ZA200805607B

ZA200805607B - An awning

Info

Publication number: ZA200805607B
Application number: ZA200805607A
Authority: ZA
Inventors: Moores Geoffrey John; Whelan Anthony Neil
Original assignee: Moores Geoffrey John
Priority date: 2007-05-24
Filing date: 2008-06-26
Publication date: 2009-10-28

Description

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THIS INVENTION relates to an awning.

The invention relates particularly to a support assembly for supporting a flexible awning sheet with respect to a support body and to an awning structure incorporating such a support assembly.

According to the invention there is provided a support assembly for supporting a flexible awning sheet with respect to a support body, which includes at least one first assembly part that is securable to a support body; and at least one second assembly part that defines an awning engagement formation for releasably engaging at least a part of a longitudinal edge segment of a flexible awning sheet, and in which the first assembly part and the second assembly part define complementary engagement formations that provide for releasable engagement with one another with the first assembly part secured to a support body and with the second assembly part engaging an edge segment of a flexible awning sheet.

The awning engagement formation defined by the second assembly part may comprise an elongate profiled siot-like formation that is configured to slidably receive a complementary, profiled edge segment of a flexible awning sheet, for releasably engaging the awning sheet. The complementary profiled edge segment of a flexible awning sheet may be defined by a seam with bolt tape, or the like, sewn therein.

The second assembly part of the support assembly of the invention may comprise an elongate body that defines the elongate profiled slot-like formation along the length thereof. The length of the second assembly part may equal substantially the length of the edge segment of a flexible awning sheet to be engaged thereby.

The support assembly of the invention may include a plurality of first assembly parts that can releasably engage the second assembly part at spaced locations along the length thereof via complementary engagement formations.

The support assembly of the invention also may include a plurality of second assembly parts, the second assembly parts, in use of the support assembly, being aligned with one another with each part engaging a part of a longitudinal edge segment of a flexible awning sheet. As such, the support assembly may include connector formations for connecting the second assembly parts in a configuration in which they are aligned with one another. Still further, for a support assembly which includes a plurality of second assembly parts, the assembly may include a first assembly part for each second assembly part, with each pair of parts being releasably engageable with one another via complementary engagement formations.

The or each first assembly part of the support assembly of the invention may be securable to a support body by one of at least one securing screw, double sided adhesive tape, and a suction disc structure. For a first assembly part securable to a support body by a suction disc structure, the first assembly part may be integrated with a suction disc structure whereby it can be releasably secured to a support structure.

Such a suction disc structure may include a suction disc located on a suction disc housing, the first assembly part including a disc formation fixedly secured to the disc housing. Alternatively, the first assembly part may be removably secured on the suction disc structure. In the latter case the first assembly part may again include a disc formation, in this case being removably secured to the suction disc housing.

It will be understood from the above that a support assembly for supporting a flexible awning sheet with respect to a support body may include both a plurality of second assembly parts and a plurality of first assembly parts which, when engaged with one another, have the second assembly parts disposed in an aligned configuration in which they can engage an end segment of an awning sheet.

Further according to the invention, the complementary engagement formations that provide for releasable engagement of first and second assembly parts may comprise elongate male and female formations defined by the respective parts that permit slidable engagement with one another. The elongate male and female formations particularly include pairs of orthogonally disposed formations defined by the respective parts that permit engagement of the parts in two relative orientations that are 902 offset with respect to one another about an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the elongate male and female formations.

The support assembly as above envisaged may cooperate with one or more awning support pole and/or a combination of guide ropes and pegs that will facilitate holding of a flexible awning sheet in an awning configuration with one edge of the awning sheet supported with respect to a support body by the assembly parts of the support assembly. The awning support poles and/or guide ropes and pegs will thus serve to hold the free edge of an awning sheet in its required awning configuration.

The invention accordingly extends also to an awning structure which includes a support assembly, in accordance with the invention; and a flexible awning sheet configured to be held in an awning configuration with respect to a support body by means of the support assembly.

