Abstract:
The portable collapsible awning provides a main collapsible frame structure for supporting a canopy, which is easily collapsible and portable, providing transportable protection from the elements. The main collapsible frame structure includes a plurality of vertical supports, which are each pivotally joined to one another by collapsible scissors-like crossbars. The vertical supports define a passageway for pedestrians, and are expandable and collapsible simultaneously in both the lateral and longitudinal directions. An auxiliary frame is further releasably attached at a proximal end to the main collapsible frame structure for supporting a walkway awning. The distal end of the auxiliary frame is adapted for overlying a portion of a roof of a vehicle, creating a covered walkway from the vehicle door to the user&#39;s destination without vertical supports or frame members intermediate the main canopy and the vehicle.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/727,516, filed Oct. 18, 2005. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to portable sheltering structures similar to canopies, umbrellas, tents, etc., and particularly to a portable collapsible awning that includes a canopy and a walkway awning extending from the canopy, and further having an end adapted for resting on a vehicle roof to provide door-to-door protection when entering and exiting the vehicle. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   Covered walkways for protecting users from rain, snow and other inclement weather have been available in a wide variety of configurations for many years. Such walkways are typically in the form of a large umbrella or an awning that is fixed to a building or to the ground in a stationary manner. Although fixed awnings and umbrellas may be collapsed, they are not readily transportable. 
   Portable and collapsible covering systems have been utilized for a variety of purposes, and such systems typically include a plurality of support frame members joined together by cross bars, allowing the frame members to be collapsed and expanded in the longitudinal direction, similar in manner to an accordion. Such systems, however, are only collapsible in one direction and, thus, must be transported in a conveyance or vehicle that is at least as wide as the individual frame members. In order to make such a system easily transportable, the width of each frame member must be reduced, which does not allow the covering to serve a large group of people. 
   Further, such portable coverings are not adapted for use with a vehicle. If it is desired to provide protection from the vehicle&#39;s door to the user&#39;s destination, the frame must be positioned close to the door of the vehicle. The frame, however, would prevent the vehicle door from being fully opened. It would be desirable to provide a system allowing for the free opening of the vehicle door and providing a covered walkway from the door to the user&#39;s destination. Thus, a portable collapsible awning solving the aforementioned problems is desired. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The portable collapsible awning includes a main collapsible frame structure for supporting a canopy. The main collapsible frame is collapsible and portable, adapted for storage and transport in the trunk of a vehicle, and provides transportable protection from the elements. The main collapsible frame structure includes a plurality of vertical supports, which may be in the form of collapsible, telescoping rods. Each of the vertical supports is pivotally joined to one another by collapsible, scissors-like cross bars. The vertical supports define a canopy frame, and are expandable and collapsible simultaneously in both the lateral and longitudinal directions. A retractable wheel is provided on the lower end of each vertical support, allowing the main frame to be easily positioned with respect to the vehicle. 
   An auxiliary frame is further releasably attached at a proximal end to the main collapsible frame structure for supporting a walkway awning. The distal end of the auxiliary frame is adapted for releasable mounting on a roof of a vehicle, creating a covered walkway from the vehicle door to the canopy supported only at the ends of the walkway awning, which may be positioned adjacent a building entrance or other destination. 
   These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is an environmental, side view of a portable collapsible awning according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a side view of the internal frame structure of the portable collapsible awning of the present invention. 
       FIG. 3A  is a front view of the internal frame structure of the portable collapsible awning of the present invention. 
       FIG. 3B  is a front view of the internal frame structure of the portable collapsible awning of the present invention in a partially collapsed state. 
       FIG. 4  is a partially exploded side view of the internal frame structure of the portable collapsible awning of the present invention in a partially collapsed state. 
       FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view of an auxiliary frame structure of the portable collapsible awning according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view of the auxiliary frame structure an auxiliary canopy of the portable collapsible awning according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 7  is a top view of the internal frame structure of the portable collapsible awning according to the present invention. 
   

   Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings. 
   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Now referring to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a portable, collapsible awning, referred to generally as  10  in the drawings, providing easily transportable protection from the elements. Particularly, the portable collapsible awning  10  includes a main support frame  14  for supporting a main canopy, formed from first and second canopy sheets  16  and  18 , and a walkway awning  20  extending from the main canopy, and which is supported on a removable frame, which will be described in further detail below. 
