Selectively Deployable Awning Assembly

Abstract

A selectively deployable awning assembly for shielding an area proximate to a penetration in a structure includes a plurality of ribs and a panel. The ribs are mutually coupled so that each rib extends arcuately from an intersection and so that the plurality of ribs is substantially half-bowl shaped. The panel is coupled to and extends between the ribs of the plurality of ribs. Each of a plurality of connectors is configured to be coupled to an external element of a structure above the penetration, such as a door, so that the plurality of connectors extends arcuately across and above an upper limit of the penetration. The plurality of connectors is positioned to selectively couple to a pair of end ribs to couple the plurality of ribs to the structure. The panel thus is configured to shield an area under the panel from the elements, such as rain, snow, and sunlight.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A selectively deployable awning assembly comprising:
 a plurality of ribs, the ribs being mutually coupled such that each rib extends arcuately from an intersection and such that the plurality of ribs is substantially half-bowl shaped;   a panel coupled to and extending between the ribs of the plurality of ribs; and   a plurality of connectors, each connector being configured for coupling to an external element of a structure above a penetration in the structure such that the plurality of connectors extends arcuately across and above an upper limit of the penetration such that the plurality of connectors is positioned for selectively coupling to a pair of end ribs for coupling the plurality of ribs to the structure wherein the panel is configured for shielding an area under the panel from the elements.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further including the plurality of ribs comprising from three to seven ribs. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 2 , further including the plurality of ribs comprising five ribs. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further including each rib comprising a plurality of nested sections such that the rib is selectively extensible. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly of  claim 4 , further including the plurality of nested sections comprising an outer section extending from the intersection and an inner section selectively extensible from the outer section. 
     
     
         6 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further including the ribs comprising at least one of metal and plastic. 
     
     
         7 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 the panel being flexible; and   the intersection comprising an upper end of a post, each rib being hingedly coupled to the post such that the plurality of ribs is selectively positionable in an extended configuration wherein the plurality of ribs is substantially half-bowl shaped and a stowed configuration wherein each rib is in substantial abutment with the post.   
     
     
         8 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further including the panel being substantially water impermeable. 
     
     
         9 . The assembly of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a ring positioned around the post, the ring being selectively slidable relative to the post;   a plurality of rods, each rod being pivotally coupled to and extending between the ring and a respective rib such that the plurality of rods is positioned for supporting the plurality of ribs in the extended configuration; and   a stopper selectively couplable to a lower end of the post such that the stopper is positioned for retaining the plurality of ribs in the extended configuration and such that the stopper is removable for sliding the ring over the lower end of the post for positioning the plurality of ribs in the stowed configuration.   
     
     
         10 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further including the plurality of connectors comprising from two to five connectors. 
     
     
         11 . The assembly of  claim 10 , further including the plurality of connectors comprising three connectors. 
     
     
         12 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further including each connector comprising a clip. 
     
     
         13 . The assembly of  claim 12 , further including the clip being adhesively couplable to the external element of the structure. 
     
     
         14 . The assembly of  claim 4 , further including a circlet coupled to the upper end of the post such that the circlet is positioned for selectively coupling to an associated clip for coupling the plurality of ribs to the structure wherein the panel is configured for shielding the area under the panel from the elements. 
     
     
         15 . The assembly of  claim 14 , further including the circlet being rotationally coupled to the post. 
     
     
         16 . A selectively deployable awning assembly comprising:
 a plurality of ribs, the ribs being mutually coupled such that each rib extends arcuately from an intersection and such that the plurality of ribs is substantially half-bowl shaped, the plurality of ribs comprising from three to seven ribs, the plurality of ribs comprising five ribs, each rib comprising a plurality of nested sections such that the rib is selectively extensible, the plurality of nested sections comprising an outer section extending from the intersection and an inner section selectively extensible from the outer section, the ribs comprising at least one of metal and plastic, the intersection comprising an upper end of a post, each rib being hingedly coupled to the post such that the plurality of ribs is selectively positionable in an extended configuration wherein the plurality of ribs is substantially half-bowl shaped and a stowed configuration wherein each rib is in substantial abutment with the post;   a panel coupled to and extending between the ribs of the plurality of ribs, the panel being flexible, the panel being substantially water impermeable;   a ring positioned around the post, the ring being selectively slidable relative to the post;   a plurality of rods, each rod being pivotally coupled to and extending between the ring and a respective rib such that the plurality of rods is positioned for supporting the plurality of ribs in the extended configuration;   a stopper selectively couplable to a lower end of the post such that the stopper is positioned for retaining the plurality of ribs in the extended configuration and such that the stopper is removable for sliding the ring over the lower end of the post for positioning the plurality of ribs in the stowed configuration;   a plurality of connectors, each connector being configured for coupling to an external element of a structure above a penetration in the structure such that the plurality of connectors extends arcuately across and above an upper limit of the penetration such that the plurality of connectors is positioned for selectively coupling to a pair of end ribs for coupling the plurality of ribs to the structure wherein the panel is configured for shielding an area under the panel from the elements, the plurality of connectors comprising from two to five connectors, the plurality of connectors comprising three connectors, each connector comprising a clip, the clip being adhesively couplable to the external element of the structure; and   a circlet coupled to the upper end of the post such that the circlet is positioned for selectively coupling to an associated clip for coupling the plurality of ribs to the structure wherein the panel is configured for shielding the area under the panel from the elements, the circlet being rotationally coupled to the post.