AU2011202395B2

AU2011202395B2 - Awning and frame therefor

Info

Publication number: AU2011202395B2
Application number: AU2011202395A
Authority: AU
Inventors: David George Cook
Original assignee: Supa Peg Australia Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Supa Peg Australia Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2010-05-24
Filing date: 2011-05-24
Publication date: 2016-10-27
Anticipated expiration: 2031-05-24
Also published as: AU2011202395A1

Abstract

An awning with a collapsible frame for use with a motor vehicle is disclosed. The awning comprising a frame assembly 10 having first and second elongated main 5 support members 11, 12, pivot means 13 interconnecting said members 11, 12 at one end thereof and permitting said members 11, 12 to move between a folded position wherein said members 11, 12 are juxtaposed and an erected position in which said members 11, 12 are pivotally moved away from said folded position. Each said member 11, 12 supporting a plurality of support arms 23, said support 0 arms 23 being pivotally mounted to its associated said elongated support member 11, 12 for movement between a folded position juxtaposed with its said associated member 11, 12 and an erected position in which each said arm member 23 extends outwardly from its associated member 11, 12 and in which said arms 23 can support a cover means 32. Figure 8 to accompany abstract. -O

Description

1 2011202395 22 Sep 2016

AWNING AND FRAME THEREFOR

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 5 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 collapsible frame for an awning. The frame and awning are particularly suited for use with vehicles but may have other applications for shading.

10 BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

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 material of canvas or similar weatherproof fabric which can be 15 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 a 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 can be erected from a 20 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 25 a caravan. Awnings of this type usually include a collapsible support frame which is 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 30 frame. Awnings of this type may also be used on recreational vehicles being mounted directly to the vehicle or via brackets to roof racks for the vehicle.

Whilst awnings of this type effectively provide shading or shelter to one side 2 2011202395 22 Sep 2016 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 enable shading or shelter to the side and rear of a vehicle have 5 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.

Clearly it would be advantageous if an awning could be devised that helped 10 to at least ameliorate some of the shortcomings described above. In particular, it would be advantageous if an awning could be devised for use with a motor vehicle.

It would also be highly desirable if an awning could be developed with a 15 collapsible frame for an awning. The frame and awning are particularly suited for use with vehicles but may have other applications for shading.

The reference to any prior art in this specification is not and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that the referenced prior 20 art forms part of the common general knowledge in Australia.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention aims to provide an effective alternative to the prior 25 art by providing an awning particularly but not exclusively for use with vehicles which is capable of providing shelter to one side of and/or to the rear of a vehicle. The present invention in a further aspect provides a frame assembly for an awning of the above type. 30 In accordance with a first aspect, the present invention provides an awning comprising a frame assembly having first and second elongated main support members of identical cross-sectional shape; a pivot means interconnecting said main support members at one end thereof and permitting 3 2011202395 22 Sep 2016 said main support members to move between a folded position wherein said members are juxtaposed and an erected position in which said members are pivotally moved away from said folded position; a plurality of support arms supported in each main support member, said support arms being pivotally 5 mounted to its associated said elongated main support member for movement between a folded position juxtaposed and located substantially within its said associated main support member and an erected position in which each said support arm member extends outwardly from its associated main support member and in which said support arms can support a cover means. 10

Preferably the main elongated support members may comprise elongated hollow housing members. Preferably the housing members may be of a generally channel shaped cross section and the support arms may be adapted to be located within the channels of the housing members in their folded 15 position. Preferably the channel shaped housing may include opposite side flanges and the support arms may be pivotally mounted at one end between the opposite side flanges. Preferably the support arms may be of a telescopic form so as to be telescopically extendable when moved away from the folded position. 20

Preferably the elongated housing members in their folded position may be in an opposing relationship relative to each other such that the channels of the respective housing members are aligned with and oppose each other. 25 Preferably the pivot means may comprise at least one pivot member which is pivotally connected to the respective elongated members. Preferably the at least one pivot member may permit the members to be moved between their folded juxtaposed position and a fully erected position in which the elongated members can be at approximately 270 degrees to each other. This 30 permits one elongated main support member when mounted to a vehicle to extend along one side of the vehicle and the other main support member to extend along the rear of the vehicle. The pivot means however is also capable of allowing the members to adopt alternative attitudes to each other for example 4 2011202395 22 Sep 2016 such that they are substantially at 180 degrees to each other and therefore are substantially longitudinally aligned.

