EP0351459A1

EP0351459A1 - Sub-awning sheet support assembly

Info

Publication number: EP0351459A1
Application number: EP88306547A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Masayoshi Fukushi
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1988-07-18
Filing date: 1988-07-18
Publication date: 1990-01-24

Abstract

The sub-awning sheet support assembly (14) is interposed between juxtaposed main-awning sheet support (1) assemblies (1, 1a) so as to cover a gap between juxtaposed main-awning sheets (3) of the main-awning sheet assemblies with a sub-awning sheet (2) of the sub-awning sheet support assembly (14), while provided with: a sub-awning sheet winding roller (14a) for winding the sub-awning sheet thereon; and an intermediate transmission shaft (17) for keeping the sub-awning sheet winding roller (14a) synchronized in rotation with the main-awning sheet winding roller (7). The intermediate transmission shaft (17) is connected with the main-awning sheet winding roller (7) through a first transmission mechanism (20), while connected with the sub-awning sheet winding roller (18) through a second transmission mechanism. Both of the sub-awning sheet winding roller (18) and the intermediate transmission shaft (17) connected therewith are so disposed that a side portion of the sub-awning sheet (2) overlaps with a side portion of the main-awning sheet (3).

Description

The present invention relates to a sub-awning sheet support assembly adapted to cover a gap between a pair of main-awning sheet support assemblies juxtaposed to each other, and more particularly to a sub-awning sheet support assembly capable of extending and retracting a windable sub-awning sheet in a precisely interlocking manner with respect to at least one of windable main-awning sheets of the main-awning sheet support assemblies.
In general, in a place such as entrances, windows and terraces of a building such as shops and houses, there is provided a windable awning sheet support assembly so as to extend its awning sheet outward from a wall of the building. The awning sheet support assembly is employed for shielding a person and his properties from the sun and rain.
The awning sheet has its one end secured to a winding roller and the other end secured to a front beam. In each of opposite ends of the front beam is provided a side arm an end of which is rotatably mounted on the wall of the building at a position under the above winding roller. As the winding roller rotates, the awning sheet is extended and retracted, while the side arms rotates.
There is another type of the awning sheet support assembly in which the side arms are removed to realize a compact construction and good appearance of the support assembly. In this type of the awning sheet support assembly, the side arms are replaced with folding arms which are disposed under the awning sheet and spaced apart from each other at intervals of a predetermined distance. In each of the folding arms is incorporated a spring by which each of the folding arms is biased in a suitably manner. In any type of the above-mentioned awning sheet support assemblies, a plurality of the awning sheet support assemblies are often juxtaposed to each other in use. In this case, in order to cover a gap between the thus juxtaposed awning sheet support assemblies (hereinafter referred to as the main-awning sheet support assemblies), a sub-awning sheet support assembly is often employed so as to be interposed between the main-awning sheet support assemblies. Such sub-awning sheet support assembly is provided with a sub-awning sheet and its winding roller which is provided in the vicinity of the wall of the building and to which roller is secured an end of the sub-awning sheet so as to be windable about the sub-awning sheet winding roller, the other end of the sub-awning sheet being secured to a front sub-beam which is connected with a front main-beam to which an end of the main-awning sheet is secured. The sub-awning sheet winding roller is so biased by means of a spring means as to wind the sub-awning sheet thereon. In operation, as the main-awning sheet is wound, the sub-awning sheet is automatically wound on the the sub-awning sheet winding roller under the influence of a resilient force of the spring means.
However, such a conventional sub-awning sheet support assembly is not precisely interlocked with the main-awning sheet support assembly to cause problems in use frequently. For example, after the long-term service, the sub-awning sheet support assembly is deteriorated in its spring means and winding roller a frictional resistance of which often increases to make it impossible to smoothly wind the sub-awning sheet on the winding roller or even make it impossible to wind the sub-awning sheet on the winding roller. In addition, in case that there is a strong wind to unwind the sub-awning sheet from around its winding roller, the sub-awning sheet extends longer than the main-awning sheet to flutter so as to beat the main-awning sheet, whereby a considerable noise is produced between the main-awning sheet and the sub-awning sheet. These are problems inherent in the conventional sub-awning sheet support assembly.
Embodiments of the present invention may achieve one or more of the following objects:
to provide a novel sub-awning sheet support assembly which resolves the problems inherent in the above-mentioned conventional sub-awning sheet support assembly;
to provide a sub-awning sheet support assembly which is precisely interlocked with a main-awning sheet support assembly to permit a sub-awning sheet to serve for a long period of time in a smooth manner in winding/unwinding operation thereof;
to provide a sub-awning sheet support assembly in which a sub-awning sheet is prevented from being unwound even when subjected to a strong wind so that the sub-awning sheet is prevented from fluttering and beating a main-awning sheet adjacent thereto, whereby a noise caused by the above beating is removed;
to provide a sub-awning sheet support assembly which covers a gap between main-awning sheets of main-awning sheet support assemblies juxtaposed to each other so as to shield a person and his properties from the sun and rain;
In a sub-awning sheet support assembly of an awning assembly comprising: a main-awning sheet windable about a main-awning sheet winding roller; and a sub-awning sheet juxtaposed to the main-awning sheet so as to partially overlap therewith in side portion thereof, the sub-awning sheet being windable about a sub-awning sheet winding roller; the improvement wherein:

