US3818891A

US3818891A - Fire screen assembly

Info

Publication number: US3818891A
Application number: US00407609A
Authority: US
Inventors: R Dew
Original assignee: STRATTON AND TERSTEGGE CO Inc
Current assignee: STRATTON AND TERSTEGGE CO Inc
Priority date: 1973-10-18
Filing date: 1973-10-18
Publication date: 1974-06-25
Anticipated expiration: 1991-06-25

Abstract

A first bracket at one side of a fire screen assembly has a depending arcuate guide, as viewed in cross section, with its outer surface being convex and engaging an intermediate portion of a flexible pull member passing therearound. A second bracket at the other side of the screen assembly carries inner and outer spaced apart arcuate guides, as viewed in vertical cross section, with the upper surface of each being convex and engaging an end portion of the pull member with one end portion extending over the inner guide and then between the spaced guides and the other end portion extending over and then downwardly alongside the outer guide. The second bracket is connected to the adjacent end portion of a support rod which extends alongside the spaced apart guides and limits lateral movement of the end portions of the pull member.

Description

United States Patent [19] Dew [ 1 June 25, 1974 [73] Assignee: Stratton & Terstegge Co., Inc., New

Albany. Ind.

22 Filed: Oct. 18, 1973 21 Appl. Non 107,609

[75] Inventor:

[52] US. Cl 126/202, 160/126, 160/D1G. 9 [51] Int. CL. F24c 15/36 [58] Field of Search 126/138, 140, 202;

160/123, 124, 125, 126, 332, DIG. 9

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,150,367 3/1939 Eisele l60/D1G. 9

2,185,305 l/l940 Marchand 1 1 160/126 2,441,591 6/1960 Meyer 160/126 X 2,601,489 6/1952 Babros et al..... 160/D1G. 9 3,038,537 6/1962 Brunig 160/332 3,077,923 2/1963 Hatcher 160/202 X 3,145,765 8/1964 Sponberg et a1 126/202 X Primary Examiner-William F. ODea Assistant Examiner--Peter D. Ferguson Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Jennings, Carter & Thompson [57] ABSTRACT A first bracket at one side of a fire screen assembly has a depending arcuate guide, as viewed in cross section, with its outer surface being convex and engaging an intermediate portion of a flexible pull member passing therearound. A second bracket at the other side of the screen assembly carries inner and outer spaced apart arcuate guides, as viewed in vertical cross section, with the upper surface of each being 1 convex and engaging an end portion of the pull member with one end portion extending over the inner guide and then between the spaced guides and the other end portion extending over and then downwardly alongside the outer guide. The second bracket is connected to the adjacent end portion of a support rod which extends alongside the spaced apart guides and limits lateral movement of the end portions of the pull member.

9 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENIED m2 5 m4 SHEET 1 BF 2 FIRE SCREEN ASSEMBLY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION rods whereby they are movable selectively to an open 0 position and a closed position by an elongated flexible pull member connected to the curtains and having a handle at each end thereof.

Heretofore in the art to which my invention relates, the pull mechanism for fire curtains or screens has presented many problems. Not only is it difficult to mount the mechanism on the supporting frame for the fire screens but most assemblies heretofore employed have been equipped with pulleys for guiding the flexible pull members. Due to the high heat and humidity conditions, oxidation deposits are formed on the moving parts within a relative short time thus causing excess friction, which in due time makes the screen pull assembly inoperative. That is to say, the apparatus is not self cleaning since the build-up of oxidation deposits is not removed from the rotating parts during nonnal operation.

While non-movable guide assemblies have been proposed, such as disclosed in the Hatcher Pat. No. 3,077,923, these stationary guide members are closed except for the ends for inserting and removing the flexible pull members. Accordingly, moisture collects in such closed passageways whereby oxidation deposits build up and prevent satisfactory operation of the apparatus.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with my present invention, I provide a fire screen assembly wherein the support rods for the fire curtains are supported by brackets at each side of the screen assembly with the brackets also connecting the vertical, side frame members of the screen assembly to a common horizontal frame member, thus eliminating the necessity of having to provide complicated mechanism for supporting the rods and the pull member. The support bracket at one side of the assembly has a depending guide which is arcuate as viewed in horizontal cross section with the outermost surface thereof being convex and engaging an intermediate portion of the pull member which passes around the depending guide. The support bracket at the other side of the assembly carries inner and outer, spaced apart guides which are arcuate as viewed in vertical cross section with the upper surface of each being convex and engaging and supporting an end portion of the pull member with one end portion of the pull member extending over the inner guide and then downwardly between the spaced apart guides and the other end portion of the pull member extending over and then downwardly alongside the other guide. An end portion of a rod extends alongside the spaced apart guides in position to limit lateral movement of the end portions of the flexible pull member whereby the support bracket not only supports the elongated rod but also provides means for limiting lateral movement of the ends of the pull member.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Apparatus embodying features of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, in which: i

