Patent Application
20140174021
none
The present invention relates generally to the field of window screen corner latch mechanisms to secure a window screen. Screen latches are used to secure a screen to a window frame so that the screen may be installed and removed depending on the season and desired use by an occupant.
A screen frame includes at least two lineal members and a corner brace securing the two lineal members together. A turn piece latch is rotatably secured in an aperture in the corner brace. The turn piece latch includes a latch portion releasbly securing the screen frame to a window structure.
Referring to
Corner latch mechanism 100 may be used to secure a screen to a window or door. Typically, a window or door with a screen is installed in a vertically-oriented, exterior wall of a building structure separating an inside space from an outside space. While corner latch window assembly 100 may be used to secure a screen assembly to different types of windows and doors and in different locations and orientations on the structure, corner latch window assembly 100 will be described relative to a screen assembly secured to a window in an exterior wall of a structure with the screen assembly 102 being secured to the frame from the inside of the structure. The direction “up” or “upward” is used to reference a general vertically-oriented vector direction away from the force of gravity while the term “down” or “downward” is used to reference a general vertically-oriented vector direction toward the force of gravity. The direction “in” or “inward” is used to reference a general horizontally-oriented vector direction toward the inside of the structure. The direction “out” or “outward” is used to reference a general horizontally-oriented vector direction toward the outside of the structure. The term “front” or “inside” is used to describe the surface that a person would see facing the window from the inside of a building structure while the term “rear” or “outside” is used to describe the surface that a person would see facing the window from the outside of a building structure. With respect to screen frame 104, the term “inboard” is used to describe the area inside the form or shape created by screen frame 104, while the term “outboard” is used to describe the area outside the form created by screen frame 104.
Corner latch window assembly 100 includes a bolt or brace 114 and a turn handle 116 that is movably coupled to screen lineal 112 in a rotating motion along a bidirectional arc 118 between an engaged position and a disengaged position with respect to screen frame 104. The term bidirectional arc 118 will include a rotation or twist movement in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction. In one embodiment, a plurality (normally four) of corner latch mechanisms 100 are located in the corners 120 of the screen assembly 102. Referring to
Referring to
The center portion 136 includes an aperture 138 configured to rotatably receive turn handle 116. Aperture 138 may include bushings (not shown) to rotatably hold turn handle 116 within aperture 138.
Corner latch mechanism 100 provides easy operation for removably securing screen assembly 102 to screen frame 104. Screen assembly 102 is secured or attached to screen frame 104 from inside the structure with turn handle 116 also facing inside the structure and facing a user.
As will be described in detail below, turn handle 116 of corner latch window assembly 100 responds to the force of the screen being pressed into screen frame 104 by rotating along a bidirectional arc 118 clockwise or counterclockwise within screen lineal 112 as contact point 124 engages screen frame 104. The contact point 124 then moves outwardly once brace 114 clears screen frame 104. Turn handle 116 ceases rotation when a shoulder 130 makes contact with the screen frame 104. In this position the turn handle 116 is in the engaged position, correlating to completion of attachment of screen assembly 102 to screen frame 104. To detach screen assembly 102 from frame 104, the user rotates turn handle 116 clockwise or counterclockwise to the disengaged position. This causes the contact point 124 to cross the lip 126 of window frame 104 and causes the arrowhead 146 as shown in
Referring to
Screen frame 108 is a substantially rigid component or structure, including at least one screen lineal 112, configured to receive and support screen 106 and to interface with screen frame 104. Screen frame 108 has a shape corresponding to the shape of screen frame 104 and a configuration to accept screen 106 and spline 110 such that screen 106 spans the area contained within the shape or inboard area of screen frame 108. In one embodiment, screen frame 108 may include four lineals, creating a rectangular or square shape. In another embodiment, screen frame 108 may include three lineals, creating a triangular shape. In other embodiments, screen frame 108 may include other quantities of screen lineal 112, creating other shapes, including, but not limited to, pentagon, hexagon and octagon.
