EP1116856A2

EP1116856A2 - Roll-up shutter with an adjustable roll-up screen

Info

Publication number: EP1116856A2
Application number: EP01200085A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Hagay Yedidya; Mordechay Shaya
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-01-12
Filing date: 2001-01-11
Publication date: 2001-07-18
Also published as: IL134003A0; EP1116856A3

Abstract

A roll-up shutter with an adjustable roll-up screen apparatus is disclosed, comprising: a roll-up shutter comprising interconnected raiseable slats, installed on an opening in a wall; a roll-up screen; whereby when said roll-up shutter is raised said roll-up screen deploys over said opening.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to window screens, more particularly it relates to a roll-up shutter with an adjustable roll-up screen for a window opening.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

One of the main problems when windows and shutters stay open or partially open during the day, especially during the evening or the night, is the entry of flying insects (like mosquitos or cockroaches) into the house. For that reason, it is customary to install a meshy screen over windows. Installation of such a screen provides shielding against flying insects while at the same time, the interior of the house is allowed to be aerated and during the day, daylight can enter the rooms.
In many cases, a permanent screen is provided over window openings. This limits significantly the use of the window, since the window can be used only for aeration or for illumination during daylight.
Another version of screened window involves installation of a meshy screen in a frame which can either rotate about a hinge or travel on a rail parallel to the opening. This embodiment involves frame installed over the whole window opening that occupies significant area of the window. Another disadvantage of this screening lies in the fact that the screen is either available or totally removed (in the hinged version).
There is also a possibility to install a roll-up screen. In a common roll-up screen, the screen in its rolled state is placed in an elongated box positioned usually at the upper part of the window opening. The screen is rolled around a shaft. Pulling the screen away from the shaft and over the window opening energizes a spring that is coupled to the shaft, and upon releasing the screen the spring deenergizes, forcing the shaft to roll back and retract the screen rolling it up again on the shaft. In order to prevent the screen from waving in the wind when the screen is stretched out on the window opening, two guide rails are usually provided on both sides of the window opening and the screen edges are forced to remain inside the rails.
Based on this ides, more sophisticated methods were suggested in which the screen is attached to a window so that when the window is opened, the screen automatically moves in to cover the opening. An example of automatic screening was disclosed in US patent no. 4,993,468 "WINDOW WITH AUTOMATIC SCREEN" by W. A. Hackman in 1991. This invention concerns a window and screen system provided at the end thereof that permits a screen to be moved into position upon the opening of the window. One end of the screen is attached to the end wall of the window sash thereby allowing effective sealing when the window is closed as well as the complete hiding of the screen. The screen itself is provided with an elongated seal along each of the marginal edges. As the window opens, the screen is retracted from the holding area through a seal and guide channels cooperate with the elongated seal to provide a screen sealed about each of its marginal edges regardless of the degree to which the window is opened.
Another example based on a similar principle is disclosed in US patent no. 5,782,281 "OPENABLE WINDOW" filed by Brent in 1996. This patent discloses an openable window comprising a main frame and a sash top-hinged therein, in which sash is mounted a light screen, particularly a Venetian blind, with an adjustable mechanism, as well as with a screening device, which may be an insect screen mounted in the main frame internally of the window sash. A turning handle is mounted on the internal side of the screening device and is via a shaft connected with the light screen adjusting mechanism in a rotationally locked manner, said shaft being articulated with the adjusting mechanism and telescopically connected with a pivotable member. The Venetian blind can thus be operated also with an insect screen placed internally of the window sash and with the window in an opened position for ventilation. The pivotable member can be designed as a ball joint joumalled in a double conical bearing or as a ball with a through bore where the shaft is designed as a round bar being integrally with the turning handle.
These solutions cover only cases in which the window may move horizontally and parallel to the opening. Moving the window sash from one side of the opening to the other side opens the window and the screen takes the place of the opened part of the window. Only a part of the window opening can be replaced by the screen since these type of windows are usually not designed to be entirely opened (in some cases though the window sash may be totally hidden inside a niche alongside the window opening). Still, these solutions do not correspond to many types of windows such as the ones who0se sash rotates about a hinge.
In many cases, the window opening is provided with a roll-up shutter having a box with a shaft on the upper side of the frame, on which the shutter rolls on, and two guide rails on both sides of the window's frame that confine the shutter in its closed, rolled-down state. The addition of a screen such as the ones in the examples given above requires space on the window opening and quite a lot of installation work. The above mentioned technologies do not use any of the available components already installed on the window opening, therefore there is no saving of place on the window opening and no deduction in installation work. For example, as has been stated above, a roll-up shutter has guide rails on both sides of the window. Installation of one of the above mentioned screens does not make use of the available rails, instead one should install extra set of rails for the screen.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a roll-up shutter with an adjustable roll-up screen that enables a simultaneous operation of the shutter and the screen. When the shutter is closed, the screen is rolled and when the shutter is opened, the screen is unfolded and pulled over the opening.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a roll-up shutter with an adjustable roll-up screen in which both shutter and screen are guided on the same guide rails. Therefore, the installation of the roll-up shutter with an adjustable roll-up screen of the present invention saves space on the window opening and deduces the installation work and time.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a roll-up shutter with an adjustable roll-up screen in which the roll-up screen can be incorporated with any available and already-installed roll-up shutter.