i) an intermediate transmission shaft so partially juxtaposed to the main-awning sheet winding roller that an end of the intermediate transmission shaft is positioned inside an area parallel to the main-awning sheet, the intermediate transmission shaft being connected with an end of the main-awning sheet winding roller through a first transmission mechanism; and
ii) a sub-awning sheet winding roller so partially juxtaposed to the main-awning sheet winding roller that the sub-awning sheet winding roller has an end thereof positioned inside an area parallel to the main-awning sheet and the other end thereof extended outward from the area parallel to the main-awning sheet, the sub-awning sheet winding roller being connected with the intermediate transmission shaft through a second transmission mechanism at a position inside the area parallel to the main-awning sheet, the sub-awning sheet being windable about the sub-awning sheet winding roller.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be clarified by a preferred embodiment of the present invention described hereinbelow with reference to the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the sub-awning sheet support assembly of the present invention interposed between the main-awning sheet support assemblies;
Fig. 2 is a partially enlarged view of the sub- awning sheet support assembly of the present invention shown in Fig. 1, for illustrating a sub-awning sheet winding apparatus thereof;
Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the sub-awning sheet winding apparatus of the present invention, taken along the line 111-111 of Fig. 2;
Figs. 4 to 6 are exploded perspective views of brackets employed in the first and second transmission mechanisms of the sub-awning sheet support assembly of the present invention shown in Fig. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As shown in Fig. 1, a sub-awning sheet support assembly 14 of the present invention is interposed between a pair of main-awning sheet support assemblies 1 and 1a. The main-awning sheet support assembly 1 comprises: a main-awning sheet 3; a main-awning sheet winding apparatus 4; a front beam 5 to which is secured a front-end portion of the main-awning sheet; and a plurality of folding arms 6 for urging the front beam 5 to move forward so as to unwind the main-awning sheet.
The main-awning sheet winding apparatus 4 comprises: a main-awning sheet winding roller 7; a pair of brackets 8 for rotatably supporting the main-awning sheet winding roller 7 at its opposite ends through bearing means; and a base pipe 9 on which the brackets 8 are mounted. In at least one of the opposite ends of the main-awning sheet winding roller 7 is provided a manually operated or remote-controlled motor-driven winding mechanism (not shown) for winding/unwinding the main-awning sheet 3. The base pipe 9 is mounted on a suitable base such as a wall of a building (not shown) through a plurality of wall-secured brackets 10.
An end of each of the folding arms 6 is so mounted on the base pipe 9 as to be only horizontally swingable.
The folding arm 6 is constructed of a pair of hollow arm members 13 and 13a foldably connected to each other through a connecting member 12. A tension spring (not shown) is provided in at least one of the hollow arm members 13 and 13a, for example in the hollow arm member 13. The tension spring is secured to the interior of the hollow arm member 13 at an end thereof while secured to a wire (not shown) at the other end thereof. A free end of the wire passes through the interior of the hollow arm member 13 and the connecting member 12 so as to be secured to the interior of the other hollow arm member 13a, so that the folding arm 6 is always urged into its stretching position under the influence of a tensile force exerted by the tension spring, whereby the main-awning sheet 3 is always subjected to its unwinding force.
As described later, a front-end portion of the hollow arm member 13a of the folding arm 6 is so connected to the front beam 5 as to be only horizontally swingable.
The sub-awning sheet support assembly 14 for supporting and winding/unwinding the sub-awning sheet 2 is adjacent to the main-awning sheet support assembly 1 for supporting and winding/unwinding the main-awning sheet 3 while interlocked with the main-awning sheet support assembly 1, so as to cause the sub-awning sheet 2 to partially overlap with the main-awning sheet 3. A front-end portion of the sub-awning sheet 2 pulled out of a sub-awning sheet winding apparatus 14a of the sub-awning sheet support assembly 14 is secured to the front beam 15 fixedly mounted on the front beam 5 of the main-awning sheet support assembly 1.
