GB2115656A

GB2115656A - Improvements in or relating to anti-glare screens

Info

Publication number: GB2115656A
Application number: GB08204530A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Clifford Hilton
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1982-02-16
Filing date: 1982-02-16
Publication date: 1983-09-07
Also published as: GB2115656B

Abstract

A holder for an anti-glare screen (13) which in use holds the anti-glare screen over the screen (10) of a visual display unit (VDU), and which further facilitates removal and replacement of the anti-glare screen (13). The holder (8) comprises a frame (9) having along at least one edge thereof a channel (12) into, and out of which, the anti- glare screen (13) may be slid to be releaseably received and held, and means (14) for securing the frame (9) directly to, or to the surround of, the screen (10) of the VDU. The anti-glare screen (10) comprises a sheet of anti-glare material (monofilament micromesh) sandwiched between two sheets or rigid material which provide a frame for the anti-glare screen. To protect the sheet of anti-glare material prior to the anti-glare screen (10) being used the two sheets of rigid material are each divided into a central portion and an outer portion the outer portion of which forms the frame and the central portion of which is removable to disclose the anti-glare material thereunder. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to anti-glare screens The present invention relates to anti-glare screens for use on video display units (VDU'S) and in particular to an anti-glare screen holder which facilitates easy screen replacement.

The effect of unwanted reflected light and glare from VDU screens is known to induce eye strain, headaches, loss of concentration and ultimately reduced productivity in VDU operators. In order to reduce the reflected light and glare from the VDU screen it is known to position over the VDU screen an anti-glare screen comprising a fine monofilament micromesh. This material reduces the intensity of glare and reflected light by 75% and accordingly has proved very successful.

Unfortunately, VDU screens generate static electricity which attracts dust and dirt in the air around the VDU onto the anti-glare screen covering it. This dust and dirt fills in the holes in the micromesh and eventually blocks out the image displayed on the VDU screen beneath, necessitating replacement of the anti-glare screen.

Conventional anti-glare screens of the above described type are secured to the VDU screen by means of double sided sticking tape, one side of which is adhered around the edges of the antiglare screen and the other side of which is adhered onto the VDU screen itself. This arrangement is not very satisfactory as once the anti-glare screen is covered with dirt and has to be replaced it is difficult to remove if from the VDU screen.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an anti-glare screen holder which facilitates easy replacement of the anti-glare screen.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a holder for an antiglare screen for use over the screen of a visual display unit (VDU), which holder facilitates easy replacement of the anti-giare screen, characterised in that the holder comprises means for releaseably receiving and holding an anti-glare screen, and means whereby the holder can be affixed directly to or adjacent the screen of the VDU to hold the anti-glare screen over the screen of the VDU.

Preferably the said means for releaseably receiving and holding the anti-glare screen comprises a frame in which at least one channel is provided, into which an anti-glare screen may be slid to be releaseably received and held.

The said frame preferably comprises three sides and is substantially U shaped enabling the antiglare screen to be slid into the frame through the open end thereof. Channels may be provided in all three sides of the frame, or alternatively in just the two oppositely facing sides of the frame.

As an alternative the frame may comprise a single channeled member which engages the antiglare screen along one side thereof.

The said means for securing the holder to the VDU may comprise double sided sticking tape one side of which is stuck to the holder and the other side of which is stuck directly to the screen of the VDU.

As an alternative where the VDU comprises a projecting lip around the VDU screen to protect the VDU screen said means may comprise a plurality of clips secured to the back of the holder which clips engage around the projecting lip of the VDU.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided an anti-glare screen for use in a holder according to the first aspect of the present invention comprising a sheet of anti-glare material and a frame thereof, characterised in that the said frame comprises two sheets of rigid material, each divided into a central portion and an outer portion, which are secured, on on either side, to the said sheet of anti-glare material by means of the said outer portions thereof, the said central portion being detachable mm the said outer portions when it is required to use the anti-glare screen.

$referably the said sheet of anti -glare material comprises a sheet of monofilament micromesh.

Preferably the said sheets of rigid material comprises sheets of cardboard.

Preferably the said central portions can be detached frorn the said outer portions by breaking a plurality of tabs which hold the two portions together.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows an exploded view of an anti-glare screen to be listed in an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 shows a first embodiment of the present invention affixed to a VDU; and, Fig. 3 shows a second embodiment of the present invention affixed to a VDU.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings there is shown an exploded view of an anti-glare screen for use in an embodiment of the present invention, which comprises two sheets of cardboard 'I and 2, between which is sandwiched a sheet of monofilament micromesh 3 which provides the anti-glare component of the screen.

The two sheets of cardboard 1 and 2 are each separated into a frame porLion 4 and a centre portion 5 along the lines 6, the two portions 4 and 5 being held together by tabs 7. When the antiglare sci-een is assembled the micromesh screen 3 is laminated to the frame portions 4 of the cardboard sheets 1 and 2, but is not affixed to the centre portions 5 thereof. The frame portion 4 provide a rigid support for the micromesh screen 3, whilst the centre portions 5 protect it against damage up until it is required for use, when the tabs 7 can be broken and the centre portions 5 removed.

