Abstract:
A lightweight awning frame having the flexibility of being easily lengthened or shortened by the addition or removal of extension pieces, which is easy and inexpensive to manufacture and mass produce, assemble and install, and package in a relatively compact cardboard box. The awning can be produced in various forms with common requirements of multiple bent pipes and non-welded, one piece engageable members wherein the ends of the pipes are inserted and securely engaged for the purpose of forming a semicircular half-dome shaped structure. Standard left and right end sections having a set of awning tubes can be formed into awning ribs by connection or the addition of extension members and support brackets connected at joints spacing the awning tubes apart in an array of awning ribs. One form of the side brackets has two receiving openings and a flange for securing individual tubes. An alternate form of side brackets is formed of specially configured plates which are notched to permit use of the extreme end of an exposed awning tube which may be placed in an eye bolt to secure the frame structure. Very long large commercial awnings can be produced without the need for welding or special transportation equipment or custom manufacturing facilities. They are disassemblable and may be moved or converted to a different length by the simple removal or addition of standard pieces. The frame may be covered with brightly colored and labeled materials to form an attractive awning.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to a dome awning frame assembled without welding from parts connected by fasteners to be secured over windows and the like on a vertical wall of a building structure to support an awning cover. 
     2. Background of the Prior Art 
     Awnings are increasingly used over residential windows and over glass covered openings in commercial building walls to shield and shade the windows without obstructing the view. Awnings typically have a frame with a plurality of ribs which are spaced apart in an array and fixed in position by means of side brackets and sometimes by connections between the individual ribs and the awning covering material itself, which may be flexible material or even light gauge metal. 
     Larger awnings are especially useful to cover large expanses of glass in commercial buildings, with a covering that is brightly colored and labeled. Viewed from the side and cross-section the array of ribs is pie-shaped, each of the ribs extending roughly a radial distance from a side bracket where they are connected. Viewed from the front the large commercial awnings have a cylindrical-shape in the center, representing approximately a quarter of a cylinder, and the ends taper down into opposed rounded end sections which are rounded from the top and rounded from the front to have smooth appearance. 
     Many awnings, especially the larger commercial awnings, are fabricated in a shop remote from the place of installation where the brackets and ribs are joined by welding the metal frame members together to form the ribs and other parts of the support structure. Sometimes the cover is made from metal as well, and welding is often used to make a completely welded assembly which must be shipped in its completed form, a difficult procedure. 
     Awnings of the aforesaid character are known and sometimes referred to as “dome” or “bubble” awnings and are disclosed in the prior art. Such dome awnings take various forms and directions, and are typically expensive, costly, heavy and difficult to maneuver, and importantly such designs are generally confined to the original choice of length and width and may not be adjusted without complete revision. When the use of connectable welded joints is employed, dome awnings are heavy, and priced by the piece, are expensive. When joint welding processes are employed, dome awnings are expensive to manufacture, heavy to carry and install, and have no ability to be disassembled, are space consuming and difficult to maneuver. This makes it almost impossible for awnings of this type to be mass manufactured and sold in the mass market, because the bulk precludes presenting them to the customer in a compact package. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention disclosed herein is an easy and inexpensive to manufacture, assemblable awning structure, able to be compactly packaged, easy to assemble and install, lightweight dome awning frame having the flexibility of being lengthened or shortened. Basic end sections are provided which may be separated a desired distance apart with extension tubes and support brackets to make an awning of any chosen length. The dome awning can be produced in various forms with common end sections having multiple bent or curved pipes and non-welded, one-piece engageable brackets for securing the ends of the pipes for the purpose of forming semicircular, half-dome shaped structures. The awning structures so formed may be easily disassembled and shipped to a new location. A specially formed side bracket may, with the aid of ordinary fasteners not visible from the outside, hold the awning tubes in a spread apart array of ribs without further supports. 
     A specialized support bracket having spaced apart grooves for receiving abutting tubes supports joints between opposite side end sections of tube extensions which laterally spread individual side end section tubes and form awning ribs. Fasteners may be inserted from the underside of the support bracket into the tubes to hold them in position. Connector members may be inserted in abutting tube ends to be engaged by fastener means which connect the joints to the support bracket from the underside. It is desirable to fasten without exiting the wall of any rib forming tube so as to interfere with or damage a cover. 