The awning structure may include also a combination of support poles, guide ropes and pegs that can cooperate with the support assembly for supporting the flexible awning sheet in an awning configuration with respect to a support body.

It will be understood that awning structures as envisaged can be provided for various different applications. For one particular application, the awning structure is adapted for support of a flexible awning sheet of the structure with respect to a vehicle or trailer, particularly with the aid of suction discs that form a part of the support assembly thereof.

Particularly, each first assembly part thereof can engage the roof and/or side walls of a vehicle in a configuration in which the flexible awning sheet of the structure can be supported in an awning configuration. :

Further features of a support assembly for supporting a flexible awning sheet with respect to a support body, in accordance with the invention, are described hereafter, by way of examples and in conjunction also with a complete awning structure including a support assembly, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings. In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows a three-dimensional view of a first assembly part of a first embodiment support assembly for supporting a flexible awning sheet with respect to a support body, in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 shows a three-dimensional view of an end segment of a second assembly part of the first embodiment support assembly for supporting a flexible awning * sheet with respect to a support body, in accordance with the invention;

Figure 3 illustrates in end view an engaged configuration of the assembly parts as shown in Figures 1 and 2, with the first assembly part secured to a horizontal surface;

Figure 4 illustrates in end view an engaged configuration of the assembly parts as shown in Figures 1 and 2, with the first assembly part secured to a vertical surface;

Figure 5 shows a three-dimensional view of one part of a first assembly part of a second embodiment support assembly for supporting a flexible awning sheet with respect to a support body, in accordance with the invention;

Figure 6 shows a three-dimensional view of a second part of the first assembly part as shown in Figure 1;

Figure 7 shows a three-dimensional view of an end segment of a second assembly part of the second embodiment support assembly for supporting a flexible awning sheet with respect to a support body, in accordance with the invention;

Figure 8 illustrates the use of a connector formation for connecting two second assembly parts as shown in Figure 7;

Figure 9 illustrates in three dimensions the mode of assembly of the first assembly part of Figure 5 and the second assembly part of Figure 7;

Figure 10 shows a three-dimensional view of a support body that can be used in conjunction with a suction disc structure as shown in Figure 5 and as part of the second embodiment support assembly for supporting a flexible awning sheet with respect to a support body, in accordance with the invention; and

Figure 11 illustrates in three dimensions an embodiment of an awning structure, in accordance with the invention, incorporating parts of the second embodiment support assembly for supporting a flexible awning sheet with respect to a support body, in accordance with the invention.

Referring initially to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, the figures show respectively a first assembly part 10 and a second assembly part 12 that form parts of a first embodiment support assembly for supporting a flexible awning sheet with respect to a support body, in accordance with the invention.

The first assembly part 10 comprises an elongate body 13 defined by a first wall section 14 and a second wall section 16 that are perpendicularly disposed with respect to one another, as shown. Each wall section, 14 and 16, includes a male-type engagement formation 18 that projects from the operative inner surface thereof along the length thereof, the formations 18 being identical to one another and being equally spaced from the internal corner line 20 defined between the wall sections, 14 and 16.

The second assembly part 12 comprises an elongate body 22 that defines along the length thereof female-type engagement formations 24 that are complementary to the formations 18 and that permit the assembly part 12 to slidably engage the assembly part 10 in two different orientations, which are disposed at 90° to one another and which are illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings.

The body 22 forming the second assembly part 12 defines a further engagement formation 26 along the length thereof, the formation 26 being a profiled slot-like formation that is approximately circular in cross section, with an opening 28 defining a passage that leads into the formation 26.

Both the first assembly part 10 and the second assembly part 12 are formed by an extrusion process, being cut-off segments from elongate extrusions defining the cross- sectional profiles illustrated. Both the parts are formed of a synthetic plastics material, or any other suitable material, e.g. aluminium.

