US2690796A - Combination awning - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 5, 1954 Filed July 13. 1955 R. 5. WOQDA RD COMBINATION AWNING 2 Sheets-Sheet l WW. Frrazmeys Oct. 5, 1954 R. s. WOODARD 2,690,796

COMBINATION AWNING Filed July 13. 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG] Patented Oct. 5, 1 954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COMBINATION AWNING Roy S. Woodard, St. Louis, Mo. Application July 13, 1953, Serial No. 367,595

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to combination awnings in which a permanently mounted canopy supports a fabric curtain. While its use is by no means confined thereto, the awning of this invention has particular application in combination with an outwardly swinging casement window.

Awnings now in general use have certain common disadvantages particularly when they are used over outwardly swinging casement windows. They are mounted high above the window frame to clear the windows when they are swung outwardly, and the awnings extend so far outwardly as unduly to shade the windows and to look ill-proportioned. Fabric awnings, while foldable, have, in their folded position, deep horizontal pockets which catch water and tend to sag below the top of the window. Metal awnings are permanently mounted and when they provide sufficient shade for the bright summertime, produce gloomy darkness in winter.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a combination awning wherein a simple, shade-producing, fabric curtain is supported by a permanent canopy in such a way as to be readily mounted and demounted, and when demounted is constructed to roll into a compact package for shipping or storage.

Another object is to provide a fabric curtain which is constructed and mounted in such a way that lateral movement of the curtain is minimized.

Another object is to provide a combination awning wherein a fabric curtain is self-storing beneath a permanent canopy to which the curtain is attached.

Another object is to provide a combination awning which affords ventilation between a fabric curtain and a permanent canopy from which the fabric curtain depends.

Another object is to provide a combination awning wherein a fabric curtain, folded in a selfstoring position beneath a permanent canopy, is stretched taut along the underside of the canopy and forms no water-catching pockets in that position.

Other objects will become apparent to those skilled in the art in the light of the following description and accompanying drawing.

In accordance with this invention, generally stated, a combination awning is provided in the form of a permanent canopy and a fabric curtain depending from that canopy. The permanent canopy may be a metal canopy similar in form to ones now known, a metal canopy of the character of one of the illustrative embodiments of this invention described hereafter or even overhanging eaves or a marquee type canopy. The fabric curtain may flare outwardly beyond the outermost edge of the permanent canopy, or it may hang substantially vertically. In either event it is provided with lower and upper rods, so constructed and arranged as to permit their being folded along a long edge of that curtain and the curtains being rolled to form a small compact package. The fabric curtain is mounted beneath the permanent canopy and is spaced inwardly therefrom to provide a ventilating space therebetween.

The fabric curtain is so constructed with respect to the permanent canopy as to fold beneath the canopy with a center section of the fabric curtain stretched taut beneath the permanent canopy and with side sections of the fabric curtain either neatly folded in a triangular piece without wrinkles, or else wrinkled to form vertical channels in which water cannot stand.

The fabric curtain is of substantially, uniform Width and therefore is cheaply and easily made.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a View in perspective of an awning constructed in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of this invention mounted on a wall above a double, vertically-pivoted, outwardly swinging casement window, in accordance with this invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional View taken along the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view similar to that of Figure 2, showing the fabric curtain in folded position;

Figure 4 is a view in rear elevation, showing the interior side of the casement window shown in Figure l, with the awning in place;

Figure 5 is a view in perspective, showing demountable rods mounted along upper edges of the fabric curtain;

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of Figure 1;

Figure '7 is a View in perspective, of another embodiment of this invention;

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken along the line 88 of Figure '7;

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken along the line 99 of Figure 8;

Figure 10 is a detailed view in perspective, of a hinged corner of a U-shaped rod; and

Figure 11 is a detailed view in perspective, of a curtain mounting bracket.

Referring now to Figures 1-6 of the drawing for one illustrative embodiment of this invention, I represents an outside wall of a building. A

double, vertically-pivoted, outwardly swinging casement window 2 is mounted in a frame 3 in the wall I. The frame 3 is equipped with a central dividing pillar 4. A combination metal and fabric awning I is mounted on the wall I outboard of and above the frame 3. The awning I0 is made up of a metal canopy I2 and a fabric curtain I4. The metal canopy I2 may be permanently mounted on the wall I by means of screws I6, taking into the wall I through flanges I8. The canopy I2 has a top panel andside panels 2|. The top panel 20 has a shallow outward and downward pitch. It is provided with ventilating slots 22 defined by rims 23, covered by cap strips 24, which are spaced from the rims 23, and removably fastened thereon by bolts 25. This provides a bailie arrangement which serves to keep out water from the top, but to allow the passage of air. In the embodiment shown, an ornamental border 26 depends from the outer edge 21 of the top panel 20.

