1. home and garden
2. gardening and landscaping
3. yard and patio

NOV. 6, 1951
»
|_, M_ SWEENEY
2,574,423
AWNING CONSTRUCTION
Filed Feb. 9, 1951
IN VENTOR
[80 M jwcemsy
BY
?wf
ATTORNEY
Patented Nov. 6, 1951
2,574,423
UNITED STATES ‘PATENT’ OFFICE
2,574,423
AWNING CONSTRUCTION
Leo M. Sweeney, Brentwood, Pittsburgh, Pa.
‘Application February 9, 1951, Serial No. 210,219
1
6 Claims. (Cl. 160-57)
My invention relates to conventional awning
type closure structures including a ?exible panel
and related frame elements and in particular
to such a structure having a bumper and pro
tector member.
The various disadvantages inherent in awn
ing structures of the type with which I am con
cerned result in excessive wear of the structural
elements. The conventional awning is difficult
2 .
a closure protector and bumper member of such
a resilient nature as to be deformed and com
pressed against the side of the building as the
closure is secured in inoperative position, so
that the closure structure will be rigidly and
securely held- in spaced relation to the adjoining
wall.
-
‘
A further object of my 7' invention is to pro
vide a protector and ‘bumper member for an
and troublesome in operation and as blasts of 10 awning structure eliminating “lodging” or “jam
wind cause the frame and panel members to
ming” of the frame and panel elements as the
strike and wear against adjacent building sur
closure is secured in inoperative position, thus
faces, frequently, wear spots or holes usually
insuring normal operation of the ‘structure un
appear in the ?exible panel, the frame joints
der the in?uence of gravity.
become loose and the building ?nish may become 15
Another object of my invention is to provide
a protector and bumper member for closures
marred, thus detracting from its general appear
'
ance. In operation, as the conventional awn
of this type which is pleasing in appearance,
ing is drawn up to closed position, the frame
simple and inexpensive ‘in manufacture, and,
and ?exible panel tend to bind, wedge or jam
yet, easily adaptable to existing closure struc
and need to be shaken before they become dis 20 tures.
'
lodged and can be lowered causing the opera
With the above and other‘ objects in view,
tion of opening the awning to be difficult and
reference is made to the accompanying draw‘
troublesome. In addition, the pivoted frame,
ings in which:
upon closing, may pass to a position vertically
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a conventiona
above or beyond the axes of the supporting 25 awning incorporating my ‘improvement;
brackets whereby the structure cannot be low
ered under the in?uence of gravity alone. This
condition present in conventional awning struc
tures frequently requires shaking or pushing
of the awning frame and panel outwardly of
the building by hand.
"
Figure 2 is a perspective view of the protector
and bumper member as associated with the trans
verse frame member of an-awning;
‘
>
Figure 3 is a side view of the device of Figure
1 showing the relationship of the parts in closed
position;
‘
'
~
In awnings of the drop curtain type the verti
Figure 4 is a side view partly in section
cally travelling transverse rod about which the
illustrating the manner of attaching my protect
?exible panel is wound frequently scrapes against
or and bumper member to the transverse rod
the adjacent building as the curtain is moved 35 of an awning frame structure;
between its open and closed positions. Damage
Figure 5 is a simpli?ed side'view of a drop
also occurs at points where the drop curtain
curtain structure employing my protector and
structure contacts the wall, wear spots develop
bumper member, and
'
'
on the drop curtain panel, and the ?nish of
Figure dis a partial side view of another form
the adjacent wall becomes marred.
