Whilst the following description refers primarily to large collapsible awnings used in conjunction with vehicles or buildings, other generally free standing awning structures akin to umbrellas are also included where, by suitable adaptation, the invention may also be utilized.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Various awning and umbrella type structures are well known and have been utilised to provide shelter or shade in outdoor areas. A conventional umbrella structure by definition generally encompasses a light circular canopy or other material attached to a radiating folding frame which slides on a central shaft (between an open and a collapsed position) and although originally intended to be carried in the hand to provide personal protection against the sun or rain, the term umbrella has taken on wider meaning in recent times to encompass larger free standing structures performing the same function.

However, whilst it is generally convenient for umbrellas by their very nature and design to collapse about the central shaft, other quite different arrangements are herein proposed in which an awning having at least some of the other characteristics of an umbrella-like structure would be useful.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved collapsible awning retaining some of the more useful characteristics of a conventional umbrella, but wherein it is adapted to extend, not necessarily in a full circle but for example in a semi circular arrangement or some other desired radial section from a vehicle, building or other suitable support structure, by virtue of having the support frame for the cover collapsibly rotatable around a support shaft or, where appropriate, some other suitable support, rather than slidably collapsible on that shaft. In other words, when collapsed, the frame members for supporting the cover will lie generally perpendicular to the support shaft or other support member, rather than generally along the axis of the shaft as would be the case in a conventional umbrella structure.

One such structure therefore would be the provision of an awning having in one sense the overall appearance of say one half of a conventional umbrella which could be located in such a way that it extends from a vehicle or other suitable building or edifice to provide the desired shade or cover. However, in order to provide a suitable support frame structure for the fabric covering, rather than utilise a conventional umbrella mechanism, an alternate arrangement is provided herein in which the support arms for the cover are rotatable about a support post or other support member.

At the very least the awning of the present invention provides an alternative to previously known structures.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention there is provided a collapsible awning comprising a normally upright support post or equivalent support member ; a flexible cover having either generally the overall shape of a sector or comprising triangular sections assembled to approximate the shape of a sector ; cover attachment means whereby the cover is secured to the upper part of the support post or support member at the point from which the radii of the sector extend ; a plurality of support arms extending between the support post or support member and the periphery of the cover ; arm attachment means attached to the support post or member whereby the arms are either each pivotally rotatable about the support post or rotatable about individual axes adjacent to or in the vicinity of the support post or other support member, the arms being thus operable between an open position for the awning in use when the arms are extended radially away from each other, and a closed position when the support arms are brought into proximity with each other.

Preferably, additional support means are provided in the fom of support legs, which depend from the support arms at suitable locations, preferably about the periphery of the awning, and which are adjustably extendible to reach the ground or other base above which the awning is being utilised, in order to provide additional support for the support arms and cover. It will be appreciated that the larger the awning span, the more likely it is that the awning will benefit from such additional support. These support legs may be conveniently hinged so as to fold up along the general axis of the support arms and so lie il1 a tidy arrangement therewith when the awning is in the collapsed state.

The support arms may be of any suitable design, eg they may themselves be shaped to provide a curved surface for the cover remscent of a conventional umbrella or they may be straight. In any event, it is preferred that they not only extend generally radially from the support post or other support structure, but that they extend downwards at least slightly to assist in water run-off in inclement weather. The arms themselves may be single struts or more complex frame like structures to assist in supporting the weight of the cover. These more complex arrangements may themselves be either rigid or collapsible as required according to the design and function of the individual awning.

Rather than a long central post as is commonly found in a conventional free standing umbrella, it will be readily appreciated that preferred embodiments of the present invention will utilise instead either a short post or other equivalent support member which may be conveniently adapted as required to fit onto or adjacent the roof of a vehicle, van, caravan etc, either directly thereon or onto roof racks or some other suitable fitting attached thereto.

Depending on the vehicle or van to which the awning is fitted, it may be located on the top or on the side of the vehicle. Similarly, the support post or support member may be fitted instead to any building or edifice as required utilising generally known means for attaching same.