     The invention contemplates an awning frame made from awning tubes which are vertical oriented as well as horizontally oriented as indicated in the FIGURES. The vertically oriented tubes utilize a top bracket and conveniently employ the specialized support bracket which is connected to the ends of the downwardly and outwardly extending tubes to form the bottom peripheral edge of an awning frame. Similarly, a triangular-shaped frame can be used which conveniently employs the specialized support bracket connected between upper and lower horizontal runs of awning tubes. The support bracket is angled away from a wall surface from the top outwardly and downwardly to form the support for a side of a triangular-shaped frame. The vertically oriented tube frame may also include two end sections and an intermediate section, also having vertically oriented outwardly and downwardly curved tubes which are connected to the same specialized support bracket. In all cases, preferably end tubes, can extend below the support bracket to provide a convenient extension for insertion into a headed fastener mounted in the wall to support and contain the awning frame. 
     Now even large commercial awnings can be mass produced with only a few different interchangeable parts to produce an almost unlimited range of widths in a particular end design and packaged in a flat compact box which does not require much storage space. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is perspective of an awning as assembled for covering a small window showing one form of specialized side brackets; 
     FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the side bracket shown in FIG. 1, seen from the inside; 
     FIG. 3 shows the connection between the tubes of the unit shown in FIG.  1  and the side brackets; 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective of the side bracket shown in FIGS. 1-3; 
     FIG. 5 is a side elevation showing an alternative non-welded awning structure as assembled and installed against a vertical wall; 
     FIG. 6 is a view of the alternative embodiment of FIG. 5 seen from behind looking out from the wall; 
     FIG. 7 shows the alternative embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6 having an extender for extending its length; 
     FIG. 8 shows a connection between an end section tube and an extension tube as attached at a support bracket; and 
     FIG. 9 shows the alternate embodiment of FIG. 5 having two extension tubes connected at a support bracket for making the awning structure longer; 
     FIG. 10 shows a cutaway vertically oriented structure forming a half-round shape with the specialized support bracket forming the lower peripheral edge; 
     FIG. 10A shows a plan view of one of the top plates which forms the top bracket that holds the top ends of the tubes in the half-round structure of FIG. 10; 
     FIG. 10B shows a hanger to support the unit of FIG. 10 on a wall; 
     FIG. 11 is a top plan view of a modified structure of FIG. 10 having two quarter round end sections and a straight intermediate extension section; 
     FIG. 12 is an elevation view of the awning frame structure of FIG. 11 looking out from the wall; 
     FIG. 13 is a top plan view of the plates which form the top side end brackets of FIG. 12; 
     FIG. 14 is an end view showing the cross-section of the plate brackets of FIG. 13; 
     FIG. 15 shows overlapping grooved portions of the support bracket which forms a peripheral edge of FIG. 11; 
     FIG. 16 is a side end view of a triangular-shaped frame; 
     FIG. 17 is a cutaway front elevation of the side portion of the triangular frame of FIG.  16 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to FIGS. 1,  2 ,  3 , and  4  there is shown a dome awning frame generally referred to by the reference numeral  10 , in assembled condition. It has side brackets  1  used to join and securely engage the ends of multiple curved pipes or tubes designated by the reference numeral  2 . A vertical wall support  4 , as shown in FIG. 1, may be used as a hanger for the small awning. Brackets  1  have a tube receiving portion comprising curved top panel  11  with a series of lined up spaced apart tube receiving openings  12 . Brackets  1  have a side plate panel  33 , and a one piece assembly is preferred as shown in FIGS. 1-4. Curved top panel  11  is a convexly arcuate extension at right angles to side plate  33 . The curved top panel  11  with tube end openings  12 , referred to as the tube receiving portion, has a depending flange  22 . Depending flange  22  may be referred to as a short inside panel, because in assembly it is placed on the inside so that only the outside surface of bracket  33  is seen on the ends of the completed unit, for improved appearance. Depending flange  22  has a series of openings  14  arcuately aligned in assembly to receive screw fasteners  3  which are fastened through an opening in the end portion of a set of awning tubes  2  as indicated in FIGS. 2 and 3. 
     Side bracket  1  has a wall contacting edge  16  and at right angles thereto an edge that we will refer to as a horizontal edge  18 . They meet at an apex  20 . An imaginary radial line drawn through apex  20  and the center of a circle formed by each opening  12  passes through the longitudinal screw axis of the screws  3  when they are fastened in the openings  14 . This is more clearly seen in FIG.  2 . Thus when a plurality of tubes forming a set have their opposed end portions inserted into openings  12  in the tube receiving section of bracket  1 , to a small distance below the bottom edge of depending flange  22 , and a screw fastener  3  is inserted through opening  14  to secure each of the tube ends to said side plates, the awning tubes are spread into an array of awning ribs. 
