GB2191530A - Improvements relating to temporary screens - Google Patents

Abstract

Strips of a woven polyester webbing 2 are stitched all the way across a sheet 1 of polyester material. At the ends the webbing is folded back to enclose a folded portion 3 at the end of the sheet 1 and is stitched down securely to leave a loop 4 in which is retained a hook member 5. An extending portion 6 of the webbing is received by a ratchet device 7, which is provided with a hook 8. Operation of the handle 9 operates a ratchet 10 to cause the webbing 2 to be tensioned between hooks 5 and 8 located on structural members of a building on either side of an opening to be covered, to hold the sheet 1 in a taut state across the opening. A release member 11 of the ratchet allows the tension to be removed from the webbing strip 2. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements Relating to Temporary Screens In farmyard environments, in particular, there is often need for some form of screening system which will provide a temporary cover for large openings in buildings, such as the open sides and fronts of barns. A rigid screening structure is expensive and cannot be installed or removed quickly or easily. On the other hand there are difficulties in providing a flexible screen which can be stowed away readily, since it is not easy to impart sufficient rigidity to such a screen when in place so that it does not flap in the wind.

According to the present invention there is provided a temporary screen comprising a sheet of material having webbing portions secured to and projecting from both sides of the sheet, the webbing portion projecting at one side incorporating a hook member or other locating device whilst the webbing portion projection at the other side incorporates a locating and tensioning device.

The locating devices enable the screen to be attached to structural members either side of an opening to be screened and the tensioning device is then operated to stretch the screen to a desired degree of tautness. The webbing portions provide a strong means of attachment of the locating device to the sheet of material.

In the preferred arrangement the tensioning device is a releasable ratchet device. It is also preferred that the webbing portions should extend as a single strip across the whole width of the sheet, so as to project from both sides thereof. The tension is then taken up by the webbing rather than applying strain to a portion of the sheet which might cause it to tear. Ideally there will be two or more sets of webbing and associated devices projecting from the sides of the sheet.

The webbing may ideally be formed from a woven polyester material. It is also preferred that the sheet should be formed from a closed or open mesh polyester material, preferably with a polyvinylchloride coating.

The invention may be performed in various ways and a preferred embodiment thereof will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:~ Figure 1 is a front view of a temporary screen constructed in accordance with this invention; and Figure 2 is a cross-section of a detail of a corner of the screen shown in Figure 1.

The screen illustrated in the drawings comprises a sheet 1 of polyester material on to which are sewn strips of webbing 2 formed from a woven polyester material. The webbing 2 is stitched all the way across sheet 1 but at the ends the webbing is taken back on to the rear face of the sheet to enclose also a folded portion 3 at the edge of the sheet 1 and is stitched down securely to leave a loop 4 in which will be retained a hook member 5. The other end of the webbing 2 leaves an extending portion 6 leading to a ratchet device 7. The ratchet device is hooked at the end 8 and operation of the handle 9 operates a ratchet barrel 10 to cause the webbing 2 to be tensioned between hooks 5 and 8 which will have been located on structural members of a building on either side of an opening to be covered.When the desired degree of tensioning has been achieved the sheet 1 will be held in a taut state across the opening.

The release member 11 can be operated to release the ratchet and thus remove the tension from the webbing strip 2. If desired portions of the sheet 1 can then be raised or lowered to provide partial access or to provide ventilation through part of the opening.

The sheet 1 could be formed from an open mesh material (preferably covered with a polyvinylchloride coating for protection). Such a sheet then allows for a certain amount of ventilation, if required. This temporary cover is very versatile in use and can be dismantled in a few seconds. Thus it can be transferred easily from one building to another. The hook members 5 and the hooks 8 on the ratchet device 7 could be modified to provide for forms of fastening which will suit a particular structure to which the sheet 1 is to be attached.

1. Atemporary screen comprising a sheet of material having webbing portions secured to and projecting from both sides of the sheet, the or each webbing portion projecting at one side incorporating a hook member or other locating device whilst the or each webbing portion projecting at the other side incorporates a locating and tensioning device.

2. A temporary screen according to claim 1, wherein the tensioning device is a releasable ratchet device.

3. A temporary screen according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the locating portion of the tensioning device comprises a hook member.

4. A temporary screen according to any one of claims 1 to-3, wherein the webbing portions extend as one or more single strips across the whole width of the sheet to project from both sides thereof.