   As best shown in  FIG. 1 , a proximal end of walkway awning  20  is supported by the main support frame  14 , and the distal end rests on the roof of vehicle  12 , thus providing a covered walkway from the vehicle door to the user&#39;s destination while providing clearance for the opening of the vehicle door. Since the walkway awning  20  is only supported at its ends without any intermediate vertical columns or posts, the walkway awning  20  allows the main support frame  14  to be distanced apart from the vehicle, leaving ample space for the opening of the vehicle door, while providing a continuous covered walkway for the user. A magnet  21  or any other suitable means for releasable attachment may be mounted to awning  20 , if desired, for securing the awning  20  to the roof of the vehicle. Preferably, magnet  21  is covered with cloth or other covering material for preventing scratches or other damage to the roof of the vehicle. The magnet  21  may be secured to the awning  20  by any suitable process, dependent upon the needs and desires of the user. 
   As will be described in further detail below, the main support frame  14  is collapsible in the vertical, lateral and longitudinal directions. Further, walkway awning  20  is removable from the main support frame  14 . The nature of the collapsible awning  10  allows the awning  10  to be easily transported and set up both quickly and efficiently. When not in use, portable, collapsible awning  10  may be stored in the trunk of the vehicle  12 , either on its own or in a separate container or bag. The portable, collapsible awning  10  may be manufactured in any size, depending upon the needs and desires of the user. In the preferred embodiment, the frame  14 , in its expanded state, is approximately nine feet long in the lateral direction and approximately sixteen to eighteen feet long in the longitudinal direction, thus providing enough space for several people to fit underneath the awning  10 . 
   Canopy sheets  16  and  18  and the walkway awning  20  are formed from lightweight, waterproof materials, such as canvas, nylon, vinyl, plastic or the like. Canopy sheets  16 ,  18  and walkway awning  20  may have indicia printed thereon, or may include decorative elements, such as the frill border shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     FIG. 2  shows the internal frame structure of the portable, collapsible canopy  10 , without the canopy sheets  16 ,  18  or the walkway awning  20 . The main frame structure is formed from a plurality of vertical supports  22 , which may be telescoping rods, allowing for the collapse of awning  10  in the vertical direction, as will be described in further detail below. A wheel  28  is mounted on the lower end of each vertical support  22 , allowing the support frame  14  to be selectively positioned and transported by the user. As best shown in  FIG. 4 , each wheel  28  is retractable within a respective wheel housing  26 . The retraction of wheels  28  within wheel housings  26  allows the frame  14  to be stably positioned and, further, aids in the transport of awning  10  when awning  10  is in its collapsed state. Further, if desired, the assembled awning  10  can be moved by the users during use; i.e., the users could stand underneath the awning  10  and move the awning  10  as they walked, thus providing a mobile covering. 
   The structural elements of support frame  14 , including vertical supports  22 , are formed from lightweight, strong and non-corrosive materials, such as aluminum, plastic or the like. As best shown in  FIG. 3A , the positioning of vertical supports  22  when main support frame  14  is in its expanded state defines a passage or walkway for the user. 
   Each vertical support  22  has a handle  24  pivotally joined thereto, providing hand grips for the user to position the awning  10 . Each handle  24  may be pivoted back into a vertical storage position when not in use, as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
   As shown in the side view of  FIG. 2  and the top view of  FIG. 7 , adjacent vertical supports  22  are joined to one another, in the longitudinal direction, by a pair of cross bars  34 ,  36 . The upper ends of each cross bar  34 ,  36  are pivotally secured to the upper ends of vertical supports  22  by pivot pins  74 . The lower ends of each cross bar  34 ,  36  are pivotally secured to sliding rings  32 , which are slidably mounted on vertical supports  22 . 
   Each cross bar  34  is pivotally joined at its center to a respective cross bar  36  by pivot pin  38 , to form a pivoting, scissors-like connection. As best shown in the partially collapsed view of  FIG. 4 , the pivoting scissors-like interconnection of cross bars  34 ,  36  and the slidable mounting of sliding rings  32  allows the frame  14  to be easily collapsed and expanded in the longitudinal direction. Further, an upper horizontal support is mounted to the upper ends of vertical supports  22 , extending in the longitudinal direction. As best shown in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 7 , each longitudinal support of frame  14  includes a pair of pivotally joined support bars  40 ,  42 . The longitudinally opposed ends of support bars  40 ,  42  are pivotally secured to opposed vertical supports  22  by pivot pins  74 , and support bars  40 ,  42  are pivotally joined to one another by pivot pin  44 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , when the frame  14  is in a collapsed state, support bars  40 ,  42  pivot downwardly in order to conserve space, thus maintaining the transportable profile of frame  14 . 
