US2060582A - Awning - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 10, 1936. c E E 2,060,582

AWNING Filed Jan. 20, 1.933 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 10, 1936. c. B. LQEFFERT AWNING Filed Jan. 20, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 10, 1936. v Q LEFFERT 2,060,582

AWNING Filed Jan. 20, .1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 1 fn'wiziw" Nov. 10, 1936. l B, LEFFE T I 2,060,582

AWNING Filed Jan. 20, 1933 4 Sheets- Sheet 4 Kai a/"7? eya Patented Nov. 10, 1936 imrnzrrr OFFICE AWNING Charles B. Lelfert, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Geo. 'B. Carpenter & 00., Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application January 20, 1933, Serial No. 652,591

23 Claims. (ar se- 44) My invention relates to improvements'in awnings and has for one object to provide a new and improved awning structure wherein a long awning roller and a long awning may be provided and wherein the roller may be supported intermediate its length to prevent sagging Without causing damage to the awning itself. Another object of the invention is to provide a long awning made up into; a series of separate elements which are automatically joined as the awning is paid out but are automatically disconnected as the awning is rolled up about its roller whereby the roller may be supported intermediate its ends or whereby a plurality of separate short roller lengths may be used. Other objects will appear from time to time throughout the specification and claims. I

My invention is illustrated more or less diagrammatically in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred form of my awning in the down position;

Figure 2 is a section on an enlarged scale with parts omitted along theline, 22 of Figure 1 Figure 3 is a detail plan view of a portion of the awning shown in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a section along the line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a section along the line 5-5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a section through a modified form of the awning; I

Figure 7 is a detail plan view of a part of the awning shown in Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a section along the line 88 of Figure 7; V

Figure 9 is a sectional view showing some parts in elevation of another modified form;

Figure 10 is a detail plan View of a. part of the awning shown in Figure 9 Figure 11 is a section along the line l|-|l of Figure 9; c

Figure 12 is a detail on an enlarged scale of part of the device shown in Figure 9 showing the parts in a slightly different position.

Like parts are indicated by like characters throughout the specification and drawings.

Referring first to the preferred form shown in Figures 1 to 5 inclusive, A is any suitable wall. It may have a window A therein. Mounted on this wall are brackets A A which carry awning rollers A Wound on these rollers are awning sections A A permanently joined togetherjat their lower end as indicated at A mounted ona brackets A though of course any suitable form of roller, wood or metal, one-piece or built up might be used.

These rollers are tied together at their opposed inner ends by means of a squared shaft B which passes through a roller supporting portion B of the bracket A and are rolled up or down as a unit by means of the gear box B into which a working handle not shown may be inserted a drive shaft B and a gear mechanism shown very diagrammatically at B though of course any suitable roller operating mechanism of any desired type might be substituted for that shown, which is here shown and described merely for purposes of illustration. The two awning sections A A when in the rolled position are separate and draw apart onto their, respective shafts for the purpose of providing clearance for the bracket member B The opposed edges of the sections A A are provided with any suitable well-known type of interlocking or hookless fastener. C is an actuating member adapted to engage the opposed hookless fasteners on the edges and force them into or out of engagement. This actuating member is loosely mounted on the spring flap C which spring flap overlies the gap between the rollers A and closes it and is supported on a pin C being held in position against the awning as it rolls on the rollers by means of the spring C which may be adjusted by means of the slotted head C The actuating member is bent to engage the hookless fastener and pressed against it to overcome its normal tendency to curl thereby keeping the hookless fastener fiat so that the guide or actuating member may readily open or close the hookless fastener chain.

As shown in the drawings, when the awning is rolled up, the hookless fastened elements are cammed apart in the usual manner and each section, and there may be two or more, winds upin its individual roller, the gap between the two sections as they are thus wound and the hookless fasteners and the bearings for the rollers being covered by the member C When the awning is rolled down, the engaged or oppo ed hookless fasteners pass through the member C are interlocked in the usual manner thus firmly fastening the adjacent awning sections together to give what is in effect a continuous awning area from end to end effectively only when the awning is down. By this arrangement, the usual destruction of the awning fabric resulting from the contact between supporting rollers inpipe A with arms ,A extending inwardly to wall termediate the ends of the shafts to prevent bending of the shaft is obviated and since the working area, interlocking parts are covered by the shield C when the awning is retracted, they are protected from the elements so as to insure smooth and accurate operation.