40 of drop curtain structure employing my protector
With the above disadvantages of conventional
and bumper member. '
structures in mind, it is, therefore, the principal
Figure 1 illustrates my invention as applied to
object of my invention to provide resilient means
a conventional awning structure having top and
associated with the frames of panel type closure
side panels I and 1 respectively and which are
structures for eliminating excessive wear and 45 shown in the open position associated with the
deterioration of the structural elements, posi
tively insuring e?icient operation and securely
holding the associated elements substantially im
frame 5 of a window or door opening 2 in a build
ing. The awning comprises a frame having side
arms 3 and 3' pivotally mounted for vertical
swinging movement in brackets 4 and 4’ located
movable when the awning or curtain is in in
operative or closed position. This/reduces the 50 on or adjacent the opposite sides of the window
movements of the structure due to wind blasts
frame. The open or free ends of the side arms
and the like and eliminates unpleasant noise
3 and 3’ are rigidly connected by a vertically
and wear of the members contacting 'or striking
swinging transverse frame-member 6. The ?ex
the adjacent wall of the building. ' "_
ible fabric panel I is secured along one edge to
Another object of my invention is to provide 55 the top horizontal frame member of a window, as
2,574,423
3
at 8, by hooks and eyelets or similar means and
provided along the opposite edge with suitable
means such as loops, not shown, for receiving the
transverse frame member 6. Side panels '1 are
secured to the top panel I as by stitching along
the diagonal line 1 and may be provided with
loops or the like along the lower edge for receiv
ing the side arms 3 and 3'.
The conventional awning includes suitable
means to‘ elevate and lower the structure. Refer
ring to Figure 1, ropes" or chains I5 are secured
at one end to laterally spaced points [6 on the
transverse rod 6 and are trained through pulley
4
zontally proportionately to the width of the awn
ing panel. Additionally, the panel 3| is provided
with a sleeve or pocket 33 for receiving 9, weight
rod 34 and has hanging from this sleeve an addi
tional section of fabric panel 36, which may be
scalloped and bound in a manner similar to the
bottom edge of the awning panel of Figure 1.
For operating the curtain structure, ?exible
means, such as ropes 31, are fastened to the
weight rod 34 and are passedupwardly through
the vertical rows of rings 32 and'suitable pulleys
or eyes in a manner similar to that shown for
the operating means in Figure 5. The free end of
the operating ropes may be secured, as the awn
members IT, IT’ and I8 securely mounted on'ithe' .
window frame 5. A cleat or similar device I8,
also mounted on the window fame; is‘ utilized in
securing and tying the free; ends of‘ the ropes~or
chains when the awning is in its closed or in
ing is raised to the desired height, by securing the
operative position.
merely assumes a series of folds 38, indicated in
Figure 6, when the rod iselevated by the oper
ating ropes.
The resilient protector and bumper member 9,
forming the important feature‘ of my invention,
is? secured to extended end portions [0 (Figure 2)
of the transverse‘ frame member 6 as shown‘ in
detail in' Figure 4.
In reference to‘ Figure‘. 4, the resilient protector ‘ -
and bumper 9, made; of molded rubber, vinylite
plastic, or other similar material comprises a
tubular cap ll' for'attachment to the‘ tubular or
rod-like‘extensions lll‘of the frame member 6 and
same‘ toia cleateor.l the like in a manner such as
indicated inFigure 1.
In this type of drop curtain structure, the
weight. rod 34 does not turn; the fabric panel
My protector member, when applied to this
form of drop curtain structure, spaces the panel
3| and weight rod 34 from the adjoining wall of
the building and will eliminate wear on the panel,
the ropes 31, and. the surfaces of the adjoining
wall.
When an awning is in open. or extended posi
tion,
as shown in Figure 1, they protector mem
is provided with an exteriorvcircular ?ange l3 for 30 ber merely adds to the general appearance of
engaging the window frame or wall of the build
the structure. However, as the awning is moved
ing.
to the closed position shown in Figure 3, the pro
The extensions l0~of theframe-member 6 are
tector member 9 engages the. adjacent window
of sufficient length tospace the members 9 out
frame 5 or building walhacting as a bumper to
35
wardly and laterally of the awning frame and
absorb the shock as the awning frame reaches
panel elements to avoid interference with the
its upper limit of travel. Also, the protector and
panel members as they'arefolded when the-awn
bumper member acts as a spacing means to pre
ing is raised'to closed7 position.
