AWNING OPENING AND CLOSING DEVICE

Abstract: An opening and closing device (D) for operating an awning retracting and extending mechanism comprises a casing (14) and a motor (22) therein, an elongated member (10) extending from the casing and adapted to be removably connected at a distal end thereof to the awning retracting and extending mechanism, and a handle (16) also extending from the casing (14). Therefore, upon rotation of the motor (22), the motor (22) is adapted to rotatably drive the elongated member (10); also, upon actuation of the handle (16), the elongated member (10) is caused to rotate. The elongated member (10) and the handle (16) extend from opposite sides of the casing (14). The motor (22) is connected to the elongated member (10), and the handle (16) is fixedly secured to the casing (14). The motor (22) is powered by at least one battery.

Description: AWNING OPENING AND CLOSING DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to motorized awnings and, more particularly, to awnings that are opened and closed by way of a removable, rotatably driven, elongated control rod. 2. Description of the Prior Art It is well known to manually open and close awnings by way of an elongated rod provided with a hook and by rotating this elongated rod such as to gradually displace the awning towards the desired position. This operation requires a considerable number of rotations of this rod, whereby motorized systems have been developed in order to open and close awnings . Such powered systems are, for instance, connected to a winding shaft and are controlled by a wall switch or the like, whereby the rod is completely eliminated. For instance, U.S. Patent No. 4,615,371 which issued on October 7, 1986 in the name of Clauss discloses a motorized awning having a rotatably winding shaft connected to the drive shaft of a motor. With another approach, European Patent Publication No. EP-0 101 009-A2 published on February 22, 1984 in the name of Petrongolo discloses a device for rotatably driving an awning control rod. In this system, a motor is provided at the distal end of the elongated rod for rotatably driving the same. U.S. Patent No. 1,858,624 which issued on May 17, 1932 to Hess et al . discloses a mechanism for operating folding motor car tops in which manual and motorized means are provided for alternative operation, the motorized means being disabled upon operation of the manual means. In this system, a rotation of the hand crank causes it to engage a rod that is then displaced onto the shaft which is normally power-driven for operating the car top, with the movement of the rod also throwing out a clutch member. U.S. Patent No. 5,871,069 which issued on February 16, 1999 to Carmitchel discloses a manually operated lift system which can be optionally driven by way of a motor. Basically, the crankshaft that operates the winch includes a slide coupling that is adapted to either engage the manual handles or release the same and engage the powered mechanism. In U.S. Patent No. 3,528,320 which issued on September 15, 1970 to Maniker et al . , a mechanism for rotating a turret about the traverse axis of a support hull includes powered and manual mechanisms for alternately and selectively drive the turret housing depending on the position of a clutch. U.S. Patent No. 4,257,192 which issued on March 24, 1981 to Bartholomew teaches an automotive window drive mechanism that includes both an electric motor drive and a manual crank drive each adapted to engage the window drive unit. The manual mode is achieved by axially moving the manual handle along a shaft such as to become engaged therewith while freeing the drive gear from rotation with the shaft, thereby allowing the handle to be then rotated for displacing the window without resistance or interference from the drive motor. U.S. Patent No. 3,120,845 which issued on February 11, 1964 to Horner discloses a battery powered surgical drill that is provided with a manual crank for driving the drill chuck in the event of failure of the power drive mechanism. The manual override results from a clutch member which becomes disengaged from the drive shaft when the handle is rotated. U.S. Patent No. 6,056,219 which issued on May 2, 2000 to Barkley teaches a fishing reel attachment that includes an electric motor which can be selectively used to replace or assist the hand crank connected to the spinning reel . To connect the electric motor to the shaft of the spinning reel, a switch is provided and this switch is adapted, when triggered, to displace a cable provided at a distal end thereof with a bevel gear such that the latter can engage a further bevel gear mounted to the shaft of the spinning reel . U.S. Patent No. 4,214,621 which issued on July 29, 1980 to Wessels et al . discloses a wind-up roller mechanism for awnings, activated by a conventional disengageable crank provided at its distal end with a hook. U.S. Patent No. 2,524,508 which issued on October 3, 1950 