Mobile Awning

Abstract

An improved awning for a trailer or vehicle has at least two solid panels attached to each other by elastic cords, mesh or other connectors. When the awning is hit by a gust of wind, the panels separate from each other and form a gap through which wind can pass, thereby dissipating some of the force of the gust. The size of the gap is limited by the connectors. The technology allows the awning to withstand significantly higher wind speed that does a traditional awning where there is no outlet for the wind.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An awning for a vehicle or trailer, consisting of, a first awning panel and a second awning panel, wherein the first awning panel is connected to a side of a vehicle, wherein the first awning panel overlays a part of the second awning panel, where the first awning panel and the second awning panel are connected to each other by a connector, where the connector limits the size of a gap between the first awning panel and the second awning panel, where a portion of a gust of wind hitting the awning passes through the gap, thereby decreasing an amount of stress on the first awning panel and the second awning panel. 
     
     
         2 . The awning of  claim 1 , where the connector is a mesh panel. 
     
     
         3 . The awning of  claim 1 , where the connector is one or more elastic cords. 
     
     
         4 . The awning of  claim 1 , where the connector is one or more areas of stitching between the first awning panel and the second awning panel. 
     
     
         5 . The awning of  claim 1 , where the first awning panel is a first horizontal panel and the second awning panel is a second horizontal panel. 
     
     
         6 . The awning of  claim 1 , where the first awning panel is a first vertical panel and the second awning panel is a second vertical panel. 
     
     
         7 . An awning for a vehicle or trailer, comprising, two or more base panels and a upper panel, wherein at least one of the two or more base panels is connected to a side of a vehicle, wherein the upper panel overlays a part of each of the two or more base panels, where the upper panel is connected to each of the two or more base panels by one or more connectors, wherein the one or more connectors limit the size of a gap between the upper panel and the two or more base panels, where a portion of a gust of wind hitting the awning passes through the gap, thereby decreasing an amount of stress on the upper panel and the two or more base panels. 
     
     
         8 . The awning of  claim 7 , where the one or more connector is mesh panel. 
     
     
         9 . The awning of  claim 7 , where the one or more connector is one or more elastic cords. 
     
     
         10 . The awning of  claim 7 , where the one or more connector is one or more areas of stitching between the upper panel and the two or more base panels. 
     
     
         11 . The awning of  claim 7 , where there are five base panels and one upper panel, wherein there is a line of reinforced stitching between a connection between each of the five base panels to two adjacent base panels, wherein the upper panel has five sides, a gap between the upper panel and the five base panels is limited in size by one or more connectors. 
     
     
         12 . The awning of  claim 11 , where each of the five base panels has a base connector that attaches to a side of the upper panel, such that a gust of wind from any direction will separate the upper panel from at least one of the five base panels, thereby decreasing an amount of stress on the awning. 
     
     
         13 . The awning of  claim 11 , where the base connector is selected from the group consisting of mesh panels, elastic cords, and stitching. 
     
     
         14 . The awning of  claim 13 , where the upper panel overlaps approximately 6 inches of each of the five base panels, such that during non-windy conditions, the upper panel overlaps each of the five base panels such that no sunlight penetrates the awning. 
     
     
         15 . The awning of  claim 14 , where one of the base panels attaches to the side of a vehicle, and wherein each of the four base panels not attached to the side of the vehicle have a reinforced section at an outside edge of each base panel. 
     
     
         16 . An awning for a vehicle or trailer, comprising, a first awning panel and a second awning panel, wherein the first awning panel is connected to a side of a vehicle, wherein the first awning panel overlays a part of the second awning panel, where the first awning panel and the second awning panel are connected to each other by one or more connectors, where the connector limits the size of a gap between the first awning panel and the second awning panel, where a portion of a gust of wind hitting the awning passes through the gap, thereby decreasing an amount of stress on the first awning panel and the second awning panel, where each of the one or more connectors consists of two elastic cords. 
     
     
         17 . The awning of  claim 16 , wherein each of the one or more connectors has a first cord and a second cord. 
     
     
         18 . The awning of  claim 17 , where the first cord is attached at a first outer edge of the first awning panel and at a second median point in the second awning panel, and where the second cord is attached at a first median point on the first awning panel and at a second outer edge of the second awning panel. 
     
     
         19 . The awning of  claim 18 , where the awning panel has a resting position with the surrounding air is calm, wherein the first cord and the second cord are both in a relaxed state, wherein the first awning panel is pulled by the relaxed state of the first cord and the second cord over the second awning panel, such that the first awning panel and the second awning panel create an uninterrupted shade under the awning. 
     
     
         20 . The awning of  claim 19 , where the awning panel has an extended position with the surrounding air is windy, wherein the first cord and the second cord are both in an extended state, wherein the first awning panel is pulled away from the second awning panel creating gap through which the wind will pass, thereby dissipating a portion of a force that the wind exerts on the awning.