AU7887498A - A frame arrangement - Google Patents

Description

P/00/0 11 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT Name of Applicant: Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: SOLAR-MESH PTY LIMITED IP AUSTRALIA i RECEIVED Kenneth Clyde Ivory R ECE -7AUG 1998

INTELLPRO

Patent Trade Mark Attorneys BRISBANE Level 7, Reserve Bank Building 102 Adelaide Street BRISBANE, QLD, 4000 (GPO Box 1339, BRISBANE, 4001) Invention Title: Details of Associated Provisional Application(s) No(s): A FRAME ARRANGEMENT Australian Patent Application No. PO8447 filed 7 August 1998.

The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: 2 THIS INVENTION relates to an improved frame arrangement and in particular but not limited thereto to an improved frame arrangement employing assembled frame members 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 mosquitoes.

The prior art frame assemblies suffer from a number of disadvantages. The frame members are prone to bow and cross-bracing is frequently used for large screens. However the cross-bracing is visually 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.

The applicant has previously proposed in PCT/AU95/00087 a rigid frame assembly which supports a flexible screen under tension. The proposed rigid frame assembly has largely overcome the abovementioned problems as it does not require cross-bracing and can be adapted to be supported at a position away from the window frame.

A gap between a prior art frame assembly and a window frame must be allowed for expansion and contraction of the assembly when installing the assembly within a window frame. Similarly a gap between adjacent frame assemblies is required for the same purpose. These gaps, apart from being visually unattractive, allow light to enter therethrough. This is undesirable especially when the screen is of the type which appears substantially transparent from inside a building.

It is an object of the present invention to alleviate at least to some degree the aforementioned prior art disadvantages.

In one respect therefore the present invention resides in a frame arrangement for an opening in a building. The frame arrangement of the present invention has one or more frame assemblies each having a perimeter of connected frame members, and at least one of the frame members comprising a rail having opposed faces between opposed edges, a first longitudinally extending attachment means adapted to attach a screen thereto and a second longitudinally extending attachment means. The or each assembly includes a blocking means positioned at or adjacent to the second attachment means and arranged to extend from the at least one frame member for blocking light through at least one first gap between the or each assembly and the building to which the one or more assemblies are to be secured, and/or a second gap between adjacent assemblies and attached thereto by the second attachment means.

Preferably the blocking means extends along the full length of the one frame member.

The or each assembly may be secured within the opening or outwardly of the opening.

One or more brackets may be provided for securing the or each assembly to the building. The or each bracket can be hingedly or slidably coupled to the second attachment means of said one frame member, or one or more other frame members. Where one or more brackets are attached to a frame member the blocking means extend from the frame member or between adjacent frame 4 members so as to cover the frame member sections not occupied by the or each bracket.

Preferably said connected frame members form a square or rectangular frame assembly having two spaced vertically extending frame members interconnected by two spaced horizontally extending frame members at respective ends thereof. The at least one frame member may be one of the vertically extending or horizontally extending frame members.

Preferably the blocking means are in the from of strip means provided on at least one of the vertically extending frame members and on at least one of the horizontally extending frame members.

Where the arrangement is to be installed within an opening such as a door way or a window frame at least one gap to allow for expansion and contraction of the frame members is provided between the assembly and the opening. The strip means are sized to cover the at least one gap and thereby preventing light through the at least one gap.

Where the arrangement is to be installed external to the opening of the building, one or more brackets can be secured to the building thereby supporting the assembly away from the opening.

For a large opening two or more frame assemblies can be installed side by side to cover the opening. In this arrangement a gap is also provided between adjacent assemblies and this gap is closed by flexible strip means attached to one or each of the adjacent frame members of the assemblies. Preferably a flexible strip is attached to each of the two adjacent frame members and the two adjacent strips overlap each other.

Preferably the rail of the one frame member or each of the frame members is a rigid hollow rail. The rail may have 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 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 means 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 second attachment means preferably comprises a projection, channel or groove for slidably and/or pivotally coupling the flexible strip to the frame member.

The intermediate section and brace thereof can be a relatively thick 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 6 receiving hole and the other frame member. The screw receiving hole is preferably in line with the second 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 in conventional window frames but can also be used as a self supported frame mounted on spaced brackets coupled to the second attachment means.

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 an angled view of a section of an insulating screen employing frame assemblies according to the teachings of the present invention.

Figures 2 shows a section view illustrating a flexible strip means employed as part of a frame assembly according to the present invention Figure 3 is a section view of another embodiment of a frame assembly according to the present invention; Figures 4 illustrates a flexible plug for a gap between brackets, suitable for use with the present invention.

