US2724874A

US2724874A - Awning tip protector

Info

Publication number: US2724874A
Application number: US385048A
Authority: US
Inventors: Le Roy E Justus
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1953-10-09
Filing date: 1953-10-09
Publication date: 1955-11-29
Anticipated expiration: 1972-11-29

Description

LE ROY E. JUSTUS 2,724,874

AWNING TIP PROTECTOR Nov. 29, 1955 Filed Oct. 9, 1953 INVENTOR. AEEOY E- Jusrus WZQWZMJZMMZ Um'adem Arraelve'vs United States Patent AWNING TIP PROTECTOR Le Roy E. Justus, Lima, Ohio Application October 9, 1953, Serial No. 385,048

4 Claims. (Cl. 2057.5)

This invention relates to awnings of the type having a. plurality of parallel strips of hard material terminating in depending tips and a bracing bar adjacent the tips and more particularly to a protector for the awning tips.

Awnings of this type are practically indestructible since they are made of some hard material such as metal, fiber glass or plastic, however the tips formed about the bottom of the awning may be willfully bent and thereby broken off. When one or more of these tips have been broken off, it is necessary to replace the entire section which is costly and further when painted will not exactly match the weathered paint of the remainder of the awnmg.

It is therefore the principal object of this invention to provide a protector for the awning tips which will reinforce the tips in such manner that bending of the awning tip is exceedingly difficult in an inward direction whichis usually the direction in which they are bent.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an awning tip protector which is of simple yet rugged construction, easily attached to existing awning structures without requiring a skilled technician, and which may readily be made of the same material as the awning if so desired.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide an awning tip protector capable of economical manufacture and which may be incorporated into the awning at the time of manufacture of the awning.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description, forming the specification, and taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a perspective view looking into the interior of an awning with a plurality of the awning tip protectors embodying this invention incorporated therein;

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view taken on line 22 of Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a modified form of the awning tip protector.

In Figure 1, there is show an awning or valance or canopy, generally indicated at of the type having a plurality of connected strips 12 in parallel relation to each other and made of a hard material such as aluminum or other metal, fiber glass or a suitable plastic material. The strips 12 may be offset one from the other alternately, as presently shown, or may be arranged in any other suitable or desired relation to cause a decorative effect, however, in any case, the strips 12 will lie in planes parallel one to the other. Each of the strips 12 extend downwardly and outwardly from the surface upon which the awning 10 is to be supported and terminate in a depending tip 14, the tips 14 normally being spaced one from the other across the bottom of the awning.

The awning, as shown in Figure 1, may also be provided with a pair of spaced vertical side members 16 dependingly carried on opposite sides of the main body 18 "ice of the awning 10, or the awning may consist of merely the main body 18. In any event, there is provided along with such awnings, a bracing cross bar 20 adjacent the tips 14 but spaced from the terminal end of the tips; the cross bar 20 extending across the entire length of the awning, and in the present case having laterally disposed legs, such as leg 22, to extend across the side members, such as side members 16, if the awning is so constructed as to have side members.

In order to reinforce the tips 14 against willful bending thereof, the awning tip protector, generally indicated at 24 of this invention, is provided. The protector 24 is of one-piece construction and may be molded or cast from the same material as the awning 10, .if so desired, and has, in the form shown in Figure 2, a head portion 26 and a leg 28 dependingly carried by the head 26 and arranged between the bracing cross bar 20, and in the present instance, alternate ones of the tips 14,and as shown in Figures 1 and 2, these alternate tips 14 are those which are offset with respect to the other tips and are spaced due to the offset from the bracing cross bar 20. The protector 24 is made of a fiat, relatively narrow piece of material and is generally L-shaped in outline.