FIG. I is a front elevational view showing the fire screen assembly mounted within a fire place;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, sectional view, partly broken away, taken generally along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, sectional view taken generally along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, sectional view taken generally along the line 44 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view, partly broken away, taken generally along the line 5-5 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view looking from the back side of the mechanism shown in FIG. 1 and showing the upper part of the fire screen assembly, parts being broken away and in section for the sake of clarity;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 7-7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a view taken generally along the line 88 of FIG. 6, parts being omitted for the sake of clarity; and,

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 9-9 of FIG. 6.

Referring now to the drawings for a better understanding of my invention, I show a screen assembly 10 mounted in a fire place 11. The screen assembly 10 comprises vertical side frame members l2and an upper, horizontal frame member I3. The fire screen is provided with the usual, flexible link-type fire curtains or

screens

14 and 16 which are supported at their upper edges for movement along

elongated support rods

17 and 18, as shown in FIG. 6. The fire curtains l4 and 16 are secured to the

rods

17 and 18 by suitable ring-like elements I9 whereby the curtains l4 and 16 are movable selectively to a closed position, as shown in FIG. 1, and an open position whereby the fire curtains are moved toward the sides of the fire place away from each other. An elongated flexible pull member 21 is operatively connected to the fire curtains I4 and 16 for moving the same selectively to the open and closed positions. Suitable handles 22 are provided at the ends of the pull member 21, as shown in FIG. 1.

As shown in FIG. 6, the vertical side frame member 12 is connected to the upper horizontal frame member 13 by a support bracket 23 having an opening 24 in the top thereof for receiving a retaining element 26 which passes through a suitable opening in the horizontal frame member 13 to thus attach the bracket 23 to the frame member 13. As shown in FIGS. 3, 3 and 6, a downwardly opening slot 27 is provided in the vertical leg of the bracket 23 for receiving a suitable retaining element 28 which attaches the bracket 23 to the vertical side frame 12 adjacent thereto.

The support bracket 23 is provided with a depending guide 29 which is arcuate, as viewed in horizontal cross section, as shown in FIG. 9. The outermost surface of the depending guide 29 is convex and in position to engage an intermediate portion of the flexible pull member 21 passing around the depending guide, as shown in FIG. 9. The depending guide 23 is provided with an opening 31 therethrough for receiving the adjacent end portion of the adjacent support rod 17 subjacent the flexible pull member 21 so that the pull member slidably engages the end portion of the

support rod

17 and 3 is supported thereby, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 6 and 9.

A second support bracket 32 is provided at the opposite side of the screen assembly from the support bracket 23 and connects the adjacent end of the horizontal frame member 13 to the upper end of the adjacent vertical, side frame member 12. The bracket 32 is provided with a vertical end member 33 and an upper horizontal portion 34 which are formed integrally with an elongated extension 36. As shown in FIGS. 4, 6 and 8, the elongated extension 36 extends parallel to the adjacent support rod 18 and is spaced therefrom. A suitable opening 37 is provided in the horizontal portiort 34 of the bracket 32 for receiving a retaining element 38 which passes through a suitable opening in the horizontal frame member 13 to secure the bracket 32 to the frame member 13. A downwardly opening slot 39 is provided in the vertical member 33 of the bracket 32 for receiving a retaining element 41 which connects the bracket 32 to the adjacent vertical frame member 12, as shown in FIG. 6.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, inner and outer, spaced apart

guides

42 and 43, respectively, are formed integrally with the elongated extension 36 on the support bracket 32. The spaced apart guides 42 and 43 project laterally from the elongated extension 36 and extend toward the adjacent support rod I8.

Suitable recesses

44 and 46 are provided in the

guides

42 and 43, respectively, for receiving the support rod 18. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, the

guides

42 and 43 are arcuate, as viewed in vertical cross section with the uppermost surface of each being convex and in position to engage and support an end portion of the flexible pull member 21 with one end portion 47 passing over the convex upper surface of the inner guide 42 and then downwardly between the

guides

42 and 43, as shown in FIG. 6. The other end portion 48 of the flexible pull member 21 extends beyond the guide 42 and then passes over and around the convex upper surface of the guide 43 and then passes downwardly alongside the guide member 43, as shown in FIG. 6. The handles 22 are attached to the lower ends of the

end portions

47 and 48 of the pull member 21 whereby upon pulling the handle 22 for the end portion 47, the fire curtains are moved away from each other or toward open position. On the other hand, upon pulling the handle 22 for the end portion 48, the fire curtains I4 and 16 are moved toward each other to the closed position shown in FIGS. 1 and 6.

