The capturing means may comprise slots on the rear side of the main support member which are adapted to capture the heads of the mounting bolts.
5 Brief Description of the Drawings Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention and wherein Fig. 1 illustrates in plan view a frame assembly for an awning in a folded position 5 according to a first embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is an enlarged top view showing the pivot connection between the elongated housing member and arms of the frame assembly; Fig. 3 is an end perspective view of the pivot connection of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a perspective view from the above of the frame assembly in an erected 10 position; Fig. 5 is an enlarged perspective view showing the pivot connection between the housing member and arms of the frame in an erected position; Fig. 6 is an end view illustrating the manner in which a cover of the awning may be connected to the support arms of the frame; 15 Fig. 7 illustrates a vehicle supporting the awning of the invention in a folded position; Fig. 8 illustrates the vehicle of Fig. 7 with the awning frame in an erected position; Fig. 9 is a view from above of an erected awning; Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment 20 Referring to the drawings and firstly to Fig. 1, there is illustrated in a folded attitude a frame assembly 10 for an awning according to an embodiment of the invention, the frame assembly 10 comprises an elongated housing member 11 which is partly of a generally channel shaped cross section as shown in Fig. 3 and which has a pair of opposite side flanges 12 and 13 with both flanges 12 and 13 being provided with 25 inner and outer tracks 14 and 15, and 16 and 17, the tracks being in the nature of reentrant sail tracks for a purpose which will become apparent further below. The housing member 11 also includes an end wall 18 from which the side flanges 12 and 13 extend, the end wall 18 being provided with longitudinally extending T-sectioned slots 19 in which the heads 20 of mounting bolts 21 can be captured and slid therealong. The 30 housing 11 typically comprises an extruded member of aluminium. The mounting bolts 21 can be bolted to angle brackets 22 which enable the housing member 11 to be mounted in this case to one end of the roof racks of a vehicle as described further below. Arranged at one end of the elongated housing member 11 is a pivot assembly 23 6 (shown also in Figs. 2 and 3) comprising a pair of spaced apart substantially parallel pivot links 24 which are mounted to the elongated member 11 via a pair of pivot support members 25 for pivotal movement relative to the elongated member 11. The pivot support members 25 are of stepped configuration having inner flanges 26 which extend 5 into the channel of the housing member 11 to lie adjacent the inner side of the respective flanges 12 and 13 with a spacer 27 spacing the flanges 26 apart. A pivot pin 28 extends through the respective flanges 12 and 13 of the elongated member 11, the flanges 26 of the pivot support members 25 and spacer 27 to pivotally connect the pivot support members 25 to the elongated housing member 11. 10 The stepped pivot support members 25 also include outwardly stepped flanges 29 to which the pivot links 24 are pivotally connected, the links 24 which are of planar strip- or flange-like form being located on the inner sides of and adjacent to the respective flanges 29 and connected thereto by a pivot pin 30 which extends through the respective flanges 29 and links 24. The pivot axes defined by the pivot pins 30 and 28 15 are substantially parallel to each other. The pivot support members 25 through their pivotal connection by pivot pin 28 to the elongated housing member 11 permits the pivot axis of the pivot links 24 defined by the pivot pin 30 to be moved from a position in which it is to one side of the member 11 to a position longitudinally aligned with the support member 11 and in this position, the pivot links 24 can be pivoted to a position 20 extending at substantially 270 degrees to the support member 11 which is the normal erected position of the frame assembly 10. A plurality of first elongated support arms 31, in this case four support arms 31, are pivotally connected to the links 24, the support arms 31 comprising tubular members 32 having end pivot brackets 33 at one end which are located between the links 24 and 25 are pivotally connected thereto. The innermost support arm 31 has its end pivot bracket 33 located between the links 24 at the pivot connection of the links 24 to the flanges 29 and the pivot pin 30 extends through that end bracket 33. The other end brackets 33 space the links 24 apart and are connected to the links 24 by further pivot pins 34 which extend through the links 24 and brackets 33. The pivot axes of the respective support 30 arms 31 are thus spaced apart longitudinally of the pivot links 24 and are substantially parallel to each other and the axis defined by the pivot pin 28. The support arms 31 are thus capable of pivoting in a common plane which in the operative position, is normally horizontal.