The narrow face 30 of the protector 24 is in abutting relation to the alternate offset tips 14 thereby reinforcing these tips against bending. The head 26 of the protector 24 is provided with a recess 32 adapted to receive one leg 34 of the T-shaped bracing cross bar 20 and with an extension 36 on the head 26 extending downwardly therefrom in generally parallel spaced relation to the leg 28 so as to contact the inner surface 38 of the cross piece or head of the T-shaped bracing cross bar, as shown in Figure 2. The protector 24 is so formed that a transverse section 40 connects the side of the leg 28 remote from the tip 14 with theadjacent side wall of the recess 32 and is of such extent as to be slightly longer than the stem 42 of the bracing cross bar 20. It should be noted at this point, that the slot or recess 32 and the section 40 may be altered so as to be adaptable to accommodate various shapes in the bracing cross bar 20 other than the T-shape presently shown.

An aperture 44 is provided adjacent the lower end of the extension 36 of the head 26 and receives therein a screw 46 to secure the head 26 to the leg 35 of the head or cross piece of the bracing cross bar 20 by entering a suitable opening therein in register with the aperture 44 through the extension 36. A hook 48 is dependingly carried by the leg 28 of the protector 24 so that the hook portion thereof extends laterally from and generally parallel to the face 30 to define a slot 50 which receives the lowermost portion of the awning tip 14 to which the protector 24 is connected. A screw 52 secures the body or leg portion of the hook 48, which is coplanar with the face 30, to the awning tip 14 adjacent the lower end thereof, as clearly shown in Figure 2.

In the present awning construction, it may be assumed that the bracing cross bar 20 will be carried by the awning by being secured in any desired manner to the alternate strips 12 occurring between the strips carrying the tips 14 with which the tip protectors 24 are operatively associated. It is apparent from the foregoing, that in the form of awning tip protector shown in Figures 1 and 2 there has been provided a head having a recess therein adapted to be received upon the cross bar 20 and a leg 28 dependingly carried by the head 26 and arranged between the cross and one of the awning tips in abutting relation to the tip to reinforce the tip 14 against bending and secured in this relation by the

screws

46 and 52. In connection with the use of the screws 52, it is optional as to whether these screws will be employed or omitted.

In the form shown in Figure 3, the protector for the awning tips is generally indicated at 54 and comprises a head 56 having a recess 58 therein adapted to be received upon the cross bar 20. with a transverse section 60 adapted to overlie the stem 42 of the cross bar 20, the recess 58 and transverse section 40 being similar in all respects tothe recess or slot-32 and the transverse section 40 of the awning, tipprotector 24.

The head 56 dependingly carries a leg 62 having a narrow straight front face, similar to the face 30, adapted to be arranged between the cross bar and one of the awning tips 14 in the same manner as the leg, 28 of the tip protector 24. An outwardly arcuately formed extension 64 is carried by the leg 62 and depends downwardly therefrom with its. front face being considerably wider than the front face of the leg 62 and coplanar therewith. The extension 64 carries at its lower end a hook extending outwardly from and in spaced relation to the front faceof the leg 62 and substantially across the width of the extension 64 to form a slot or recess 68 in which the terminal end of the awning tip 14 may be received when the protector 54 is applied thereto.

The flattened or widened extension 64 is provided with a pair of aligned openings 70 disposed on either side of the leg, 62 permitting attachment of the extension 64 to the awning tip 14 adjacent the lower end thereof by means of screws, such as the screw 52. In similar manner to the form shown in Figures 1 and 2, the awning tip projector 54 has its head 56 provided with an extension 72 depending from the end thereof remote from the face adapted to abut against the selected awning tip 14, and provided with an aperture 74 extending transversely therethrough and adapted to receive a screw securing the head 56 upon the bracing cross bar 20 in a manner similar to that shown in Figure 2.

The head 56 carries an arcuate tongue 76 extending upwardly and rearwardly therefrom and forming acontinuation of the front face of the protector 54 so as to be in abutting relation with that portion of the selected strip 12 at the point or location where it iscurved downwardly into the tip 14, and the tongue 76 is provided with an opening 78 adapted to receive a screw securing the tongue 76 to the indicated portion of the selected strip 12.

