EP2345771A2

EP2345771A2 - Mounting of a screen in a screen device

Info

Publication number: EP2345771A2
Application number: EP10193802A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Bart Pieter Jules Abeel; Pieter Leopold André Brabant; Thierry Luc Veys; Stijn Colpaert; Michael Tokmaji
Original assignee: Renson Sunprotection Screens NV
Current assignee: Renson Sunprotection Screens NV
Priority date: 2009-12-09
Filing date: 2010-12-06
Publication date: 2011-07-20
Also published as: BE1019069A5; EP2345771A3

Abstract

The invention relates to a screen device which is provided with
- a roof structure (100) which comprises at least one sloping roof structure element (2),
- a virtually vertically disposed upright (10, 33) and a virtually horizontally disposed beam (24) at the location where said roof structure element (2) is located,

wherein said sloping roof structure element (2), said beam (24) and said upright (10, 33) form a polygon, and wherein a screen (13) is arranged inside this polygon, and wherein said beam (24), said upright (10, 33) and said roof structure element (2) comprise an elongate cavity (14, 16) for connecting the screen (13) to said beam (24) and said upright (10, 33) by means of a single-part or multi-part insertion element (15, 17) or a single-part or multi-part press-in element, and for connecting said screen (13) to said sloping roof structure element (2) by means of a single-part or multi-part press-in element (23).

Description

The invention relates to a screen device which is provided with

a roof structure which comprises at least one sloping roof structure element,
a virtually vertically disposed upright and a virtually horizontally disposed beam at the location where said roof structure element is located,

Screen devices of this type are generally provided in order to protect an outdoor location from adverse weather conditions. For example, screen devices of this type are often set up at domestic dwellings, restaurants, shops and the like in order to protect an outdoor terrace or a location where goods for purchase have been set up from sun, precipitation and wind. These screen devices may therefore be designed in the form of awnings, pergolas, terrace coverings and the like having the features described above.
A screen device of this type comprises a roof structure. This roof structure is provided with one or more roof structure elements, and at its front and rear sides is provided with a virtually horizontally disposed beam of single-part or multi-part design, each of the beams being connected to said roof structure elements. The roof structure, and therefore also the roof structure elements which form part of it, are positioned at a sloping angle.
If the screen device is intended to be fitted to an existing wall, the rear beam is fixed to the existing wall by means of securing elements. At that time, the front beam is carried or supported by one or more columns. It is preferable for a column of this type to be present at each of the ends of the front beam, in order to support these ends. If the screen device is free-standing, the rear beam is also supported by one or more columns, and preferably two columns disposed at either end of the rear beam in order to support said ends.
If one or more screens that can be rolled up and unrolled are arranged between these roof structure elements, which screens are moved backwards and forwards between these roof structure elements, the abovementioned top beam is designed as a screen case that is provided with a space to accommodate one or more screen rollers on which are arranged the screens that can be rolled up and unrolled.
Likewise, if one or more screens are arranged between the abovementioned front columns, the front beam is designed as a front bar provided with a space for accommodating one or more screen rollers on which are arranged the said screens that can be rolled up and unrolled.
