AU2017101693B4

AU2017101693B4 - Retainer mechanism

Info

Publication number: AU2017101693B4
Application number: AU2017101693A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Michael Freney
Original assignee: Aussie Traveller Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Aussie Traveller Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2017-12-04
Filing date: 2017-12-04
Publication date: 2018-04-26
Anticipated expiration: 2025-12-04
Also published as: AU2017101693A4

Abstract

A rafter retainer assembly 40 for a retractable roller awning is disclosed. The rafter retainer assembly 40 comprises a lever member 42 having a body 50 that in use is located on the 5 outside of a support arm of the roller awning assembly, a tab 58 at a first end of the body that extends through a first slot 60 in the web of the support arm and terminates in a first engagement part 62 and a second engagement part 66 at the second end of the main body that in use extends through a second slot 68 in the support arm. A slider retainer member 44 is located inside the support arm 20, the slider retainer member 44 comprising a first end 10 configured for engagement with the first engagement part 62 and a second end configured for engagement with the second engagement part 66 such that the lever member 52 and slider retainer member 44 can be operatively coupled together on either side of the web of the support arm. The slider retainer member 44 comprises a blind bore 82 that extends from an opening first surface into the slider retainer member. The rafter retainer assembly comprises a biasing 15 member 46 having a first end that in use abuts the inner surface of the web and a second end that in use is extends into the bore 82 of the slider retainer member 44 and abuts the blind end thereof so as to bias the retainer assembly in a slider retainer position and manual operation of the main body 50 of the lever member 42 away from the support arm moves the slider retainer projection out of engagement. 20 Figure 6

Description

FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to retractable roller awnings and, more specifically, to retractable awnings having support arms and tension rafters.

BACKGROUND

Retractable roller awning assemblies are often designed for use with movable support structures such as, for example, recreational vehicles, caravans, mobile homes, and the like. However, it will be appreciated that the present disclosure also relates to stationary supports such as walls of sheds, outdoor entertainment areas, relocatable homes, shop fronts and the like, and no limitation is intended thereby.

Retractable roller awning assemblies are moveable between a retracted position in which the assembly is disposed adjacent a support such as a wall and an extended position in which the awning extends away from the support so as to provide a sheltered area. The awning has a flexible awning canopy that is rolled up onto a roller in the retracted position and is unrolled therefrom in the extended position.

The roller is supported at each end by a support arm. In the retracted position the support arms are positioned vertically adjacent the support. The lower ends of the support arms are pivotally mounted to the support and the upper ends of the support arms are adjacent to and secured to the support. The roller is also located laterally adjacent the wall.

When the awning is moved to the extended position, the upper ends of the support arms are released and the roller is moved outwardly away from the wall and the canopy is unrolled. The support arms pivot away from the wall about the lower mounting points, until the canopy is unrolled.

Rafters or tension rafters are typically provided to hold the support arms in the extended position and tension the canopy. In the extended position, the rafter arms typically extend substantially horizontally from the support to the support arms and/or roller tube. In the retracted position the rafters are in a vertical position mounted at their upper end to the support and at the other end, the rafter is slidably received within the support arm.

When the support arm is in the extended position, the rafter a user can slide the rafter into its extended position. Generally the sliding end of the rafter is pivotally mounted to a sliding member that is known in the art as a slider. The support arm is generally substantially U shaped with opposing side walls and a web. Generally the support arm and/or slider is configured to be retained within the U shaped support arm.

The rafter is telescopic such that the length can be adjusted to provide suitable tension to the extended canopy so as to avoid flapping and pooling of water. The outer end of the support arm suitably has a means for retaining the slider and attached rafter in the extended position against the tension. A simple retainer is simply a retainer pin that extends through cooperating apertures in the support arm and slider. However, this must be manually inserted and removed by a user.

It is user preferred for the retainer means to automatically engage the slider when the rafter is in position. Another known retainer means that provides for automatic engagement utilizes a slider with an aperture in its base and the other end of the support arm has a spring biased button lock that engages the aperture in the base of the slider. In order to release the slider, a user must position their thumb within the U shaped support arm and depress the button against the bias of the spring and move the slider away from the slider retainer. In practice, if an operator does not place their thumb in the correct position when releasing the button, can cause pinching of the thumb.

