AU693840B2 - A frame assembly - Google Patents

Description

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AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT Name of Applicant: Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: SOLAR-MESH PTY LIMITED KENNETH CLYDE IVORY

INTELLPRO

Patent Trade Mark Attorneys 13th Floor, 379 Queen Street BRISBANE, QLD, 4000 (GPO Box 1339, BRISBANE, 4001) Invention Title: Details of Associated Provisional Application(s) A FRAME ASSEMBLY No(s): Australian Patent Application No. PM4068 filed 24 February 1994.

The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: j c' 2 A FRAME ASSEMBLY TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION THIS INVENTION relates to a frame assembly and in particular but not limited to a frame assembly employing frame members assembled and supporting a flexible screen under tension in position and spaced from a wall or glazing in a building.

Screens formed from flexible mesh materials supported under tension on a frame assembly are used to allow fresh air to flow into a building through an open window and at the same time to screen out flies and mosquitos.

At present these frame assemblies suffer from a number of disadvantages. The frame members are prone to bow and although crossbracing is frequently used for large screens, the cross-bracing is visually F ~unacceptable. As the frame members are designed to fit within and be supported by channels in window framing the frame members cannot be readily adapted to application of screens at positions away from the window frames.

tit OUTLINE OF THE INVENTION It is object of the present invention to alleviate at least to some degree the aforementioned problems associated with the prior art.

In one aspect therefore the present invention resides in a rigid frame assembly supporting a flexible screen under tension, the frame assembly having a perimeter of connected frame members, at least one of said frame members comprising a rigid hollow rail having opposed faces between opposed edges, a longitudinally extending screen attachment means anda longitudinally extending bracket attachment means so that the frame ;4m ;Jrber can be supported by one or more brackets. Preferably the said one frame member has an intermediate section between said opposed edges, said intermediate section including a brace section bridging between the opposite faces to add rigidity to the frame member.

The screen attachment means is preferably a channel having a mouth exposed on one side face of the frame member. The mouth is preferably located adjacent one edge of the frame member. The channel preferably 3 includes a bead projecting into the channel adjacent the mouth to support a screen trimming tool for hand held sliding, of the tool along the channel to trim the screen during fitting of the screen to the frame assembly.

Typically, a second longitudinally extending channel projection or groove is provided to slidably receive a seal typically a bug seal or other Imeans to flexibly seal the edge of the frame member relative to a window frame, glazing or other fixture closely spaced from the frame assembly.

The bracket attachment means preferably comprises a projection, channel or groove for slidably and/or pivotally coupling a bracket to the frame member.

The intermediate section and brace thereof can be a relatively thick *t~metal section adjacent one edge of the frame member to add rigidity to the frame member or can be a wall separating respective hollow sections of the frame member. Typically one hollow section is substantially larger than the other hollow section. Typically, the intermediate section includes a brace section having a screw receiving hole so that adjacent frame members can be secured together by a screw passing through one frame member and engaging the screw receiving hole and the other frame member. The screw receiving hole is preferably in line with the bracket attachment means.

The frame member is typically dimensioned having a thickness so that it can be used in place of conventional fly screen frames fitted into channels in 4 conventional window frames but can also be used as a self supported frame mounted on spaced brackets coupled to the bracket attachment means.

In one preferred embodiment the present invention provides an insulating screen when used adjacent a door, wall, glazing or the like in a building, the screen comprising a rigid frame assembly as described above supporting flexible screen under tension, the screen having sun reflecting characteristics, the frame assembly having a plurality of interconnected frame members, one said frame member being hingedly coupled to a bracket the bracket being coupled to a building so that the screen can be selectively moved away from the building. Preferably the insulating screen includes apertures or spaces between the frame assembly and the building for flow of 4 air between the frame members and the building.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In order that the present invention can be more readily understood and be put into practical effect reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention and wherein:- Figure 1 is a cutaway section through an insulating screen employing a frame assembly according to the teachings of the present invention.

I Figures 2A and 2B are side and section views illustrating a corner where lI 10 two connected frame members according to the present invention are i employed as part of a frame assembly.

