US2824607A

US2824607A - Collapsible awning

Info

Publication number: US2824607A
Application number: US559661A
Authority: US
Inventors: Sosower Leon
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1956-01-17
Filing date: 1956-01-17
Publication date: 1958-02-25
Anticipated expiration: 1975-02-25

Description

Feb, 25, 1958 Y L. SOSOWER 2, 5

COLLAPSIBLE AWNING Filed Jan. 17, 1956 IN V EN TOR.

L 60 50 sow/5 United States PatentO COLLAPSIBLE AWNING Leon Sosower, Teaneck, N. 5.

Application January 17, 1956, Serial No. 559,661

4 Claims. (Cl. 160-62) This invention relates generally to screening devices, and has particular reference to a collapsible slatted screen in which a plurality of rectangular rigid slats are arranged with their long axes side by side in parallel relation.

A screen of the general type described is well adapted to serve as an awning, the slats lying substantially within a common oblique plane when the screen is extended, and being adjustable into zig-zag relation when the screen is collapsed. The collapsing or folding of the screen or awning is intended to be accomplished by a draw-cord, or possibly two such cords, secured at one end to the outermost slat and extending rearwardly along a side edge of the awning.

It is a general object of the invention to provide a slatted screen of the character referred to in which the individual slats are constructed and hinged together in an improved manner, whereby substantial economies in manufacture can be effected. More particularly, the improved construction involves slats which are basically of uniform size and nature, and separate hinging elements of unusually simple and inexpensive character, the slats being interengageable in a relatively simple fashion, and at low cost, by means of the hinging elements.

The advantages of the invention are attributable to an arrangement of parts whereby the slats overlap one another in the extended relation, and in which each slat has its longitudinal margins rolled to define tubular bearings at its opposite ends, the hinging elements being U- shaped, each such element having its legs extending into a pair of adjacent bearings. Of primary importance is the circumstance that alternate slats are retained in nonrotative relation to the hinging elements with which they engage.

I achieve the foregoing general objects and advantages, and such other objects and advantages as may hereinafter appear or be pointed out, in the manner illustratively exemplified in the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a slatted screen of the present improved kind, adapted for use as an awning, and shown in extended condition;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary face view of part of the extended screen shown in Figure 1, with parts broken away for the sake of compactness, and other parts broken away to reveal hidden structure;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 showing the screen in partially collapsed condition;

Figure 4a is a similar view showing the slats fully collapsed;

Figure 5 is an exploded view showing the manner of hingedly connecting a pair of adjacent slats; and

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the upper corner of the awning shown in Figure l to illustrate the manner in which a pair of draw-cords may be associated with the device.

In the embodiment chosen for illustration, I have 2,824,607 Patented Feb. 25, 1958 2 shown six

rectangular slats

10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15, these slats being made of metal or equivalent rigid ma terial. In the extended position of the screen, all of the slat edges that face in one direction lie in overlapping relation to the adjacent slat edges that face in the opposite direction. Thus, it will be observed that the lower edge or margin of each slat overlaps the upper edge of the adjacent slat. This is a desirable relationship of parts Where the screen is used as an awning.

Referring now more particularly to Figures 2, 3 and 5,

it will be observed that the lower margin of each slat is rolled downward to define tubular bearings at its opposite ends. For example, the lower margin of the slat 11 is rolled as indicated at 16 to define tubular bearings 17.. Similarly, the lower margin of the slat 1 2 is rolled asindicated at 18 to provide tubular bearings 19 at its opposite ends. In'a similar fashion, each slat has its upper margin rolled upward to define similar tubular bearings at its opposite ends. For example, referring to Figure 5, it will be noted that the upper margin of the slat 12 is rolled upward to define bearings, one of which is shown at 20. Similarly, upon referring to Figure 2, it will be observed that the upper margin of the slat 13 is rolled upward to define a pair of tubular bearings one of which is indicated at 21.

In Figure 5 I have indicated one of the improved U- shaped hinging elements. It has a pair of parallel legs 22 and a looped end 23. It is composed of a short length of metallic rod of substantially circular cross section, bent into the U-shape as shown.

In assembling the slats they are arranged in the overlapping relation, as dcscribed, and a U-shaped hinging element is inserted into each pair of adjacent bearings. In Figure 5, for example, the legs 22 are inserted into the

adjacent bearings

17 and 20, while the looped end 23 of the hinging element is left laterally projecting.

The functioning of the device in the contemplated manner is predicated upon the employment of means for securing each U-shaped hinging element in non-rotative engagement with one but not the other of the pair of bearings into which its legs extend. In the case of the bearings shown in Figure 5. the leg 22 that enters the bearing 17 is rigidly secured within the latter, and for this purpose I preferably employ a securing means in the form of a pin or rivet 24 which extends transversely through the Wall of the bearing 17 and through the engaged leg 22. Upon referring to the left of Figure 2 it will be observed that a similar securing pin 24 is associated with the bearing 17 at that side of the screen device.

