US20090056883A1

US20090056883A1 - Wind resistant awning

Info

Publication number: US20090056883A1
Application number: US11/952,529
Authority: US
Inventors: Jeffrey A. Vogt
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-08-31
Filing date: 2007-12-07
Publication date: 2009-03-05
Also published as: WO2009029872A3; WO2009029872A2

Abstract

A wind-resistant awning is disclosed. The awning includes a backing which allows wind to flow through it, such as a mesh netting or screen backing. A plurality of flaps are attached at one edge only to the backing. The flaps are preferably horizontally aligned in parallel and overlap one another. The flaps are closed when the wind level is low. In the event a potentially harmful gust of wind presents itself, a free end of the flaps opens such that the force of the wind goes through the backing and does not damage the awning. The flaps are preferably weather resistant. Optionally, the flaps may have weak attachment means such as hook and loop fasteners to keep the flaps attached to the backing under normal conditions. The awning can be used in multiple settings and may be retractable. In various embodiments, the awning includes windows of mesh material having window flaps which lift away from the windows to allow wind flow therethrough.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 11/849,040, filed Aug. 31, 2007, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to awnings, and more specifically to an awning which is wind resistant.
2. Description of the Related Art
Awnings have been in use for many years. They have been used particularly on the sides of campers, tents, houses, mobile homes, store fronts, and other places. They are used for shade and shelter against the elements. Conventional awnings are generally made of a single layer of material and single piece of material.
Unfortunately, there are problems with awnings when the wind level rises beyond a safe point. These solid awnings, after reaching the limits of their ability to withstand wind, can rip or be blown off of their supports. Repairing such awnings can be difficult or aesthetically unpleasing. Replacing awnings, particularly large ones, can be rather expensive.
Awnings for various purposes have been disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,847,171, 3,779,302, 3,720,438, 6,123,136, 5,806,906, and 4,754,774. However, none of these references address wind resistance in a suitable manner. The problem of wind gusts damaging awnings heretofore has persisted without any suitable solution.

SUMMARY

In view of the deficiencies described above, it is an object of the present invention to provide an awning which is resistant to damage from wind.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an awning which functions to protect against the elements under normal conditions, yet is operable to allow wind penetrations once wind levels exceed a certain degree.
In view of these objects and others, the present invention is a wind-resistant awning. The awning is resistant against damage from high winds. The awning is formed of two layers. The underlying layer is a backing which is permeable to wind. Such a backing may be composed of a mesh, netting, or screen, or other suitable material.
A second layer is composed of multiple flaps. The flaps are attached at one edge and free at the other. Preferably, they are aligned horizontally and may overlap one another. In this arrangement, under normal conditions the flaps remain in a relaxed position flush against the backing. Under a high wind condition, the flaps are free to expose the backing by lifting up at their free edges. This enables the wind to pass through the backing and thus leaves the awning undamaged. In an alternate embodiment, the awning may comprise only the multiple flaps without the mesh layer, in which case the flaps are attached at their top edge to the side supports of the apparatus.
The flaps optionally have attachment means to weakly keep the free ends of the flaps in contact with the backing under normal conditions. This also helps keep the flaps neatly in place in the event the awning is rolled up or retracted. Various support means can be employed in the present invention. For example, support arms can extend on either side of the awning. A support rod may support the backing in a central area for additional support.
The awning can be employed in various applications. Usage for such an awning is suitable in situations such as campers, tents, store fronts, houses, mobile homes, etc. Furthermore the materials employed are ideally weather resistant.
In other embodiments, the awning includes a main layer which is substantially non-permeable to wind flow, and one or more windows. The windows include a backing layer which is permeable, such as mesh, netting, screening, or other suitable material. Overlying the backing is a window flap, ideally attached at the rear edge of the window. Thus, the flap can be displaced from the backing when a certain threshold of wind flow is reached.
In such embodiments, the flaps can be attached via guide straps at the open corners to limit the amount of displacement, and to aid in guiding the flap into place when closing. At the same corners, the window flaps may be held in place via hook and loop fasteners. Such windows can be arranged in various configurations. It may be most ideal to provide the greatest window space toward the rear of the awning. In some embodiments, two windows may be disposed near the rear, and a single window near the front positioned between the two windows vertically.
Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the following figures, wherein like reference numerals represent like features.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