     As such, the fastener openings cooperate with the tube end receiving openings to secure the tubes into the array of awning ribs when fastened. Since the tube ends would have a previously prepared opening for receiving screw fasteners  3 , it is seen that simple insertion of the tube ends in each of the holes  12  when fastened by means of screw fasteners  3  in openings  14  produces a desired array without further expertise required on the part of the installer. Thus produced is a self standing dome awning frame when assembled which may be hung by a hanger  4 , for support on a vertical wall. 
     The brackets  1  may have additional brackets (not shown) attached thereto, and to the wall, so that the structure when completed cannot be moved or shifted by the wind. The brackets  1  may also have a notched section of the type indicated in FIG. 5, to be discussed later, which will fit into the head of an eye bolt secure the frame  10  to a vertical wall in the same manner as will be indicated later. Brackets  1  may further include an opening  24  which can be used to tie a flexible cover in place, or it may further serve as a means of securing the brackets  1  to the wall surface. It is easily seen that when the tubes  2  are removed from the brackets  1 , they form a flat bundle and may be included in a rather thin shipping box which reduces bulk, reduces transportation cost and requires less inventory storage space. 
     However, an even more compact arrangement can be visualized if the unit  10  of FIG. 1 is cut in half through the midpoint of the tubes  2  at a place which would be indicated by a plane which would be vertical and perpendicular to the vertical wall  26  in FIG.  1 . Then a means for connection can be provided for each of the tubes  2  so that, in assembly, they may be reconnected at their midpoints to form a complete awning tube, and together an array of awning ribs. If the tubes  2  are individually separated, as by severing at their midpoints, they may be reconnectable by means of an internal sleeve and fastener screwed through the tube wall preferably in previously formed openings, into the sleeve member. Alternatively, one end of the severed tubes  2  could be swaged and fitted inside the unswaged end of the opposite half of each tube  2  and secured by fasteners, on the hidden underside, to avoid wear on a canvas cover, for example. Still further, the ends of the tube  2  could be provided with notches  28  as in FIG. 8 and a half-round connector member  30  can be slipped inside the abutted ends of tubes  2  and secured with bolts. 
     An alternate embodiment of a non-welded awning structure which is assemblable with fasteners, is depicted in various forms in FIGS. 5 through 9. In FIG. 5 is seen a side end view of one side of the assemblable structure of the alternate embodiment as assembled, which is a mirror image of the opposite awning tube end section on the other side of the awning structure. That is, as viewed from the front, there is a first awning tube end section having a plurality of curved or bent awning tubes, each having a side bracket end having a fastener opening, and a connector end, together with a first side bracket, generally indicated by the reference numeral  32 , on the left side of the awning structure. On the right side of the awning structure will be a second awning tube end section, having a plurality of curved or bent awning tubes each having a side bracket end and a fastener opening, and an opposite connector end, having a second side bracket  32  on the right side. In FIG. 6 the first awning tube section has a plurality of awning tubes  36   a  through  36   g . A corresponding second awning tube end section as indicated in FIG. 6, has corresponding awning tubes  38   a  through  38   g . Tube  38   a  corresponds to tube  36   a , tube  38   b  corresponds to tube  36   b , etc. By corresponding is meant that the tubes are arranged in the same orientation and connectable to form a complete awning rib. Tubes  36   a  through  36   g  have side bracket end portions  40   a  through  40   g  as indicated in FIG.  5 . The end portions are for connection to bracket  32 . 
     First and second side brackets  32  are comprised of a pair of flat plates, configured as indicated in FIGS. 5 and 6, although they could be fabricated from a single piece bent into a “U” shape with a connecting flange. Side plates  42  have a wall contact edge  44  for contacting, a vertical wall surface and bottom edge  46  generally at right angles thereto. Plates  42  have a curved outer edge  48  with an arcuate line of matched fastener openings when the plates are placed side by side as indicated by the line of connecting fasteners  50  in FIG.  5 . Plates are matched and placed side by side for fastening on opposite sides against the end portions of the plurality of awning tubes  36   a-g . Similarly, the second side bracket clamps against the opposite sides of the end portions of awning tubes  38   a-g  of the second awning tube end section. 
     The side plates, adjacent the wall contacting edge have a means for mounting and demounting the awning structure, when assembled, to an anchor such as an anchor bolt extending from the wall, comprising a notched section  52  that exposes the extreme end portion  54 ,  58  of the wallmost located awning tube. 