I Figure 3 is a section through another embodiment of a frame member it according to the present invention; I Figures 4A to 4D are sections illustrating brackets suitable for use with the present invention; Figure 5 is a section illustrating a double hinged arrangement suitable for application of the present invention to a door; and Figure 6 is a graph showing the percentage of sunlight blocked against I angle of incidence.

METHOD OF PERFORMANCE Referring to the drawings and initially to Figure 1 there is illustrated an insulating screen 10 fitted to a window 11 having glazing 12 supported on a V' frame 13. The screen 10 comprises a frame assembly 14 comprising interconnected frame members 15 and 16 being horizontal frames. There are corresponding vertical frame members (not shown) so that the frame assembly i 14 is generally rectangular. The two horizontal frame members 15 and 16 are supported in spaced relationship from the glazing 12 by brackets 17 and 18 i with the bracket 17 being rigidly secured to the window frame 13 while the bracket 18 is held in place by a releasable catch 19 in order for the frame assembly 14 to pivot about its connection 20 to the bracket 17. The pivoted position is shown at 21. As an alternative to the mechanical catch 19 a pair of magnetic strips can be used.

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A mesh screen 22 is tensioned between the frame members in this case to reflect sunlight away from the glazing 12, the mesh having the ability to reflect sunlight while at the same time appearing substantially transparent from the inside. A typical example of the mesh employed in the present invention is disclosed in Australian Patent No. 590596 to the present applicant.

In one typical screen the mesh is made from .25 millimeter diameter (measured before thermal bonding) strands having light reflectance characteristics set at a strand density of 18 strands x 32 strands per square inch and the strands being evenly spaced. Figure 6 is a graph showing the percentage of sunlight blocked against angle of incidence.

Referring to Figures 2A and 2B there is illustrated a portion of the frame assembly 14 where frame members 15 and 23 are illustrated each frame member having a hollow section 24 formed from extruded metal rail material having opposed faces 25 and 26, between opposed edges 27 and 28, longitudinally extending screen attachment means in the form of a channel 29 and a longitudinally extending bracket attachment means in the form of a part circular groove 30 which as will have been seen in Figure 1 forms part of the hinge 20 described therein. The frame member 23 includes an intermediate section 31 where a brace section 32 extends between the opposed faces and 26 to add rigidity to the frame member. The brace section in this case S includes a longitudinally extending screw hole 33 so that should it be desirable a screw can pass through adjacent frame members and engage the screw hole 33 to secure the frame members together. This is particularly useful where the frame members are to be secured at an angle other than degrees.

In Figure 2A the conventional L shape joiner shown in phantom at 34 is employed with each end thereof projecting into the cavity 24.

The channel 29 includes a bead 35 projecting into the channel adjacent its mouth and this bead is used as a guide for trimming the screen and a knife or other suitable tool can be slid along the edge of the bead in order to assist trimming the screen whilst fitting the screen.

Referring now to Figure 3 there is illustrated a further embodiment of 'Ii 6 the present invention showing a rail 36 and where appropriate like numerals are used to illustrate like features. In this case the main difference is the removal of the hollow 37 illustrated in Figure 2B from a region 38 in order to add further rigidity to the frame member the part circular bracket attachment means 30 has also been positioned centrally to strengthen the edges thereabouts to inhibit them being brocken off and to line-up screw entry with the screw receiving hole.

The other feature illustrated in Figures 2B and Figure 3 is the provision of a channel 39 in which a brush 40 can be slidably disposed to project to provide a bug seal between the frame and glazing. Of course the bug seal Swould not normally be used in the case of the insulating screen illustrated in i Figure 1 but as will be appreciated from the following description of various i different brackets bug seal of the type 40 may well be used.

i The frame members are about one centimetre thick so that they can also be substituted for the conventional frame member.

