AU598271B2

AU598271B2 - A fabric tensioning device

Info

Publication number: AU598271B2
Application number: AU74218/87A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Daniel Paterson Gemmell
Original assignee: Nylex Corp Ltd
Current assignee: Nylex Corp Ltd
Priority date: 1986-06-20
Filing date: 1987-06-15
Publication date: 1990-06-21
Anticipated expiration: 2007-06-15
Also published as: AU7421887A

Description

To: THE COMMISSIONER OF PATENTS a a'.~j (a member of the firm of DAVIES COLLISON for and on behalf of the Applicant).

Daviez Collison, Melbourne and Canberra.

WEALTH OF AU54ITLI C 0 MM O N PATENTS ACT 1952 COMP-LETE SPECIFICATION (Original) FOR OFFICE USE Class Int. Class xpplication Number: Lodged: Complete Specification Lodged: Accepted: Published: Priority: Related Art: C P p~C P 0 CC C C C 0

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COOP

Name of Applicant: Address of Applicant: C 0 *'.Actual Inventor(s) 6040 A:~ddress for Service: NYLEX CORPORATION LIMITED 25-29 Nepean Highway, Mentone, 3194, in the State of Victoria, Commonwealth of Australia.

DAN GEMME TJ DAVIES COLLISON, Patent AttorneyZ, I Little Collins Street, Melbourne, 3000.

6 omplete specification for the invention entitled: "A FAfLRIC TENSIONING DEVICE" The following staterient is a full des, ription of this invention, includIng the best imethod of performing i-t known to- -2- "A FABRIC TENSIONING DEVICE" devie andese par tiularlts ao deic fri tensioning Thvien pre inartiularlate to avc fabr tensioning fabric on the rigid frame of an awning or caniopy.

Awnings or canopies as may be used on the frz~nt of a shop cr restaurant or above an automatic cash dispenser, may comprise a r-igid frame bolted to the wall, and covered in fabric. The fabric is fastened to the frame under tension so that the fabri.- has a smooth appearance.

It is to be noted that awnings of this type are not intended to be collapsed or folded and remain p. ,rmanently erect.

0 0 0 0 00 00 0 0 4 0 A requirement exists for a tensioning device for tensioning the fabric on the frame during assembly, and for subsequent re-tensioning the fabric to take up slack due to stretching of the fabric over a pe~icd of time.

According to the present invention, there is provided a fabric tensioning device comprising a bracket attachable to a frame member aroUnd which passes an end portion of fabric, a fabric retainer attachable to the end of the fabric, and screw means attaching the retainer to the bracket f or tensioning the f abric, the screw means being operative to dis'place the fabric retainer along a 25 path substantially parallel to a limb of the bracket whereby to tension the fabric, and the fabric retainer lying closely adjacent to said limb, whereby the limb prevents any substantial rotation of the reta,tner upon rotation of the screw means, wherein the fabric retainer includes a recess into which an end portion of the fabric can be releasably received, ai*,d a retainer bar insertable into the recess to anchor the fabric end portion within the recess.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reforence to the accompanying (J29, rz'aat. 001.74218. let, 2 3 drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a vertical section through the lower portion of an awning or canopy incorporating tensioning devices in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a side view of a bracket of the tensioning device; Figures 3 to 5 show modified forms of bracket for the tensioning devicer and Figures 6 and 7 are vertical sections showing modified forms of tensioning device.

There is shown in the drawing a lower horizontal frame member 2 of a rigid frame of an awning or canopy, the particular member shown being of square tubular section, although it may be of other section, Soo 0 o 0 0 0 Op a 0-

I

4 as will be described later. Fabric, as indicated at 4, extends from an upper part of the frame to which it is attached, along che front of the frame to Pass around the front an,' bottom faces of the lower frame member 2, the lower end of the fabric being attached to a number of tensioning devices 6 arranged at intervals along the length of the frame member 2, for example intervrals of up to 300 mm.

Each tensioning device 6 comprises a bracket 8 having a base portion 10 shaped to fit over the exposed sides of the frame member 2. In the form shown the base portion 10 is of right angled construction with the corner being relieved internally at 12 to enable the bracket to be fitted to tubing 15 having corners of different radius. The base portion is secured to the frame member 2 by means of a screw 13 extending through the horizontal limb of the t base portion into the frame member 2. A main body portion of the bracket comprises an inclined limb 14, extending from the base portion 10, a supporting limb 16 at right angles to the inclined limb 14, and a short horizontal limb 17 extending from the end of the supporting limb 16. The supporting limbAcarries) Cvia a tension bolt 18, a fabric retainer 20 which holds the end portion of the fabric. As shown,,the fabric retainer 20 is in the form of a profiled section having an internal recess in which the end of the fabric is anchored by means of a retainer bar 22 held tightly within the recess. The head 18a of the tension bolt 18 is engaged within an undercut recess at an end of the retainer.

CrIAV V0 i It is to be noted that the inclination of the limbs 14 and 16 of the bracket 8 and the position of the tension bolt 18 are such that the line of action 4 of the bolt 18 lies in the plane of the fabric end portion 4a extending between the lower rear corner of the frame member 2 and the retainer 20, with the supporting limb 16 being at right angles to that plane. Thus, when the nut 18b of the tension bolt 18 is tightened in order to tension the fabric, the assembly formed by the tension bolt 18 and fabric retainer 20 will be subjected substantially only to tensile forces on the axis of the bolt thereby avoiding skewing or bending of the assembly after 4 prolonged periods of use.