A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

It is thus provided a roll-up shutter with an adjustable roll-up screen comprising
a roll-up shutter comprising interconnected raiseable slats, installed on an opening in a wall; and
a roll-up screen;
whereby when said roll-up shutter is raised said roll-up screen deploys over said opening.
Furthermore, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, said roll-up screen is a meshy screen.
Furthermore, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, said meshy screen is an insect screen.
Furthermore, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, said screen is initially accommodated in a housing.
Furthermore, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, said housing is coupled to said end slat, and wherein a proximal end of said screen is engaged to an end of said opening, adapted to be pulled out of said housing through a slit when said shutter is raised, and automatically retract into said housing when said shutter is lowered.
Furthermore, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, said screen is initially rolled around a rotatable shaft provided inside said housing.
Furthermore, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, said opening further provided with opposite guide rails wherein the lateral sides of said slats and the lateral edges of said screen are guided through said guide rails.
Furthermore, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, said lateral edges of said screen are forced to travel through said guide rails to prevent waving.
Furthermore, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, said lateral edges of said screen are provided with anchoring means to force them to travel through said guide rails.
Furthermore, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, said anchoring means comprise beads attached along said lateral edges of said screen.
Furthermore, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, said anchoring means comprise magnets.
Furthermore, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, said anchoring means comprise beads or short bars within said guide rails attached to said lateral edges of said screen by velcro.
Furthermore, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, said apparatus is further provided with sealing strips coupled to said guide rails, providing sealing against rain or other liquid.
Furthermore, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, said proximal end of said screen is permanently engaged an end of said opening.
Furthermore, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, said proximal end of said screen is temporarily engaged to an end of said opening, and may be disengaged.
Furthermore, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, said proximal end of said screen is coupled to a bar, and wherein said bar is provided with a recess into which a matching latch, provided at said end of said opening, may be inserted in order to engage said proximal end of said screen to said end of said opening, and wherein upon removal of said latch from said recess said proximal end of said screen is disengaged from said end of said opening.
Furthermore, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, said housing is coupled to an end of said opening, and wherein a proximal end of said screen is engaged to said end slat, adapted to be pulled out of said housing through a slit when said shutter is raised, and automatically retract into said housing when said shutter is lowered.
Furthermore, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, said opening further provided with opposite guide rails wherein the lateral sides of said slats and the lateral edges of said screen are guided through said guide rails.
Furthermore, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, said proximal end of said screen is permanently engaged an said end slat.
Furthermore, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, said proximal end of said screen is temporarily engaged to said end slat, and may be disengaged.
Furthermore, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, said end slat is provided with stoppers.
Finally, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, said screen is large enough to cover the entire opening.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

In order to better understand the present invention, and appreciate its practical applications, the following Figures are provided and referenced hereafter. It should be noted that the Figures are given as examples only and in no way limit the scope of the invention as defined in the appending Claims. Like components are denoted by like reference numerals.

