Abstract:
A portable fence supported awning includes a flexible sheet mounted on a frame that has a rear frame cross member and two sets of lateral frame members. The two sets of lateral frame members are attached to the fence and can support the awning in various positions to provide the desired cover. The lateral frame members can be pivoted into and the flexible sheet can be folded into a compact state for carrying and storage.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The subject invention relates to a portable awning, and, more specifically, to a portable, easy to carry, easy to setup, easy to take down awning that in use is supported by the attachment of the awning&#39;s frame members to a fence or similar structure commonly found at athletic fields and similar fields where athletic and/or other outdoor events are held. 
     Many athletic fields and other fields where athletic and/or other outdoor events are held lack shelter from the sun and rain for either the spectators or participants. This is especially true of the neighborhood and municipal athletic fields that are commonly used by children&#39;s athletic leagues, such as but not limited to little league baseball and other little league sports, and amateur adult athletic leagues, such as but not limited to amateur adult softball leagues and other athletic leagues. The lack of any shelter from the sun and rain for the players at these facilities when the players are off the field and for the spectators can not only lead to discomfort but to health problems. Over exposure to the sun, especially in warmer climates, can result in discomfort and can even lead to dehydration, heat stroke, or heat exhaustion for both the spectators and players off the field of play. Exposure to rain can dampen an otherwise fun filled outing for spectators as well as players who are off the field of play. Frequently, these athletic and similar fields have fences and/or backstops, such as but not limited to chain link fences and backstops, and similar structures adjacent the playing fields. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,050,280 discloses a sports shade that can be erected in conjunction with a ball field fence to provide shade adjacent a ball field for the players when the players are not on the field. While the sports shade of the &#39;280 patent provides shade, the sports shade of the &#39;280 patent has support legs 18 that, in use, can become obstructions. The sports shade of the &#39;280 patent also utilizes guy lines 19 and stakes 28 that can trip a person or otherwise become obstructions. In addition, hammering the stakes 28 into the ground takes time and in many locations the ground can be quite hard or even paved, especially outside the fence where the spectators are located, making the use of stakes difficult and impractical if not impossible. While the support legs 18 are telescoping, the need d for the support legs to be in contact with the ground limits the ground clearance of the sports shade. 
     Thus, there has been a need to provide an awning for use in conjunction with fences and similar structures adjacent athletic and similar fields where athletic and/or other outdoor events are held that is inexpensive, compact, easy to carry, easy to setup, easy to take down, and free of obstructions over which people can trip. The portable fence supported awning of the subject invention fulfills all of the above needs and does not require the use of ground support legs, guy lines or stakes that must be driven into the ground. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The portable fence supported awning of the subject invention includes a flexible sheet, a rear frame cross member and first, second, third, and fourth lateral frame members. The rear frame cross member extends between lateral edge portions of the flexible sheet and parallel to a front edge of the flexible sheet. The rear frame cross member has a first end adjacent one lateral edge portion of the flexible sheet and a second end adjacent the other lateral edge portion of the flexible sheet. 
     The first lateral frame member has a first end pivotally joined through a first multi-pivotal joint assembly to the first end of the rear frame cross member so that the first lateral frame member can be pivoted from a first stored position extending generally parallel and adjacent to the rear frame cross member to a second in use position extending generally perpendicular to the rear frame cross member. The second lateral frame member has a first end pivotally joined through a second multi-pivotal joint assembly to the second end of the rear frame cross member so that the second lateral frame member can be pivoted from a first stored position extending generally parallel and adjacent to the rear frame cross member to a second in use position extending generally perpendicular to the rear frame cross member. The lateral edge portions of the flexible sheet are secured to the first and second lateral frame members and preferably extend at least from the first end to the second end of the first and second lateral frame members. Snap fasteners or other quick release fasteners are mounted on the second ends of the first and second lateral frame members and extend beyond the front edge of the flexible sheet for securing the first and second lateral frame members to a fence. 
