AU2022279480A1

AU2022279480A1 - Motorised Retracting Awning

Info

Publication number: AU2022279480A1
Application number: AU2022279480A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Andrew Perry
Original assignee: Barum Holdings Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Barum Holdings Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2021-12-03
Filing date: 2022-11-30
Publication date: 2023-06-22

Abstract

A motorised awning including: a roller having a retractable screen mounted thereon, the screen including a free end with an end batten, at least one cord for applying tension to the screen, the cord being attached to the end batten of the screen, a drive mechanism configured to rotate the roller to wind the screen on and off the roller, at least one spool upon which the cord is configured to be wound on or off as the roller rotates, and at least one arm configured to pivot in a vertical arc to selectively support the screen, the cord being operatively connected to the arm to cause pivotal movement of the arm as the cord is wound. 19199619_1 (GHMatters) P117375.AU.1 Ln I LI. CO rn (2

Description

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MOTORISED RETRACTING AWNING FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a retractable awning for covering an outdoor area and providing protection from sun and/or rain. In particular, the invention relates to retractable awnings of the type in which a retractable screen is supported by arms which slope slightly downwards from horizontal when the screen is extended.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

[0002] Retractable awnings are a form of covering mounted to an exterior of a building structure. Awnings typically consist of an elongate tubular member upon which a retractable screen is wound. Each end of the tubular member is usually mounted on some form of support bracket which is fixed to a surface of the building structure. The screen is extended manually by a pulling action with a front bar at a leading edge of the screen being tied to the ends of a pair of generally horizontally orientated or downwardly sloped support arms to hold the screen in an extended position.

[0003] It would be desirable to provide a retractable awning of the above described general type which has one or more improved features.

[0004] Any discussion of documents, devices, acts or knowledge in this specification is included to explain the context of the invention. It should not be taken as an admission that any of the material formed part of the prior art base or

19199619_1 (GHMatters) P117375.AU.1 the common general knowledge in the relevant art on or before the priority date of the claims herein.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] In accordance with the present invention there is provided a motorised awning including: a roller having a retractable screen mounted thereon, the screen including a free end with an end batten, at least one cord for applying tension to the screen, the cord being attached to the end batten of the screen, a drive mechanism configured to rotate the roller to wind the screen on and off the roller, at least one spool upon which the cord is configured to be wound on or off as the roller rotates, and at least one arm configured to pivot in a vertical arc to selectively support the screen, the cord being operatively connected to the arm to cause pivotal movement of the arm as the cord is wound.

[0006] In an extended position of the screen, the end batten of the screen is preferably held adjacent the arm by tension in the cord.

[0007] The roller is preferably configured to rotate in a first direction to extend the screen and accumulate cord on the spool resulting in the arm pivoting upwardly in said vertical arc to a raised position to support the screen in the extended position.

[0008] The roller is also preferably configured to rotate in a second direction to retract the screen onto the roller and release cord from the spool resulting in the arm pivoting downwardly in said vertical arc to a lowered position in which the arm is orientated substantially vertical.

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[0009] In a preferred form, the spool is configured to rotate in unison with the roller and includes a cord supporting surface having a diameter which is greater than the roller.

[0010] The roller is preferably hollow and the drive mechanism includes a motor housed therein, and wherein the spool includes an end piece which seats within a hollow end of the roller to connect the roller to the spool.

[0011] A motorised awning may further include at least one stub shaft bracket configured to engage in an end of the spool to mount the roller to the structure mounting the roller to a structure.

[0012] Cord preferably accumulates on the spool at a faster rate than the screen winds off the roller when the roller rotates in the first direction.

[0013] The arm may include at least one pulley about which the cord is engaged to connect the arm to the cord.

[0014] Preferably the arm includes two pulleys with a first of said pulleys being positioned at a free end of the arm and a second of said pulleys being positioned at a rear end of the arm, the cord from the end batten passing around the first pulley and the second pulley before returning to the spool.

[0015] The arm may further include a hollow longitudinal section, the cord between the first and second pulleys passing within the hollow longitudinal section.

19199619_1 (GHMatters) P117375.AU.1

[0016] The motorised awning may further include at least on support bracket for mounting the arm to a structure, the arm being pivotally mounted to the support bracket for movement in said vertical arc.

