US20120180957A1 - Adjustable All-Season Window Awning/Light Shelf and Operating Mechanism Therefor - Google Patents
Adjustable All-Season Window Awning/Light Shelf and Operating Mechanism Therefor Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20120180957A1 US20120180957A1 US13/007,980 US201113007980A US2012180957A1 US 20120180957 A1 US20120180957 A1 US 20120180957A1 US 201113007980 A US201113007980 A US 201113007980A US 2012180957 A1 US2012180957 A1 US 2012180957A1
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- United States
- Prior art keywords
- canopy
- awning
- sliders
- window
- light shelf
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- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E04—BUILDING
- E04F—FINISHING WORK ON BUILDINGS, e.g. STAIRS, FLOORS
- E04F10/00—Sunshades, e.g. Florentine blinds or jalousies; Outside screens; Awnings or baldachins
- E04F10/005—Rigidly-arranged sunshade roofs with coherent surfaces
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E06—DOORS, WINDOWS, SHUTTERS, OR ROLLER BLINDS IN GENERAL; LADDERS
- E06B—FIXED OR MOVABLE CLOSURES FOR OPENINGS IN BUILDINGS, VEHICLES, FENCES OR LIKE ENCLOSURES IN GENERAL, e.g. DOORS, WINDOWS, BLINDS, GATES
- E06B9/00—Screening or protective devices for wall or similar openings, with or without operating or securing mechanisms; Closures of similar construction
- E06B9/24—Screens or other constructions affording protection against light, especially against sunshine; Similar screens for privacy or appearance; Slat blinds
- E06B2009/2417—Light path control; means to control reflection
Definitions
- This invention relates to window awnings and more particularly to adjustable window awnings.
- Window awnings are used to protect buildings, including building interiors, from excessive gain of solar heat through windows, and also as architectural elements to enhance aesthetic appeal of building exteriors. Shading windows with awnings is one of the most popular methods of increasing energy efficiency of buildings. By lowering temperature inside the building during the air conditioning season, awnings create savings in cooling energy. According to a 2007 study by the University of Minnesota entitled “Awnings in Residential Buildings,” awnings may reduce consumption of cooling energy by up to 69% and peak electricity demand by up to 49%, depending on the building location and some other factors.
- window awnings may block desirable passive gain of solar heat, partially offsetting energy savings achieved during the cooling season. Therefore, to achieve the highest energy savings, it is advisable to remove or retract window awnings during the period when the building needs to be heated. Because removing awnings for the winter season is inconvenient and could be expensive, it is preferable to use awnings that may be retracted or adjusted to allow desirable solar heat to reach the building interior through windows.
- retractable or adjustable window awnings are well known in the industry and usually are made of fabric.
- a retractable fabric awning is retracted by rolling the fabric up onto a roller rotatably attached to the building.
- retractable fabric awnings have been in use for decades, they are not sufficiently durable and require periodic replacement of the fabric. Fabric colors are prone to fading, reducing the aesthetic appeal of such awnings.
- Such awning when in the collapsed position, such awning requires substantial additional side space approximately equal to the length of its panels.
- Another type of retractable rigid awnings is available on the market in the form of roll-up awnings.
- Such awning consists of narrow aluminum strips connected to each other with ropes or bands and is retracted by rolling these strips up onto a roller, similarly to retractable fabric awnings.
- This design does not allow for any side panels that may be desired, has many small movable parts and requires constant tension to be applied to the connecting ropes or bands to maintain the awning in a taut condition, which reduces the awning's durability.
- An adjustable sunshade is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,421,966 to Braunstein, et al. The sunshade is adjustable only at the time of its installation and creates shade during the heating season, thereby greatly reducing any energy savings obtained during the cooling season.
- the present invention provides an adjustable window awning that also may be used as a light shelf.
- the awning includes a canopy attached to support elements on both sides of the window.
- the support elements are threaded and engaged with vertical drive screws providing for the possibility of moving the support elements with the canopy up and down relative to the window.
- Each drive screw is connected via a transmission gear with a common drive shaft.
- the top surface of the canopy is made reflective, which increases the amount of sunlight and associated solar heat entering the building through the window by reflecting additional sunlight into the window when the awning is in its bottom or intermediate position and performs as a light shelf.
- Such reflective surface also provides benefits during the summer time when the awning is in its top position. It reflects sunlight from the awning to keep the air between the awning and the window at a lower temperature.
- An object of the present invention is to provide a simple, convenient and durable adjustable window awning that would reduce gain of solar heat through windows during the cooling season and may be moved out of the way and permit access of desirable solar heat into the building during the heating season.
