AU750511B2

AU750511B2 - Anti-flap clamp

Info

Publication number: AU750511B2
Application number: AU27644/00A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Michael Ernest Freney
Original assignee: Aussie Traveller Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Aussie Traveller Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1999-04-09
Filing date: 2000-04-10
Publication date: 2002-07-18
Anticipated expiration: 2020-04-10
Also published as: AU2764400A

Description

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P/00/011 Regulation 3.2 a a a

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT Name of Applicant: Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: (o x 2L LUc v' C 60 1 Invention Title: Details of Associated Provisional Application(s) No(s): AUSSIE TRAVELLER PTY LTD Michael Ernest Freney ITFI I PRO Patent Trade Mark Attorneys Level 7, Reserve Bank Building 102 Adelaide Street BRISBA NE, QLD, 4000 (CPO Box 1339, BRISBANE, pe bo ko b ANTI-FLAP CLAMP Australian Patent Application No.PP9785 filed 09.04.99 and PQ4342 filed 26.11.99 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: I ft 2 ANTI-FLAP CLAMP TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION THIS INVENTION relates to an anti-flap clamp and in particular but not limited to an anti-flap clamp preventing flapping of flexible sheet material, as may be used in awnings. In a preferred form the invention relates to a collapsible awning assembly with improved anti-flap characteristics.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION It is common to make use of fabric awnings to provide shelter, external to, ooo. and associated with, a structure such as a caravan, boat cabin, caf6, house, motorhome or other recreational vehicle. Under windy conditions the awning may flap at the edges, in some cases quite severely. Consequently, in order to prevent damage to the awning it may have to be dismantled or, in the case of collapsible 0000 awnings, the awning must be moved from its extended position to a safe storage position. This is inconvenient since the owner of the awning may not always be present when the windy conditions arise.

"o ~There have been many methods used to control awning wind flap. These oo:oo o o: include using ropes or straps over the top of the awning which are then placed in tension connected to the ground or a support. In another effort to overcome this problem, short individual clips or clamps have also been fitted along the edge of the fabric in order to reduce flap. Unfortunately, these methods have been somewhat inconvenient or provided less than desirable results.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a means for substantially reducing the problem of awning flap as an alternative to those known in the prior art.

OUTLINE OF THE INVENTION According to one aspect therefore the present invention resides in an antiflap clamp adapted to secure a sheet edge of flexible sheet material, the clamp having a first longitudinal clamp member and a second longitudinal clamp member held together by clamp fastener means, the clamp fastener means being operable 0%oo to secure the clamp members in a sheet clamping position from a sheet release 0*0 o 10 position, the clamp members having axially extending clamping parts adapted to oo.o engage said sheet edge along a margin thereof to clamp said sheet edge.

o In another aspect the invention resides in a collapsible awning assembly with improved anti-flap characteristics, the collapsible awning assembly having flexible sheet material supported at opposite sides by transverse members, the flexible sheet material having opposite free edges extending laterally of said transverse members, a first longitudinal clamp member having transverse member 0000 attachment means at opposite ends thereof and being attached to the said transverse members, a second longitudinal clamp member retained in operative relationship with said first longitudinal clamp member by clamp fastener means, the clamp members having axially extending clamping parts and being operable to secure the clamping parts in a sheet clamping position from a sheet release position, the axially extending clamping parts adapted to engage said sheet edge along a margin thereof to clamp the said sheet edge and to inhibit flapping thereof.

1 4 In a still further aspect there is provided an elongate clamp assembly having spaced apartanti-flap clamps, each anti-flap clamp having a first longitudinal clamp member and a second longitudinal clamp member held together by clamp fastener means, the clamp fastener means being operable to secure the clamp members in a sheet clamping position from a sheet release position, the clamp members having axially extending clamping parts adapted to engage said sheet edge along a margin thereof to clamp said sheet edge. Preferably, the elongate clamp assembly is a telescopic assembly.

The clamping parts of the clamp members preferably co-act so that the sheet o* 10 material clamped will be displaced laterally when the clamp members are in the clamping position. Consequently, it is generally preferable that the clamping parts S* comprise co-operating non-straight surfaces adapted to laterally displace sheet material when said clamp members are held in the clamping position.

The first longitudinal clamp member is typically a hollow rail which has an axially extending clamping part comprising an outer curved surface of said rail, the surface being equipped with projections such as longitudinally extending ribs.