Referring now to Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings, Figure 3 illustrates the first assembly part 10 in a configuration in which it is secured to a horizontal support surface 30, particularly via the outer face 32 thereof as is defined by the wall portion 16. Figure 4 illustrates the first assembly part 10 in a configuration in which it is secured to a vertical support surface 34, again via the outer face 32 of the wall portion 16. It will thus be understood that the first assembly part 10, in its two configurations as shown in Figures 3 and 4, is effectively rotated through 90°. For both these configurations of the first assembly part 10, the second assembly part 12 is engageable therewith in the configuration illustrated, the engaged configuration of the second assembly part 12 in both cases permitting engagement with an edge segment of a flexible awning sheet 36 (as shown). The edge segment of the awning sheet 36 particularly is defined by a seam 38 that has bolt tape 40 sewn therein, thus defining an edge formation that permits sliding engagement with the engagement formation 26.

In practice, the total length of the second assembly part 12 will coincide effectively with the length of the edge of the flexible awning sheet to be engaged thereby, it being envisaged also that this length of the assembly part 12 can be made up of two separate assembly parts 12 that are axially aligned with one another. Where two such parts 12 are axially aligned with one another, the parts are effectively connected with one another via engagement with a first assembly part 10, as is clearly apparent.

By engaging a plurality of spaced-apart first assembly parts 10 along the length of the second assembly part 12 and by securing the assembly parts 10 to a support surface, provision clearly is made for a flexible awning sheet to be anchored along one edge region thereof and hence to be supported in an awning configuration through support of the free end region thereof in any suitable manner, as is referred to in more detail hereafter.

For general applications, the first assembly parts 10 can be secured to a support surface by any suitable securing means such as securing screws, double sided adhesive tape, or the like, the configuration of the assembly parts being such that the angular orientation of a defined support surface need not be a consideration (see

Figures 3 and 4). As is also apparent from the above, the longitudinal axes of the first and second assembly parts, when engaged, are disposed parallel to one another, these axes also being parallel with the edge of an awning sheet when engaged with the or each second assembly part of the support assembly. By suitably holding an awning sheet taut while engaged with the or each second assembly part, it clearly can form an awning structure as herein envisaged. This will become apparent also from the description of Figure 11 that follows.

Referring now to Figures 5 to 9 of the drawings, the parts of a second embodiment support assembly for supporting a flexible awning sheet with respect to a support body, in accordance with the invention, are shown. These parts include a first assembly part 50 (see Figure 9) which is formed of a suction disc structure 52 and a body 54, the body 54 being securable on the suction disc structure 52 with the aid of any suitable securing means, e.g. screws, or the like, to form the complete first assembly part 50 as shown in

Figure 9. The suction disc structure is a known structure which can attach itself to a support body via the operation of a lever 56, the configuration and operation of this structure being conventional and thus not being described further herein.

The body 54 effectively incorporates as part thereof the elongate body 13 of the first assembly part 10 as shown in Figure 1 of the drawings, the body 54 thus again defining wall sections that include male-type engagement formations, designated here by the reference numeral 58. The configuration of and the relationship between these formations 58 are the same as the configuration of and the relationship between the formations 18 forming part of the first assembly part 10 as shown in Figure 1. Insofar as this is clearly apparent from Figure 6, this is not again described herein.

The second embodiment support assembly includes also a second assembly part 60, the assembly part 60 being essentially the equivalent of the second assembly part 12 as shown in Figure 2, except that this part is now a hollow extrusion. As such, the second assembly part 60 again comprises an elongate body 62 that defines along the length thereof female-type engagement formations, designated here by the reference numeral 64, the female-type engagement formations 64 being complementary to the formations 58 for permitting the second assembly part 60 to slidably engage the first assembly part 50 and, particularly, the body 54 thereof, as is clearly illustrated in Figure 9 of the drawings. This slideable engagement is again permitted in two different orientations of the second assembly part 60 with respect to the first assembly part 50, which also is clearly apparent.

