1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to screen frame assemblies for a window or a door. More specifically, the present invention relates to retention of a screen cloth to frame sections of the screen frame assemblies.
2. Description of the Related Art
Traditional screen assemblies for windows or doors include frame sections which define an opening and a screen cloth covering the opening. These screen assemblies retain a screen cloth to the frame sections utilizing a mechanical fit. The frame sections are formed to define a spline channel. The screen assembly is formed by stretching a screen cloth over at least a portion of the spline channel and pressing a spline into the spline channel, thereby trapping the screen cloth in the spline channel.
Some screen assemblies have been constructed to eliminate the need for the spline channel and spline to trap the screen cloth into place. Instead, these screen assemblies are manufactured by forming corrugations along the frame sections to trap the screen cloth in place. A screen assembly which forms corrugations to trap the screen cloth in place is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 882,397 to Limoge (the '397 patent). The '397 patent discloses a screen assembly including a plurality of frame sections. Each frame section is formed from a sheet of metal, folded upon itself. A screen cloth is inserted between the folds. The screen cloth is held in place by forming a continuous corrugated groove along each of the frame sections. The continuous corrugation traps the screen cloth within the folds All of the frame sections and the screen cloth are placed in a die press where the die press forms the corrugation in all of the frame sections at the same time. The strength with which the screen cloth is held to each frame section is dependent upon any spacing which may develop along the single corrugation. Due to the continuity of the corrugation, if a gap develops within the corrugation of the fold and a small portion of the screen cloth becomes loose or dislodged, the entire screen cloth may eventually become dislodged as the screen cloth gets pulled from the continuous corrugation.
Although the type of screen assembly which is disclosed in '397 patent has eliminated the requirement of a spline and a spline channel to secure the screen cloth to the screen frame, the assembly disclosed in the '397 patent reduces the strength of the retention between the screen cloth and the frame section over the use of the spline. While this method of securing the screen cloth to the screen frame reduces the time and expense it takes to manufacture a screen assembly, it also reduces the strength and durability of the screen assembly.
The present invention is a screen assembly for a window or a door. The assembly comprises a plurality of frame sections which define an opening. Each of the frame sections are formed from a strip of material and the strip of material is folded upon itself to include a first leg and a second leg which is adjacent the first leg. The legs define a slot therebetween. A screen cloth is disposed in the slot of each of the frame sections and extends across the opening between the frame sections. A plurality of spaced dimples are formed in the first legs of each of the frame sections. The dimples extend into the slot of each of the frame sections to engage and trap the screen cloth between the dimple of the first leg and the second leg to retain the screen cloth to the frame sections.
The present invention also provides a method of forming the screen assembly. The method comprises the steps of placing an edge of the screen cloth in the cavity of the frame section, collapsing the first leg onto the second leg to define the slot therebetween, and forming the plurality of spaced dimples in the first leg to retain the screen cloth to the frame section.
By forming a plurality of spaced dimples in each of the frame sections, the screen cloth follows the contour of each of the dimples. By following the contour of each of the dimples, the screen cloth is trapped and retained to the frame sections by each of the dimples. Therefore, if the screen cloth happens to become dislodged from one of the dimples, the screen cloth is still retained by each of the other dimples. This means that the screen cloth is securely retained to the frame sections by only using dimples formed in the frame sections such that the screen cloth will not become dislodged from any of the frame sections.
Other advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated, as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:
a is a top view of the frame section illustrating the screen cloth retained to the frame section with cubic shaped dimples;
b is a top view of the frame section illustrating the screen cloth retained to the frame section with semi-spherical shaped dimples;
a is a cross sectional side view of the screen cloth disposed within the frame section taken along line 4a-4a with cubic shaped dimples formed through the frame section;
b is a cross sectional side view of the screen cloth disposed within the frame section taken along line 4b-4b with semi-spherical shaped dimples formed through the frame section;
The present invention relates to a screen assembly for a window or a door. The assembly is shown generally at 20 in
A typical screen assembly 20 has four frame sections 22, i.e., a first frame section 28, a second frame section 30, a third frame section 32, and a fourth frame section 34. Each frame section extends between ends 36. However, the screen assembly 20 is not limited to having four frame sections 22 and may include any number of desired frame sections. Although the frame sections 22 surround the opening 24, it should be understood that “surrounding” does not require complete enclosure of the perimeter of the opening 24. While the screen assembly 20 can include four frame sections 22 that are connected to form an enclosed rectangular shape surrounding the opening 24, it should be understood that the frame can also include more or less frame sections 22 such as three frame sections 22 that are connected to form a triangular shape, for example, or even three sides of a rectangular shape that surrounds the opening 24. Other configurations of frame sections 22 are also possible. Additionally, the perimeter is not limited to the rectangular shape, but can be any shape that is desired (e.g. triangular, octagonal, etc.).