Furthermore, a gutter profiled section, which collects rainwater and drains it to the columns to which the front bar is connected, may be provided on this front bar. This gutter profiled section may either be formed integrally with said front bar or may be designed separately and fitted to the front bar.
If it is desired for one or more screens that can be rolled up and unrolled to be arranged at the sides of the screen device, as seen from the front, the screen device, at the sides, preferably comprises a side screen case that is provided with a space for accommodating one or more screen rollers on which are arranged the side screens that can be rolled up and unrolled.
However, it should be noted that it is not always necessary for screens that can be rolled up and unrolled to be arranged at all the abovementioned locations. It is also possible to opt for panels made for example from glass, plastic, wood, metal or a combination thereof to be arranged between or against the roof structure elements and/or columns at one or more locations.
At the locations of the screen device where screens that can be rolled up and unrolled are arranged, it is preferable for a bottom slat, which is guided in a slat guide at both its ends, to be arranged at the bottom of these screens. These slat guides may be produced separately and fitted to the roof structure elements and/or columns. It is also possible for these slat guides to be produced integrally with the roof structure elements and/or the columns. It is preferable for the lateral sides of the screens also to be guided in screen guides. For this purpose, all the abovementioned screens may be provided on their lateral sides with a thickened portion, for example designed as half of a zip fastener. However, this is not necessary, but guiding the lateral sides of the screens in screen guides does ensure that the screen is always held taut.
It may be desirable for the polygonal opening which is present between a said sloping roof structure element, a said side screen case, the said optional front bar and/or gutter profiled section and a said virtually vertically disposed upright to be filled. The polygonal opening may be either triangular or trapezium-shaped, depending on the abovementioned elements that are present in the screen device and the configuration thereof.
It is already known to fill up this opening by means of a glass or plastic polygonal panel.
However, it may also be desirable to fill up this opening with a screen. With regard to filling said opening with a screen, it is known to use box sections in which the screen is secured. In this way, the box section together with the screen fills said opening.
US 5,242,004 describes a screen device in which a vertical screen canvas 15 and a quasi-horizontal screen canvas 14 are secured in an element 20. A covering strip 60 closes off the open mouth of the assembly. However, the covering strip does not have the function of securing the screen canvases. For this purpose, the canvases are fixed to elements 46 and 48 in the element 20 by means of rivets.
However, the major drawback of such solutions is that the required dimensions of the screen must be known in advance. This is certainly the case if the sloping roof structure elements are of hinged design, in order to allow perfect fitting of the screen device. Further drawbacks are that accurate finishing of the box section is required and additional profiled sections are necessary.
The object of the invention is therefore to provide a screen device according to the preamble of the first Claim, in which said opening can be filled up easily without the need for additional profiled sections and without having to take extra measurements, even if the sloping roof structure elements are of hinged design.
This object of the invention is achieved by providing a screen device which is provided with