In the modified form shown in Figures 6 and '7, the same roller arrangement is used with the central bracket A but the awning sections D D do not come in contact with one another but are joined by a separate narrow section D which section rolls on a separate roller D and I each edge of the section D is joined either to the section D or D by the same hookless fastener arrangement D as found in the preferred form. However, instead of automatically making this joint as the roller is being paid out, the joining is done by means of a yoke D which is moved back and forth along the opened awning to make or unmake the joint by means of a cord D which passes through an eyelet D at the lower edge of the awning, an eyelet D adjacent the upper edge of the awning and hangs down below the awning so that the operator may manipulate it conveniently. This yoke has at either end a tubular locking member D associated with the hookless fastener at each side of the strip D so that as the yoke is moved up or down, it joins the opposed edges of the central strip with the two main awning strips.

The operator in this connection has two choices in the way in which he may operate the device. If he starts with the awning closed, the yoke is at the upper end and the three awning sections are separated. If the awning is opened, the yoke can travel down with the awning and he then has the three awning sections paid out to the limit and separated. Then the operator can manipulate the yoke with the cord, pulling the yoke up to join the three awning sections.

Or if desired, he can hold the cord so as to hold the yoke in the upper position. Then as the awning is paid out, the joint will automatically be made.

In the modified form shown in Figures 9 to 12 inclusive, instead of the well-known type of hookless fastener, I use a somewhat similar fastening device. In this connection, the rollers E are supported at their inboard ends by the bearing E and each roller carries an awning section E having the lowerportion intercepted as at E and associated with the frame E Each separate awning section in this case, however, has sewed into its opposed side a rope or flat filler member E and there is associated with this rope or filler member E a fastening plate E This fastening plate is channeled at either side as at E the channels being bounded by balls E the space between the balls being slightly larger than the thickness of the awning but much less than the diameter of the reinforcing or filled edge of the awning. There are a number of these tie or latch members extending across to join the two awning edges. These members are all strung on a continuous strip of fabric material E so that when in the awning closed position as shown in Figure 12, these members are brought together and the fabric hangs down loopwise between them. When the awning is opened as in Figure 9, the fabric bridges the gap from the top to the bottom of the awning, holding the fasteners in place and closing the awning immediately beneath the joint. When the awning is closed, as it rolls up around the roller as indicated in Figure 12, the first fastener engages the stop E Successive fasteners are stopped one against the other until the entire assembly is in the position shown for three of them in Figure 12. The awning is opened by reversing this process. In general, while I have shown three different solutions of the problem, they are all similar in that a series of separate awning rollers are used. Each is separately supported by a permanent bearing means and each roller has wound upon it a separate awning section. These awning sections are automatically joined together in line with the roller bearing members so as to give what is in effect a continuous awning surface or area and these fastening members have this in common that no matter how the fastening is done the awning sections are automatically joined together and go into operation when the awning is down but are drawn apart and go out of operation when the awning is up so that there need be no contact between the awning fabric and the roll supporting element,

I claim:

1. In an awning, a plurality of rolls arranged end'to end and joined for unitary operation, fixed supports for both ends of each, a frame held parallel with and mounted for movement toward and from the rolls, an awning fastened at one end to the frame comprising a plurality of separate awning sections each of which is separately wound upon one of the rolls between the ends thereof and means for joining adjacent edges of the awning sections together throughout their entire length where they extend beyond the rolls.

2. In an awning, a plurality of rolls arranged end to end and joined for unitary operation, fixed supports for both ends of each, a frame held parallel with and mounted for movement toward and from the rolls, an awning fastened at one end to the frame comprising a plurality of separate awning sections each of which is separately wound upon one of the rolls between the ends thereof and means for automatically joining adjacent edges of the awning sections together as they are unwound from the rolls.

3'. In an awning, a plurality of rolls arranged end to end and joined for unitary operation, fixed supports for both ends of each, a frame held parallel with and mounted for movement toward and from the rolls, an awning fastened at one end to the frame comprising a plurality of separate awning sections each of which is separately wound upon one of the rolls between the ends thereof and means for automatically joining adjacent edges of the awning sections together as they are unwound from the rolls, and for automatically disconnecting adjacent awningi sections as they are wound upon the rolls.

