IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,006,716

Granted Patent B2

US 12,006,716 · App. 17/826,863 · Granted Jun 11, 2024

Inflatable vehicle awning

Inventor: Russell M. Woolsey (Bingen, WA)

E04H15/08 B63B17/02 E04F10/02 E04H15/20 A45B19/02 B60J5/0494 E04H2015/204

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 12,006,716
App. No.: 17/826,863
Granted: Jun 11, 2024
Kind: B2

External Links

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Abstract

Vehicle awnings comprise an inflatable frame assembly comprising a main frame member that defines a space, a left supporting frame member, and a right supporting frame member; a canopy operatively coupled to the main frame member and spanning the space; and an attachment system for attaching the vehicle awning to a vehicle.

Claims (78)

1. A vehicle awning ( 10 ) for installation on a vehicle ( 12 ), comprising:

an inflatable frame assembly ( 14 ), comprising:

a main frame member ( 16 ) defining a space ( 18 ) at least partially bound by the main frame member ( 16 ) and comprising:

an elongate rear segment ( 20 ) having a left end region ( 22 ) and a right end region ( 24 );

a left projecting segment ( 26 ) extending from the left end region ( 22 ) of the elongate rear segment ( 20 ); and

a right projecting segment ( 28 ) extending from the right end region ( 24 ) of the elongate rear segment ( 20 );

a left supporting frame member ( 30 ) extending from the left projecting segment ( 26 ) and having a left-support distal end region ( 32 ); and

a right supporting frame member ( 34 ) extending from the right projecting segment ( 28 ) and having a right-support distal end region ( 36 ), wherein each of the main frame member ( 16 ), the left supporting frame member ( 30 ), and the right supporting frame member ( 34 ) is configured to selectively hold a pressurized volume of air;

a canopy ( 38 ) operatively coupled to the main frame member ( 16 ) and spanning the space ( 18 ); and

an attachment system ( 40 ), comprising:

an upper left attachment assembly ( 54 ) extending from the left end region ( 22 ) of the elongate rear segment ( 20 ) and configured to be selectively secured to an upper region ( 56 ) of the vehicle ( 12 ); and

an upper right attachment assembly ( 58 ) extending from the right end region ( 24 ) of the elongate rear segment ( 20 ) and configured to be selectively secured to the upper region ( 56 ) of the vehicle ( 12 ).

2. The vehicle awning ( 10 ) of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle awning ( 10 ) has:

a deployed configuration ( 100 ), in which the main frame member ( 16 ), the left supporting frame member ( 30 ), and the right supporting frame member ( 34 ) are holding pressurized air and the canopy ( 38 ) is taught across the space ( 18 ); and

a stowed configuration ( 102 ), in which the main frame member ( 16 ), the left supporting frame member ( 30 ), and the right supporting frame member ( 34 ) are open to atmosphere and are able to be folded and/or rolled for stowing the vehicle awning ( 10 ).

3. The vehicle awning ( 10 ) of claim 2 in combination with a storage bag ( 80 ), wherein the vehicle awning ( 10 ) is configured to fit fully within the storage bag ( 80 ) when in the stowed configuration ( 102 ).

4. The vehicle awning ( 10 ) of claim 1 , wherein the main frame member ( 16 ) further comprises a front segment ( 60 ) that interconnects the left projecting segment ( 26 ) and the right projecting segment ( 28 ), and wherein the main frame member ( 16 ) fully bounds the space ( 18 ).

5. The vehicle awning ( 10 ) of claim 1 , wherein the main frame member ( 16 ), the left supporting frame member ( 30 ), and the right supporting frame member ( 34 ) are fluidly interconnected to define a single internal volume ( 62 ).

6. The vehicle awning ( 10 ) of claim 5 , wherein the inflatable frame assembly ( 14 ) further comprises:

a left connecting tube ( 64 ) fluidly interconnecting the left projecting segment ( 26 ) and the left supporting frame member ( 30 );

a right connecting tube ( 66 ) fluidly interconnecting the right projecting segment ( 28 ) and the right supporting frame member ( 34 );

a left valve ( 68 ) operatively coupled to the left connecting tube ( 64 ) and configured to selectively restrict and permit air flow between the left projecting segment ( 26 ) and the left supporting frame member ( 30 ); and

a right valve ( 70 ) operatively coupled to the right connecting tube ( 66 ) and configured to selectively restrict and permit air flow between the right projecting segment ( 28 ) and the right supporting frame member ( 34 ).

