Abstract:
A raintrough support clip includes a generally cylindrical main body made from an elastically resilient material, and having a circumferential gap to facilitate mounting around an awning reel having a flexible valance sheet extending downward from the outer edge of the awning reel. The raintrough support clip also has an outrigger member extending outwardly from a lower region of the main body, with an upturned portion forming a generally U-shaped space between the outrigger and the main body. When a suitable number of the raintrough support clips are mounted along the length of the awning reel, the valance sheet may be readily deformed to form a rainwater drainage trough for receiving runoff from the awning. The drainage trough thus formed will carry runoff to one or both ends of the awning reel, thereby preventing the runoff from falling over the awning reel and forming a runoff curtain therebelow.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation, pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 120, of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/763,382, filed on Apr. 20, 2010, and said earlier application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for continuity of disclosure. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates in general to methods and apparatus for controlling rainwater runoff from roll-up awnings for trailers and other recreational vehicles. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    It is common for a recreational vehicle (RV) such as a trailer, camper, or motor home to be fitted with an awning assembly that can be deployed when the RV is parked to provide shade and rain protection for an area adjacent to the parked RV. The awning assembly can be retracted and stowed against the side of the RV when not in use, such as when the RV is in transit. U.S. Pat. No. 4,077,419 (Lux) illustrates one example of a prior art RV awning assembly. 
         [0004]    A typical RV awning assembly includes an elongate awning reel, each end of which is rotatably connected to the upper end of a telescoping strut, the lower end of which is rotatably connected to a lower region of a sidewall of the RV. A rectangular awning sheet, typically made from a waterproof or water-resistant fabric, has an upper edge that is attached to an upper region of the RV sidewall, and a parallel lower edge attached to the awning reel. The assembly is provided with springs or other biasing means effective to cause the awning sheet to roll up around the awning reel when the struts and awning reel are rotated toward the RV sidewall. 
         [0005]    Such RV awning assemblies commonly incorporate a fabric-type valance sheet which is typically integral or contiguous with the awning sheet and hangs down over the awning reel. The valance provides a partial sunshade, and may also add aesthetic appeal. The assembly is configured such that the deployed awning always slopes toward the reel, such that rain falling on the awning will naturally flow toward the reel and then over the valance. 
         [0006]    Awning assemblies as described above enhance RV owners&#39; enjoyment of their RVs by allowing them to sit outside in dry comfort during rain showers. In such conditions, however, a rainwater runoff curtain forms directly below and along the full length of the awning reel and valance. Persons sitting under the awning during a rain shower may often wish to step out of the awning-protected area for one reason or another in spite of the rain, but if they exit this area under the awning reel they typically have to pass through the runoff curtain (because exiting under the sloping side edges of the awning is typically inconvenient or impossible due to the awning reel support struts). Accordingly, they will be susceptible to a soaking from the runoff curtain that will be considerably more concentrated than the rainfall itself, due to the fact that the runoff curtain concentrates all of the rain falling over the entire surface area of the awning. 
         [0007]    In addition, the runoff curtain creates a wet and often muddy zone on the ground surface below and along the length of the awning reel. For persons entering or exiting the awning-protected area during or after a rain shower, this wet/muddy zone presents an inconvenience at best and a slipping hazard at worst. 
         [0008]    A further inconvenience caused by a runoff curtain below an awning reel is that it impairs the view of persons sitting under the awning, and this impairment of course increases with rainfall intensity. 
         [0009]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,488,069 (Mashaw et al.) and corresponding Canadian Patent No. 2,353,299 represent one example of a prior art attempt to control rainwater runoff from an RV awning assembly. Mashaw teaches an awning assembly with a mechanism adapted to automatically lower one sloping side edge of the awning when a predetermined weight of water has collected on the awning, such that the awning is temporarily deformed to create a channel to divert and drain the accumulated water toward the lowered side edge of the awning, whereupon springs return the awning to its original position. However, this apparatus is mechanically complex, with various moving parts that are prone to wear and possible malfunction. Moreover, it does not address the aforementioned problems of a concentrated runoff curtain under the lower edge of the awning, except on a brief and intermittent basis, and it produces a concentrated runoff stream that is simply dumped onto the ground in an adjacent area. 