DEFINITION

In the present description and claims, the term “comprising” shall be understood to have a broad meaning similar to the term “including” and will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps. This definition also applies to variations on the term “comprising” such as “comprise” and “comprises”.

SUMMARY

Accordingly, it is desirable to be able to offer users with an alternative rafter retainer arrangement.

According to a first aspect, there is disclosed a rafter retainer assembly for a retractable roller awning that is moveable between a retracted position adjacent a support and an extended position away from the support, the retractable roller awning assembly comprising: two U shaped support arms having side walls and a web, a roller onto which a flexible canopy is rolled onto when in the retracted position and unrolled from in the extended position, each support arm has an upper roller end coupled to the roller and a lower mounting end pivotally mounted to the support; a rafter arm operatively associated with each support arm, whereby each rafter arm has a first upper end pivotally fixed to the support and a second end having a slider pivotally mounted thereto, the slider being slidably received within a respective support arm for slidable movement along the support arm, the slider having a retainer opening therein; wherein the retainer assembly in use is located towards the roller end of the support arm and comprises; a lever member having a main body that in use is located on the outside of a support arm, a tab at a first end of the main body that extends through a first slot in the web of the support arm and terminates in a first engagement part and a second engagement part at a second end of the main body that in use extends through a second slot in the web of the support arm;

a slider retainer member that in use is located inside the support arm, the slider retainer member comprising a first end configured for engagement with the first engagement part and a second end configured for engagement with the second engagement part such that the lever member and slider retainer member can be operatively coupled together on either side of the web of the support arm, a first side that faces the support arm and an opposing second side facing away from the support arm, a retaining projection extending from the second side, and a blind bore that extends from an opening in the first side and into the retaining projection; AND a biasing member having a first end that in use abuts the inner surface of the web and a second end that in use is extends into the bore of the slider retainer member and abuts the blind end thereof so as to bias the retainer assembly in a slider retainer position in which the retainer projection can engage the retaining opening in the slider, and manual operation of the main body of the lever member away from the support arm moves the slider retainer projection out of engagement.

The retractable roller awning assembly may be any suitable awning assembly and is suitably an assembly mountable to a moveable vehicle such as a caravan or motorhome.

The retainer assembly comprises a lever member and a slider retainer member that are engageable with each other on opposite sides of the support arm through slots in the support arm.

The biasing member biases the retainer assembly into the slider retaining position in which the projection is located through the retainer opening in the slider so as to hold the slider in place.

Suitably, the retainer projection and the opening have a complementary shape such that there is a snug fit of the retainer projection within the retainer opening. This provides a positive engagement that may resist relative movement of the slider within the support arm so as to avoid movement and rattling noise when an extended awning is subjected to windy conditions.

In one aspect, the retainer projection is of circular cross section and the opening in the slider is a round throughole.

Suitably, the retainer projection is dimensioned such that when the slider is engaged, the retainer projection does not unduly extend through the opening in the slider. This means that less travel of the retainer member is required to depress the retainer member against the bias of the biasing member when the leading lip edge of the slider meets the projection or the lever is actuated by a user so as to depress the retainer member.

Although the opening in the slider can be a throughole, this is not strictly necessary and the opening may be a blind opening.

Suitably the retainer member and retainer projection are inclined away from the web of the support member in the direction towards the direction of travel of the slider towards the roller end of the support arm. This arrangement allows the retainer assembly to be pushed against the bias as the edge of the slider meets the slider retainer projection and passes over the incline. As the slider opening passes over the slider retainer projection, the bias pushes the slider retainer member into the retaining position.

That one end of the biasing member locates within a bore in the slide retainer member keeps the biasing member in place. It also assists with keeping the slider in place when fitting the retainer assembly to a support arm.

In one aspect, that part of the biasing member that locates in the bore within the retainer projection is dimensioned so as to provide a snug fit for greater stability.

Suitably the biasing member is a helical spring.

Suitably, the helical spring is a conical spring in which in use, the base of the conical spring abuts the web. This provides still further stability to the assembly. It also uses the telescoping properties of a conical helical spring to advantage in which a helical spring can be compressed within itself so as to provide a greater range of compression than for a conventional cylindrical spring. Thus a stronger spring can be used in a smaller space.