As shown in Fig. 2, the sub-awning sheet winding apparatus 14a of the sub-awning sheet support assembly 14 is interposed between a pair of the main-awning sheet support assemblies 1 and 1a. The sub-awning sheet winding apparatus 14a comprises: an intermediate transmission shaft 17; a sub-awning sheet winding roller 18 about which the sub-awning sheet is windable; a first transmis sion mechanism 19 interposed between the main-awning sheet winding roller 7 and the intermediate transmission shaft 17 to transmit a rotational motion of the main-awning sheet winding roller 7 to the intermediate transmission shaft 17; and a second transmission mechanism 20 interposed between the intermediate transmission shaft 17 and the sub-awning sheet winding roller 18 to transmit a rotational motion of the intermediate transmission shaft 17 to the sub-awning sheet winding roller 18. Both of the intermediate transmission shaft 17 and the sub-awning sheet winding roller 18 are positioned in an area lower in height than that of the main-awning sheet winding roller 7, while partially juxtaposed to the same.
In the arrangement of the sub-awning sheet winding apparatus 14a shown in Fig. 2, a right-hand end of the intermediate transmission shaft 17 is rotatably supported by a sub-bracket 21 through a bearing, the sub-bracket 21 being fixedly mounted on the base pipe 9. The sub-bracket 21 is so disposed that the right-hand end of the intermediate transmission shaft 17 is disposed inside an area parallel to the main-awning sheet 3 so that the right-hand end of the intermediate transmission shaft 17 extends rightward beyond a left-hand edge 23 of the main-awning sheet 3 as shown in Fig. 2. On the other hand, a left-hand end of the intermediate transmission shaft 17 is rotatably supported by an intermediate bracket 22 through a bearing, the intermediate bracket 22 being fixedly mounted on the base pipe 9.
A right-hand end of the sub-awning sheet winding roller 18 is rotatably supported by the sub-bracket 21 through another bearing. Consequently, the right-hand end of the sub-awning sheet winding roller 18 extends rightward beyond the left-hand edge 23 of the main-awning sheet 3 so as to be positioned inside the area parallel to the main-awning sheet 3. On the other hand, a left-hand end of the sub-awning sheet winding roller 18 is rotatably supported by another sub-bracket 21a through a bearing, the another sub-bracket 21a being fixedly mounted on the base pipe 9a on which is also fixedly mounted a bracket 8a through which a main-awning sheet winding roller 7a is rotatably supported, as shown in Fig. 2. The intermediate bracket 22 supporting the left-hand end of the intermediate transmission shaft 17 is positioned in an area corresponding to a central portion of the sub-awning sheet winding roller 18.
The first transmission mechanism 19 comprises: a sprocket 24 fixedly mounted on a left-hand end of the main-awning sheet winding roller 7; a sprocket 25 fixedly mounted on a left-hand end of the intermediate transmission shaft 17; and an endless chain 26 running round these two sprockets 24 and 25.
The second transmission mechanism 20 comprises: a sprocket 27 fixedly mounted on a right-hand end of the intermediate transmission shaft 17; a sprocket 28 fixedly mounted on a right-hand end of the sub-awning sheet winding roller 18; and an endless chain 29 running round these two sprockets 27 and 28.
As described above, the right-hand end of the intermediate transmission shaft 17 extends rightward beyond the left-hand edge 23 of the main-awning sheet 3 so that both the second transmission mechanism 20 and the right-hand end of the sub-awning sheet winding roller 18 are positioned in an area corresponding to the area inside the main-awning sheet 3.
On the other hand, the left-hand end of the sub-awning sheet winding roller 18 extends leftward beyond the left-hand edge 23 of the main-awning sheet 3 so as to reach the inside of juxtaposed main-awning sheet 3a beyond its right-hand edge 23a.
As described above, the left-hand end of the sub-awning sheet winding roller 18 extends leftward beyond the right-hand edge 23a of the main-awning sheet 3a. As a result, it is possible to wind/unwind opposite edge portions of the sub-awning sheet 2 on/from the sub-awning sheet winding roller 18 in an overlapping manner with respect to both of a left-hand edge portion of the main-awning sheet 3 and a right-hand edge portion of the main-awning sheet 3a, so as to make it possible to completely shield a person and his properties from the sun and rain.
Incidentally, the sprockets 25 and 27 are mounted on the opposite supported ends of the intermediate transmission shaft 17 so that there is no fear that the intermediate transmission shaft 17 is deformed in operation.