- Another object of the present invention is to provide an adjustable window awning that would increase gain of solar heat through windows during the heating season to provide additional energy savings.
- a further object of the present invention is to provide an adjustable window awning that may be used as a light shelf.
- a further object of the present invention is to provide an adjustable window awning that may be adjusted to shade a portion of the window, while allowing desired sunlight to enter the building through the window above and under the awning.
- a further object of the present invention is to provide an adjustable window awning that may be easily operated either from inside or from outside of the building.
- a further object of the present invention is to provide an adjustable window awning that may be easily operated manually or by power.
- FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an adjustable window awning constructed in accordance with the present invention in its top position;
- FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the adjustable window awning in its bottom position
- FIG. 3 is an isometric view of an operating mechanism of the awning of the present invention with the front panel removed;
- FIG. 4 is a schematic of sunrays reflecting from the inclined top surface of the awning's canopy
- FIG. 5 is a view of the awning stopped in an intermediate position to block undesirable sunrays from a workstation
- FIG. 6 is a view of another embodiment of the present invention where the awning with an adjustable canopy angle is in its top position;
- FIG. 7 is a view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 6 with the awning in the intermediate bottom position;
- FIG. 8 is a view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 6 with the awning in the final bottom position
- FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of a top slider connected with a top panel bracket and a support arm connected with a bottom panel bracket when the awning in the position shown in FIG. 7 ;
- FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of both top and bottom sliders, top and bottom panel brackets and a support arm when the awning is in the position shown in FIG. 8 ;
- FIG. 11 is schematic of sunrays reflecting from the top surface of the awning's canopy into the window when the canopy is disposed substantially perpendicularly to the window plane and performs as a light shelf.
- an adjustable window awning constructed in accordance with the present invention is generally designated by a numeral 10
- the awning includes a canopy 20 supported by support elements 21 .
- the support elements 21 are engaged with drive screws 22 connected with a housing 23 at the top and with bottom supports 24 .
- each drive screw 22 is connected via a transmission gear 25 with a drive shaft 26 .
- the drive shaft 26 is rotated by using a manual drive gear or an electric motor (not shown). Rotation of the drive shaft 26 causes the drive screws 22 to rotate simultaneously and move down the support elements 21 along with the canopy 20 .
- FIG. 4 shows sunrays reflecting from the canopy 20 into a window, when the canopy is in its bottom position, thereby increasing the amount of sunlight and solar heat entering the building through the window.
- FIG. 5 shows the awning, which may be stopped in any intermediate position between its top and bottom positions, adjusted so that it blocks undesirable sunrays from a workstation while allowing desirable sunlight to enter the room through the window above and under the canopy 20 .
- sunrays blocked by the awning reflect from the canopy's top surface into the window and partially compensate for the amount of daylight blocked by the awning.
- the awning In order for the awning to be effective both as a shading device during the cooling season and a sunlight reflective device, or light shelf, during the heating season, its canopy 20 should be inclined at a relatively large angle 47 , for example 60 degrees, to the window plane 27 , as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , and also in FIG. 4 in solid lines. Otherwise, if the canopy is inclined at a lesser angle, for example 45 degrees, sunrays will not reflect into the window when the awning is in its bottom position, and will instead reflect into the empty space in front of the window, as shown in FIG. 4 in dashed lines.
- a relatively large angle 47 for example 60 degrees
- the awning would be more effective in its top position, as a shading device, if inclined at a lesser angle, for example 45 degrees, and more effective it its bottom position, as a sunlight reflective device, if inclined at a greater angle, ideally 90 degrees, to the window plane 27 .
- a shading device if inclined at a lesser angle, for example 45 degrees
- a sunlight reflective device if inclined at a greater angle, ideally 90 degrees, to the window plane 27 .
- Such perpendicular disposition would ensure the reflection of sunrays from the canopy's top surface 45 into the window regardless of the sun's angle above the horizon, as shown in FIG. 11 .
- the awning would perform as an exterior light shelf increasing desirable solar heat gain and providing additional daylight during the winter season. In practice, the angle of awning inclination would be slightly less than 90 degrees, to provide for water drainage.
- FIGS. 6-11 show another embodiment of the present invention where the angle 47 of the awning canopy 30 inclination relative to the window plane 27 , i.e. the angle between the canopy's bottom surface 46 and the window plane, changes from approximately 45 degrees in the top position to 90 degrees in the bottom position.
- This embodiment includes a canopy 30 supported by support arms 31 .
