US20070193705A1

US20070193705A1 - Roll-up screen partition

Info

Publication number: US20070193705A1
Application number: US11/345,839
Authority: US
Inventors: Sheng-Hung Hsu
Original assignee: Gemmy Industries Corp
Current assignee: Gemmy Industries Corp
Priority date: 2006-02-01
Filing date: 2006-02-01
Publication date: 2007-08-23

Abstract

A roll-up partition has a post, a reel and a panel. The reel has an outer tube which has an inner space defined in a center of the outer tube and slot is longitudinally defined in a periphery of the outer tube and in communication with the inner space. A rod is rotatably received in the inner space. A first end of the panel is connected to the reel and a second end of the panel is connected to the post. The panel can be easily and quickly rolled up into the reel of the present invention wherein the panel is protected from damage and contamination.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a screen partition, and more particularly to a screen partition that can be rolled up on a reel for storage or transport.
2. Description of the Related Art
At exhibitions, whether indoors or outdoors, portable partitions are erected to divide the exhibition area into separate spaces or placed to direct people in a certain direction. The partitions can be made of rigid or soft panels. Many portable partitions use soft flexible panels or screens for convenient storage.
A conventional screen partition comprises a panel and two posts. The panel is securely mounted at two ends on the two posts, respectively. The posts are positioned in a desired location and the panel is extended to form a wall to divide an area.
However, with a conventional screen partition, the panel must be manually rolled up around one of the posts for storage and unrolled for use, which is both time consuming and inconvenient. Furthermore, the panel can be easily soiled or damaged because it is exposed and unprotected.
Therefore, the invention provides a roll-up screen partition to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main objective of the present invention is to provide a roll-up screen partition, which can be easily rolled up and protected when not in use.
Other objectives, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an operational perspective view of a first embodiment of a roll-up screen partition in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a reel of the first embodiment of the roll-up screen partition in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a reel of a second embodiment of a roll-up screen partition in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the reel of the second embodiment of the roll-up screen partition in FIG. 2;
FIG. 5 is a top sectional view of a coil spring of the second embodiment of the roll-up screen partition in FIG. 2;
FIG. 6 is an operational top view in partial section of the reel of the second embodiment of the roll-up screen partition along line 4-4 in FIG. 4;
FIG. 7 is an operational top view in partial section of the reel in FIG. 6 with an actuator pushed; and
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the second embodiment of the roll-up screen partition in accordance with the present invention with additional panels and posts.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to FIG. 1, a first embodiment of a roll-up screen partition is composed of a post (21), a reel (10) and a panel (70). A first end of the panel (70) is mounted to the reel (10) and a second end of the panel (70) is mounted to the post (21).
With reference to FIG. 2, the reel (10) has an outer tube (13). A lower cap (11) is provided on a lower end of the outer tube (13) and an upper cap (12) is provided on an upper end of the outer tube (13). In the first embodiment, the upper cap (12) is partially inserted into the upper end of the outer tube (13) and the lower cap (11) is partially inserted into the lower end of the outer tube (13). In other embodiments, the upper and the lower caps (12, 11) can also be mounted respectively on the outer tube (13) by fasteners or other forms of engagement.
A hole (17) is axially defined in the upper cap (12) and a cup (15), with an open end defined upward, is axially formed on a top surface of the lower cap (11). An inner space (14) is defined inside the outer tube (13). A slot (16) is longitudinally defined in a sidewall of the outer tube (13) and communicates with the inner space (14). A rod (19) is rotatably mounted inside the outer tube (13) in the inner space (14). An upper end of the rod (19) extends out through the hole (17) and a lower end of the rod (19) is rotatably mounted in the cup (15). A handle (18) is mounted on the upper end of the rod (19). The first end of the panel (70) is mounted on the rod (19) through the slot (16). Two spikes (80) are mounted respectively at a lower end of the post (21) and the lower end of the reel (10). Each spike (80) has a pedal (81) pivotally mounted on a side thereof to assist in driving the spike (80) into the ground at a desired location. With the rotation of the handle (18), the panel (70) can be rolled up into the inner space (14) through the slot (16) and around the rod (19) for safe storage.
With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, a second embodiment of a roll-up screen partition is the same as the first embodiment except for a reel (20).
The reel (20) in the second embodiment is composed of an outer tube (50) with a pawl assembly (90). An inner space (51) is defined inside the outer tube (50). A slot (52) is longitudinally defined in a sidewall of the outer tube (50) and communicates with the inner space (51). The outer tube (50) has an upper cap (40) mounted on an upper end thereof and a lower cap (30) mounted on a lower end thereof. The upper cap (40) has an open top and a through hole in the bottom. The lower cap (30) has an open bottom and a through hole in the top. A spring housing (62) is mounted rotatably inside the upper cap (40). The spring housing (62) has an open top and a protrusion (61) axially formed on a bottom that is mounted through the through hole of the upper cap (40). Multiple unidirectional teeth (65) are formed around the periphery of the protrusion (61). Two end plates are mounted over the open top of the upper cap (40) and the open bottom of the lower cap (30), respectively. A lower lug (33) is rotatably and axially mounted on an inner surface of the end plate of the lower cap (30). An upper lug (43) is axially formed on the inner surface of the end cap of the upper cap (40).
A rod (60) is rotatably mounted inside the outer tube (50) in the inner space (51). A lower end of the rod (60) is rotatably mounted on the lower lug (33) and an upper end of the rod (60) is securely connected to the protrusion (61) of the spring housing (62). The spring housing (62) is rotatably connected to the upper lug (43) of the end plate of the upper cap (40), thereby defining a chamber (63) in the spring housing (62). A first end of the panel (70) is connected to the rod (60) through the slot (52).
The pawl assembly (90) has an actuator (91), a torsion spring (92), a biasing spring and a pawl (93). A first end of the actuator (91) transversely extends out of a periphery of the upper cap (40). A second end of the actuator (91) extends substantially into the upper cap (40). The actuator (91) is biased by the biasing spring such that the first end of the actuator (91) remains extended out of the upper cap (40). The torsion spring (92) and the pawl (93) are pivotally mounted in the upper cap (40) and adjacent to the actuator (91). One end of the torsion spring (92) abuts against a second end of the pawl (93) to make a first end of the pawl (93) push against the actuator (91). The second end of the pawl (93) is engaged with one of the teeth (65) form around the outer surface of the protrusion (61).
With reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, a coil spring (64) is provided in the chamber (63) and a first end of the coil spring (64) is connected to the upper lug (43) and a second end of the coil spring (64) is connected to the rod (60) via the spring housing (62).
With reference to FIG. 6, when the actuator (91) is not pushed into the upper cap (40), the second end of the pawl (93) clamps to the teeth (65) so that the rod (60) can only rotate counterclockwise.
With reference to FIG. 7, when the actuator (91) is pushed into the upper cap (40), the pawl (93) pivots and separates from the teeth (65) so that the rod (60) can be freely rotated clockwise or counterclockwise.
With reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, when the panel (70) is unrolled, the rod (60) connected to the panel (70) is drawn to rotate counterclockwise without being stopped by the teeth (65). The coil spring (64) is also rotated counterclockwise with the rod (60) thereby storing the resilient force of the coil spring (64). With the engagement between the second end of the pawl (93) and the teeth (65) on the rod (60), the torsion spring (92) and the pawl (93) prevent the rod (60) from rotating clockwise to keep the panel at an expanded condition. When the actuator (91) is pushed into the upper cap (40), the pawl (93) releases the teeth (65) so that the rod (60) can be rotated clockwise by the resilient force of the coil spring (94) causing the panel (70) to be reeled into the inner space (51).
With reference to FIG. 8, additional posts (21) and panels (70) can be added to increase the extent of coverage of the present invention.
The present invention allows a user to quickly and easily erect a partition. Furthermore, the panel (70) can be conveniently rolled up and stored inside the reel (10,20) to protect the panel (70) from damage or contamination.
It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only. Changes may be made in the details, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.