For example, one prefelTed nlealls of affixing the support member, when it is in the form of a post, would be to provide a tube arrangement attached to means by which it can be affixed to a vehicle or building. It is then a simple matter to slide the short post of the awning into the tube when required for use. A suitable locking mechanism, eg a suitably strong pin inserted through the walls of the tube and post would suffice to keep the awning in place, especially considering use of the awning in windy conditions.

Provision of the support member in the form of a post will of course be particularly relevant in those embodiments where the support arms for the cover are each rotatable about the support post itself In other words, in this arrangement, a plurality of arms each having suitable means of being fitted to the post, eg by having collars at the inner ends of the arms which can be fitted over the post in stacking arrangement, are thereby accommodated on the post. However, as there would be the likelihood of pinching the cover as the arms are brought into alignment in the closed position if there were no clearance therebetween, it is preferred that spacer elements be provided between the collars of respective arm members to allow collapsing of the arms and cover without consequent damage to the cover.

Alternatively, in those arrangements where the arms are rotatable about individual axes adjacent the axis from which the radii of the cover sector extend (that is to say the notional "centre"of the circle Erom which the sector is itself formed), it will be appreciated that instead of a support post, a suitable bracket arrangement or other support means will suffice, In this case, for example, a preferred embodiment involves the use of an upper and lower plate, each semicircular, spaced apart by a suitable spacing element, with hinge elements extending between the plates about the periphery thereof, to which each of the support arms may be individually attached. Once again the relative spacing of these hinge elements will allow for space to be left between the collapsed support arm so as to avoid damage to the cover which will be located between adjacent support arms.

When used in conjunction with a vehicle, it will be appreciated that a particularly useful arrangement for a van, four wheel drive vehicle or other station sedan would be to locate the support member for the awning at or adjacent the rear corner of the vehicle so as to maximise by the area over which the awning may extend. In the collapsed state, the awning could, ifremaijiing on the vehicle, extend for the maximum length of the vehicle, typically five metres, so that on being opened, ie the support arms being extended out radially, a sector having a radius of five metres would be achieved. This of course would translate to an awning, if a semicircular arrangement were used, which would extend for ten metres along its diameter, ie double the length of the vehicle to which it is fitted.

It will also be appreciated that in many circumstances it would be desirable to not only have the awning extend from the point of attachment, eg the comer of a vehicle, but especially where that vehicle is not particularly high, eg a conventional motor vehicle, it would be desirable to provide means whereby the awning may be raised or lowered relative to the point of said attachment. Thus in one particularly preferred embodiment, there is provided an adjustable extension or lifting means, to adjust the height of the awning relative to the point of attachment, ie ultimately in relation to the ground, to provide suitable clearance etc.

One particularly suitable means for achieving this is by means of secondary support arms extending from the post or primary support member to a secondary support member for the radially extending arms. With advantage, the secondary support arms may be assisted in their movement upwardly by, for example, a gas cylinder or cylinders which not only facilitates lifting but allows the mechanism to remain in an upwardly extended position, in much the same way as gas cylinders are utilised to facilitate raising, and maintaining in that position, a rear door of a station wagon or the boot of a sedan or the like.

Although in many arrangements it will be preferred to provide a simple semicircular awning, of course any arcuate dimension may be employed. Thus in the internal corners of buildings it may be useful to provide an awning which extends only for a quarter of a circle. On the other hand in the vehicle situation described above, or indeed at external comers of buildings, a three quarter circle arrangement would provide additional shade or protection, in the case of the vehicle-not only along the side but also along the rear of thereof.

Furthermore, it will also be readily appreciated that a full circle of cover, that is in fact providing the equivalent of a full umbrella-type cover may also be utilised where appropriate. In such an arrangement, additional protection against the elements may be provided by having the adjacent edges of the cover (ie the radial edges) once they are brought into proximity, joined in some suitable manner, eg by zip fastening or Velcro arrangement as required.

