US2103923A - Automatic awning - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 28, 1937. "o. VOGEL AUTOMATIC AWNING 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April '7.

Q INVENTOR I Dec. 28, 1937.

O. VOGEL AUTOMATIC AWNING Filed April '7'. 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR I I'l Patented Dec. 28, 1937 UNITED STATES AUTOMATIC AWNING OttoVogel, Farmingdale, N. Y. 'Application April 7, 1936, Serial No. 73,076

9 Claims. 7 (Cl. 156-44) means, operable by a very small amount of rainwater, to close an, open window or other aperture with an awning guard and thus prevent damage to the interior by rain-water.

, A still further object is to provide an automatic awning which, under ordinary conditions, will operate for long periods of time without any attentionv whatsoever.

A still further object is to pro vide an automatic awning the return of which to its normal nonprotecting position occurs when rain ceases to fall.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent as the specification proceeds.

With the foregoing objects in view, my invention consists of the novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described in their preferredembodiments, particularly pointed out in the appended claims, and illustrated in the ,accompanying drawings, wherein like parts are designated by the same reference characters throughout the several views. I I,

In the said drawings;

Figure 1 is a front elevation, partly in section and partly broken away, showing the mechanism for operating my improved automatic awning;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional detail view of one of the side channel members showing the construction thereof; t

Fig.3 is a side elevation, partly in section and partly broken away, showing the awning rolledp;

awning lowered and disclosing certainparts obsoured by those shown in Fig. 3; and,

Fig. 5 is a detail view of 'themeans for arresting automatic operation of the awning.

Referring to these drawings, my invention comprises a horizontally disposed housing II the removable top of which constitutes a gutter l2, having in its bottom and near one end thereofan outlet I3, closed by a hinged stopper M, on which latter is formed an integral lever arm I4, to

which is attached a cord I5. Formed in the bottom of the gutter 12 are one or more outlets l6, spaced from the outlet I3 and from each other, which are normally closed by combination ball- Fig. 4 is a similar side elevation showing the float stoppers llseating in said outlets l6 and 1 adapted to float upward with a rise of level of rain-water in said gutter thus permitting such water to flow through said outlets Hi. The stoppers I! may be made of cork, balsa wood, or other naturally buoyant material, and are restricted in their upward movement by attached depending I shanks I8 having split ends bent in opposite directions at right-angles to said shank which serve to retain said stoppers in their respective outlets.

' Disposed under and spaced from the gutter l2 and constituting the bottomand part. of the front wall of the housing 1 l, isa reservoir or tank I9 of rectangular shape having in its bottom an out let 20, closed by a ball stopper 2| and an overflow pipe 22 adjacentthe top of its rear wall. The

ends of the tank 19 are also spaced from the opposlte end walls and from' the rear outer wall of said housing ll (Figs; 3 ]and 4),. v

The upper ends of a pair of vertical. channelmembers 23' (only oneof which is shown) fit into the underside of the housing ll, one at each side and to the rear thereof, and are fastened as by screws, to the opposite sides ofthe window casing (see Fig. 2) or other aperture to which the device may be afiixed,.while. the housing is hung, as by hooks 24 fixed to its outside rear wall, on the upper and outer horizontal face of said casing.

Within the housing It and aboyethe tank I!) to'the rear thereof is mounted a roller 25 having pulleys 26 keyed thereto at each'end (only one of which is shown), said roller being pivoted in bearings fixed to the opposite side walls of the housing ll. Cords 21. fixed at one end to and wound on said pulleys 26 run over guide pulleys 26 and at their free ends are attached to weights 28 adapted to travel in shafts formed by said channel members 23. f

An awning 29 made of any flexible material is fixed to and rolls on th'eroller 25, being adapted to unroll from the rear of said roller, while the cords 21 are oppositely wound onsaid pulleys 2B. Pulley 26, cord 21, and weight 28 on the righthand end of roller 25identical with those shown. *and therefore not duplicated in the draWingsmouth 3! which tank 36 may be made of metal "or any other suitable material imperviou to water, and has formed in its bottom one or more drip-outlets 32 controlled by weighted ball stoppers 33 having depending therefrom shanks 34 terminating in small ball weights 35. Upon the rear surface of said pocket at opposite sides are fixed hinged arms 35 which foldinwardly toward the center thereof and fasten one to the other when not in use.