- Bottom ends of the support arms 31 are rotatably attached to bottom sliders 32 engaged with drive screws 33 .
- Top ends of the support arms 31 are rotatably attached to bottom canopy brackets 34 affixed to the canopy 30 .
- Top canopy brackets 35 are affixed to the canopy 30 and rotatably attached to top sliders 36 engaged with the drive screws 33 .
- the drive shaft 26 is rotated by using a manual drive gear or an electric motor (not shown). Rotation of the drive shaft 26 causes the drive screws 33 to rotate simultaneously and move down the sliders 32 and 36 along with the support arms 31 and canopy 30 .
- FIG. 6 shows the bottom sections 39 of the drive screws 33 .
- FIG. 7 shows the intermediate bottom position of the awning when the bottom sliders 32 have reached the bottom supports 24 and are disengaged from the threads of the drive screws 33 .
- the canopy 30 rotates around top pivots 41 installed in the top sliders 36 and bottom pivots 42 installed in the bottom canopy brackets 34 .
- the drive shaft 26 is rotated in the opposite direction. Such rotation causes the top sliders 36 to move up the drive screws 33 pushing the top canopy brackets 35 . This causes the canopy 30 to rotate around the top pivots 41 and bottom pivots 42 . The bottom sliders 32 remain stationary until upward movement stops 38 attached to the top sliders 36 reach the surface of the top canopy brackets 35 as shown in FIG. 9 .
- a different mechanism may be employed to move the canopy between its top and bottom positions, for example a mechanism located at the bottom of the drive screws 22 or 33 or a mechanism employing a different method of moving the canopy between its top and bottom positions, such as a sliding motion mechanism as opposed to a screw drive. Stopping the canopy at the desired angle of inclination may be accomplished in a variety of different methods known in the industry.
- the drive shaft 26 may be rotated manually, either from the outside or from inside of the building, by using simple transfer mechanisms well known in the industry.
- the drive shaft 26 may be rotated by using a remotely controlled electric motor, also well known in the industry, which may be powered by solar panels.
- the stops 37 and 38 may be replaced with other devices known in the industry that would stop the canopy in its desired position during its respective downward and upward movements.
- the canopy may have a concave top surface shaped to maximize sunlight reflection into the window.
- the drive screws 22 and 33 may be screened with enclosures for aesthetic purposes. Any such modifications will remain within the scope of the present invention.
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Architecture (AREA)
- Civil Engineering (AREA)
- Structural Engineering (AREA)
- Building Awnings And Sunshades (AREA)
Abstract
An adjustable window awning/light shelf includes a canopy attached to support elements installed on both sides of the window. The support elements are engaged with vertical drive screws providing for the possibility of moving the canopy up and down. Each drive screw is connected with a common drive shaft. During the cooling season, when the window needs to be shaded, the canopy is disposed at the top of the window. When shade is not required, the canopy is brought down to the bottom of the window by rotating the drive shaft, which in turn rotates the drive screws and moves the support elements with the canopy down. When in the bottom position, the awning performs as a light shelf, reflecting sunlight from its top surface into the window and increasing the amount of sunlight and solar heat entering the building through the window.
Description
- Not Applicable
- Not Applicable
- Not Applicable
- This invention relates to window awnings and more particularly to adjustable window awnings.
- Window awnings are used to protect buildings, including building interiors, from excessive gain of solar heat through windows, and also as architectural elements to enhance aesthetic appeal of building exteriors. Shading windows with awnings is one of the most popular methods of increasing energy efficiency of buildings. By lowering temperature inside the building during the air conditioning season, awnings create savings in cooling energy. According to a 2007 study by the University of Minnesota entitled “Awnings in Residential Buildings,” awnings may reduce consumption of cooling energy by up to 69% and peak electricity demand by up to 49%, depending on the building location and some other factors.
- During the heating season, however, window awnings may block desirable passive gain of solar heat, partially offsetting energy savings achieved during the cooling season. Therefore, to achieve the highest energy savings, it is advisable to remove or retract window awnings during the period when the building needs to be heated. Because removing awnings for the winter season is inconvenient and could be expensive, it is preferable to use awnings that may be retracted or adjusted to allow desirable solar heat to reach the building interior through windows.
- Such retractable or adjustable window awnings are well known in the industry and usually are made of fabric. A retractable fabric awning is retracted by rolling the fabric up onto a roller rotatably attached to the building. Even though retractable fabric awnings have been in use for decades, they are not sufficiently durable and require periodic replacement of the fabric. Fabric colors are prone to fading, reducing the aesthetic appeal of such awnings.
