Tapered canopy for roll-up awning

Abstract

A canopy for use with a retractable, roll-up awning has lateral sides that taper in width from a wider stationary edge to a slightly narrower leading edge. The lateral edges of the canopy may be hemmed and the taper may be designed such that sections of the hems along each edge corresponding in length to a circumference of a roller tube roll up on the roller tube immediately adjacent but laterally further outward from a prior section of hem wrapped around the circumference of the roller tube during the prior rotation of the roller tube. The hems may house wires in a linear pocket defined therein. The wires connect with the roller tube to provide power or control signals.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A canopy for an awning, wherein the awning comprises a roller tube around which the canopy is furled and unfurled, the canopy formed of a material and comprising
 a leading edge;   a stationary edge;   a first tapered lateral edge extending at an acute angle between the leading edge and the stationary edge; and   a second tapered lateral edge extending at the acute angle between the leading edge and the stationary edge; wherein   each tapered lateral edge tapers laterally toward the other;   each tapered lateral edge includes an area of greater thickness than a thickness of the material for a substantially constant width along a length of each lateral edge;   one of the leading edge or the stationary edge is configured to attach along its length to the roller tube; and   the length of the one of the leading edge or the stationary edge is shorter than a length of the other of the leading edge or the stationary edge.   
     
     
         2 . The canopy of  claim 1 , wherein the acute angle of each tapered edge with respect to a line perpendicular to the leading edge or the stationary edge is defined by an inverse tangent of a quotient of the constant width of the hem divided by a circumference of the roller tube. 
     
     
         3 . The canopy of  claim 1 , wherein a width of a taper of each tapered lateral edge at a widest point is defined by a length of the canopy between the leading edge and the stationary edge multiplied by a quotient of the constant width of the hem divided by a circumference of the roller tube. 
     
     
         4 . The canopy of  claim 1 , wherein
 the first tapered lateral edge defines a linear pocket along the length of the first tapered lateral edge; and   one or more wires extend through the linear pocket along the length of the first tapered lateral edge.   
     
     
         5 . The canopy of  claim 4 , wherein the linear pocket is defined by a hem formed by a fold of the material at the first tapered lateral edge or a by binding tape running the length of the first tapered lateral edge. 
     
     
         6 . The canopy of  claim 1 , wherein, in a furled state, the canopy winds around the roller tube such that in successive windings, the area of greater thickness lays adjacent to a position of the area of greater thickness at a same longitude of a circumference of the roller tube as an immediately prior winding. 
     
     
         7 . A retractable awning comprising
 a canopy made of a material having
 a leading edge; 
   a stationary edge;
 a first tapered lateral edge extending at an acute angle between the leading edge and the stationary edge; and 
 a second tapered lateral edge extending at the acute angle between the leading edge and the stationary edge;
 each tapered lateral edge tapers laterally toward the other; and 
 each tapered lateral edge includes an area of greater thickness than a thickness of the material for a substantially constant width along a length of each lateral edge; and 
 
   a roller tube to which one of the leading edge or the stationary edge is attached along its length and around which the canopy is furled and unfurled; wherein   the length of the one of the leading edge or the stationary edge is shorter than a length of the other of the leading edge or the stationary edge.   
     
     
         8 . The retractable awning of  claim 7 , wherein the acute angle of each tapered edge with respect to a line perpendicular to the leading edge or the stationary edge is defined by an inverse tangent of a quotient of the constant width of the hem divided by a circumference of the roller tube. 
     
     
         9 . The retractable awning of  claim 7 , wherein a width of a taper of each tapered lateral edge at a widest point is defined by a length of the canopy between the leading edge and the stationary edge multiplied by a quotient of the constant width of the hem divided by a circumference of the roller tube. 
     
     
         10 . The retractable awning of  claim 7 , wherein, in a furled state, the canopy winds around the roller tube such that in successive windings, the area of greater thickness lays adjacent to a position of the area of greater thickness at a same longitude of a circumference of the roller tube as an immediately prior winding. 
     
     
         11 . The retractable awning of  claim 7 , wherein
 the first tapered lateral edge defines a linear pocket along the length of the first tapered lateral edge; and   one or more wires extend through the linear pocket along the length of the first tapered lateral edge.   
     
     
         12 . The retractable awning of  claim 11 , wherein the linear pocket is defined by a hem formed by a fold of the material at the first tapered lateral edge or a by binding tape running the length of the first tapered lateral edge. 
     
     
         13 . The retractable awning of  claim 11 , wherein
 an aperture is defined in the material adjacent the roller tube and in communication with the linear pocket through which an end of the one or more wires protrudes; and   the roller tube further comprises a receptacle that receives the end of the one or more wires protruding from the aperture in the material.   
     
     
         14 . The retractable awning of  claim 11 , wherein the roller tube further comprises a light fixture electrically connected to the one or more wires in the linear pocket. 
     
     
         15 . A canopy for an awning, wherein the awning comprises a roller tube around which the canopy is furled and unfurled, the canopy comprising
 a leading edge;   a stationary edge;   a tapered first lateral edge extending at an acute angle between the leading edge and the stationary edge;   a second lateral edge extending between the leading edge and the stationary edge; wherein
 the tapered first lateral edge tapers laterally toward the second lateral edge; 
 one of the leading edge or the stationary edge is configured to attach along its length to the roller tube; and 
 the length of the one of the leading edge or the stationary edge is shorter than a length of the other of the leading edge or the stationary edge; and 
   one or more wires attached to and extending along the length of the tapered first lateral edge.   
     
     
         16 . The canopy of  claim 15  further comprising
 an extruded tube defining a linear pocket in which the one or more wires are housed; and 
 a linear flange extending from an outer surface of the extruded tube along a length of the extruded tube and attached to the tapered first lateral edge along the length of the tapered first lateral edge. 
 
     
     
         17 . The canopy of  claim 16 , wherein the acute angle of the tapered first lateral edge with respect to a line perpendicular to the leading edge or the stationary edge is defined by an inverse tangent of a quotient of a combined width of the extruded tube and the linear flange divided by a circumference of the roller tube. 
     
     
         18 . The canopy of  claim 16 , wherein a width of a taper of the tapered first lateral edge at a widest point is defined by a length of the canopy between the leading edge and the stationary edge multiplied by a quotient of a combined width of the extruded tube and the linear flange divided by a circumference of the roller tube. 
     
     
         19 . The canopy of  claim 16 , wherein, in a furled state, the tapered canopy winds around the roller tube such that in successive windings, the extruded tube and the linear flange lie adjacent to a position of the extruded tube and the linear flange at a same longitude of a circumference of the roller tube as an immediately prior winding. 
     
     
         20 . The canopy of  claim 15 , wherein, in a furled state, the tapered canopy winds around the roller tube such that in successive windings, the one or more wires lie adjacent to a position of the one or more wires at a same longitude of a circumference of the roller tube as an immediately prior winding.