[0017] The motorised awning may further include at least one restraint device for limiting upward movement of the arm in said vertical arc when the screen is extended. The restraint device may either be a cable connected between the arm and the support bracket, or a portion of the support bracket which abuts with the arm.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] It will be convenient to further describe the invention with respect to the accompanying drawings which illustrate preferred embodiments of the roller blind mounting system according to the present invention. Other embodiments of the invention are possible, and consequently, the particularity of the accompanying drawings is not to be understood as superseding the generality of the preceding description of the invention. The preferred embodiments will be described with reference to the following figures in which:

[0019] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a motorised awning in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, illustrating the awning in a fully extended position;

[0020] Figure 2 is a perspective view of the motorised awning illustrated in Figure 1, showing the awning in a retracted position;

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[0021] Figure 3 is an exploded view of the components of the motorised awning illustrated in Figure 1;

[0022] Figure 4 is a side view of the extended awning illustrated in Figure 1, and

[0023] Figure 5 is a side view of the retracted awning illustrated in Figure 2.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0024] With reference to the accompanying drawings, there is shown a motorised awning 1 in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The motorised awning 1 includes a tube or roller 3 which is coupled to one end of a retractable screen 5 which is preferably in the form a roll of fabric. Depending upon the application required, the roller 3 can have a length from less than 1 metre to more than 8 metres in a single length. The roller 3 may have a diameter from 50 mm to about 200 mm. The retractable screen 5 includes an end batten 7 coupled at a free end by any means suitable. The end batten 7 may be made of a metal such as aluminium or a plastic material. The end batten 7 provides a rigid structure at the free end of the retractable screen 5 and evenly distributes tension through the fabric of the screen 5.

[0025] The motorised awning 1 preferably includes two cords 9 which are spaced apart and attached at opposite ends of the end batten 7. In this regard, a saddle 11 may be provided at both ends of the end batten 7 to which the cord 9 can be attached. Alternatively, each cord 9 may be attached to the end batten 7 by other suitable means.

19199619_1 (GHMatters) P117375.AU.1

[0026] The motorised awning 1 further includes a drive mechanism (not illustrated) which is preferably in the form of an electric motor which is programmable and mounted within the roller 3. In this respect, the roller 3 is preferably hollow to accommodate the electric motor. Alternatively, the electric motor may be mounted externally. The awning 1 also preferably includes two spools 13 which are located at opposite ends of the roller 3. Each spool 13 may be made from solid machined nylon with an aluminium disc at each end. Each spool 13 includes an end piece 17 which can be inserted into the hollow ends of the roller 3 and retained in place by an interference fit and fastener. The spools 13 can thereby rotate in unison with the roller 3 when driven by the electric motor housing within the roller 3. In another embodiment, the spools 13 may be separate from the roller 3 and operated by an auxiliary electric motor operatively connected to the spools 13.

[0027] The motorised awning 1 also preferably includes two spaced apart pivot arms 19 for supporting the screen 5 when fully extended as illustrated in Figure 1, and two support brackets 21. Each support bracket 21 is configured to be mounted to a structure, for example a vertical wall of a building, and is pivotally connected to a corresponding arm 19 at a rear end of the arm 19 such that the arms 19 can pivot in a vertical arc. The pivot connection may be provided by a pivot axis of the support bracket 21 which extends between a pair of upstanding members 24 of the support bracket 21. The awning 1 may further include a restraint device for limiting upward vertical movement of the arms 19. The restraint device is preferably in the form of a cable 23 connected between the arm 19 and support bracket 21. In this respect, the support bracket 21 may include a wall fixing eyelet 22 to which the cable 3 is connected. The length of the cable 23 is selected such that the cable 23 is taunt when the arm 19 has reached the desired limit of upward movement, which preferably aligns with the generally sloping downwards horizontally orientated position of the arms 19 when

19199619_1 (GHMatters) P117375.AU.1 the screen 5 is fully extended as illustrated in Figure 1. Alternatively, the restraint device may be in the form of a stop plate (not illustrated) provided on the support bracket 21 which abuts with an upper side face of the arm 19 to prevent further upward movement.

