US1802374A - Rolling-window-screen construction - Google Patents

Description

April 28, 1931. H. M. COATES v 1,802,374

ROLLING WINDOW SCREEN CONSTRUCTION Filed.'Aug. 13, 1928 3 Sheets-Shet 1 1 N VEN TOR.

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A TTORNEYJ Ap l 28, 1931- H. M. COATES 1,802,374

ROLLING WINDOW SCREEN CONSTRUCTION- Filed Aug. 15, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 if Z4 7 %&4a

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ATTORNEY-5 W 1 1- H. M. COATES 1,802374 ROLLING WINDOW SCREEN CONSTRUCTION Filed Aug. 13, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 I N V EN TOR xf fleer M (0475.:

ATTORNEY5 Patented Apr. 28, 1931 STATES PATENT orics HARRY Iii-I. COATES, OF.DETRDIT, LIICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS TO THE E. T. BURRGWES COMPANY, 615 PORTLAND, BLAINE, A CORPORATION OF MAINE ROLLING-WINDOW-SGBEEN CONSTRUCTION 7 Application filed August 13, 1928. Serial No. 299,141.

This invention relates to window screens, and particularly to window screens adapted to assume a rolled form when not in use. d

An object of the invention is to provide an improved means for accurately guiding a window screenas it is being rolled upon or withdrawn from a roller.

Another object is to engage the lateral edges of a roller type window screen with m runways, and to adapt the latter for a resilient frictional engagement with said edges to hold the screen in selective positions against the pull of the roller spring.

A further object isto provide for regulation of the friction imposed by such runways upon the lateral margins of the screen, in a simple and improved manner.

Still another object is to maintain said screen reasonably taut by its engagement in said runways, while permitting its withdrawal from said runways responsive to an abnormal stress or shock.

A still further object is to maintain asub-v stantially transverse relation between the free end of a roller type screen and runways in which said screen is slidable, by the use of improved guide members carried by said free end, adjacent to said lateral margins.

It'is also an object of the invention to resiliently embrace the lateral margins of a sliding screen in suitable runways and to mount upon the free end portion of said screen a member or members slidable in said runways and adapted to spread the walls thereof and relieve their pressure upon the screen when the latter is actuated.

An additional object is to so dispose within a suitable housing a screen-mounting roller as to minimize the size of the housing necessary to accommodate the rolled screen without resulting friction.

These and various other objects the invention attains by the construction hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, whereinz' Fig. 1 is. an interior view of a window equipped with the'herein disclosed screen.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the same taken upon the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary interior elevational view,-showing the relation of a guide member carried by the screen to a runway secure-d to the window frame when the screen is fullylowered.

Fig. dis a fragmentary interior elevational view of a portion of the screen, showing the relation of saidguide member and runway when the screenis fully raised.

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectionalview through one of the runways and the engaged portion of the screen taken upon the line 55 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a similar cross-sectional view taken upon the line 66 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a. fragmentary vertical section taken upon the line 7-7 of Fig. 3,'showing a sealing strip carried by the lower end of the screen for engagement with a window sill.

Fig. 8 is an end view of a housing within which the screen is adapted to wind upon a. suitable roller.

In these views the reference character 1 designates 'an' ordinary window frame, formed of wood, metal or other suitable material. lVhile F igs. l and 2 disclose said frame as provided with a pair of casement windows 2, it is to be understood that the 1 their upper ends somewhat below the top of said opening, as best appears in Fig. 1. Upon said strips are mounted the ends of a sheet metal housing 4 which extends substantially fully across the window. opening and has rigidly secured to its ends a pair of angular sheet metal brackets 5 which are suitably fastened to the uprights of the frame, as indicated at 5". Said brackets are sufliciently flexible to be readily bent to properly center the housing l between said uprights, thus compensating for variationsin the width of different window openings such as are due to rough carpentry. Longitudinally extending within the housing 4: is a tubular roller ,ing, the stop 18 may on 6 formed preferably of sheet metal and disposed for reasons which will presently appear, in a somewhat eccentric relation to said housing. As is common practice one end of said roller carries a pin 7, which is journaled in one end of the housing 4, and a rod 8 which projects from the other extremity of said roller is formed with a terminal tongue 9 which non-rotatively engages in a suitable slot in the opposite end wall. Upon said rod and within said roller, is coiled a spring 10 which is adapted to actuate the roller, in a well-known manner.

To the roller 6 is attached in any suitable manner one extremity of a window screen 11 passing through a slot 12 bet ween the bottom and front walls of the housing 1 and adapted to be downwardly withdrawn from said roller.

