Patent Application
20240018829
The present invention relates to Fixed Construction and/or Human Necessities, and more particularly to:
The following is a tabulation of some prior art that presently appears relevant:
This application relates to the securing of sheets of material.
Originally, screen doors were predominantly made with a design to affix the sheet of screen material to the door frame using a long, rounded rubber string-like material, known as spline, that was used to force the screen into an indentation in the door frame surrounding the opening to be covered. Once the spline was inserted into this indentation, over top of the taut screen, around all four sides of the opening in the frame, the sheet of screen was then trimmed down to the exact smallest size possible to cover the opening making the edges look neat and symmetrical with the spline securing it at the very edges. This is exemplified by patents listed by Long and Than (U.S. Pat. No. 2,759,538A & US20040168379A1 respectively).
While the sheet of screen remains in its originally installed state, this process is adequate. However, significant problems arise once the sheet of screen is disturbed by external forces such as weather in the form of high winds or other impact types such as a child or animal running through the screening affixed to the door, or objects (i.e., furniture) impacting the screen, among other possible impact scenarios. In any of these events, when a sharp force impacts the sheet of screen it can become partially or completely dislodged. Additionally, if the screen sheet is impacted with enough force and does not immediately release from the door frame, damage to the door frame can also result. This last issue, solely, was addressed by Aluminum Company of America in their patent (U.S. Pat. No. 5,046,546A).
This scenario is not limited only to a screen door and can be broadened to include any framed structure that utilizes sheets of screen affixed to the frame and covering an opening such as a screen window, screen garage door, screened porch, etc. In all these examples, the screen is generally affixed to the frame by using spline or some other similar process wherein the sheet of screen is pulled taut then trimmed down to the exact smallest size possible to cover the opening, of which is a suffering of all three U.S. Patents listed requiring spline or a spline substitute (U.S. Pat. No. 5,046,546A, US20040168379A1, U.S. Pat. No. 2,759,538A). In any impact scenarios, once the screen sheet is dislodged, even if the screen is undamaged, it is unlikely it can be reinstalled on to the frame to be used again as it is nearly impossible to position and reaffix it in the exact same taut manner to cover the opening as in the original installation. Thus, the sheet of screen must be discarded and a new one purchased that is larger than the opening needed to be covered.
In addition to the potential damage and waste previously described, the spline retention method also requires the use of specialty tools known as a screen window spline roller and a rubber strip hook. Even with the purchase of these tools, the installation process for a new screen sheet can take a significant amount of time, especially for the novice and unskilled in the process.
Alternative design to the use of spline such as Aluminum Company of America (U.S. Pat. No. 5,046,546A) and Oehmig (U.S. Pat. No. 3,220,469A) are simply a redesign of the spline methodology using a different construct as spline and thus, as in this case, are only able to address one or two improvements over the previous spline technology. However, the screen enclosure apparatus (U.S. Pat. No. 5,046,546A) still presents the potential need for specialty tools for installation, as well as having to trim the sheet of screen to the exact smallest size that covers the opening. And Oehmig's screen frame (U.S. Pat. No. 3,220,469A) is a very complicated design requiring precision manufacturing with higher quantities of raw materials. All these examples also have inherent limitation in their design that they have no use outside of their function for securing a screen sheet to a framed window or door.
Nevertheless, all these options heretofore known suffer from several disadvantages:
In accordance with one embodiment, a “Material Sheet Frictional Securing Assembly” comprises a Base Piece which can be secured to any desired frame or surface and a Clamp Arm that are two separate parts, but connected to each other via a ball joint allowing the Clamp Arm radial motion so that it may rotate to a secured closed position applying a pressure force against the Base Piece, frictionally securing a Material Sheet in between the Base Piece and the Clamp Arm.
Accordingly, several advantages of one or more aspects are to provide a frictional securing assembly that can secure a material sheet to a frame or area which allows simple and quick installation of said sheet and with no need for any kind of tools that are specially designed for this singular function. This assembly provides the ability for reinstallation and reuse of a material sheet should it become partially, or wholly, dislodged while also decreasing the potential of damage to both the material sheet and the attached frame or area under application of excessive forces. Additionally, the frictional securing assembly can also be utilized in various applications where it is needed to secure a material sheet on one or more of its edges either temporarily or permanently.