Suitably, a conical spring will have a head part that is of constant diameter for snug fitting within the bore. The head part does not necessarily be subject to compression when the ever is actuated. In one form the head part is a continuance of the helical spring but us in the form of a cylindrical tension spring. Alternatively, a solid member may be fitted to the upper part of the conical spring.

Thus, in one aspect, the biasing member comprises a frustoconical helical base and a cylindrical tension spring part at the other end and the cylindrical diameter is complimentary to the bore in the slider retainer member. This has the working advantage of further securing the spring from relative movement.

In another aspect, the biasing means may be a spring clip having a button between the two ends for locating within the bore.

The lever member can be manually manipulated by a user to push the retainer assembly against the bias of the biasing member so as to release a retained slider.

In another embodiment, there is disclosed a support arm for a retractable roller awning assembly having the disclosed retainer assembly mounted therein.

In another embodiment, there is provided a frame assembly for a retractable roller awning comprising two U shaped support arms having side walls and a web, each support arm has an upper roller end for coupling to a roller and a lower mounting end for mounting to a support, a retainer assembly as disclosed herein mounted to the upper roller end of each support arm. a rafter arm operatively associated with each support arm, whereby each rafter arm has a first upper end for pivotally mounting to a support and a second end having a slider pivotally mounted thereto, the slider being slidably received within a respective support arm for slidable movement along the support arm, the slider having a retainer opening therein for engagement with the slider retainer member of the retainer assembly.

In another embodiment, there is provided a retractable roller awning assembly comprising the frame assembly of the previous embodiment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The Figures and associated detailed description provided to illustrate the disclosed principles and to describe an exemplary embodiment.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a caravan with a retractable roller awning mounted thereto with the rafter in the retraced position;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the caravan of figure 1 with the rafter being moved towards the extended position;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the caravan of Figure 1 with the rafter in the extended position; Figure 4 is an end profile view of the support arm;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a slider;

Figure 6 is a schematic view of the retainer assembly mounted to the support arm of the awning;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the lever of the retainer assembly;

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the retainer member of the retainer assembly; and

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the biasing spring of the retainer assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Figure 1 is a schematic view of a caravan 8 with a retractable roller awning assembly 10 mounted thereto. The awning assembly 10 comprises a retainer assembly as disclosed herein and will be discussed in detail below.

The awning assembly 10 is mounted to the side wall 12 of the caravan 8 by means of a pair of top mounting brackets 14 and a pair of bottom mounting brackets 16.

The awning assembly 10 has two support arms 20 having a lower end 20I and an upper end 20u. The lower end 20I of each support arm 20 is pivotally mounted on a respective bottom mounting bracket 16 such that each support arm 20 is movable between a travel position adjacent the wall 12 and an extended shelter position. Figures 1 to 3 show the support arms 20 in the extended shelter position. A retractable roller assembly 17 is mounted to the upper ends 20u of each support arm. The retractable roller assembly 17 has a roller 19 with flexible canopy 22 rolled thereon. The flexible canopy 22 is fixed to the wall 12 along one side, suitably by an awning rail, and fixed within the roller 17 along the other side.

The roller assembly 17 has a lock for locking the roller against unrolling of the canopy 22 when in the travel position. To deploy the awning assembly 10, the roller 19 is unlocked, the support arms 20 are unlocked from the travel position and the roller 19 is moved away from the wall 12 to unroll the canopy 22 and the support arms 20 pivot about the lower mounting brackets 16 outwards to the position as shown in Figures 1 to 3.

The awning assembly 10 further includes a tension arm 24 at each end that is known in the art as a rafter. The rafters 24 are pivotally mounted at one end to the upper mounting bracket 14. In the travel position, the rafters 24 are adjacent the side wall 12. After the canopy 22 has been initially deployed as described above the rafters 24 are in the position adjacent side wall 12 as shown in Figure 1.

The support arm 24 is U shaped (shown in Figure 4 so as to define a channel in which the opening 31 is upwardly facing when the support arms 20 are in the extended position). The free end 24f of each rafter is slidably mounted within the channel of the respective support arm 20. This will be explained in further detail below.

Figure 2 shows the left hand rafter 24 in an intermediate position along supper arm 20 whilst being moved from the travel position to the extended position.