The sides of the awning 29 run in grooves 31 formed by the channel members 23- and at the lower portion extending out from each side of the pocket 30 tothe edges thereof said'curtain is reinforced by a flange 30' of sheet metal or other I stiff material. A roller 38 pivoted at its opposite ends in bearings fixed on the inner side walls of the housing H serves to guide the awning 29 in the rear of the tank l9 and to align the side edges of the awning with the grooves 31'.

A bracket 39 spans the tank 19 fromfront to rear at the top thereof. Centrally disposed on said bracket 39 is fixed an upright member 40 having upwardly and outwardly extending inte gral arms 4| in the crotch of which, by means of a horizontal pin -42, is mounted a hollow tube 43 having opposite sealed ends 44. Contained within said tube 43 is a ball weight 45, the'travel of which is restricted between the sealed left-hand end" of said tube and the central pin' 42. The right-hand end 44 of the tube carries a bracket :46 in which rides the upper end of a link 41 which, guided by a guide-bracket 4'! fixed to the inside front wall of the tank is rigidly attached at its lower end to a ball stopper 2|. In its normal position", when the ball stopper 2| is seated in the outlet 20' of the tank l9 closing the feed pipe M, the tube is in horizontal balance, while the ball rests against the pin 42. At the extreme lefthand end on the upper surface of the tube 43 is fixed a dish 48 which is also aligned directly below the outlet I 3 in the gutter I2',;,and which dish has formed therein one or more restricted drip-outlets 4.9; As will be clear from the'fore going description, the tube 43 is adapted to pivot on the pin 42 .while the ball 45 rolls toward and weighs down the left end thereof, as a consequence lifting the right hand end which carries the link 41 and ball stopper 2| upward. To restore the tube to its original horizontal position, a vertical lever 50 slidable in guides 5l'fixed on the outer end .of the tank is'provi'de'd, said lever 50 having an upper-forwardly-extending integral arm 52, theiupper surface of which is disposed under the left end of the tube 43, and a lower, rearwardly-extending"arm 53 having a downwardly turned foot projecting into the shaft 59 in the channel member 23 and into the path of V the weight 28, which latter in travelling upward contacts with said foot and raises said lever 55 which in turn lifts the tube 43, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. .3, to its normal horizontal position, which also causes the ball 45 to roll to the right and settle against the pin.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, the cord 21 is fixed to pulley 2B at a prescribed distance from itssaid fixed end, as at 21'', on said cord is fixed a bead or knot'54. The cord 15 is attached at one end to the lever arm [4; its opposite end terminates in pulling cord I5, lifting the hinged stopper l4 and 7 thus opening the outlet E3 in the gutter I2. 7

Referring to Figs. 2, 3 and 4, the particular construction of the upright channel members 23 is as follows: said members are first bent longitudinally to an L-shape to formoan angle member 55 one side of which is bored to allow of fastening same as by screws to the window casing as above described; the member 23 is next bent from the L-shape back upon itself to fit the corner and lie against the front face of the casement, forming a portionBEi which in turn is bent at right angles from the plane thereof and formed with spaced vertical knuckles"; 51., Knuckles 58 are formed upon a separatezch'annelainember which is bent longitudinally to fornr the four sides of the shaft '59, said knuckles 51 and 58 when fitted together and secured: by the usual hinge pin form a vertical piano hinge 50 which permits of the shafts 59 being swungoutward so that the awning 28 may be pushed out of its'groove and utilized as an awning when secured by the arms 35 to the usual fastenings (not'shown) at the sides of the window casing. I To permit of this outward movement of the channel members forming the shafts 53 on the hingestheiipper faces'of said members'are cut away as at 23-,so that the cord 2'! will not bind'betweenthe upper edges thereof and the bottom edge of housing! I.

To cause the device to remain inoperative, itis merely necessary to prevent the weight 28 from reaching the bottom of'its shaft 59, so that the bead 54 may not. pull f'eord 15 to openoutlet l3: the-left-handchannel Z3 is cut away at its bottom as at 23 to permi-t'of therise' 'of the end of a pivotedrocker-a'rin- 'which attends the closing of the window sas'li -BB; or which may be manually controlled, an-d'which arm 65 prevents the weight 28'from reaching the bottom of said shaft 59','as shown merge; 1 7

'Metal strips 52 formed *with'top and bottom flanges fastenedasby screwstdthe casing may be used to clamp a window screen 63 against the portion 58 of the channel members 23.

