Patent ID: 7604036

Claim:
A retractable awning for mounting on a support surface and movable between extended and retracted positions, said awning comprising in combination: a roll bar; an awning canopy having distal and proximal edges parallel to said support surface, said distal edge being secured to said roll bar about which said canopy can be wrapped in the retracted position of the awning, a retractable support structure adapted to be operatively connected at one end to said support surface and at an opposite end to said roll bar for moving said canopy between said extended and retracted positions, and a flexible connection system adapted to operatively interconnect said proximal edge of said canopy to said support surface, said connection system including a flexible strip of material having parallel distal and proximal edges and a semi-rigid elongated one-piece cover of generally semicylindrical cross-sectional configuration having an arcuate curvature slightly greater than 180° and first and second opposed longitudinal edges, said first edge of said cover being secured to said proximal edge of said canopy and said second edge of said cover being secured to said distal edge of said flexible strip, said proximal edge of said flexible strip being adapted to be secured to said support surface, whereby when said awning is moved from said extended to said retracted position, said canopy wraps around said roller and said roller is tucked into and gripped by said semicylindrical cover.