The free end of the screen is reinforced by a pair of sheet metal strips 13 and 14, clamped against opposite faces of the screen by bolt and nut connecions 15 or the like. Between the lower portions of said strips is clamped a strip of rubber or other flexible material 16 projecting some distance below said strips to engage the sill 17 when the screen is fully lowered, thus avoiding any gap between the sill and screen, such as might adrnit insects. To increase the rigidity of the connection between the strips 13 and 14: and the screen, it is preferred to longitudinally corrugate said strips, as best appears in Fig. 7, the screen being correspondingly corrugated, through its compression between said strips. It is further preferred to form the inner strip 13 with an upper portion which is inwardly bent and outwardly return bent throughout the length of said strip, as indicated at 18, forming a handle for raising and lowering the screen. The part 18 additionally serves as a stop to limit upward travel of the screen by Contact with a. board 19 which extends across the window opening at the top thereof and conceals the casing. Where it is not necessary to conceal the housgage said housing to limit raising of the screen.

Each lateral margin of the screen 11 is slidable in a runway formed by a pair of sheet metal strips 21 and 22, secured by screws 23 or the like to the inner edge of the corresponding jainb strip 3, and projecting preferably into the window opening somewhat beyond said jamb strip. In order that these runways may snugly engage the screen to establish a seal against the passage of insects to retain the screen selectively adjusted, it is preferred to form one of said strips of a relativelylight andresilient metal as brass or bronze, sprung at its free edge toward the companion strip, the latter being preferably of a heavier gauge metal such as sheet steel. In the illustrated embodiment of the inven tion, the relatively light and resilient strip 21 directly abuts the jamb strip 3, and the relatively heavy and rigid strip 22 is at the inner side of said strip 21.

It is desirable to engage the margins of the screen in said runways as to tension the screen between said margins and avoid any unsightly sagging of the screen inwardly or outwardly. It is further desirable, to per mit the screen to pull free from said runways if it is subjected to some abnormal force which otherwise would perhaps rupture the screen. The present invention subjects the screen to the desired degree of tension by correspondingly beading or corrugating the free edge portions of the strips 21 and 22 and the engaged margins of the screen. The inter-engaging offsets thus formed in the screen and runway members, when properly proportioned, offer a predetermined resistance to horizontal withdrawal of the screen from said runways.

It is highly desirable to prevent any appreciable tilting of the lower or free edge of said screen from its normal horizontal position, since such lilting will tend to unduly increase friction between the screen and its runways, and may produce such a binding of the screen as will make diflicult reestablishing of its working position. Also such tilting is likely to disengage one or both of the lower edges of the screen from the runway. As a safe-guard against undue tilting of the screen at its lower edge, the strips 21 and 22 of each runway are formed with complementary corrugations 2 1 which to gether produce a substantially tubular enlargement slideably receiving a guide member 25, secured to the binding strips 13 and 14, and having a vertical extent sufiicient to resist tilting of the screen. To minimize friction between said guide members and the runways, it is preferred to form the main portions of said members as relatively thin stems, and to provide upon the end portions of said stems heads 25* actin as slide-bear ings. The members 25 are mounted upon the screen by a pair of U-shaped brackets 26 which embrace the end portions of the strips 13, let and are rigidly secured thereto by bolts and nuts 27 or other suitable fasteningsil To prevent interference by the members 25 with final travel of the screen, as it approaches its limiting positions, it is preferred to adapt said members to slide vertically in the brackets 26. brackets form tubular sockets which slidably receive the stem portions of the members 25. hen the screen is drawn down to the sill 17, the guide members 25 are actuated by contact with said sill to the raised positions relative to brackets 26 shown in Fig. 3, and said members assume the lowered positions shown in Fig. 1 when the screen is fully raised.

To positively maintain engagement of the Thus the outer ends of said guide members 25, 25 in the corrugations 24, it is preferred to form the strip 22 of each runway with a return-bend 28, having an up-set edge 28 adjacent to the corrugations 24 forming an abutment engageable by the heads 25 to retain the guide memhere in place. 1 I

Preferably the bottom of the housing 4 is formed at each end of the slot 12 with upturned lugs 29 which restrict the screen from any material lateral travel when being wound upon or withdrawn from its roller. Also it is preferred to form on the brackets 5 a pair of downturned lugs 30 adjacent to the ends of the slot 12 to provide bearing faces against which the edges of the screen may travel in passing through said slot. The lugs 30 exercise the further function of engaging between and spreading apart the top portions of the slrips '21 and 22 of each runway so that the latter apply only slight friction to the upper portion of the screen. It is preferred to thus reduce the friction acting upon the upper portion of the screen, because there will ordinarily be no occasion for retaining the screen in any upper position other than fully raised. l

It is a decided advantage of the described construction that the corrugations or crimps in the screen margins and runways 21, 22 may be inexpensively formed. by feeding them between suitable rolls and that the re tention'of the screen in the runways by the use of such corrugations has no tendency to damage the screen when through any abnormal shock or jar it is pulled out of the runway. .a

It is a further ad-vani age of said runways that they subject the screen to sufficient friction to retain the screen selectively adjusted while not unduly resisting sliding of the screen.