As is clear from Fig. 2, the left-hand end of the intermediate transmission shaft 17 supported by the intermediate bracket 22 is substantially aligned in parallel with the left-hand end of the main-awning sheet winding roller 7. Consequently, the intermediate transmission shaft 17 is shorter than the sub-awning sheet winding roller 18. Such short intermediate transmission shaft 17 contributes to weight reduction of the sub-awning sheet support assembly of the present invention. In addition, the length of the shaft 17 is so short as to prevent the shaft 17 from being deformed in operation even when a diameter of the shaft 17 is small.
Now, will be described hereinbelow in detail a means for unwinding the sub-awning sheet 2.
As shown in Fig. 2, in each of plates 30 and 30a constituting the brackets 21 and 21a respectively is provided a hole. Opposite ends of a guide rod 31 inserted into these holes of the plates 30, 30a so as to be supported by the plates 30, 30a. The plates 30 and 30a are provided with upper arched portions 32 and 32a, respectively. In these portions 32 and 32a are provided a plurality of holes spaced apart from each other, of which holes each pair of holes in the same level of the arched portions 32 and 32a so supports each of guide rods 31a, 31b and 31c as to space them in parallel with and apart from each other along the arched portions 32 and 32a of the plates 30 and 30a behind the main-awning sheet winding roller 7, 7a. Consequently, as shown in Fig. 3, the sub-awning sheet 2 unwound from the sub-awning sheet winding roller 18 is so guided by the guide rods 31a, 31b and 31c as to pass from an area under the main-awning sheet winding rollers 7, 7a upward to an area behind the rollers 7, 7a to extend further upward, and then turns forward in an area above the main-awning sheet winding rollers 7, 7a. Under such circumstances, the opposite side edge portions of the sub-awning sheet 2 overlap with the side edge portions of the main- awning sheet 3, 3a, and are pulled forward together with the main- awning sheets 3, 3a.
A front-end portion of the main-awning sheet 3 is secured to the front beam 5 which is provided with a substantially pentagonal cross section. Namely, the front-end portion of the main-awning sheet 3 is clamped between an axial groove 33 formed in the front beam 5 and a rod-like stopper 34 inserted into the axial groove 33 so as to secure the main-awning sheet 3 to the front beam 5.
A front-end portion of the sub-awning sheet 2 is secured to the front beam 15 which is provided with a substantially pentagonal cross section. Namely, the front-end portion of the sub-awning sheet 2 is clamped between an axial groove 35 formed in the front beam 15 and a rod-like stopper 36 inserted into the axial groove 35 so as to secure the sub-awning sheet 2 to the front beam 15.
Opposite ends of the connecting member 16 through which the front beams 5 and 15 are connected with each other are connected with the front beam 5 and 15 through bolts 37 and 38, respectively.
On the other hand, an end portion of a mounting member 39 is connected to the front beam 5 through a bolt (not shown). The mounting member 39 is provided with a shaft portion passing through a through-hole of a supporting member 40. In order to prevent the supporting member 40 from dropping out of the mounting member 39, a nut 41 is threadably engaged with a front-end threaded portion of the mounting member 39. A front end of the hollow arm member 13a of the folding arm 6 is integrally connected with the supporting member 40. As a result, since the supporting member 40 is horizontally swingable with respect to the mounting member 39, the hollow arm member 13a of the folding arm 6 is horizontally swingable with respect to the mounting member 39 and the front beam 5 secured to the same.
Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the sub-bracket 21 comprising the plate 30 and a C-shaped mounting member 42 fixed to the plate 30. By means of a bolt 43 and a nut 44, the C-shaped member 43 of the sub-bracket 21 is fixedly mounted on the base pipe 9. In a lower portion of the plate 30 of the sub-bracket 21 are provided: a slit 45 in which an end potion of a shaft of the sub-awning sheet winding roller 18 is rotatably mounted through a bearing; and a slit 46 in which is mounted a bolt for connecting the sub-awning sheet winding roller 18 with the plate 30 of the sub-bracket 21 in a manner described later in detail with respect to the sub-bracket 21a shown in Fig. 6. In the plate 30 of the sub-bracket 21 further provided are: a slit 47 disposed above the slit 45, in which slit 47 is rotatably mounted the right-hand end of the intermediate transmission shaft 17 through a bearing; and a pair of bearings 48 welded to the plate 30 in the vicinity of the slit 47. A tension plate 49 is detachably mounted on the plate 30 so as to cover the slit 47. The tension plate 49 is provided with holes 50 and 51. In addition, a nut 52 is welded to the tension plate 49 which is fixed to the plate 30 in a lower part thereof by means of a tension bolt 53, bearing 48 and the nut 52, and in an upper part part thereof by means of a bolt 54 and a nut 55. As is clear from Fig. 3, by means of the tension plate 49 and the tension bolt 54, a tensile force is applied to the endless chain 29.