While this invention is susceptible of embodiments in many different forms, there are shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail, preferred embodiments of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to the embodiments illustrated.
The present invention is an awning 10 which is wind-resistant, meaning it is equipped to handle gusts of wind while being resistant to damage. The awning 10 includes a first underlying layer 20 which is a backing. The backing is formed such that a significant amount of air can pass freely through it.
In various preferred embodiments, the backing is composed of a netting, mesh, or screen, or any material having passageways for air therein. Disposed upon the backing are a plurality of flaps 30. The flaps 30 are composed of a substantially continuous material.
Ideally, the flaps 30 are composed of a material which is resistant to the elements, such as water, wind, and sun. They may be composed of canvas, nylon, or other suitable material. In various alternate embodiments, the mesh layer 20 is eliminated, in which case the flaps 30 are attached only to side supports 40 at their top edges.
The flaps 30 are attached at one edge to the awning 10, and are free of the backing at an opposite edge. Thus, the flaps 30 are free to rise away from the backing 20 at their free edge under the condition of a high wind, thus allowing air to flow through the backing 20 and preventing damage to the awning 10.
In various preferred embodiments, the flaps 30 are arranged in parallel to one another. Ideally, they form a continuous wind shield when in the relaxed position. For example, the free ends of each flap 30 may slightly overlap the adjacent flaps 30.
Additionally, in various embodiments, the free ends of the flaps 30 may be weakly attached to the backing 20. Various forms of attachment are contemplated within the scope of the invention. Such means may include, but are not limited to, hook and loop type fasteners 50. Thus, the free end of the flaps 30 may be weakly held to the backing 20 such that gentle breezes do not lift the flaps 30, but greater degrees of wind will cause the free end of the flap 30 to lift. In this fashion, the flaps 30 may be held in place if the awning 10 is to be rolled up or retracted.
Furthermore, the awning 10 may optionally include support arms 40 which are disposed along the sides of the awning 10. In various embodiments, a central support rod may support the awning 10 in a central area.
The awning 10 of the present invention can be utilized in various different applications. For example, it would be suitable for use at the side of a camper, house, store front, motor home, tent, umbrella, or any other situation requiring an awning 10.
In various other embodiments, the awning 10 of the present invention includes a substantially continuous awning layer 100 adapted to extend from a rear end of the awning 10 to a front end of the awning 10 between right and left sides of the awning 10. At least one awning window 110 is disposed within the awning layer 100. The window 110 includes an air-permeable backing layer 120, such as a mesh, netting, screen, or other suitable material, extending substantially throughout the window 110. A window flap 130 is positioned above the backing layer 120 and adapted to lift away from the backing layer 120 to allow air flow through the window 110.
The window flaps 130 are ideally, though not necessarily, attached at the rear edge of the window 110. Guide straps 140 are optionally attached to the open corners of the window flap 130 and to the corresponding corners of the window 110, thus limiting the displacement of the window flap 130 during wind flow, as well as achieving better line-up when the flap 130 closes. Optionally, hook and loop fasteners, or other suitable fasteners, are included at the open corners to keep the flap 130 from opening before a certain threshold of wind flow is present.
A plurality of such windows 110 are optionally used. In certain embodiments, the window space may be concentrated toward the rear of the awning 10 to achieve best results in handling wind flow. In certain embodiments, three such windows 110 may be positioned within the awning 10. Two of the windows 110 may be positioned in a rear area, separated horizontally. The third window 110 is ideally positioned in the front region of the awning, yet in between the first two windows 110 in its vertical alignment such that the windows are separated in the event the awning 10 is rolled up.
While specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, numerous modifications come to mind without significantly departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of protection is limited by the scope of the accompanying claims.

Claims

1. A wind-resistant awning comprising:

a backing through which a significant amount of air can pass freely,

a plurality of wind resistant flaps disposed upon said backing wherein said flaps are attached to said backing at a first edge and free of said backing at a second edge.