         [0010]    Another prior art approach to controlling RV awning runoff is the “Dippy Gutter” system sold by Dippy Gutter, LLC of Riverside, Ala. In accordance with this system, a gutter formed of fabric is attached along the lower edge of an existing RV awning (i.e., adjacent the awning reel), with the gutter draining into a flexible downspout at one end of the gutter. This system will effectively prevent the formation of a runoff curtain below the awning reel, but it has certain practical drawbacks. Each “Dippy Gutter” must be custom-fit to the length of the RV awning in question, and the existing awning assembly needs to be modified to receive the fasteners that are required for attaching the gutter. When not in use, the “Dippy Gutter” can be rolled up for storage, but first it has to be dried out, and when in storage it takes up a significant amount of space that might otherwise be used for other purposes. 
         [0011]    For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for improved apparatus and methods for controlling rainwater runoff from RV awnings, and in particular for preventing the formation of a runoff curtain under the lower edge of an RV awning, preferably with apparatus having no moving parts. There is a further and related need for such apparatus and methods that also facilitate removal and diversion of awning runoff to a disposal area a reasonable distance away from the awning assembly. The present invention is directed to these needs. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0012]    In one aspect, the present invention provides a raintrough support bracket or “clip” that is removably mountable to the cylindrical awning reel of an RV awning assembly of the type incorporating an awning sheet connected or fastened to the awning reel along a longitudinal awning connection line, plus a valance sheet extending downward from the awning reel. The raintrough support clip (or simply, “raintrough clip”) is configured to facilitate deformation of the valance to form a rainwater drainage trough (or “raintrough”) hen a number of raintrough clips are mounted or “clipped” onto the awning reel as explained and illustrated herein. Rainwater flowing downward over the awning will therefore flow into the raintrough thus formed, rather than flowing over the awning reel. 
         [0013]    In one embodiment, the present invention provides a raintrough support clip, for mounting around the awning reel of a recreation vehicle awning assembly of the type having:
       (a) an awning sheet anchored to an elongate awning reel along a longitudinal awning connection line; and   (b) a flexible valance sheet extending downward from the outer edge of the awning reel;
 
said raintrough support clip comprising:
   (c) a generally cylindrical main body having a circumferential gap extending between an upper longitudinal edge and a lower longitudinal edge; and   (d) an outrigger member cantilevering outward from a lower region of the main body, said outrigger member having an upturned portion and forming a generally U-shaped space between the outrigger member and the main body;
 
such that the main body is elastically deformable for mounting around the awning reel with the upper longitudinal edge of the main body disposed under the awning sheet of the awning assembly, adjacent to the awning connection line.
       
 
         [0018]    After a suitable number of raintrough support clips have been mounted along the length to the awning reel, the valance sheet may be readily deformed to form a generally U-shaped raintrough along the outer edge of the awning reel and supported by the outrigger members. The weight of the awning and the raintrough support clips will induce rotational forces urging the upper longitudinal edge of the main body against the awning connection line, thus stabilizing the raintrough support clips and the raintrough formed by the valance sheet. 
