Awning extension and retraction mechanism

Abstract

An awning includes a roller assembly having a torsion spring, a canopy connected between a wall the roller assembly, and a pair of 'four-bar' arm assemblies supporting opposite ends of the roller assembly. The arm assemblies move the roller assembly between a retracted position and an extended position, where the torsion spring biases the roller assembly toward the retracted position. Each arm assembly includes a vertically extending base arm secured to the wall, a bottom arm having a first end pivotally connected to the base arm, an extended arm having a first end pivotally connected to the bottom arm and a second end supporting the roller assembly, and a top arm having a first end pivotally connected to the base arm and a second end pivotally connected to the extended arm. The base arm has a telescoping extension so that the effective length of the base arm is variable. Each arm assembly also includes a force producing member extending between the base arm and the bottom or top arm to move the arm assembly toward the extended position. In a preferred powered automatic awning, the force producing member is an electric linear actuator extending between the base arm and the bottom arm. A counter-balance spring biases the arm assembly toward the extended position to counter-balance the torsion spring. In a preferred spring-assisted manual awning, a tension coil spring extends between the base arm and the bottom arm to counter-balance the torsion spring, or a compression spring suitably mounted to create tension between the base arm and the bottom arm. In another preferred spring-assisted manual awning, a compression gas spring extends between the base arm and the top arm to counter-balance the torsion spring.