As shown in Fig. 4, the plate 30 is further provided with: a hole 56 under the C-shaped member 42; and the plurality of holes 57 in its arched portion 32. As described above, in these holes 56 and 57 are received the right-hand ends of the guide rods 31a, 31b and 31c so as to be mounted therein. The right-hand end of the intermediate transmission shaft 17 is supported by the hole 51 of the tension plate 49 and the slit 47 of the plate 30 of the sub-bracket 21 through a bearing.
Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the intermediate bracket 22 which has the same construction as that of an intermediate portion of the sub-bracket 21 shown in Fig. 4. The intermediate bracket 22 is constructed of a plate 58 and a C-shaped member 59 secured to the plate 58. The C-shaped member 59 of the intermediate bracket 22 is fixed to the base pipe 9 by means of a bolt 60 and a nut 61. The plate 58 is provided with a slit 62 in which is inserted the left-hand end of the intermediate transmission shaft 17 through a bearing so as to be rotatably mounted therein. In the plate 58, a pair of bearings are fixedly provided under the slit 62. A tension plate 63 is detachably mounted on the plate 58 so as to cover the slit 62. The tension plate 63 has the same construction as that of the tension plate 49 shown in Fig. 4. Namely, the tension plate 63 is provided with holes 64 and 65 together with a nut fixed to one side of the plate 63. In assembling, the tension plate 63 is brought into surface-contact with the plate 58 and fixed thereto in a lower part thereof by means of a tension bolt 66 and the above bearing and nut, and in an upper part thereof by means of the hole 64 and a bolt which passes through the hole 64 so as to be threadably engaged with a nut. The left-hand end of the intermediate transmission shaft 17 is rotatably mounted in the hole 65 of the tension plate 63 and the slit 62 of the plate 58 through the bearings. As is clear from Figs. 2 and 3, by means of the tension plate 63 and the tension bolt 66, a tensile force is applied to the endless chain 26. Namely, in Fig. 3, by rotating the tension bolt 66 so as to move the nut 52 threadably engaged with the tension bolt 66, the tension plate 63 is moved to move the left-hand end of the intermediate transmission shaft 17 so as to apply a tensile force to the endless chain 26. After that, the bolt 54 passing through the hole 64 is fastened to fix the tension plate 63 to the plate 58. Incidentally, the endless chain 29 of the second transmission mechanism 20 is also tightened by fastening the tension bolt 53 shown in Fig. 4 in the same manner as the above.
Fig. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the another sub-bracket 21a shown in the left-hand corner of Fig. 2, in which a lower part of the sub-bracket 21a and a journal portion of the sub-awning sheet winding roller 18 are illustrated in detail. As shown in Fig. 6, the another sub-bracket 21a has the substantially same construction as that of the sub-bracket 21, except that the another sub-bracket 21a lacks a portion for supporting the intermediate transmission shaft 17. In the plate 30a of the sub-bracket 21a are provided: a slit 45a for rotatably receiving the left-hand end of a shaft of the sub-awning sheet winding roller 18 through a bearing; and a slit 46a for receiving a bolt 67a which connects the plate 30a with the left-hand end of the sub-awning sheet winding roller 18.
On the left-hand end of the sub-awning sheet winding roller 18 is mounted a bearing 69a into a bracket of which is inserted a hook-joint member 70a which rotates by an amount of at least 90 ° in a direction indicated by an arrow shown in Fig. 6. The hook-joint member 70a is provided with a hook-like recess 71a in its free-end portion. After insertion of the bearing 69a into the slit 45a of the plate 30a, the hook-joint member 70a is rotated so that the hook-like recess 71a of the hook-joint member 70a is brought into engagement with a square-shaped cross-section portion 72a of a stopper bolt 67a inserted into the slit 46a. Then, a nut 73a is threadably engaged with the stopper bolt 67a so that the left-hand end of the sub-awning sheet winding roller 18 is rotatably mounted on the sub-bracket 21a.