Secured to the under surface of the horizontal frame member 13 by a suitable retaining element 49 is a bracket 51 having depending

legs

52 and 53 as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. The depending

legs

52 and 53 are provided with

openings

54 and 56 therethrough, respectivcly, for receiving the inner ends of the support rods 17 and I8 with the support rods overlapping each other adjacent the center of the screen assembly, as shown in FIG. 6. The

bracket legs

52 and 53 are also provided with openings 57 and 58 therethrough above the

openings

54 and 56 for receiving the flexible pull member 21.

Starting with the end portion 47 of the flexible pull member 21, the pull member extends upwardly between the

guides

42 and 43 and passes around the convex upper surface of the guide 42 whereupon the pull member then extends through the opening 58 in the depending bracket legs 53. From the opening 58, the pull member extends around the convex outer surface of the depending guide 29 and then passes through the opening 57 in the depending leg 52 and in turn passes over the upper convex surface of the guide 43 as described above. The portion of the flexible pull member 21 defining the end portion 47 is connected to the fire curtain 16 as at 59 while the portion thereof defining the end portion 48 is connected to the fire curtain 14 as at 61. Accordingly, as the end portion 47 is pulled downwardly, the end portion 48 moves upwardly whereby the fire curtain 14 moves to the right and the fire curtain 16 moves to the left, as viewed in FIG. 6, whereby the curtains are moved to open position. On the other hand, upon pulling downwardly on the end portion 48, the curtain 14 is moved toward the left and the curtain I6 is moved toward the right, as viewed in FIG. 6, to thus close the curtains. As shown in FIG. 7, the inner ends of the

support rods

17 and 18 are spaced laterally from each other to provide ample room for movement of the fire curtains.

Formed integrally with the elongated extension 36 and projecting laterally therefrom is a stop member 62 which extends laterally over the adjacent support rod 18 and then downwardly alongside the support rod 18, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 in position to engage the support rod and limit lateral movement thereof away from the elongated extension 36. A second stop member 63 is formed integrally with the inner portion of the guide 42, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, and projects laterally and then upwardly therefrom alongside the support rod 18 to further limit lateral movement of the support rod 18 away from the elongated extension 36. Accordingly, the support rod 18 is held in spaced relation to the elongated extension 36 and alongside the

guides

42 and 43, as shown in FIG. 8, to define passageways between the support rod 18 and the elongated extension 36 for passing the

end portions

47 and 48 of the flexible pull member 21.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that I have devised an improved fire screen assembly and mechanisms for moving the fire curtain selectively to opened and closed positions. By providing support brackets which carry the support rods for the fire curtains and also provide means for connecting the horizontal and vertical frame members to each other, I greatly facilitate the construction and assembly of the fire screen assembly. This is especially true in view of the fact that the assembly is particularly adapted for shipment and storage in knock-down condition whereby the screen assembly may be assembled at the point of use. Also, by eliminating moving parts, such as pulleys and the like, as well as long, closed passageways for receiving the pull elements, my improved apparatus is self-cleaning whereby there is no build-up of oxidation deposits on any moving parts for the screen assembly. That is, the only movingelement of the assembly is the flexible pull member, which is usually in the form of a chain. Since the pull member slides freely over the convex surfaces carried by the support brackets, the chain continuously removes any oxidation deposits as the chain moves relative to the convex surfaces. The exposed, convex surfaces of the guide members are thus maintained in a clean and dry condition due to the fact that there is free circulation of air around these parts. Furthermore, by providing the elongated support rod 18 alongside the

arcuate guides

42 and 43, the support rod not only supports the fire curtain but also defines with the elongated extension 36 the passageway therebetween for receiving the

pull end portions

47 and 48 of the flexible,

pull member, thus further reducing the overall cost of the apparatus. Furthermore, by forming my improved support brackets as integral units, such as by die casting, the support brackets are particularly adapted for mass production whereby the support brackets not only form structural members for connecting the vertical and horizontal frame members to each other but also define the support for the adjacent ends of the rods which support the fire curtains. The brackets also support the guide means for the flexible pull member.

While I have shown my invention in but one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is-susceptible of various other changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof.