     Extreme tube ends  54 ,  58  can be dropped into and lifted out of the protruding eye of an extending anchor bolt  56  to support the awning structure, when assembled, in position against a vertical wall. The side bracket end of the wallmost awning tube  36   g ,  38   g  is preferably extended and fixed to the side bracket with an additional fastener  51 . The bottommost awning tube of the first and second end sections,  36   a ,  38   a , is preferably extended and fastened with an additional fastener  51  between plates  42 . It is seen from FIG. 6 that the fasteners  50 ,  51  pass completely through the adjacently located side plates of the side bracket  32 . The bottommost and wallmost awning tubes  36   a ,  38   a ,  36   g ,  38   g , are generally at right angles to each other and fixed in that position by their connection via bolts or fasteners  50 ,  51 . It is seen that the extreme end  54  of wallmost tube  36   g  and the extreme end  58  of wallmost tube  38   g  extend beyond the rectangular notch  52  so as to conveniently fit into anchor bolt eyes spaced apart horizontally on wall  26 , which provides for rapid installation and removal, if necessary. The upper portion  60  of the notch is seen in FIG. 6 as extending beyond the tube to rest upon the eye of anchor bolts  56 . Weight is on the end brackets while horizontal force, if any, operates against the extreme end portions of the wallmost tubes to prevent shifting or pulling away from the wall. 
     Another aspect of the invention illustrated in FIG. 6 is the use of an elongated support bracket  62  although it may be seen that a fractional hemispherical awning might be made with awning tubes not severed in the middle which are continuous from bracket to bracket. Some means would be needed to keep them oriented in a spaced apart array of awning ribs. One way to accomplish this might be to utilize the end brackets  1  previously discussed. Another way might be to extend the ends of the tubes at the bracket end in FIG.  5  and add another row of fasteners interior of the row of fasteners  50  shown therein. 
     However, a superior way to stabilize the tubes into a spaced apart array of ribs, and provide other advantages, is found in the use of elongated support bracket plate  62  also seen in FIG. 5 and a cutaway portion in FIG.  8 . Perhaps best seen in FIGS. 5 and 8, bracket plate  62  has a web portion  64  separating two receiving channels  66 . The portions  64  and channels  66  alternate along the length of the elongated support bracket  62  which is curved or bent in the form of an arch which takes the shape of the outermost extension of the array of awning ribs. As illustrated, the web portions are relatively flat and bent away from each other at an angle greater than 180° as seen from the outside surface. The extremities of support brackets  62  are formed by cutting away part of the support bracket to form a wallmost tube receiving channel  68  and a bottommost tube receiving channel  70 . 
     A preferable way to utilize the support bracket in connection with the awning tubes is seen in FIG. 8 where the exemplary awning tubes  36   d  and  38   d  are seen in an exploded view and it is to be understood that each of the other tubes will be secured to their corresponding tubes by a means for connection, such as illustrated in FIG.  8 . Each of the channels is fitted with spaced apart fastener openings  72  for receiving fasteners  74 . Connector member  30  comprises a half-round piece with spaced apart threaded openings  76  for receiving screws  74  after they pass through opening  72  and the support bracket. Connector member  30  is designed to be received in each of the abutting ends of exemplary corresponding mating tubes  36   d ,  38   d  which are abutted over it, the ends each having a slot  28  extending in a longitudinal direction of the axis of the tubes. This permits starting the fasteners  74  in through the opening  72  and into the threaded opening  76  before tightening, which makes it easy to slip the ends of the exemplary tube  36   d ,  38   d  into place over the connector  30 . Then the fasteners  74  are tightened and the abutted ends of exemplary tubes  36   d ,  38   d  are secured by friction in one of the channels  66  to form a complete awning rib from side bracket to side bracket, which is spaced apart from the other tubes similarly connected by the spacing between the channels  66  in the support bracket  62 . 
     A completed structure is seen in FIG.  5 . Note that the channels  68  and  70  are similarly connected. Though the web portion of the channels  68 ,  70  has been cutaway so as to not interfere with the wall or be unsightly, the same kind of connection is easily made. It should also be noted that rapid disassembly is equally possible by reversing the process which can remove a damaged rib for example, without disturbing the awning structure proper. Connector member  30  could be made from a solid bar with threaded openings  76  or a tubing sleeve with similar threaded openings which would fit into the ends of the mating abutting tubes to form a connection means with the support bracket. It is also evident that fasteners, such as self tapping fasteners  74 , could be inserted through openings  72  and connected directly into openings or threaded openings in the connecting end portions of abutting or overlapping ends of the adjacent tubes or tube extensions that will form individual ribs. The end portions of the adjacent tube ends conveniently lie in grooves  66  and are drawn tight by fasteners which penetrate the tubes and connect them to the elongated support bracket. 