Preferably the pivot member may comprise at least one angle bracket 5 having flanges which extend substantially at right angles to each other with one flange being pivotally connected to one elongated support member and the other flange being pivotally connected to the other elongated support member. Preferably the flanges may act as stops against which the elongated support members abut to locate the members at substantially 270 degrees to each 10 other. Preferably the elongated support members may comprise channel shaped members, the pivot means may comprise a pair of spaced angle brackets located within and pivotally mounted to opposite flanges of the channel shaped members. 15 Preferably at least one of the angle brackets may be adapted to support a further arm which is adapted to extend diagonally from the one end of the members. Preferably for this purpose, the at least one angle bracket may include an aperture with which the further arm is adapted to connect. Preferably the further arm may include a hook member at one end adapted to locate in the 20 aperture.

Preferably the arms may be 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 with an upright post. Suitably the 25 end fitting is an aperture to receive a pointed end of an upright post.

Preferably the elongated members may have on the 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 may be a re-entrant track adapted to 30 capture an edge portion of the cover means. A corresponding channel or track may be provided on the other or operative lower sides of the elongated members. An additional channel or track may be provided on the lower sides of the elongated members for engagement by a fabric wall or the like which can 5 2011202395 22 Sep 2016 hang from the channel or track.

The cover means may be any suitable pliable material which may be a waterproof or water resistant material or a shade material. The fabric of the 5 cover means may include loops or sleeves to receive the respective arms. The loops or sleeves may be suitably arranged at positions on the fabric material at which the arms are required to be located when erected.

The present invention in a further aspect thus provides a frame assembly 10 as described above and cover means adapted to be supported by the support arms of the frame assembly.

When designed for use with a vehicle, one of the elongated members of the frame assembly is suitably adapted to be mounted to the roof racks of a 15 vehicle through suitably brackets so as to extend longitudinally along the vehicle and to one side of the vehicle. The frame assembly however may be rotated and mounted to the opposite side of the vehicle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 20

The present invention will be understood more fully from the detailed description given hereinafter and from the accompanying drawings of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, which, however, should not be taken to be limitative to the invention, but are for explanation and understanding only. 25

Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention and wherein:

Fig. 1 illustrates the frame for an awning according to the present invention in a folded position; 30 Fig. 2 is a cross-section of an elongated housing member of the frame;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged side view showing the pivot connection between the housing members of the frame with the housing members substantially at right angles to each other; 6 2011202395 22 Sep 2016

Fig. 4 illustrates the elongated housing members of the frame in a further position extending substantially at right angles to each other;

Fig. 5 illustrates the housing members substantially longitudinally aligned with each other with the cover support arms partly extended; 5 Fig. 6 illustrates the housing members in an attitude extending at 270 degrees to each other;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged perspective view showing details of the pivot connection between the housing members of the frame; with the housing members at 270 degrees to each other; 10 Fig. 8 is a perspective view illustrating the frame with the housing members at 270 degrees to each other with the cover support arms being extended from the housing member;

Fig. 9 illustrates the manner in which a cover may be connected to the support arms of the frame; 15 Fig. 10 illustrates a vehicle supporting the frame of the awning of the invention in a folded position; and

Fig. 11 illustrates the vehicle of Fig. 10 with the awning in an erected position.

20 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

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 comprise a pair of elongated housing 25 members 11 and 12 of identical cross section connected at one end by means of a pivot assembly 13 and being in the folded attitude of Fig. 1 in a substantially parallel juxtaposed position with each other. Each housing member 11 and 12 is of a generally channel shaped cross section as shown in Fig. 2 having a pair of opposite side flanges 14 and 15 with the flange 14 being provided with a track 30 16 in the nature of a sail track for a purpose which will become apparent further below. A similar track (shown in dotted outline) may be provided on the opposite flange 15 which may also carry a further track (also shown in dotted outline) adjacent its free longitudinally extending edge. Fig. 2 also shows a 7 2011202395 22 Sep 2016 further securing method for the elongated housing members 11,12 which uses a T-slot track into which a T-slot nut is used to position and secure the housing members 11, 12 to a structure. The T-slot nut slides along the T-slot track and can be positioned or located at any position along the housing member 11, 12. 5 The housing members 11 and 12 in the position of Fig. 1 have their channels opposing each other with the corresponding flanges 14 and 15 substantially aligned.