         [0019]    In a second aspect, the present invention provides a method of controlling rainwater runoff from an RV awning/valance assembly by deforming the valance to form a raintrough using raintrough support clips in accordance with the aforesaid first aspect of the invention. In accordance with one embodiment, the invention provides a method of forming a raintrough from the valance sheet of a recreation vehicle awning assembly of the type having: an awning sheet anchored to an elongate awning reel along a longitudinal awning connection line; and a flexible valance sheet extending downward from the outer edge of the awning reel; wherein the method comprises the steps of:
       (a) providing a plurality of raintrough support clips, each said raintrough support clip comprising:
           a.1 a generally cylindrical main body having a circumferential gap extending between an upper longitudinal edge and a lower longitudinal edge, said main body being made from an elastically-resilient material; and   a.2 an outrigger member cantilevering outward from a lower region of the main body, said outrigger member having an upturned portion and forming a generally U-shaped space between the outrigger member and the main body; and   
           (b) mounting each raintrough support clip to the awning reel in a selected location along the length thereof, by:
           b.1 elastically spreading the upper and lower longitudinal edges of the raintrough support clip&#39;s main body sufficiently to allow the main body to be disposed around the awning reel; and   b.2 disposing the raintrough support clip&#39;s main body around the awning reel in a selected location along the length thereof, such that the upper longitudinal edge of the main body is disposed under the awning sheet adjacent to the awning connection line; and   
           (c) deforming the valance sheet into the U-shaped spaces of the outrigger members of the raintrough support clips, to form a raintrough adjacent to the awning reel such that rainwater falling upon the awning sheet will flow into said raintrough.       
 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0027]    Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying figures, in which numerical references denote like parts, and in which: 
           [0028]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a prior art RV awning/valance assembly. 
           [0029]      FIG. 2  is an isometric view of a prior art RV awning/valance assembly as in  FIG. 1 , illustrating the runoff curtain that develops when rain falls on the awning. 
           [0030]      FIG. 3  is an isometric view of a prior art RV awning/valance assembly as in  FIG. 1 , fitted with raintrough clips in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0031]      FIG. 4  is an isometric view of the assembly of  FIG. 3 , further fitted with a raintrough extension in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention. 
           [0032]      FIG. 5  is an isometric view of a raintrough clip in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0033]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view through an RV awning reel, awning, and valance, with a raintrough clip in accordance with  FIG. 5  fitted to the awning reel. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0034]      FIG. 1  illustrates a common type of prior-art awning assembly  100  for a recreational vehicle (RV)  200 . Awning assembly  100  comprises an elongate awning reel  110 , each end of which is rotatably connected to the upper end  122  of a telescoping strut  120 , the lower end  124  of which is rotatably connected to a lower region of a sidewall of RV  200 . Awning assembly  100  also includes: a pliable and typically rectangular awning sheet  130  having an upper edge  132  that is fastened to an upper sidewall region of RV  200 ; a parallel lower edge  134  fastened or otherwise anchored to awning reel  110 ; and sloping side edges  136 . A pliable valance sheet  140 , typically contiguous or integral with awning sheet  130 , extends downward alongside the outer side of awning reel  110 , such that rainwater flowing over awning sheet  130  toward lower edge  134  thereof will thence flow down the face of valance sheet  140 . 
         [0035]    When deployed as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , awning assembly  100  acts as a sun and rain shield for a protected area  210  adjacent to RV  200 . Persons wanting to use protected area  210  will usually prefer to enter and exit protected area  210  by passing under awning reel  110 , as schematically illustrated by traffic flow arrows A in  FIG. 1 . Access into and out of protected area  210  in side regions  220  beneath sloping side edges  136  of awning sheet  130  will typically be difficult and even potentially hazardous due to the obstacles represented by the telescoping struts  120 , which extend diagonally across the area below side edges  136 . 
         [0036]      FIG. 2  graphically illustrates the formation of a rainwater runoff curtain RC below valance  140  due to rainfall upon awning sheet  130 . Persons walking under valance  140  (as indicated by traffic flow arrows A) during a rain shower must pass through runoff curtain RC, which constitutes a flow of water having a concentration or intensity greater than that of the rain shower, and which therefore causes correspondingly greater discomfort. 