Now, the operation of the sub-awning sheet support assembly of the present invention will be described hereinbelow in detail with reference to Figs. 1 to 3.
The main-awning sheet 3 is wound/unwound on/from the main-awning sheet winding roller 7 by operating the manually-operated winding mechanism or the remote-controlled motor-driven winding mechanism. When the main-awning sheet 3 is wound on the winding roller 7, the front beam 5 secured to the front-end portion of the main-awning sheet 3 is pulled toward the winding roller 7 against the resilient force exerted by the tension spring mounted in the interior of the folding arm 6, and, therefore, the folding arm 6 is folded. On the other hand, when the main-awning sheet 3 is unwound from the winding roller 7, the folding arm 6 is gradually stretched under the influence of the resilient force exerted by the tension spring mounted in the interior of the folding arm 6, so that the main-awning sheet 3 is automatically pulled out of the winding roller 7 so as to extend forward.
A rotational motion of the main-awning sheet winding roller 7 is transmitted to the intermediate transmission shaft 17 through the first transmission mechanism constructed of the sprocket 24, endless chain 26 and the sprocket 25, so that the intermediate transmission shaft 17 is rotated. The rotational motion of the intermediate transmission shaft 17 is in turn transmitted to the sub-awning sheet winding roller 18 through the second transmission mechanism 20 constructed of the sprocket 27, endless chain 29 and the sprocket 28. Consequently, as is clear from the above description, the sub-awning sheet winding roller 18 is precisely interlocked in rotation with the main-awning sheet winding roller 7 through these first 19 and second 20 transmission mechanisms so as to be synchronized with the main-awning sheet winding roller 7 in rotation. In case that: the main-awning sheet winding roller 7 is equal in outer diameter an in rotational speed to the sub-awning sheet winding roller 18; and the thickness of the main-awning sheet 3 is the same as that of the sub-awning sheet 2; it is possible to always keep an amount of the main-awning sheet 3 having been wound/unwound equal to that of the sub-awning sheet 2.
In case that the main-awning sheet 3 is wound, the sub-awning sheet 2 is wound at the same speed as that of the main-awning sheet 3 by means of the sub-awning sheet winding roller 18 synchronized in rotation with the main-awning sheet winding roller 7. At this time, since the front beams 5 and 15 secured to the front-end portions of the main-awning sheet 3 and the sub-awning sheet 2 respectively are connected with each other through the connecting member 16, the main-awning sheet 3 and the sub-awning sheet 2 are wound at the same speed while overlapped with each other in their side edge portions.
On the other hand, When the main-awning sheet 3 is unwound, the front beam 15 of the sub-awning sheet 2 is pulled by the front beam 5 of the main-awning sheet 3 forward so that the sub-awning sheet 2 is pulled forward to rotate the sub-awning sheet winding roller 18 at the same speed as that of the main-awning sheet winding roller 7. As a result, the sub-awning sheet 2 is unwound at the same speed as that of the main-awning sheet 3. At this time, since the front beams 5 and 15 secured to the front-end portions of the main-awning sheet 3 and the sub-awning sheet 2 respectively are connected with each other through the connecting member 16, the main-awning sheet 3 and the sub-awning sheet 2 are unwound at the same speed while overlapped with each other in their side edge portions.
It is possible to wind/unwind the juxtaposed main-awning sheet 3a independently of both of the main-awning sheet 3 and the sub-awning sheet 2. Consequently, it is possible to wind/unwind the juxtaposed main-awning sheet 3a at any time, for example, before or after completion of winding/unwinding of the main-awning sheet 3.
The sub-awning sheet support assembly 14 of the present invention is interposed between the juxtaposed main-awning sheet support assemblies 1 and 1a so as to be connected with one of the juxtaposed main-awning sheet support assemblies 1 and 1a. For example, in case that three of the main-awning sheet support assemblies are juxtaposed to each other, a central one of the main-awning sheet support assemblies can be connected with a pair of the sub-awning sheet support assemblies adjacent to opposite sides of the central one of the main-awning sheet support assemblies. It is also possible to connect each of the sub-awning sheet support assemblies with each of the central one and a left-hand one (or each of a right-hand one and a left-hand one) of the main-awning sheet support assemblies.