A device of this type initially makes it possible to provide a screen with a height that is greater than the height of the opening that is to be filled, then to introduce this screen into the elongate cavities in said virtually horizontally disposed beam and in the virtually vertically disposed upright by means of a single-part or multi-part insertion element or by means of a press-in element, then introducing this into said elongate cavity in the respective sloping roof structure element by means of a press-in element, and finally cutting the screen to the desired size. A device of this type therefore makes it possible for the screen to be fitted into said opening in a simple way without having to carry out additional measurements and without the use of additional profiled sections, even if the sloping roof structure elements are of hinged design in order to allow correct fitting of the screen device.
In a preferred embodiment of a screen device according to the invention, the roof structure, when the screen device is viewed from the front, is provided at its left-hand and right-hand sides with a said sloping roof structure element, a said upright and a said beam, and at these two sides is provided with a screen that is arranged inside the respective polygon formed by said beam, said upright and said roof structure element, wherein said beams, said uprights and said roof structure elements comprise an elongate cavity for connecting the screens to said beams and said uprights by means of a single-part or multi-part insertion element or a single-part or multi-part press-in element, and for connecting said screens to said sloping roof structure elements by means of a single-part or multi-part press-in element.
In a particular embodiment of a screen device according to the invention, at its top side the roof structure is provided with a virtually horizontally disposed screen case which extends in a direction that is transverse to the direction in which the roof structure elements extend, is fitted as an extension to said sloping roof structure elements and is connected to said roof structure elements, wherein the screen case, at one or both of its ends, comprises a side plate and a protective cap located one in front of the other, when the roof structure is seen from the side, wherein there is an empty space, in which the respective screen is arranged, between the side plate and the protective cap.
In this way, the screen is also fixed in place at said screen case.
In a preferred embodiment of a roof structure according to the invention, the roof structure, at least on its front side, is provided with a virtually horizontally disposed front bar, which is connected to one or more roof structure elements, wherein a gutter profiled section is arranged on this front bar, and wherein the front bar or the gutter profiled section comprises a slot into which the screen is introduced in the assembled state.
This also has the advantage of the screen being fixed in place at the location where the gutter profiled section or the front bar is situated.
Preferably, the gutter profiled section, at one or both of its ends, comprises an end piece, wherein the end piece comprises said slot on the side of the screen device where a said screen is arranged.
Preferably, the slot is arranged virtually vertically in said end piece.
In a preferred embodiment of a screen device according to the invention, said virtually horizontally disposed beams and the virtually vertically disposed uprights are each provided with an elongate cavity and the screen is arranged in the form of a loop around the respective insertion elements, wherein, in the assembled state, the screen arranged around said insertion elements is arranged in said cavities.
The connection of the screen to said beam and said upright by means of an insertion element is a sprung connection, with the result that the screen can be pulled in order for it to be tightly tensioned before being connected to the sloping roof structure element by means of the press-in element.
In an advantageous embodiment of a screen device according to the invention, the said press-in elements are made from an elastic material, more preferably a hardelastic material, such as a PVC cord.
By using an elastic material, it is possible for said press-in elements, together with the screen, to be fitted in said cavities in a simple way.
The invention will now be explained in more detail on the basis of the following more detailed description of a screen device according to the invention which, when the screen device is viewed from the front, is provided on its left-hand and right-hand sides with a screen in the opening created between a side screen case, a gutter, a sloping roof structure element, a screen case and a wall support. This detailed description of these illustrative examples is intended to do no more than provide an illustration of the basic features of the invention and also to indicate further advantages and particular features of this screen device. Therefore, this description can in no way be considered to restrict the scope of protection or the application of the invention.
This more detailed description refers to the accompanying drawings by means of reference symbols; in the drawings:

