Copyright © Philip M. Parker, INSEAD. Terms of Use.
| Year | Description |
| 1998 | Invention patented by Sydney W. Jr. Frey on August 19th, 1998. Abstract: An awning includes a roller assembly having a torsion spring, a canopy connected between a wall the roller assembly, and a pair of "four-bar" arm assemblies supporting opposite ends of the roller assembly. The arm assemblies move the roller assembly between a retracted position and an extended position, where the torsion spring biases the roller assembly toward the retracted position. Each arm assembly includes a vertically extending base arm secured to the wall, a bottom arm having a first end pivotally connected to the base arm, an extended arm having a first end pivotally connected to the bottom arm and a second end supporting the roller assembly, and a top arm having a first end pivotally connected to the base arm and a second end pivotally connected to the extended arm. The base arm has a telescoping extension so that the effective length of the base arm is variable. Each arm assembly also includes a force producing member extending between the base arm and the bottom or top arm to move the arm assembly toward the extended position. In a preferred powered automatic awning, the force producing member is an electric linear actuator extending between the base arm and the bottom arm. A counter-balance spring biases the arm assembly toward the extended position to counter-balance the torsion spring. In a preferred spring-assisted manual awning, a tension coil spring extends between the base arm and the bottom arm to counter-balance the torsion spring, or a compression spring suitably mounted to create tension between the base arm and the bottom arm. In another preferred spring-assisted manual awning, a compression gas spring extends between the base arm and the top arm to counter-balance the torsion spring. |
| 2000 | Invention patented by Sydney W. Jr. Frey on March 6th, 2000. Abstract: An awning includes a roller assembly having a torsion spring, a canopy connected between a wall the roller assembly, and a pair of "four-bar" arm assemblies supporting opposite ends of the roller assembly. The arm assemblies move the roller assembly between a retracted position and an extended position, where the torsion spring biases the roller assembly toward the retracted position. Each arm assembly includes a vertically extending base arm secured to the wall, a bottom arm having a first end pivotally connected to the base arm, an extended arm having a first end pivotally connected to the bottom arm and a second end supporting the roller assembly, and a top arm having a first end pivotally connected to the base arm and a second end pivotally connected to the extended arm. Each arm assembly also includes a force producing member extending between the base arm and the bottom or top arm to move the arm assembly toward the extended position. The force producing member may be an electric linear actuator extending between the base arm and the bottom arm. A counter-balance spring biases the arm assembly toward the extended position to counter-balance the torsion spring. |
| 2000 | Invention patented by Sydney W. Jr. Frey on March 6th, 2000. Abstract: An awning includes a roller assembly having a torsion spring, a canopy connected between a wall the roller assembly, and a pair of "four-bar" arm assemblies supporting opposite ends of the roller assembly. The arm assemblies move the roller assembly between a retracted position and an extended position, where the torsion spring biases the roller assembly toward the retracted position. Each arm assembly includes a vertically extending base arm secured to the wall, a bottom arm having a first end pivotally connected to the base arm, an extended arm having a first end pivotally connected to the bottom arm and a second end supporting the roller assembly, and a top arm having a first end pivotally connected to the base arm and a second end pivotally connected to the extended arm. Each arm assembly also includes a force producing member extending between the base arm and the bottom or top arm to move the arm assembly toward the extended position. The force producing member may be a tension spring or a compression spring. |
| Source: selected by the editor from original sources. | |
Copyright © Philip M. Parker, INSEAD. Terms of Use.