The pivot assembly 13 which pivotally interconnects the housing 10 members 11 and 12 as shown in Fig. 3 and in enlarged view in Fig. 7 comprises a pair of angle brackets 17, each comprising a pair of coplanar flanges 18 extending substantially at right angles to each other and joined through intermediate flange portions 19, the latter having apertures 20 therein. The respective angle brackets 17 are located adjacent the respective side flanges 14 15 and 15 of the housing members 11 and 12 and are maintained in that position by spacers 21. Pivot pins 22 pass through the respective side flanges 14 and 15 of the housing members 11 and 12 and through the bracket flanges 18 and spacers 21 to pivotally connect the respective flanges 18 of the angle brackets 17 to the housing members 11 and 12 such that the spaced angle brackets 17 20 are transversely aligned with each other with the pivot pins 22 being substantially parallel to each other. The flanges 18 of the respective brackets 17 are of a width substantially the same as the width of the channel flanges 14 and 15 and the pivot connection provided by the pivot pins 22 is such that the inner edges of the bracket flanges 18 abut the inner faces of the housing members 11 25 and 12 when the housing members 11 and 12 are at 270 degrees to each other. This acts as a stop to prevent the members 11 and 12 moving beyond 270 degrees.

The pivot assembly 13 permits the housing members 11 and 12 to be 30 pivoted away from each other as shown in Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 where the members 11 and 12 are substantially at right angles to each other and beyond that position to the substantially longitudinally aligned position of Fig. 5 and the 270 degree position of Figs. 6 to 8. The two pivot connections of the angle brackets 8 2011202395 22 Sep 2016 17 to the members 11 and 12 defined by the pivot pins 22 which connect the respective flanges 18 of the brackets 17 to the members 11 and 12 allows the pivot axis of the housing member 12 defined by one pivot pin 22 to be moved such that the members 11 and 12 may be longitudinally aligned with each other 5 or beyond the aligned position as referred to above.

Each housing member 11 and 12 carries support arms 23 (see Figs. 5, 7 and 8) which are provided with pivot brackets 24 at one end and transverse pivot pins 25 extending through the flanges 14 and 15 of the housing members 10 11 and 12 and the pivot brackets 24 which are located therebetween to pivotally connect the support arms 23 to the housing members 11 or 12. The support arms 23 in the folded position of the frame 10 thus extend substantially longitudinally of the members 11 and 12 and are located between the flanges 14 and 15 of the housing members 11 and 12. 15

As shown in Figs. 5, 7 and 8, each housing member 11 and 12 carries two support arms 23 which are pivotally connected to the housing members 11 or 12 adjacent opposite ends thereof, the support arms 23 being of a length such that they lie in an end-to- end relationship with each other within the 20 channels of the housing members 11 and 12 in the folded position of the frame assembly 10. Pairs of support arms 23 carried by the respective housing members 11 or 12 are thus pivoted outwardly in opposite directions as indicated by the arrows marked A and B in Fig. 5 and 8 to move from their folded position within the channels of the housing members 11 and 12 to an erected position 25 extending outwardly from the housing members 11 and 12. Typically to provide sufficient shading area, the support arms 23 are of a telescopic configuration comprising inner and outer members 26 and 27 which may be extended relative to each other and locked in the required extended position by a locking device 28. The support arms 23 are also provided with end caps 29 at their free end 30 which are adapted in use to cooperate with upright support posts. The end caps 29 for this purpose may also be apertured as at 30. The support arms 23 include between the pivot brackets 24 and end caps 29 elongated tubular members. 9 2011202395 22 Sep 2016

As referred to above, the pivot brackets 17 permit the housing members 11 and 12 to be pivoted away from the folded position of Fig. 1 to an attitude in which the housing members 11 and 12 are substantially longitudinally aligned as shown in Fig. 5. In this attitude, the support arms 23 are pivoted outwardly as 5 shown to usually adopt a position extending at right angles to their associated housing members 11 and 12 for supporting a cover to one side of the housing members 11 and 12.

Alternatively and as shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8, the housing members 11 10 and 12 may be pivoted to a position in which they extend substantially at 270 degrees to each other. This attitude is used usually where the frame 10 is applied to a vehicle as described further below. In this position, the support arms 23 as above are pivoted outwardly from the respective housing members 11 and 12 to an attitude extending substantially at 90 degrees to their associated 15 housing members 11 and 12.

