Patent Publication Number: US-2013235558-A1

Title: Awning roll attachment with illumination and mist

Description:
This invention relates to a retractable awning and particularly an awning roll attachment that provides illumination and mist. 
     BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Retractable (roll-up) awnings are common features on a variety of buildings and recreational vehicles. Roll-up awnings provide shade and protection from wind and rain. It is also common for valances, mosquito nets, lights and other items to be suspended from the awning rolls and support members. Typically, awning rolls have a plurality of longitudinal grooves that are used to secure the awning fabric to the roll, but are also used to support valances and other items suspended from the rolls. While specialized hangers and clips have been developed to assist in suspending such items from an awning roll, hanging such items often create a cluttered appearance, which detracts from the appearance and enjoyment of the awning. 
     The present invention provides an awning roll attachment that mounts directly to the awning roll and includes an internal illumination system and misting system. The awning roll attachment has an elongated body with a concave rear face, which conforms generally to the curvature of the outer diameter of an awning roll tube. An attachment tab extends from the rear surface of the roll attachment, which allows it to be secured to the roll tube using a press fit connection. The illumination system includes a strip of light emitting diodes (LED light strip) or a rope light that is seated within a longitudinal channel formed in an attachment body and is visible through a longitudinal slot that opens into the channel. A power cord connects the embedded LED light strip or rope light to an external power supply. The misting system includes a plurality of misting nozzles that are tapped into bores in the attachment body and are in open communication with an internal fluid passage formed in the attachment body running its entire length. A connection fitting is connected to the fluid passage at one end of the attachment body and an end plug closes the fluid passage at the opposite end of the attachment body. A hose connects an external water supply to the misting system. 
     This invention also includes a storage mounting bracket, which securely holds the awning attachment to a wall, providing a convenient storage mechanism for the attachment when not in use. The combination of the awning attachment and storage mounting bracket of this invention provides a convenient and aesthetically clean appearance to the retractable awning, while also providing illumination and misting. The awning attachment eliminates dangling cords and waterlines along with the clips and hangers used to support those cords and waterlines from the roll tube. The storage mounting brackets provide a convenient and readily accessible storage mechanism, allowing the awning attachment to be stored against a sidewall, so that the storage of the attachment does not occupy other valuable storage space. 
     The above described features and advantages, as well as others, will become more readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art by reference to the following detailed description and accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention may take form in various system and method components and arrangements of system and method components. The drawings are only for purposes of illustrating exemplary embodiments and are not to be construed as limiting the invention. The drawings illustrate the present invention, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the roll attachment of this invention attached to the awning roll of a conventional roll-up awning; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the roll attachment and roll-up awning of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is side sectional view of the roll attachment and roll-up awning of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a partial exploded perspective view of the roll attachment of  FIG. 1  and a mounting bracket affixed to the side of a recreational vehicle; 
         FIG. 5  is a partial exploded perspective view of the roll attachment of  FIG. 1  connected to the mounting bracket of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a side view of the side of a recreational vehicle showing a roll-up awning in the rolled out position with the roll attachment of  FIG. 1  attached to the awning roll and the mounting bracket of  FIG. 4  affixed to the side of a recreational vehicle; 
         FIG. 7  is a side view of the side of a recreational vehicle showing a roll-up awning in the rolled up position with the roll attachment of  FIG. 1  attached to the mounting bracket of  FIG. 4  affixed to the side of a recreational vehicle; 
         FIG. 8  is a side view of the side of a recreational vehicle showing a roll-up awning in the rolled up position with the roll attachment of  FIG. 1  still attached to the awning roll; and 
         FIG. 9  is a partial perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the roll attachment of this invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to the drawings,  FIGS. 1-7  illustrate an embodiment of the awning roll attachment of this invention, which is designated generally as reference numeral  100  and its accompanying storage mounting brackets, which are designated generally as reference numerals  200 . For simplicity of illustration and explanation, awning attachment  10  is shown and described herein used in conjunction with a conventional retractable (roll-up) awning  10  mounted to a recreational vehicle (partially illustrated in  FIGS. 4-7 ). Attachment  100  may be adapted for use with any retractable awning that includes an awning roll tube having an available longitudinal accessory groove. 
