Abstract:
A tent and an awning assembly, the awning assembly including an awning casing, a leading edge and an awning extending between the awning casing and the leading edge, the tent being arranged under the awning assembly. The awning casing and the leading edge each includes a channel for receiving a tent enabling a double roof configuration.

Description:
FIELD 
       [0001]    An awning assembly comprising an extendable and retractable awning and a tent adapted to be mounted to the awning assembly. The awning assembly comprises an awning casing in which the awning can be wound up, and a displaceable leading edge. The awning assembly enables a double roof configuration by means of the awning and the tent. The tent is adapted to be mounted to the awning in a favorable manner. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Recreational vehicles (RV&#39;s) can advantageously be equipped with an awning. Awnings provide shelter, partly from wind but mainly from rain and sun light. It also provides for an extended comfort zone, or extended living area, although with some limitations. In windy or cold weather conditions, it is sometimes not sufficient to rely on an awning only to provide a comfortable and extended living area outside of the RV or caravan, some occasions may require a tent. 
         [0003]    Tents are per se frequently used to provide comfortable extended living areas outside of RV&#39;s and caravans. Not many solutions however combine the advantages and existing structures of awnings with tents. An attempt to take advantage of an awning assembly is disclosed in the publication of DE19943944A1, Brutsaert Accessories N.V., in which an awning assembly is disclosed. The awning assembly comprises an awning, a leading rail and two support arms for extracting and retracting the awning. A supplementary tent can be mounted to the awning via two bars extending between the caravan and the leading rail. The solution is not very elegant as it requires additional bars and does not permit the use of the whole length of the awning assembly, hence the tent is relatively limited in size. 
         [0004]    The European patent EP 0,657,323 B1 discloses an awning assembly comprising an awning arranged between a roller tube and a leading rail. A pair of support arms enables the leading rail and the awning to be extracted and retracted. The leading rail comprises a lower C channel disposed on the edge of the leading rail for hanging plants, lights, and screen rooms. The solution is however silent of how the advantages of an awning can be combined with the advantages of a tent. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    It is an object of the present invention to provide for an improved tent adapted to be mounted to an awning assembly which at least partly reduces the drawbacks of the above mentioned prior art, or at least provides for a useful alternative. The objects are at least partly met by a tent for an awning assembly. The awning assembly comprises an awning, an awning casing and a leading edge. The tent is adapted to be mounted under the awning. The tent comprises a first tent portion and a second tent portion. The first tent portion comprises at least one elongated element adapted to be inserted into a channel of the awning casing, or in a channel of an awning carrying object, and the second tent portion comprises at least one elongated element adapted to be inserted into a first channel of the leading edge of the awning assembly. 
         [0006]    The tent can easily be positioned in any desired position along the length of the awning assembly. It also enables a quick installation of the tent. As fewer individual components are required, it can generally be considered to be a relative light weight and compact package to transport. The solution does not require any specific arrangements on the awning carrying object itself, other than the mentioned channels. 
         [0007]    Further, as a full tent can be mounted to an awning assembly, a roof portion can be positioned beneath the awning itself, thus providing a double roof configuration, which can be adapted to be a double ventilated roof. It enables a perfect closure between the roof and side walls. It also enables a tent of standard size to be used with substantially any awning assembly, i.e. there is no need to have a tent with substantially the same dimensions as the awning or awning assembly. 
         [0008]    A roof portion can be arranged between the first and the second tent portions, or the tent be formed by side walls only, thus using the awning of the awning assembly as roof 
         [0009]    According to an aspect, the elongated element has a length, and the first and/or second tent portion has a length. The length of the elongated element is equal or substantially equal to the length of the first and/or second tent portion, or optionally to the length of the tent. Optionally, the elongated element can be significantly shorter than the length of the first and/or the second tent portion, in this case, it is advantageous if at least one of the first or the second tent portions has a plurality of elongated elements for insertion into the channel of the leading edge of the awning assembly. 
         [0010]    According to an aspect, the elongated element is a flexible, yet self-sustaining elongated element e.g. formed by a thermoplastic material. 
         [0011]    According to an aspect, the elongated element is arranged in a pocket formed by a part of the first and/or the second tent portions. The pocket can be a tubular pocket having an elongation corresponding to the tent portion or be partitioned into individual tubular pockets. 