A “Material Sheet Frictional Securing Assembly”, hereinafter referred to as “the assembly”, will work with any size or shape opening, or area, that needs to be covered with a secured sheet of material. The Assembly can be made in variable size lengths that can be mounted in-line alongside each other, or at any required angles, to extend the coverage area as long and as wide as needed, and in any geometric shape desired.
In one embodiment, the assembly is comprised of two distinct pieces, as shown in
The Base Piece (12) can be made of either a strong, non-corrosive metal such as aluminum or a sturdy inflexible plastic. From a sectional perspective, as depicted in
The Clamp Arm (13) can be made from a sturdy yet flexible plastic. The Clamp Arm (13) is connected to the Base Piece (12) by inserting the Clamp Ball (17b) into the Clamp Joint (17a), allowing the Clamp Arm (13) radial motion. From a sectional perspective, as depicted in
When the Clamp Arm (13) is lifted to the up (open) position it creates an opening where a sheet of material can be inserted and fed under the Clamp Arm (13), over top of the Clamp Notch (18), and back into the Material Cavity (20). By inserting any standard flat-headed tool into one of the Lock/Unlock Holes (14), through the Lock/Unlock Cavity (16), and resting it against the Lock Ridge (19), one can apply force pushing the Clamp Arm (13) in a radial motion towards the Base Piece (12). Once the Clamp Arm (13) rotates far enough, the Notch Post (21) begins to drag along the Material Sheet (11) and drags it further into the Material Cavity (20), then snaps into the Clamp Notch (18), thus frictionally securing the Material Sheet (11) in between the Notch Post (21) and the Clamp Notch (18) in a taut state. One then removes the flat-headed tool and moves it to the next Securing Screw Hole (15) in line and repetitively performs the same process described above until the entire length of the Notch Post (21) is fully inserted into the Clamp Notch (18) and the Clamp Arm (13) fully resides in the down (secured) position along the entire length of the Base Piece (12).
To disengage the assembly, insert the flat-headed tool into one of the Lock/Unlock Holes (14), through the Lock/Unlock Cavity (16), and apply radial force in the opposite direction of the Lock Ridge (19) until the Notch Post (21) snaps out of the Clamp Notch (18). One then removes the flat-headed tool and moves it to the next Securing Screw Hole (15) in line and repetitively performs the same process described above until the entire length of the Notch Post (21) is fully removed from the Clamp Notch (18) along the entire length of the Base Piece (12) and the Clamp Arm (13) can move in a radial direction away from the Base Piece (12). This will create an open space between the Base Piece (12) and the Clamp Arm (13) to allow for insertion or removal of a sheet of material.
In alternative embodiments, the design elements of the Base Piece (12) can be incorporated directly into the construction of a manufactured frame such as a screened window frame or door frame or easel, or a surface such as a table or wall, and used with a Clamp Arm (13) with the same design. The functional operation would remain the same.
Additionally, alternative materials can be used in the manufacture of both the Base Piece (12) and the Clamp Arm (13) to account for specific situational needs including, but not limited to, strength, flexibility, and to withstand environmental factors (i.e., weather).
Accordingly, the reader will see that the various embodiments of the assembly can be used to secure a material sheet (11) in a taut state easily and conveniently and can be removed just as easily and without damage to the material sheet (11). The Assembly eliminates the need for any specially designed tools, requiring only a standard screwdriver or other flat-headed tool for installation, removal, or adjustment of a material sheet (11). Its simplicity makes any material sheet (11) adjustment an easy and quick process saving the user time. The material sheet (11) does not, and should not, be cut or trimmed to the exact smallest size to fit the opening or surface, with the excess material being hidden away inside the Material Cavity (20) of the assembly giving it a clean, symmetrical look. Should the material sheet (11) be dislodged by the exertion of some excessive force, it can be re-inserted and re-used, thus eliminating unnecessary waste. Finally, the design's simplicity makes it simpler to manufacture as a stand-alone product, or by integrating it into the manufacture of a larger frame or surface assembly where its low profile allows for an aesthetically pleasing finished product.
Although the description above contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments but merely providing illustrations of some of several embodiments. Thus, the scope of the embodiment should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given.