Figure 1: illustrates an isometric view of a roll-up shutter with an adjustable roll-up screen in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The shutter is in a partially closed state.
Figure 2: illustrates a vertical sectioned view of the roll-up shutter with an adjustable roll-up screen shown in Figure 1.
Figure 3: illustrates a vertical sectioned view of a roll-up shutter with an adjustable roll-up screen in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The shutter is closed and the screen is fully rolled inside its box.
Figure 4: illustrates a magnified part of the vertical sectioned view showing the roll-up screen accommodated in the box in accordance with the preferred embodiment shown in Figure 3.
Figure 5: illustrates a transverse sectioned view of a roll-up shutter with an adjustable roll-up screen in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 6: illustrates a vertical sectioned view of a roll-up shutter with an adjustable roll-up screen in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention. The shutter is in a partially closed state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION AND THE FIGURES

The present invention provides a new solution for the incorporation of a roll-up screen with a roll-up shutter provided on a window opening. This new solution suggests attaching a roll-up screen to a roll-up shutter while saving space on the window opening and economizing in installation work and time. Rolling the shutter up, automatically pulls the screen to cover the window opening that the shutter had vacated. Furthermore, the attachment of a roll-up screen to a roll-up shutter enables screening the whole window opening.
The screen is preferably a meshy screen, and more particularly an insect screen (i.e. a screen adapted to prevent the flyby of insects).
Reference is made to Figure 1 illustrating an isometric view of a roll-up shutter with an adjustable roll-up screen in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The shutter is in a partially closed state. The roll-up shutter may be a shutter of a regular type that comprises a plurality of interconnected slats 1. In the preferred embodiment shown in Figure 1, each slat 1 has a longitudinal rimmed groove 2 in its lower lateral part and a corresponding lateral flange 3 on the upper part. Flange 3 of each slat is inserted into the longitudinal groove 2 of the slat above it
Attached to the lowermost slat 4, a housing 5 is provided, accommodating a screen 6 that may be pulled out from the housing. Screen 6 may be of any desirable mesh according to the user's requirements, and preferably small enough to prevent flying insects from flying through the mesh. The screen has a distal end engaged to a shaft inside the housing and a proximal free end that can pulled out of the housing. 'Housing 5 replaces stoppers that may be provided on the lower slat in a regular shutter. Stoppers are provided in order to prevent the insertion of the whole shutter into its accommodation box
In order to better appreciate the mechanism of the roll-up screen, reference is now made to Figure 2 that illustrates a vertical sectioned view of the roll-up shutter with an adjustable roll-up screen shown in Figure 1. The upper part of housing 5 is provided with a longitudinal flange 7 that is connected to lowermost slat 4, inserted in a corresponding groove at the bottom of the slat. Housing 5 is further provided on its lower part with a longitudinal slit 8 through which screen 6 emerges.
A shaft 9, preferably cylindrical in shape, is positioned substantially laterally in housing 5 and is adapted to rotate about its axis. Screen 6 whose width is suitable to cover the width of the window opening, is coupled at its end to shaft 9 and rolled around it. The length of screen 6 depends on the length of the window opening and is adapted to completely cover it when fully deployed. The screen is adapted to roll back onto the shaft when released.
A bar 11 is attached to the proximal end of screen 6. Bar 11 is attached by a flange 12 to the lower part of the window's frame 10 on both sides.