         [0037]      FIGS. 3 ,  4 , and  5  illustrate how the formation of a runoff curtain below an RV awning reel can be prevented using raintrough clips  10  in accordance with the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 4 , raintrough clip  10  comprises a main body  12  in the form of an open-ended cylindrical tube having a discontinuous circumference such that main body  12  is generally “C-shaped” in cross section, with an upper longitudinal edge  14  and a lower longitudinal edge  16 . The arcuate or angular length of the discontinuity or gap G between upper and lower edges  14  and  16  will depend on the configuration and construction details of the particular awning/valance assembly that the raintrough clips  10  are to be mounted on. Main body  12  of raintrough clip  10  is made from a reasonably stiff but elastically-deformable material (such as but not limited to polyvinylchloride (PVC) or other suitable plastic material), and has an inside diameter corresponding (more or less) to the outer diameter of the awning reel  110  in question, such that main body  12  can be elastically deformed to fit around a lower region of awning reel  110  below awning sheet  130 , generally as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0038]    Raintrough clip  10  also incorporates an outrigger member  18  having an upper end  18 U and a lower end  18 L, with lower end  18 L being rigidly connected to and cantilevering from a selected point in a lower region of main body  12 . In preferred embodiments, outrigger  18  will be formed integrally with main body  12  (for example, as a unitary plastic molding). However, other known means and methods (for example: welding, adhesives, chemical bonding) may alternatively be used to provide sufficient connective rigidity between lower end  18 L of outrigger  18  and main body  12 . 
         [0039]    As shown in  FIG. 4 , outrigger  18  is configured so as to extend outward and away from main body  12 , such that upper end  18 U of outrigger  18  is at a higher elevation than lower end  18 L when raintrough clip  10  is mounted to awning reel  110 , thus forming a generally U-shaped space between outrigger  18  and main body  12 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 , outrigger  18  is formed with a smooth curvature to achieve this generally U-shaped configuration. However, such curvature is not essential, and in alternative embodiments outrigger  18  may incorporate straight or rectilinear segments, with or without curved segments. In  FIGS. 4 and 5 , lower end  18 L of outrigger  18  is shown as being substantially tangential to the outer diameter of awning reel  110 , but this is a matter of preference rather than necessity. In alternative embodiments, the angular orientation of lower end  18 L of outrigger  18  relative to awning reel  110  may be other than tangential, and all such alternative embodiments are intended to be within the scope of the present invention. 
         [0040]      FIG. 5  shows a raintrough clip  10  mounted to an awning reel  110  in accordance with the present teachings. For illustration purposes, awning reel  110  is shown as having a first longitudinal channel  112  for retainingly receiving a welt or seam  133  formed into lower edge  134  of awning sheet  130 , thus providing the awning-to-reel connection required in order for awning  130  to roll up around reel  110  during retraction of awning assembly  100 . As well, awning reel  110  is shown with a second longitudinal channel  114  for retainingly receiving a welt or seam  143  formed into valance sheet  140 . Raintrough clip  10  mountable to awning reel  110  by elastically spreading upper and lower longitudinal edges  14  and  16  of main body  12  to widen gap G between upper and lower edges  14  and  16  of main body  12  enough to allow main body  12  to be slipped over awning reel  110 . The spreading force on edges  14  and  16  of main body  12  may then be released, whereupon main body  12  will elastically rebound into position around a portion of awning reel  110  as shown in  FIG. 5 . Raintrough clip  10  may then be rotated such that upper longitudinal edge  14  of main body  12  is disposed under awning sheet  130  adjacent to first longitudinal channel  112  and awning seam  133  as shown in  FIG. 5  (although gravity will tend to urge main body  12  into this position in any event, as discussed later herein). 
         [0041]    When a suitable number of raintrough clips  10  have been installed along the length of awning reel  110 , as shown by way of example in  FIG. 3 , valance sheet  140  may be readily deformed as shown in  FIG. 5  to form a rainwater drainage trough (or “raintrough”)  145  lying in the generally U-shaped space between outriggers  18  and main bodies  12  of raintrough clips  10 . Therefore, rainwater flowing downward over awning sheet  130  will be directed into raintrough  145 , which will carry the rainwater to a disposal point at either end of awning reel  110 . Drainage toward a preferred end of awning reel  110  may be achieved by differential adjustment of telescoping arms  120  such that one end of awning reel  110  will be lower than the other end. Alternatively, raintrough clips  10  may be provided in different sizes, with slight variations in the configuration of outrigger  18 , such that raintrough  145  will be formed with a slope or “fall” tending to direct run-off toward a selected end of raintrough  145 . 