to Barnes describes a further awning operator . SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an aim of the present invention to provide a new control rod for opening and closing an awning, which can be selectively power driven or manually driven. Therefore, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided an opening and closing device for operating an awning retracting and extending mechanism, comprising a casing and a motor therein, an elongated member extending from said casing and adapted to be removably connected at a distal end thereof to the awning retracting and extending mechanism, a handle also extending from said casing, wherein upon actuation of said motor, said motor is adapted to rotatably drive said elongated member, and wherein upon actuation of said handle, said elongated member is caused to rotate. More particularly, said elongated member and said handle extend from opposite sides of said casing. Typically, said motor is connected to said elongated member, and said handle is fixedly secured to said casing, whereby said motor is adapted to directly drive said elongated member in a motorised operation mode of said device, whereas, in a manual operation mode of said device, said handle is adapted, upon rotation thereof, to cause said casing and said elongated member to rotate therewith. Preferably, said motor is powered by at least one battery provided in said casing and, more particularly, said battery is a rechargeable battery, and a battery charger is provided with said device being adapted to be detachably connected to said battery charger for charging said battery. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Having thus generally described the nature of the invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, showing by way of illustration a preferred embodiment thereof, and in which: Fig. 1 is an elevational view of an awning opening and closing device in accordance with the present invention, the device being shown in a mounted position to a battery charger; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of part of the device of Fig. 1 ,- Fig. 3 is an exploded view of part of the device of Fig. 1; and Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of part of the device of Fig . 1. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Figs. 1 to 4 illustrate a motorized awning opening and closing device D which integrates the charm of conventional awning opening and closing control rods and the convenience of a power-driven device. Therefore, an awning can be opened and closed (e.g. extended and retracted) using the present device in either of its motorized and manual modes. More particularly, the device D comprises an elongated control rod 10 provided at a distal end thereof with a hook 12, a casing 14 provided at a proximal end of the control rod 10, and a manual crank or handle 16 extending from a proximal end of the casing 1 . The device D also includes, in the form of a kit, a battery charger 18. Generally, the handle 16 is adapted to, when rotated, override in some manner the motor provided in the casing 14 such as to rotatably drive the control rod 10 and its hook 12 for selectively opening or closing an awning. A wall -mounted bracket (not shown) can also be included so that, when the device D is not in use, it can be clipped onto this bracket. In such a case, the battery charger can be electrically connected, or integrated, to the bracket such that, by mounting the device D to the bracket, the battery charger becomes automatically electrically connected to the device D for charging the same . The casing 14, as mentioned hereinabove, includes a DC powered motor 22 which is adapted to be actuated by way of a multi-position switch 20 for rotating the control rod 10 about its longitudinal axis in a selective one of two opposite directions for respectively opening or closing the awning. Various override mechanisms may be provided for allowing the manual handle 16 to be used instead of the motor 22. For instance, the device D may switch automatically from a motorized mode to a manual mode upon a sufficient initial rotation of the manual handle 16 with respect to the casing 14. Alternatively, there may be provided a switch on the casing 14 for moving the device between the motorized and manual modes, such as by effectively connecting the manual handle 16 to the control rod 10 while freeing the motor 22 therefrom such that the manual handle 16 can rotate the control rod 10 without any undue resistance or interference from the motor 22. A further override mechanism is illustrated in details in Figs. 3 and 4. The removable control rod 10 and its hook 12 can be made in various lengths and is removable from the motorized unit, that is from the casing 14. The control rod 10 (which can be made of a series of separate sections for a more compact packaging and storage of the device D) and its hook 12 allow the user to easily reach the extending/retracting