Foldable awning for attachment to a vehicle

Abstract

An awning for attachment to a vehicle includes a frame, a first cover member, and an attachment structure. The frame includes a base frame member, a first perpendicular frame member pivotably connected to and extendable from a base frame member first end, a second perpendicular frame member pivotably connected to and extendable from a base frame member second end, a first outer frame member pivotably connected to and extendable between the first perpendicular frame member distal end and the second perpendicular frame member distal end, a first actuator configured to extend between the base frame member and the first perpendicular frame member, and a second actuator configured to extend between the base frame member and the second perpendicular frame member. The first cover member foldably extends between the base frame member, the first perpendicular frame member, the second perpendicular frame member, and the first outer frame member. The attachment structure is configured to connect the base frame member to a first vehicle surface.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An awning ( 10 ) for attachment to a vehicle ( 20 ), said awning comprising:
 a frame ( 100 ) comprising:
 a base frame member ( 105 ) having a base frame member first end ( 106 ) and a base frame member second end ( 107 ); 
 a first perpendicular frame member ( 110 ) pivotably connected to the base frame member first end and having a first perpendicular frame member distal end ( 111 ); 
 a second perpendicular frame member ( 120 ) pivotably connected to the base frame member second end and having a second perpendicular frame member distal end ( 121 ); 
 a first outer frame member ( 130 ) pivotably connected to the first perpendicular frame member distal end or the second perpendicular frame member distal end, and extendable between the first perpendicular frame member distal end and the second perpendicular frame member distal end; 
 a first linear actuator ( 200 ) configured to extend between a base frame member first location proximate to the base frame member first end and a first perpendicular frame member first location ( 112 ) located between about 30% and about 70% of a distance between the first perpendicular frame member distal end and a first perpendicular frame member proximal end ( 113 ); and 
 a second linear actuator ( 210 ) configured to extend between a base frame member second location proximate to the base frame member second end and a second perpendicular frame member first location ( 122 ) located between about 30% and about 70% of the distance between the second perpendicular frame member distal end and a second perpendicular frame member proximal end ( 123 ); 
   a first cover member ( 300 ) foldably extending between the base frame member, the first perpendicular frame member, the second perpendicular frame member, and the first outer frame member; and   an attachment structure ( 400 ) configured to connect the base frame member to a first vehicle surface ( 21 ).   
     
     
         2 . The awning of  claim 1 , wherein the first linear actuator is selected from the group consisting of a hydraulic linear actuator, a pneumatic linear actuator, an electromechanical linear actuator, a piezoelectric linear actuator, and a spring actuator. 
     
     
         3 . The awning of  claim 1 , wherein the second linear actuator is selected from the group consisting of a hydraulic linear actuator, a pneumatic linear actuator, an electromechanical linear actuator, a piezoelectric linear actuator, and a spring actuator. 
     
     
         4 . The awning of  claim 1 , wherein the attachment structure comprises a longitudinal plate ( 401 ) connected to the base frame member and a first plurality of L brackets ( 402 ) configured to connect the longitudinal plate to the first vehicle surface. 
     
     
         5 . The awning of  claim 1 , wherein the first vehicle surface is a first side edge ( 22 ) of a vehicle roof ( 23 ). 
     
     
         6 . The awning of  claim 1 , wherein the frame further comprises:
 a second base frame member ( 140 ) having a second base frame member first end ( 141 ) and a second base frame member second end ( 142 );   a third perpendicular frame member ( 150 ) pivotably connected to the second base frame member first end and having a third perpendicular frame member distal end ( 151 );   a fourth perpendicular frame member ( 155 ) pivotably connected to the second base frame member second end and having a fourth perpendicular frame member distal end ( 156 );   a second outer frame member ( 160 ) pivotably connected to the third perpendicular frame member distal end or the fourth perpendicular frame member distal end, and extendable between the third perpendicular frame member distal end and the fourth perpendicular frame member distal end;   a third linear actuator ( 220 ) configured to extend between a second base frame member first location proximate to the second base frame member first end and a third perpendicular frame member first location ( 152 ) located between about 30% and about 70% of the distance between the third perpendicular frame member distal end and a third perpendicular frame member proximal end ( 153 ); and   a fourth linear actuator ( 230 ) configured to extend between a second base frame member second location proximate to the second base frame member second end and a fourth perpendicular frame member first location ( 157 ) located between about 30% and about 70% of the distance between the fourth perpendicular frame member distal end and a fourth perpendicular frame member proximal end ( 158 ); and   
       wherein the awning further comprises:
 a second cover member ( 310 ) foldably extending between the second perpendicular frame member and the third perpendicular frame member; 
 a third cover member ( 320 ) foldably extending between the second base frame member, the third perpendicular frame member, the fourth perpendicular frame member, and the second outer frame member; and 
 a second attachment structure ( 410 ) configured to connect the second base frame member to a second vehicle surface ( 24 ). 
 