In order to prevent the formation of ripples in the micromesh screen 3 when it is laminated between the sheets of card 1 and 2 the micromesh screen 3 is not stretched flat between the sheets of card 1 and 2 before being laminated thereto, but is simply layed flat over a first sheet of card to which it is then laminated. The second sheet of card is then laminated to the other side of the micromesh screen.

Where it is intended to use the anti-glare screen on a curved VDU screen the anti-glare screen may be contoured to match the curve in the VDU screen by producing the anti-glare screen using different thicknesses of cardboard for cardboard sheets 1 and 2. In this way a natural curve is produced in the anti-glare screen upon lamination of cardboard sheets 1 and 2 to the micromesh screen 3.

Referring to Fig. 2 there is shown an anti-glare screen holder embodying the present invention.

The holder 8 comprises a U shaped frame 9 which is dimensional to extend around the display area of the screen 10 of a VDU 1 A channel 12 extends all the way round the inner edge of the frame 9 and opens out at the free end of each arm of the frame 9 so that an anti-glare screen 13 can be slid in and out thereof in the channel 12 in front of the VDU screen 1 0. The holder 8 is secured to the VDU screen 10 by means of strips of double sided sticking tape 14 which are affixed between the back of the frame 9 and the VDU screen 1 0.

When the anti-glare screen 13 becomes clogged up with dirt it can be slid out of the holder 8 which remains affixed to the VDU screen 10 and replaced.

Referring now to Fig. 3 there is shown another anti-glare screen holder embodying the present invention which is for use on VDU'S comprising a lip or projection running around the edge of the VDU screen which would form an obstruction to the insertion of an anti-glare screen into a holder affixed directly to the VDU screen.

In the embodiment of Fig. 3 the holder 14 comprises a U shaped frame 15 around the inner edge of which runs a channel 1 6 in and out of which an anti-glare screen 17 can be slid as in the embodiment of Fig. 2.

The holder 14 is secured to the lip 18 extending around the screen 19 of a VDU 20 by means of a U shaped securing device 21 of the same dimensions as the U shaped frame 1 5 and secured to the back thereof. A channel 22 is provided in the securing device 21 into which the lip 18 is engaged to secure the holder 14 to the VDU.

It will be appreciated that in both of the above described embodiments of the present invention the hoiders need not be secured to the VDU along all three sides of the U shaped anti-glare screen holding frame. In many instances it will be sufficient simply to secure the holder to the VDU along the two free arms of the U shaped frame.

It will also be appreciated that in the second embodiment of the present invention the U shaped securing device may be replaced by a plurality of clips strategically located around the back of the anti-glare screen holding frame which can be clipped over the lip of a VDU.

It will further be appreciated that in the antiglare screen holding frame of both embodiments of the present invention a channel may be provided in each arm of the U shaped frame to receive the anti-glare screen.

In a further embodiment of the present invention (not shown) the anti-glare screen holder comprises a single strip of channeled cross section which is secured to the VDU by any of the above described means which are appropriate, along one side of the VDU screen preferably either the top or bottom thereof. The anti-glare screen is then secured in front of the VDU screen in the channel of the holder.

Claims

CLAIMS'

1. A holder for an anti-glare screen for use over the screen of a visual display unit (VDU), which holder facilitates easy replacement of the antiglare screen, wherein the holder comprises means for releaseably receiving and holding the anti-glare screen along at least one edge thereof and means whereby the holder can be affixed directly to, or to the surround of, the screen of the VDU to hold the anti-glare screen over the screen of the VDU.

2. A holder according to claim 1, wherein the means for releaseably receiving and holding the anti-glare screen comprises a frame having along at least one edge a channel into which the antiglare screen may be slid, to be releaseably received and held along at least one edge thereof.

3. A holder according to claim 2, wherein the frame is substantially U shaped and is provided with channels in at least the two opposing sides of the frame.

4. A holder according to any preceding claim, wherein the means for securing the holder directly to, or to the surround of, the VDU comprises double sided sticking tape.

5. A holder according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein where the VDU comprises a projecting lip around the screen to protect the screen the means for securing the holder to the surround of the screen comprises a plurality of clips secured to the back of the holder which engage around the projecting lip surrounding the VDU screen.

6. An anti-glare screen for use in a holder according to claim 1, comprising a sheet of antiglare material and a frame therefor, wherein the frame comprises two sheets of rigid material, each divided into a central portion and an outer portion, which are secured, one on either side, to the sheet of anti-glare material by means of the said outer portions thereof, the said central portion being detachable from the said outer portions when it is required to use the anti-glare screen.

7. An anti-glare screen according to claim 6, wherein the sheet of anti-glare material comprises a monofilament micromesh.

8. An anti-glare screen according to claim 6 or 7 wherein the sheets of rigid material comprise sheets of cardboard.

9. An anti-glare screen according to claim 6, 7 or 8 wherein the said central portions can be detached from the said outer portions by breaking a plurality of tabs which hold the two portions together.

1 0. A holder for an anti-glare screen substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

11. An anti-glare screen substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.