The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 03, 2002
Filed:
Jul. 20, 2000
Michael Mashaw, Anthony, NM (US);
Michael Hicks, El Paso, TX (US);
Alejandro Carrillo, Dearborn, MI (US);
Kody Sparks, Las Cruces, NM (US);
Dometic Corporation, Elkhart, IN (US);
Abstract
An awning assembly adapted to automatically lower an edge of a canopy under a predetermined weight collected on the canopy to remove some of the collected weight from the canopy and thereafter return the canopy to its original position. The awning assembly includes an arm assemblies comprising a vertically extending base arm secured at 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 awning arm, and a top arm having a first end pivotally connected to the extended arm. Another arrangement for the arm assemblies includes a rafter arm having an inner end pivotally connected to the wall and an outer end pivotally connected to the a support arm, the support arm has an outer end connected to and supporting the awning arm and an inner end removably connected to the wall. The above arms can automatically change effective lengths under loaded conditions by utilizing an elastic assembly. Each arm assembly can also include a strut with an inner end connected to the wall and an outer end connected to the top arm or the rafter arm to work in concert with said elastic assembly. Alternatively, the awning configuration can include a support arm, canopy rod or canopy made of a resilient flexible material which deflects when the predetermined load has collected on the canopy.