A screen or sievefi l' extending from side to side may befixed over the outlets in the gutter I2 (shown'in Figs. 3 and l) to protect same from stoppage :b'y leaves; etc. I The operation of inf invention is as follows: The; tank l9 must contain some water. The awning 29is rolled up on the roller 25 the weights 28 arefjat the bottornof their respective shafts,

the tube 43 ishorizontal with the ball 45 resting against pin 42, while 'thebead '54 on cord 27 pulls down the cord l5, lever' 14"" and thus the outlet {3 in the gutter l2 isopen. As it starts to rain, water fallin'g in to the gutter runs through the-open'outlet l3 and into dish 48 on the tube 43} whereupon said tube is thrown out of balance and the ball 45 is started to roll toward the lefthand sealed end 44 of thetube, thus raising the opposite end'thereof'which in turn carries upward link 47 and ball-stopper 2! and opens outlet 20 of the tank Hi, from which water rapidly pours'through pipe'Sl the. downwardly curved spout of whichis disposedover the pocket 30 on the awning29fi- Said pocket 30' quickly becomes sufiiciently heavy with such water to outbalance the weights 28 and the awning descends to protect" the window. 'When the pocket 3f! reaches and cdntacts with the window sill the stoppers 33, seated in outlets 3 2 in the bottom of. said pocket,;are forced upward opening said outlets and allo-wing'water to, drip slowly therefrom. As long as itrains, water running down the awning and from'the overflow pipe 22 of the tank 59 replenishes the water'in the pocket 30 and thea'wn'ing will remain lowered. When the rain ceases, the rain water in the pocket 3!] continuing to drip there-frm, said pocket again becomes lighterthan the -weights28'which in'turn I loop I5 and opens the outlet I3.

When pockettii reaches the window sill the left-hand-weight '28 in attaining its highest position pushes lever 50 upward, which in'turn raises tube 43 and rolls ball 45 to their normal positions, closing theoutlet 20.- Immediately the weight starts. upward the bead 54 breaks its contactfwith loop l5" and under the influence of gravity the stopperseats'in the outlet 13 preventing actuation of'thedevice. With outlet l3 c1osed,'as rain continues to fall the rising level of water in gutter l2 raises ball-float stoppers I! which are normally seated and the: tank I9 is thereby replenished with water running through inlets it. Because of the-apertures in the dish member :8 the water caught therein drains out after having served its purpose in initiating the downward movement of the. tube.

The amount of water necessary to operate my novel awning is quickly replaced during a rainstorm; the capacity of the-tank 19 as shown is calculated to provide for from 12 to 15 actuations of the awning without any replenishing by rain or otherwise. It is of course understood that the tank It may be replenished by a special pipe connection with the main gutter from the roof of the house.

Although the drawings and the above specification disclose the best mode in which I have contemplated embodying my invention, I desire to be in no way limited to the details of such disclosure for, in. the further practical application of my invention, many changes in the constructional details of the device may be made as circumstances require or experience suggests, without departing from the spirit of the invention within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A window guard in combination comprising a roller awning mounted in a housing, a receptacle attached to said awning having'a plurality of drip outlets therein, counterweight means adapted to outbalance said awning and receptacle, a reservoir for water mounted in'said housing, rain-actuated means for filling said receptacle from said reservoir, means mounted in said housing and controlled by said counterweight means for rendering the rain-actuated means inoperative, means actuated by said counterweight means to reset said filling means and to shut offthe water supply from. said reservoir.

2. A window guard comprising a roller awning of flexible material pivotally mounted in. a housing, cord-attached counter-weights connected to the roller, an open-mouthed receptacle on the lower edge of said awning having a plurality of controlled drip outlets therein, a reservoir for water, an outlet in said reservoir, rain-actuated means for filling said receptacle frorn said reservoir to a predetermined level to outbalance said counterweights and cause, lowering of the awning, means actuated by one of said counterweights to reset said filling means in its normal position and to shut off the supply of water from said reservoir.