The body 62 forming the second assembly part 60 also defines a further engagement formation 66 along the length thereof, the formation 66 being approximately circular in cross section with an opening 68 defining a passage leading into the formation 66. This again permits engagement with an awning sheet (not shown), particularly the edge segment of an awning sheet which is defined by a seam that has bolt tape sewn therein.

It will be understood that the first assembly part 50 can be attached to both a horizontal support surface and to a vertical support surface and that by engaging the second assembly part 60 thereto in its two different orientations, the assembly of the two parts will define the equivalent of the assembly of the parts 10 and 12 as shown in Figures 3 and 4, respectively, of the drawings.

Insofar as it is envisaged that the total length of the second assembly part 60 will coincide with the length of the edge of a flexible awning sheet to be engaged thereby, this length of the assembly part 60 can again be made up of two separate parts that are the equivalent of the part 60 and that are connected together by a connector formation 70, i.e. a formation as shown in Figure 8 of the drawings. This connection is achieved by securing one half of the connector formation 70 within the hollow space 72 defined within one part 60, the other half of the connector formation thus projecting from the end of this part 60 so that the second part can slidably fit thereon for the connection of the two parts. The length of the connector formation 70 is such that suitable required rigidity of the complete second assembly part, formed of the two connected parts, is provided for.

It is envisaged that many different configuration awning structures can be provided which incorporate the use of the assembly parts 50 and 60. One particular awning structure envisaged is adapted for use on vehicles and trailers, typically combi-type vehicles, the configuration of such an awning structure being illustrated in Figure 11 of the drawings and being designated generally by the reference numeral 80. The awning structure 80 includes two first assembly parts 50 that are operatively attached to the roof of a vehicle and that carry an elongate second assembly part 60, typically by the . inter-engagement of the complementary engagement formations defined respectively by the first and second assembly parts. The first and second assembly parts are secured to the roof of the vehicle by means of the suction disc structures 52 that form a part of the first assembly parts 50. A flexible awning sheet 82 has one edge region thereof engaged with the second assembly part 60, the opposite edge of the sheet 82 being held in its operative configuration as shown via support poles 84 that are releasably secured to the side walls of the vehicle via suction disc structures 52 and bodies 86 that are secured on the suction disc structures 52 in an equivalent manner to that in which the bodies 54 are secured to suction disc structures 52 to form the first assembly parts 50. The configuration of the bodies 86 is illustrated clearly in Figure 10 of the drawings.

The bodies 86 particularly provide for anchoring of one end of the support poles 84.

Guide ropes 88 and pegs can serve in addition to ensure the stable support of the end of the sheet 82 as illustrated, it being envisaged that this end of the sheet 82 also can be held in its operative configuration by support poles 90 (only shown in dotted lines) that are supported directly on the ground adjacent a vehicle and anchored in position via guide ropes 88. The support poles 90 clearly can be used instead of or in addition to the support poles 84, it being envisaged also that the support of the free end of the awning sheet 82 can be achieved in many different known configurations. As such, this does not form part of the present invention.

The equivalent of the awning structure 80 can be provided also with the use of first assembly parts 10 and second assembly parts 12 by attaching the first assembly parts to a vehicle by any suitable securing means.

For the remainder such an awning structure can be the equivalent of the structure as shown in Figure 11 of the drawings.

Claims

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1. A support assembly for supporting a flexible awning sheet with respect to a support body, which includes at least one first assembly part that is securable to a support body; and at least one second assembly part that defines an awning engagement formation for releasably engaging at least part of a longitudinal edge segment of a flexible awning sheet, and in which the first assembly part and the second assembly part define complementary engagement formations that provide for releasable engagement with one another with the first assembly part secured to a support body and with the second assembly part engaging an edge segment of a flexible awning sheet.

2. A support assembly as claimed in Claim 1, in which the awning engagement formation defined by the second assembly part comprises an elongate profiled slot-like formation that is configured to slidably receive a complementary, profiled edge segment of a flexible awning sheet, for releasably engaging the awning sheet.