Claims

1. A sub-awning sheet support assembly of an awning assembly comprising: a main-awning sheet windable about a main-awning sheet winding roller; and a sub-awning sheet juxtaposed to said main-awning sheet so as to partially overlap therewith in side portion thereof, said sub-awning sheet being windable about a sub-awning sheet winding roller; characterised by:

i) an intermediate transmission shaft so partially juxtaposed to said main-awning sheet winding roller that an end of said intermediate transmission shaft is positioned inside an area parallel to said main-awning sheet, said intermediate transmission shaft being connected with an end of said main-awning sheet winding roller through a first transmission mechanism; and

ii) a sub-awning sheet winding roller so partially juxtaposed to said main-awning sheet winding roller that said sub-awning sheet winding roller has an end thereof positioned inside an area parallel to said main-awning sheet and the other end thereof extended outward from the area parallel to said main-awning sheet, said sub-awning sheet winding roller being connected with said intermediate transmission shaft through a second transmission mechanism at a position inside the area parallel to said main-awning sheet, said sub-awning sheet being windable about said sub-awning sheet winding roller.

2. The sub-awning sheet support assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein:
said sub-awning sheet winding roller is positioned under said main-awning sheet winding roller; said sub-awning sheet support assembly is further provided with a guide roller for so guiding said sub-awning sheet unwound from said sub-awning sheet winding roller as to pass through an area behind said main-awning sheet winding roller and through an area over the same.

3. The sub-awning sheet support assembly as set forth in claim 2, wherein:
each of said guide roller and said sub-awning sheet winding roller is rotatably mounted between a pair of sub-brackets which are spaced apart from each other so as to be parallel to each other.

4. The sub-awning sheet support assembly as set forth in claim 3, wherein:
an intermediate bracket is interposed between the pair of said sub-brackets so that an end of said intermediate transmission shaft is rotatably supported by said intermediate bracket, while the other end of said intermediate transmission is supported by one of said sub-brackets.

5. The sub-awning sheet support assembly as set forth in claim 1 or 2, wherein:
each of said first and said second transmission mechanisms is constructed of a pair of sprockets and an endless chain running round them.

6. The sub-awning sheet support assembly as set forth in claim 5, wherein:
said main-awning sheet winding roller is equal in outer diameter and in rotational speed to said sub-awning sheet winding roller.

7. The sub-awning sheet support assembly as set forth in claim 3, wherein:
on a base pipe mounted on a wall of a building is mounted each of said main-awning sheet winding roller, said sub-awning sheet winding roller and said intermediate bracket.