     FIGS. 7 and 9 further illustrate the utility of the support bracket in extending the length of an awning by the addition of a plurality of extension awning tubes  76   a-g  as indicated in FIG. 7 intermediate each of a pair of awning tube support brackets  62 . On the left side of FIG. 7 is a first awning tube end section having curved awning tubes  36   a-g  and on the right side of FIG. 7 is a second awning tube end section having awning tubes  38   a-g  which are curved into the side brackets as in FIG.  6 . Instead of having only a single support bracket for spacing and connection to the abutted corresponding awning tubes  38   a  and  38   b ,  36   b  and  38   b  etc., as in FIG. 6, a pair of support brackets is employed. The severed connector end  78   b  of tube  36   b  is indicated in abutting contact with one end of extension tube  76   b . The severed connector or support bracket end  80   b  of awning tube  38   b  is in abutting contact with the opposite other end  84  of extension tube  76   b . The one end  82  of extension tube  76   b  is abutted against end  78   b  of exemplary tube  36   b  and the opposite other end  84  of extension tube  76   b  is abutted against end  80   b  of awning tube  38   b . The extension tubes  76   a-g  have the same slots  28 , have internally the same connector member  30  and the same fastener  74  as illustrated in FIG.  8 . All of the other of the awning tubes  36   a-g  are connected in the same way with their corresponding extension tubes  76   a-g  as shown in FIGS. 6 and 8. Similarly, each of the tubes have the same connection to the second elongated support bracket  62  and the opposite abutting ends of extension tubes  76   a-g  as indicated in the discussion of exemplary extension tubes  76   b . Thus it is seen that each of the corresponding awning tubes  36   b  and  38   b , and all of the other corresponding tubes, are separated by the length of the extension tubes  76   a-g  which effectively lengthens the awning. The corresponding awning tubes together with each of their corresponding extension tubes form a complete awning rib which in assembly are spaced apart by the distance between the channels  66  into a complete array of awning ribs. The longitudinal separation which lengthens the awning can be much greater than illustrated in FIG. 7 by merely increasing the length of the extension awning tubes so that a considerable distance can be added without decreasing the structural rigidity of the frame thus created. 
     A further extension of the length of the completed awning frame with a supported array of ribs is illustrated in FIG.  9 . FIG. 9 shows the first awing tube end section  36   a-g  and the second awning tube end section  38   a-g  which are spaced apart by a first set of awning tubes  76   a-g  and a second set of awning tube extensions  86   a-g.    
     Exemplary awning tube  36   c  from the first awning tube end section and exemplary awning tube  38   c  from the second awning tube end section are seen spaced apart by means of extension awning tube  76   c  and extension awning tube  86   c  with the aid of three elongated support brackets  62 . Connector end  78   c  of awning tube  36   c  is placed in abutting relationship with end  82   c  of extension tube  76   c  and connected at a groove  66  in first support bracket  62  as indicated in FIG.  8 . Connector end  80   c  of awning tube  38   c  is placed in abutting relationship with end  88   c  of extension tube  86   c , and fastened in a groove  66  of the third support bracket  62  as illustrated in FIG. 8 in turn, as a linear extension of a tubes  36   c ,  38   c . The end  90   c  of extension tube  86   c  is abutted against the end  84   c  of extension tube  76   c  and likewise connected at a groove  66  in the middle or second support bracket  62  as illustrated in FIG.  8 . Thus is formed a complete rib for the awning structure which further separates, in supported relationship extensions to complete an awning rib. Identical extension tubes  76   a-g  and  86   a-g  are connected in a similar manner to form a complete array of awning ribs which further permits a lengthening of the awning such that it could extend clear across the width of the building. Additional extension tubes together with additional support brackets can provide an awning structure which is assemblable to a very long length. 