[0028] The awning 1 also preferably includes two stub shaft brackets 25 configured to be mounted to a structure, for example a vertical wall of a building, like the support brackets 21. The stub shaft brackets 25 provide a connection point between the wall structure and roller 3 with the stub shaft brackets 25 being configured to engage in the ends of the spools 13. Although in one embodiment the support bracket 21 may be combined with the stub shaft bracket 25 to form a single bracket, separate brackets is preferred to provide for mounting adjustability. Preferably, the electric motor for driving the roller 3 is provided at one end of the roller 3 and the stub shaft bracket 25 at that same end includes a plate which takes the drive from a drive shaft of the electric motor which passes through an aperture in the spool 13. As the stub shaft bracket 25 is fixed to the wall structure and is therefore not able to rotate, the roller 3 and associated spools 13 instead rotate rather than the drive shaft. The spool 13 at the opposite end of the roller 3 may be a solid machined nylon bearing with a small aperture through the spool 13.

[0029] The arms 19 of the awning 1 may be made of square section hollow tube, or round section hollow tube. The size of the arms 19 can vary from 40mm section to 100mm section. The length of the arms 19 is limited by the available height at the site of installation, and the required distance between the awning roller 3 and the support bracket 21. Each arm 19 preferably includes a front pulley 27 provided at or towards a free end of the arm 19, and a rear pulley 29 provided at or towards the rear end of the arm 19. The pulleys 27, 29 are preferably exit

19199619_1 (GHMatters) P117375.AU.1 block pulleys which may be recessed into a top face of the arms 19. The pulleys 27, 29 provide connection points for the arm 19 to the cord 19 and function to guide the cord 9 from the end batten 7 of the screen 5, to the front end of the arm 19, back through the hollow tube of the arm 19 to the rear and then back onto the spool 13. Each spool 13 includes a cord supporting surface 31 upon which the cord 9 is wound on or off depending upon the direction of rotation of the spool 13. The cord supporting surface 31 is preferably of constant diameter with the diameter being larger than the dimeter of the roller 3. The cord 9 is preferably pre-stretched yachting cord having a diameter in the range of 4mm to 6mm. Cord 9 of 4mm diameter is generally used on smaller awnings 1 with the 6mm diameter cord 9 used for larger anwingsl. Larger diameter cord 9 increases the diameter of the spool 13 at a faster rate than smaller diameter cord 9 and this preferably needs to be taken into account when determining the appropriate diameter of the cord supporting surface 31 of the spool 13.

[0030] The awning 1 operates on a continuous loop-like arrangement in that each cord 9 is attached to the end batten 7 of the awning 1, which then runs through the front pulley 27 on the end of the arm 19, and out through the rear pulley 29 at the rear end of the arm 19. The cords 9 then run up to the spools 13 at the ends of the roller 3.

[0031] The awning 1 is preferably operated by remote control. Pressing a button of the remote control when the awning 1 is in the fully retracted position illustrated in Figures 2 and 5, will cause the roller 3 to rotate in a first (clockwise) direction (when viewed as shown in Figure 5), and the fabric and end batten 7 of the screen 5 will start to fall downwards and away from the roller 3. As more of the screen 5 comes off the roller 3, the vertically orientated arms 19 will slowly start to move outwards from the supporting wall structure 33. The cord 9 prompts

19199619_1 (GHMatters) P117375.AU.1 this movement due to the cord supporting surface 31 of the spool 13 having a diameter larger than the diameter of the roller 3, with the cord 9 accumulating on the spool 13 at a quicker rate than the screen 5 coming off the roller 3. As more cord 9 accumulates on the spool 13, the front pulley 27 at the free end of the arm 19 is drawn towards the end batten 7.

[0032] The awning 1 reaches its set/fully extended position illustrated in Figures 1 and 4 when the end batten 7 simultaneously meets the front pulley 27 and the cable 9 pulls taut. The electric motor then automatically stops when this this position is reached. The cable 23 locks the arm 19 in place when the awning 1 is fully extended in that it prevents further upward movement of the arm 19. Awnings 1 can generate significant uplift during high winds, and the cable 23 advantageously ensures the awning 1 remains locked in place and extremely stable during these conditions. Downwards movement of the arms 19 is prevented by tension in the cords 19.

[0033] To retract the awning 1 pressing the appropriate button on the remote control. This initiates the roller 3 to rotate in a second (anti-clockwise) direction (when viewed as shown in Figure 4), which causes fabric of the screen 5 to slowly accumulate on the roller 3, and pulls the end batten 7 back towards the roller 3 and returns the arms 19 to hang vertically downwards as illustrated in Figure 5. The awning motor automatically stops when the awning 1is fully retracted as illustrated in Figures 2 and 5.

