Water accumulation prevention systems, devices and methods for awning structures

Abstract

A rain shedding accessory for retractable awnings is provided. The rain shedding accessory includes a bow system for coupling between a pair of arm members of an awning structure in a mounting region located beneath an area corresponding to a leading portion of an awning sheet thereof. A bow member of the bow system is aligned generally parallel to a lead member of the awning structure and is upwardly curved to elevate a portion of the awning sheet when the awning is in a deployed configuration to prevent the accumulation of water or debris thereon. Other accessory devices and methods of preventing the accumulation of water or debris on retractable awning structures using bow systems and other prop devices are also provided.

1 . An awning system with a rain shedding accessory, comprising:
 a retractable awning including an awning sheet, a base member and a lead member, the lead member being retractably extendable to move between an extended position in which the awning sheet is supported between the base member and the lead member and a retracted position, and the retractable awning further including a pair of arm members to at least partially support the lead member in space when the lead member is in the extended position; and   a bow system accessory including a bow member and a pair of couplers, each coupler configured to engage a portion of a respective one of the pair of arms of the retractable awning in a mounting region located beneath an area corresponding to a leading portion of the awning sheet adjacent the lead member when the retractable awning is in a deployed configuration, the bow member coupled to the pair of arms of the retractable awning by the pair of couplers and the bow member being generally parallel to the lead member and upwardly curved to elevate a portion of the awning sheet.   
     
     
         2 . The awning system with the rain shedding accessory of  claim 1  wherein each coupler includes a base portion sized and shaped to closely receive the portion of the respective one of the pair of arms of the retractable awning. 
     
     
         3 . The awning system with the rain shedding accessory of  claim 2  wherein the base portion is shaped to snap onto the portion of the respective one of the pair of arms of the retractable awning. 
     
     
         4 . The awning system with the rain shedding accessory of  claim 1  wherein the base portion of each coupler further includes at least one fastener for fixing the base portion to the respective one of the pair of arms of the retractable awning. 
     
     
         5 . The awning system with the rain shedding accessory of  claim 1  wherein each coupler includes an upper portion configured to receive one of opposing ends of the bow member. 
     
     
         6 . The awning system with the rain shedding accessory of  claim 1  wherein each coupler includes an upper portion which defines a channel to receive one of opposing ends of the bow member, the channel including a series of apertures to selectively adjust a mounting location of the bow member. 
     
     
         7 . The awning system with the rain shedding accessory of  claim 1  wherein each coupler includes an upper portion which defines a channel to receive a respective intermediate bow adjustment device, each intermediate bow adjustment device pivotally coupled to the coupler at a first end and coupled to the bow member at a second end. 
     
     
         8 . The awning system with the rain shedding accessory of  claim 7  wherein the channel of each coupler includes a series of apertures to selectively adjust a mounting location of the respective intermediate bow adjustment device. 
     
     
         9 . The awning system with the rain shedding accessory of  claim 7  wherein each intermediate bow adjustment device includes a series of apertures to selectively adjust a mounting location of the bow member. 
     
     
         10 . A retractable awning system with a rain shedding accessory, comprising:
 a retractable awning having an awning sheet coupled between a base member and a lead member to form a canopy structure when the retractable awning is in a deployed configuration in which the lead member is spatially offset from the base member, the lead member supported in space at least in part by a pair of arm members when the retractable awning is in a deployed configuration; and   an accessory bow system coupled to the pair of arm members in a mounting region located beneath an area corresponding to a leading portion of the awning sheet adjacent the lead member when the retractable awning is in the deployed configuration, the accessory bow system including a bow member aligned generally parallel to the lead member and upwardly curved to elevate a portion of the awning sheet when the retractable awning is in the deployed configuration.   
     
     
         11 . The awning system with the rain shedding accessory of  claim 10  wherein the bow member is configured to automatically flex upwardly during operation to elevate the portion of the awning sheet when the pair of arms move toward an extended position to transition the awning to the deployed configuration. 
     
     
         12 . The awning system with the rain shedding accessory of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a prop device configured to couple to at least one of the arm members, the prop device having a sheet support structure with a generally convex upper surface to interface with the awning sheet when the prop device is installed for use.   
     
     
         13 . An awning accessory coupleable to a retractable awning to assist in shedding rain from an awning sheet thereof, the awning accessory comprising:
 a bow member; and   a plurality of couplers configured to couple the bow member to arms of the retractable awning such that the bow member is supported in a mounting region located beneath an area corresponding to a leading portion of the awning sheet in a deployed configuration and oriented to align generally parallel to a lead member of the retractable awning.   
     
     
         14 . A water accumulation prevention accessory device for a retractable awning having an awning sheet coupled between a base member and a lead member to form a canopy structure when the retractable awning is in a deployed configuration in which the lead member is spatially offset from the base member, the lead member supported in space at least in part by arm members when the awning is in a deployed configuration, the water accumulation prevention accessory device comprising:
 a propping structure configured to removably couple to the retractable awning between the arm members in a mounting region located entirely beneath an area corresponding to a leading third of the awning sheet adjacent the lead member when the awning is in the deployed configuration to elevate the leading third of the awning sheet and assist in shedding rainwater from the retractable awning.   
     
     
         15 . The water accumulation prevention accessory device of  claim 14  wherein the propping structure of the water accumulation prevention device is a bow member, the bow member aligning generally parallel to the lead member when coupled to the retractable awning to assist in shedding rainwater. 
     
     
         16 . The water accumulation prevention accessory device of  claim 14  wherein the propping structure is supported during use to contact the awning sheet only within the leading third of the awning sheet.