Figure 1 shows a perspective illustration of a preferred embodiment of a screen device according to the invention,
Figure 2 shows a left-hand side view of the screen device shown in Figure 1;
Figure 3 shows a cross section through a virtually horizontally disposed beam that is designed as a side screen case and is provided with a cylindrical cavity into which a screen is introduced by means of a single-part insertion element around which the screen is arranged in the form of a loop;
Figure 4 shows a cross section through a sloping roof structure element that is provided with a bar-shaped cavity into which the screen is introduced by means of a press-in element;
Figure 5 shows a cross section through a virtually vertically disposed upright designed as a wall support and provided with a cylindrical cavity into which the screen is introduced by means of an insertion element;
Figure 6 shows a top view of an end piece of a gutter profiled section, an end piece of which is provided with an elongate slot in which the screen is arranged;
Figure 7 shows a side view of a screen case that is located at the top side of the roof structure, without the protective cap, showing where the screen is arranged.

The screen device (1) according to the invention as illustrated in Figure 1 comprises a roof structure (100) which is provided with three sloping roof structure elements (2), namely two sloping roof structure elements (2) which, when the screen device (1) is seen from the front, are located on the left-hand and right-hand sides of the roof structure (100), and one roof structure element (2) that is provided between them, with a screen (3) that can be rolled up and unrolled extending between each pair of roof structure elements (2), which screen is guided at its lateral sides in screen guides (11), which are either formed integrally with the roof structure elements (2) or are designed separately and connected to these roof structure elements (2). This can be done by providing the lateral sides of these screens (3) with a flexible thickened portion, for example half of a zip fastener (not shown in the figures), which can move up and down in an elongate cavity that is provided in the screen guides (11) (see Figure 4). Furthermore, a bottom slat (8) may be arranged at the bottom of the screens (3) and can be guided in slat guides (38) (see Figure 4), which are either formed integrally with the roof structure elements (2) or are designed separately and connected thereto.
These screens (3) are accommodated in a screen case (4) which is provided at the top of the roof structure (100), extends in a direction transverse to the direction in which the roof structure elements (2) extend, is disposed as an extension of the roof structure elements (2) and is connected to one or more of said sloping roof structure elements (2). If the screen case (4) forms part of a free-standing screen device (1) (i.e. a screen device that is not fitted to a wall), this screen case (4), at least at its two ends, is supported by means of a column (not shown in the figures). In this case, the screen case (4) is preferably secured to said columns by means of a securing system.
However, if the screen case (4) forms part of a screen device (1) that is fitted to an (existing) wall (101), it is preferably fitted to the existing wall (101) by means of a securing system. In this case, the screen case (4) is provided at one or both ends with a side plate (20) (see Figure 7) and protective cap (not shown in the figures) situated one in front of the other, when the roof structure (100) is seen from the side.
However, it is also possible for screens (3) that can be rolled up and unrolled to be arranged between the sloping roof structure elements (2) but not to be guided in these sloping roof structure elements (2), or for fixed panels to be arranged between these sloping roof structure elements (2).
Furthermore, the roof structure (1) according to the invention is provided with a front bar (5) that extends virtually in the horizontal direction. This front bar (5) may be of either single-part or multi-part design. As can be seen from Figure 1, the front bar (5), preferably both its ends, is supported by columns (10).
Furthermore, said front bar (5) comprises a gutter profiled section (6) which is suitable for collecting and discharging rainwater towards the columns (10) to which the front bar (5) is connected. This gutter profiled section (6) may be formed integrally with the front bar (5), or may alternatively be designed as a separate profiled section that is connected to the front bar (5) in the assembled state. This gutter profiled section (6) is provided with an end piece (25) at one or both ends.
Furthermore, when the screen device (1) is viewed from the front, it is possible for one or more screens (7) that can be rolled up and unrolled to be arranged between the two columns (10) which are located at the front of the screen device (1) and support the front bar (5), which screens, at their lateral sides, are guided in screen guides (11) which in the assembled state are fitted to said columns (10). These one or more screens (7) that can be rolled up and unrolled are accommodated in said front bar (5). It is also possible for the underside of these screens (7) (i.e. the opposite side from the side on which the screens (7) are rolled up and unrolled) to be provided with a bottom slat (8) (see Figure 1). As can be seen from Figure 1, this bottom slat (8) is likewise guided at both ends in a respective slat guide (38), which is either formed integrally with the front columns (10) of the screen device (1) or is designed separately, fitted to these columns (10) and connected thereto. In the case of columns (10) of this type, the slat guides (38) and the screen guides (11) are generally one and the same. However, this need not necessarily be the case. It is also possible to provide separate screen and slat guides (11, 38).