mechanism on the awning. The casing 14 encloses the DC powered motor 22 (see Figs. 3 and 4) , and includes two (2) removable battery packs 23 each housing a series of rechargeable batteries 24 (a set of five batteries 24 being present in the illustrated embodiment, for each battery pack 23 and being arranged in a L-shaped configuration) . The casing 14 also encloses a gearbox 26 with the shell of the casing 14 being typically made of a plastics material. The three-position switch 20 is of the toggle type and includes a central "OFF" position and a pair of end "ON" positions, one "ON" position for each direction of rotation of the motor 22. Therefore, the two "ON" positions of the switch 20 are "forward" and "reverse" positions with respect to the direction of the motor rotation, i.e. clockwise and counterclockwise directions of the motor 22. The battery charger 18 may again be connected directly to a wall bracket that defines a receptacle or recess adapted to hold the casing 14 of the device D to the wall for storage and charging. Therefore, within this receptacle, there is provided an electrical connector (which is part of or connected to the charger 18) that provides electrical current to the casing 14 for recharging the batteries 24. The battery charger 18 also includes a transformer 28 (Fig. 1) that can be plugged into a conventional wall outlet and a wire 30 connecting the transformer 28 to the aforementioned electrical connector (which is connectable to the casing 14) . The transformer 28 may have a strain relief. The manual handle 16 provides the user with a secondary grip and allows the device D to be operated manually, if necessary. In the illustrated embodiment, this handle 16 is fixed to the casing 14, as explained in more details hereinafter. For further details of the casing 14, we will now again refer to Figs. 3 and 4. In Fig. 3, the casing 14 is shown with its two halves in a spaced apart configuration to show the inside thereof and also the various components which are held by the casing 14. Such components include the aforementioned motor 22, the battery packs 23 and rechargeable batteries 24, the gearbox 26 and the switch 20. A safety cover may be provided on the casing 14 for selectively concealing the switch 20 and so prevent accidental operation of the switch 20 but which would be, for instance, slidable along the casing 14 to selectively provide access to the switch 20. Therefore, it can be seen from Fig. 3 that the casing 14 includes on the inside thereof a series of transversally oriented supports 34 which are distributed in a spaced apart and generally parallel relationship therein for supporting the motor 22, the gearbox 26, as well as a connecting shaft 36 and a handle holding block 38. The holding block 38 is fixedly connected to a distal end 40 of the manual handle 16 by way of screws 42 extending through the distal end 40 and the holding block 38. The holding block 38 is further fixedly mounted within a proximal end 44 of the casing 14. Therefore, the manual handle 16 is fixedly secured to the casing 14. The connecting shaft 36 connects the control rod 10 to an output shaft 46 of the gearbox 26. A series of further screws 47, screw receiving passages 48 and screw holding sockets 49 hold the two halves of the casing 14 together. To use the device D, the battery charger 18 is electrically connected to the battery packs 23 of the casing 14. The transformer 28 is then plugged to into an appropriate electrical outlet. Thereafter, the batteries 24 of the device D are allowed to become charged by the battery charger 18. Once charged and when it is desired to use the device D, it is removed from the battery charger 18 and the hook 12 is connected to the extending/retracting mechanism on the awning. Then, the safety cover, if present, is displaced to reveal the switch 20 which itself is then activated to one of its two "ON" positions for selectively causing the motor 22 to rotate in a forward or reverse direction thereof for opening or closing the awning. It is possible that the switch 20 only selects the direction of rotation of the motor with a further switch being then pressed to operate the motor 22. In any event, the motor 22 is allowed to rotate until the awning is in a desired position, such as a fully extended or fully retracted position thereof. The device D can then be disconnected from the awning and re-connected to the battery charger 18. It is understood that upon rotation of the motor 22, the planetary gearbox 26 is rotated thereby causing the output shaft 46 to rotate and the control rod 10 and its hook 12 to also rotate. It is further noted that the manual handle 16 is not connected, in the illustrated embodiment to the motor 22, nor to the gearbox 26. Therefore, upon rotation of the motor 22, the gearbox output shaft 46 rotates the control rod 10 while the manual handle 16 remains stationary with the casing 14. If it is desired to use the device D manually, the casing 14 