     The use of the support brackets to secure and space the awning tubes and form awning ribs permits custom manufacture of awnings in sets which will accommodate almost an infinite variety of length and permits altering the awning structure to make it longer or shorter simply by substituting a set  76   a-g  or more than one set of awning tube extensions and their associated support brackets. Standard first and second awning tube end sections will produce infinite length adjustment in combination with a particular length of a set of awning tube extension tubes. This greatly reduces the cost of manufacture and inventory and permits mass production. It might also be noted that the awning tube extensions exemplified by extensions  76   c ,  86   c , do not necessary have to be straight and if appropriately curved to match the curve of the respective opposing end sections, can produce shapes varying from a section cut by intersecting perpendicular planes from a sphere to a variety of shapes similarly cut from a ovoid section. 
     Use of the support brackets and suitable connectors between the support brackets and the abutting tubes of each rib, provides a strong rigid structure which is free standing and may be assembled at the job site for installation as a complete unit or in sections. It is not even necessary to make exact measurements, for the end sections as illustrated in FIG. 5 can be assembled and mounted at the appropriate locations to fix the end position, then the intermediate distance can be filled in by the extension tubes to complete each awning rib, and if the extension tubes are slightly longer than desirable, the slots are long enough to accommodate some shortening of their length without interfering with the ability to be fastened and connected. Alternately, a sleeve can be used to connect awning tubes which could have a central portion of the same diameter, with a single threaded opening therein, and reduced diameter opposed end sections to fit inside the ends of abutting tubes, such that only one screw  74  and one opening  72  in the support brackets would be required. The abutting tubes can be adhesively joined to the reduced cross-section ends of the modified connector (not shown) or would not be drilled after assembly for self tapping screw connection. Since the notches  28  employed in such a case, it would be relatively easy to supply extra long extension tubes which can be simply measured at the job site and cut off. 
     A particular advantage of the support brackets, in addition to their supporting and stabilizing function is that the screws are located on the internal, or window side, of the awning structure and do not penetrate through the opposite side wall of the ribs. The ribs preferably have only butt joints which are exposed on the outside surface of the awning. Thus a smooth surface is presented for attachment of fabric or plastic type awning covers which are stretched over the frame to complete the installation. The lack of sharp protruding edges reduces the tendency of the ribs to wear the cover due to expansion and contraction and the effects of wind and rain. 
     It is particularly advantageous to fasten the awning structure in position through means for attachment which are connectable at one end to one or more of the elongated support brackets and at the opposite end to a wall mounted anchor bolt to secure the upper portion of the wallmost located awning tube adjacent the wall surface. In FIG. 5, the means for attachment comprises a cutaway section of the same awning support bracket shown in FIG. 6 where the flat portion  64  is, along with part of the groove  66 , cutaway for attachment in juxtaposition with the outside surface of one of the grooves  66  of an elongated support bracket  62 . It is conveniently fastened by the same screws  74  which are used to connect the support brackets  66  to the rib  36 e. The opposite end of the support bracket may be tapered to a reduced width and provided with an opening to receive a hook from turn buckle  94 . Turn buckle  94  in turn, has an oppositely oriented wall mounting hook for engagement in the eye opening of a bolt  96  which is fastened into wall  26 . Depending upon the size and weight of the awning frame, a plurality of these fasteners may be desired. A turn buckle provides a means for adjustment to permit pivoting the upper portion of the assembled awning structure snugly against the wall and retightening, if necessary. Because the attachment means is located underneath one or more of the support brackets  62 , they are not visible from the street and unobtrusive from inside the building. The use of a modified portion of the support bracket  62  makes for economical construction by reducing the number of fabricated parts. Additional ones can easily be fabricated in the field from extra support brackets. 
     FIG. 10 shows a cutaway view looking from inside the awning towards one of its halves. The tubes are vertically oriented and except for the end tube lying with its axis parallel to the wall surface, the tubes extend outwardly and downwardly from the wall  119  to terminate in their lower ends which are shown connected to an elongated support bracket  62   a . Bracket  62   a  is curved to form a half-circle adapted for receiving and securing the spaced apart lower ends of the set of vertically oriented tubes  98   a-b , with the understanding that there are identical additional tubes  98  which continue around to form a complete half-circle/half-dome awning frame. The curved elongated support bracket has opposite ends  100   a  and  100   b  spaced below and on opposite sides of top bracket  102  proximate said wall when the top bracket is held against the wall. 