Figure 3 shows the rafter 24 in the extended position parallel to the canopy 22. The free end 24f of the rafter 24 is retained within the upper end 20u of the support arm 20 by a retainer assembly as described below. The rafter 24 is telescopic so it can be locked in place at the optimum length to provide tension to the canopy 22 so as to resist flapping in the wind and sagging so as to collect water.

Figure 4 shows a cross section of a support arm 20. The arm 20 is U shaped with side walls 20s, a web 20w and opening 31. The upper edge of each wall 20s has inwardly facing longitudinal guide recesses 30. The lower part of each side wall 20s has inwardly projecting longitudinal ribs 32.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a sliding member that in the art is known as a slider 34. The slider 34 is U shaped with side walls 34s and a web 34w. Slider 34 is operatively coupled to the free end 24f of the rafter 24 and slides within the support arm 20. The slider has openings 35 aligned in the side walls towards one end for receiving a fastener for attachment to a free end 34f end of a rafter 24.

The slider 34 is fastened to the rafter 24 such that in use, when the rafter 24 is being moved from the transport position to the extended position, the fastening end 34t of the slider 34 is the trailing end and the opposite end 34I is the leading end.

Each side wall 34s has an outwardly extending flange 38. In use, the flanges 38 locate within guide recesses 30 of the support arm 20 for slidable movement therealong. The web 34w of the slider 34 rides along ribs 32 of the support arm 20.

The web 34w of the slider 34 further includes a retaining opening 36 towards leading edge 34I. The leading edge of the web 34I has a downwardly inclined lip.

Figures 6 to 9 show a retainer assembly 40 for retaining the slider 34 at the upper end 20u of a support arm 20. The retainer assembly comprises a lever 42, a slider retaining member 44 and a coil spring 46.

Figure 6 is a schematic side view showing how the retainer assembly 40 is mounted to the web 20w of the support arm 20.

The lever 40 has a main body 50 that in use is located on the outside 20o of the web 20w of the support arm 20. The main body 50 has a concave outer surface having a web engaging section 52 at one end and a rounded finger engaging member 54 at the other end.

The lever 40 has an outstanding tab 58 extending away the finger engaging member 54 that extends through a slot 60 in the support arm web 20w through to the inside side 20i of the web 20w. The tab 58 terminates in an inwardly facing lip 62 that engages a complimentary step 64 on one end of the slider retaining member 44.

The web engaging section 52 at the other end of the body 50 comprises a web engagement part 66 that projects through a second slot 68 in the support arm web 20w. This engagement part 66 is substantially T shaped in cross section so as to define an outwardly facing channel 70 and an inwardly facing channel 72. The outer channel 70 locates about the edge of slot 68. The inward channel 72 engages and is received within a transverse channel 74 in the slider retainer 44.

The slider retaining member 44 and lever 40 are configured such that the slider retaining member 44 is inclined inwardly of the support arm 20 in the direction of travel of the slider 34 when the rafter 24 is being pushed towards the extended position. This is shown by arrow A in Figure 6.

The slider retaining member 44 has a circular retainer projection 80 that is inwardly projecting, relative to the support arm 20. The slider retaining member 44 has a blind bore 82 with an opening on the web side of the slider retaining member 44 and extends into the retainer button 80.

The coil spring 46 has a frustoconical helical spring base 86 and a substantially cylindrical non compressible head portion 88. When assembled, the head portion 88 snugly fits within bore 82 and the base 86 abuts the inner wall of the web 20w as shown in Figure 6. The bias of the spring 46 keeps the lever 42 and slide retainer 44 together in the position shown in Figure 6. It can be seen that the bias of the spring 46 pushes step 64 of the slider retainer member 44 against lip 62 of the lever 42 at one end. At the other end the bias of the spring 46 pushes bottom wall 90 of channel 74 of the slider retaining member 44 against web engagement part 66 of the lever 42. A working advantage of the helical spring 46 is that the base 86 can be wider than the bore 82, thereby providing a more stable spring action. Further, in view of the telescoping nature of the conical spring 46, when the spring 46, is compressed, it can essentially flatten out within itself. This means that the spring 46 can be placed in a narrower space than a conventional cylindrical spring. This space saving capability allows the spring 46 to be placed substantially centrally within the space 92 defined between the lever 42 and the slide retaining member 44 and allows the bore 82 to extend into the center of the projection 80, thereby providing a uniform bias.