         [0012]    According to an aspect, the at least one of the tent portions comprises extension means, such as extension straps, e.g. at least one adjustable extension strap, or similar. This permits a tent of one size to fit awning assemblies of different sizes. The extension straps can advantageously be adjustable extension straps, or be extension straps of a predetermined size. Optionally, the extension means, e.g. the extension straps, straps are arranged between the tent portion, e.g. between the first tent portion, and the elongated element. The elongated element can thus be distal to the tent portion. 
         [0013]    According to an aspect, the invention relates to a tent and an awning assembly. 
         [0014]    According to an aspect, the first tent portion is connected directly to the channel of the awning casing, and the second tent portion is connected directly to the first channel of the leading edge. This enables a large spacious tent relative to the size of the awning assembly. 
         [0015]    The awning assembly is adapted for an awning carrying object, such as a vehicle, caravan and/or building. The awning assembly comprises an awning casing comprising an awning. The awning comprises a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the awning is connected to the awning casing so that the awning can be retracted and extracted from the awning casing, and the distal end of the awning is connected to a leading edge. The awning assembly is adapted to be connected to a tent having a first tent portion, a second tent portion and a roof portion extending between the first and the second tent portion. 
         [0016]    The leading edge comprises a first channel for connection with the first tent portion, and the awning casing comprises a second channel for connection with the second tent portion. The awning assembly permits a complete tent, if desired, to be mounted between the leading edge and the awning casing, without mounting of additional profiles. It thus enables a quick installation of a tent. As fewer individual components are required, it can generally be considered to be a relative light weight and compact package to transport. The solution does not require any specific arrangements on the awning carrying object itself. 
         [0017]    Further, as a full tent can be mounted to the awning, a roof portion can be positioned beneath the awning itself, thus providing a double ventilated roof It enables a perfect closure between the roof and side walls. It also enables a standard size of the tent, i.e. there is no need to have a tent with substantially the same dimensions as the awning. 
         [0018]    According to an aspect, the leading edge has a first longitudinal length, and the first channel of the leading edge has a longitudinal length substantially equal to the first longitudinal length of the leading edge. Although an equal length is desired, the leading edge can be provided with end caps e.g. to temporarily or permanently seal the channels. This enables the option to slide the tent to any desired position along the leading edge, e.g. if the position of e.g. the door or the window require compensation or consideration. A suitable material and manufacturing method to form the leading edge is forming the leading edge by extruding aluminium. 
         [0019]    According to an aspect, the leading edge is adapted to be mounted to the awning carrying object such as a vehicle or caravan or the like, and the awning casing is displaceably arranged to the awning carrying object. A preferred embodiment is when the awning casing is mounted to the awning carrying object and the leading edge is displaceably arranged to the awning carrying object. 
         [0020]    According to an aspect, the awning assembly comprises at least one support arm, e.g. two support arms, extending between the awning casing and the leading edge, the at least one support arm is adapted to displace the leading edge between an extracted position and a retracted position. The displacement can be operated via an electrical motor, or manually via a lever. Each support arm can be formed by two or more bars connected by a pivot joint. 
         [0021]    According to an aspect, the at least one support arm is connected to the leading edge at a position between, or substantially between, the awning and the first channel. This removes any interference the support arms may have on the tent and the draping or stretching of the side walls of the tent. 
         [0022]    According to an aspect, the leading edge comprises a second channel, the distal end of the awning is connected to the second channel of the leading edge. The second channel can be substantially parallel to the first channel of the leading edge. 
         [0023]    According to an aspect, the awning assembly comprises an awning casing, a leading edge and an awning extending between the awning casing and the leading edge. The awning casing and the leading edge each comprise a channel for receiving a tent portion enabling a double roof configuration. 