9 Referring now to Figures 4A to 4D there are illustrated various brackets, the bracket in Figure 4A being illustrated at double scale it being appreciated SS. that different brackets will enable the screen to be placed at different selected S.distances from glazing. The bracket of Figurc 4A is a 20mm bracket, the 20 bracket of Figure 4B a 25mm bracket, the bracket of Figure 4C is a Sbracket while the bracket of Figure 4D is a 100mm bracket.

I Figure 5 illustrates a double hinged arrangement that can be used with any of the brackets to give a full opening movement of the frame assembly.

Whilst the above has been given by way of illustrative example of the present invention, many variations and modifications thereto will be apparent 4 to those skilled in the art without departing from the broad ambit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Claims (11)

1. A rigid frame assembly supporting a flexible screen under tension, the frame assembly having a perimeter of interconnected frame members, at least one of said frame members comprising a rigid hollow rail having opposed faces between opposed edges, a longitudinally extending screen attachment means and a longitudinally extending bracket attachment means so that the frame member can be supported by one or mor bracket, the said one frame member includes an intermediate section between the opposed edges, the intermediate section including material formed to add rigidity to the frame member.

2. A rigid frame assembly according to claim 1 wherein the screen attachment means is a channel having a mouth exposed on one side face of the frame member, the channel including a bead projecting into the channel adjacent the mouth to support a screen trimming tool for hand held sliding of the tool along the channel to trim the screen during fitting.

3. A rigid frame assembly according to claim 1 including a longitudinally V extending channel, projection or groove provided adjacent the bracket attachment means slidably receiving a seal for projecting the seal from a side face of said frame member.

4. A rigid frame assembly according to claim 1 wherein the bracket attachment means comprises a channel, projection or groove for slidably L and/or pivotally coupling a bracket to the frame member. A rigid frame assembly according to claim 1 wherein the frame member is dimensioned so that it can be used in place of conventional fly screen frames fitted into a track in a window frame but can also be used as a self supported frame mounted on spaced brackets coupled to the bracket attachment means.

6. A frame assembly according to claim 1 wherein the frame assembly supports a mesh screen adapted to reflect sunlight but appear substantially transparent from the inside, the frame assembly having a plurality of interconnected frame members, one said frame member being hingedly or SRA. slidably coupled to a bracket coupled to a building so that the screen overlays 8 an exterior surface of the building at a predetermined distance therefrom for the purpose of providing an insulating air gap between the screen and the building.

7. A rigid frame assembly according to claim 1 wherein the intermediate section comprises a thick section of material extending from one said edge or a wall separating hollow sections of the frame member.

8. A rigid frame assembly according to claim 1 wherein the intermediate section includes a screw receiving hole so that adjacent frame members can be secured together using a screw fastener extending through one frame member and engaging the screw receiving hole in the other frame member.

9. A rigid frame assembly according to claim 8 wherein the bracket attachment means comprises a groove in one edge of the said one frame member and said groove is substantially in-line with said screw receiving hole. An insulating screen when used adjacent an exterior surface of a building, the screen comprising a rigid frame assembly as defined in any one of claims 1 to 9 supporting a screen having high sun reflecting characteristics, the frame assembly having one frame member hingedly or slidably coupled to a bracket, the bracket being coupled to the building so that the screen can be I moved relative to the bracket.

11. An insulating screen substantially as described with reference to Figure 1 of the drawings. DATED this 12th day of May 1998 SOLAR-MESH PTY LIMITED By their Patent Attorneys INTELLPRO 9 ABSTRACT An insulating screen 10 fitted to a window 11 having glazing 12 supported on a frame

13. The screen 10 comprises a frame assembly 14 comprising interconnected frame members 15 and 16 being horizontal frames. v IThere are corresponding vertical frame members (not shown) so that the frame assembly 14 is generally rectangular. The two horizontal frame members and 16 are supported in spaced relationship from the glazing 12 by brackets 17 and 18 with the bracket 17 being rigidly secured to the window frame 13 while the bracket 18 is held in place by a releasable catch 19 in order for the l :frame assembly 14 to pivot about its connection 20 to the bracket

17. The j pivoted position is shown at 21. 4 o I a a 6 0 'I e i L--l C- C1II