7. The vehicle awning ( 10 ) of claim 1 ,

wherein the left-support distal end region ( 32 ) is slidingly coupled to the lower left strap ( 44 ) and is configured to be selectively positioned along the lower left strap ( 44 ); and

wherein the right-support distal end region ( 36 ) is slidingly coupled to the lower right strap ( 52 ) and is configured to be selectively positioned along the lower right strap ( 52 ).

8. The vehicle awning ( 10 ) of claim 7 ,

wherein the left-support distal end region ( 32 ) comprises a left loop ( 72 ) and the lower left strap ( 44 ) slidingly extends through the left loop ( 72 ); and

wherein the right-support distal end region ( 36 ) comprises a right loop ( 74 ) and the lower right strap ( 52 ) slidingly extends through the right loop ( 74 ).

9. The vehicle awning ( 10 ) of claim 7 ,

wherein the lower left attachment assembly ( 42 ) further comprises one or more left-strap limiting structures ( 82 ) configured to be selectively positioned along the lower left strap ( 44 ) to retain the left-support distal end region ( 32 ) in a selected position along the lower left strap ( 44 ); and

wherein the lower right attachment assembly ( 50 ) further comprises one or more right-strap limiting structures ( 84 ) configured to be selectively positioned along the lower right strap ( 52 ) to retain the right-support distal end region ( 36 ) in a selected position along the lower right strap ( 52 ).

10. The vehicle awning ( 10 ) of claim 9 ,

wherein the one or more left-strap limiting structures ( 82 ) comprise:

a first left-strap limiting slider ( 86 ) slidingly coupled to the lower left strap ( 44 ) on one side of the left-support distal end region ( 32 ); and

a second left-strap limiting slider ( 88 ) slidingly coupled to the lower left strap ( 44 ) on an opposite side of the left-support distal end region ( 32 ) from the first left-strap limiting slider ( 86 ); and

wherein the one or more right-strap limiting structures ( 84 ) comprise:

a first right-strap limiting slider ( 90 ) slidingly coupled to the lower right strap ( 52 ) on one side of the right-support distal end region ( 36 ); and

a second right-strap limiting slider ( 92 ) slidingly coupled to the lower right strap ( 52 ) on an opposite side of the right-support distal end region ( 36 ) from the first right-strap limiting slider ( 90 ).

11. The vehicle awning ( 10 ) of claim 1 , further comprising a handle ( 76 ) coupled to the canopy ( 38 ) within the space ( 18 ).

12. The vehicle awning ( 10 ) of claim 1 , wherein the attachment system ( 40 ) further comprises one or more auxiliary attachment structures ( 78 ) coupled to the elongate rear segment ( 20 ), wherein the one or more auxiliary attachment structures ( 78 ) are configured to operatively secure the elongate rear segment ( 20 ) relative to the upper region ( 56 ) of the vehicle ( 12 ).

13. A method ( 200 ) of installing the vehicle awning ( 10 ) of claim 1 on the vehicle ( 12 ), the method ( 200 ) comprising:

inflating ( 202 ) the inflatable frame assembly ( 14 ) so that the canopy ( 38 ) is taught across the space ( 18 );

operatively attaching ( 204 ) the upper left attachment assembly ( 54 ) and the upper right attachment assembly ( 58 ) to the upper region ( 56 ) of the vehicle ( 12 );

operatively attaching ( 206 ) the lower left attachment ( 46 ) and the lower right attachment ( 55 ) to the lower region ( 48 ) of the vehicle ( 12 ); and

shortening ( 208 ) the lower left attachment assembly ( 42 ) and the lower right attachment assembly ( 50 ) so that the lower left strap ( 44 ) and the lower right strap ( 52 ) are taught.