It is furthermore possible for the screen device (1), when seen from the front, to be provided with one or more screens (9) on its left-hand and right-hand sides. These screens (9) that can be rolled up and unrolled are accommodated in side screen cases (24). These side screen case(s) (24) may be of single-part or multi-part design. The side screen case (24) shown in Figure 3 is of two-part design and therefore comprises a front and a rear cap (24a, 24b). In the present patent application, said side screen cases (24) are covered by the term "virtually horizontally disposed beams". In the case of a free-standing screen device (1), each of the side screen cases (24) extend between a front column (10) and a rear column (the rear column is not shown in the figures). These rear columns are then of identical design to the front columns (10) described above (as illustrated in cross section in Figure 2). In the case of a screen device (1) that is fitted to a wall (101) and is provided with one or more screens (9) at its sides, as illustrated in Figure 1, it is preferable for a wall support (53) to be fitted to the wall (101), with a side screen case (24) of this type then extending between a column (10) situated at the front of the screen device (1) and the respective wall support (33) that is fitted to the wall (101). This wall support (33) preferably extends as far as the securing elements for securing the screen case (4) that is located at the top of the roof structure (100) to the wall (101) or, in the case of a free-standing screen device (1), to the rear columns (10). Said wall support(s) (33) and/or column(s) (10), in the present application, are covered by the term "virtually vertically disposed uprights".
The underside (i.e. the opposite side from the side on which the screens (9) are rolled up and unrolled) of these screens (9) may also be provided with a bottom slat (8) (see Figure 1). As can be seen from Figure 1, this bottom slat (8) is also guided at both its ends in a respective slat guide (38). These slat guides (38) may either be formed integrally with the respective front and rear columns (10) of the screen device (1) in the case of a free-standing screen device (1) or with the respective front column (10) of the screen device (1) and the respective wall support (33) in the case of a screen device (1) that is fitted to an existing wall (101). However, it is also possible for these slat guides (38) to be designed separately and in the case of a free-standing screen device (1) to be fitted to the respective front and rear columns (10) of the screen device (1) and connected thereto or, in the case of a screen device (1) that is fitted to an existing wall (101), to be fitted to the respective front column (10) of the screen device (1) and the respective wall support (33). As can be seen from Figure 2, in columns (10) of this type, the slat guides (38) and the screen guides (11) are generally one and the same. However, this need not necessarily be the case. It is also possible to provide separate screen and slat guides (11, 38).
The polygonal opening (12) that is present between a said sloping roof structure element (2), a said side screen case (24), the said optional front bar (5) and/or gutter profiled section (6) and a said wall support (33) or column (34) is filled with a screen (13). This polygonal opening, in the embodiment of a screen device (1) as shown in Figures 1 and 2, is of trapezium-shaped design. However, it is also possible for this opening to be of triangular design, if there is no screen case (4) arranged at the top of the roof structure (100) and the side screen case (24) extends virtually onto the respective roof structure element (2).
A screen (13) is arranged in this polygonal opening (12).
As can be seen in Figure 3, in this preferred embodiment of a screen device (1) according to the invention, the side screen case (24) is provided, preferably on its top side, with a preferably cylindrical cavity (14), into which the screen (13) is introduced by means of an insertion element, more specifically a preferably cylindrical cloth cord (15) that is of single-part design and around which the screen (13) is arranged in the form of a loop, in the assembled state.
In the assembled state, it is also possible for a preferably cylindrical cavity (16) to be arranged in the wall support (33), as can be seen from Figure 5, in which cavity (16) the screen (13) is introduced by means of an insertion element, more specifically a preferably cylindrical cloth cord (17) which is of single-part design and around which the screen (13) is arranged in the form of a loop. When the screen device (1) is viewed in the assembled state, this cavity (16) is arranged at the front of the wall support (33). However, if this wall support (33) is replaced by a column (10), an elongate opening of this type is arranged in said column (10), and the screen (13) can be introduced into this opening in the same way as that described above in the assembled state.
As can be seen from Figure 6, an elongate slot (21), inside which the screen (13) extends in the assembled state, is arranged in the end piece of the gutter profiled section (6).
As can be seen from Figure 4, the sloping roof structure element (2) is provided with a preferably bar-shaped cavity (22), into which the screen (13) is introduced in the assembled state, by means of a preferably cylindrical press-in element (23) around which the screen (13) is arranged. This press-in element (23) is preferably made from a (hard) elastic material.
If the roof structure (100) is provided on its top side with an abovementioned screen case (4), said screen (13), in the assembled state, is arranged in the empty space located between the side plate (20) and protective cap (see Figure 7) located one in front of the other, when the roof structure (100) is viewed from the side.
Each of the screens (13) is introduced into the respective openings (12) by means of the following steps:

