US2428644A - Roller screen - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 7, 1947. F. zEGA 2,428,644

ROLLER SCREEN Filed Nov. 23, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheety 1 ATTORNEYS F. zEGA ROLLER 'SCREEN Filed Nov. 25, 1945 Oct. 7, 1947.

2 Sheets-.Sheet 2 I INVENTOR e.

,Freni ga BW www ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 7, 1.947

UNITED STATES FATENT OFFICE.

aon-Len SCREEN Frank Zega, Bridgeport, Conn.

Application November 23, 1945, serial No. 630,258

(o1. red-'23) 6 Claims.

'This invention relates .to improvements in roller screens and panes for use with windows of dwellings and other building structures.

An object of the invention 'is to provide an iinproved roller pane or screen attachment which may be detachably mounted in an out-of-the-way place on the window frame, preferably on the exterior thereof, the pane or screening element of the attachment being conveniently extendable to cover and screen the opening, and retractible within a housing when not in use, and the housing and contained element being instantly detachable from the window frame without tools, for storage and to permit use of framed storm windows if so desired. VMy roller attachment thus may be quickly mounted on and removed from the window frame, as is done With the conventional type of framed screens or panes, yet it occupies but very little space in storage as compared with the latter, and is much smaller and lighter in weight, and therefore more easily installed and removed.

In accomplishing this object I provide, by the present invention, a housing and pane or screening element adapted to be deta'chably mounted on and supported by novel brackets, which latter I permanently secure to the window frame to remain as a part of such, the brackets beingso arranged as to not interfere with the installing of framed storm Windows when the roller screen attachment has been removed from the window frame. For guiding and conrining the opposite vertical edge portions of the pane or screening element when the lat-ter is extended I provide novel vertical guides which are permanently secured to each of the tWo uprights of the frame and arranged so as to be substantially unnoticeable and to not interfere with operation of the window sashes, or with installation of storm windows.

A feature of my invention is the provision of a novel handle means secured t the exterior or leading edge of the pane or screening element, said means being so arranged as to not interfere with the operation of the window sashes at any time, and especially when the element is rolled up and not in use, and said handle means also serving to enable the element to be quickly and conveniently operated and to be easily and securely fastened in extended position across the window opening.

Another feature of my invention is the provision of novel means vfor preventing the leading edge and handle means of the pane or screening element from being inadvertently entirely with- 2 drawn into the housing at the 'time 1t is retracted and rolled'around the 'spring roller, and therefore the handle means are always accessible, ready to be grasped.

Another feature ofthe present invention is the provision of reinforcing bars which extend trans'- versely across the pane or screening element, and which serve to support the element iin a at 'or planar position, and to prevent the opposite side edges of the element *from being inadvertently pulled out of the vertical guides provided for them when the element is `in extended position,

Still another feature 'of the invention is the provision of means extending along the side edges of the parie or Screening element for preventing excessive wear, and sticking or binding of the element where it rides in the vertical guides, and for supporting the transverse reinforcing bars in predetermined uniformly spaced positions, in accurate parallelism, the said means also serving to prevent the side vedges of the element from pulling out of the vertical guides provided for them.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a view showing the outside of a win'- dow frame in elevation, with the roller screen attachment of the present invention installed thereon, the screening element being extended across the opening of the window.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. l

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is' a fragmentary view taken along line 4 4 of Fig. 1 showing in elevation one end of the housing of the attachment, mounted on its associated bracket, which latter is secured adjacent the top or head of the window frame.

Fig. 5 is a View -similar to Fig. 4, taken along line 5--5 of Fig. 1 showing the other end of the housing and the other supporting bracket.

Fig- 6 is a fragmentary vertical section through the housing and screening element of the attachment, the element being in retrac-ted or rolledeup position on the roller.

Fig. '7 is a View, partly lin elevation and partly in vertical section, of the housing, screening element and roller carrying the latter, one of the handles secured to the screening element, being also shown.

Fig. 8 is a View looking in the direction of the arrows 8, 8 of Fig. 7 l

Fig, 9 isa view similar to Fig. 8 except that the 3 end plate of the housing has been removed to reveal the interior arrangement.

