Awning clamping assembly

Abstract

A clamping assembly for securing the canopy of a retractable awning mounted on a recreational vehicle, including one or more clamp members, each having a top section and a bottom section positioned in face opposed relation with each section having a back surface and a front surface. Each back surface includes a protruding member with an opening adapted, when aligned, to receive a means to attach the clamp member to support arms. The front surfaces form a pair of projecting face opposed clamping flanges with a space in between the two to engage the canopy material. Also provided is a pair of spring-loaded lever arms adapted for pivotal movement between a vertical position to enable the flanges to engage the canopy material in a releasable grip and a horizontal position to enable the flanges to separate and release their grip on the canopy. Rotating the lever arms in opposite directions act to adjust the tightness of the grip the flanges have on the canopy material.

1 . A clamping assembly for securing the canopy of a retractable awning mounted on a recreational vehicle having a retractably mounted first support arm and a second support arm, the combination comprising,
 a. one or more clamp members each having a top section and a bottom section positioned in face opposed relation, said top section and said bottom section each having an outside surface, an inside surface, a back surface and a front surface, said back surface of each said section having a protruding member formed along a portion of said surface with an opening, said openings being aligned and adapted to receive means to attach one of said clamp members to either of said support arms, said front surfaces of said sections forming a pair of projecting face opposed clamping flanges with a space in between said projecting clamping flanges adapted to receive a portion of said canopy; and,   b. a pair of lever arms, each of said lever arms being pivotally mounted at either end of one of said clamp members and adapted for pivotal movement about an axis between a first position to enable said projecting clamping flanges to engage a portion of said canopy and secure said canopy in a vise-like releasable grip and a second position to enable said projecting clamping flanges to separate and release their grip on said canopy.   
     
     
         2 . The clamping assembly of  claim 1  wherein each of said clamp member is elongated and tubular in form. 
     
     
         3 . The clamping assembly of  claim 1  wherein either of said lever arms in said first position is horizontally disposed and either of said lever arms in said second position is vertically disposed. 
     
     
         4 . The clamping assembly of  claim 3  wherein said lever arms are spring-loaded. 
     
     
         5 . The clamping assembly of  claim 1  wherein each of said lever arms is adapted to be rotated in one direction to draw said projecting clamping flanges closer and increase the tightness of said projecting flanges acting upon a portion of said canopy or rotated in the opposite direction to separate said projecting clamping flanges and decrease the tightness of said projecting flanges acting upon a portion of said canopy. 
     
     
         6 . The clamping assembly of  claim 1  wherein said means to attach said clamp member comprises an adjustable support strap. 
     
     
         7 . The clamping assembly of  claim 1  wherein said first and second retractable support arms are each comprised of rotatably attached first and second leg sections. 
     
     
         8 . A clamping assembly for securing the canopy of a retractable awning mounted on a recreational vehicle having a retractably mounted first support arm and a second support arm, the combination comprising,
 a. one or more clamp members, each of said clamp members having a top surface, a bottom surface, a rear surface and a front surface, said rear surface of each of said clamp members having a flange formed along said rear surface with one or more openings formed within said flange, said openings being adapted to receive means to attach one of said clamp members to one of said support arms, said front surface of said clamp member having a pair of projecting face opposed clamping flanges with a space in between said projecting flanges adapted to receive a portion of said canopy; and,   b. a pair of lever arms, each of said lever arms being pivotally mounted at either end of one of said clamp members and adapted for pivotal movement about an axis between a first position to cause said projecting flanges to engage a portion of said canopy and secure said canopy in a vise-like releasable grip and a second position to cause said projecting flanges to separate and release their grip on said canopy.   
     
     
         9 . The clamping assembly of  claim 1  wherein said openings are slotted.