- Also known are retractable or adjustable rigid awnings. An example of such adjustable awnings is described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,791,009 to Wagner. It is a louver type awning where louvers are operated by a link mechanism. Among the disadvantages of such awning is the existence of an excessive number of movable parts subject to weather elements, which makes it prone to malfunction. Also, such awning cannot be retracted for the winter season and therefore inevitably creates shade when it is not needed. A collapsible rigid awning is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,202,363 to Chang. It may be collapsed when shade is not required, however its operating mechanism is complicated, consisting of many movable parts subject to weather elements, and also is prone to malfunction. In addition, when in the collapsed position, such awning requires substantial additional side space approximately equal to the length of its panels. Another type of retractable rigid awnings is available on the market in the form of roll-up awnings. Such awning consists of narrow aluminum strips connected to each other with ropes or bands and is retracted by rolling these strips up onto a roller, similarly to retractable fabric awnings. This design does not allow for any side panels that may be desired, has many small movable parts and requires constant tension to be applied to the connecting ropes or bands to maintain the awning in a taut condition, which reduces the awning's durability. An adjustable sunshade is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,421,966 to Braunstein, et al. The sunshade is adjustable only at the time of its installation and creates shade during the heating season, thereby greatly reducing any energy savings obtained during the cooling season.
- All the above mentioned known retractable or adjustable window awnings provide no energy savings benefit during the heating season. Even when retracted or adjusted to prevent or reduce undesirable shading, they continue to age and deteriorate under the influence of weather without providing any benefits.
- An awning design that aims at providing an opportunity to use the awning as both a shading device and a sunrays reflection device that would aid in heating the interior of the building in winter is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,309,981 to Briggs, et al. In this design, the procedure to switch the awning function from shading to heating is cumbersome and requires direct access to the awning's canopy from the outside, but adjustment of the canopy's angle of inclination, on the contrary, may only be made from the inside of the building, which requires serious modifications of an existing window. Another embodiment of the same invention also allows canopy adjustment to be performed only from the inside requiring extensive modifications of an existing window.
- Another combination window awning and solar heat unit is provided in U.S. Pat. No. 4,043,316 to Arent. In this combination unit, the lower part of the window is continually closed during the summer months, reducing the amount of daylight entering the building. The awning may be adjusted only by direct manual access from the outside. During winter, snow and ice will accumulate behind the upper awning panel when it is rotated up into its heating position. Neither of these last two inventions allows for the entire process of changing the awning function between shading and heating to be motorized.
- The present invention provides an adjustable window awning that also may be used as a light shelf. The awning includes a canopy attached to support elements on both sides of the window. The support elements are threaded and engaged with vertical drive screws providing for the possibility of moving the support elements with the canopy up and down relative to the window. Each drive screw is connected via a transmission gear with a common drive shaft. During the cooling season, when the window needs to be shaded, the canopy is disposed at the top of the window. When shade is not required, the canopy is brought down to the bottom of the window by rotating the drive shaft, which in turn rotates the drive screws and moves the support elements with the canopy down. The top surface of the canopy is made reflective, which increases the amount of sunlight and associated solar heat entering the building through the window by reflecting additional sunlight into the window when the awning is in its bottom or intermediate position and performs as a light shelf. Such reflective surface also provides benefits during the summer time when the awning is in its top position. It reflects sunlight from the awning to keep the air between the awning and the window at a lower temperature.
- An object of the present invention is to provide a simple, convenient and durable adjustable window awning that would reduce gain of solar heat through windows during the cooling season and may be moved out of the way and permit access of desirable solar heat into the building during the heating season.
- Another object of the present invention is to provide an adjustable window awning that would increase gain of solar heat through windows during the heating season to provide additional energy savings.
- A further object of the present invention is to provide an adjustable window awning that may be used as a light shelf.
- A further object of the present invention is to provide an adjustable window awning that may be adjusted to shade a portion of the window, while allowing desired sunlight to enter the building through the window above and under the awning.
- A further object of the present invention is to provide an adjustable window awning that may be easily operated either from inside or from outside of the building.
- A further object of the present invention is to provide an adjustable window awning that may be easily operated manually or by power.
