Patent ID: 8256486

Claim:
A bow system for a retractable awning having a base member and a lead member that is retractably extendable to move between an extended position in which an awning sheet is supported in a cantilevered manner between the base member and the lead member and a retracted position, the lead member coupled to the base member by a pair of extendable arms, the bow system comprising: a pair of couplers, each coupler having a base portion configured to engage a portion of a respective one of the pair of extendible arms of the awning and having a bow support portion coupled to the base portion to move relative the base portion during extension and refraction of the awning; and a bow coupleable at intermediate positions along a longitudinal length thereof to the pair of extendible arms of the awning by the pair of couplers, the bow including a bow member configured to flex into a curved configuration as the awning moves from the retracted position to the extended position, and the bow including a tension device coupled between opposing ends of the bow member to assist in moving the bow member to the curved configuration as the awning moves toward the extended position.