Adjustable pitch mounting bracket and arm awning

Abstract

Lateral arm awning apparatus includes an awning box with a mounting plate. An adjustable pitch mounting bracket includes a base plate fixable to a generally vertical surface. A hinge is provided and interconnects the awning box mounting plate and the bracket. An actuator couples the awning box mounting plate and the bracket for causing an angular relationship between the awning mounting plate and the bracket to change.

1 . Lateral arm awning apparatus comprising: 
 an awning box having a mounting plate;    at least one lateral awning arm fixed to the mounting plate and extendable from said awning box for supporting an awning fabric;    an adjustable pitch mounting bracket having a base plate fixable to a generally vertical surface;    a hinge interconnecting the awning box mounting plate and the bracket; and    an actuator coupling the awning box mounting plate and the bracket and causing an angular relationship between the awning box mounting plate and the bracket to change.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said actuator includes at least one actuator arm with a driver disposed therebetween at a position extending and retracting the arm.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus according to  claim 2  wherein said driver is a linear actuator.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus according to  claim 2  wherein said driver is selected from a group consisting of an electric motor, a hydraulic motor and a pneumatic motor.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said actuator includes a pair of articulated arms with a driver coupled between the articulated arms and said bracket at a position straightening and bending the articulated arms.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus according to  claim 5  wherein said driver is a linear actuator.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus according to  claim 5  wherein said driver includes a motor selected from a group consisting of electrical motor, a hydraulic motor and a pneumatic motor.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  further comprising at least one sun sensor deployable in an umbrage of an extended awning fabric and a controller interconnected with the sensor and operating said actuator to control the angular relationship.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus according to  claim 8  further comprises a plurality of vertically aligned sun sensors interconnected with said controller.  
   
   
       10 . Lateral arm awning apparatus comprising: 
 an awning box having a mounting plate;    at least one lateral awning arm extendable from said awning box for supporting an awning fabric;    an adjustable pitch mounting bracket having a base plate fixable to a generally vertical surface;    a hinge interconnecting the awning box mounting plate and the bracket;    an actuator, coupling the awning mounting plate and the bracket, for changing a pitch of an extended awning fabric with respect to a horizontal by changing an angular relationship between the awning mounting plate and the bracket; and    at least one sun sensor deployable in a umbrage of an extended awning fabric and a controller interconnected with the sensor for operating said actuator to control the awning fabric pitch.    
   
   
       11 . The apparatus according to  claim 10  wherein said actuator includes at least one actuator arm with a driver disposed at a position extending and retracting the arms.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus according to  claim 11  wherein said actuator is a linear actuator.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus according to  claim 11  wherein said actuator includes a motor selected from a group consisting of an electrical motor, a hydraulic motor, and a pneumatic motor.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus according to  claim 10  wherein said actuator includes a pair of articulated arms with a driver coupled between the articulating and said bracket at a position straightening and bending the articulated arms.  
   
   
       15 . The apparatus according to  claim 14  wherein said driver is a linear actuator.  
   
   
       16 . The apparatus according to  claim 14  wherein said driver includes a motor selected from a group consisting of an electric motor, a hydraulic motor, and a pneumatic motor.  
   
   
       17 . The bracket apparatus according to  claim 10  further comprising a plurality of vertically aligned sun sensors interconnecting said controller.  
   
   
       18 . A method for controlling a pitch of a deployed awning fabric, said method comprising: 
 providing a bracket mounting an extendable/retractable awning to a wall and adjusting a pitch of an extended awning fabric with respect to the wall;    disposing a sun sensor in an umbrage of the extended awning fabric; and    operating said bracket in response to said sun sensor to control the awning fabric pitch.    
   
   
       19 . The method according to  claim 18  further comprising disposing a plurality of vertically aligned sun sensors interconnected with said controller.