         [0024]    The channel of the awning casing and the first channel of the leading edge comprises an opening from which the tent portions extends, as described herein, such opening can be formed by having channels with a C-shaped cross section, or a substantially C-shaped cross section, for example. The channel of the awning casing and the first channel of the leading edge are preferably facing towards each other in the sense that the opening of each of the channels are substantially facing each other, or at least facing in a direction towards the tent. The openings are preferably facing towards each other when the awning is extracted. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0025]    Non-limiting embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying Figures in which; 
           [0026]      FIG. 1  shows an awning assembling with a tent, as seen in perspective; 
           [0027]      FIG. 2  shows the awning assembly of  FIG. 1  with a view towards the side; 
           [0028]      FIG. 3  shows the leading edge of the awning assembly of  FIG. 1  in greater detail; 
           [0029]      FIG. 4  shows the channel of the awning casing; 
           [0030]      FIG. 5  shows the underside of the awning, the leading edge and one of the tent portions comprising straps; 
           [0031]      FIG. 6  shows a tent adapted to be mounted to an awning assembly; and 
           [0032]      FIG. 7  shows a cross section of an embodiment of an awning assembly. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0033]      FIG. 1  shows parts of an awning carrying object, in this case a caravan  1  with a roof  2 . An awning assembly  10  comprising an awning  11  is attached in the proximity of the roof  2  of the caravan. The awning assembly  10  is arranged along the length of the caravan  1  in a substantially horizontal position. A tent  3  is attached to the awning assembly  10  providing an extended comfort zone, or extended living area. Examples of awning carrying objects are buildings such as villas, bungalows, vehicles, preferably recreational vehicles (RV&#39;s), caravans or the like. The length L of the awning assembly is indicated in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0034]      FIG. 2  shows the awning assembly  10  and the caravan  1  of  FIG. 1  from the side. 
         [0035]    The awning assembly  10  comprises an awning casing  20  attached to the caravan  1  from which the awning  11  can be extracted and retracted. The awning  11  has a proximal end  23  and a distal end  22 , the proximal end  23  of the awning  11  is attached to the awning casing  20  and the distal end  22  is attached to a leading edge  21 . In the shown embodiment, the leading edge  21  can be displaced with respect to the caravan  1  to extract the awning  11  and thus form a leading edge during such displacement. The leading edge  21  can also be referred to as a leading rail. The awning  11  can be wound up about an axle (not shown) in the awning casing  20  or be attached to the awning casing  20  in any other suitable manner. The awning casing  20  can itself be attached to the caravan  1  using existing means of the caravan  1  such as existing channels for attaching accessories or be attached by other known means such as screws, rivets or bolts. A support arrangement  30  keeps the leading edge  21  in an elevated and appropriate position, it also enables the leading edge  21  to be extracted and retracted. 
         [0036]    The tent  3  comprises a first tent portion  4 , a second tent portion  5  and a roof portion  6  extending between the first and the second tent portion  4 ,  5 , and tent walls  7   a,    7   b,    7   c,    7   d  which delimit the extended living area provided by the tent  3 . The first and the second tent portions  4 ,  5  the angled transition portion between a tent wall and the roof portion  6  of the tent  3 . Optionally, the tent portion  5  can comprise extension means to connect the tent  3  to the awning casing  20 , and/or preferably to the leading edge  21 , permitting the position of the tent  3  to be adjusted with respect to the awning casing  20  and the caravan  1 , and for the roof portion  6  to be tightened. Having extension means permits a tent with a specified size to fit different awning assemblies of different sizes, especially awnings of different sizes. 
         [0037]      FIG. 3  shows the leading edge  21  and parts of the awning  11  in greater detail.  FIG. 3  further shows parts of the support arrangement  30  comprising two support arms  31  and two support legs  32 , however only one of the support arms  31  and one support leg  32  are partly shown in  FIG. 3 . In some embodiments, only one support arm is present. It is also possible to have only one support leg for example. The number of support arms and/or support legs is selected dependent of the weight and the required extension of the awning and sometimes the awning assembly. 
         [0038]    The leading edge  21  comprises, in the shown embodiment, a first and a second channel  41 ,  42  extending along the length of the leading edge  21 . The first channel  41  has an opening  41   a  through which the tent portion can extend after being inserted into the channel. As is noticed, the first and the second channels  41 ,  42  have a C-shaped cross section forming an opening through which the tent portion can extend after being inserted into the channel. Other cross sections are plausible. An important feature of the cross section is that it has an opening, the tent portion can be inserted and retained, and optionally be permitted to slip along the length of the channel. The first channel  41  of the leading edge  21  is specifically adapted to receive the tent portion  5  (not shown in  FIG. 3 ), or extension means attached to the tent portion  5 , such as adjustable extension straps. The first channel  41  extends along the full length of the leading edge  21  and permits adjustment of the position of the tent portion  5  along the length of the leading edge  21  if desirable. 