     The third and fourth lateral frame members are about equal to or greater in length than the lengths of the first and second lateral frame members. The third lateral frame member has a first end that is pivotally joined through the first multi-pivotal joint assembly to the first end of the rear frame cross member so that the third lateral frame member can be pivoted from a first stored position extending generally parallel and adjacent to the rear frame cross member to a second in use position extending generally perpendicular to the rear frame cross member. The first end of the third lateral frame member is also pivotally joined through the first multi-pivotal joint assembly to the first end of the first lateral frame member so that the first and third lateral frame members can be pivoted relative to each other to adjust the spacing between the second ends of the first and third lateral frame members for mounting the awning on a fence. The fourth lateral frame member has a first end that is pivotally joined through the second multi-pivotal joint assembly to the second end of the rear frame cross member so that the fourth lateral frame member can be pivoted from a first stored position extending generally parallel and adjacent to the rear frame cross member to a second in use position extending generally perpendicular to the rear frame cross member. The first end of the fourth lateral frame member is also pivotally joined through the second multi-pivotal joint assembly to the first end of the second lateral frame member so that the second and fourth lateral frame members can be pivoted relative to each other to adjust the spacing between the second and fourth lateral frame members for mounting the awning on a fence. Snap fasteners or other quick release fasteners are mounted on the second ends of the third and fourth lateral frame members for securing the third and fourth lateral frame members to a fence. 
     As used herein, the term “fence” includes chain link fences, backstops and similar fence type structures to which the portable fence supported awning of the subject invention can be attached by snap fasteners, hook fasteners, or other quick release fasteners. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portable fence supported awning of the subject invention mounted on a fence. 
     FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of a portable fence supported awning of the subject invention showing the portable fence supported awning supported in two different positions where the first and second lateral frame members are above the third and fourth lateral frame members. 
     FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of a portable fence supported awning of the subject invention showing the portable fence supported awning supported in two different positions where the first and second lateral frame members are below the third and fourth lateral frame members. 
     FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view on a larger scale than FIG. 1 of the portable fence supported awning with a portion of the awning sheet broken away to show one of the multi-pivotal joint assemblies. 
     FIG. 5 is a side view of the multi-pivotal joint assembly of FIG.  4 . 
     FIG. 6 is a view of the multi-pivotal joint assembly of FIGS. 4 and 5 taken substantially along lines  6 — 6  of FIG.  5 . 
     FIG. 7 is a side view, partially in section, showing a snap fastener mounted on an end of one of the lateral frame members and attached to a fence. 
     FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the multi-pivotal joint assembly of FIGS. 4,  5  and  6  with one of the joint components pivoted to a different position so that both of the lateral frame members joined to the rear frame member by the multi-pivotal joint assembly can be pivoted to positions parallel to the rear frame member for storage. 
     FIG. 9 is a section through the multi-pivotal joint assembly as shown in FIG.  8  and taken substantially along lines  9 — 9  of FIG.  8 . 
     FIG. 10 is a bottom view of the multi-pivotal joint assembly of FIGS. 4,  5  and  6  with the multi-pivotal joint assembly in the position shown in FIG.  8  and both of the lateral frame members that are joined to the rear frame member by the multi-pivotal joint assembly positioned parallel to the rear frame member for storage. 
     FIGS. 11 to  19  show a portable fence supported awning of the subject invention being unwrapped, unfolded and setup for mounting on a fence. 
     FIG. 20 is a schematic side view of an embodiment of the portable fence supported awning of the subject invention wherein the third and fourth lateral frame members are telscoping lateral frame members. The Figure shows the portable fence supported awning in several different positions with the first and second lateral frame members above the third and fourth lateral frame members and the third and fourth lateral frame members adjusted to different lengths. 
     FIG. 21 is a detail of a telescoping mechanism that may be used in the third and fourth lateral frame members of FIG.  20 . 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The portable fence supported awning  20  of the subject invention includes a flexible sheet  22 , a rear frame cross member  24  and first, second, third, and fourth lateral frame members  26 ,  28 ,  30  and  32  respectively. The flexible sheet  22  has a front edge  34 , a rear portion  36 , and first and second lateral edge portions  38  and  40  that extend from the front edge  34  to the rear edge portion  36 . Preferably, the rear portion  36  of the flexible sheet  22  includes a flap  42  that is draped over and hangs down from the rear frame cross member  24  when the portable fence supported awning  20  is mounted on a fence  44  and that can be used to wrap the portable fence supported awning for carrying and storage. 
     The rear frame cross member  24  extends between lateral edge portions  38  and  40  of the flexible sheet  22  and, when the awning  20  is set up, extends parallel to the front edge  34  of the flexible sheet  22 . The rear frame cross member  24  has a first end adjacent the first lateral edge portion  38  of the flexible sheet  22  and a second end adjacent the second lateral edge portion  40  of the flexible sheet  22 . 
