Awning bracket

Aug. 4, 1942.

2,292,170

W. B. STARKLOFF

AWNING BRACKET Filed Sept. 16, 1939

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William Ji.Starltlaff

Patented Aug. 4, 1942

2,292,170

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

2,292,170 AWNING BRACKET William B. Starkloff, Baltimore, Md. Application September 16,1939, Serial No. 295,291 4 Claims. (CI. 248—273)

This invention relates to a bracket adapted particularly to hold the top rod of an awning generally called the head rod. Heretofore such brackets have required the operator to use both hands in clamping them to the awning rod and it is very difficult to do this in view of the awkwardness of the position in which the operator is working, usually on a ladder, and with the awning so much in the way when he is attaching the rod to the bracket. Such brackets very frequently lose their hold on the rod because of the constant whipping of the awning in the wind and they are subject to great strain in severe storms and the present bracket is adapted to withstand these strains and to hold the rod firmly in all conditions. The rod may be locked in the bracket of this invention by the use of one hand and it works so simply that actually the use of one finger on the lever of the bracket retains the rod in place. Also the lever securing the 20 holding means in place will not joggle out by the constant jarring of the bracket. It is equally simple to remove the awning rod from the bracket as it is to attach it and no tools are required for either operation. The bracket is inexpensive and simple to manufacture. These and other objects and advantages are attained by the bracket structure hereinafter described in detail and shown in the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof and in which:

Figure 1 is a front view of the bracket in its closed position mounted on a support.

Figure 2 is an enlarged side view of the same.

Figure 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the same on line 3—3 of Fig. 1, shown in its closed position in solid lines and in its open position in dotted lines.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts in the various views.

On the support I, which may be the top of a porch or window or the like, the bracket generally designated at 2 is attached by screws 3 passing through ears 4 of the bracket. The bracket has forwardly extending plates 5 forming between them a channel. The lower ends of the plates 5 are formed into a socket 6 for receiving an awning rod therein. The lowermost extremities of the plates are spread and formed into hooks 7 on which the awning rod pulleys may be secured.

Pivoted in the channel on the plates 5 by means of the pin 8 is a forked finger 9 having a rear prong 10 in the closed position of the finger resting upon the base of the bracket and a forward prong 11, the two prongs in the closed position of the finger likewise forming a socket cooperating with socket 6 of the plates 5 to hold an awning rod in position on the bracket. Finger 9 is thick at its forward prong 11 in order to be sufficiently 5 strong to hold the bracket firmly. The finger is pivoted in such a position that when it hangs vertically the weight of the prong 11 and of the extension 12 will tend to draw it forward toward the base of the bracket, that is in closed position. 10 It is also desirable that the highest portion of the arc formed by the prongs 10 and 11 should not be forward of a vertical line, dropped from the center of pin 8 so that upward pressure on the pronged finger may not tend to pull it for15 ward. The finger has a concave back as shown at 13.

A lever !4 is pivoted in the channel on the plates 5 by pin 15 having a cammed or arcuate face IS riding in the concavity 13 of the finger. The lever and finger operate in the same plane in the channel. Pin 15 is located substantially midway between pin 8 and the outermost bearing point of prong 11 of finger 9, so that when the lever is in closed position it firmly holds finger 25 9 in its closed position. The radii of the concavity 13 and the arcuate face 16 are preferably so related that when the lever is open, in the dotted lines shown in Figure 3, a wedging action will take place between the leading edge 17 of o₀ the lever and the corresponding edge 13 of the concavity. This wedging effect will tend to force the finger 9 securely down upon the awning rod. These radii are further so proportioned that when the lever is in closed position, there will be 35 a very slight wedging action in moving the lever to open position, that is, arrow “a” will be slightly longer than arrow “b” but not quite as long as arrow “c,” as shown in Figure 3.

For- a considerable proportion of the arc 16 40 the radii will be the same adjacent arrow c so that a firm hold is always maintained upon the finger. The lever 14 is opened and closed by weighted handle 19, which with the extending arcuate face tends to close the lever from its open 45 position, as shown in Fig. 3 in dotted lines, and which out-weights the arcuate face to maintain the lever in closed position, as also shown in Fig. 3. The lever therefore tends to maintain its closed position as shown in Fig. 3, both because 50 of the weighted handle 19 as well as because of the leverage between the arcuate face of the lever and the concavity of the back of the finger

In operation the pulleys are hung around hooks 7 and the awning rod 20 carrying the awning 21 55 is placed into the socket 6 with the prong 11 in

2,292,170 its open position, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3. It is pressed upon the rear prong 10 of the finger which draws the finger to its closed position and in that drawing the lever will so far close simply by gravity so that the rod may be released and then with one hand or with one finger even the lever may be drawn to its closed position. Simply by raising the lever the rod may be withdrawn. The lever is cut out at its back as shown at 22 to allow the finger to be raised to the limit of its open position forcing the handle 19 of the lever to its furthermost open position forcing upon the projection 12 of the finger and in that action prong 10 forcibly ejects the rod from the socket 6.

It is therefore apparent the rod may be inserted and withdrawn from the bracket by the use of one hand and that a minimum force is required on the lever 14 either to close the finger to its gripping position or to open it to eject the awning -rod.

Although the approved modification of this invention has been described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing many changes may be made without departing from the invention.