     Retractable Awning 
     As shown, retractable awning  10  is attached or mounted to a structure  2 , such as the side wall  2  of a recreational vehicle in this instance. Retractable awning  10  includes a roll assembly  20 , a fabric covering  30  wound around a roll assembly  20  and a pair of telescoping support arms  40  (shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7  only) that support the roll assembly. Roller tube assembly  20  includes an awning roll tube  22 , which houses the internal components of the assembly, such as the drive shaft  28  and torsion spring (not shown). Roll tube  22  is typically made from a rolled or extruded metal, such aluminum. Roll tube  22  has a pair of longitudinal grooves or channels  33 , which facilitate the connection of covering  30  to roll tube  32 . As shown in  FIG. 3 . Cover  30  is typically held to roll tube  22  by rods  23 , that are seated within grooves over cover  30 , which is also seated within the grooves. Roller tube  22  has an additional longitudinal groove  25 , which is commonly used for mounting auxiliary items to roll tube  22 . Roll assembly  20  is support by support arms  40 , which are pivotally connected to side wall  2  for movement between a rolled out (deployed) position ( FIG. 6 ) and a rolled up (storage) position ( FIGS. 7 and 8 ). 
     Attachment 
     Awning roll attachment  100  has an elongated body  102 , which houses an internal illumination system  110  and an internal misting system  120 . Attachment body  102  generally is constructed from a formed or extruded plastic or composite material. Attachment body  102  has a concave rear face  103 , which conforms generally to the curvature of the outer diameter of roll tube  22 . An attachment tab  104  extends from rear surface  103  and runs the length of attachment body  102 . Attachment tab  104  allows roll attachment  100  to be secured to roll tube  22  using a press fit connection. Attachment tab  104  terminates in a bulbous head  105  that is shaped and dimensioned to restrictively fit into auxiliary groove  25  of roll tube  22  ( FIGS. 1 and 3 ). Attachment body  22  also has a longitudinal auxiliary groove  109  formed in its outer face that runs its entire length. Similar to auxiliary groove  25  of roll tube  22 , auxiliary groove  109  allows other items to be connected to roll attachment  100  when it is connected to roll tube  20 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , illumination system  110  includes a strip of light emitting diodes  112  (LED light strip) or rope light (not shown) that is seated within a longitudinal channel  111  formed in attachment body  102 . LED light strip  112  is visible through a longitudinal slot  113  that opens into channel  111 . In alternative embodiments of attachment  100 , attachment body  102  may be made from a transparent plastic that allows LED light strip  112  to be visible therethrough, without slot  113 . LED strip  112  is a plurality of light emitting diodes wired together and embedded in a flat rectangular body of a transparent or translucent polymer material. Such LED light strips are common and well known in the electrical arts. LED light strip  112  includes a power cord  114  that extends from one end of the strip at the end of attachment  100 . LED light strip  110  may also include various other electrical components and circuitry, which are not illustrated or described herein, but which are necessary for the desired operation of illumination system  110  and readily understood by those in the electrical arts. As shown in  FIG. 6 , power cord  114  may be connected to an external power outlet  4  in the sidewall  2  of the recreational vehicle and wrapped around or otherwise secured to support arms  40 , when awning  10  is in the rolled out position. 
