US2731927A - E mccain - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 24, 1956 H. E. MCCAIN FLEXIBLE INTERLOCKING VENTED AWNING CANOPY Filed Dec. 29, 19s2 2 Sheets-Sheet '1 Harvey E. McCain INVENTOR. 405'.

I BY a tiJ Kw M Jan. 24, 1956 MCCAIN 2,731,927

FLEXIBLE INTERLOCKING VENTED AWNING CANOPY Filed Dec. 29, 1952 ZSheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 2

Harvey E. McCain INVENTOR.

By ym,

United States Patent FLEXIBLE INTERLOCKING VENTED AWNING ANOPY Harvey E. McCain, San Angelo, Tex.

Application December 29, 1952, Serial No. 328,444

3 Claims. (Cl. 108-1) This invention comprises novel and useful improvements in a flexible interlocking vented awning canopy and more specifically pertains to a canopy composed of articulated sheet metal panels carried by flexible cables whereby an awning may be constructed of any desired width and length and yet may possess the advantages of a self-ventilating construction.

The primary object of this invention is to provide an awning canopy which shall be of a self-ventilating type whereby air heated beneath the awning is caused by thermodynamic forces to circulate through ventilating openings in the roof of the awning canopy to maintain an air circulation therethrough and thus ventilate and cool the space below the canopy.

A further object of the invention in accordance withthe preceding object is to provide a flexible awning of such a construction that the same may be easily and conveniently constructed and assembled in a very wide range of lengths and widths.

A further object of the invention is to provide an awning canopy construction in conformity with the foregoing objects wherein the roof of the canopy shall be constructed of a large number of identical elongated panel members which shall be operatively associated with each other in a novel and advantageous manner to secure the advantages of an interlocked flexible continuouscanopy roof assembly, which shall possess flexibility to a marked extent whereby the canopy may readily adapt itself to mounting upon relatively long spans of supporting cable and the like; and may be so associated as to maintain a predetermined spacing between adjacent series of panels or obtaining an improved ventilating action therebetween.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved supporting and fastening means whereby a pinrality of elongated panels may be secured in operative association with each other to obtain a flexible continuous awning canopy.

These, together with various ancillary features and objects of the invention, which will later become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by the present invention, a preferred embodiment of which has been illustrated, by way of example, in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of an awning canopy embodying therein the principles of this invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary perspective view from one end of the awning showing the arrangement between the rows and panels and supporting means therefor;

Figure 3 is a vertical transverse sectional detail view taken upon an enlarged scale substantially upon the plane indicated by section line 33 of Figure l and showing in particular the arrangement of the cables and fastening means for supporting adjacent vertically spaced panels of two rows of panels to provide the ventilating passages therebetween;

Figure 4 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view taken upon an enlarged scale substantially on the plane indicated by the section line 44 of Figure 3 and showing Patented Jan. 24, 1956 in particular the interlocking engagement of adjacent panels in the same row of panels;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary top plan view upon an enlarged scale of a portion of the two adjacent central rows of panels forming the roof ridge portion of the awning canopy of Figure 1; and

Figure 6 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by section line 66 of Figure 5 and showing the manner in which the adjacent ends of the adjacent central rows of panels are secured to a common cable to form the ridge of the roof of the canopy.

Referring now specifically to Figures 1 and 2 it will be seen that the awning canopy illustrated in the accompanying drawings includes a canopy roof indicated generally by the numeral 10 and which in its opposite ends is carried by supporting assemblies each indicated generally by the numeral 12.

While the features of this invention are not limited to any particular supporting means, that indicated at 12 has been found to be satisfactory for constructing awning canopies of very considerable lengths, as for example, lengths in excess of feet or the like, and of various suitable widths. Each of these supporting assemblies preferably comprises a vertical standard 14 Which may be of tubular construction as shown, and which adjacent its upper end is provided with horizontally extending tubular crossbars 16 whose outer ends are connected as by inclined tubular members 18 to the upper end of the standard 14. A pair of vertical struts 20 and 22 are provided upon'opposite sides of the standard 14 for reinforcing and connecting the inclined members 18 to the crossbars 16. There is thus provided a triangular truss assembly at the upper ends of the standards 14 whose components may be welded or otherwise secured together to provide a rigid assembly.

The awning canopy roof 10 is supported resiliently from the truss assemblies of the end supports 12 by a plurality of substantially parallel flexible supporting members which may conveniently comprise metallic cables or the like. These cables to be referred to more specifically hereinafter are secured to the supporting members 12 in such a manner as to provide a ridge type of roof for the awning canopy and each cable is preferably provided with individual tensioning means for regulating the tautness of that cable.

The system of cables or flexible members employed to support the canopy roof 10 illustrated in the accompanying drawings includes a top or ridge cable 24, see in particular Figures 5 and 6, which has its opposite ends connected as by turnbuckles 26 to anchor bolts 28 which are secured adjacent the upper ends of the standards 14. A pair of vertically spaced cables 30 and 32, likewise having their opposite ends provided with turnbuckles 26, are attached to and carried by each of the struts 20 of the pair of end support members 12. The upper cables 30 are disposed on opposite sides of and vertically below the ridge cable 24 to permit a sloping of the roof panels as set forth hereinafter, while the lower cables 32 are disposed vertically beneath the cables 30 for a purpose which will be subsequently apparent. At their outer ends, a pair of side cables 34 are likewise attached by turnbuckles 26 to suitable anchor bolts 36 fastened to the cross arms 16 of the two end support assemblies 12. These outer cables 34 are likewise disposed outwardly on opposite sides of the cables 30 and 32, and are spaced vertically below the same.