Referring to the drawings there are illustrated an insulating screen 10 fitted to a window 11 having glazing 12 supported on a frame 13. The screen comprises two frame assemblies 14 supported side by side. Each frame assembly comprises interconnected frame members 15 being horizontal frames. There are corresponding vertical frame members 16 so that the frame assembly 14 is generally rectangular. The two horizontal frame members 15 are supported in spaced relationship from the glazing 12 by brackets 17 and 18 rigidly secured to 7 the window frame 13. A bracket (not shown) supporting each lower horizontal frame member is held in place by a releasable catch in order for each of the frame assemblies 14 to pivot about its connection 20 to the respective brackets 17 and 18. As an alternative to the mechanical catch a pair of magnetic strips can be used.

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.

Each frame member 15, 16 has 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 strip or bracket attachment means in the form of a part circular groove 30 which as will have been seen in Figure 3 forms part of the hinge 20 for the brackets 17, 18. The frame member 15, 16 include an intermediate section 31 where a brace section 32 extends between the opposed faces 25 and 26 to add rigidity to the frame member. The brace section in this case 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 8 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 90 degrees.

L shape joiner (not shown) is employed with each end thereof projecting into the respective cavity 24 of the frame members 15, 16.

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.

The other feature illustrated is the provision of a channel 39 in which a brush (not shown) can be slidably disposed to project to provide a bug seal between the frame and glazing. Of course the bug seal would not normally be used in the case of the insulating screen illustrated in Figure 1 and 3.

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

As illustrated in Figure 1 a gap 40 is allowed between adjacent frame members 16 of the assemblies 14. The gap 40 has a width which is predetermined to allow for expansion and the contraction of the frame members and 16. The width is of course dependent on the material used for the frame members 15 and 16, and the size of the assemblies 14.

A strip 42 of a flexible material such as rubber or plastic is secured to each of the opposed edges 28 so that the strips 42 overlap each other and thereby covering the gap The overlap portion is selected so that light would not penetrate said portion in the normal range of weather and climate conditions where the screen

Claims (18)

1. A frame arrangement for an opening in a building, the arrangement comprising one or more frame assemblies for supporting a flexible screen under tension, the or each assembly including a perimeter of connected frame members; at least one of the frame members including a rail having opposed faces between opposed edges, a first longitudinally extending attachment means adapted to attach the screen thereto and a second longitudinally extending second attachment means; and blocking means positioned at or adjacent to the second attachment means and arranged to extend from the at least one frame member for blocking light though at least one first gap between the or each assembly and the building to which the one or more assemblies are to be secured, and/or a second gap between adjacent assemblies or between an assembly and the opening.

2. The arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein the or each assembly is secured within the opening.

3. The arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein the or each assembly is arranged outwardly of the opening and is secured to the building by one or more brackets.

4. The arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein said blocking means including a first flexible strip means arranged to cover the or each of the at least one first gap.

The arrangement as claimed in claim 4 wherein the or each said at least one first gap is between adjacent brackets and the or each said first strip means is arranged to cover said first gap(s).

6. The arrangement as claimed in claim 4 or 5 when appended to claim 3 11 wherein each said bracket has a shaped hollow portion and the or each said first strip means having a corresponding shaped part extending into the hollow portion and thereby held in position.

7. The arrangement as claimed in claim 6 wherein said shaped part is hollow so that air may flow through the shaped hollow part(s) for cooling.

8. The arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 7 wherein said one or more brackets are hingedly or slidably coupled to the second attachment means.

9. The arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein said blocking means including a second flexible strip means arranged to cover or in cooperation with a second strip means of the adjacent assembly to cover said second gap.

The arrangement as claimed in claim 9 wherein the second strip means of the adjacent assemblies are in an overlapping relationship.

11. The arrangement as claimed in claim 9 or 10 wherein each said assembly having spaced vertically extending frame members and the first strip means for each assembly is attached to the second attachment means in at least one of the vertically extending frame members.

12. The arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11 wherein said first attachment means is in the form of a channel having a mouth exposed on one side face of said frame member(s) and a bead projecting into the channel, the bead providing a guide for a screen trimming tool to trim the screen.

13. The arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 12 wherein said second attachment means having projection, channel or groove arranged for 12 slidably and/or pivotally coupling the one or more brackets and/or the first strip means.

14. The arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 13 wherein the or each said assembly having a third longitudinally extending attachment means arranged on said at least one frame member for receiving a weather or bug seal.

The arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said rail is hollow and has an intermediate brace section between opposed edges thereof.

16. The arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 15 wherein the first strip means has aN attachment section for attaching to the second attachment means and a laterally enlarged section for limiting rotational movement about the attaching section.

17. The arrangement as claimed in claim 16 wherein said first strip means has an end section remote from the said attachment section, said end section having grooved surfaces for improving light blocking effect.

18. A frame arrangement as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings. DATED this 7th day of August 1998 SOLAR-MESH PTY LIMITED By their Patent Attorneys INTELLPRO