Once collapsed, the cover material of the awning may be usefully wound around the collapsed frame support for transport or storage, and where appropriate even left in place on say the vehicle to which it attached. With advantage, suitable ties may be provided on the cover itself at appropriate positions or independent straps or ropes etc may be utilised.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a perspective view of a support bracket and radially extending arms forming the skeletal structure of an awning according to one embodiment of the present invention, Figure 2 is a side view of the support bracket and radially extending arms of the embodiment shown in Fig 1, Figure 3 is a side elevation showing the detail of the support post as used in one embodiment of the invention wherein the awning structure is attached to a building, Figure 4 is a side elevation showing the detail of the support post as used in an embodiment of the invention wherein the awning structure is attached to a vehicle.

Figure 5 is a detailed top view of the bearing housing from which the arms extend radially for an awning according to one aspect of the invention, Figure 6 is a side view of the support bracket and extension means for use with an embodiment of the invention suitable for mounting on a vehicle, and Figure 7 is plan view of the extension arms as shown in Fig. 6.

BEST MODE OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Referring generally to the Figures and particularly to Figures 1 and 2, there is illustrated a skeletal structure for an umbrella generally referenced 11, which consists of a support post 12 mounted on a primary support bracket arrangement 13 suitable for fixing to the bar 14 of a roof rack, by suitable means such as nut and bolt or the like (not specifically shown).

Mounted on the support post 12 is an extension arrangement generally referenced 15 comprising a pair of secondary support arms 16 rotatable about pivot points at each end allowing the raising (and subsequent lowering) of the radial arm support plate arrangement 17. Preferably these support arms 16 may be supported by a gas cylinder 18 to raise and lower the arms 16 as shown in Figures 6 and 7 and to help maintain the arms 16 in raised position as required.

Plate arrangement 17 provides rotatable support to radially extending arms 18 which support the fabric of the awning (not shown).

Figure 3 shows in more detail a support post 12 as used in one embodiment of the invention, wherein the awning structure is attached to a part of a building (eg wall 22). The support post 12 is located on a bracket 19 having a support gusset 20, the bracket being affixed by suitable means, eg dyna-bolts 21 to a wall 22 or other suitable portion of a building structure. The top of the support post 12 may be provided with a threaded region 23 to allow the rest of the support structure for the awning to be screwed thereto to prevent it being accidentally removed etc.

Figures 4 and 5 show in more detail a support post 12 for mounting on a vehicle and in particular the roof rack of a vehicle. A support means 24 in the form of a pair of plates 25, 26 is mounted on a bearing housing 27 fitted over the support post 12. Each radially extending support arm which supports the awning fabric, one of which is illustrated as item 28, is located on a support pin 29 extending between the upper and lower plates 25,26. In this arrangement, unlike to that shown in Figures 1 and 2, the support for the radially extending arms is located directly on the support post, rather than being remotely adjustable relative thereto as shown in Figures 1 and 2 (and discussed further in Figures 6 and 7 below) Although the radial arm support plates 25, 26 are rotatable about the support post 12, with advantage they may be locked in position once the desired location for the awning has been achieved by means of locking pin 30.

The support post 12 in this embodiment is itself mounted on a bracket arrangement 13 for affixing as mentioned above in relation to Figures 1 and 2, but here shown in more detail.

Figures 6 and 7 show in detail a preferred arrangement in which the fabric support arms 28 extend from a secondary radial arm support plate 31 which is remote from the primary support post and connected thereto by means of a lifting or extending mechanism 15 in the form of a pair of secondary support arms 16 (as described above in relation to Figures 1 and 5 2) pivotable at each end to allow the secondary support plate arrangement 17 to be raised or lowered as required. A gas cylinder 32 may be fitted to the arrangement to facilitate lifting and supporting the mechanism in the raised position. A locking pin 33 may also be utilised to ensure that the structure does not collapse or lower under its own weight.

Throughout the specification the word"comprise"and its derivatives are intended to have 10 an inclusive rather than exclusive meaning unless the context requires otherwise.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The invention has industrial applicability at least in relation to the awning industry, and more particularly, in relation to alternate means of providing awning structures to those previously known 15 The foregoing describes only some embodiments of the present invention, and it will be readily appreciated that modifications obvious to those skilled in the art can be made thereto without departing from the scope of the present invention.