3. A window guard comprising a housing, channel members communicating therewith, a roller mounted in said housing, an awning on said roller,

cord-attached counterweights connected to the,

roller, a flat receptacle on said awning having controlled outlets therein, flanges integral with theopposite ends of said receptacle and extending 'therefromito'the side, edges of said awning to guidethe latter in said channel members,:a reservoir for water mounted in said housing above said receptacle, an outlet therein, a gutter combined with saidhousing over said reservoir hav-- ing an outlet therein, a valve in said outlet controlled by the relative movement of one" of said counterweights, a sealed tube, a pin extending laterally through said tube adjacent the center thereof for pivotally supporting the same in horizontal position above said reservoir, a bracket on one end of said tube, a link attached to said bracket, a stopper on said link seated in said reservoir outlet, a ball weight free in said tube to run between the said pinand the sealed end of the tube oppositetothat carrying said bracket to outbalance said link and stopper for opening said reservoir outlet,a dish fixed on said tube at the end opposite to that carrying said bracket and aligned under said gutter outlet, and drip apertures in said dish.

4. A window guard in combination comprising a housing including a gutter forming the top thereof, a reservoir for water, an outlet in said reservoir, a faucet leading therefrom, a roller 7 awning'mounted' in: said" housing, a receptacle 5. A window guard in combination comprising H a housing including a gutter forming the top thereof, a reservoir for water, an outlet in said reservoir, a faucet leading therefrom, a roller awning mounted in said housing, a receptacle on said awning, counterweights adapted to out-. balance said awning and receptacle, rain-actuated means for controlling the filling of said receptable' from said reservoir through said faucet, and a link slidably mounted on said reservoir under said filling means and extending into the path of one of said counterweights and adapted to be raised thereby to-restore said filling means to its normal position thereby to shut off the water from the reservoir.

6. A window guard in combination comprising a housing including agutter forming the top thereof, a reservoir for water, an outlet in said reservoir, a roller awning mounted in said housing, a receptacle on said awning, counterweights adapted to outbalance said awning and receptacle, rain-actuated means for filling said receptacle from said reservoir, means actuated by one of said counterweights to reset'said filling means and shut off the water from said reservoir, vertical channel members adapted to be fixed to the sides of a window-casing, communicating through the bottom of said housing with the interior thereof, and constituting shafts to receive and conceal said counterweights during movement thereof.

7. An automatic window guard comprising a roller awning mounted in a housing, cord-attached counterweights connected to the roller, an open-inouthed receptacle on said awning having a plurality of drip outlets therein, a reservoir for water having an outlet and an overflow, a gutter combined with said housing over said reservoir, an outlet in said gutter, a valve for said outlet, a bead on one of the counterweight cords, a loop member on said cord below'said bead, a semi-flexible link connecting said loop.

with said valve, said bead being adapted to contact with said loop and open said valve when the counterweight on said 'cord is at its lowest position and said awning is rolled up, rain-actuated means for filling said receptacle from said reservoir to a predetermined level to outbalance said counterweights and cause lowering of the awning, means actuated by one of said counter- Weights to reset said filling means in its normal position and to shut ofi the supply of water from said reservoir, means for replenishing said reservoir with water and causing an overflow to replenish said receptaclecontinuously during a rain.

8. An automatic window-guard of the character described comprising'a housing, a rotatably mounted awning normally concealed therein, a receptacle on said awning for facilitating the lowering thereof, drip outlets in said receptacle, means combined with said housing for collecting rainwater, a reservoir for waterrcombined with said housing, means directly actuated by rain at the commencement of a shower for'controlling the dispensing of the rainwater from said reservoir into said receptacle to Weight the same and cause the lowering of said awning, means for rewinding said awning automatically'operabie ated means.

when the rainwater in said receptacle hassunken to a predetermined level following cessation of a shower, and a plurality of valves in said collecting means normally closed to prevent evapo- V ration of water in said reservoir but opening with a rise of rain water in said collecting means thereby to replenish the water in saidreservoir.

9.'An automatic window-guard of the character described comprising a roller awning mounted in a housing, a; receptacle on the awning for facilitating the-lowering thereof, a controlled drip outlet in thereceptacle, a reservoir for water combined with the housing and having an overflow, V rain-actuated. means for controlling the dispensing of water from the reservoir to fill the receptacle and cause lowering of the awning, a gutter combinedwith'the housing for collecting rain-water, valves in said gutter adapted to open with a rise of rain-water therein for replenishing the reservoir and causing an overflow to keep the receptacle filled, and means, automatically operable when the Watervdraining from the receptacle reaches a predetermined level, for re-. winding the awning and resetting the rain-actu-

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