What I claim is:

1. In a fire screen assembly having a pair of fire curtains supported at their upper edges for movement along elongated support rods and movable selectively to an open position and a closed position by an elon gated flexible pull member connected to said curtains and having a handle at each end thereof:

a. a first support bracket adjacent one side of said screen assembly having a depending guide which is arcuate as viewed in horizontal cross section with the outermost surface of said guide being convex and in position to engage an intermediate portion of said flexible pull member passing around said depending guide,

b. means connecting said depending guide to the adjacent end portion of an adjacent support rod subjacent said flexible pull member with said flexible pull member slidably engaging said end portion of an adjacent support rod and being supported thereby,

c. a second support bracket adjacent the other side of said screen assembly carrying inner and outer spaced apart guides which are arcuate as viewed in vertical cross section with the uppermost surface of each being convex and in position to engage and support an end portion of said flexible pull member with one said end portion extending over said inner guide and then downwardly between said spaced apart guides and the other said end portion extending over and then downwardly alongside said outer port rod extending alongside said spaced apart guides and limiting lateral movement of said end portions of said flexible pull member.

2. A fire screen assembly as defined in claim 1 in which said depending guide isprovided with an opening therethrough for receiving the end portion of an adjacent support rod with said end portion of an adjacent support rod being supported by said depending guide.

3. A fire screen assembly as defined in claim 1 in which said first and second support brackets are each secured to the upper portion of a vertical side frame member for said screen assembly and to an adjacent end portion of an upper horizontal frame member for said screen assembly so that said first and second support brackets also connect saidl vertical side frame members to said upper horizontal frame member.

4. A fire screen assembly as defined in claim 1 in which said inner and outer spaced apart guides are carried by and project laterally from an elongated extension on said second support bracket with said elongated extension extending generally parallel to and spaced from the adjacent support rod so that said end portions of said flexible pull member pass downwardly between said elongated extension and the adjacent support rod.

5. A fire screen assembly as defined in claim 4 in which said spaced apart guides are each provided with a recess therein in laterally spaced relation to said elongated extension for receiving and supporting the end portion of an adjacent support rod.

6. A fire screen assembly as defined in claim 5 in which at least one stop member is carried by said second support bracket in position to engage the adjacent support rod and limit lateral movement thereof away from said elongated extension.

7. A fire screen assembly as defined in claim 6 in which said stop member extends laterally over said adjacent support rod and then downwardly alongside said adjacent support rod.

8. A fire screen assembly as defined in claim 7 in which a second stop member is formed integrally with oneof said spaced apart guides and extends upwardly alongside said adjacent support rod at the side thereof away from said elongated extension.

9. A fire screen assembly as defined in claim 1 in which the inner ends of said support rods are supported in laterally spaced relation to each other.

lt l

Claims

1. In a fire screen assembly having a pair of fire curtains supported at their upper edges for movement along elongated support rods and movable selectively to an open position and a closed position by an elongated flexible pull member connected to said curTains and having a handle at each end thereof: a. a first support bracket adjacent one side of said screen assembly having a depending guide which is arcuate as viewed in horizontal cross section with the outermost surface of said guide being convex and in position to engage an intermediate portion of said flexible pull member passing around said depending guide, b. means connecting said depending guide to the adjacent end portion of an adjacent support rod subjacent said flexible pull member with said flexible pull member slidably engaging said end portion of an adjacent support rod and being supported thereby, c. a second support bracket adjacent the other side of said screen assembly carrying inner and outer spaced apart guides which are arcuate as viewed in vertical cross section with the uppermost surface of each being convex and in position to engage and support an end portion of said flexible pull member with one said end portion extending over said inner guide and then downwardly between said spaced apart guides and the other said end portion extending over and then downwardly alongside said outer guide, and d. means connecting said second support bracket to the adjacent end portion of an adjacent support rod with the adjacent end portion of the adjacent support rod extending alongside said spaced apart guides and limiting lateral movement of said end portions of said flexible pull member.

2. A fire screen assembly as defined in claim 1 in which said depending guide is provided with an opening therethrough for receiving the end portion of an adjacent support rod with said end portion of an adjacent support rod being supported by said depending guide.

3. A fire screen assembly as defined in claim 1 in which said first and second support brackets are each secured to the upper portion of a vertical side frame member for said screen assembly and to an adjacent end portion of an upper horizontal frame member for said screen assembly so that said first and second support brackets also connect said vertical side frame members to said upper horizontal frame member.

8. A fire screen assembly as defined in claim 7 in which a second stop member is formed integrally with one of said spaced apart guides and extends upwardly alongside said adjacent support rod at the side thereof away from said elongated extension.