In addition, a separate diagonal corner support arm 31 having a connecting hook 32 at one end may be hooked into an aperture 20 in one of the brackets 17 to extend at 135 degrees approximately to the respective housing 20 members 11 and 12 to support the cover in this region as is also described further below.

The frame 10 is typically used with a pliable cover material 32 (shown in dotted outline in Fig. 9) to form an awning. The cover material 32 which is 25 provided on its underside with a number of sleeves (or loops) 33 which are adapted to receive respective supports arms 23 and 31 of the frame 10 with the sleeves 33 being positioned in required final orientation of the arms 23 and 31. On its inner margin or periphery, the cover material 32 is provided with a rope, cord or the like which may be threaded into the tracks 16 to connect the inner 30 edge of the cover material 32 to the frame members 11 and 12. The cover material 32 may be any fabric which is waterproof or water resistant such as a light canvas or synthetic material such as poly fabric however alternatively the cover 32 may be formed of a shade cloth. Further in an alternative ίο 2011202395 22 Sep 2016 arrangement, the sleeves or loops 33 may be provided on the upper side of the cover material 32.

The frame 10 with cover material 32 attached is particularly suited for use 5 with a vehicle 34 as shown in Fig. 10 in which case the juxtaposed housing members 11 and 12 are mounted to one side of the vehicle 34 to extend longitudinally thereof. The inner housing member 12 is mounted by means of spaced brackets such as angle brackets to the respective roof racks 35 of the vehicle 34. The cover material 32 attached to the frame arms 23 and may be 10 folded up and held within an elongated cover (not shown) which covers the fabric and housing members 11, 12. In this position, the vehicle 34 may be driven with the frame 10 attached to the roof racks 35.

Where the frame 10 is to be erected, the vehicle 34 is positioned usually 15 on a relatively flat piece of ground and the housing member 11 pivoted by means of the pivot assembly 13 to the position of Figs. 6 to 8 where the housing member 11 is substantially at 270 degrees to the member 12 and extends across the rear of the vehicle 34 as illustrated in Fig. 11. The support arms 23 may then be pivoted outwardly at right angles to their associated housing 20 member 11 and 12 and telescopically extended in which position, the arms 23 tension the cover material 32 which is connected at its outer margin to or adjacent the end caps 29. The corner arm 31 which is usually separate may be threaded through its sleeve and hooked onto one of the brackets 17 as in Fig. 8. The outer ends of the support arms 23 and 31 may be supported at their free 25 end by means of side upstanding posts 36 which engage the end caps 30 of the arms 23 and 31. In this position, the respective posts 36 may be supported in their upstanding attitude by means of suitable guy ropes or wires or in low wind conditions, they may be freestanding. 30 An inner wall fabric may be attached to the tracks or channels on the flanges 15 in a similar manner to the connection of the top cover material 32 to hang downwardly therefrom to form a wall adjacent the vehicle 34. 11 2011202395 22 Sep 2016

The erected awning may be folded using a reverse procedure to that described above.

The support arms 23 may be of any length and whilst it is preferred that 5 the housing members 11 and 12 be of channel shaped cross section, they may be of any other cross section. The channel shaped housing members 11 and 12 may also be located in their folded position of Fig. 1 by means of a lug 37 carried by one member 11 (see Fig. 8) which will locate in the channel of the other member 12, the member 11 being of a width such it will fit neatly between 10 the flanges 14 and 15 of the member 12.

The support arms 23 are preferably telescopic and may be locked in any desired length. In some cases however the support arms 23 may be of a fixed length. The members 11 and 12 may also carry additional support arms 23 in 15 some situations.

Whilst the frame assembly 10 is shown attached to the roof racks 35 on the passenger side of the vehicle 34, the frame assembly 10 may be turned over and attached to the roof racks 35 on the driver side of the vehicle in which case, 20 the cover material 32 is connected to the track opposite to the track 16.

The members and arms of the awning frame are suitably formed of aluminium and the brackets 17 of stainless steel but may be formed of other materials. 25

In the specification the term “comprising” shall be understood to have a broad meaning similar to the term “including” and will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps. This 30 definition also applies to variations on the term “comprising” such as “comprise” and “comprises”.