     Elongated support bracket  62   a  is a band having spaced apart grooves  66  for receiving the lower terminal ends of the awning tubes  98  and is fastenable together by means of pairs of fasteners  74  to form a lower peripheral edge of the awning frame. Top bracket  102  is comprised of spaced apart plates  104  which are shaped like half-circles. Plates  104  have an arcuate edge  106  and a straight edge  108  for being placed proximate the wall surface. Along the arcuate edge is a line of mating fastener openings  110   a-g , for fasteners to secure the upper ends of said tubes in a spaced apart radial array secured at the upper end by bracket  102 . The wall top bracket  102  has plates  104  pressed against the upper ends of the awning tubes and fastened by fasteners, such as bolt  112 . FIG. 10B shows a hanger  114  adapted to be connected to one of the plates of bracket  102  by a fastener, such as bolt  112 , and having a turn buckle  116  for connection to a wall anchor  118  to adjustably support the upper portion of the awning frame. The end tube  98   a  at each side has a further end extension  120 , beyond the peripheral edge of the support bracket  62   a  for insertion in the open head of fastening means  122  mounted in the wall, to support the assembled awning and hold it in place against the wall. By disconnecting the turn buckle the entire awning can be quickly and easily removed by raising it out of fastening means  122 . It is understood that there will be two oppositely oriented end tubes  98   a  with extensions  120  to support each side of the half-dome awning of FIG.  10 . 
     FIGS. 11 and 12 show another embodiment of the awning structure which is assemblable with fasteners for placement along a wall surface, having vertically running ribs comprising a first awning tube end section  124 , an oppositely oriented second awning tube end section  126  and an intermediate awning tube section  128 . The axis of said ribs lie in a vertical plane as assembled. First and second awning tube end sections are like two halves of the frame shown in FIG. 10 separated by the intermediate section except that slightly different first and second end brackets  130 , 132  are provided. 
     The first awning tube end section has vertically oriented awning tubes  134   a-d  arranged radially and depending outwardly and downwardly from first end bracket  130 . The second awning tube end section has vertically oriented awning tubes  136   a-d  arranged radially and depending outwardly and downwardly from second end bracket  132 . Intermediate awning tube section  128  has a straight section of elongated upper support bracket  62   b . Connected thereto at spaced apart intervals is a plurality of outwardly and downwardly curved spaced apart awning tubes  138   a-c  having their wallmost ends secured to the straight section of support bracket  62   b  and their opposite other ends secured spaced apart by a means for connection to a straight portion of another lower support bracket  62   c . Support bracket  62   c  has a curved first end section  62   d  adapted for connection to the terminal opposite ends of tubes  134   a-d  of the first end section. Another curved second end section  62   e  of lower support bracket  62   c  is adapted for receiving the lower terminal ends of the awning tubes  136   a-d  of the second awning tube end section  126 . Intermediate awning tube section  128  can be shortened or lengthened or replicated to conveniently alter the completed awning length. 
     Elongated support bracket  62   c  may be a band of continuous length from end to end indicated at A and D, or preferably may have an overlapping joint at B and C for connection as shown in FIG.  15 . This facilitates compactness for shipping. The support brackets  62   a-e  are to be understood as identical in construction to the section of support bracket shown in FIG.  8  and previously discussed except for being bent or straight as shown between the spaced apart channels or grooves  66  which serve to receive the ends of awning tubes connected either singly or in overlapping arrangement as shown in FIG.  15 . The wallmost grooves are referred to by the number  68  which are simply the grooves  66  with one of the flat extending portions  64  of the band removed. 
     In FIGS. 13 and 14 are seen views of the left top end bracket late  140  and right top end bracket plate  142  which are mated spaced apart to form the first and second top end brackets  130 ,  132 . They have a large portion having arcuate edges  144  and  146 , respectively. Along the arcuate edges are a line of mating fastener openings  148   a-d  and  150   a-d . Plates  140 ,  142  have offset flanges  152 ,  154  having pairs of fastener openings as indicated in FIGS. 13 and 14. FIG. 12 shows the first end bracket in assembly comprising oppositely oriented mated plates  140 ,  142  with the inside surfaces of the large portions against the upper end portions of the awning tubes  134   a-d  secured thereto by a fastener, such as bolt  112 . The tube ends are adapted for receiving a fastener, such as bolt  112  which extends through the plates to secure the top ends of the tubes. The spaced apart flanges  152 ,  154  with the paired fastener openings are used to secure the end of the straight section of elongated support brackets  62   b  and a similar opposite connection is made on the opposite end with respect to the second top bracket which is connected in the same fashion. 
     Thus it is seen that the top ends of the awning tubes are connected through the use of the support brackets and spaced in a radial array with the endmost of the tubes located for placement along a wall surface and the opposite endmost tube of each of the first and second end sections at right angles thereto. 
