This invention is in the field of retractable housed awnings , for quick and easy setup, use and storage in various locations and applications .

Background :

More and more people are considering and adopting shortterm and longer-term living arrangements in vans and other motor vehicles .

As there is more uptake on this nomadic lifestyle, various equipment and modifications for these types of vehicles have become available in the marketplace . One of the primary pieces of add-on equipment for external use with vehicles such as this are retractable awnings , to provide shade and protection in proximity to the vehicle .

SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) Many roll style awnings facilitate side mount environmental protection but very few are capable of covering the s ide , rear portions and doors of the van . The awnings available that facilitate that need require rotational movement along an axis and then folding of the awning sheet into a housing manually . As the height of these vans or vehicles are sometime s in exces s of 7 ft it can be seen that a sel fextracting and contracting awning without manual input could be desired .

Summary of the Invention :

As outlined throughout, the present invention comprises a housed cassette awning for use on a van or similar motor vehicle . The awning of the present invention operates with a linear action , resulting in the complete erection of the awning .

The awning of the present invention comprises a main housing along with the traveler, support tube s and the linear motion device that extracts by linear motion along the main axis of the device housing . The creation of an environmentally protected area by extens ion of the awning

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SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) from axial movement can result in 0 to 360 ° of shaded or environmentally protected area . The movement of the traveler creates rotational movement of the support tubes , resulting in the extension of the awning material . Conversely on retraction of the traveler , inverse rotational movement of the support tubes and storage of the traveler , awning material and support tubes takes place .

Extension or erection of the awning of the present invention can be actuated using an electric motor or a manual device which could be accessed from the ground . A traveler is moved by a linear motion device , which causes support arms to be forced around on pivot point of attachment by a mechanical rotational device as they exit the main housing . As the support arms rotate, they extend the awning material which is ultimately pulled taut and creates the shaded area thereunder . As outlined, various linear motion actuation devices could be used including motors, manual cranking apparatus and the like, and all such linear motion devices are contemplated within the scope of the present invention .

Variations in the means of rotational attachment of the support arms to the remainder of the apparatus will be

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SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) understood to those skilled in the art of design of such apparatus as well and are also all contemplated scope hereof .

To store the extended awning, reverse motion of the linear motion device causes the retraction of the traveler and the rotation of the support arms back into the housing into their storage position . As the support arms return to their storage positions, the awning sheet is folded and pulled into the main housing automatically without any manual input required .

The invention comprises an awning or environmental protection device comprising as many as the following elements in many embodiments :

1. a main housing that encloses or captures the traveler , supports , mechanical drivers and shading material ;

2 . a shade covering made of fabric or another material that creates a shaded area or environmental protection area when the awning is fully extended;

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SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) 3. support arms attached to the remainder of the device that are intended to fan out and support the shade covering material;

4 . a traveler that moves along the main linear axis of the housing, to erect the awning or environmental protection covering;

5. a linear motion device for movement of the traveler along the main axis of the housing in the extension or retraction of the awning;

6. a mechanical rotational device that will rotate the support arms as required in the extension or retraction of the awning;

7 . a motor or manual drive mobilizing the linear motion device; and

8 . a connecting apparatus for the connection of the traveler to the linear motion device, permitting the necessary movements thereof during the extension or retraction of the awning .

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SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) The apparatus of the present invention can be mounted to the top or side of any structure to provide selective environmental protection .

In certain embodiments the invention comprises an extensible awning for attachment to a structure , said awning having extended and retracted positions and comprising : a . a housing for attachment to the structure having an open extension end from which the awning will extend when moving from the retracted to the extended position and a base end at the opposing end thereof with an axis extending therebetween and therealong, said housing capable of containing all of the remaining components of the awning therein when in the retracted position; b . a shade fabric capable of deployment to provide a shaded protection area thereunder when the awning is in its extended position;

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SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) c . a traveler inside of the housing, capable of axial movement along the axis thereof from the base end to the extension end thereof ; d . a plurality of support arms rotatably attached to the traveler such that when the traveler is pos itioned in proximity to the extension end of the housing the support arms can rotate into spread pos itions outside of the housing for the purpose of supporting the shade fabric in a plane extending outwards from the extension end of the hous ing to def ine the shaded protection area ; and e . a mechanically powered linear motion device connected to the traveller, capable of movement of the traveler along its axis between the ends of the housing; wherein when the traveler is positioned within the housing near the base end thereof the awning will be in its retracted pos ition and the shade fabric along with the remainder of the component s will be stored within the housing .

SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) There are many dif ferent approaches to the mechanical power of the linear motion device , including a manual cranking apparatus for manual operator by a user, or one of a spring system; an electric motor ; a hydraulic motor, a lead or Acme screw, a gear drive , hydraulic system, or a chain drive .

The support arms can be rotatably mounted and actuated by various equipment to move into their extension position as well . They can be rotatably connected and actuated by the use of cams are used to provide the rotatable attachment of the support arms to the traveler , permitting rotation of the support arms between their extended and retracted pos itions , or by a gear system, a catch, hydraulics , or slides . In certain embodiments the support arms could also be manually rotatable in relation to their point of attachment to the traveler, permitting rotation of the support arms between their extended and retracted pos itions .