4 15 An awning or canopy incorporating tensioning 4 devices as described above, is produced by attaching the fabric at one end to one part of the frame, say an upper horizontal frame member, and attaching the brackets 8 at suitable intervals to a part of the frame to which the opposite end of the fabric is to be anchored. The fabric is then pulled tight manually j over the frame and attached to a retainer 20 by means Sof a retainer bar 22. The retainer 20 is inserted 4 into the bracket and attached by means of the tension bolt, this process being repeated for the other, retainers and brackets. The nuts 18b can then be adjusted in order to fully tension the fabric and to remove any wrinkles or creases from the fabric.

It will be seen from Figure 1 that the short horizontal limb 17 of the bracket is substantially flush with the bottom surface of the frame member 2 1 "a j_ ;i* 6 whereby, after tensioning, a horizontal cover plate 24 may be attached to the horizontal limb 17 of the bracket to extend across the bottom of the frame member 2 and the bracket to conceal the fastening system. Preferably, the cover plate 24 extends inwardly beyond the bracket to form a lip for supporting the edge of a light diffuser panel 26, this being present when the awning or canopy is provided with internal lighting, as, for example may be required when the canopy is above an automatic cash dispenser or in order to highlight the canopy.

Subsequent re-tensioning of the fabric in order to take up any stretching which may have occurred over a afI period of time is effecied simply be removing the 15 diffuser to gain access to the nuts of the tensioning o: bolts, and tightening these further.

og. As illustrated, the retainer 20 is positioned close to the limb 14 of the bracket so that the latter 00 prevents excessive rotation of the retainer during tensioning. It will also be noted that the screw 13 which attaches the bracket to the frame member is oar almost wholly in shear whereby the attachment is very 0 00 strong.

o o 0The bracket and the retainer may each be an 0.104 extruded section, for example of aluminium.

Figure 3 shows a modified form of bracket base Sooportion for use with a frame member of circular cross section, and Figure 4 shows a modified form of bracket O base portion for use with a frame member of angled section. The bracket shown in Figure 5 includes a I "j 7 rigid steel fixing pin for use with pre-slotted square section tube.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 6, a bracket carrying the retainer 20 is of angled construction and is attached to the rear face of the frame member 2 such that the retainer and the tensioning bolt extend substantially vertically from an upper limb 40a of the bracket.

In the embodiment of Figure 7, a bracket 50 carrying the retainer 20 is of generally J-shaped form and is attached to the lower face of the frame member 2 such that the retainer and the tensioning bolt extend substantially horizontally from a vertical limb 50a of the bracket. The cover plate 52 of this embodiment is of angled form.

In the embodiments of Figures 6 and 7 the retainer lrt lies against the main limb of the corresponding bracket 8 which prevents twisting and substantial deflection of the retainer under the tension of the fabric.

Figure 8 shows a modified form of retainer and retainer bar, the latter having a head part of circular form with serrations. The head part is able to "float" within the aperture in the retainer, but when the fabric is subjected to tension the fabric draws the head part into the mouth portion of the aperture to cause the head part to lock the 8 fabric. This construction enables the retainer to be used with fabrics of different thickness with the retainer bar self-adjusting to the appropriate thickness.

I £8 At a The embodiments have been described by way of example only and modifications are possible within the scope of the Sinvention.

invention.

Claims

1. A fabric tensioning device comprising a fabric tensioning device comprising a bracket attachable to a frame member around which passes an end portion of fabric, a fabric retainer attachable to the end of the fabric, and screw means attaching the retainer to the bracket for tensioning the fabric, the screw means being fj operative to displace the fabric r-etainer along a path substantially parallel to a l~imb of the bracket whereby to tension the fabric, and the fabric retainer lying closely adjacent to -:'aid limb, whereby the limb prevents any substantial rotation of the retainer upon rotation of the screw means, wherein the fabric retainer includes a recess into which an end portion of the fabric can be i{releasably received, and a retainer bar insertable into the recess to anchor the fabric end portion within the I recess.

2. A fabric tensioning device according to Claim 1, wherein Sthe screw means comprises a bolt extending through an aperture in a second limb of the bracket at right angles to the first-mentioned limb, and the fabric retainer includes an undercut recess to receive the head u of the bolt.

3. An awning or canopy comprising a frame, fabric I extending over the frame, and a plurality of tension~ing devices according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 attached to a frame member of the frame at spaced intervals along the frame member to ten'sion the fabric on the frame, the fabric passing around the frame member.

4. An awning o-r canopy according to Claim 3, wherein the frame member extenlds along a lower edge of the frame, the tensioning devices are located within the frame, and AA 19O3 rshdat, 001.74218, let, 6 U -9- the tensioning devices are concealed from beneath by means of a removable cover beneath the frame meiimber. A fabric tensioning device as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated this 29th day of March, 1990 DAVIES COLLISON Patent Attorneys for NYLEX CORPORATION LIMITED ihdat,001.74218.1et,9 rrrr~i***rmarr Q44yrr*? n* r~ru~