- Other advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description of its embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:
-
FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an adjustable window awning constructed in accordance with the present invention in its top position; -
FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the adjustable window awning in its bottom position; -
FIG. 3 is an isometric view of an operating mechanism of the awning of the present invention with the front panel removed; -
FIG. 4 is a schematic of sunrays reflecting from the inclined top surface of the awning's canopy; -
FIG. 5 is a view of the awning stopped in an intermediate position to block undesirable sunrays from a workstation; -
FIG. 6 is a view of another embodiment of the present invention where the awning with an adjustable canopy angle is in its top position; -
FIG. 7 is a view of the embodiment shown inFIG. 6 with the awning in the intermediate bottom position; -
FIG. 8 is a view of the embodiment shown inFIG. 6 with the awning in the final bottom position; -
FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of a top slider connected with a top panel bracket and a support arm connected with a bottom panel bracket when the awning in the position shown inFIG. 7 ; -
FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of both top and bottom sliders, top and bottom panel brackets and a support arm when the awning is in the position shown inFIG. 8 ; -
FIG. 11 is schematic of sunrays reflecting from the top surface of the awning's canopy into the window when the canopy is disposed substantially perpendicularly to the window plane and performs as a light shelf. - Referring to the drawings, in particular to
FIGS. 1 and 2 , where an adjustable window awning constructed in accordance with the present invention is generally designated by a numeral 10, the awning includes acanopy 20 supported bysupport elements 21. Thesupport elements 21 are engaged with drive screws 22 connected with ahousing 23 at the top and with bottom supports 24. - As shown in
FIG. 3 , eachdrive screw 22 is connected via atransmission gear 25 with adrive shaft 26. - To lower the
canopy 20 from its top position depicted inFIG. 1 to its bottom position depicted inFIG. 2 , thedrive shaft 26 is rotated by using a manual drive gear or an electric motor (not shown). Rotation of thedrive shaft 26 causes the drive screws 22 to rotate simultaneously and move down thesupport elements 21 along with thecanopy 20. -
FIG. 4 shows sunrays reflecting from thecanopy 20 into a window, when the canopy is in its bottom position, thereby increasing the amount of sunlight and solar heat entering the building through the window. -
FIG. 5 shows the awning, which may be stopped in any intermediate position between its top and bottom positions, adjusted so that it blocks undesirable sunrays from a workstation while allowing desirable sunlight to enter the room through the window above and under thecanopy 20. At the same time, sunrays blocked by the awning reflect from the canopy's top surface into the window and partially compensate for the amount of daylight blocked by the awning. - In order for the awning to be effective both as a shading device during the cooling season and a sunlight reflective device, or light shelf, during the heating season, its
canopy 20 should be inclined at a relativelylarge angle 47, for example 60 degrees, to thewindow plane 27, as shown inFIGS. 1 and 2 , and also inFIG. 4 in solid lines. Otherwise, if the canopy is inclined at a lesser angle, for example 45 degrees, sunrays will not reflect into the window when the awning is in its bottom position, and will instead reflect into the empty space in front of the window, as shown inFIG. 4 in dashed lines. - However, the awning would be more effective in its top position, as a shading device, if inclined at a lesser angle, for example 45 degrees, and more effective it its bottom position, as a sunlight reflective device, if inclined at a greater angle, ideally 90 degrees, to the
window plane 27. Such perpendicular disposition would ensure the reflection of sunrays from the canopy'stop surface 45 into the window regardless of the sun's angle above the horizon, as shown inFIG. 11 . The awning would perform as an exterior light shelf increasing desirable solar heat gain and providing additional daylight during the winter season. In practice, the angle of awning inclination would be slightly less than 90 degrees, to provide for water drainage. -
FIGS. 6-11 show another embodiment of the present invention where theangle 47 of theawning canopy 30 inclination relative to thewindow plane 27, i.e. the angle between the canopy'sbottom surface 46 and the window plane, changes from approximately 45 degrees in the top position to 90 degrees in the bottom position. - This embodiment includes a
canopy 30 supported bysupport arms 31. Bottom ends of thesupport arms 31 are rotatably attached tobottom sliders 32 engaged with drive screws 33. Top ends of thesupport arms 31 are rotatably attached tobottom canopy brackets 34 affixed to thecanopy 30.Top canopy brackets 35 are affixed to thecanopy 30 and rotatably attached totop sliders 36 engaged with the drive screws 33. - To lower the
canopy 30 from its top position depicted inFIG. 6 to its bottom position depicted inFIG. 8 , thedrive shaft 26 is rotated by using a manual drive gear or an electric motor (not shown). Rotation of thedrive shaft 26 causes the drive screws 33 to rotate simultaneously and move down thesliders support arms 31 andcanopy 30. -