4. In an awning, a plurality of rolls arranged end to end and joined for unitary operation, fixed supports for both ends of each, a frame held parallel with and mounted for movement toward and from the rolls, an awning fastened at one end to the frame comprising a plurality of separate awning sections each of which is separately wound upon one of the rolls between the ends thereof and means for automatically joining adjacent edges of the awning sections together as they are unwound from the rolls, said means comprising interlocking elements on opposed edges of the awning sections and a member adapted to engage said elements and control the interlocking thereof.

5. In an awning, a plurality of rolls arranged end to end and joined for unitary operation, fixed supports for both ends of each, a frame held parallel with and mounted for movement toward and from the rolls, an awning fastened at one end to the frame comprising a plurality of separate awning sections each of which is separately wound upon one of the rolls between the ends thereof and means for automatically joining adjacent edges of the awning sections together as they are unwound from the rolls, and for automatically disconnecting adjacent awning sections as they are wound upon the rolls, said means comprising interlocking elements on opposed edges of the awning sections and a member adapted to engage said elements and control the interlocking thereof.

6. In an awning, a plurality of rolls arranged end to end and joined for unitary operation, fixed supports for both ends of each, a frame held parallel with and mounted for movement toward and from the rolls, an awning fastened at one end to the frame comprising a plurality of separate awning sections each of which is separately wound upon one of the rolls between the ends thereof and means for automatically joining adjacent edges of the awning sections together as they are unwound from the rolls, said means comprising interlocking elements on opposed edges of the awning sections and a member adapted to engage said elements and control the interlocking thereof, the member being yieldingly held at a point immediately adjacent the roll supports.

7. In an awning, a plurality of rolls arranged end to end and joined for unitary operation, fixed supports for both ends of each, a frame held parallel with and mounted for movement toward and from the rolls, an awning fastened at one end to the frame comprising a plurality of separate awning sections each of which is separately wound upon one of the rolls between the ends thereof and means for automatically joining adjacent edges of the awning sections together as they are unwound from the rolls, and for automatically disconnecting adjacent awning sections as they are wound upon the rolls, said means comprising interlocking elements on opposed edges of the awning sections and a member adapted to engage said elements and control the interlocking thereof, the member being yieldingly held at a point immediately adjacent the roll supports.

8. In an awning, a plurality of rolls arranged end to end and joined for unitary operation, fixed supports for both ends of each, a frame held parallel with and mounted for movement toward and from the rolls, an awning fastened at one end to the frame comprising a plurality of separate awning sections each of which is separately wound upon one of the rolls. between the ends thereof and means for automatically joining ad jacent edges of the awning sections together as they are unwound from the rolls, said means comprising interlocking elements on opposed edges of the awning sections and a member adapted to engage said elements and control the interlocking thereof, the member being yieldingly held at a point immediately adjacent the roll supports, a cover plate overlying the opposed ends of the roll and their supports and carrying the control member.

9. In an awning, a plurality of rolls arranged end to end and joined for unitary operation, fixed supports for both ends of each, a frame held parallel with and mounted for movement toward and from the rolls, an awning fastened at one end to the frame comprising a plurality of separate awning sections each of which is separately wound upon one of the rolls between the ends thereof and means for automatically joining adjacent edges of the awning sections together as they are unwound from the rolls, and for automatically disconnecting adjacent awning sections as they are wound upon the rolls, said means comprising interlocking elements on opposed edges of the awning sections and a member adapted to engage said elements and control the interlocking thereof, the member being yieldingly held at a point immediately adjacent the roll supports, a cover plate overlying the opposed ends of the roll and their supports and carrying the control member.

10. In an awning, a plurality of rolls arranged end to end and joined for unitary operation, fixed supports for both ends of each, a frame held parallel with and mounted for movement toward and from the rolls, an awning fastened at one end to the frame comprising a plurality of separate awning sections each of which is separately wound upon one of the rolls between the ends thereof and means for joining adjacent edges of the awning sections together throughout their entire length where they extend beyond the rolls, said means comprising interlocking elements on opposed edges of the awning sections and a member adapted to engage said elements and control the interlocking thereof.

11. In an awning, a plurality of rolls arranged end to end and joined for unitary operation, fixed supports for both ends of each, a frame held parallel with and mounted for movement toward and from the rolls, an awning fastened at one end to the frame comprising a plurality of separate awning sections each of which is separately wound upon one of the rolls between the ends thereof and means for joining adjacent edges of the awning sections together throughout their entire length where they extend beyond the rolls, said means comprising interlocking elements on opposed edges of the awning sections and a member adapted to engage said elements and control the interlocking thereof, and means independent of'the movement of the awning section toward and from the rolls for moving the interlocking control member longitudinally of the opposed edges to engage and disengage the interlocking elements.