7 A further support arm 35 similar to the arms 31 (and shown in dotted outline in Fig. 1) is in the folded position of the frame assembly 10 located within the channel of the elongated member 11 and extends longitudinally thereof, the arm 35 having a pivot bracket 36 at its end opposite the pivot assembly 23 which is pivotally connected by a 5 transverse pivot pin 37 to the flanges 12 and 13 of the member 11. The arm 35 also is pivotable in substantially the same plane as the arms 31. Each of the support arms 31 and 35 includes at its free end an end cap 38 which is apertured at 39 for engagement by an upright support post as described further below. A support bracket 40 is mounted to the lower side of the member 11 at the end 10 opposite the pivot assembly 23 and extends outwardly therefrom. In the folded position of the frame assembly 10 shown in Fig. 1 in which the arms 31 extend substantially parallel to the member 11, the respective arms 31 are supported on the bracket 40. To hold the arms 31 in this position, the bracket 40 may be provided at its free end with an upstanding toggle pin 41 over which the aperture 39 of the end cap 38 of the outermost 15 arm 31 locates. As shown in Fig. 4 and 5, and as referred to above, the pivot support members 25 can be pivoted approximately 90 degrees in the direction of the arrow A about the pivot pin 28 to adopt a position substantially in longitudinal alignment with the member 11. In this position, the steps between the flanges 26 and 29 of the pivot members 25 abut the 20 ends of the flanges 12 and 13 of the channel shaped member 11 to act as a stop to prevent the pivot support members 25 pivoting substantially beyond this position. The pivot links 24 may then be pivoted in the direction of the arrow B due to the change in position of the pivot axis defined by the pin 30 to a position as shown in which the links 24 extend at a non-included angle of substantially 270 degrees to the elongated member 25 11. The support arms 31 may be pivoted anticlockwise relative to the links 24 to the position shown in Figs. 4 and 5 where they are angled at an acute angle to each other and radiate outwardly from the pivot assembly 23 end of the member 11. In addition, the support arm 35 usually located within the channel of the member 11 is pivoted outwardly clockwise in the direction C of Fig. 4 to extend substantially at right angles to 30 the member 11. This is the position of the arms 31 and 35 in the erected position. The frame assembly 10 is typically mounted to a vehicle 42 having a pair of roof racks 43 as shown in Fig. 7 and on the passenger side thereof to extend longitudinally of the vehicle. For this purpose, the elongated member 11 is mounted by means of a pair of 8 end brackets 22 (as described with reference to Fig. 2) to the ends of the respective roof racks 43 of the vehicle 42 typically by bolting. For forming an awning 44, the frame assembly 10 is used with a cover material 45 (shown in Fig. 9 and in dotted outline in Fig. 8). The cover material 45 is provided 5 on its underside with a number of sleeves or loops 46 (see Fig.6) which are adapted to receive respective supports arms 31 and 35 of the frame assembly 10 with the sleeves or loops 45 being positioned to define the required final orientation of the arms 31 and 35 shown in Figs 8 and 9. On its inner margin or periphery, the cover material 45 is provided with a rope, cord or the like which may be threaded or slid endwise into a track 10 14 or 15 to connect the inner edge of the cover material 45 to the frame member 11. The cover material 45 may be any fabric which is waterproof or water resistant such as a light canvas or synthetic material such as a poly fabric. Alternatively the cover material 45 may be formed of a shade cloth Where the awing 44 is to be erected, the vehicle 42 is positioned usually on a 15 relatively flat area of ground. The outermost support arm 31 may then be released from the toggle pin 39 and the respective arms 31 pivoted outwardly as indicated in Fig. 4 such that the innermost and outermost support arms (marked 31' and 31" in Fig. 5) extend substantially at right angles to the member 11 with the outermost member 31" extending across the rear of the vehicle 42 and this will cause the pivot members 24 and 20 pivot links 25 to pivot to the position of Figs. 4 and 5 in which position the links 24 are at a non-included angle of substantially 270 degrees to the member 11 and are directed across the rear of the vehicle 43. The intermediate support arms 31 are positioned at equispaced radial positions between the inner and outermost arms 31. The pivot arm 35 is also pivoted outwardly to 25 extend substantially at right angles to the housing member 11. In this position the extended arms 31 and 35 tension the cover material 45 which is connected to the arms 31 and 35 through the sleeves 46. Further support to the cover material 45 can be provided by means of an additional spreader arm or rail 47 which can be connected between upper ends of the arm 35 and adjacent arm 31 and an intermediate 30 support arm 48 which is connected at one end to the housing member 11 and at its other end to the spreader arm 47 intermediate its ends and so as to extend substantially parallel to the arm 35. The outer ends of the support arms 31 and 35 are then supported