Figure 3 illustrates a vertical sectioned view of the roll-up shutter with an adjustable roll-up screen in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, same as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The shutter is in its closed state, covering the window opening, and the screen is fully rolled in its housing. When the roll-up shutter with the adjustable roll-up screen is in this position, housing 5 is situated near bar 11. A magnified picture of housing 5 in this situation is depicted in Figure 4 illustrating a part of the vertical sectioned view showed in Figure 3 of the roll-up screen accommodated in housing 5. The full length of screen 6 is rolled around shaft 9 and the proximal end of the screen 6 is inserted into a longitudinal groove 13 in bar 11 and fixed in position.
Bar 11 may optionally be provided with a bore, several bores or a groove for insertion of a corresponding latch provided on the lower part of the window frame and fixed in position. The latch, when inserted in the groove on bar 11 prevents movement of bar 11 thus forcing screen 6 to remain in its open deployed position, when the roll-up shutter is rolled up (fully or partially).
Returning to Figure 3, the shutter is in a closed position. The uppermost slat 24 of the shutter is attached to a shaft 14 placed inside shutter box 15, which serves as the housing of the slats when fully raised. The shutter box 15 may be provided with a door, or removable wall 16, for maintenance work. Shutter box 15 is installed on the upper part of the window opening's frame, either over the opening or at the top of the opening. As shown in Figure 3, most of the shutter slats are not rolled around shaft 14, instead they are shutting the whole window opening. Upon rotating shaft 14, mechanically or electrically, the shutter's slats 1 are pulled one after the other towards shaft 14, and roll around it. As a consequence, lowermost slat 4 pulls housing 5, causing the screen to roll out of the housing through slit 8. Screen 6 is adapted to fully occupy the place of the shutter that rolled up. A shutter partially opened can be seen again in Figure 2. The part of the window's opening that is left without a shutter is occupied by screen 6.
When the shutter is almost fully rolled around shaft 14, housing 5 prevents it full insertion into box 15 through opening 17 since the width of housing 5 is larger than the width of opening 17. Therefore, housing 5 acts also as a stopper that prevents the shutter lower end from slipping into shutter box 15.
Both sides of the shutter slats 1 and of screen 6 are forced to remain and travel in guide rails. Reference is now made to Figure 5 illustrating a transverse sectioned view of a roll-up shutter with an adjustable roll-up screen in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Two guide rails 18 and 19 are provided on opposite sides of the window's opening. The same guide rails alternatively guide the shutter slats or the screen, preventing them from waving. The fact that the same rails guide both the shutter slats and the screen saves place on the window's frame as well as installation work and time.
In figure 5, slat 1 can be seen its ends inserted in guide rails 18 and 19. Since screen 6 is aligned in continuation to the shutter slats, when the slats are rolled-up screen 6 takes up the space freed by the slats, its lateral edges forced to remain in guide rails 18 and 19. Screen 6 is laterally narrower than slats 1, therefore it may have some freedom in the guide rails. To prevent waving of screen 6 a anchoring means can be provided at the screen lateral edges holding them inside the guide rails. These anchoring means may optionally be beads or short bars placed within the guide rails and connected to the edge of the screen. The guide rail should be provided with a tapering groove so that the beads or the bars are prevented from escaping the rail. The screen edge may be connected to the beads or bars by magnets or velcro or any other way Optionally the screen may be provided with magnets along its edges and corresponding magnets provided within the guide rails so that the edges are magnetically attracted to remain inside the guide rails.
Along guide rails 18 and 19, internal rails 20 and 21 are provided. Along internal rails 20 and 21, for positioning and holding in place sealing means like rubber strips 22, 23, etc. Rubber strips 22 and 23 are provided with a T-shaped connectors fitting into internal rails 20 and 21 while the remaining of their body sticks out of the guide rail, providing shelter to the slat ends against rain or liquid, and also serve as guiding aids supporting the shutter and the screen edges.
