US2752643A - Metal awnings - Google Patents

Description

.Fufly 3, 1956 H. M. HELT ET AL METAL AWNINGS Filed April 6, 1953 I INVENTOR.

HERBER T M 5 50 9 Hm IPFEIL LMAA/ ATTOBNEY United States A atent METAL AWNINGS Appiication April 6, 1953, Serial No. 346,824 2 Claims. (Cl. 20--57.5)

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a metal awning, such as an aluminum awning, but may also be applied to awnings made of other metals or other materials, such as plastic or wood. 7

Recently, metal awnings have come into wide-spread use. However, metal awnings of commonly known construction have certain disadvantages which have provided serious objections. For example, metal awnings of the type comprising top and bottom pans whose sides overlap ar generally assembled and maintained in proper relationship by fastening means, such as screws, bolts or supporting strips. Such fastening means have the inherent disadvantage of necessitating drilling of holes through the top and bottom pans which tend to promote leakage therethrough of rain water. Also such fastening means are generally flimsy or of very limited mechanical strength, therefore providing weak points in the general In fact, metal awnings of tioned weaknesses, placement.

A still further disadvantage of well known types of metal awnings is that their suming for the workman.

An object of the present invention is to provide a novel holes provided for such fastemng means, and thus which assures complete protection against leakage of rain or snow.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide an improved metal awning comprising top and bottom pans which have interlocked flanges which provide an amazing increase in mechanical strength and rigidity of the awning, such as to practically eliminate the possibility of being blown apart by severe wind storms.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a metal awning assembly, including top and bottom pans which are of such shape as to be simple in construction and inexpensively manufactured, also which can be easily and quickly assembled, therefore which greatly reducesv manufacturing cost.

' 'Otherobjects and advantages of our invention will be embodying the principles of our invention, a portion is cut away to more clearly illustrate the framework.

Figure 2 is an enlarged, transverse, cross-sectional View taken along line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view similar to Figure 2 but showing spaced apart the interlocking flanges of the top and bottom pans.

Figure 4 is a similar view of a modified form of the flange construction of the top pan, and

Figure 5 is an enlarged, transverse, cross-sectional view taken on line 55 of Figure l and more clearly showing the wall flashing and cap flashing assembly.

Referring more particularly to Figure 1 of the drawing, it will be noted that the framework for the metal awning shown comprises side cross-strips or projections i, of substantially L shaped cross-section, and metal rafters 2 of similar cross-section, extending angularly of the cross-strips. Metal spaces therebetween to allow the escape of air that would otherwise be trapped under the awning.

Also forming a part of the framework is a wall flashing 7, extending across the top ends of the rafters and adapted to be secured to and sealed to a wall by caulking or sealing compound. The wall flashing is of substantially channel shape cross-section and has a horizontal top flange integrally extending at right angles to the vertical wall engaging flange thereof. To such top flange is fastened a cap flashing 8 by means of metal screws 9 wall flashing. Thus any possibility of leakage of rain water through such present top and bottom pan assembly. Toppan 11,

for example, is provided with side flanges,

each having an inwardly bent portion 11a and an adjoining downwardly and outwardly flanged central portion 11b and an inwardly bent end portion lie. The bottom pan 12 has similar portions 12a, 12b, 12c respectively. It will be apparent from a study of Figures 2 and 3 that when the top and bottom pans are in assembled relationship the inwardly bent end portions of the bottom pan 12 will fit into the inwardly bent portions lid of the top pan, whereas the inwardly bent end portions 110 of the top pan flange will fit into the inwardly bent portion 12a of the bottom pan. Thus the flanges of the top and bottom pans will become securely interlocked and prevent any possibility of relative vertical movemcitt.

Figure 4 shows a modification of the invention wherein the bottom pans 1 2 are identical in construction to those shown in Figures 2 and 3 but wherein the top pans are provided with straight flanges 11d which terminate in inwardly bent end portions 11 which fit into the inwardly bent portion 120, Of the bottom pan to provide interlock ing engagement. 7

The top and bottom pans are assembled in the following manner. First a pair of spat ed bottom pans are placed on the upper flange of runner 13, flanges 12a of the bottom pans being slipped underneath a Pair of oppositely directed tabs or lugs 14. A top pan is then placed so as to straddle the bottom pans and so that its downwardly extending flanges will become interlocked with the upwardly extending flanges of the bottom pans. The tabs 14 are then bent downwardly so as to tightly engage the inwardly bent or flanged portions 12a of the bottom pans. Thereafter an adjoining pair of top and bottom pans is assembled in a similar manner, that is, the pans or covers are assembled in succession. And as they are assembled they are pulled tightly toward the unassembled side to firmly interlock the flanges thereof into snug and tight engagement.