     The free lower ends of the awning tubes of the first, intermediate and second sets are spread into an array of vertically oriented awning ribs to form the lower peripheral edge of an awning assembly together with the elongated support bracket  62   c  which is adapted with spaced apart grooves and fastener openings for receiving and securing the ends in a radial array of awning ribs. 
     As in previous embodiments, the endmost awning tubes  134   a ,  136   a  have respective further end extensions  160 ,  162 , extending beyond the peripheral edge of the awning assembly created by the elongated support bracket, for insertion in a wall mounted fastening means to support the assembled awning and hold it in place against a wall. The extensions are ideally suited for removable placement in the head of an eye bolt mounted spaced apart in the proper place along the wall, with the weight being supported by the edge of the bracket itself and being held in position by the extension tubes received in the opening of the fixed supports. The upper portion of the awning frame shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 may be supported by an adjustable turn buckle bracket connection of the type shown in FIG.  10 B. Thus the whole awning structure is easily installable, adjustably secured, and removable. 
     A still further embodiment is illustrated by FIGS. 16 and 17 which show a triangular arrangement which employs the same standard elongated support bracket  62   f  assembled with bent awning tubes and a modified end bracket  164 . An opposite modified end bracket  164  would form the other side of the angular awning structure of FIGS. 16 and 17. Modified bracket  164  has a pair of complementary plates  166 ,  168  having appropriately located matching fastener openings for securing the tubes. Bracket  164  has a wall edge  170  and a notched opening  172 . At the wall surface is a first awning tube  171  having a horizontal leg  171   b  and at opposite ends upright legs  171   a . Through suitable matched openings in the opposing plates  166 ,  168 , the upright  171   a  leg of the a first awning tube having a horizontal leg  171   b  is attached at each side by fasteners  174  leaving an extension  176  for being received in the open head of a wall mounted fastener  178 . The same is true in the opposite side which is not shown. The structure has at least one second awning tube  180 , in assembly having opposite horizontal legs  180   a  at right angles to said upright legs and extending outwardly from said brackets, said horizontal legs being connected at their outermost extension by a horizontal leg forming leg  18   b  extending therebetween. The right angled leg is identified as leg  180   a  and will have a corresponding leg on the opposite side which is not seen. The wallmost end  182  of legs  180   a  is fastened between the side-plates of bracket  164  by fasteners  174 , the end of the tube being adapted for receiving said fasteners. 
     A straight section of elongated support bracket  62   f  having the same features as the support brackets  62   a-e  is seen having end portions  68   a ,  68   b  comprising a means for receiving and securing the horizontal leg  170   b  of the wallmost tube to the horizontal leg  180   b  of the bottommost tube. If a second additional horizontal tube  184 , spaced apart and parallel to tube  180 , having its ends secured between the bracket and fastened by fasteners  174  is employed, it may be anchored to the horizontal potion  184   b  at a terminal end  68   c  of a shortened or specially fabricated support bracket  62   f . If a shortened bracket  62   f  is employed a short section  186  may be used to connect the tubes vertically at  68   b ,  68   c  by overlapping end of support bracket  62   f  at  68   c  in the manner revealed in FIG.  15 . It could also be placed laterally displaced from support  62   f  with bracket  62   f  connected to tube  184   b  at  68   c.    
     Another first additional awning tube  188  may be similarly connected at its ends to bracket  164  on both sides intermediate right angularly arranged tubes  170 ,  180  to support bracket  62   f  at a groove  66 . It may be attached along with a short section of support bracket  92  and a turn buckle  94  for adjustable connection to a wall anchor  26  in a manner similar to that disclosed in the discussion of the adjustable support hanger of FIG.  5 . As before, the fasteners do not extend through the outside wall of the awning tubes so that a decorative cover can be supported on the awning tubes to form a complete awning. The triangularly-shaped awning structures of FIGS. 16 and 17 can also be extended by the addition of extension tubes and additional support brackets in the manner disclosed in FIGS. 7 and 9 and using the connector system of FIG.  8 . The awning can thus be lengthened by separating opposite end sections by the length of the extension members as previously indicated. 
     The awning is preferably made from galvanized metal or non-ferrous parts but may conveniently be made from any one of a variety of the commercially available structural plastics because the entire assembly is completed by fastening rather then welding. A particular and significant advantage is the ability to mass produce the parts, a relatively few number of parts being required, and the ability to package all of the parts required for even a large awning installation in a relatively small flat package which is compact. Custom fabrication is no longer needed to provide attractive commercial awnings.