     
     
         7 . The awning of  claim 6 , wherein the third linear actuator is selected from the group consisting of a hydraulic linear actuator, a pneumatic linear actuator, an electromechanical linear actuator, a piezoelectric linear actuator, and a spring actuator. 
     
     
         8 . The awning of  claim 6 , wherein the fourth linear actuator is selected from the group consisting of a hydraulic linear actuator, a pneumatic linear actuator, an electromechanical linear actuator, a piezoelectric linear actuator, and a spring actuator. 
     
     
         9 . The awning of  claim 6 , wherein the second attachment structure is comprises a second longitudinal plate ( 411 ) connected to the second base frame member and a second plurality of L brackets ( 412 ) configured to connect the second longitudinal plate to the second vehicle surface. 
     
     
         10 . The awning of  claim 6 , wherein the second vehicle surface is a rear edge ( 25 ) of a vehicle roof. 
     
     
         11 . The awning of  claim 6 , wherein the frame further comprises:
 a third base frame member ( 170 ) having a third base frame member first end ( 171 ) and a third base frame member second end ( 172 );   a fifth perpendicular frame member ( 180 ) pivotably connected to the third base frame member first end and having a fifth perpendicular frame member distal end ( 181 );   a sixth perpendicular frame member ( 185 ) pivotably connected to the third base frame member second end and having a sixth perpendicular frame member distal end ( 186 );   a third outer frame member ( 190 ) pivotably connected to the fifth perpendicular frame member distal end or the sixth perpendicular frame member distal end, and extendable between the fifth perpendicular frame member distal end and the sixth perpendicular frame member distal end;   a fifth linear actuator ( 240 ) configured to extend between a third base frame member first location proximate to the third base frame member first end and a fifth perpendicular frame member first location ( 182 ) located between about 30% and about 70% of the distance between the fifth perpendicular frame member distal end and a fifth perpendicular frame member proximal end ( 183 ); and   a sixth linear actuator ( 250 ) configured to extend between a third base frame member second location proximate to the third base frame member second end and a sixth perpendicular frame member first location ( 187 ) located between about 30% and about 70% of the distance between the sixth perpendicular frame member distal end and a sixth perpendicular frame member proximal end ( 188 ); and   
       wherein the awning further comprises:
 a fourth cover member ( 330 ) foldably extending between the fourth perpendicular frame member and the fifth perpendicular frame member; 
 a fifth cover member ( 340 ) foldably extending between the third base frame member, the fifth perpendicular frame member, the sixth perpendicular frame member, and the third outer frame member; and 
 a third attachment structure ( 420 ) configured to connect the third base frame member to a third vehicle surface ( 26 ). 
 
     
     
         12 . The awning of  claim 11 , wherein the fifth linear actuator is selected from the group consisting of a hydraulic linear actuator, a pneumatic linear actuator, an electromechanical linear actuator, a piezoelectric linear actuator, and a spring actuator. 
     
     
         13 . The awning of  claim 11 , wherein the sixth linear actuator is selected from the group consisting of a hydraulic linear actuator, a pneumatic linear actuator, an electromechanical linear actuator, a piezoelectric linear actuator, and a spring actuator. 
     
     
         14 . The awning of  claim 11 , wherein the third attachment structure comprises a third longitudinal plate ( 421 ) connected to the third base frame member and a third plurality of L brackets ( 422 ) configured to connect the third longitudinal plate to the third vehicle surface. 
     
     
         15 . The awning of  claim 11 , wherein the third vehicle surface is a second side edge ( 27 ) of a vehicle roof. 
     
     
         16 . The awning of  claim 4 , wherein the longitudinal plate has at least one channel ( 403 ). 
     
     
         17 . The awning of  claim 9 , wherein the second longitudinal plate has at least one second channel ( 413 ). 
     
     
         18 . The awning of  claim 14 , wherein the third longitudinal plate has at least one third channel ( 423 ). 
     
     
         19 . The awning of  claim 6 , wherein the first cover member, the second cover member, and the third cover member comprise a flexible material selected from a group consisting of canvas, nylon, or polyester. 
     
     
         20 . The awning of  claim 11 , wherein the first cover member, the second cover member, the third cover member, the fourth cover member, and the fifth cover member comprise a flexible material selected from a group consisting of canvas, nylon, or polyester.