vent the frame from passing to or beyond ver
Suitable methods‘ of attaching the protector
~10 tical dead center position.
cap II to tubular or rod-like elements are indi
cated, partly in phantom lines, in‘ Figure 4 which
illustrates such a rod or tube being inserted into
In the design of the exterior ?ange l3 of my
protector and bumper member 9, I make the
radius R of greater length than the distance the
pivot axes of the supporting brackets 4 and 4’
the cap portion l I. As also indicated‘, a tube ele
ment may receive the‘ entire‘ cap portion H of 1 ,
be spaced outwardly from the window frame.
the member 9, and, if desired‘, a circumferential
By this construction the side arms 3 and 3’ can
groove’ [4‘ maybe provided on the'body of the
not assume a vertical position, and the awning,
protector to facilitate securing‘ the same.
including the relatively heavy transverse rod 6,
In forming the‘ protector and bumper I‘prefer
at all times will-be responsive to the in?uence of
to utilize the characteristics and properties of
gravity. Thus, the awning frame and associated
molded rubber, although any resilient, flexible, 50 panel are positively prevented from passing to
and compressible material may be employed.
or beyond dead center which‘ would require a
In Figure 5' my‘ improvement is shown as ap
person to manually shove or push the awning
plied to the transversely extending travelling rod
20 of a drop'curtai'n structure; In this-construc
tion a fabric panel 21', woundabout the transverse
rod’ 28, has its upper edge secured to a second
transverse rod 22'supported‘ adjacent the top por
tion of a window or door opening 23 by suitable
outwardly of the building by hand.
Still another advantage found in having the
awning spaced from the adjoining building is to
increase the amount of air circulation afforded
the folded fabric panel in its inoperative or
closed position.
Frequently, fabric panels of
means, such as hook-typebracketsi?. The-panel
awnings are subject to rain and dampness, and
which lies adjacent the wall‘ surface is moved to 60 under prolonged periods of exposure to moisture
its open and closed positions,- by means of cords
without sumcient air circulation molding and
or ropes 25 passing through? pulleys? or eyes; 26.
deterioration occur. By the use of my protec
Asv the end of the‘ rope 21 is-manipulated, the rod
tor and bumper member the fabric panel of the
20 is caused to travel1 averticalr direction along
awning, as it moves into closed position, shown
the surface of the wallta'nd, in-addition, the cords
in Figure 3, assumes a series of folds which are
or‘ ropes 25- impa-rt rotary movement to the rod
supported upon the tensioned operating ropes
20'; winding or unwinding thelfabric panel‘ as the
and chains. Thus, all portions of the panel are
rod 20 is raised or lowered.
adequately exposed for contact with the sur
In Figure 6 I have shown my improvement
rounding air.
associated with another form» of drop curtain or
After the awning has been moved to closed
drop awning structure, which ‘is becoming more
position, the awning may be positively held
popular in the awning industry. As shown in
against shifting movements. Additional tension
this ?gure, the fabric panel 31- is- provided with
on the operating ropes’ and chains results in
ringsi32 spaced approximately twelve-inches apart
in vertical rows, which: rows may be spaced hori 75 the protector and bumper‘member being pressed
5
2,574,423
tightly and compressed against the window
frame effecting frictional engagement of the pro
tector member and frame elements of the win
dow to prevent relative motion or shifting of
the awning. As the frame cannot move or strike
the wall above the opening, said top and side
panels being attached at their lower edges, re
spectively, to said front and side bars, and bump
ers comprising disks of resilient material of
relatively great diameter each having means for
the building the abrading action of the panel
securing same to the opposite ends of said front
against thesame with resulting wear is elimi
bar, the radius of each of said bumpers being
nated.
substantially greater than the distance from the
The compression of the ?ange I3 on the mem
wall to the pivot points of said brackets, said
ber 9, as the awning is closed and secured, stores H) bumper means being secured to the end portions
an amount of energy which facilitates the initial
of said front bar and being positioned outward
opening movement of the awning structure. As
ly beyond said side panels whereby interference
the tension on the operating ropes or chains is
of the bumpers and the folded top and side
released, the compressed ?ange elements I3 ex
panel portions is avoided and the awning will
pand to their original shape imparting an out 15 drop by gravity when released.
ward force on the awning frame to overcome
2. In an awning structure of the type‘ described
the inertia of the structure in moving to the open
position.