Fig. 10 is a view of the inside of the end plate which was removed from the housing of Fig. 9. Fig. ll is a view of a roller-pane element,

partially unrolled from the spring roller of thev attachment, one handle of the element also being shown, and

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary horizontal section` taken through the screen guide Vory channel secured to the side wall of the frame, and through j one edge portion of the screening element, a reinforcing rod carried by the element being also` shown.

Referring to Figs. l and 2, the roller screen attachment of the present invention is4 shown mounted on a window frame IIJ having jambs orY uprights II, a head I2, and a sill I3. The side walls I4 of the uprights II have the usual sashguiding strips I5 and molding IS for confining and guiding the upper-.and lower sashes I'I and I8 respectively of the window.

According to the present invention I provide a novel roller screen attachment, including a springV the conventional frame screen, and more easilyv manipulated during the installation and removal. The Vbrackets and guides for the attachment,

' which are left permanently on the window frame,

are inconspicuous and do not interfere in any way with the operation of the sashes,Y or with installation of stormwindows. Y

`In the embodiment of theinvention illustrated herein, thehousing 2li of the attachment preferably comprises two sheet metal membersV 2| and 22, which may advantageously be made of sheet i aluminum, Fig. 9, the latter' member being Vroughly angular in cross-section, having a flat side '7:22a and a slightly curved or convex side 22h bulging outward to provide space around the spring roller I9. The top, longitudinally extend- V ing edge of the side 22h has an out-turned flange 22c'which is secured to one edge portionV of the member 2I by rivets 23, the said edge portion having a depending ange .'24V overhanging the joint between the two membersand acting aS a watershed, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 9. The upper Y edge portion of the flat side 22a. of the member 22 is turned outwardly and downwardly at approximately a 45 angle, to form a longitudinally eX- tending depending flange 25 the edge 26 of which is folded under and back on itself so as to provide a smooth edge surface, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9. Y The sheet metal member 2l of the housing has iiat sides 2Ia and 2Ib extended at a slight angle with respect yto each other, the edge Vportion of the latter side having a depending longitudinal flange 27, the lower part 28 offwhich is turned out-'- i receive lugs 32 on the end platefor thepurpose of enabling the latter to lit flush with the ends 4 of the members, and to prevent the plate from being pushed further into the housing. The other end plate 29, in the left end of the housing,

referring to Fig. '7, hasl inturned apertured lugs 33 by means of which it is secured to the members 2I and 22 through the use of rivets 34 as shown.

By this construction the housing 20 has an elongate opening 35, Fig. 9, extending for its entire length,'adapted to enable a screening element 36 carried on the roller I9 to pass therethrough and be extended downward across the opening of the window frame.

VFor the purpose of rotatably mounting the roller I9 in the housing 2, the roller has bearing pins 31 and 38 projecting from its ends, extend- Y ing through apertures in the end plates 29 and 30 respectively, the pin 38 being preferably flat and keyed to the end plate 30 so that the spring 39 within the roher (Fig. 1) may be wound up and the roller operated to maintain a tension on the screening element 36 in the manner of a roller shade. y Y

According to my invention, I provide novel bracket means for demountably securing vthe housing 2l] in place on the window frame IIJ whereby the housing may be quickly installedron or removed from the frame without the use of tools. This means comprises, in the preferred embodimentY of the invention illustrated herein, metal brackets 4G and 4I in the form yof thin flat plates, preferably of aluminum, which are secured to the side walls I4 of the Yuprights II by screws 42, Figs. 4 and 5. The screw apertures in the brackets `49 and 4I are preferably couritersunk,A

'frame and will not interfere with the installation of storm windows, since therclearancesY between the storm windows and the frame will not be materially lessened. However, if the saidrclearances are small to begin with, the brackets 40 and 4I may be recessed in the side walls I4 of the frame, so as to lit ush with the walls.

As shown in Fig. 5, the bracket 4I has an outwardly extended lug Ilia which is apertured to receive the bearing pin 37 of thescreen roller I9. In Fig. 4, the bracket 40 is provided withs'an openended slot 40a which extends upwardly at an angle toward the centerV of the bracket and is adapted to receive the flat bearing pin 38 of the Yroller I9 and to lock the pin against turning.