It is possible to disconnect bar 11 from flange 12 (the latch) if the screen is not required. When screen 6 is not pulled down towards the lower side of the window's frame, it is fully rolled inside housing 5 and the window opening will remain uncovered when the shutter is fully raised. The roll-up shutter may be operated independently from the screen but housing 5 still operates as a stopper that prevents the shutter from totally entering shutter box 15.
Housing 5 may be permanently connected to lowermost slat 4, or may be removable. In the latter case it would be possible to disconnect housing 5 from lowermost slat 4 in order to clean the housing and the screen, to replace torn screen by a new one or for any other maintenance reasons. When needed, parts of the housing, the screen or both may be replaced very easily.
It should be noted that the roll-up screen and the housing that accommodates it in accordance to a preferred embodiment of the present invention could be installed on an existing roll-up shutter already installed. There are almost no modifications that should be made and the roll-up screen can be installed on any roll-up shutter, while using the existing shutter's guide rails.
Reference is now made to Figure 6 illustrating a vertical sectioned view of a roll-up shutter with an adjustable roll-up screen in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention. As can be seen, the shutter is partially closed. In this embodiment, housing 50 is attached to the lower part of the window frame 10. A slit 51 is provided on the upper side of housing 50, through which the screen 52, initially rolled around a rotatable shaft inside housing 50, can be puled out from the interior of housing 50. A bar 54 is provided at the end of screen 52. Bar 54 is further provided with a flange 55 that is attached to the lowermost slat 4. The screen automatically rolls up into its housing when released.
Upon pulling the roll-up shutter upwards using a manual mechanism or electrical one, shutter slats 1 are winded around shaft 14 and lowermost slat 4 pulls bar 54 and consequently pulls screen 52 out of its housing. The screen substitutes the vacant space left by the shutter covering the window opening.
Lowermost slat 4 is provided with a stopper 56 or preferably two stoppers provided each on each side of lowermost slat 4 to prevent the shutter from fully entering into shutter box 15. It may also prevent possible tension that may be inflicted on the screen if it is pulled to much.
When it is desired to independently operate the roll-up shutter, flange 54 can be disconnected from lowermost slat 4. Disconnecting the screen from the roll-up shutter may also be done when maintenance, cleaning or replacement of the screen is required.
It is recommended to provide a screen whose length suffices to cover the entire opening and even a bit longer so that when the shutter is fully raised and the screen deployed it will not experience tension threatening to tear it.
The roll-up shutter with adjustable roll-up screen of the present invention may be implemented on any opening in a wall, like a window or a door opening.
Note that the present invention is also implementable on existing roll-up shutters, which adds to this invention additional appeal. In case of an existing roll-up shutter, all that needs to be done is attach a screen box (housing 5) to the lowermost slat of the shutter and provide a latch on the bottom of the window opening for the engagement of the sceen, or attach the screen box to the windows bottom and add a hook or any other type of latch to the lowermost slat of the shutter to engage the screen to it.
The embodiment illustrated in Figure 1 is in particular appealing, since it is much simpler to couple the screen housing to the lowermost slat than to install it on the window frame, as shown in Figure 6.
It should be clear that the description of the embodiments and attached Figures set forth in this specification serves only for a better understanding of the invention, without limiting its scope as covered by the following Claims.
It should also be clear that a person skilled in the art, after reading the present specification could make adjustments or amendments to the attached Figures and above described embodiments that would still be covered by the following Claims.

