Patent ID: 7451797

Claim:
An articulated arm for an awning for use with a fixed support member and a load bar, the articulated arm comprising: an arm having a first end and a second end, the first end of the arm including a securing portion adapted for coupling to the fixed support member, the second end of the arm including a surrounding wall portion adapted for articulation; a forearm having a first end and a second end, the first end of the forearm including a core portion adapted for articulation and coupled to the second end of the arm, the core portion having an orifice extending at least partially through the core portion in a direction transverse to a longitudinal direction of the forearm, the second end of the forearm including a portion adapted for articulation and coupling to the load bar, and the surrounding wall portion of the arm at least partially disposed around the core portion; an elastic element disposed within the arm and secured to a predetermined location on the arm; a flexible pulling element disposed within the arm, the flexible pulling element having a first end coupled to the elastic element and a second end coupled to the core portion of the forearm; and bearing means disposed between the core and the surrounding wall, and coaxial with the orifice to guide rotation of the surrounding wall relative to the core portion and to support the forearm on the arm, wherein the surrounding wall portion and the core portion define an annular passage, and the second end of the arm includes an opening between the annular passage and a hollow interior portion of the arm for the passage of the flexible pulling element, said flexible pulling element terminates at the second end in a thickened portion secured to a receiver formed on the core portion, said bearings means include at least one pair of first conical surfaces positioned one of i) adjacent the end or ii) disposed on the end of the core portion, and at least one pair of second conical surfaces are disposed on the first conical surfaces and adapted to slide over the first conical surfaces, the second conical surfaces positioned one of adjacent or immediately adjacent an opening to the interior cavity.