The housing 20 and roller I9 carried thereby may thus be quickly and conveniently mounted on the brackets 4U and 4I by Vmanipulating it to first insert the bearingV pin 31 in the bracket 4I and then slide the fiat bearing pin 38 laterally into the groove 40a. Y

In order to lock the bearing pin 38 in the groove 40a, and to enable the'pin' to be freed at will for removal of theV housing 26 fromthe frame I0, I provide a locking pin or bar 43 axially movable 'Y l[in bearings 44 which are' secured to the housing bracket 40,1th'e bar V43r when in extended position Y as shown in Fig- 4 normally blocking the bearing pin'38. against lateral movement out of theslot 40a. As shown, Vthe bal` 43 may carry an extension. springg'iV by which it is yieldably held inthe extended position shown, and may have a knob 46 to be 4grasped forrmoving the bar V43 'downward to' clear, the slotiand'l free the bearing 131.1138.Y 1`"""',' Y 'fj n= accordance with the present invention, I provide novel guiding means for the side edge portions of the screening element 36, said guiding means being so arranged as to be conveniently permanently mounted on the outer set of sash guides I and yet not interfere with movement of the upper sash I'I, nor with installation of storm windows on the frame i8. Referring to Fig. 3, my novel guiding means comprises a pair of ang-les 41 and 48 secured to a base strip 49, all of said parts being secured to the sash guide I5 by woodscrews 56 screwed into the said guide. The angles 4l and 48, and the strip 49 may be advantageously made of aluminum, and it will be noted that the angles and the base strip do not project beyond the opposite sides of the sash guide I5, but are flush therewith. Thus the operation of the window sash II is not interfered with, nor is there any obstruction to the installation of storm window.Y For this reason, my guiding means comprising the angles 47 and 43 and the base strip 49 may be left permanently attached to the window frame even when the housing 25 and roller I9 carriedv thereby are removed for storage.

According to this invention the screening element 35, which may be of metal mesh, but is preferably formed of plastic, is provided with fiat ribbons 5I along both sides. of its opposite edge portions, the ribbons being of spring material such as phosphor bronze, and being secured at their leading ends to the ends of a channel-shaped clamping strip 52 which clamps the leading edge of the screening element 36.

For purposes of reinforcement, the screening element 35 is provided with reinforcing rods 54,

as shown in Figs. 1 and 12, said rods being preferably of brass or bronze, and extending transversely across the element between the opposite side edgesthereof, and being secured to the strips 5I by any suitable means such as brazing or soldering. The rods 54 are4 also secured to the screening element 3bV at intervals, by tying these together with wire or string, as shown at 55, Fig. 12.

By this construction the reinforcing rods 54 maintain the flexible Strips 5I properly spaced apart, and- -by being secured to the screening element 36, tend to maintain the latter in a nat plane when the element is extended downward across the opening of the window frame. The ribbons 5I extending along the opposite sides of the edge portions of the screening element are secured together at intervals to hold the screening element between them and to prevent the edge of the element so as to not interfere withl the operation of the upper sash I 'I of the window.

When it is desired to extend or lower the screening element across the window opening, the handles 56 are grasped and pulled downward to extend the element across the window opening. On the threshold I3 of the frame I provide a pair of wing screws 58 adapted to be received in slots 59 in the handles 56, so that the latter may be locked to th'ewindowsill as shown in Figs; "2l and 3, tohold the screening element 316 in extended position.

Referring to Fig. 9, it will be noted that the down-turned flange 25 of the sheet metal member 22 of the housing acts as a smooth and rounded bearing surface over which the screening element 36 and strips 5I slide, thus preventing excessive Wear on the strips and element.

To prevent the screening element from being inadvertently completely withdrawn into the housing 20, hooks IiIIV are provided, secured to the channel strip 52 at the leading edge of the screening element, said hooks being adapted to engage the depending flange 25 when the screening element 361s Wound on the roller I 9.