Although'only one runner 13 is shown, it will be apparent that additional runners may be employed having similar tabs 14 for engaging the flanged or bent portions of the bottom pans, particularlyfor awnings of large areas or span.

The lower end portions of the top. and bottom pans which are bent so as, to. extend vertically downward are also in interlocking relationship. Thus the flanges of the top and bottom pans, are securely interlocked throughout their entire lengths to provide continuous reinforcement and so as to add greatly to the mechanical strength of the awning.

While two forms of interlocked flanges have been described, other shapes of side flanges for the top and bottom pans may be provided, or other interlocking portions may be struck from said flanges, to. provide the necessary interlocking of these flanges and to prevent their relative movement in a generally vertical direction.

While the awning has been described as being made of metal, such as aluminum, it should be noted that the awning or parts thereof, such as the top and bottom pans, may be of plastic material or wood or other suitable material, instead.

While the top and bottom pan and supporting structure is described in connection with an awning, it will be readily apparent that it is also useful in the case of metal umbrellas of the common design, wherein the various pans extend radially outwardly from a center, progressively increasing in width in an outward direction, or it may be applied to. canopies and other similar sun, rain or snow protective or shielding structures.

Thus it will be seen that we have provided an efficient metal awning, or similar structure, wherein the top and botom pans forming the covering surface of the awning are supported and held together without the necessity of screws, bolts, ppo ti g p or other fasteni e n therefore which eliminates the tendency of leakage through the holes otherwise necessary for such fastening means, and which eliminates the points of mechanical weakness provided by such fastening means; furthermore, we have provided a novel flange construction, or design, for top and bottom pans of an awning which may be securely interlocked to provide an amazing increase in rigidity and strength of the awning assembly by virtue of the mutual reinforcement provided by the adjoining flanges throughout their entire length instead of at spaced intervals: furthermore we have provided a metal awning having parts of simple construction which are inexpensive to manufacture, and which may be very easily and quickly assembled, in a manner to provide an amazing increase in strength and great reduction in cost of manufacture as compared to metal awnings of conventional construction.

While we have illustrated and described scvcral cinbodiments of our invention, it will be understood that these are by way of illustration only, and that various nge nd mod fication may be mad within the coumpl io o ou n en ion an within the scope of he following claims.

We claim:

n a n n ompr n a n f r-m d or alterna rlappin op a d bott m, l ns tudinally t ng, sub tantia ly hannel. hapcdpans s op ng n a down rd. dire ti n, and arranged in spaced, Staggered e at ip, the top pan having upper, hor-i on a at W b p ti n nd having ownwardly and inly nding d flange p rtions, th ottom pans ng o r, horizont l, fiat eb p iuns, ply, ina d y b id an portion ex ending substantially horizontally rom he arg n of the web por ions of said bottom P n erminating n upwardly ex ending Portions of S-shaped cross-section, a framework for said awning ncl di g a r n er ely exten in cross-pla ate:- directly supporting the flat web portions of said bottom pans, said cross-piece including integral upwardly struck; tabs n ing ub t n l y ho izontal y. an in en rnent with the upper surfaces of said sharply, inwardly bent side flange portions for securing the bottom pans to Said -pi v th inwardly ext ding portions of sai p pa s n ng into he fo d f sai sharp y, n ardly bent side flange portions to reinforce it and to yieldingly clip the top and bottom pans in interlocking engagement.

2. An awning comprising atop cevering surfaceformed of alternate, overlapping, top and. bottom, longitudinal y. d ng, sub n l y ch nnel shap d n usl n us n downward direction and arranged in spaced, staggered l h p v the op pans av n pper hor zontal, lin web portions and having downwardly extending flanges of S-shaped cross section, the bottom pans having lower, horizontal web portions and sharply, inwardly bent side flange portions extending from the, margins oitho web portions of said b ttom pans and terminating in upwardly extending portions, also of =shaped cross section, such as to snugly engage the side flanges of the bottom pans, throughout their entire height and thereby form a continuous, double layered side flange construction, the-top and bottom pans being of identical cross-section so as to be interchangeable, a framework for supporting saidbottom pans, said framework including fastening means extending o the p urfa thereof for secur ly engaging said sharply inwardly extending side flanges of the bottom pans, whereby said top and bottom pans arc yieldingly clipped in interlocking, and strongly reinforcing engagement throughout the entirety of the surfaces of the side flanges of the top and bottom pans.

' co er ng urface References Cited in the file of this patent U TE STATES P TENTS 2,095,434 Calkins-et al. Oct. 12', 1937' 2,428,361 Doe 0ot.'7, 1941' 2,611,935 Kramer et al. s Sept1'30, 1952 2,619,691 Bottom Deal, 1952 2,639,477 Freeman May 26,- 1953

Images