Bottom sections 39 of the drive screws 33 are unthreaded, as shown inFIG. 6 , over a length not less than the length of threads inside thebottom sliders 32. When thebottom sliders 32 reach the bottom supports 24, the bottom sliders disengage from the threads of the drive screws 33.FIG. 7 shows the intermediate bottom position of the awning when thebottom sliders 32 have reached the bottom supports 24 and are disengaged from the threads of the drive screws 33. Continued rotation of the drive screws 33 causes thetop sliders 36 to continue their movement down the drive screws 33 while thebottom sliders 32 remain stationary. Thecanopy 30 rotates aroundtop pivots 41 installed in thetop sliders 36 and bottom pivots 42 installed in thebottom canopy brackets 34. Theangle 47 between the canopy'sbottom surface 46 and thewindow plane 27 increases. Such downward movement of thetop sliders 36 continues until downward movement stops 37 attached to thebottom canopy brackets 34 reach the surface of thesupport arms 31 as shown inFIG. 10 . At this point, thecanopy 30 is disposed at an angle of approximately 90 degrees to thewindow plane 27 as shown inFIG. 8 . It would be advisable to fix thebottom sliders 32 in this position with releasable locks (not shown) to prevent their movement under the influence of wind on thecanopy 30. Such locks are well known in the industry. - To raise the
canopy 30 from its final bottom position depicted inFIG. 8 to its top position depicted inFIG. 6 , thedrive shaft 26 is rotated in the opposite direction. Such rotation causes thetop sliders 36 to move up the drive screws 33 pushing thetop canopy brackets 35. This causes thecanopy 30 to rotate around the top pivots 41 and bottom pivots 42. Thebottom sliders 32 remain stationary until upward movement stops 38 attached to thetop sliders 36 reach the surface of thetop canopy brackets 35 as shown inFIG. 9 . - At this point, the rotation of the
canopy 30 around thepivots housing 23, retaining its angle of inclination relative to thewindow plane 27 and pulling thesupport arms 31, which, in turn, pull up thebottom sliders 32. Thebottom sliders 32 reengage with the threads of the drive screws 33 and both top and bottom sliders, thecanopy 30 and thesupport arms 31 continue moving up until thecanopy 30 reaches thehousing 23. - It will be understood that this invention is not restricted to the embodiments described and illustrated above. A different mechanism may be employed to move the canopy between its top and bottom positions, for example a mechanism located at the bottom of the drive screws 22 or 33 or a mechanism employing a different method of moving the canopy between its top and bottom positions, such as a sliding motion mechanism as opposed to a screw drive. Stopping the canopy at the desired angle of inclination may be accomplished in a variety of different methods known in the industry. The
drive shaft 26 may be rotated manually, either from the outside or from inside of the building, by using simple transfer mechanisms well known in the industry. Thedrive shaft 26 may be rotated by using a remotely controlled electric motor, also well known in the industry, which may be powered by solar panels. The stops 37 and 38 may be replaced with other devices known in the industry that would stop the canopy in its desired position during its respective downward and upward movements. The canopy may have a concave top surface shaped to maximize sunlight reflection into the window. The drive screws 22 and 33 may be screened with enclosures for aesthetic purposes. Any such modifications will remain within the scope of the present invention.
Claims (10)
1-6. (canceled)
7. An adjustable window awning/light shelf, said awning comprising:
a canopy positioned, when in an awning position, near a top part of a window, comprising a top surface and a bottom surface and inclined at a certain angle between said bottom surface and said window;
an operating mechanism to move said canopy down into a light shelf position and back up into an awning position while maintaining said top surface facing up and said bottom surface facing down.
8. An adjustable window awning/light shelf of claim 7 additionally comprising means to increase said angle when bringing said canopy into a light shelf position and to decrease said angle when bringing said canopy into an awning position.
9. An adjustable window awning/light shelf of claim 7 , wherein said canopy is rigidly attached to support elements and said operating mechanism comprises vertical guides extending from top to bottom of said window and means to move said support elements together with said canopy along said vertical guides while maintaining said angle.
10. An adjustable window awning/light shelf of claim 9 , wherein said vertical guides are drive screws, said support elements are threaded and engaged with said drive screws, each of said drive screws is connected via a transmission gear with a common drive shaft, whereby rotating said drive shaft causes said drive screws to rotate simultaneously and move said support elements along said drive screws.
11. An adjustable window awning/light shelf of claim 7 additionally comprising:
top brackets and bottom brackets affixed to said canopy;
support arms, top ends of said support arms being attached to said bottom brackets;
top sliders, said top brackets being attached to said top sliders;
bottom sliders, bottom ends of said support arms being attached to said bottom sliders.