This arrangement allows for a smooth and efficient operation of the retainer assembly.

In use, when a user slides the rafter 24 and attached slider 34 along a support arm 20, in the direction of arrow A, the downward lip on the slider 34 will meet upper edge of projection and ride along the upper incline, thereby depressing the slider retainer 44 against the bias of the spring 46. As the aperture 36 of the slider 34 passes over the slider retainer 44, the bias of spring 46 pushes projection 80 through aperture 36 in the slider 34 so as to retain the slider 34 in position. The diameter of the circular aperture 36 in the slider is complementary with the diameter of the projection 80 such that there is a snug fit between the two parts. This positive engagement is desirable so as to prevent movement and rattling in winds.

In order to disengage the slider 34, a user grasps finger engagement part 54 and presses downwards in the direction of arrow B so as to move the slider retainer projection 44 out of engagement with the slider 34.

There are a number of advantages in the retainer assembly 40. First, it overcomes the disadvantages of a conventional button spring lock in which a user must depress the button with their thumb and run the risk of catching the thumb on the slider. In the present arrangement, it is not necessary for a user to contact the slider at all. Second, the spring is firmly held in place by means of the head snugly fitting with the bore. This prevents movement and rattling in wind. It will be appreciated that as a result of the surface area of the canopy, various parts of the awning can come under considerable stress in mere breezy conditions. Users consider that constant movement and rattling of parts of an awning, especially through the night, is most undesirable. Still further there is a very positive engagement with the slider, again forming a secure retaining action.

It will be appreciated that various changes and modifications may be made to the invention as described and claimed herein without departing from the spirit or scope thereof.

Claims

1. A rafter retainer assembly for a retractable roller awning that is moveable between a retracted position adjacent a support and an extended position away from the support, the retractable roller awning assembly comprising: two U shaped support arms having side walls and a web, a roller onto which a flexible canopy is rolled onto when in the retracted position and unrolled from in the extended position, each support arm has an upper roller end coupled to the roller and a lower mounting end pivotally mounted to the support; a rafter arm operatively associated with each support arm, whereby each rafter arm has a first upper end pivotally fixed to the support and a second end having a slider pivotally mounted thereto, the slider being slidably received within a respective support arm for slidable movement along the support arm, the slider having a retainer opening therein, wherein the retainer assembly in use is located towards the roller end of the support arm and comprises: a lever member having a main body that in use is located on the outside of a support arm, a tab at a first end of the main body that extends through a first slot in the web of the support arm and terminates in a first engagement part and a second engagement part at a second end of the main body that in use extends through a second slot in the web of the support arm; a slider retainer member that in use is located inside the support arm, the slider retainer member comprising a first end configured for engagement with the first engagement part and a second end configured for engagement with the second engagement part such that the lever member and slider retainer member can be operatively coupled together on either side of the web of the support arm, a first side that faces the support arm and an opposing second side facing away from the support arm, a retaining projection extending from the second side, and a blind bore that extends from an opening in the first side and into the retaining projection, and a biasing member having a first end that in use abuts the inner surface of the web and a second end that in use is extends into the bore of the slider retainer member and abuts the blind end thereof so as to bias the retainer assembly in a slider retainer position in which the retainer projection can engage the retaining opening in the slider, and manual operation of the main body of the lever member away from the support arm moves the slider retainer projection out of engagement.

2. The retainer assembly of claim 1, wherein the biasing member is a conical spring comprising a base that in use contacts the inner wall of the web of the support arm and a head of circular cross section that extends into the bore.

3. The retainer assembly of claim 2, wherein the retaining projection is of circular cross section and the bore extends substantially centrally into the retainer projection.

4. A frame assembly for a retractable roller awning, the frame assembly comprising two U shaped support arms having side walls and a web, each support arm has an upper roller end for coupling to a roller and a lower mounting end for mounting to a support, the retainer assembly of any one of claims 1 to 3 mounted to the upper roller end of each support arm, a rafter arm operatively associated with each support arm, whereby each rafter arm has a first upper end for pivotally mounting to a support and a second end having a slider pivotally mounted thereto, the slider being slidably received within a respective support arm for slidable movement along the support arm, the slider having a retainer opening therein for engagement with the slider retainer member of the retainer assembly.

5. A retractable roller awning comprising the frame assembly of claim 4.