The form of the awning protector tip shown in Figure 3 is desirableto use where the awning extension islong or where the awning is made of light weight material so as to afford additional reinforcing support where necessary so that either the extension or flange 64 may be secured to the awning tip 14 or the tongue 76 secured to the awning strip 12, or both the extension or flange 64 and the tongue 76 may be secured to the awning.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that the awning tip protector'of either of the two forms may be incorporated. into an existing awning and so carried by th'e awning as to provide adequate reinforcement to the awning tips to prevent willful bending of the awning tips, and since the

hook members

48 and 66 in the respective forms overlie the terminal end of the selected awning tip 14, willful bending of the tips outwardly will be made exceedingly difficult. In addition, the hook members are-not only designed to protect the tip from beingbent outwardly but also may act as a trim or ornament according to the chosen design of the awning, and the hooked

portions

48 and 66 respectively, will also act as a gauge in locating the cross bar 20 so that the entire assembly will be more efficient in protecting the awning tips.

It should also be borne in mind, that the awning tip protector, as hereinbefore described, can be incorporated into the bar itself by the manufacturer, thus doing away with separate protectors for each section of the awning or valance 10.

With regard to securing the leg 28 or the leg 62 to the awning tip 14 by screws passing through the hook.

member or the extension 64, the screws may be em- Cit 4 ployed anywhere along the length of the

legs

28 or 62 where either of these legs. are in contact with the inner surface of the awning tip 14.

While there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the structure is susceptible to change and modification within the practicability of the invention and therefore should be limited only by the scope of the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:

1. A tip protector for awnings of the type having a plurality of parallel strips of hard material terminating in depending tipsand a bracing cross bar adjacent said tips, said tip protector comprising a head having a recess therein adapted to be received upon said cross bar, a leg dependingly carried by said head arranged between said cross bar and a selected one of said awning tips in abutting relation to said tip thereby reinforcing said tip against inward bending, and a hook member carried by said leg at the lower end thereof adapted to receive theterminal end of said selected awning tip to preventoutward bending thereof.

2. A tip protector for awnings of the type having a plurality of parallel strips of hard material terminating in depending tips and a bracing cross bar adjacent said tips, said tip protector comprising a head having a recess therein adapted to be received upon said cross bar, a leg dependingly carried by said head arranged between said cross bar and a selected one of said awning tips in abutting relation to said tip thereby reinforcing said tip against inward bending, and a hook member carried by said leg at the lower end thereof adapted to receive the terminal endof said selected awning tip to prevent outward bending thereof, means securing said tip protector to said cross bar and means to secure said protector to said awning tip.

3. A tip protector for awnings of the typehaving a plurality of parallel strips of hard material terminating in depending tips and a bracing cross bar adjacent said tips, said tip protector comprising a head having a recess therein adapted to be received upon said cross bar, aleg dependingly carried by said head arranged between said cross bar and a selected one of said awning tips in abutting relation to said tip thereby reinforcing said tip against inward bending, and a hook member carried by said legat the lower end thereof adapted to receive the terminal end of said selected awning tip to prevent outward bending thereof, an arcuately formed tongue carried by said head extending therefrom in a direction away from said hook member and arranged in abutting relation with the juncture of the awning strip and awning tip was to reinforce the awning at this location.

4. A tip protector for awnings of the type having a plurality of parallel strips of hard material terminating in depending tips and a bracing cross bar adjacent said tips, said tip protector comprising a head having a recess therein adapted to be received upon said crossbar, a leg dependingly carried by said head arranged between said cross bar and a selected one of said awning tips in abutting relation to said tip thereby reinforcing said tip against inward bending, and a hook member carried by said leg at the lower end thereofadapted to receive the terminal end of said selected awning tip to prevent outward bending thereof, anarcuately formed tongue carried by said head extending therefrom in a direction away from said hook member and arranged in abutting relation with the juncture of the awning strip and awning tip so as to reinforce the awning at this location, and means securing said tongue to said awning strip.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,548,061 Pfeifer Aug. 4, 1925 2,632,213 Manley et al. Mar. 24, 1953