The first longitudinal clamp member is preferably length adjustable. It may be made length adjustable by being foldable but is preferably a telescopic assembly. To this end it is preferable that it comprises spaced apart clamping parts telescopically slidable on a connector. The first longitudinal clamp member preferably includes a transverse member attachment means at an end thereof.

The second longitudinal clamp member preferably comprises a C-shaped rail having an inner surface adapted to co-operate with an outer surface of the first longitudinal clamp member. The inner surface of the C-shaped rail preferably includes a layer of resilient material. Where the first longitudinal clamp member includes an outer surface with projections the inner surface of the C-shaped rail includes resilient material adapted to deform when clamped against the projections of the first longitudinal clamp member.

Where the first longitudinal clamp member is secured at its opposite ends to transverse members by respective transverse member attachment means it will be appreciated that in this form the first longitudinal clamping member will provide a fixed jaw and the second longitudinal clamp member will provide a moveable jaw.

The first and second longitudinal clamp members may be stored as separate *members and simply bolted together to secure them in the sheet clamping position.

•oo° However, it is preferable that the first longitudinal clamp member and the second longitudinal clamp member be pivotally coupled together using a pivot connection.

Consequently, and in a preferred form, the first longitudinal clamp member includes an extruded pivot rail extending parallel to the clamping part of the first longitudinal clamp member and the second longitudinal clamp member includes an extruded C-shaped channel extending parallel to the clamping partof the second longitudinal clamp member, the pivot rail being adapted to fit slidably into the Cshaped channel so that the clamping parts can pivot together between the sheet release and sheet clamping positions.

As mentioned above the clamp fastener means can simply comprise bolts spaced along the clamp members to secure them together. In the case where the I i 6 clamp members are hinged together, the fastener means can also comprise spaced bolts. However, it is preferable that the fastener means comprise a quick release mechanism. Typically the quick release mechanism comprises spaced quick release manually operable levers equipped with over centre cam surfaces for over centre toggle operation between the sheet clamping and sheet release positions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In order that the present invention can be more readily understood and be put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings o*0o by way of non-limiting example illustrating the application of the present invention 0oo0 to a pop-top caravan and wherein:- Figure 1 is a perspective drawing illustrating a pop-top caravan equipped .00 with a collapsible awning assembly according to the present invention, the 0000 collapsible awning assembly having two clamp assemblies according to the present invention, each clamp assembly having a pair of anti-flap clamps according to the present invention; 0000 Figures 2 and 3 are sections used to illustrate a preferred anti-flap clamp in the sheet release and sheet clamping positions respectively; Figure 4 is a perspective drawing illustrating a typical second clamp member in the form of an extruded rail; Figure 5 is a perspective drawing illustrating a typical first clamp member in the form of an extruded rail; J IB 7 Figure 6 is a drawing illustrating a preferred clamp assembly formed as a telescopic assembly of two spaced pairs of clamp members and a telescopic connector; Figure 7 is a drawing illustrating a frictional engagement fastener used to releasably secure the telescopic assembly of Figure 6 against telescopic movement; Figure 8 is a drawing illustrating a typical over-centre quick release mechanism; Figure 9 is an exploded perspective drawing illustrating a typical transverse member attachment means; and 10 Figure 10 is an exploded drawing illustrating in a further embodiment a transverse member attachment means.

METHOD OF PERFORMANCE Referring to the drawings and initially to Figure 1, there is illustrated a **ocollapsible awning assembly 10 fitted to the side of a pop-top caravan and e*e• equipped with two anti-flap clamp assemblies 11 and 12. The awning assembly comprises a fabric sheet material 13 which is stored on a roller 14 and held in its extended position by respective stays 15 at each end of the awning assembly The clamp assemblies 11 and 12 are identical and are equipped at each end with transverse member attachment means shown generally at 16 and 17 (see also Figures 9 and 10 for examples)so that the clamp assemblies effectively form pole rafters extending rigidly between transverse members formed by the surround of the pop-top 18 and the brace 15 or the end portion of the roller 14 where the clamp assembly is attached at 17. The clamp assemblies 11 and 12 are telescopic 8 assemblies having telescopic connectors 19 which hold spaced apart clamps comprising first longitudinal clamp members (not visible), second longitudinal clamp members 20 which overlay the first longitudinal clamp members, the spaced apart clamps secure marginal edge portions of the sheet material 13.