Claims

A roll-up shutter with an adjustable roll-up screen apparatus comprising

a roll-up shutter comprising interconnected raiseable slats, installed on

an opening in a wall;

a roll-up screen;

whereby when said roll-up shutter is raised said roll-up screen deploys over said opening.
The apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said roll-up screen is a meshy screen.
The apparatus as claimed in Claim 2, wherein said meshy screen is an insect screen.
The apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said screen is initially accommodated in a housing.
A roll-up shutter with an adjustable roll-up screen apparatus comprising

a roll-up shutter comprising interconnected raiseable slats, installed on

an opening in a wall, initially accommodated in a housing;

a roll-up screen;

wherein said housing is coupled to said end slat, and wherein a proximal end of said screen is engaged to an end of said opening, adapted to be pulled out of said housing through a slit when said shutter is raised, and automatically retract into said housing when said shutter is lowered;

whereby when said roll-up shutter is raised said roll-up screen deploys over said opening.

wherein said housing is coupled to said end slat, and wherein a proximal end of said screen is engaged to an end of said opening, adapted to be pulled out of said housing through a slit when said shutter is raised, and automatically retract into said housing when said shutter is lowered.
The apparatus as claimed in Claim 4, wherein said screen is initially rolled around a rotatable shaft provided inside said housing.
The apparatus as claimed in Claim 5, said opening further provided with opposite guide rails wherein the lateral sides of said slats and the lateral edges of said screen are guided through said guide rails.
The apparatus as claimed in Claim 7, wherein said lateral edges of said screen are forced to travel through said guide rails to prevent waving.
The apparatus as claimed in Claim 8, wherein said lateral edges of said screen are provided with anchoring means to force them to travel through said guide rails.
The apparatus as claimed in Claim 9, wherein said anchoring means comprise beads attached along said lateral edges of said screen.
The apparatus as claimed in Claim 9, wherein said anchoring means comprise magnets.
The apparatus as claimed in Claim 9, wherein said anchoring means comprise beads or short bars within said guide rails attached to said lateral edges of said screen by velcro.
The apparatus as claimed in Claim 7, wherein sealing strips are further provided, coupled to said guide rails, providing sealing against rain or other liquid.
The apparatus as claimed in 5, wherein said proximal end of said screen is permanently engaged an end of said opening.
The apparatus as claimed in 5, wherein said proximal end of said screen is temporarily engaged to an end of said opening, and may be disengaged.
The apparatus as claimed in Claim 15, wherein said proximal end of said screen is coupled to a bar, and wherein said bar is provided with a recess into which a matching latch, provided at said end of said opening, may be inserted in order to engage said proximal end of said screen to said end of said opening, and wherein upon removal of said latch from said recess said proximal end of said screen is disengaged from said end of said opening.
A roll-up shutter with an adjustable roll-up screen apparatus comprising

a roll-up shutter comprising interconnected raiseable slats, installed on

an opening in a wall;

a roll-up screen;

wherein said housing is coupled to an end of said opening, and wherein a proximal end of said screen is engaged to said end slat, adapted to be pulled out of said housing through a slit when said shutter is raised, and automatically retract into said housing when said shutter is lowered;

whereby when said roll-up shutter is raised said roll-up screen deploys over said opening.
The apparatus as claimed in Claim 17, said opening further provided with opposite guide rails wherein the lateral sides of said slats and the lateral edges of said screen are guided through said guide rails.
The apparatus as claimed in Claim 18, wherein said lateral edges of said screen are forced to travel through said guide rails to prevent waving.
The apparatus as claimed in Claim 19, wherein said lateral edges of said screen are provided with anchoring means to force them to travel through said guide rails.
The apparatus as claimed in Claim 20, wherein said anchoring means comprise beads attached along said lateral edges of said screen.
The apparatus as claimed in Claim 20, wherein said anchoring means comprise magnets.
The apparatus as claimed in Claim 20, wherein said anchoring means comprise beads or short bars within said guide rails attached to said lateral edges of said screen by velcro.
The apparatus as claimed in Claim 18, wherein sealing strips are further provided, coupled to said guide rails, providing sealing against rain or other liquid.
The apparatus as claimed in 17, wherein said proximal end of said screen is permanently engaged an said end slat.
The apparatus as claimed in 17, wherein said proximal end of said screen is temporarily engaged to said end slat, and may be disengaged.
The apparatus as claimed in Claim 17, wherein said end slat is provided with stoppers.
The apparatus as Claimed in Claim 1, wherein said screen is large enough to cover the entire opening.
A roll-up shutter with an adjustable roll-up screen apparatus substantially as described in the above Specification and accompanying Figures.