Each pair of securing pins (such as the pins 24) is preferably driven into position with the hinging elementsarranged flatwise against the slat to which they are to be secured.

It will be observed that the hinge bearings both along the top and lower margins of the adjacent slat 12 are left freely rotatable with respect to the corresponding legsof the U-shaped hinging elements. In fact, the pins 24 (and the other pins of the structure corresponding to them) constitute a means for securing only one set of alternate slats in non-rotative relation to the hinging elements with which they engage. In the illustrated embodiment, these alternate slats are designated 11, 13 and 15. The hinging elements are thus left in free rotative relation to the intermediate slats which are those designated 10, 12 and 14.

The device may be provided with one or more drawcords. I have shown two such cords in Figure 6. One is designated by the reference numeral 25, and after extending through a suitable grommet 27 in the top fixed bracket 28 of the awning it extends downwardly along the near side edge of the awning as indicated in Fi ure 1.

It passes through alternate loops 23, more particularly, through the loops of the hinging elements between

slats

11 and 12, and

slats

13 and 14. At its outermost end the draw-cord 25 is secured by a suitable knot 29 to the laterally projecting pivot or hinge pin 30 carried along the lower margin or edge of the lowermost slat 15. A strut rod 31 is hinged to the building wall at 32 and also to the lower edge of the slat 15, in well known fashion.

Where a second draw-cord is employed, as indicated at 26 in Figure 6, it may extend transversely across to the remote side edge of the awning, thence downwardly in the same fashion as indicated in connection with the cord 25. The direction of travel of the draw-cord 26 is indicated in Figure 4 by the dot-and-dash line to which the numeral 26 has been applied.

Where the screen is used as an awning, as shown in the drawings, a release of the draw-cord or cords permits the weight of the slats to pull them into the extended relationship shown in Figure 1, and when the awning is to be collapsed or folded a pull upon the draw-cord or cords will initiate a zig-zag adjustment of the slats as indicated in Figure 4, terminating in an arrangement of all the slats as shown in Figure 4a in substantially superposed relation closely adjacent to the upper end of the awning device.

If the screen is used for purposes other than an awning, the same mode of extension and collapse is employed, but it may not be possible to rely upon gravity to adjust the parts into one or the other condition. In such case, manual adjustment, or the employment of appropriate draw-cords, would be resorted to.

The primary advantage of the construction lies in its extreme simplicity and low cost. The slats are relatively simple fiat elements of sheet material, the rolling of their longitudinal edges is a relatively simple mechanical operation, and the interengagement of the slats by means of the U-shaped hinging pins (of themselves inexpensive and extremely simple in structural nature) can be accomplished expeditiously and at low cost.

It will be understood that many of the details herein described and illustrated may obviously be altered by those skilled in the art without necessarily departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention and illustrated its use, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a collapsible awning, a series of rectangular slats arranged side by side with their long axes horizontal, said slats lying substantially within a common oblique plane when the awning is extended and being adjustable into zig-zag relation when the awning is collapsed, the lower edge of each slat overlapping the upper edge of the adjacent slat, each slat having its lower margin rolled downward to define tubular bearings at its opposite ends, each slat having its upper margin rolled upward to define similar tubular bearings at its opposite ends, a plurality of U-shaped hinging elements connecting the slats, each element having its legs extending into a pair of adjacent bearings, and means for securing each U-shaped hinging element in non-rotative engagement with one but not the other of the pair of bearings into which its legs extend.

2. In a collapsible awning, the structure defined in claim 1, said securing means being a pin extending transversely through one of the U-legs and through the wall of the hearing within which it lies.

3. In a collapsible awning, the structure defined in claim 1, the looped ends of said hinging elements projecting from said bearings, the awning being provided with at least one draw-cord secured at one end to the outermost slat and extending upwardly along a side edge of the awning through certain of said looped ends.

4. In a collapsible slatted screen, a series of rectangular slats arranged with their long axes side by side in parallel relation, said slats lying substantially within a common plane when the screen is extended and being adjustable into zig-zag relation when the screen is collapsed, all of the slat edges that face in one direction lying in overlapping relation to the adjacent slat edges that face in the opposite direction, each of said overlapping edges being rolled toward the underlying slat to define tubular bearings at its opposite ends, each of the underlying edges being rolled toward the overlying slat to define similar tubular bearings at its opposite ends, a plurality of U-shaped hinging elements connecting the slats, each element having its legs extending into a pair of adjacent bearings, and means securing alternate slats in non-rotative relation to the hinging elements with which they engage.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,567,239 Capell Dec. 29, 1925 2,057,350 Schuck Oct. 13, 1936 2,540,995 Roeder Feb. 6, 1951