It is this supporting framework consisting of the two end supporting assemblies 12 and the series of substan tially parallel flexible cables 24, 30, 32 and 34 that the canopy roof is attached.

The canopy roof is composed of a plurality of substantially identically formed elongated panels which may be of sheet metal or any othersuitable material, alternate panels being inverted. Thus, the panels 40 are considered to be in obverse position, while the adjacent panels 42 are regarded as being in inverse position.

The plurality of panels are disposed in four rows extending longitudinally of the flexible cables, these being the two central rows 44 and 46, together with the outer rows 48 and 50. In each of the rows 44, 46, 43 and 50, the individual panels 40 and 42 are disposed transversely of the rows and cables and in side by side relation with the inverted panels interposed between successive obverse panels 46, and with the adjacent edges of the panels being interlocked with each other by an articulated engagement of the inturned beads or seams 52 on the longitudinal edges of the panels and which are hingedly or pivotally engaged with each other as clearly shown in Figure 4-.

From a consideration of Figures 1, 2 and 4, it will thus be seen that the panels 40 and 42 in each row have their side edges articulatingly connected to each other whereby the entire row of panels constitutes a flexible sheet.

Each of the panels 46 and 42 which make up the roof of the canopy are connected adjacent their opposite ends to a pair of the series of cables. Thus, the adjacent ends of the panels of the two central rows 44 and 46 are fastened to a single or common cable 24 comprising the ridge cable of the canopy assembly. For this purpose, as shown more clearly in Figures 5 and 6, each of the panels of the rows 44 and 46 is fastened to a hinge bracket or clip 54 by means of a bolt or fastener 56, this hinge clip having a cylindrical portion 58 which is embracingly secured upon the ridge cable 24. Thus, the adjacent ends of the two central rows of panels are hinged to the ridge cable and the panels are inclined downwardly therefrom and rest adjacent their other ends upon the upper cables 30.

Two different types of fasteners are employed to secure the obverse and the inverse panels 40 and 42 to the cables 30. Thus, the obverse panels 49 which lie directly upon the cables 30 are secured thereto by clips 54 which may be of the identical construction previously described. However, the inverse panels 42, being slightly spaced from the cables 30 by virtue of their overlying engagement with respect to the adjacent panels 40, as seen in Figure 3, require a clip 55 which may be of the same construction as the clip 54 but is of a different dimension in order to support the panels in the relationship shown in Figure 3.

As so far described, it will now be apparent that the panels of the central rows 44 and 46, slope oppositely from opposite sides of the ridge cable to provide a sloping ridge type of roof, and/or each separately connected to the ridge cable and to the upper cables 30.

In a similar manner the panels of the two outer rows 48 and 50 are likewise secured at their upper and lower ends respectively to the cables 32 and 34 by the clips 54 and 55 previously mentioned. It will be noted that the lower outer ends of the panels of the rows 44 and 46 are disposed in overlying vertically spaced relation with respect to the upper ends of the outer rows 48 and 50, as will be clearly apparent from Figure 3 to thus provide an air space between the central rows and the outer rows of panels, this air space extending longitudinally of the canopy. By this means ventilating spaces are provided between the rows of panels which will permit the flow of air and some extent the passage of light therebetween while preventing rain or the like from passing through the awning.

By the arrangement of the plurality of panels in side by side articulated relation in rows and the relative disposition of the rows themselves, an awning canopy is provided which may be readily constructed of any desired length or width by increasing the length of the rows and the number of rows, with a corresponding increase in the length of the flexible cables and the number of the same; and if desired an increase in the number of the support members 12. Further, the assembly so constructed will readily conform to the natural curve of the flexible cables throughout their span, and such curvature may be adjusted by the turnbuckle means.

Moreover, the interlocking engagement of the marginal portions 52 of the adjacent panels will prevent any passage of rain or moisture between the adjacent edges of adjacent panels.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

I. A flexible canopy comprising a pair of supports, fiexible cables mounted upon and disposed between said supports, a plurality of elongated panels carried by said cables and forming a roof, said panels being disposed in rows extending longitudinally of said cables, the panels in each row extending transversely of said cables and being disposed in side-by-side relation, said cables positioned below and supporting the undersurface of said panels, means for adjustably tensioning said cables, detachable means interconnecting said panels and cables for holding said panels on said cables, and means on adjacent side edges of adjacent panels for pivotally securing said adjacent panels together, said interconnecting means being disposed at the midportion of said panels between said pivotal securing means.

2. A flexible canopy comprising a pair of supports, flexible cables mounted upon and disposed between said supports, a plurality of elongated panels carried by said cables and forming a roof, said panels being disposed in rows extending longitudinally of said cables, the panels in each row extending transversely of said cables and being disposed in side-by-side relation, said cables positioned below and supporting the undersurface of said panels, means for adjustably tensioning said cables, detachable means interconnecting said panels and cables for holding said panels on said cables, and means on adjacent side edges of adjacent panels for pivotally securing said adjacent panels together, said interconnecting means being disposed at the midportion of said panels between said pivotal securing means, the adjacent ends of panels in a pair of adjacent rows being secured to a common cable and slope downwardly therefrom, and the next adjacent rows have their adjacent ends spaced from and underlying the adjacent lower ends of the said pair of adjacent rows to provide ventilating passages therebetween.

3. The structure as defined in claim 2 wherein said panels are symmetrical and substantially channel-shaped in transverse cross-section with inturned hook-shaped side edges, alternate panels of each row being inverted with the inturned edges of adjacent edges of adjacent panels being in hooked engagement thereby pivotally connecting said panels.

References Cited in'the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Couteau Aug. 25, 1885

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