1. the starting point is a rectangular screen with a length that matches the length of the part of the side screen case (24) which extends between the wall support (33)/column (10) and the front bar (5);
2. at the sides of the screen (13) which will be introduced into the side screen case (24) and/or the wall support (33)/column (10), the screen (13) is arranged in the form of a loop around the cloth cord (15) and introduced into the said cavities (14, 16);
3. the screen (13) is introduced into the slot (21) in the end piece (25) of the gutter profiled section (6);
4. the screen (13) is placed around the press-in element (23) and introduced, by means of the press-in element (23), into said cavity (22) in the respective roof structure element (2);
5. then, the screen (13) is cut off along the press-in element (23) (see Figure 4), and this is arranged between said covering plate (20) and said protective cap of the screen case (4).

As an alternative to using insertion elements for introducing the screen (13) into the elongate cavities (14, 16) in the side screen case(s) (24) and/or the wall support(s) (33) or column(s) (10), it is also possible to opt for the screen (13) to be introduced into the elongate cavities (14, 16) by means of press-in elements.
However, it is preferable to opt for insertion elements since in the method for arranging the screen in the opening (12) the screen (13) that has been introduced into said elongate cavities (14, 16) is pulled.

Claims

Screen device which is provided with
- a roof structure (100) which comprises at least one sloping roof structure element (2),

- a virtually vertically disposed upright (10, 33) and a virtually horizontally disposed beam (24) at the location where said roof structure element (2) is located,
wherein said sloping roof structure element (2), said beam (24) and said upright (10, 33) form a polygon, and wherein a screen (13) is arranged inside this polygon, characterized in that said beam (24), said upright (10, 33) and said roof structure element (2) comprise an elongate cavity (14, 16) for connecting the screen (13) to said beam (24) and said upright (10, 33) by means of a single-part or multi-part insertion element (15, 17) or a single-part or multi-part press-in element, and for connecting said screen (13) to said sloping roof structure element (2) by means of a single-part or multi-part press-in element (23).
Screen device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the roof structure (100), when the screen device (1) is viewed from the front, is provided at its left-hand and right-hand sides with a said sloping roof structure element (2), a said upright (10, 33) and a said beam (24), and at these two sides is provided with a screen (13) that is arranged inside the respective polygon formed by said beam (24), said upright (10, 33) and said roof structure element (2), wherein said beams (24), said uprights (10, 33) and said roof structure elements (2) comprise an elongate cavity for connecting the screens (13) to said beams (24) and said uprights (10, 33) by means of a single-part or multi-part insertion element (15, 17) or a single-part or multi-part press-in element, and for connecting said screens (13) to said sloping roof structure elements (2) by means of a single-part or multi-part press-in element (23).
Screen device according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that at its top side the roof structure (100) is provided with a virtually horizontally disposed screen case (4) which extends in a direction that is transverse to the direction in which the roof structure elements (2) extend, is fitted as an extension to said sloping roof structure elements (2) and is connected to said sloping structure elements (2), wherein the screen case (4), at one or both of its ends, comprises a side plate (20) and a protective cap located one in front of the other, when the roof structure (100) is seen from the side, wherein there is an empty space, in which the respective screen (13) is arranged, between the side plate (20) and the protective cap.
Screen device according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the roof structure (100), at least on its front side, is provided with a virtually horizontally disposed front bar (5), which is connected to said roof structure elements (2), wherein a gutter profiled section (6) is arranged on this front bar (5), and wherein the front bar (5) or the gutter profiled section (6) comprises a slot (21) into which the respective screen (13) is introduced in the assembled state.
Screen device according to Claim 4, characterized in that the gutter profiled section (6), at one or both of its ends, comprises an end piece (25), wherein the end piece (25) comprises said slot (21) on the side of the screen device (1) where a said screen (13) is arranged.
Screen device according to Claim 5, characterized in that the slot (21) is arranged virtually vertically in said end piece (25).
Screen device according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said virtually horizontally disposed beams (24) and the virtually vertically disposed uprights (10, 30) are each provided with an elongate cavity (14, 16) and the respective screen is arranged in the form of a loop around the respective insertion elements (15, 17), wherein, in the assembled state, the screen (13) arranged around said insertion elements (15, 17) is arranged in said cavities (14, 16).
Screen device according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that said press-in elements (23) are formed from an elastic material.