     The first lateral frame member  26  has a first end pivotally joined through a first multi-pivotal joint assembly  46  to the first end of the rear frame cross member  24  so that the first lateral frame member  26  can be pivoted from a first stored position extending generally parallel and adjacent to the rear frame cross member  24  to a second in use position extending generally perpendicular to the rear frame cross member  24 . The second lateral frame member  28  has a first end pivotally joined through a second multi-pivotal joint ass mbly  48  to the second end of the rear frame cross member  24  so that the second lateral frame member  28  can be pivoted from a first stored position extending generally parallel and adjacent to the rear frame cross member  24  to a second in use position extending generally perpendicular to the rear frame cross member  24 . The lateral edge portions  38  and  40  of the flexible sheet  22  are secured by hems or other fastening means to the first and second lateral frame members  26  and  28  and preferably extend at least from the first ends to the second ends of the first and second lateral frame members  26  and  28 . Fasteners  50  and  52 , such as but not limited to snap fasteners or other quick release fasteners are mounted on the second ends of the first and second lateral frame members  26  and  28  and extend beyond the front edge  34  of the flexible sheet  22  for securing the first and second lateral frame members  26  and  28  to a fence  44 . Preferably, the fasteners for securing the first and second lateral frame members  26  and  28  to a fence  44  lock onto the fence as shown in FIG.  7  and must be manually released by the user to prevent the first and second lateral frame members  26  and  28  from accidentally becoming detached from a fence. 
     Normally, the third and fourth lateral frame members  30  and  32  are about equal to or greater in length than the lengths of the first and second lateral frame members  26  and  28 . The third lateral frame member  30  has a first end that is pivotally joined through the first multi-pivotal joint assembly  46  to the first end of the rear frame cross member  24  so that the third lateral frame member  30  can be pivoted from a first stored position extending generally parallel and adjacent to the rear frame cross member  24  to a second in use position extending generally perpendicular to the rear frame cross member  24 . The first end of the third lateral frame member  30  is also pivotally joined through the first multi-pivotal joint assembly  46  to the first end of the first lateral frame member  26  so that the first and third lateral frame members  26  and  30  can be pivoted relative to each other in a generally vertical plane to position the first and third lateral frame members for mounting the awning  20  on a fence  44 . The fourth lateral frame member  32  has a first end that is pivotally joined through the second multi-pivotal joint assembly  48  to the second end of the rear frame cross member  24  so that the fourth lateral frame member  32  can be pivoted from a first stored position extending generally parallel and adjacent to the rear frame cross member  24  to a second in use position extending generally perpendicular to the rear frame cross member  24 . The first end of the fourth lateral frame member  32  is also pivotally joined through the second multi-pivotal joint assembly  48  to the first end of the second lateral frame member  28  so that the second and fourth lateral frame members  28  and  32  can be pivoted relative to each other in a generally vertical plan to position the second and fourth lateral frame members for mounting the awning  20  on a fence  44 . Fasteners, such as but not limited to snap fasteners  54  and  56  or other quick release fasteners are mounted oh the second ends of the third and fourth lateral frame members  30  and  32  for securing the third and fourth lateral frame members  30  and  32  to a fence  44 . Preferably, the fasteners for securing the third and fourth lateral frame members  30  and  32  to a fence  44  lock onto the fence as shown in FIG.  7  and must be manually released by the user to prevent the third and fourth lateral frame members  30  and  32  from accidentally becoming detached from a fence. 
     The preferred embodiments of the multi-pivotal joint assemblies  46  and  48  are mirror images of each other. Accordingly, only the multi-pivotal joint assembly  46  will be described in detail to avoid repetition. The multi-pivotal joint assembly  46  includes a first plate  60  and a second plate  62  that are pivotally joined together by a hinge joint  64  so that the second plate  62  can be pivoted relative to the first plate  60  from a first position where the first and second plates  60  and  62  lie in a common plane when the awning  20  is not in use to either a second position or a third position, when the awning  20  is in use, where the second plate  62  extends perpendicular to and downward from the first plate  60  or extends perpendicular to and upward from the first plate  60 . The first plate  60  is welded or otherwise secured in a fixed position to first end of the rear frame cross member  24 . The first end of the first lateral frame member  26  is pivotally secured to the first plate  60  by a rivet joint  66  or similar joint so that the first lateral frame member  26  can be pivoted in a plane containing the rear frame cross member  24  from a first position where the first lateral frame member  26  extends parallel and adjacent to the rear frame cross member  24  when the awning  20  is not in use to a second position when the awning  20  is in use where the first lateral frame member  26  extends perpendicular to the rear frame cross member  24  to secure the first lateral frame member  26  to a fence. The first end of the third lateral frame member  30  is pivotally secured to the second plate  62  by a rivet joint  68  of similar joint. With the first and second plates  60  and  62  lying in the common plane when the awning  20  is not in use, the third lateral frame member  30  can be placed in a first position where the third lateral frame member  30  extends parallel and adjacent to the rear frame cross member  24 . With the second plate pivoted about the hinge joint  64  to its second or third position when the awning  20  is in use, where the second plate  62  extends perpendicular to and downward from the first plate  60  or extends perpendicular to and upward from the first plate  60 , the third lateral frame member  30  can be pivoted about the rivet joint  68  in a vertical plane relative to the first lateral frame member  26  to locate the third lateral frame member  30  relative to the first lateral frame member  26  and secure the third lateral frame member  30  to a fence. The vertical plane in which the third lateral frame member  30  pivots relative to the first lateral frame member  26  when the second plate  62  is in its second or third position lies generally perpendicular to the plane containing the rear frame cross member  24 . 