2. The wind-resistant awning according to claim 1, wherein said backing comprises a mesh material.

3. The wind-resistant awning according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of wind-resistant flaps are arranged on said backing in parallel to one another.

4. The wind-resistant awning according to claim 3, wherein said plurality of flaps lay substantially flat against said backing in a first relaxed position, and wherein said plurality of flaps become raised away from said backing at said free edge exposing said backing in a second position during exposure to wind.

5. The wind-resistant awning according to claim 4, wherein, in said first relaxed position, said plurality of flaps substantially cover said backing.

6. The wind-resistant awning according to claim 5, wherein the free edge of each of said plurality of flaps overlaps the first edge of an adjacent one of said plurality of flaps.

7. The wind-resistant awning according to claim 6, wherein said free end of said plurality of flaps is weakly attachable to an adjacent one of said plurality of flaps via attachment means wherein said attachment means fails under the condition that a potentially harmful wind is present and allows said free end of said plurality of flaps to open into said second position, and wherein said attachment means enables said flaps to remain in said relaxed position for said awning to be retracted.

8. The wind-resistant awning according to claim 7, wherein said attachment means comprises hook and loop fasteners.

9. The wind-resistant awning according to claim 1, wherein said backing comprises a screen.

10. The wind-resistant awning according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of flaps are comprised of water-resistant material.

11. The wind-resistant awning according to claim 10, wherein said water-resistant material is nylon.

12. The wind-resistant awning according to claim 10, wherein said water-resistant material is canvas.

13. The wind-resistant awning according to claim 1, wherein said awning further comprises support arms along sides of said awning.

14. The wind-resistant awning according to claim 13, wherein said awning further comprises a support bar at a central portion of said backing.

15. The wind-resistant awning according to claim 1, wherein said awning is attached to a camper or recreation vehicle.

16. The wind-resistant awning according to claim 1, wherein said awning is attached to a house or motor home.

17. The wind-resistant awning according to claim 1, wherein said awning is attached to a tent.

18. The wind-resistant awning according to claim 1, wherein said awning forms at least a portion of an umbrella.

19. The wind-resistant awning according to claim 1, wherein said awning is retractable.

20. A wind-resistant awning comprising:

at least two supports disposed in spaced relation,

a plurality of wind resistant flaps disposed about said supports wherein said flaps are attached to said supports at a first edge and free of said supports at a second edge.

21. A wind-resistant awning comprising:

a substantially continuous awning layer adapted to extend from a rear end of said awning to a front end of said awning between right and left sides of said awning,

at least one awning window within said awning layer, said window comprising an air-permeable backing layer extending substantially throughout the window, and a window flap positioned above said backing layer adapted to lift away from said backing layer to allow air flow through said window.

22. The wind-resistant awning according to claim 21, wherein said window flap is attached at a rear end of said window, and wherein said flap comprises guide straps attached at open ends wherein said straps limit the displacement of said window.

23. The wind-resistant awning according to claim 22, wherein said flaps are removably attachable to edges of said window via hook and loop fasteners.

24. The wind-resistant awning according to claim 21, wherein said awning further comprises at least one additional awning window within said awning layer, said additional window comprising an air-permeable backing layer extending substantially throughout the window, and a window flap positioned above said backing layer adapted to lift away from said backing layer to allow air flow through said window.

25. The wind-resistant awning according to claim 21, said awning window being a first awning window, said awning further comprising a second window within said awning layer, said second window comprising an air-permeable backing layer extending substantially throughout the window, and a window flap positioned above said backing layer adapted to lift away from said backing layer to allow air flow through said window, and

wherein said awning further comprises a third window within said awning layer, said third window comprising an air-permeable backing layer extending substantially throughout the window, and a window flap positioned above said backing layer adapted to lift away from said backing layer to allow air flow through said window, and

wherein said first and second windows are disposed in a rear region of said awning in spaced horizontal relation, and wherein said third window is positioned in a front region of said awning within a vertically oriented column position which extends between said first and second windows.