         [0039]    The second channel  42  of the leading edge  21  is used to attach the distal end  22  of the awning  11 . It should be noted that the distal end  22  of the awning  11  does not necessarily need to be the absolute distal end of the awning  11  but is intended to incorporate embodiments in which the awning  11  might have some minor length of the awning  11  hanging freely from the leading edge  21 , or a similar embodiments. The awning  11  can also be attached to the leading edge  21  by other available means. 
         [0040]    The first channel  41  and the second channel  42  of the leading edge  21  are parallel with respect to each other. The support arms  31  are positioned between the first and the second channels  41 ,  42  of the leading edge  21 . This permits the tent  3  to be positioned in a favorable position. 
         [0041]    In an embodiment, the leading edge  21  is attached to the caravan  1  and the awning casing  20  is displaceable with respect to the leading edge  21 , so that when the awning casing  20  is displaced in a direction away from the caravan  1 , the awning  11  is extracted, and vise verse. Both the awning casing  20  and the leading edge  21  can thus be used to attach a tent portion and to provide for an extended living area. An advantage in some embodiments is that the roof portion  6  of the tent  3  provides additional heat insulation by providing a second roof layer with respect to the awning  11 . 
         [0042]      FIG. 4  shows parts of the awning casing  20  and the awning  11 . The awning casing  20  comprises a channel  50  for receiving the first tent portion  4  of the tent  3 . As is noticed, the channel  50  of the awning casing  20  has a similar cross section as the cross section of the first channel  41  of the leading edge  21  (shown in  FIG. 3 ), in this case a C-shaped cross section. The channel thus has an opening  50   a  through which the tent portion can extend after being inserted into the channel. Other cross sections of the channel are possible, such as L- or T-shaped cross sections or the like. As can be seen in  FIG. 4 , the channel  50  of the awning casing  20  is connected to the awning casing  20  as a separate element, but could be integrally formed with a main body of the awning casing  20 . The opening  50   a  of the channel  50  of the awning casing  20  is facing towards the tent  3 , and in a similar manner, the opening  41   a  of the first channel  41  of the leading edge  21  is facing towards the tent  3 . The openings  41   a,    50   a  of the channels  41 ,  50  are thus facing each other, at least when the awning  11  is extracted as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , to provide for a favourable position of the tent  3 . 
         [0043]      FIG. 5  shows the tent  3 , the underside of the awning  11 , the leading edge  21 , the first channel  41  of the leading edge  21  and one support arm  31 .  FIG. 5  shows an embodiment in which the second portion  5  of the tent  3  is attached to the leading edge  21  of the awning assembly  10  via an adjustable extension strap  60 . In the shown embodiment, the second tent portion  5  of the tent  3  comprises extension means, in this case the adjustable strap  60 , which can be mounted in the channel  41  of the leading edge  21  via a strap mounting member  61 . The strap mounting member  61  can have a plurality of adjustable extension straps  60  permitting the tent  3 , and especially the roof portion  6  of the tent  3  to be tightened between the awning casing  20  and the leading edge  21 . In the shown embodiment, the two adjustable straps  60  are arranged to retain the tent  3 , and especially the second tent portion  5 , to the leading edge  21 . 
         [0044]      FIG. 6  shows a schematic illustration of the tent  3  in greater detail and with the first and the second tent portions  4 ,  5  heavily exaggerated for the purpose of clarity. Each tent portion  4 ,  5  comprise an elongated element  55  and has a length Ltp 1 , Ltp 2 . The elongated element  55  is in this case a rod  56  of thermoplastic material. The elongated element has a length Le which substantially corresponds to the length Ltp 1 , Ltp 2  of the first and the second tent portions  4 ,  5 , of the tent  3 . A part of tent portions  4 ,  5  forms a pocket  57 , in this case a tubular pocket advantageously with a length corresponding to the length Ltp 1 , Ltp 2  of the tent portions  4 ,  5  or of the tent  3 , in which the elongated element  55  can be inserted into. The elongated element  55  can be flexible, but is preferably self-sustaining, e.g. formed by a thermoplastic material such as polypropylene. It is possible however that the elongated element is formed by a wire, or string, such as a piece of rope sewn into the first and/or the second tent portions  4 ,  5 . In cases when wires or strings are used, the elongated element is flexible but not really self-sustaining, as a wire or string collapse by its own weight when laid on e.g. on a flat surface. 