The side panels 2| are connected along the full length of their top edges with the top panel 20, and may be made integral therewith. A lower edge 30 of each of the side panels 2| slopes downwardly from the outer edge 21 of the top panel 20 to the wall I. Mounted along the inside lower edges of the side panels 2| and the top panel 20 are rod-holding brackets 32. The rod-holding brackets 32 have shanks 33 extending inboard of the canopy far enough to provide a substantial space between the side panels 2| and the top panel 20 and a rod-holding clip 34 on the inside end of the shanks 33.

The fabric curtain I4 is hung on side rods 35 and front rod 36, as shown in Figure 5. Each of rods 35 and 36 has two free ends 31 projecting beyond the fabric. These ends 31 are releasably held in the clips 34. In the embodiment shown,

the lower edge of the curtain I4 is scalloped.

at 43. The free ends of the rods 4| are hingedly mounted on the wall I below and slightly inboard of the side panels 2|, as shown at 44. The legs 4| are longer than the lower edges 30 of the side panels 2|. The fabric curtain I4 is of substantially uniform width so that the legs 4| are substantially parallel with the lower edge 30 of the side panel. With this arrangement the fact that the legs 4| are longer than the lower edge 30 of the side panels produces an outward flair in the front section of the fabric curtain, with respect to the outer edge of the metal canopy.

The width of the fabric curtain and the length of the legs 4| are so related and proportioned as to permit the U-shaped rod 40 to swing up beneath the metal canopy and, in its fully raised position, to pull the front section of the fabric awning tight as shown in Figure 3. Preferably the front section of the curtain pulls tight before the legs 4| of the U-shaped rod 40' have reached a vertical position, so that the rod 40 will return to its extended, downwardly-swung position under the force of gravity. In order to accomplish the raising of the curtain and to hold it against dropping to its extended position, a draw cord 46 is connected to the center of the curtain near its lower edge, preferably directly to the cross-member 42. The draw cord 46 extends above the window and passes either through the frame or through the wall above the frame at the center of the lintel, directly above the central pillar 4. A hook or bitt 41 is secured to the inside face of the central pillar in such a position that the draw cord 46 may be looped therearound when the fabric curtain is fully folded, to maintain the curtain in that position. The draw cord 46 thus extends along the face of the central pillar, and is both neat in appearance and out of the way.

In this illustrative embodiment the legs of the jointed U-shaped rod 40 being longer than the lower edges 30 of the side panels 2 I, hence longer than the side rods 35, must extend inboard of the side rods 35 and above the plane of the rods 35 and 36 when the curtain is in its most upwardly folded position.

The fabric curtain of this embodiment may easily be mounted on the metal canopy from inside a building. The windows are swung outwardly and the curtain (supported by the U- shaped rod) laid across the tops of the window. The ends of the rods 35 and 36 are snapped into the spring clip 34. The U-shaped rod is opened and pushed beyond the tops of the windows, when it should now be supported in approximately its proper position with respect to the hinge point by the curtain. The free ends of the legs need only be mounted on their hinges, and the task is completed.

The cap strips 24 may be finished in contrasting colors with respect to the remainder of the awning, and may easily be replaced so as to perunit a change in color scheme without the necessity of repainting the awning or getting a new one.

Referring now to Figures '7 thru 11 for another illustrative embodiment of this invention, a metal canopy Iii] is permanently mounted on a wall IIiI, being fastened thereto by means of screws H5 takin into the wall through flanges H3. The canopy III) has a top panel I20 and side panels I2I. The top panel I20 has an ornamental border I26 depending from its outer edge I2'I. In this embodiment a lower edge I30 of the side panels IZI is horizontal. Extending inwardly from the inside surface of each of the side panels I2! near its juncture with the ornamental border I26 is a rod-supporting bracket I34. In the illustrative embodiment shown, the brackets I34 are made of two pieces of metal strip. One of the pieces is bent to form a horizontal shelf I35, a strut I36, and a pair of vertical tabs I3'I by means of which the brackets I34 are riveted, or bolted, or welded to the side panel I2 I. The second piece is an -shaped member I38, the foot I39 of which is riveted, bolted, or welded to the upper surface of the shelf I35, with a leg I40 extending upwardly. The leg I40 is spaced away from the outermost edge of the shelf I35 so as to provide a ledge |4| upon which a curtain-supporting rod may rest as is hereafter described.