at their free ends 9 by means of side upstanding posts 49. The posts 49 are pointed or provided with pins at their upper ends which extend into the apertures 39 in the end caps 31 of the arms 31 and 35. The arms 49 are telescopically adjustable in height so as to enable adjustment of the supported cover material 45 as required. In their erected position, the respective posts 49 5 may be supported in their upstanding attitude by means of suitable guy ropes or wires or in low wind conditions, they may be freestanding. Tension may also maintained or provided to the cover material 45 by a cord(for example an elastic cord) or guy line or the like 50 which may be connected between the rear roof rack 43 and outer end of the adjacent support arm 31 of the awning 44 (see Fig. 10 9). A similar cord, guy line or the like 51 may be connected between the outer end of the arm 35 and the vehicle 42 (for example to a bull-bar) or alternatively to a ground anchor to tension the cover material 45 in the opposite direction. In the erected position, the tracks 16 and 17 on the lower side of the member 11 may be used for the attachment of a fabric wall, screen wall or the like which will hang 15 downwardly from the member 11. The assembled awning 44 may be folded using a reverse procedure to that described above. The cover material 45 attached to the frame arms 31 and 35 in the non erected position of the frame assembly 10 may be folded or rolled up and held within an elongated cover or bag (not shown) which covers or encloses the cover material 45, 20 elongated housing member 11 and support arms 31 and 35. In this position, the vehicle 42 may be driven with the folded awning 44 and frame assembly 10 attached to the roof racks 43. Whilst the frame assembly 10 is shown attached to the roof racks 43 on the passenger side of the vehicle 42, the frame assembly 10 may be turned over and attached 25 to the roof racks 43 on the driver side of the vehicle 42 in which case, the cover material 45 is connected to the track 16 or 17. The frame assembly 10 of Figs. 1 to 5 has four support arms 31 mounted to the pivot links 24 however the frame assembly 10 may have more or less support arms 31. Thus the embodiment of frame assembly 52 of Fig. 10 is of similar construction to the 30 frame assembly 10 however in this case the frame assembly 52 includes only three support arms 31 pivotally connected to the links 24 and thus to the pivot members 25. In addition, the further support arm 35 in this case is pivotally mounted at its end 38 adjacent the pivot assembly 23 to the elongated member 11 by transverse pivot pin 53.
10 The further support arm 35 lies within the channel of the member 11 in the folded position and is free at its opposite end. As above the frame assembly 52 when mounted to a vehicle 10 has the member 11 extending along one side of the vehicle usually being mounted to the roof racks of the 5 vehicle as in Fig. 7 and has a cover material 54 connected to the arms 31 and 35 and with one edge 55 connected to the housing member 11. For erection, the arms 31 and 25 are pivoted anti-clockwise to the position of Fig. 11 such that the outermost support arm 41 is pivoted to a position to lie across the rear of the vehicle. In this case the cover material 54 is shaped as indicated to form the awning 56 and tension may be provided to 10 the cover material 54 by a cord or guy rope as previously extending between the outermost arm 31 and roof rack or other part of the vehicle. The members 11 and arms 31 and 35 of the awning frame assembly 10 (and 52) are suitably formed of aluminium and the links 24 and pivot members 25 of stainless steel but they may be formed of other materials. The pivot pins which define the pivot 15 axes of the respective arms may be of any form such as bolts, screws, axles or other similar devices. The cover material may be of any shape to suit the configuration of the frame assemblies 10 and 52 and arms 31 and 35 thereof. The elongated member 11 whilst shown in Fig. 3 to have four tracks 14, 15, 16 and 17, it may be provided with only two tracks one on each side of the member 11. Alternatively, the member 11 may 20 be of a simple channel shaped cross-section or of other cross-sections. Whilst the elongated member 11 is preferably mounted in vehicle applications to the roof racks of a vehicle, it may be roof or sill mounted. Further whilst the awnings 44 and 56 are designed primarily for use with recreation-type vehicles, they may be used with caravans or mobile homes or may also be used in fixed locations for example on the 25 side of a house or other building. The reference to prior art herein is not to be taken as an admission that such prior art constitutes common general knowledge in the art. The terms "comprising" or "comprises" as used throughout the specification and claims are taken to specify the presence of the stated features, integers and components 30 referred to but not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other feature/s, integer/s, component/s or group thereof. Whilst the above has been given by way of illustrative embodiment of the invention, all such variations and modifications thereto as would be apparent to persons 11 skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of the invention as defined in the appended claims. 5 10 15 20 25 30