5. Atemporary screen according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein one end of the webbing is doubled back and stitched together or otherwise secured to leave a free loop of webbing which receives the hook member.

6. A temporary screen according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein there are at least two sets of webbing and associated devices projecting from the sides of the sheet.

7. A temporary screen according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the webbing is formed from a woven polyester material.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (9)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Improvements Relating to Temporary Screens In farmyard environments, in particular, there is often need for some form of screening system which will provide a temporary cover for large openings in buildings, such as the open sides and fronts of barns. A rigid screening structure is expensive and cannot be installed or removed quickly or easily. On the other hand there are difficulties in providing a flexible screen which can be stowed away readily, since it is not easy to impart sufficient rigidity to such a screen when in place so that it does not flap in the wind. According to the present invention there is provided a temporary screen comprising a sheet of material having webbing portions secured to and projecting from both sides of the sheet, the webbing portion projecting at one side incorporating a hook member or other locating device whilst the webbing portion projection at the other side incorporates a locating and tensioning device. The locating devices enable the screen to be attached to structural members either side of an opening to be screened and the tensioning device is then operated to stretch the screen to a desired degree of tautness. The webbing portions provide a strong means of attachment of the locating device to the sheet of material. In the preferred arrangement the tensioning device is a releasable ratchet device. It is also preferred that the webbing portions should extend as a single strip across the whole width of the sheet, so as to project from both sides thereof. The tension is then taken up by the webbing rather than applying strain to a portion of the sheet which might cause it to tear. Ideally there will be two or more sets of webbing and associated devices projecting from the sides of the sheet. The webbing may ideally be formed from a woven polyester material. It is also preferred that the sheet should be formed from a closed or open mesh polyester material, preferably with a polyvinylchloride coating. The invention may be performed in various ways and a preferred embodiment thereof will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:~ Figure 1 is a front view of a temporary screen constructed in accordance with this invention; and Figure 2 is a cross-section of a detail of a corner of the screen shown in Figure 1. The screen illustrated in the drawings comprises a sheet 1 of polyester material on to which are sewn strips of webbing 2 formed from a woven polyester material. The webbing 2 is stitched all the way across sheet 1 but at the ends the webbing is taken back on to the rear face of the sheet to enclose also a folded portion 3 at the edge of the sheet 1 and is stitched down securely to leave a loop 4 in which will be retained a hook member 5. The other end of the webbing 2 leaves an extending portion 6 leading to a ratchet device 7. The ratchet device is hooked at the end 8 and operation of the handle 9 operates a ratchet barrel 10 to cause the webbing 2 to be tensioned between hooks 5 and 8 which will have been located on structural members of a building on either side of an opening to be covered.When the desired degree of tensioning has been achieved the sheet 1 will be held in a taut state across the opening. The release member 11 can be operated to release the ratchet and thus remove the tension from the webbing strip 2. If desired portions of the sheet 1 can then be raised or lowered to provide partial access or to provide ventilation through part of the opening. The sheet 1 could be formed from an open mesh material (preferably covered with a polyvinylchloride coating for protection). Such a sheet then allows for a certain amount of ventilation, if required. This temporary cover is very versatile in use and can be dismantled in a few seconds. Thus it can be transferred easily from one building to another. The hook members 5 and the hooks 8 on the ratchet device 7 could be modified to provide for forms of fastening which will suit a particular structure to which the sheet 1 is to be attached. CLAIMS

1. Atemporary screen comprising a sheet of material having webbing portions secured to and projecting from both sides of the sheet, the or each webbing portion projecting at one side incorporating a hook member or other locating device whilst the or each webbing portion projecting at the other side incorporates a locating and tensioning device.

2. A temporary screen according to claim 1, wherein the tensioning device is a releasable ratchet device.

3. A temporary screen according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the locating portion of the tensioning device comprises a hook member.

4. A temporary screen according to any one of claims 1 to-3, wherein the webbing portions extend as one or more single strips across the whole width of the sheet to project from both sides thereof.

5. Atemporary screen according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein one end of the webbing is doubled back and stitched together or otherwise secured to leave a free loop of webbing which receives the hook member.

6. A temporary screen according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein there are at least two sets of webbing and associated devices projecting from the sides of the sheet.

7. A temporary screen according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the webbing is formed from a woven polyester material.

8. A temporary screen according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the sheet is formed from a closed or open mesh polyester material, preferably with a polyvinylchloride coating.

9. A temporary screen substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.