CA1087962A

CA1087962A - Mobile home awning

Info

Publication number: CA1087962A
Application number: CA319,717A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Emilien A. Clairmont
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1979-01-16
Filing date: 1979-01-16
Publication date: 1980-10-21

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A demountable awning for recreational vehicles fabricated of two layers of air impermeable material. A leading a leading edge of the awning is secured to the vehicle and a trailing edge is supported by poles. The edges of the material are sealed and at least one gutter extends from the leading edge to the trailing edge so as to divide the awning into two or more separate airtight compartments, each having air inlet means.
The gutter is formed by sealing the two layers together so as to provide a gutter of sufficient width to be relatively unclogable.

Description

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This invention relates to portable shelters and more particularly to a demountable awning for recreational vehicles such as trailers capable of being rol led up and stored therein when not in use.
The awnings presently in use are fabricated of canvas or synthetic cloth coated with a waterproof plastic. A leading edge of the awning is removably secured to the wall of the trailer or the like and the trailing edge is supported by poles and guy ropes so as to provide the desired slope.
The disadvantage of such an awning is that during a rainstorm rainwater tends to collect adjacent the trailing edge and if allowed to accum~-10 i ~ late cauSes the awning to sag. It is therefore advisable for the occupant togo out in the rain to tip the water out of the awning. I F this is not done the awning will probably develop a permanent bulge and its replacement will be i ndi c at ed .
One of the solutions devised by the campers havirig such awning Is that of supporting the awning with sheets of plywood. However, removing the plywood sheets and storing them in the trailer when travelling is awkward and Inconvenient.
The present invention is designed to overcome the disadvantages described above by the provision of an inflatable awning having a plurality 20 of convex air chambers. Rain therefore tends to col lect in the narrower gutter rather than along the leading edge of the awning. Furthermore the awnlng is more rigid than those commonly in use due to the provision oF the alr chamber.
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an inflatable aWning adapted to prevent build up of rainwater in amounts capable of causlng sagging oF the awning.
A further advantage of the present invention is that it can be Polded or rolled for storage or travel.
A stlll further object is the provision of an awning requiring no 30 addltional metal braces or rigid stiffening means.
Accordingly the present invention provides a demountable awning for use on recreational vehicles, the awning comprising an upper and a lower layer of flexible air impermeable material, said layers of material being sealed at theiredges so as to be air tight, a leading edge of the awning ,., : . . . ,, .. ,, .. . ~ . , :
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~ eing provided with means to secure the awning to a side wall of the vehicle, a trailing edge of said awning being prov7ded with spaced apart reinforcing rings adapted to receive upper ends of supportin9 poles and at least one gUtter extending from said leading edge to the trailing edge, each gutter being formed by sealing the upper and lower layers together thereby providing an air chamber on the side of the gutter and spaced apart by the gutter, each air chamber being provided with a sealable tube to permit inflow and outflow of air.
In the drawings which illustrate embodiments of the invention Figure 1 is a perspective view of the awning of this invention ; in position on the house trai ler, Figure 2 is a top plan view of the awning of Figure 1, Figure 3 is an end elevational view of the awning of Figure 2 and Figure 4 is a part sectional side elevatjonal view of the , attaching means on the awning and the mating portion on the trai ler.
` Referring now in detai I to the drawings in Figure 1 the awning 10 is shown in position on a trailer 12. As shown more clearly in Figure 3 the awning 10 comprises an upper layer 14 and a lower layer 16 of flexible air impermeable material in this case a suitable plastic such as vinyl. The lower layer 16 may also comprise vinyl coated polyester fabric.
The upper and lower layers are preferably heat sealed along a leading edge 20, a trailing edge 22 and both side edges 24. Further lines of heat sealing 28 define gutters 30 and 32 which divide the awning 10 into three air chambers 33, 34 and 36. It will be appreciated that this is an example and that the number of chambers may be varied to suit the size of the awning or t other considerations.
Each of the chambers 33, 34 and 36 is provided with an air inlet . tube 38 having a suitable plug or cap. The tubes 38 are conveniently arranged adjacent the trailing edge 22 of the awning so they can be reached to blow air into the chambers using an air pump or the like.
A number of tabs 40, in this case four, are provided on each of the trailing edge of the awning 10. The tabs 40 extend beyond the trailing edge 22 and each has an aperture therein provided with a reinforcing

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"_ ing 42 to receive an end of one of the supporting poles 46 7n a conven-tional manner, The leading edge of the awning is folded over and fastened so as to receive and retain a rope 50. As shown more clearly in Figure 4 the leading edge 20 of the awning 10 is slid into a channel member 52 which is in turn secured to a wall 54 of the trailer 12 by screws 56.
In use the awning is secured to the side of the trailer as described above and the supporting poles and guy ropes are positioned in the usual manner. Before and after erecting the awning, however, the 10 chambers 33, 34 and 36 are inflated. When inflated the chambers provide some resistance to bending along their lengths and the curved upper portions tend to direct rain into the gutters 30 and 32 thus discouraging bui Id up of water adjacent the trai ling edge of the awning 10. In addition the gutters 30 and 32 having been made sufficiently wide thus making it less likely that leaves~ pine needles and the like will be trapped in them and restrict run off of the rainwater.

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Claims

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A demountable awning for use on recreational vehicles, said awning comprising an upper and a lower layer of flexible air impermeable material, said layers of material being sealed at their edges so as to be air tight, a leading edge of said awning being provided with means to secure said awning to a side wall of said vehicle, a trailing edge of said awning being provided with spaced apart reinforcing rings adapted to receive upper ends of supporting poles and at least one gutter extending from said leading edge to said trailing edge, each said gutter being formed by sealing said upper and lower layers together thereby providing an air chamber on each side of said gutter and spaced apart by said gutter, each said air chamber being provided with a sealable tube to permit inflow and outflow of air.

2. An awning as claimed in claim 1 wherein the flexible material is vinyl heat sealed at the edges and along said gutters.

3. An awning as claimed in claim 1 wherein tabs are provided along and extended from said trailing edge and are provided with said reinforcing rings.

4. An awning as claimed in claim 1 wherein the flexible material of said upper layer is vinyl and the lower layer is vinyl coated polyester fabric.