         [0042]    The weight of the valance material resting on outriggers  18 , not to mention the weight of any rainwater flowing into raintrough  145 , will induce rotational forces tending to keep upper longitudinal edges  14  of main bodies  12  securely disposed in the crevice-like space between awning reel  110  and awning sheet  130 , thereby stabilizing the position of raintrough  145  relative to awning assembly  100 . The installed position of lower longitudinal edges  16  of main bodies  12  relative to awning reel  110  is therefore not critical. 
         [0043]    Persons skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the raintrough clip of the present invention can be readily adapted for mounting to awning reels having a construction different from that of awning reel  110  in  FIG. 5 . For example, in other types of awning reels there may be only a single point or longitudinal connection or anchorage line between the awning/valance and the reel (rather than two connection/anchorage lines as in  FIG. 5 ), and other types of awning reels may use different means of connecting the awning/valance to the reel (rather than the seam-in-channel means illustrated in  FIG. 5 ). Of necessity, however, there will always be some point or line of connection between the awning/valance and the reel, thereby providing a reaction point for upper longitudinal edges  14  of outriggers  18  to bear against and thus stabilize the position of raintrough  145  relative to awning reel  110 . 
         [0044]    When it is desired to retract awning assembly  100 , it is a simple matter to remove raintrough clips  10  by pulling them off of and away from awning reel  110 . 
         [0045]      FIG. 6  illustrates how rainwater runoff will flow by gravity from awning sheet  130  into raintrough  145 , as conceptually indicated by flow arrows F. In the exemplary arrangement shown in  FIG. 6 , raintrough  145  slopes toward one end of awning reel  110 , with an optional raintrough extension  20  being provided to direct the runoff to a disposal or collection point beyond the end of awning reel  110 . Raintrough extension  20  has an inner end  22  which will be disposed underneath raintrough  145 , and an outflow end  24 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , one end of raintrough  145  may optionally be downwardly deflected to optimize runoff flow from raintrough  145  into raintrough extension  20 . However, persons skilled in the art will appreciate that raintrough extension  20  can also be readily mounted to a raintrough  145  not having a downward deflection at one end, without detracting from its effectiveness in carrying runoff away from raintrough  145 . 
         [0046]    By way of non-limiting example, raintrough extension  20  may be provided in the form of a length of conventional metal or PVC eavestroughing. Raintrough extension  20  may be suspended from awning reel  110  (and/or from one or more raintrough clips  10 ) by means of suitable hanger straps  30  and fastening means (sheet metal screws, for example). 
         [0047]    It will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications of the present invention may be devised without departing from the scope and teaching of the present invention, including modifications which may use equivalent structures or materials hereafter conceived or developed. It is to be especially understood that the invention is not intended to be limited to any described or illustrated embodiment, and that the substitution of a variant of a claimed element or feature, without any substantial resultant change in the working of the invention, will not constitute a departure from the scope of the invention. It is also to be appreciated that the different teachings of the embodiments described and discussed herein may be employed separately or in any suitable combination to produce desired results. 
         [0048]    In this patent document, any form of the word “comprise” is to be understood in its non-limiting sense to mean that any item following such word is included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be one and only one such element. Any use of any form of the terms “connect”, “engage”, “couple”, “attach”, or any other term describing an interaction between elements is not meant to limit the interaction to direct interaction between the subject elements, and may also include indirect interaction between the elements such as through secondary or intermediary structure. Relational terms such as “parallel”, “perpendicular”, “coincident”, “intersecting”, and “equidistant” are not intended to denote or require absolute mathematical or geometrical precision. Accordingly, such terms are to be understood as denoting or requiring substantial precision only (e.g., “substantially parallel”) unless the context clearly requires otherwise.