Screen attachment or spline 110 removably secures screen 106 to screen frame 108. Spline 110 comprises a component of compressible material of a substantially consistent cross-sectional area and of a length sufficient to circumnavigate the perimeter of the shape of screen frame 108 proximate the inboard area. Spline 110 retains screen 106 to screen frame 108 by compressive fitment of spline 110 into an area of screen frame 108 with a cross-sectional area that is smaller than the cross-section of spline 110. Spline 110 and screen 106 are removable from frame 108 substantially without damage to spline 110, screen 106 or frame 108.
Referring to
The flat top surface 172 is connected to a roof surface 174. The handling of the roof surface 174 bends towards the plane created by the screen frame 108. The angle formed between the flat top surface 172 and the roof surface 174 is approximately 150°. The roof surface 174 is connected to a lip surface 176. The lip surface 176 is essentially parallel to the flat top surface 172 and the screen frame 108. The angle formed by the lip surface 176 and the angled top surface is approximately 30°.
Lip surface 176 is connected to a first vertical wall 178. The angle formed between the lip surface 176 of the first vertical wall 178 is 90°. A channel floor 180 is connected to the first vertical wall 178. The channel floor 180 is nearly parallel to the plane of the screen frame 108. In fact, the channel floor 180 is nearly in the plane created by screen frame 108. The angled created by the channel floor 180 and the first vertical wall 178 is approximately 90°. The channel floor 180 is connected to the second vertical wall 182. The angle created by the channel floor 180 and the second vertical wall 182 is approximately 90°. The second vertical wall 182 is connected to an elevated floor wall 184. The elevated floor wall 184 is parallel to the channel floor 180, approximately 2/2 the distance of the height of the channel 170. The elevated floor wall 184 bends 90° away from the channel floor 180. The elevated floor wall 184 is connected to a third vertical wall 186. The third vertical wall 186 bends 90° up towards the flat top surface 172. The third vertical wall 186 and the flat top surface 172 are connected at approximately 90°.
The upside down screen channel 190 contained within the screen lineal 122, is an upside down rectangle-U-shaped. The upside down screen channel 190 comprises the second vertical wall 182 connected to a channel top surface 184 at approximately 90°. The channel top surface 184 is connected to a third vertical wall 192 at approximately 90°. Within the screen channel 190, there is a rectangular block or screen spline 110. The screen spline 110 is approximately the height the second vertical wall 182 and the third vertical wall 192.
To remove a screen assembly 102 from a window frame 104, a user rotates the turn handle 116 in either direction. If the optional stops 128 are in place, the user will stop rotation when the user feels a stop 128 during rotation. The repositioning of the arrow platform 140 relaxes the corresponding spline 110, thereby, releasing the screen assembly 102. The screen assembly 102 is now ready for removal.
To attach screen assembly 102 to window frame 104, a user positions screen assembly 102 into alignment with the corresponding opening in window frame 104 and exerts a force on screen lineal members 112 toward screen frame 104 in the outside direction. The user rotates the turn handle 116 automatically adjusts as the spline 110 engages screen frame 104.
It is important to note that the construction mechanism as described herein is illustrative only. Although only a few embodiments of the present inventions have been described in detail in this disclosure, those skilled in the art who review this disclosure will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible (e.g., variations in sizes, dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, values of parameters, mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors, orientations, etc.) without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the subject matter recited in the claims. For example, elements shown as integrally formed may be constructed of multiple parts or elements and vice versa, the position of elements may be reversed or otherwise varied, and the nature or number of discrete elements or positions may be altered or varied. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims. The order or sequence of any process or method steps may be varied or re-sequenced according to alternative embodiments. Other substitutions, modifications, changes and omissions may be made in the design, operating conditions and arrangement of the exemplary embodiments without departing from the scope of the present inventions as expressed in the appended claims.