Claims

1. A roll-up partition comprising:

a post;

a reel having

an outer tube having

an inner space defined in the outer tube,

an slot longitudinally defined in a periphery of the outer tube and in communication with the inner space, and

a rod rotatably received in the inner space; and

a panel, a first end of the panel connected to the reel and a second end of the panel connected to the post.

2. The roll-up partition as claimed in claim 1, wherein a top end of the rod extends out of the outer tube and a handle is mounted on the top end of the rod.

3. The roll-up partition as claimed in claim 1, wherein a circular chamber is formed between the rod and the outer tube, a coil spring is received into the chamber, an actuator is inserted into the inner space from the periphery of the outer tube, a pawl and a torsion spring are pivotally mounted adjacent to the actuator, multiple unidirectional teeth are formed in a periphery of the rod, a first end of the pawl is pressed against the actuator via the torsion spring and a second end of the pawl is pressed against the teeth.

4. The roll-up partition as claimed in claim 3, wherein a first end of the coil spring is connected to the rod and a second end of the coil spring is connected to the outer tube.

5. The roll-up partition as claimed in claim 3, wherein an upper cap is mounted on an upper end of the outer tube and a lower cap is mounted on a lower end of the outer tube, the chamber is formed between a top end of the rod and the upper cap, a first end of the coil spring is connected to the rod and a second end of the coil spring is connected to the upper cap, and the actuator is inserted into a periphery of the upper cap.

6. The roll-up partition as claimed in claim 1, wherein each post and each reel respectively have a spike mounted on a lower end thereof.

7. The roll-up partition as claimed in claim 6, wherein a pedal is transversely provided adjacent to the spike.

8. The roll-up partition as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one other panel is connected to the reel and at least one other post is connected to the other panel.

9. The roll-up partition as claimed in claim 5, wherein the upper cap and the lower cap are partially inserted into the rod.