is held somewhat loosely with one hand and the manual handle 16, held with the other hand, is rotated thereby causing, as it is fixedly connected to the casing 14, the latter to rotate therewith and with the control rod 10 also rotating with the casing 14 and the manual handle 16. The casing 14 thus rotates within the user's first hand. In other words, the whole device D rotates with its manual handle 16, whereby there is no need for any clutch to disengage any connection between the manual handle 16 and the motor 22. Furthermore, the planetary gear system in the gearbox 26 provides sufficient resistance to lock it with the control rod 10, when the device D is used manually. This means that, if the device D is used manually, the control rod 10 will not rotate with respect to the gearbox 26 and so eliminate or reduce any intended movement between the control rod 10 and the manual handle 16. Thus, when the manual handle 16 is used, the whole device D again rotates, with the control rod 10 being in fact locked to the gearbox 26 and thus to the casing 14 and to the manual handle 16. The motor 22 can be an 18-Volt nominal DC motor, used herein at 12 Volts and rotating, when fully charged at 7500 RPM. The gearbox 36 provides an output rotation of about 300 RPM for the output shaft 46 and control rod 10. The ten (10) batteries may each be 1.2 Volt rechargeable batteries. The minimum torque on the control rod 10 may be of about 10 foot/pound. Red and green lights are provided on the casing 14 to respectively indicate that the batteries 24 are being charged and that when they are fully charged. The battery packs 23 are secured with screws to the rest of the casing 14 such as to be removed therefrom when they have to be replaced.

Claims: I CLAIM : 1. An opening and closing device for operating an awning retracting and extending mechanism, comprising a casing and a motor therein, an elongated member extending from said casing and adapted to be removably connected at a distal end thereof to the awning retracting and extending mechanism, a handle also extending from said casing, wherein upon actuation of said motor, said motor is adapted to rotatably drive said elongated member, and wherein upon actuation of said handle, said elongated member is caused to rotate. 2. A device as defined in Claim 1, wherein said elongated member and said handle extend from opposite sides of said casing. 3. A device as defined in Claim 1, wherein said motor is connected to said elongated member, and said handle is fixedly secured to said casing, whereby said motor is adapted to directly drive said elongated member in a motorised operation mode of said device, whereas, in a manual operation mode of said device, said handle is adapted, upon rotation thereof, to cause said casing and said elongated member to rotate therewith. 4. A device as defined in Claim 1, wherein said motor is powered by at least one battery provided in said casing . 5. A device as defined in Claim 4, wherein said battery is a rechargeable battery, and wherein a battery charger is provided with said device being adapted to be detachably connected to said battery charger for charging said battery. 6. A device as defined in Claim 5, further comprising at least one battery pack containing said at least one battery . 7. A device as defined in Claim 6, wherein said battery pack is detachably mounted to said casing. 8. A device as defined in Claim 3, wherein said handle comprises proximal and distal ends, said proximal end being adapted to be grasped by the user and said distal end being fixedly mounted to a proximal end of said casing . 9. A device as defined in Claim 8, wherein said casing comprises a holding block, securely mounted in said proximal end of said casing, said distal end of said handle being secured to said holding block by at least one fastener. 10. A device as defined in Claim 8, wherein said proximal end is freely rotatable about a rod of said handle . 11. A device as defined in Claim 1, wherein a gearbox provided in said casing is connected to said motor, an output shaft of said gearbox being fixed to a connector extending outwardly of said casing, said elongated member being adapted to be mounted to said connector such as to be driven by said output shaft. 12. A device as defined in Claim 1, wherein said elongated member comprises at a distal end thereof a hook adapted to detachably be engaged to the awning retracting and extending mechanism. 13. A device as defined in Claim 1, wherein said elongated member comprises at least two rod sections adapted to be detachably mounted together in an end-to- end relation. 14. A device as defined in Claim 1, wherein a three- position switch is provided on said casing for operation of said motor, said switch including idle, forward and reverse positions.

Inventors: PETRONGOLO EMILIO, PETRONGOLO, EMILIO
Applicants: PETRONGOLO EMILIO, PETRONGOLO, EMILIO
Application year: 2001
Main classification: E06B9
IPC codes: E06B9