Each of the frame sections 22 are formed from a strip of material 38, such as a blank. The strip of material 38 is typically formed from aluminum, but any type of material may also be used so long as it is deformable. The strip of material 38 may be pre-painted, although painting is not required. Generally, the strip of material 38 has an elongated rectangular shape. The strip of material 38 is folded upon itself to include a first leg 40 and a second leg 42 adjacent the first leg 40. Each of the legs 40, 42 extend along a margin 44. When the strip of material 38 is initially folded upon itself, the legs 40, 42 define cavity 46 therebetween. Typically, the cavity 46 is V-shaped, but the cavity 46 may be any desired shape. The screen cloth 26 is bounded by edges 48. The edges 48 are determined by the number of frame sections 22 which surround the opening 24. In a four-sided screen assembly 20, for example, the screen cloth 26 has four edges 48, e.g., a first edge 50, a second edge 52, a third edge 54, and a fourth edge 56. Each edge is placed in the cavity 46 of the respective strip of material 38, which has been folded upon itself. The first leg 40 is then collapsed onto the second leg 42 to close the cavity 46 and define a slot 57 therebetween.
A plurality of spaced dimples 58 are formed along the legs 40, 42 of each of the frame sections 22. A generally planar surface 59 extends 36 between each of the dimples 58 along each of the frame sections 22. The planar surface 59 which provides the spacing between the dimples. This spacing provides contour for the screen cloth 26 to follow as the screen cloth 26 is trapped and retained between the dimples 58 and the first and second legs 40, 42 of the frame sections 22. A first plurality of spaced dimples 60 are formed along the first leg 40 and a second plurality of spaced dimples 62 are formed along the second leg 42. The first plurality of dimples 60 extend into the slot 57 of each of the frame sections 22, engaging the cloth and trapping the screen cloth 26 between the dimple of the first leg 40 and the second leg 42 to retain the screen cloth 26 to the frame sections 22. The first plurality of dimples 60 are complimentary and nest within each of the corresponding second plurality of dimples 62. The first plurality of dimples 60 extend into the slot 57 and the second plurality of dimples 62 extend away from the slot 57. This means that the first dimples 60, which are in the slot 57, include a first width W1 and the second dimples 62, which extend away from the slot 57, include a second width W2 larger than the first width W1. This means that the first width W1 of the first dimples 60 extend into and nest within the second width W2 of the second dimples 62. The screen cloth 26 follows the contour between the first and second dimples 60, 62, engaging and trapping the screen cloth 26 to retain the screen cloth 26 to the frame sections 22. The dimples 58 may be any desired shape. For example, referring to
Additionally, the first and second plurality of dimples 60, 62 may alternate or vary the direction they are formed in the first and second legs 42 of the frame sections 22. While the first plurality of dimples 60 are complimentary and nest within each of the second plurality of dimples 62, one pair of first and second dimples 60, 62 would have the first plurality of dimples 60 extending into the slot 57 and the second plurality of dimples 62 extending away from the slot 57. A next pair of dimples 58, on the same frame section, would have the first plurality of dimples 60 extending away from the slot 57 and the second plurality of dimples 62 extending into the slot 57.
Alternatively, the first plurality of dimples 60 are offset and in opposition to the second plurality of dimples 62. The first plurality of dimples 60 and the second plurality of dimples 62 extend into the slot 57 and the screen cloth 26 follows the contour of the dimples 58, engaging and trapping the screen cloth 26 to retain the screen cloth 26 to the frame sections 22.
The screen cloth 26, i.e., screen, is disposed between the first and the second legs 40, 42 of the frame section 22 to cover the opening 24 and prevent the ingress of insects or debris, for example, while providing ventilation through the opening 24. The screen cloth 26 is preferably formed from fiberglass and coated with polyvinylchloride (PVC). However, the screen cloth 26 can be formed from other types of material as well (e.g. aluminum, stainless steel, etc.) and a coating is not necessarily required. Additionally, the screen cloth 26 does not have to be a “cloth”. For example, the screen cloth 26 can appear solid with minute holes or the screen cloth 26 can be a solid sheet of material. The only requirement is that the screen cloth 26 deforms and follows the contour of the dimples 58 formed in the first and second legs 42 of the frame sections 22. Additionally, the screen cloth 26 can be cut to any preferred size and shape.