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SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) Additional embodiments of the awning might include a dual ended awning, wherein the housing has two extension ends with the axis extending therebetween, and an extensible awning with related traveler and linear motion equipment is fitted to extend from each extension end thereof .

Description of the Drawings :

To easily identify the discussion of any particular element or act, the most significant digit or digits in a reference number refer to the figure number in which that element is first introduced . The drawings enclosed are :

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention in a fully extended state on a vehicle ;

Figure 2 is a view of one embodiment of a linear motion device in accordance with the present invention, as could be used in the embodiment of Figure 1 ;

SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) Figure 3 is a view of one embodiment of the traveler and remaining inner mechanism required for operation of the cassette awning of the present invention, as might be used in the embodiment of Figure 1 ;

Figure 4 shows the embodiment of Figure 1 retracted state ;

Figure 5 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the cassette awning of the present invention on a van , deployed from the rear thereof ; and

Figure 6 shows a side view of the deployment of the awning demonstrated in Figure 5 .

Detailed Description of Illustrated Embodiments :

As outlined herein , the present invention comprises an awning or environmental protection device which is extendable from its attached housing in relation to a structure . The product is designed is intended to be mounted on the top or side of any structure in order to provide environmental protection .

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SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) Referring to Figures 1 through 5 there is shown an embodiment of the awning of the present invention attachable to a structure . A housing 1 is provided to enclose the various components of the apparatus and provide finished appearance on the surface of the accommodating structure to which it is mounted .

The awning or shade cover 4 is shown extended from the end of the housing 1 . A traveler 5 accomplishes this linear movement . On extension of the shade cover 4 into its working position, a plurality of support arms 3 are arranged to pivot into position and to support the shade covering 4 . The support arms 3 are connected to the traveler 5 such that they will on extension thereof out of the housing 1 rotate into their working support positions and render the shade cover 4 taut .

Referring to Figure 2 there is shown an interior view of the housing 1 which includes a linear motion device 7 being a motor, and the traveler 5 which is a threaded rod axially interior of the housing 1 is shown . On actuation of the motor 7 in one direction of rotation or the other, a corresponding threaded attachment apparatus will be caused

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SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) to move in one direction or the other along the threaded rod 5 causing its extension or retraction from the open end of the housing .

Referring next to Figure 3 there is shown another interior view of the housing 1 demonstrating configuration, attachment and movement of various components of the awning of the present invention . The traveler 5 which in this case is configured to engage guidance flanges on the interior of the housing 1 is shown, along with a corresponding threaded collar 8 which engages a threaded rod for the purpose of allowing the linear motion of the traveler 5 to be achieved by threaded rod rotation .

The plurality of support arms 3 are also shown along with their rotational attachment to the traveler 5 in a way that they will rotate into a working position when the awning is extended into its covering mode, stretching the fabric and supporting it . Various means of attachment of the support arms 3 will all be understood to those skilled design of eguipment of this nature and are all contemplated within the scope hereof . The support arms 3 could be attached to the traveler 5 using a gear system for their rotation into position in the extraction or retraction of the awning .

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SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) Figure 4 shows the awning of Figure 1 in a retracted/ stored position .

Figures 5 and 6 are two views of the embodiment of Figures 1-4 , attached to the rear of the van and extended therefrom. These two figures demonstrate the simple extension and deployment of the awning of the present invention . In operation , by moving the traveler 5 axially along the housing 1 , the shade fabric 4 , the support arms 3 and the traveler 5 will exit the main housing 1 deploying the awning into its extended position . As the components exit the housing 1 , the rotatable attachment of the support arms 3 will actuate them to rotate and pull the awning material 4 taut thereacross . In reverse, moving the awning into its retracted position, movement of the traveler 5 axially within the housing towards its base end will cause the rotation of the support arms 3 to be approximately axially aligned with the housing 1 and retracted therein along with the shade fabric 4 .

It will be apparent to those of skill in the art that by routine modification the present invention can be optimized

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SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) for use in a wide range of conditions and application . It will also be obvious to those of skill in the art that there are various ways and designs with which to produce the apparatus and methods of the present invention . The illustrated embodiments are therefore not intended to limit the scope of the invention, but to provide examples of the apparatus and method to enable those of skill in the art to appreciate the inventive concept .

Those skilled in the art will recognize that many more modifications besides those already described are pos sible without departing from the inventive concepts herein . The inventive subj ect matter, therefore , is not to be restricted except in the scope of the appended claims . Moreover , in interpreting both the specification and the claims, all terms should be interpreted in the broadest pos sible manner consistent with the context . The terms " comprises" and "comprising" should be interpreted as referring to elements , components , or steps in a nonexclusive manner, indicating that the referenced elements , components , or steps may be present, or utilized, or combined with other elements , components , or steps not expressly referenced .

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SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26)