Awning adjustment device

Abstract

An awning and a method of operating the awning are provided. The awning includes a canopy, a roller and an adjustment tube. The canopy includes a proximal edge. The canopy can be wound about the roller with the proximal edge secured along the roller. The roller includes a first longitudinal end and a second longitudinal end. The adjustment tube includes a small base and a large base. The adjustment tube is mounted around the roller near the second longitudinal end so that the small base is nearer to the first longitudinal end than the large base. The adjustment tube is slidably movable along the roller so that the adjustment tube can move toward or away from the first longitudinal end between an innermost position and an outermost position. The adjustment tube is located nearer to the second longitudinal end at the outermost position than at the innermost position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An awning including:
 a canopy including a proximal edge and lateral edges;   a roller about which the canopy can be wound with the proximal edge secured along the roller, the roller including a first longitudinal end and a second longitudinal end; and   an adjustment tube including a small base and a large base, an outer dimension of the adjustment tube gradually increasing from the small base to the large base, the adjustment tube mounted around the roller near the second longitudinal end so that the small base is nearer to the first longitudinal end than the large base, the adjustment tube being slidably movable along the roller so that the adjustment tube can move toward or away from the first longitudinal end between an innermost position and an outermost position, the adjustment tube located nearer to the second longitudinal end at the outermost position than at the innermost position, one of the lateral edges of the canopy capable of being wound around the adjustment tube at least at one position between the innermost position and the outermost position.   
     
     
         2 . The awning of  claim 1 , the adjustment tube including a cylindrical inner geometry. 
     
     
         3 . The awning of  claim 2 , the inner geometry substantially matching an outer dimension of the roller. 
     
     
         4 . The awning of  claim 1 , the adjustment tube including a frusto-conical outer geometry. 
     
     
         5 . The awning of  claim 1 , the roller including a groove in which the proximal edge can be secured. 
     
     
         6 . The awning of  claim 1 , the adjustment tube further including a slit into which the one of the lateral edges of the canopy extends as the adjustment tube is slidably moved along the roller. 
     
     
         7 . The awning of  claim 6 , the slit extending from the small base to a slit end located at an intermediate point on the adjustment tube. 
     
     
         8 . The awning of  claim 7 , the one of the lateral edges of the canopy configured to abut the slit end at the innermost position of the adjustment tube. 
     
     
         9 . The awning of  claim 6 , wherein the one of the lateral edges extends into the slit at the outermost position of the tube. 
     
     
         10 . The awning of  claim 1 , the one of the lateral edges of the canopy capable of being wound around the adjustment tube at all positions from the innermost position to the outermost position. 
     
     
         11 . A method of operating an awning, the awning including a canopy, a roller and an adjustment tube, the canopy including a proximal edge and lateral edges, the roller including a first longitudinal end and a second longitudinal end, the adjustment tube including a small base and a large base, an outer dimension of the adjustment tube gradually increasing from the small base to the large base, the adjustment tube mounted around the second longitudinal end so that the small base is nearer to the first longitudinal end than the large base, the method including the steps of:
 winding the canopy about the roller so that one of the lateral edges near the second longitudinal end is wound around a first portion of the adjustment tube at which the outer dimension has a first value;   moving the adjustment tube along the roller between an innermost position and an outermost position, the adjustment tube located nearer to the second longitudinal end at the outermost position than at the innermost position; and   winding the canopy about the roller so that the one of the lateral edges near the second longitudinal end is wound around a second portion of the adjustment tube at which the outer dimension has a second value.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the adjustment tube is slidably moved along the roller. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , the adjustment tube further including a slit into which the one of the lateral edges of the canopy extends as the adjustment tube is moved along the roller. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , the slit extending from the small base to a slit end located at an intermediate point on the adjustment tube. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , the one of the lateral edges of the canopy configured to abut the slit end at the innermost position of the adjustment tube. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the one of the lateral edges extends into the slit at the outermost position of the tube. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , the one of the lateral edges of the canopy capable of being wound around the adjustment tube at all positions from the innermost position to the outermost position. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , the adjustment tube including a cylindrical inner geometry substantially matching an outer dimension of the roller. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , the adjustment tube including a frusto-conical outer geometry. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , the roller including a groove in which the proximal edge can be secured.