Patent ID: 6276424
Filing Date: 2001-08-21
Classification: E04F,E06B

Abstract:
An automatic awning for mounting to a wall, said automatic awning comprising:a roller assembly including a torsion spring;a flexible canopy having an inner edge for connection to the wall and an outer edge secured to said roller assembly; anda pair of arm assemblies supporting opposite ends of said roller assembly and operable to move said roller assembly between a retracted position adjacent the wall and an extended position spaced from the wall, said torsion spring of said roller assembly biasing said roller assembly toward the retracted position, each of said arm assemblies comprising:a vertically extending base arm for connection to the wall;a bottom arm having a first end pivotally connected to said base arm;an extended arm having a first end pivotally connected to said bottom arm and a second end connected to and supporting said roller assembly;a top arm having a first end pivotally connected to said base arm above said bottom arm and a second end pivotally connected to said extended arm; anda powered actuator connected to said base arm and extending between said base arm and said bottom arm for pivoting said bottom arm to move the roller assembly between the retracted position and the extended position, said powered actuator providing a force for moving the roller assembly to the extended position and an oppositely-directed force for moving the roller assembly to the retracted position.