14. The method ( 200 ) of claim 13 , wherein:

the main frame member ( 16 ), the left supporting frame member ( 30 ), and the right supporting frame member ( 34 ) are fluidly interconnected to define a single internal volume ( 62 );

the inflatable frame assembly ( 14 ) further comprises:

a left connecting tube ( 64 ) fluidly interconnecting the left projecting segment ( 26 ) and the left supporting frame member ( 30 );

a right connecting tube ( 66 ) fluidly interconnecting the right projecting segment ( 28 ) and the right supporting frame member ( 34 );

the method ( 200 ) further comprises prior to the inflating ( 202 ), causing ( 210 ) the left valve ( 68 ) to restrict air flow through the left connecting tube ( 64 ) and the right valve ( 70 ) to restrict air flow through the right connecting tube ( 66 );

wherein the inflating ( 202 ) comprises:

pressurizing ( 212 ) the main frame member ( 16 ); and

following the pressurizing ( 212 ), causing ( 214 ) the left valve ( 68 ) to permit air flow through the left connecting tube ( 64 ) and the right valve ( 70 ) to permit air flow through the right connecting tube ( 66 ), thereby pressurizing the left supporting frame member ( 30 ) and the right supporting frame member ( 34 ).

15. A vehicle awning ( 10 ) for installation on a vehicle ( 12 ), comprising:

an inflatable frame assembly ( 14 ), comprising:

a main frame member ( 16 ) defining a space ( 18 ) fully bound by the main frame member ( 16 ) and comprising:

an elongate rear segment ( 20 ) having a left end region ( 22 ) and a right end region ( 24 );

a left projecting segment ( 26 ) extending from the left end region ( 22 ) of the elongate rear segment ( 20 );

a right projecting segment ( 28 ) extending from the right end region ( 24 ) of the elongate rear segment ( 20 ); and

a front segment ( 60 ) that interconnects the left projecting segment ( 26 ) and the right projecting segment ( 28 );

a left supporting frame member ( 30 ) extending from the left projecting segment ( 26 ) and having a left-support distal end region ( 32 );

a right supporting frame member ( 34 ) extending from the right projecting segment ( 28 ) and having a right-support distal end region ( 36 );

a left connecting tube ( 64 ) fluidly interconnecting the left projecting segment ( 26 ) and the left supporting frame member ( 30 );

a right connecting tube ( 66 ) fluidly interconnecting the right projecting segment ( 28 ) and the right supporting frame member ( 34 ), wherein the main frame member ( 16 ), the left supporting frame member ( 30 ), the right supporting frame member ( 34 ), the left connecting tube ( 64 ), and the right connecting tube ( 66 ) are fluidly interconnected to define a single internal volume ( 62 ) configured to selectively hold a pressurized volume of air;

a canopy ( 38 ) operatively coupled to the main frame ( 16 ) and spanning the space ( 18 ); and

an attachment system ( 40 ), comprising:

a lower left attachment assembly ( 42 ) comprising a lower left strap ( 44 ) extending from the left end region ( 22 ) of the elongate rear segment ( 20 ) and a lower left attachment ( 46 ) operatively coupled to the lower left strap ( 44 ) and configured to engage a lower region ( 48 ) of the vehicle ( 12 ), wherein the left-support distal end region ( 32 ) is slidingly coupled to the lower left strap ( 44 ) and configured to be selectively positioned along the lower left strap ( 44 ), wherein the lower left attachment assembly ( 42 ) further comprises one or more left-strap limiting structures ( 82 ) configured to be selectively positioned along the lower left strap ( 44 ) to retain the left-support distal end region ( 32 ) in a selected position along the lower left strap ( 44 ), and wherein the lower left attachment assembly ( 42 ) is configured to be selectively lengthened and shortened between the lower left attachment ( 46 ) and the left end region ( 22 ) of the elongate rear segment ( 20 );

a lower right attachment assembly ( 50 ) comprising a lower right strap ( 52 ) extending from the right end region ( 24 ) of the elongate rear segment ( 20 ) and a lower right attachment ( 55 ) operatively coupled to the lower right strap ( 52 ) and configured to engage the lower region ( 48 ) of the vehicle ( 12 ), wherein the right-support distal end region ( 36 ) is slidingly coupled to the lower right strap ( 52 ) and is configured to be selectively positioned along the lower right strap ( 52 ), wherein the lower right attachment assembly ( 50 ) further comprises one or more right-strap limiting structures ( 84 ) configured to be selectively positioned along the lower right strap ( 52 ) to retain the right-support distal end region ( 36 ) in a selected position along the lower right strap ( 52 ), and wherein the lower right attachment assembly ( 50 ) is configured to be selectively lengthened and shortened between the lower right attachment ( 55 ) and the right end region ( 24 ) of the elongate rear segment ( 20 );

Continuity (2)

Provisional Application 63202247 · Jun 2, 2021

Related Publication 20220389734A1 · Dec 8, 2022

Cited By (2)

US 1,086,973 US 1,148,180