Although the present invention has been illustrated and described with 2011202395 22 Sep 2016 12 respect to exemplary embodiment thereof, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and various other changes, omissions and additions may be made therein and thereto, without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention should not be 5 understood as limited to the specific embodiment set out above but to include all possible embodiments which can be embodied within a scope encompassed and equivalent thereof with respect to the feature set out in the appended claims.

Claims

THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS:

1. An awning comprising: a frame assembly having first and second elongated main support members of identical cross-sectional shape; a pivot means interconnecting said main support members at one end thereof and permitting said main support members to move between a folded position wherein said members are juxtaposed and an erected position in which said members are pivotally moved away from said folded position; a plurality of support arms supported in each main support member, said support arms being pivotally mounted to its associated said elongated main support member for movement between a folded position juxtaposed and located substantially within its said associated main support member and an erected position in which each said support arm member extends outwardly from its associated main support member and in which said support arms can support a cover means.
2. An awning according to claim 1, wherein said main elongated support members comprise elongated hollow housing members.
3. An awning according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said pivot means permits one elongated main support member when mounted to a vehicle to extend along one side of the vehicle and the other main support member to extend along the rear of the vehicle.
4. An awning according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the housing members are of a generally channel shaped cross section and the support arms are adapted to be located within the channels of the housing members in their folded position.
5. An awning according to claim 4, wherein the channel shaped housing includes opposite side flanges and the support arms are pivotally mounted at one end between the opposite side flanges.
6. An awning according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the support arms are of a telescopic form so as to be telescopically extendable when moved away from the folded position.
7. An awning according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the elongated housing members in their folded position are in an opposing relationship relative to each other such that the channels of the respective housing members are aligned with and oppose each other.
8. An awning according to claim 3, wherein the pivot means comprises at least one pivot member which is pivotally connected to the respective elongated members, and wherein the at least one pivot member permits the members to be moved between their folded juxtaposed position and a fully erected position in which the elongated members can be at approximately 270 degrees to each other.
9. An awning according to claim 8, wherein the pivot means is capable of allowing the respective elongated members to adopt alternative attitudes to each other for example such that they are substantially at 180 degrees to each other and therefore are substantially longitudinally aligned.
10. An awning according to claim 8 or claim 9, wherein the pivot member comprises at least one angle bracket having flanges which extend substantially at right angles to each other with one flange being pivotally connected to one elongated support member and the other flange being pivotally connected to the other elongated support member, wherein the flanges act as stops against which the elongated support members abut to locate the members at substantially 270 degrees to each other.
11. An awning according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the elongated support members comprise channel shaped members, the pivot means comprise a pair of spaced angle brackets located within and pivotally mounted to opposite flanges of the channel shaped members.
12. An awning according to claim 11, wherein at least one of the angle brackets is adapted to support a further arm which is adapted to extend diagonally from the one end of the members, and the at least one angle bracket includes an aperture within which the further arm is adapted to connect.
13. An awning according to claim 11 or claim 12, wherein the further arm includes a hook member at one end adapted to locate in the aperture.
14. An awning according to any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein the arms are adapted to be supported at their free end by upright posts which are guyed.
15. An awning according to claim 14, wherein the support arms include an end fitting adapted to cooperate with an upright post, wherein the end fitting has an aperture to receive a pointed end of an upright post.
16. An awning according to claim 1, wherein the elongated members have on the operative upper side a channel or track into which an edge portion of the cover means is adapted to be received, wherein the channel or track is a re-entrant track adapted to capture an edge portion of the cover means and a corresponding channel or track is provided on the other or operative lower sides of the elongated members, wherein an additional channel or track is provided on the lower sides of the elongated members for engagement by a fabric wall or the like which can hang from the channel or track.
17. An awning according to claim 16, wherein the cover means is any suitable pliable material which is a waterproof or water resistant material or a shade material, wherein the fabric of the cover means includes loops or sleeves to receive the respective arms, the loops or sleeves are arranged at positions on the fabric material at which the arms are required to be located when erected.
18. An awning according to any one of claims 1 to 17, further including a frame assembly and a cover means adapted to be supported by the support arms of the frame assembly.
19. An awning designed for use with a vehicle, wherein one of the elongated members of the frame assembly is suitably adapted to be mounted to the roof racks of a vehicle through suitable brackets so as to extend longitudinally along the vehicle and to one side of the vehicle and wherein the frame assembly may be rotated and mounted to the opposite side of the vehicle.