There is only a small portion of the edge of the sheet illustrated at 21 that is not clamped. This is in the region of the telescopic connector 19.

To collapse the assembly of Figure 1 the second clamp members 20 are released to release the edges of the sheet material, frictional fasteners that are used to hold the telescopic first clamp member in its extended position are released and oo** this enables the attachment means 16 and 17 to be released so that the clamp assemblies 11 and 12 can be completely removed. The awning is then retracted by releasing the stays 15 and rolling the sheet onto the roller 14.

It will be appreciated in relation to Figure 1 thatthe first longitudinal clamp members in conjunction with the telescopic connector will provide a fixed rigid rail and that the second clamp members 20 are moveable relative to that fixed rail.

The actual operation of the clamp members in the preferred embodiment will now be described in relation to Figures 2 to 5. Like numerals illustrate like features. As can be seen from Figures 2 and 3 the first longitudinal clamp member of each clamp comprises a hollow rail 22 which in use with the connector 19 effectively forms a rafter for the awning of Figure 1. The connector 19 is sized to fit telescopically within the passage 23 to connect two sections of the extrusion 22 together so that the rafter can be extended and retracted as previously described.

A C-shaped slot 24 is provided so that a rope fitted to a further section of sheet 9 material can be fed in and thereby attached to the rail 22 for the purpose of providing a wall if desired. While one channel 24 is illustrated it is preferable that two C-shaped channels be utilised side by side.

The extrusion 22 includes a flange 25 and a projecting pivot rail 26, the flange 25 having spaced holes 27 which take a quick release fastener assembly which in this case is an over centre toggle assembly 28. The toggle assembly 28 operates against a biassing spring(not shown) to enable the second clamp member to be moved between the release position illustrated in Figure 2 and the clamping position illustrated in Figure 3.

The first clamp member 20 includes a clamping part having rubber material S. or other resilient material 29 adhered to an inner surface 30 of the clamp member 20 while the clamp member 22 includes a clamping part having spaced parallel ridges 31 projecting from a surface 32, it being appreciated that the surfaces 30 and 32 are generally curved and co-act to support and retain a marginal edge portion of the sheet material 13 by causing lateral displacement of the sheet material when the quick release toggle 28 is in the position illustrated in Figure 3 and the clamping members 20 and 22 are in the clamping position.

The second clamp member 20 includes an extruded slot 33 which cooperates with the pivot rail 26. Holes 34 are aligned with the holes 27 in the rail 22 and in conjunction with the over centre toggle make provision for the toggle action illustrated in relation to Figures 2 and 3.

Referring to Figures 6, 7 and 8, the clamp assembly 11,12 is illustrated as viewed from the side of the slot 24, the telescopic movement of the assembly is restrained or released by releasable frictional fasteners 35 which in this case uses a stainless steel envelope shown in phantom in Figure 7 at 36 to frictionally engage the surface 37 of the connector 19 rather than utilising the end 38 of the bolt. A typical over centre toggle mechanism is illustrated in Figure 8.

Typical attachment means 16, 17 are illustrated in relation to Figures 9 and In Figure 9, an insert 38 carries spigots 39 and 40 which can simply fit into holes 41 and 42 in the surround of the pop-top caravan as illustrated at 16 in Figure 1. Similar spigot arrangements can be utilised with corresponding holes adjacent the ends of the roller 14 as illustrated at 17 in Figure 1. An alternative where it is oOO• not applicable to locate holes is the arrangement of Figure 10 where a bracket 43 in conjunction with an insert 44 and a hook 45 is used. The hook 45 passes over the projecting portion 46 of the bracket 43 or can be suitably sized to pass through *ses the aperture 47 of the bracket 43. The bracket 43 can be secured to the surround of the pop-top caravan as illustrated at 16 in Figure 1 while the spigots can be used at the opposite end at 17.

•Whilst the above has been given by way of illustrative example of the present invention many variations and modifications thereto will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the broad ambit and scope of the invention as herein set forth in the appended claims.