In this embodiment a fabric curtain I I4 is substantially rectangular, and is provided with jointed U-shaped rods I50 along both its upper and lower edges. These jointed U-shaped rods I50 may be identical. They are preferably made as shown in Figure 10. As there appears, a front rocl I5I is secured within a sleeve I52 which is U-shaped in end view and L-shaped in side view. The front rod I5| is mounted fixedly in the foot I53 of the sleeve I52. A side rod I54 is pivotally mounted in the stem I55 of the sleeve I52 in such a way that the inside surface of the rod 155 at the end of the rod adjacent the front rod i5! abuts the end of the front rod within the sleeve :52. As is shown in Figure 9, an identical joint is provided at each end of the front rod Hi. The abutment of the rods and His is such that the rods I54, must be sprung out in order to allow them to be seated in a hinge ltd, in the case of the lowermost rod or a bracket ifii in the case of the uppermost rod. A clip, similar to the clip 3 3 in the embodiment first described, may be used in place of the bracket The springing of the side rods lbs gives rigidity to the structure and inhibits any lateral movement of the lowermost rod.

The uppermost U-shaped rod Hit, supported at its free ends by the bracket 16f, simply rests at its jointed ends on the ledges ii of the brackets I35. The upstanding legs ass prevent lateral movement of the upper rod. The curtain l 54 may either be cut away to allow for the ledge Hit, or the stretch of the goods may be relied upon to permit the rod [54% to lie over the top of the ledge it! and rest thereon.

In this embodiment the distance from the upper of the jointed rods I58 to the lower of those rods is made slightly greater than the length of the side rods Hi l. In this way the lowermost rod can swing up below the uppermost rod, and the rods therefore can be identical in size. the curtain lid is drawn to its upwardly folded position by means of a draw cord I63 beneath the top panel 12!) of the canopy iii], the front section of the fabric curtain its is stretched substantially taut and the side sections of the curtain lid are neatly folded in a smooth triangle.

The curtain of this embodiment is extremely simple to make, since it consists of a simple rectangular piece of material.

The fabric curtains of either of the illustrative embodiments may be stored or shipped, de-

' mounted for the canopy, simply by foldin the legs of the U-shaped rods in against the front rod (and in the embodiment first described laying the rods 35 alongside the rod 35) (and merely rolling the rods and curtain into a compact bundle. The neatness and compactness of the bundle is made possible by the fact that the cur tain is of substantially uniform width.

The metal canopy in this invention is very small as compared with the metal awnings now in use. It neither extends as far outwardly, nor does it have such a steep pitch as metal awnings known heretofore. As a result of this arrangement, wherein the fabric curtain serves to provide most of the shade, the metal canopy can be permanently mounted without objectionable shading of the interior during the winter months.

The spacing of the upper edges of the fabric curtain from the metal canopy serves not only to permit circulation in the space between the curtain and the awning while the awning is ex- When 6 tended, but, more importantly, permits that circulation when the curtain is in its upwardly folded position. Unless such a space were provided, the center section of the fabric curtain would practically seal the canopy against air circulation, and tend to trap a pocket of hot air.

The fabric curtain arrangements of the illustrative embodiments described may be used in conjunction with canopies already in existence. For example, they may be adapted to use with overhanging eaves, or the marquees common to certain of the southern States. They may even be used in conjunction with already known metal canopies, although much of the advantage to be derived from the canopy with less height and pitch than the conventional ones will, of course, be lost by so doing. The use of upper and lower U-shaped rods with joints like those which were described in connection with the embodiment of this invention shown in Figures 7 through 11 is particularly advantageous in installations in which presently existing canopies are utilized. Not only are such rods easily mounted but, as has been pointed out, are rigid.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

In combination with a permanent canopy extending above a window in a Wall, a fabric curtain of substantially uniform width, mounted on said canopy and depending therefrom, said ourtain having a front and two side sections, said side sections extending away from said window and said front section extendin transversely of said window between said side sections; a lower U-shaped rod having a front rod and two side rods, said front rod extendin and being mounted along the front section of the curtain, said side rods extending and being mounted along the side sections of said curtain, said side rods being jointed at one end to said front rod for folding thereagainst and being pivotally mounted at the other end on said wall; an upper front rod and two upper side rods mounted along the front and side sections respectively of the upper edge of said curtain, said upper side rods being positionable along and against said upper front rod; and brackets, secured to the canopy and releasably supporting said upper rods.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 109,758 Rice Nov. 29, 1879 1,257,535 Sampson Feb, 26, 1918 1,777,739 Shaw Oct. 7, 1930 1,805,950 Mack May 19, 1931 2,136,012 Jones Nov. 8, 1938 2,566,459 McCoy Sept. 4, 1951 2,579,780 Atwood Dec. 25, 1951

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