In drop curtain type closure structures my im
provement functions as a protector and bumper
as well as a spacing means. The yielding nature
of the ?ange l3 on the protector and bumper
9 serves to protect the ?nish of the adjacent wall
and to absorb the shock as the drop curtain
structure strikes and scrapes therealong, as re
sults in moving the curtain to the open and
closed positions or when the curtain is subject
to wind currents and the like.
As in awning operation, the drop curtain 2|
may be secured in a substantially ?xed immov
able condition in the closed position by apply
ing additional tension on the operating cords or
ropes 25. After the operating means has rotated
the transverse rod 20, winding the panel about
the same, and the curtain has reached the limit ..
of upward movement, additional tension on the
cords or ropes 25 effects compression of the ?ange
the combination of a ?exible panel having means
at its upper edge for securing same to a build
ing wall provided with an opening, a transverse
1y extending vertically movable frame member
supporting the lower edge of said panel, ?exible
operating means connected-to said member and
the building wall for elevating said member to
a position adjacent the building wall and above
said opening therein and for lowering said mem
ber to a position below the upper end of the open
ing in the wall to cover the opening with said,
panel, securing means for said ?exible operating
means and yieldable contacting means compris
ing a bumper disk secured to each end of said
frame member for engaging the wall on opposite
sides of said opening to hold the frame and
panel members spaced therefrom.
3. The combination as set forth in claim 2,
wherein the yieldable contacting means consti
tuting a protector and bumper member com
prises a cap portion and an enlarged exterior
13 against the adjacent wall. This tensioned
?ange portion.
frictional engagement of the protector and
4. The combination as set forth in claim 2,
bumper 9 with the wall maintains the curtain 40 wherein the yieldablevcontacting means consti
and associated frame element substantially im
tuting a protector and bumper member com
movable in a manner similar to the operation of
the awning as described above.
In the drop curtain type closure structure 11-1
lustrated in Figure 6 of the drawing, it will be
obvious that my improvement functions as a pro
tector and bumper member as well as a spacing
means. As the curtain structure is elevated to
closed‘ position, the tensioned frictional engage
ment of the protector and bumper 9 with the
wall will maintain the curtain and associated
frame elements substantially immovable in a
manner similar to the operation of the drop cur
tain structure of Figure 5.
I claim:
1. In apparatus of the character described, a
pair of brackets for attachment to a wall on
opposite sides of an opening therein and each
having pivot points spaced outwardly from the
wall, an awning structure comprising top and
prises a tubular cap portion and an integrally
formed exterior circular ?ange portion of sub
stantially greater diameter.
5. The combination as set forth in claim 2
wherein the yieldable contacting means consti
tuting a protector and bumper member com
prises a cap portion and an enlarged exterior
?ange portion formed of a resilient, yieldable and
deformable material.
6. The combination as set forth in claim 2,
wherein the yieldable contacting means com
prises a protector and bumper member formed
of a resilient and deformable material compressi
ble against the building wall as the closure is
moved into closed position and expandable as
said operating means is released to exert an
outward force on said awning frame member
overcoming the inertia of the same in moving
the awning to open position.
v
side panels and a frame having a pair of spaced
LEO M. SWEENEY.
side bars and a front bar connecting the outer
ends of said side bars, said side bars having re
REFERENCES CITED
spective means at their inner ends for pivotally
The
following
references are of record in the
connecting same to the pivot points of said 65
file of this patent:
brackets, said top panel being adapted to extend
downwardly and outwardly from the wall before
the opening when the awning is lowered and
having means at its upper edge to attach same to
UNITED STATES PATENTS
Number
468,277
Name
Date
Kennedy _________ .._ Feb. 2. 1892