     Also shown in  FIG. 3 , misting systems  120  includes a plurality of misting nozzles  122  that are tapped into bores in attachment body  102 . Nozzles  122  are in open communication with an internal fluid passage  121  formed in attachment body  102  that runs its entire length. Nozzles  122  are of conventional design and well know in the arts. Typically, nozzles  122  have a threaded body that allow them to be readily turned into threaded bores in attachment body  102 . A connection fitting  124  is connected to fluid passage  121  at one end of attachment body  102 . An end plug (not shown) closes fluid passage  121  at the opposite end of attachment body  102 . A hose  126  connects the water supply  6  from the recreation vehicle to misting system  120  via connection fitting  124 . Connection fitting  124  and hose  126  may take any form or configuration, which allows the connection of an external water supply to misting system  120  inside attachment body  102 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , awning roll attachment  100  is connected to roll tube  22  when awning  10  is in its deployed position. Once connected to roll tube  22 , power cord  114  and hose  126  can be quickly connected and disconnected from awning roll attachment  100 . As shown, awning roll attachment  100  may remain connected to roll tube  22  when the awning  10  is rolled up into its storage position ( FIG. 8 ) or may be completely detached from roll tube  22  before the awning is rolled up ( FIG. 7 ). If left in place, the awning cover  30  simply wraps around roll tube  22  and awning roll attachment  100 . 
     Mounting Bracket 
       FIGS. 4-7  show two storage mounting brackets  200 , which securely hold awning attachment  100  to sidewall  2  of the recreational vehicle, providing a convenient storage mechanism for the attachment when not in use. Brackets  200  are constructed from a formed or extruded plastic or composite material, but may also be constructed from rolled or extruded metals, such as aluminum. Although two separate brackets are illustrated in the drawings, a single elongated bracket or additional shorter brackets may be used in other embodiments within the teachings of this invention. As shown, brackets  200  have a convex outer face  202  and two opposed flat flanges  204 . The curvature of convex outer face  202  is generally the same as the outer diameter of roll tube  22 . Mounting brackets  200  are affixed to sidewall  2  of the recreational vehicle by screws or other fasteners that extend through flanges  204 . Brackets  200  may also be affixed to sidewall  2  by adhesives or other suitable means. Brackets  200  also have a longitudinal attachment groove  205  formed in their outer face that runs their entire length. As shown, attachment groove  205  receives attachment tab  104  of awning attachment  100  in a press fit engagement to securely hold the awning attachment to sidewall  2  of the recreational vehicle. 
       FIG. 9  illustrates an alternative embodiment of the awning roll attachment of this invention, which is designated generally as reference numeral  300 . Roll Attachment  300  is identical in configuration and construction to roll attachment  100  described above, except that a separate connecting member  310  is used to secure roll attachment  300  to the awning roll. As shown, the concave rear face of attachment body  302  has longitudinal groove or channel  309 , which is similar in configuration and function as grooves  33  in roll tube  22 . Connection member  310  is an elongated member having a flat band  312  that terminates along opposite sides in a bulbous head  314 . When connecting awning roll attachment  300  to a roll tube (not shown in  FIG. 9 ), connection member heads  314  are seated within channel  309  of awning roll attachment  300  and grooves  33  of roll tube  22  in a secure press fit connection. One skilled in the art will note that one or more connection members  310  may be used to secure awning roll attachment  300  to either roll tube  22  or to a mounting bracket  200  as desired. In addition, the length of connection members  310  may vary as desired. For example, a single elongated connection member that extends substantially the length of the awing roll attachment  300  may be used to secure the attachment to roll tube  22 , while multiple shorter connection members may be used for the same purpose. 
     One skilled in the art will note that the combination of the awning attachment and storage mounting bracket of this invention provides a convenient and aesthetically clean appearance to the retractable awning, while also providing illumination and misting. The awning attachment eliminates dangling cords and waterlines along with the clips and hangers used to support those cords and waterlines from the roll tube. The storage mounting brackets provide a convenient and readily accessible storage mechanism. The mounting brackets allow the awning attachment to be stored against a sidewall, so that the storage of the attachment does not occupy other valuable storage space. The press fit connection allows the awning attachment to quickly mount to any conventional roll tube, as well as the storage mounting brackets. In addition, the additional auxiliary groove in the awning attachment allows other items, such as mosquito screens, valances and other lighting fixtures to be simultaneously hung from the attachment, thereby maintaining the original functionality of the retractable awning. 
     The embodiment of the present invention herein described and illustrated is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. It is presented to explain the invention so that others skilled in the art might utilize its teachings. The embodiment of the present invention may be modified within the scope of the following claims.