Claims

1. An anti-flap clamp adapted to secure an edge of a flexible sheet material, the clamp having a first longitudinal clamp member and a second longitudinal clamp member held together by clamp fastener means, the clamp fastener means being operable to secure the clamp members in a sheet clamping position from a sheet release position, the clamp members having axially extending clamping parts adapted to engage along a margin of the edge of the sheet material to clamp the edge, characterized in that no component of the clamp is required to be permanently secured to the sheet material and that the sheet material, when clamped, exhibits no or minimal lateral displacement at the margin when the clamp members are in the clamping position.

2. An anti-flap clamp according to claim 1 wherein the clamping parts of the clamp members co-act so that the sheet material clamped will be minimally displaced S:o laterally when the clamp members are in the clamping position.

3. An anti-flap clamp according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the clamping parts •comprise co-operating non-straight surfaces adapted to retain the sheet material therebetween when the clamp members are in the clamping position.

4. An anti-flap clamp according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the axially extending clamping part of the first longitudinal clamp member is an outer surface of a hollow rail, the surface being equipped with projections.

An anti-flap clamp according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the first longitudinal clamp member is length adjustable.

6. An anti-flap clamp according to claim 5 wherein the first longitudinal clamp member is length adjustable telescopically. 12

7. An anti-flap clamp according to claim 6 which further includes a releasable frictional fastener to secure the telescopically adjustable first longitudinal clamp member against telescopic movement.

8. An anti-flap clamp according to any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the first longitudinal clamping member further includes a transverse member attachment means adapted to attach the first longitudinal clamping member to a fixture supporting the sheet material.

9. An anti-flap clamp according to any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein the second longitudinal clamp member comprises a C-shaped rail.

An anti-flap clamp according to claim 9, when appended to any one of claims 4 to 8, wherein the C-shaped rail includes an inner surface clamping part adapted to co-operate with the outer surface of the first longitudinal clamp member.

11. An anti-flap clamp according to claim 10 wherein the inner surface of the C- shaped rail includes a layer of resilient material.

12. An anti-flap clamp according to claim 11, when appended to any one of claims 4 to 10, wherein the resilient material is adapted to deform when clamped against the projections of the first longitudinal clamp member.

13. An anti-flap clamp according to any one of claims 7 to 12 wherein the first longitudinal clamp member is connected at its opposite ends to the respective transverse member attachment means, the first longitudinal clamping member providing a fixed jaw carrying the clamping part of the first longitudinal clamping member and the second longitudinal clamp member providing a movable jaw carrying the clamping part of the second member. 13

14. An anti-flap clamp according to any one of claims 1 to 13 wherein the first longitudinal clamp member and the second longitudinal clamp member are pivotally coupled together using a pivot connection.

An anti-flap clamp according to claim 14 wherein the first longitudinal clamp member includes an extruded pivot rail extending parallel to the clamping part of the first longitudinal clamp member, and the second longitudinal clamp member includes an extruded C-shaped channel extending parallel to the clamping part of the second longitudinal clamp-member, the pivot rail being positioned in the C-shaped channel so that the clamping parts can pivot together between the sheet release and sheet clamping positions.

16. An anti-flap clamp according to any one of claims 1 to 15 wherein the clamp fastener means comprise longitudinally spaced apart quick release mechanisms. 9%oo

17. An anti-flap clamp according to claim 16 wherein the spaced quick release mechanisms include manually operable levers equipped with over centre cam surfaces for over centre toggle operation between the sheet clamping and sheet release positions.

18. An anti-flap clamp assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 17 wherein the first longitudinal clamp member further includes at least one channel adapted to retain a second sheet material therein.

19. An anti-flap clamp according to claim 18 which includes two of the channel.

20. A collapsible awning assembly with improved anti-flap characteristics, the collapsible awning assembly having a flexible sheet material supported at opposite sides by transverse members, the flexible sheet material having opposite free edges extending laterally of the transverse members and at least one anti-flap clamp removably attached to the transverse members and adapted to extend along a margin of at least one of the free edges, wherein the anti-flap clamp is as defined in any one of claims 1 to 19.

21. An elongate anti-flap clamp assembly to secure an edge of a flexible sheet material having spaced apart anti-flap clamps, each anti-flap clamp as defined in any one of claims 1 to 19.

22. An anti-flap clamp as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

23. A collapsible awning assembly as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

24. An elongate clamp assembly as herein described with reference to Figure 6 of the accompanying drawings. o *o AUSSIE TRAVELLER PTY LTD By its Patent Attorney Dr Kevin M Pullen o• o* ooooo*