12. In an awning, a plurality of rolls arranged end to end and joined for unitary operation, fixed supports for both ends of each, a frame held parallel with and mounted for movement toward and from the rolls, an awning fastened at one end to the frame comprising a plurality of separate awning sections each of which is separately wound upon one of the rolls between the ends thereof and means for joining adjacent edges of the awning sections together throughout their entire length where they extend beyond the rolls, said means comprising a relatively narrow panel interposed between the adjacent edges of the awning sections, a separate roller for said panel at a point adjacent to and extending across the space between two adjacent main rolls and interlocking elements on opposed edges of the awning sections and narrow panel and a member adapted to engage said elements and control the interlocking thereof.

13. In an awning, a plurality of rolls arranged end to end and joined for unitary operation, fixed supports for both ends of each, a frame held parallel with and mounted for movement toward and from the rolls, an awning fastened at one end to the frame comprising a plurality of separate awning sections each of which is separately wound upon one of the rolls between the ends thereof and means for automatically joining adjacent edges of the awning sections together as they are unwound from the rolls, said means comprising a relatively narrow panel interposed between the adjacent edges of the awning sections, a separate roller for said panel at a point adjacent to and extending across the space between two adjacent main rollers and interlocking elements on opposed edges of the awning sections and narrow panel, and a member adapted to engage said elements and control the interlocking thereof.

14. In an awning, a plurality of rolls arranged end to end and joined for unitary operation, fixed supports for both ends of each, a frame held parallel with and mounted for movement toward and from the rolls, an awning fastened at one end to the frame comprising a plurality of separate awning sections each of which is separately wound upon one of the rolls between the ends thereof and means for joining adjacent edges of the awning sections together throughout their entire length where they extend beyond the rolls, said means comprising a relatively narrow panel interposed between the adjacent edges of the awning sections, a separate roller for said panel at a point adjacent to and extending across the space between two adjacent main rolls and interlocking elements on opposed edges of the awning sections and narrow panel and a member adapted to engage said elements and control the interlocking thereof, a yoke extending across the entire Width of the narrow panel adapted to carry the interlocking control member adjacent each edge of the narrow panel and means for displacing said yoke to control the interlocking members between each of the narrow panel and the awning sections.

15. In an awning, a plurality of rolls arranged end to end and joined for unitary operation, fixed supports for both ends of each, a frame held parallel with and mounted for movement toward and from the rolls, an awning fastened at one end to the frame comprising a plurality of separate awning sections each of which is separately wound upon one of the rolls between the ends thereof and means for automatically joining adjacent edges of the awning sections together as they are unwound from the rolls, said means comprising a relatively narrow panel interposed between the adjacent edges of the awning sec-' tions, a separate roller for said panel at a point adjacent to and extending across the space between two adjacent main rollers and interlocking elements on opposed edges of the awning sections and narrow panel, and a member adapted to engage said elements and control the interlocking thereof, a yoke extending across the entire width of the narrow panel adapted to carry the interlocking control member adjacent each edge of the narrow panel and means for displacing said yoke to control the interlocking members between each of the narrow panel and the awning sections.

16. In an awning, a plurality of rolls arranged end to end and joined for unitary operation, fixed supports for both ends of each, a frame held parallel with and mounted for movement toward and from the rolls, an awning fastened at one end to the frame comprising a plurality of separate awning sections each of which is separately wound upon one of the rolls between the ends thereof and means for joining adjacent edges of the awning sections together throughout their entire length where they extend beyond the rolls,

said means comprising a reinforcing member located along each opposed edge of the awning section whose thickness is greater than the thickness of the awning fabric, yokes slidably engaging the edges of the awning fabric extending across between the two opposed sections and adapted to resist separation of the sections, a combined closure and holding web adapted to hold said yokes in spaced relation, the length of the web being substantially equal to the length of the awning, the web being attached at one end on the awning frame and supported at the other end to the adjacent rolls.