[0034] There is a relationship between the diameter of the spool 13 and the roller 3 which ensures the end batten 7 of the awning 1 reaches the front pulley 27 at the end of each arm 19 when the arm 19 is at the desired height. At this position the arm 19 locks in place with a taut cable 23 on the underside, and the

19199619_1 (GHMatters) P117375.AU.1 end batten 7 locks into place at the front pulley 27. The relationship between the spool 13 and the roller 3 is affected by the length of the arm 19, the length of the screen 5, the distance between the pivot point of the arm 19 and the awning roller 3, the height of the end batten 7 when the awning 1 is fully extended (which is also linked to the length of the screen 5), the diameter of the cord being used, and width of the cord support surface of the spool 13. The cord 9 does not need to sit single file on the spool 13, however it is desirable for the cord 9 to accumulate on the spool 13 in a generally uniform manner.

[0035] Using a CAD layout for the awning 1 with the awning 1 in the extended position, and the awning 1 in the retracted position, it is possible to measure the length of cord 9 required for both positons and determine how much cord 9 needs to be taken up, and with the length of the required screen 5 and the diameter of the roller 3 being known, how many revolutions of the spool 13 will be required in moving the screen 5 between the extended and retracted positons. This enables the relationship between the diameter of the cord supporting surface 31 of the spool 13 and the diameter of the roller 3 to be determined such that the end batten 7 and free end of the arm 19 meet at the desired arm height.

[0036] Modifications and variations as would be deemed obvious to the person skilled in the art are included within the ambit of the present invention as claimed in the appended claims

19199619_1 (GHMatters) P117375.AU.1

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A motorised awning including: a roller having a retractable screen mounted thereon, the screen including a free end with an end batten, at least one cord for applying tension to the screen, the cord being attached to the end batten of the screen, a drive mechanism configured to rotate the roller to wind the screen on and off the roller, at least one spool upon which the cord is configured to be wound on or off as the roller rotates, and at least one arm configured to pivot in a vertical arc to selectively support the screen, the cord being operatively connected to the arm to cause pivotal movement of the arm as the cord is wound.

2. A motorised awning as claimed in claim 1 wherein in an extended position of the screen, the end batten of the screen is held adjacent the arm by tension in the cord.

3. A motorised awning as claimed in claim 2 wherein the roller is configured to rotate in a first direction to extend the screen and accumulate cord on the spool resulting in the arm pivoting upwardly in said vertical arc to a raised position to support the screen in the extended position.

4. A motorised awning as claimed in claim 3 wherein the roller is configured to rotate in a second direction to retract the screen onto the roller and release cord from the spool resulting in the arm pivoting downwardly in said vertical arc to a lowered position in which the arm is orientated substantially vertical.

19199619_1 (GHMatters) P117375.AU.1

5. A motorised awning as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the spool is configured to rotate in unison with the roller and includes a cord supporting surface having a diameter which is greater than the roller.

6. A motorised awning as claimed in claim 5 wherein the roller is hollow and the drive mechanism includes a motor housed therein, and wherein the spool includes an end piece which seats within a hollow end of the roller to connect the roller to the spool.

7. A motorised awning as claimed in claim 6 further including at least one stub shaft bracket configured to engage in an end of the spool to mount the roller to the structure mounting the roller to a structure.

8. A motorised awning as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 5 wherein the cord accumulates on the spool at a faster rate than the screen winds off the roller when the roller rotates in the first direction.

9. A motorised awning as claimed in any one of the proceeding claims wherein the arm includes at least one pulley about which the cord is engaged to connect the arm to the cord.

10. A motorised awning as claimed in claim 7 wherein the arm includes two pulleys with a first of said pulleys being positioned at a free end of the arm and a second of said pulleys being positioned at a rear end of the arm, the cord from the end batten passing around the first pulley and the second pulley before returning to the spool.

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11. A motorised awning as claimed in claim 8 wherein the arm further includes a hollow longitudinal section, the cord between the first and second pulleys passing within the hollow longitudinal section.

12. A motorised awning as claimed in any one of the preceding claims further including at least on support bracket for mounting the arm to a structure, the arm being pivotally mounted to the support bracket for movement in said vertical arc.

13. A motorised awning as claimed in claim 10 further including at least one restraint device for limiting upward movement of the arm in said vertical arc when the screen is extended.

14. A motorised awning as claimed in claim 11 wherein the restraint device is either a cable connected between the arm and the support bracket, or a portion of the support bracket which abuts with the arm.

19199619_1 (GHMatters) P117375.AU.1

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