12. An adjustable window awning/light shelf of claim 11 , wherein said operating mechanism comprises vertical guides extending from top to bottom of said window and means to move said sliders along said vertical guides.
13. An adjustable window awning/light shelf of claim 12 , wherein said vertical guides are drive screws, said top and bottom sliders are threaded and engaged with said drive screws, each of said drive screws is connected via a transmission gear with a common drive shaft, whereby rotating said drive shaft causes said drive screws to rotate simultaneously and move said sliders along said drive screws.
14. An adjustable window awning/light shelf of claim 13 , wherein said top ends of said support arms are rotatably attached to said bottom brackets, said top brackets are rotatably attached to said top sliders, said bottom ends of said support arms are rotatably attached to said bottom sliders, said drive screws are connected with said drive shaft at their top ends and supported by bottom supports at their bottom ends, said drive screws have bottom sections adjacent to said bottom supports unthreaded, whereby rotating said drive shaft causes said drive screws to rotate simultaneously and move said top and bottom sliders down, said bottom sliders to disengage from threads of said drive screws, upon reaching said unthreaded bottom sections, and become stationary, and said top sliders to continue their downward movement, which causes said canopy to rotate and increase said angle to assume a bottom light shelf position, and rotating said drive shaft in an opposite direction causes said top sliders to move up, said canopy to rotate and decrease said angle, said bottom sliders to reengage with threads of said drive screws, said top and bottom sliders to move simultaneously upward and said canopy to assume a top awning position.
15. An adjustable window awning/light shelf of claim 14 , additionally comprising:
downward movement stops limiting canopy rotation during its downward movement to stop said canopy in a desired light shelf position;
upward movement stops limiting canopy rotation during its upward movement to stop said canopy in a desired awning position.
Priority Applications (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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US13/007,980 US20120180957A1 (en) | 2011-01-17 | 2011-01-17 | Adjustable All-Season Window Awning/Light Shelf and Operating Mechanism Therefor |
US13/924,617 US9359768B2 (en) | 2011-01-17 | 2013-06-24 | Adjustable all-season window awning/light shelf and operating mechanism therefor |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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US13/007,980 US20120180957A1 (en) | 2011-01-17 | 2011-01-17 | Adjustable All-Season Window Awning/Light Shelf and Operating Mechanism Therefor |
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US13/924,617 Division US9359768B2 (en) | 2011-01-17 | 2013-06-24 | Adjustable all-season window awning/light shelf and operating mechanism therefor |
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US20120180957A1 true US20120180957A1 (en) | 2012-07-19 |
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US13/007,980 Abandoned US20120180957A1 (en) | 2011-01-17 | 2011-01-17 | Adjustable All-Season Window Awning/Light Shelf and Operating Mechanism Therefor |
US13/924,617 Active 2031-12-23 US9359768B2 (en) | 2011-01-17 | 2013-06-24 | Adjustable all-season window awning/light shelf and operating mechanism therefor |
Family Applications After (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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US13/924,617 Active 2031-12-23 US9359768B2 (en) | 2011-01-17 | 2013-06-24 | Adjustable all-season window awning/light shelf and operating mechanism therefor |
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Cited By (14)
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US20120102856A1 (en) * | 2010-10-27 | 2012-05-03 | Abruna Fernando L | Jalousie window with daylighting and shading shelf |
US20120193039A1 (en) * | 2011-02-02 | 2012-08-02 | Scolari Nathan A | Window shade with reflective and aesthetic features |
US8528621B2 (en) * | 2012-02-01 | 2013-09-10 | Murphy-Farrell Development L.L.L.P. | Solar window shade |
US8656980B2 (en) * | 2012-03-22 | 2014-02-25 | Alcoa Inc. | Adjustable light shelf |
