AU2014101185A4 - Screen assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention provides A screen assembly system for securing a screen to a door or window, comprising: a screen edge receiving element having opposite outer walls and opposing inner walls, the opposing inner walls defining a slot for receiving and substantially encasing an edge of the screen; a frame element having a channel defined by first and second inner channel walls sized and shaped to loosely receive the screen edge receiving element encasing the edge of the screen; a wedge element shaped and sized to be forced into the channel between the screen edge receiving element and the second inner channel wall or forced into the slot of the screen edge receiving element, so that the screen edge receiving element, screen and wedge element are securely held in the channel. Fig 3

Description

1 SCREEN ASSEMBLY FIELD [0001] The present invention relates to a screen assembly with particular application but not limited to security screens for doors and windows of buildings such as domestic residences and businesses. BACKGROUND [0002] A number of different screen assembly systems are known in the art for assembling and securing mesh screens to doors and windows. Over recent years, a number of systems involving plastic retaining strips and urging mechanisms have been developed to replace the old-fashioned rivet systems which are unsightly and easily breached by burglars. Examples of such prior art systems are described in international patent publication WO 99/42694 and Australian patent 2006202825 Australian patent 2011218770. [0003] Complexity of construction and/or installation are disadvantages the existing systems which the current invention aims to address, or at least providing a useful alternative. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0004] According to a broad aspect of the invention there is provided a screen assembly system for securing a screen to a door or window, comprising: a screen edge receiving element having opposite outer walls 2 and opposing inner walls, the opposing inner walls defining a slot for receiving and substantially encasing an edge of the screen; a frame element having a channel defined by first and second inner channel walls sized and shaped to loosely receive the screen edge receiving element encasing the edge of the screen; a wedge element shaped and sized to be forced into the channel between the screen edge receiving element and the second inner channel wall or forced into the slot of the screen edge receiving element, so that the screen edge receiving element, screen and wedge element are securely held in the channel. [0005] In some embodiments, at least one of the channel walls, receiving element walls and/or wedge faces comprise retaining structures shaped to prevent relative movement of one or more of the elements out of the channel when wedge is forced into place. [0006] In one embodiment, the wedge element is shaped and sized to be forced into the channel between the screen edge receiving element and the second inner channel wall. At least one of the opposing inner walls of the screen edge receiving element may comprise one or more retaining structures adapted to engage with a corresponding face of the screen to prevent relative movement of the screen edge out of the slot. The retaining structures of the at least one of the opposing inner walls of the screen edge receiving element may comprise one or more protrusions adapted to cooperate with corresponding depressions in the corresponding face of the screen. The protrusions may comprise a regular pattern of sawtooth-shaped ridges urging away from the opening of the slot and adapted to cooperate with a regular pattern of corresponding depressions in the corresponding face of the screen. The first inner channel wall and one of the outer walls of the screen receiving element which in use opposes the first inner channel wall may have corresponding retaining structures 3 adapted to prevent relative movement of the screen. The corresponding retaining structures may comprise ridges and valleys. The second inner channel wall and a face of the wedge which in use opposes the second inner channel wall may have corresponding retaining structures adapted to prevent relative movement of the wedge out of the channel when the system is assembled. The corresponding retaining structures of the wedge and the second inner channel wall may comprise ridges and valleys. A face of the wedge and one of the outer walls of the screen receiving element which in use opposes each other may have corresponding retaining structures adapted to prevent relative movement of the wedge with respect to the screen receiving element out of the channel when the system is assembled. The corresponding retaining structures on the face of the wedge and the one of the outer walls of the screen may comprise ridges and valleys. [0007] According to a second broad aspect of the invention there is provided a method of assembling a screen onto sets of the frame elements, screen receiving elements and wedges of the first broad aspect of the invention for each of up to four sides of the screen, the method comprising the steps of: installing the screen receiving elements onto the respective edges of the screen and into the respective frame elements; forcing the wedges into place so that the screen edge receiving element, screen and wedge element are securely held in the channel. [0008] In one embodiment, at least one of the screen receiving elements installed on its respective edge of the screen is slid longitudinally into its respective frame element. Two of the screen receiving elements installed on respective opposite edges 4 of the screen may be slid longitudinally into their two respective opposite frame elements. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS [0009] Figure 1A is a perspective view of the frame element in accordance with the system of embodiment of the invention; [0010] Figure 1B is a cross-sectional view of the frame element of figure 1A showing some key dimensions. [0011] Figure 2 is a perspective view the screen and screen receiving element inserted into the channel of the frame element of figure 1A and figure 1B; [0012] Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the wedge in the process of being forced into position between the screen receiving element and channel wall of the frame element of figure 2; [0013] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the screen receiving element shown in figure 2, showing some key dimensions. [0014] Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the wedge shown in figure 3, showing some key dimensions. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS [0015] An embodiment of the current invention will now be 5 described. [0016] Referring first to Figure 1A, the frame element according to an embodiment of the system of the invention is shown in perspective view. Frame element 200 is extruded from aluminium and comprises a channel 201 with a first inner channel wall 202 on an outer unsecured side of the door or window and a second inner channel wall 203 on an inner secured side of the door or window. The channel 201 is defined by the first inner channel wall 202, the second inner channel wall 203 and a channel base 204. Ridged retaining structures 212 and 213 are disposed on the first and second inner channel walls 202 and 203 respectively. Inside channel 220 is intended for installation of a decorative strip and is not relevant to the invention. [0017] Referring now to figure 1B, the distance W1 between the first and second inner channel wall to finding a channel with is about 8.1 mm and the depth Dl of the channel is about 19.2 mm. Other dimensions are shown to scale in figure 1B. [0018] Referring now to figure 2, screen 100 is shown installed into a slot 301 of screen receiving element 300, which in turn is loosely fitting inside channel 201 of the frame element 200. Screen receiving element 300 is constructed from PVC, and comprises inner walls 302 and 303 having downwards pointing ridge shaped retaining structures thereon 310 composed of softer PVC than the body and outer walls 304 and 305 of the screen receiving element 300. The outer walls 304 and 305 also have ridge shaped retaining structures 314 and 315 moulded therein. [0019] Referring now to figure 4, the overall height Hi of screen receiving element 300 is 18 mm and the slot opening W2 is 2.7 mm. Other dimensions are shown to scale in figure 4.

