The Scott-fetzer Company

Donald S McKee

Richard B Rader

Antony W Quinn

Albert E Upton

Anthony W Quinn

Latching bracket for the lower end of a support arm of a retractable

A roll control mechanism of a retractable awning assembly includes spring clutches to operatively control the rotation of the roll bar in each of the two opposite rotational directions. Selective locking to prevent unrolling or extension of the canopy in one situation or to prevent the rolling or winding up of the canopy in another situation is achieved. A selector device for controlling the operation of the spring clutches is located on the support arm intermediate the top end connected to the roll bar and the bottom end adapted for contacting a support surface. Control of the roll control mechanism during set-up of the awning assembly is conveniently achieved. A support locking mechanism is also included within the selector device for fixing the length of two telescope support members of the support arm. Fixing the operative length occurs simultaneously as the roll control mechanism is controlled. An improved latching mechanism for connecting the bottom end of the support arm to a vertical support surface is manually actuated to selectively release the pivotable connection of the bottom end of the support arm, includes a shelf-like extension for guiding the support arm guiding end into a latching relationship, and includes a receptacle for receiving an outer end of the brace member to prevent a catch piece of the latching mechanism from disconnecting the bottom end of the support arm. The power wind-up spring of the awning assembly is formed from a sheet of spring material coiled radially within the roll bar.

Retractable awning with improved set-up capability

A spring latch mechanism for releasably retaining longitudinally slidable members in preselected relationships includes an elongated strip of semi-rigid resilient material having a pair of longitudinally spaced protuberances extending away from opposite faces of the strip. The strip is of flat V-shaped longitudinal cross-section and has a pivot location so that the protuberances are resiliently urged into openings in the slidable members to lock the members into preselected relationships. At least one of the protuberances can be depressed in a manner such that the other protuberance is moved out of the opening in which it was received to allow the members to slide longitudinally into another desired relationship. The strip is adapted to be disposed in a space between the longitudinally slidable members in a concealed location.

Spring latch mechanism

Bracket design for retractable awnings

Bracket for retractable awnings

Double channel roll bar for retractable awnings

Single channel roll bar for retractable awnings

Combined air foil and retractable awning

Roll bar for retractable awnings

A roll bar adapted for attachment along one edge of an awning sheet so that the awning sheet can be retracted around the roll bar or extended away from the roll bar includes a generally cylindrical tubular element having longitudinally extending indentations therein with a generally circular groove in the indentation which is partially defined by a pair of upstanding lips having a space therebetween into which the awning sheet can be inserted. The edge of the awning sheet inserted into the groove has a sleeve formed therein which receives an elongated rod which is larger in diameter than the spacing between the lips so that the rod cooperates with the lips in retaining the edge of the awning sheet in the roll bar. The lips are designed such that the ends thereof can be flared outwardly to facilitate insertion of the awning sheet into the groove without snagging and possibly damaging the awning sheet material. The roll bar further includes a plurality of screw-receiving openings in opposite ends thereof to facilitate attachment of an end cap thereto. The end cap has a plurality of spaced dogs around its perimeter and the angular relationship of the dogs to the roll bar is adjustable by variable utilization of the screw-receiving openings in the end of the roll bar with screw-type fasteners extending through the end cap and into the roll bar.

Roll bar device for retractable awnings

A retractable awning adapted to be mounted on a supporting surface and being movable between an extended position away from the supporting surface and a retracted position adjacent to the supporting surface includes a roll bar about which an awning sheet is selectively windable with the roll bar being rotatably disposed within an elongated tubular case. The case has an elongated bead projecting away therefrom adapted to be releasably retained in a mating groove provided in a mounting rail which is securable to the supporting surface. The case carrying the roll bar for the awning is, therefore, connected to the supporting surface by a tongue-in-groove connection. An auxiliary case is suspended from the main case and is adapted to releasably retain brace members which serve to retain the outer edge of the awning sheet in a position extended away from the supporting surface when the awning is in use.

Retractable awning

A bracket mountable on a supporting surface for retaining a pair of awning support members in a retracted juxtapositional storage position has a pair of side plate members retained in spaced parallel vertically oriented relationship by a cross-web member defining uniform channels on opposite sides thereof. The side plate members pivotally support the lower end of one of the support members and defines a space rearwardly of the one support member into which the lower end of the other support member can be inserted to retain the support members in juxtapositional relationship adjacent to the supporting surface.

Bracket for use in a retractable awning

A bracket system for mounting the box or housing of retractable roll-up awnings on curved or straight sides of recreational vehicles. The bracket system includes a generally L-shaped mounting bracket for supporting the awning housing, bracket clamps for securing the housing to the mounting bracket, and an adaptor bracket for supporting the mounting bracket on a variety of curved sloping surfaces such as exterior walls of recreational vehicles. The bracket clamp engages with the mounting bracket by means of a dovetail mortise and tenon joint while the awning housing is secured to the mounting bracket and bracket clamp by tongue and groove engagement. The mounting bracket is supported on the adaptor bracket by a keyhole mortise and tenon joint in cooperation with a tongue and groove joint. The adaptor bracket is designed to provide a plurality of mounting positions in order to accomodate the mounting bracket to a wide variety of curved walls or surfaces on recreational vehicles.

Growing community of inventors

Louisville, CO, United States of America

Donald S McKee