   As shown in the front view of  FIG. 3A , the vertical supports  22  are joined to one another in the lateral direction in a similar manner to that described above with respect to the longitudinal direction. The upper ends of cross bars  56 ,  58  are pivotally joined to the upper ends of vertical supports  22  by pivot pins  75 , similar to the pivotal connection of pivot pins  74 , described above. Cross bars  56 ,  58  are joined to one another at their centers by pivot pin  60 , pivotally joining cross bars  56 ,  58  in a scissors-like configuration. 
   The lower ends of cross bars  56 ,  58  are pivotally secured to sliding rings  30 , which are mounted on vertical supports  22 . As shown, sliding rings  30  are positioned below sliding rings  32  and, as illustrated in  FIG. 3B  and  FIG. 4 , sliding rings  30  and  32  move up and down on vertical supports  22  simultaneously, thus providing for the simultaneous expansion and collapse of frame  14  in both the longitudinal and lateral directions. This simultaneous collapse and expansion in both directions allows for the optimally efficient set up and collapse of the awning  10 . 
   Similar to the longitudinal horizontal supports  40 ,  42  described above, a lateral horizontal support, formed from support bars  62 ,  64 , is mounted on the upper ends of vertical supports  22  in the lateral direction. Support bars  62 ,  64  are pivotally mounted to vertical supports  22  at their opposed ends by pivot pins  75 , and are pivotally joined to one another by pivot pin  66 . As shown in  FIG. 3B , in the collapsed state, support bars  62 ,  64  pivot downwardly, similar to the pivoting of support bars  40 ,  42 , in order to minimize the size of frame  14  in its collapsed and portable state. 
   As best shown in  FIG. 2 , canopy supports  46 ,  48  are provided for supporting, respectively, canopy sheets  16 ,  18 . Each canopy support is pivotally mounted to a vertical support  22  at its lower end by pivot pin  74 . Canopy supports  46 ,  48  are not joined to one another. Each support  46 ,  48  has an upper edge contoured in such a manner that the upper edges abut one another, but are not fastened to one another, the supports  46 ,  48  forming a gabled or arched roof frame. This allows canopy supports  46 ,  48  to be pivoted downwardly, as shown in  FIG. 4 , when it is desired to place awning  10  in its collapsed state. 
   As best shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , walkway awning  20  is mounted on a pair of lateral supports  50 ,  54  and a pair of longitudinal supports  52 . Lateral support  50  is mounted to the upper ends of vertical supports  22  opposite support bars  62 ,  64 . The lateral support  50  is releasably mounted to support frame  14  through the use of hooks, latches or other suitable releasable fasteners. During collapse of awning  10 , lateral support  50  is removed from frame  14 , allowing for the collapse of the awning  10  and the separation and separate storage of walkway awning  20  and supports  52 ,  54 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 5 , lateral support  50  includes a pair of recesses  68  for removably receiving the proximal ends of longitudinal supports  52 . Similarly, lateral support  54  includes a matching pair of recesses  70  for receiving the distal ends of longitudinal supports  52 . Each longitudinal support  52  may be a spring-loaded telescoping rod or tension rod, allowing for the efficient collapse and assembly of awning  10 . 
   Lateral support  54  is permanently fixed to the distal end of walkway awning  20 . As best seen in  FIG. 7 , the main frame forms a U-shaped configuration having an open mouth immediately below and to the left of lateral support  50 . Thus, during disassembly lateral support  50 , longitudinal supports  52  and the walkway awning  20  with the lateral support  54  are stored separately. In use, lateral support  54  rests on the roof of vehicle  12 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , a hook member  72  is formed on the proximal end of walkway awning  20 , allowing for releasable engagement of walkway awning  20  with lateral support  50 . 
   Walkway awning  20  with the lateral support  54 , lateral support  50  and the longitudinal supports  52  are all separable and may be stored and transported separately, allowing for the quick and efficient assembly and knock-down of the awning  10 . Frame  14  is, further, collapsible in the vertical, lateral and longitudinal directions, allowing for the efficient assembly and collapse of the entire awning  10 , which may be easily transported and stored in, for example, the trunk of vehicle  12 . The separate parts of the collapsed and disassembled awning  10  may, alternately, be stored in a bag or other storage container. The awning  10  provides a covered walkway from the vehicle door to the user&#39;s destination and is appropriate for use at weddings, proms, formal occasions, vehicle valet stations, funerals or any other event, locale or occasion where a covered walkway would be necessary or desired. 
   It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.