Flexible or portable closure – partition – or panel – Plural and/or with rigid closure – Diverse types
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-26
2001-05-01
Stodola, Daniel P. (Department: 3634)
Flexible or portable closure, partition, or panel
Plural and/or with rigid closure
Diverse types
C160S027000, C160S100000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06223803
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to windows with built-in screening devices of the roller type, such as insect screens and roller blinds, and windows prepared for installation of such screening devices.
It is well-known in the art to provide windows with various forms of screening devices such as insect screens, roller blinds or the like.
Conventionally, screening devices of the kind comprising a flexible screening web, one end of which is secured to a spring-loaded roller-member, on which the web is rolled-up in its non-screening position, whereas the other end is secured to a rigid end or bottom member, are more or less visibly arranged in the main frame structure of the window, with the roller member connected with brackets secured to the main frame side members.
In the case of roof or skylight windows it is further necessary to have lateral guide members secured to the main frame side members in order to confine the movement of the screening web to a plane parallel to the inclination of the window pane.
Usually, such screening devices are permanently installed at the window and in most prior art designs the screening device itself as well as lateral guide members, when used, entail a certain reduction of the light-admitting area of the window. An example of such a screening device is known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,993,468 disclosing a screening web which is retractable from a holding container connected with a frame section.
Typically, in the case of insect screens the actual use of the screening device is restricted to certain periods of the year such as the summer time, whereas in other periods the screening device is hardly never used.
To permit the removal of a screening device in periods, when it is not needed, various solutions have been suggested in the prior art. One example is known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,671,790 disclosing a screening device arranged in a collapsible frame structure, which may easily be mounted on existing window frames and disconnected therefrom. In use of this screening device the erected frame structure results in a significant reduction of the light-admitting area and, when not in use the collapsed screening device must be stored in a safe place outside the window area.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
On this background it is the object of the invention to provide a window with a screening device, in which the shortcomings of prior art solutions have been overcome by a permanent screening installation which does not reduce the light-admitting area of the window, when the screening device is not in use, and which can be used also in roof or skylight windows without complicated lateral guide means.
A further object of the invention is to provide a window with a screening device which is uncomplicated and cheap in production and the screening device can be relatively easily removed, e.g. when it is desired to change from an insect screen to a roller blind or vice versa.
According to the invention, these and other objects are met by a window comprising a substantially rectangular main frame structure with main frame members including a top member, two side members and a bottom member, each of said main frame members having a side facing the light-admitting area of the window, at least one of a first pair of said main frame members being formed in said side facing the light-admitting area with a longitudinal cavity for accommodation of a roller screening device of the kind comprising a flexible screening web having one end secured to a spring-loaded roller member and an opposite end connected with a rigid end member, mounting brackets for receiving said spring-loaded roller member being provided at respective ends of said longitudinal cavity, each member of a second pair of opposed main frame members extending at right angles to said first pair of members being provided in said side facing the light-admitting area with a longitudinal guide track to receive respective ends of said rigid end member, said longitudinal cavity being closed at said side facing the light-admitting area by a cover member leaving a narrow slit-opening for passage of the screening web and defining a first end position for the rigid end member in the rolled up condition of the screening device, arresting means being provided for arresting said rigid end member in a second end position in a rolled-out condition of the screening device.
By the accommodation of the screening device in the longitudinal cavity formed in a main frame member and the complete integration of lateral guide tracks in the two frame members which are parallel to the direction of movement of the screening web, there will be no reduction of the light-admitting area of the window when the screening device is in its inactive retracted position, where the entire screening web is rolled-up on the roller member and confined in the cavity In the main frame member.
By proper design of the guide tracks in the frame members parallel to the direction of movement of the screening web the rigid end member of the screening device will be safely guided in any position between the retracted and fully extracted end positions of the screening web. Preferably, also edge parts of the screening web itself will be guided in the tracks, whereby a particular good sealing or blinding effect is obtained.
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Lev Bruce A.
Shannon John P.
Stodola Daniel P.
Velux Industri A/S
Venable
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