6 [0020] Referring now to figure 3, the wedge 400 is shown in perspective view in the process of being forced into the gap between second inner channel wall 203 and an opposing outer wall 305 of the screen receiving element 300. Wedge 400 is also constructed from PVC. Typically, the wedge 400 is forced home using a mallet bearing down on head 410 of wedge 400, until shoulder 411 meets a top 210 of an outer wall of frame element 200. The retaining structures 315 and 412 of the screen receiving element 300 and wedge 400 respectively have a matching profile, with some of the corresponding teeth on wedge 400 missing to enable easy penetration of the wedge 400 to its maximum depth. When wedge 400 is forced home, it bears down on top of shoulder 320 of screen receiving element 300. [0021] Referring now to figure 5, the wedge 400 is shown cross section. The overall height H2 of wedge 400 is about 17.9 mm, width W4 at the top of the wedge is about 2.5 mm and at the bottom of the wedge W5 is about 1.0 mm. Other dimensions are shown to scale. [0022] In use, the frame assembly is particularly easy to construct, as the screen receiving element 300 can be easily positioned in place on the edge of the screen and inserted into the channel either vertically or in a sliding manner before the wedge is forced in to lock the pieces together. Also, the screen receiving element 300 can alternatively be positioned within the channel ready to receive screen 100. It will be appreciated that such an assembly can be achieved in a variety of orders, depending on how the frame elements are to be joined, culminating in the assembly of four frame elements surrounding the screen with screen receiving elements within. The final step is to hammer in the wedges from the secure side of the door or window so as to fix the elements in place.

7 [0023] Persons skilled in the art will also appreciate that many variations may be made to the invention without departing from the scope of the invention. [0024] For example, while all of the relevant walls and faces in the embodiment shown have retaining structures in the form of ridges of various cross sectional shapes and pitches, other forms of retaining structures such as random protrusions are also envisaged, and even absence of retaining structures on some of the surfaces, instead relying on an inwardly angled disposition of the relevant surface. Further, the degree of stiffness and relative dimensions of each part may be varied consistent with an overall ease of construction and security when fully assembled, which can be determined at least in part by trial and error. [0025] Further, while the described embodiment is arranged so that the wedge is placed between the screen receiving element and the frame element, alternative embodiments are envisaged wherein the wedge is placed within the slot of the screen receiving element and engages the screen on one side and the screen receiving element in a wall on the other side. [0026] Further still, the use of the term "wall" in the claims and specification used in relation to a number of the elements is not intended to imply a flat surface as an essential feature of the wall, and any profile or shape which is adapted to perform the relevant function is intended to come within the scope of the term, unless the contrary intention is apparent. [0027] In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the 8 word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising" is used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention. Further, any method steps recited in the claims are not necessarily intended to be performed temporally in the sequence written, or to be performed without pause once started, unless the context requires it. [0028] It is to be understood that, if any prior art publication is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms a part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country.

Claims (5)

1. A screen assembly system for securing a screen to a door or window, comprising: a screen edge receiving element having opposite outer walls and opposing inner walls, the opposing inner walls defining a slot for receiving and substantially encasing an edge of the screen; a frame element having a channel defined by first and second inner channel walls sized and shaped to loosely receive the screen edge receiving element encasing the edge of the screen; a wedge element shaped and sized to be forced into the channel between the screen edge receiving element and the second inner channel wall or forced into the slot of the screen edge receiving element, so that the screen edge receiving element, screen and wedge element are securely held in the channel.

2. The screen assembly system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the channel walls, receiving element walls and/or wedge faces comprise retaining structures shaped to prevent relative movement of one or more of the elements out of the channel when wedge is forced into place.

3. The screen assembly system of claim 1, wherein the wedge element is shaped and sized to be forced into the channel between the screen edge receiving element and the second inner channel wall.

4. The screen assembly system of claim 3, wherein at least one of the opposing inner walls of the screen edge receiving element comprises one or more retaining structures adapted to engage with a corresponding face of the screen to prevent relative movement of the screen edge out of the slot.

5. The screen assembly system of claim 4, wherein the retaining structures of the at least one of the opposing inner walls of the screen edge receiving element comprise one or more protrusions adapted to cooperate with corresponding depressions 10 in the corresponding face of the screen.