17. In an awning, a plurality of rolls arranged end to end and joined for unitary operation, fixed supports for both ends of each, a frame held parallel with and mounted for movement toward and from the rolls, an awning fastened at one end to the frame comprising a plurality of separate awning sections each of which is separately wound upon one of the rolls between the ends thereof and means for automatically joining adjacent edges of the awning sections together as they are unwound from the rolls, said means comprising a reinforcing member located along each opposed edge of the awning section whose thickness is greater than the thickness of the awning fabric, yokes slidably engaging the edges of the awning fabric extending across between the two opposed sections and adapted to resist separation of the sections, a combined closure and holding web adapted to hold said yokes in spaced relation, the length of the web being substantially equal to the length of the awning, the web being attached at one end on the awning frame and supported at the other end to the adjacent rolls.

18. In an awning, a plurality of rolls arranged end to end and joined for unitary operation, fixed supports for both ends of each, a frame held parallel with and mounted for movement toward and from the rolls, an awning fastened at one end to the frame comprising a plurality of separate awning sections each of which is separately wound upon one of the rolls between the ends thereof and means for joining adjacent edges of the awning sections together throughout their entire length where they extend beyond the rolls, said means comprising a reinforcing member located along each opposed edge of the awning section whose thickness is greater than the thickness of the awning fabric, yokes slidably engaging the edges of the awning fabric extending across between the two opposed sections and adapted to resist separation of the sections, a combined closure and holding web adapted to hold said yokes in spaced relation, the length of the web being substantially equal to the length of the awning, the web being attached at one end on the awning frame and supported at the other end to the adjacent rolls, means associated with the holding means for the web adjacent the rolls adapted to engage the yokes as they come up with the awning when it is rolled upon the rolls and to arrest the upward progress of successive yokes while permitting the awning sections to pass through the yokes to release them as they are wound upon the rolls.

19. In an awning, a plurality of rolls arranged end to end and joined for unitary operation, fixed supports for both ends of each, a frame held parallel with and mounted for movement toward and from the rolls, an awning fastened at one end to the frame comprising a plurality of separate awning sections each of which is separately, wound upon one of the rolls between the ends thereof and means for automatically joining adjacent edges of the awning sections together as they are unwound from the rolls, said means comprising a reinforcing member located along each opposed edge of the awning section whose thickness is greater than the thickness of the awning fabric, yokes slidably engaging the edges of the awning fabric extending across between the two opposed sections and adapted to resist separation of the sections, a combined closure and holding web adapted to hold said yokes in spaced relation, the length of the Web being substantially equal to the length of the awning, the web being attached at one end on the awning frame and supported at the other end to the adjacent rolls, means asso ciated with the holding means for the web adjacent the rolls adapted to engage the yokes as they come up with the awning when it is rolled upon the rolls and to arrest the upward progress of successive yokes while permitting the awning sections to pass through the yokes to release them as they are wound upon the rolls.

20. In an awning, an awning roller, a support rotatably carrying the roller at a point intermediate the length of said roller, an awning fabric split longitudinally for rolling on the roller on opposite sides of the support, and automatic means for respectively interlocking the proximate edges of said split fabric as the fabric is unrolled from and for unlocking said edges as fabric is rolled upon said roller.

21. An awning comprising an awning roller, a bearing support for the roller at an intermediate point in the length of said roller, an awning fabric on said roller and split longitudinally to roll on opposite sides of the bearing support, and automatic means for respectively interlocking the proximate edges of said split fabric as the fabric is unrolled from and for unlocking said edges as the fabric is rolled upon, said roller.

22. An awning comprising an awning roller, a support rotatably carrying the roller at a point intermediate the length of said roller, a pair of awning sections for rolling and unrolling engagement with the roller on opposite sides of the support, means along the adjacent edge of each section for detachable engagement with corresponding means of the other section, and a member secured adjacent the awning roller for respectively automatically engaging the fabric securing means as the fabric is unwound from the roller and for unlocking said means as the fabric is wound upon the roller.

23. An awning comprising an awning roller, 2. support rotatably carrying the roller ata point intermediate the ends of the roller, a pair of awning sections for rolling and unrolling engagement with the roller on opposite sides of the support, means along the adjacent edge of each section for detachable engagement with corresponding means of the other section, an arm above the fabric sections and projecting forwardly from the roller support, and automatic means carried by said arm for respectively locking and unlocking the proximate fabric edges in accordance with the closing and opening movements of the awning fabric.

CHARLES B. LEFFERT.

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