As shown in Fig. 11, a flexible pane element 5I, which may be of transparent plastic or other like material, may be substituted for the screening element 36, thereby converting my improved roller attachment for use as a storm window. The side edges of the pane element y6I are carried between the flexible ribbons 5I in the saine manner as the screening element 36 is carried, and the leading edge of the element is similarly secured within the channel strip 52. Suitable plastic strap means (not shown) may be employed for securing the rods 54 to the pane element 6I at intervals, as will be evident to those skilled in the art.

In use, for each window of. a dwelling a pair ofA my improved roller attachments may be provided,

one having a screening element 36 and the other having a pane element El, the latter attachment being installed during the winter months, at which time the attachment. having the screening element maybe conveniently stored away. Since the bearing pins 3l and 38, and the housings 20 of both of the above attachments are identical, either attachment may be used with the one set of brackets 40, 4| which are permanently installed on the window frame.

Although in the foregoing description forthe sake of convenience I have considered the screening element 36 as comprising a mesh, and the elem-ent 6I as comprising a flexible imperforate pane, it should be understood that the term screening element may be considered as embracing both of the elements 36 and 6I, or any other element in the nature of a protective partition, curtain, or shield, and in the following claims I desire this broader interpretation to be applied where that term screening element appears.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of this invention and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

I claim:

.1. As an article of manufacture, an elongate hollow housing closed at both ends; a roller in said housing carrying a screen and having bearing pins at each end passing through and projecting substantially beyond the ends of the housing; brackets having apertured portions for` receiving the projecting portions of the bearing pins, the aperture in one of said brackets comprising an open-ended slot, and said brackets having means for securing them to a support; and a longitudinally movable bar extending across the said open-ended slot for locking the projecting portion of the bearing pin against lateral movement out of said slot, said bar being manually retractible to free the bearing pin for lateral movement through the slot,

2. As an article of manufacture, an elongate hollow housing closed at both ends;` a roller ,in said housing carrying a screen and havinggbeare ing pins at each end passing through andjpr jecting' substantiallydbeyond the ends of; the housing; brackets having apertured portions for receiving the projecting portions of the bearing pins, the aperture in one of said brackets comprising an open-ended slot, and said'brackets having means fornsecuring them toa support; and means spanning the said open-ended slot for locking the projecting portion of a bearing pin against lateral movement out of the slot, said means Ibeing manually retractible to kfree the bearing' pin for said lateral movement when desired.

3. an article of manufacture, an elongate hollow housing; plates extendingl across the ends of the housing; a roller. in said housing having bearing pins at each end passing through the plates. and projecting beyond the ends `of the housing; and a screening element carried by the roller, said housing having an elongate longitudinal opening to enable the screening element to pass therethrough, and one of said end plates and the housing having cooperable interengaging friction means whereby the plate may be quickly mounted on and removed from the housing.

4. In Y a window construction comprising a vframe having upright side walls; brackets secured to the frame, each having a bearing pin receiving aperture therein, one of said brackets having a slot extending from an edge thereof t its said aperture; a housing; a screen roller mounted in said housing; bearing pins extending from said roller and through the ends of said housing and into said bracket apertures; and

means on the slotted bracket for selectively locking the associated bearing pin therein and releasing it therefrom, whereby the housing and therethrough, and said brackets having aperturesI for receiving the said bearing pinsthereby toA support the housing on the brackets, the aperture in one of said brackets comprising an open-ended slot to. enable the associated bearing pin 'to be removed; and a longitudinal bar extending across the slot for locking the bearing pin therein against lateral movement, said bar being manually retractible to free the bearing pin for removal through the slot.

6. In a window construction, .a frame having sash guides on its upright side walls; vbrackets secured to theframe at the top thereof, each having a bearing pin receiving aperture therein, one of said brackets having ai slot extending from an edge thereof to its said aperture; a housing;Y a screen roller mounted in said housing; bearing pins extending from said roller and through the ends of said housing and into said bracket apertures; a screening element carried by the roller, said housing having an elongate opening to enablethe screening element to pass therethrough; and means on the slotted bracket for selectively locking the associated bearing pin therein' and releasing it therefrom, whereby the housing and roller may be quickly secured to and removed from the brackets.

f Y FRANK ZEGA..

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile of this patent:

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