Awning support

Abstract

Awning Support is an adjustable device that can be placed at a variety of locations on an awning to prevent sag in the awning and corresponding water pooling on the top of the awning as well as reduce tearing and noise from the awning. To use the preferred embodiment of Awning Support, a user chooses a recreational vehicle or structural awning in need of additional support. A pin located on a handle of a bar is attached to one side of the awning and structure or vehicle while a flat end on the opposite side of the bar is attached to the opposite side of the awning. Ideally, the device will be placed centrally on the awning but it could be used wherever the awning is sagging. The length of the bar can be adjusted by pushing the bar into the handle to compress a compression spring or by pushing a button on the handle to allow the compression spring to expand.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A support device comprising:
 (a) a bar having an adjustment mechanism; and   (b) a flat end on one end of the bar having a slot on the front and a first approximately conic shaped end on one side and a second approximately conic shaped end on the other side.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the bar is made of metal. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the bar is approximately half inch in diameter and six feet in length. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the bar is slightly bowed. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the bar is hollow. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1  further comprising
 a handle on the end of the bar opposite the flat end. 
 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6  wherein the adjustment mechanism is a compression spring located within the handle. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7  wherein the compression spring is made of metal. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 7  further comprising
 a lock nut on the interior of the handle operatively connected to a button on the exterior of the handle to permit the bar to be locked at a specific location inside the handle. 
 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 6  wherein the handle is made of plastic. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1  further comprising
 a cover located over at least a portion of the bar. 
 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11  wherein the cover is made of foam. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 11  wherein the cover is made of plastic. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 11  wherein the cover is made of rubber. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the flat end is cylindrical in shape. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the first approximately conic shaped end and the second approximately shaped end are made of rubber. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 6  further comprising
 a pin located on the end of the handle. 
 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 17  wherein the pin is made of metal. 
     
     
         19 . A support device comprising:
 (a) a bar that is cylindrical, hollow, made of metal and slightly, bowed;   (b) a flat end on one end of the bar that is cylindrical and made of metal having a slot on the front and a first approximately conic shaped end made of rubber on one side and a second approximately conic shaped end made of rubber on the other side;   (c) a handle that is approximately cylindrical and made of plastic on the end of the bar opposite the flat end and capable of containing at least a portion of the bar;   (d) a compression spring made of metal located within the handle;   (e) a lock nut on the interior of the handle operatively connected to a button on the exterior of the handle to permit the bar to be locked at a specific location inside the handle.   (f) a cover that is cylindrical and made of foam located over at least a portion of the bar; and   (g) a pin made of metal located on the end of the handle.