     FIGS. 11 to  19  show the awning  20  being readied for mounting on a fence. In FIG. 11, the awning  20 , with the flexible sheet  22  folded for storage and the frame members all extending generally parallel and adjacent to each other, is wrapped in the flap  42 . FIGS. 12 and 13 show the flap  42  being unwrapped from about the flexible sheet  22  and frame members and the flexible sheet  22  being unfolded. In FIG. 14, the flap  42  has been unwrapped and the flexible sheet has been unfolded to expose the frame members. FIGS. 15 and 16 show the flexible sheet  22  being further unfolded and laid out flat with the first and second lateral frame members  26  and  28  being pivoted, through the multi-pivotal joint assemblies  46  and  48 , from the positions where these frame members extend parallel to and adjacent the rear frame cross member  24  to positions extending perpendicular to the rear frame cross member  24 . FIGS. 16 and 17 shown the third and fourth lateral frame members  30  and  32  being pivoted, through the multi-pivotal joint assemblies  46  and  48 , from positions where these frame member extend parallel and adjacent to the rear frame member to positions where the third and fourth lateral frame members  30  and  32  still extend generally parallel to but laterally away from the rear frame cross member  24 . In FIGS. 17 and 18, the awning is flipped over so that the rear portion  36  of the flexible sheet  22  with its flap  42  is draped over the rear frame cross member  24 . In FIG. 19, the third and fourth lateral frame members  30  and  32  have been pivoted through the multi-pivotal joint assemblies  46  and  48  so that the third and fourth lateral frame members  30  and  32  can be pivoted in vertical planes to adjust their positions relative to the first and second lateral frame members  26  and  28  for mounting the awning  20  on a fence. 
     FIG. 20 schematically shows another embodiment of the awning of the subject invention. The awning  70  of FIG. 20 is the same as the awning  20  with one exception. The third and fourth lateral frame members are adjustable in length to adjust the attitude of the awning  70  to a desired angle for shading or covering a particular area. Only the first and third lateral frame members  72  and  74  are shown. FIG. 21 shows an example of a length adjusting mechanism on the lateral frame member  74 , telescoping mechanism  76 , which can be us d on the third and fourth lateral frame members of awning  70  to adjust the lengths of those lateral frame members. The clamping screw  78  can be loosened to slide one section  80  of the lateral frame member  74  relative to the other section  82  of the lateral frame member  74  and tightened to clamp the sections  80  and  82  of the lateral frame member  74  in place when the lateral frame member has been adjusted to a desired length. 
     The frame members of the awnings  20  and  70  can be made of stainless steel, aluminum, polymeric, or other materials that are rigid or sufficiently rigid to remain straight or essentially straight in use to retain the awning in the shape shown in FIG.  1 . The flexible sheet  22  may be made of various materials, such as but not limited to: flexible, opaque fabric or sheet materials; flexible, opaque, water repellant fabric or sheet materials; flexible, vinyl coated synthetic fiber reinforced sheet materials; polymeric sheet materials; sunscreen fabrics; nettings; canvas; or similar sheet materials. The sheet material may be imprinted with logos, team mascots, insignias, advertising, etc. An example of a typical awning  20  that provides shade and cover for a single person has frame members between about 4½ and about 6 feet long with the main portion of the flexible sheet  22  being between about 4½ and about 6 feet long by between about 4½ and about 6 feet wide to conform to the lengths of the frame members and having a rear flap  42  about 1 to 2 feet in length. 
     In describing the invention, certain embodiments have been used to illustrate the invention and the practices thereof. However, the Invention is not limited to these specific embodiments as other embodiments and modifications within the spirit of the invention will readily occur to those skilled in the art on reading this specification. Thus, the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed, but is to be limited only by the claims appended hereto.