         [0045]    The main function of the elongated elements  55  are to retain the first and the second tent portions  4 ,  5  of the tent  3  to the awning casing  20  and the leading edge  21  of the awning assembly  10 . A completely rigid and stiff elongated element e.g. formed by a stiff stainless steel rod is possible but less preferably due to the weight and cumbersome space required to store such elongated element. 
         [0046]    When assembling the tent  3  with the awning assembly  10 , the first and the second tent portions  4 ,  5  with the pockets  57  and the elongated elements  55  are inserted in each respective channel. The pocket  57  with the elongated elements  55  of the first tent portion  4  is inserted in the channel  50  of the awning casing  20 , while the pocket  57  with the elongated elements  55  of the second tent portion  5  is inserted in the first channel  5  of the leading edge  21 . As an alternative, the first portion  4  of the tent  3  can be mounted directly to a corresponding channel on the awning carrying object (not shown). The tent  3  can be mounted before the awning  11  is extracted or after the awning  11  is extracted. 
         [0047]    If the tent  3  is mounted to the awning assembly  10  when the awning  11  is in a retracted position, the first and the second tent portions  4 ,  5  of the tent  3  will be displaced further away from each other as the awning  11  is extracted. During this procedure, the tent  3  will practically be raised. If the tent  3  is mounted to the awning assembly  10  when the awning assembly  10 , and the awning  11 , is already extracted, it might be appropriate to retract the awning  11  a shorter distance to enable an easy mounting of the tent  3 . The awning assembly  10  can then be used to stretch, or tighten, the tent  3 , and especially the roof portion  6  of the tent  3  by extracting the awning  11  to an extracted position. If at least one of the first and/or the second tent portions  4 ,  5 , comprises extension means, such as one or more adjustable extension straps  60  (as shown in  FIG. 5 ), the tent  3  can easily be mounted when the awning  11  is in the extracted position, and thereafter be stretched, or tightened, by the adjustable extension strap. 
         [0048]      FIG. 6  also shows an alternative embodiment in which adjustable straps  60  are arranged between the second tent portion  5  and elongated elements  55 ′, in  FIG. 6  the adjustable straps  60  are indicated with dashed lines. The embodiment illustrated three elongated elements  55 ′ attached to the second tent portion  5  via three adjustable straps  60 . The number of adjustable straps and elongated elements  55 ′ can advantageously between from  2 - 10 . Instead of adjustable straps  60 , the elongated elements  55 ′ and the extension means, in this case formed by the adjustable straps  60 , can be formed in one unitary piece of material, e.g. by form molding the elongated element  55 ′ with an extension rod. 
         [0049]    It is advantageous if the tent  3 , when mounted to the awning casing and the leading edge of the awning assembly, can be positioned in any desired position along the length L of the awning (shown in  FIG. 1 ). The position of the tent  3  could thus be adjusted to different desires and needs. The channel of the awning casing  20  has a first length and the first channel of the leading edge has a second length. The first length of the channel of the awning casing is substantially equal, or equal, to the second length of the first channel of the leading edge. Furthermore, the first length of the channel of the awning casing and the second length of the first channel of the leading edge are substantially equal, or equal, to the length L of the awning assembly  10 . 
         [0050]      FIG. 7  shows an embodiment of an awning assembly  10  attached to a caravan  1 . The awning assembly  10  is illustrated without the awning for the purpose of clarity. The awning assembly  10  comprises an awning casing  20 , and a leading edge  21 . The awning casing  20  comprises a channel  50 , attached to the caravan  1  via a rail  51 . The leading edge  21  comprises a first channel  41 , in this case formed by the leading edge  21 , i.e. it has been formed in one unitary piece of material with the leading edge  21 .