Referring generally to
The protrusions 72 mesh with the craters 74 as the strip of material 38 is passed between the first and second wheels 68 to form the plurality of spaced dimples 58 along the frame section 22. If the strip of material 38 has already been folded upon itself to define the cavity 46, and the first edge 50 of the screen cloth 26 is disposed in the cavity 46, both legs of the strip of material 38 are passed between the first and second wheel 66, 68, along with the first edge 50 of the screen cloth 26, where the first leg 40 is collapsed onto the second leg 42 to define the slot 57 therebetween and form the plurality of dimples 58. Prior to passing the strip of material 38 between the first and second wheel 68, the edge of the screen cloth 26 is disposed in the cavity 46. Therefore, the first leg 40 is collapsed onto the second leg 42 simultaneous with passing the frame section 22 and the edge of the screen cloth 26 between the locking rolls 64. The edge of the screen cloth 26 is typically deformed and follows the contour of the dimples 58 between the first and second legs 40, 42 so that the edge of the screen cloth 26 becomes trapped and retained between the first and second legs 40, 42 by the dimples 58. This means that the screen cloth 26 may be retained to the screen frame by only the dimples 58. It is not required, however, that the first leg 40 is collapsed onto the second leg 42 simultaneous with forming the dimples 58 along the frame section. The first leg 40 may be collapsed onto the second leg 42 while passing the strip of material 38 through a first set of locking rolls 64 and the dimples 58 may be formed along the frame section 22 while passing the frame section 22 and the screen cloth 26 through a second set of locking rolls 64.
The order the frame sections 22 are attached to the edges 48 of the screen cloth 26 can vary. This means that the frame sections 22 with the corresponding edge 48 of the screen cloth 26 may be passed between the locking rolls 64 on an individual basis. However, the frame sections 22 may also be passed between the locking rolls 64 simultaneously, e.g., in parallel frame sections 22, perpendicular adjacent frame sections 22, all frame sections 22 simultaneously, etc.
The second frame section 30 includes a first leg 40 and a second leg 42 with the first and second legs 40, 42 defining a cavity 46 therebetween. The second edge 52 of the screen cloth 26 is disposed in the cavity 46 of the second frame section 30. The second frame section 30 is collapsed onto the second edge 52 of the screen cloth 26. A plurality of dimples 58 are formed in the collapsed second frame section 30 in spaced relationship to retain the screen cloth 26 to the second frame section 30. The second edge 52 of the screen cloth 26 is typically opposite, i.e., parallel, the first edge 50 of the screen cloth 26. This allows for the use of two sets of locking rolls 64 which may operate simultaneously, as shown in
The third frame section 32 includes a first leg 40 and a second leg 42 with the first and second legs 40, 42 defining a cavity 46 therebetween. The third edge 54 of the screen cloth 26 is placed in the cavity 46 of the third frame section 32. The third edge 54 is perpendicular to the first and the second edges 50, 52. The first leg 40 is collapsed onto the second leg 42 and the screen cloth 26. A plurality of spaced dimples 58 are formed along the first leg 40 to retain the screen cloth 26 to the third frame section 32. It should be appreciated that the third frame section 32 may be attached to the third edge 54 of the screen cloth 26 prior to, after, or simultaneous with the attachment of any other frame sections 22 to their respective edges 48. It should be appreciated that the simultaneous use of multiple sets of locking rolls 64 is not limited to operating in parallel. For example, the sets of locking rolls 64 may operate on adjacent frame sections 22 such that the first and third frame sections 28, 32, which may extend perpendicular to one another.
The fourth frame section 34 includes a first leg 40 and a second leg 42 with the first and second legs 40, 42 defining a cavity 46 therebetween. The fourth edge 58 of the screen cloth 26 is placed in the cavity 46 of the fourth frame section 34. The fourth edge 56 is perpendicular to the first and the second edges 50, 52. The first leg 40 is collapsed onto the second leg 42 and the screen cloth 26. A plurality of spaced dimples 58 are formed along the first leg 40 to retain the screen cloth 26 to the fourth frame section 34. It should also be appreciated that the sets of locking rolls 64 are not limited to only operating on one or two frame sections 22 simultaneously, but any number of sets of locking rolls 64 may be used simultaneously.
After assembly, the screen assembly 20 maintains its shape by virtue of corners 76, referring generally to
The invention has been described in an illustrative manner, and it is to be understood that the terminology which has been used is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation. Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings, and the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/685,308, filed May 27, 2005.
Number | Date | Country | |
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60685308 | May 2005 | US |