US20140290157A1 (en) * | 2011-03-23 | 2014-10-02 | Roger D. Wilson | Window as solar hvac portal |
WO2016046387A1 (en) * | 2014-09-26 | 2016-03-31 | Espaciel | Reflector device suitable for being attached in the horizontal position at an opening in a building |
US9416590B2 (en) | 2014-11-04 | 2016-08-16 | Extech/Exterior Technologies, Inc. | Building envelope solar heat and daylighting control system |
JP2017016748A (en) * | 2015-06-26 | 2017-01-19 | 旭化成ホームズ株式会社 | Attachment structure of external device |
CN108008153A (en) * | 2017-12-29 | 2018-05-08 | 浙江三石建设有限公司 | A kind of electric power monitoring instrument |
CN109594802A (en) * | 2019-01-02 | 2019-04-09 | 中京建设工程(广州)有限公司 | A kind of safe and intelligent stretches sunshade rain-shed |
CN112726973A (en) * | 2020-12-30 | 2021-04-30 | 郑州诚森机电设备有限公司 | Rain shielding structure for top-building balcony of green building |
CN112854435A (en) * | 2021-02-04 | 2021-05-28 | 秦静静 | Top lighting device applied to low-rise energy-saving building |
CN112982848A (en) * | 2021-03-04 | 2021-06-18 | 胡文清 | Electric adjustable vertical outer sun-shading device based on intelligent building |
CN114000734A (en) * | 2021-10-29 | 2022-02-01 | 徐州秩润矿山设备科技有限公司 | Electric sun-shading and rain-proof equipment for municipal square |
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US1771063A (en) * | 1926-05-28 | 1930-07-22 | Jacob Rubin | Awning-operating mechanism |
US2627309A (en) * | 1949-08-23 | 1953-02-03 | James N Dugan | Awning structure |
US6239910B1 (en) * | 1999-02-12 | 2001-05-29 | Architectural Energy Corporation | Mini-optical light shelf daylighting system |
US6494150B1 (en) * | 2001-03-02 | 2002-12-17 | Precision Lifts Of Deerfield Beach, Incorporated | Elevating apparatus for visual displays |
US6988525B2 (en) * | 2003-06-19 | 2006-01-24 | Paul Moulton | Light shelf blind |
US20100254011A1 (en) * | 2009-04-01 | 2010-10-07 | Firestone Metal Products, Llc | Reflective light shelf, system and method |
Cited By (17)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20120102856A1 (en) * | 2010-10-27 | 2012-05-03 | Abruna Fernando L | Jalousie window with daylighting and shading shelf |
US8820010B2 (en) * | 2010-10-27 | 2014-09-02 | Fernando L. Abruña | Jalousie window with daylighting and shading shelf |
US20120193039A1 (en) * | 2011-02-02 | 2012-08-02 | Scolari Nathan A | Window shade with reflective and aesthetic features |
US20140290157A1 (en) * | 2011-03-23 | 2014-10-02 | Roger D. Wilson | Window as solar hvac portal |
US8528621B2 (en) * | 2012-02-01 | 2013-09-10 | Murphy-Farrell Development L.L.L.P. | Solar window shade |
US8656980B2 (en) * | 2012-03-22 | 2014-02-25 | Alcoa Inc. | Adjustable light shelf |
FR3026465A1 (en) * | 2014-09-26 | 2016-04-01 | Espaciel | REFLECTING DEVICE ADAPTED TO BE FIXED IN A HORIZONTAL POSITION AT A BUILDING OPENING |
FR3026464A1 (en) * | 2014-09-26 | 2016-04-01 | Espaciel | REFLECTING DEVICE ADAPTED TO BE FIXED IN A HORIZONTAL POSITION AT A BUILDING OPENING |
WO2016046387A1 (en) * | 2014-09-26 | 2016-03-31 | Espaciel | Reflector device suitable for being attached in the horizontal position at an opening in a building |
US9416590B2 (en) | 2014-11-04 | 2016-08-16 | Extech/Exterior Technologies, Inc. | Building envelope solar heat and daylighting control system |
JP2017016748A (en) * | 2015-06-26 | 2017-01-19 | 旭化成ホームズ株式会社 | Attachment structure of external device |
CN108008153A (en) * | 2017-12-29 | 2018-05-08 | 浙江三石建设有限公司 | A kind of electric power monitoring instrument |
CN109594802A (en) * | 2019-01-02 | 2019-04-09 | 中京建设工程(广州)有限公司 | A kind of safe and intelligent stretches sunshade rain-shed |
CN112726973A (en) * | 2020-12-30 | 2021-04-30 | 郑州诚森机电设备有限公司 | Rain shielding structure for top-building balcony of green building |
CN112854435A (en) * | 2021-02-04 | 2021-05-28 | 秦静静 | Top lighting device applied to low-rise energy-saving building |
CN112982848A (en) * | 2021-03-04 | 2021-06-18 | 胡文清 | Electric adjustable vertical outer sun-shading device based on intelligent building |
CN114000734A (en) * | 2021-10-29 | 2022-02-01 | 徐州秩润矿山设备科技有限公司 | Electric sun-shading and rain-proof equipment for municipal square |
Also Published As
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US20130284381A1 (en) | 2013-10-31 |
US9359768B2 (en) | 2016-06-07 |
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