3. A support assembly as claimed in Claim 2, in which the second assembly part comprises an elongate body that defines the elongate profiled slot-like formation along the length thereof.

4, A support assembly as claimed in Claim 3, in which the length of the second assembly part equals substantially the length of the edge segment of a flexible awning sheet to be engaged thereby.

5. A support assembly as claimed in Claim 4, which includes a plurality of first assembly parts that can releasably engage the second assembly part at spaced locations along the length thereof via complementary engagement formations.

6. A support assembly as claimed in Claim 3, which includes a plurality of second assembly parts, the second assembly parts, in use of the support assembly, being aligned with one another with each part engaging a part of a longitudinal edge segment of a flexible awning sheet.

7. A support assembly as claimed in Claim 6, which includes connector formations for connecting the second assembly parts in a configuration in which they are aligned with one another.

8. A support assembly as claimed in Claim 6 or Claim 7, which includes a first assembly part for each second assembly part, with each pair of parts being releasably engageable with one another via complementary engagement formations.

9. A support assembly as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 4, 6 and 7, in which the first assembly part is securable to a support body by one of at least one securing screw, double sided adhesive tape, and a suction disc structure.

10. A support assembly as claimed in Claim 9, in which the first assembly part is integrated with a suction disc structure whereby it can be releasably secured to a support structure.

11. A support assembly as claimed in Claim 10, in which the suction disc structure includes a suction disc located on a suction disc housing and in which the first assembly part includes a disc formation fixedly secured to the disc housing.

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12. A support assembly as claimed Claim 9, which includes a suction disc structure ~ and in which the first assembly part is removably secured on the suction disc structure whereby the first assembly part can be releasably secured to a support structure.

13. A support assembly as claimed in Claim 12, in which the suction disc structure includes a suction disc and a suction disc housing and in which the first assembly part includes a disc formation removably secured to the suction disc housing.

14. A support assembly as claimed in Claim 5 or Claim 8, in which each first assembly part is securable to a support body by one of at least one securing screw, double sided adhesive tape, and a suction disc structure.

15. A support assembly as claimed in Claim 14, in which each first assembly part is integrated with a suction disc structure whereby it can be releasably secured to a support structure.

16. A support assembly as claimed in Claim 15, in which the suction disc structure includes a suction disc located on a suction disc housing and in which its first assembly part includes a disc formation fixedly secured to the suction disc housing.

17. A support assembly as claimed in Claim 14, which includes a suction disc structure for each first assembly part and in which the first assembly part is removably secured to its suction disc structure whereby the first assembly part can be releasably secured to a support structure.

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18. A support assembly as claimed in Claim 17, in which each suction disc structure includes a suction disc located on a suction disc housing and its first assembly part includes a disc formation removably secured to the suction disc housing.

19. A support assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the complementary engagement formations that provide for releasable engagement of first and second assembly parts comprise elongate male and female formations defined by the respective parts that permit slidable engagement with one another.

20. A support assembly as claimed in Claim 19, in which the elongate male and female formations include pairs of orthogonally disposed formations defined by the respective parts that permit engagement of the parts in two relative orientations that are 90° offset with respect to one another about an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the elongate male and female formations.

21. An awning structure which includes : a support assembly as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 20; and a flexible awning sheet configured to be held in an awning configuration with respect to a support body by means of the support assembly.

22. An awning structure as claimed in Claim 21, which includes a combination of support poles, guide ropes and pegs that can cooperate with the support assembly for supporting the flexible awning sheet in an awning configuration with respect to a support body.

23. An awning structure as claimed in Claim 21 or Claim 22, which is adapted particularly for use with one of a vehicle and a trailer that can serve as a support body with respect to which the awning sheet can be supported in an awning configuration.

24. A support assembly for supporting a flexible awning sheet with respect to a support body as claimed in Claim 1, substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

25. An awning structure as claimed in Claim 21, substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. DATED THIS 25™ DAY OF JUNE 2008 ADAMS & ADAMS APPLICANTS PATENT ATTORNEYS