The construction is one, furthermore, that permits a quick and convenient mounting of.

the runways in proper working relation to the screen, since the screen itself may be used to determine the working positions of the runways before the latter are secured in place. Thus in installing the screen, the housing t with the screen rolled therein is first properly positioned in the top portion of the window opening as has been described. The resilient runway strips 21' are then placed in their approximate positions of use against the inner edge faces of thejamb boards 3,

the screen is downwardly withdrawn a short distance, and the guide members 25, 25a are pressed into the corrugations of said strips to properly position the upper portions of said strips. Nails 31 are then driven through the upper portion of said strips to maintain said position. The screen is then drawn down a further distance and the strips 21 are nailed in place down to this same point. This process is continued until the strips 21 are secured in place throughout their entire length. The companion strips 22 are then similarly progressively screwed in place utilizing the guide members 25, 25a to determine the proper positions of said strip. T he; screws 23 which position the strips 22, also supplement the nails 31 in positioning the strips 21.

The brackets 26 have a joint thickness considerably exceeding the thickness of the screen. 1'5 and consequently, as the latter is actuated up 1 or down, said brackets serve to spread apart the strips 21 and 22 relieving the screen margins of friction, for some distance above said brackets. Thus said strips gradually closer in upon the screen margins some distance above the lower end of the screen so that the wear upon the screen due to friction with the runways is negligible.

The eccentric mounting of the roller 6 ingg the housing 4 is highly desirable from the viewpoint of minimizing the size of said housing without undue resulting friction between the housing and screen when the latter is fully rolled, or substantiallyso. I havefound that the action of the spring 10 upon the rolled screen and the stress exerted upon the screen through its depending portion, jointly tend to shift it to a position eccentric to the roller 6, as Fig. 2 illustrates. There-. 195 fore the location of the axis of said roller at a point forwardly and upwardly removed from the axis of the housing 4 results in establishing a center position of the rolled screen inthe casing, and consequentlymini-x mixes the required size of said housing.

While it will be apparent that the illustrated embodiment of my invention here disclosed is well calculated to adequately fulfill the objects and advantages primarily stated, it is to be understood that the invention is susceptible, to variation, modification and change withinithe spirit and scope of the subjoined claims.

The screws 23 may be tightened or loosenedto regulate the friction under which the screen is engaged by the runways.

. What I claim is:

1. In a device of the character described, the combination with a sliding window screen 1 5 formed with shallow corrugationsextending adjacent to its lateral'margins, of runways engaging opposite faces of said margins and corrugated correspondingly to said margins.

2.-In a device of the character described jm the combination with a sliding window screen, formed with corrugations parallel to its lateral margins, of runways engaging said margins, eachcomprising a pair of members engaging opposite faces of said margins, and-J25 corrugated in registration with said marginal corrugations, one of said members being sprung toward the other to impose a frictional restraint on said screen.

3. In a device of the character described,

the combination with a sliding screen formed with bends adjacent to its margins, of guide members resiliently engaging said margins bent correspondingly to said margins.

4. A runway for a sliding screen, comprising a pair of adjacent sheet metal strips correspondingly corrugated to embrace a margm of a screen, and reversely corrugated to form a passage for a guide member carried by the screen.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination with a sliding window screen, of a reinforcement extending across an end of said screen, a pair of brackets carried by said screen and projecting beyond the lateral margins of the screen, slide guides carried by said brackets extending beyond said brackets parallel to the lateral margins of the screen and spaced therefrom, said guides having terminal heads at opposite sides of said brackets, and a pair of runways engaged by the lateral margins of the screen and formed with passages receiving the outer end portions of said brackets, the heads of said slide guides bemg engaged with the walls of said passages.

6. In a device of the character described, the combination with a sliding window screen, of a pair of brackets carried by said screen, at opposite points upon its lateral margins, a pair of slide guides carried by said brackets and elongated beyond said brackets in spaced relation to the lateral margins of the screen, and slideable in said brackets parallel to said margins, means carried by said slide guides limiting their sliding travel relative to said brackets, a pair of runways engaged by the lateral margins of the screen, and formed with passages slideably receiving said slide guides, and an abutment limiting travel of the screen in one direction, encountered by said slide guides as the screen approaches said abutment, whereby the slide guides are shifted rex ersely to actuation of the screen.

7 In a device of the character described, the combination with a sliding window screen and a pair of slide guides for said screen elongated in parallelism with the lateral margins of the screen, of supports for said slide guides carried by said screen j acent to said lateral margins, affording said guides a limited travel relative to the screen parallel to said margins, a pair of runways engaging the lateral margins of the screen and formed with passages receiving said slide guides, and means engageable by said slide guides for limiting travel of the screen in both directions of its sliding, said guides being moveable in said supports by said limiting means, to increase the range of permissible travel of the screen.

8. In a device of the character described, the combinaion with a sliding screen. of a sealing member carried by an end of said screen, a pair of slide guides elongated in the direction of sliding of said screen, a pair of brackets mounting said slide guides, carried by said screen, adjacent to said sea-ling member, and respectively adjacent to lateral margins of the screen, a pair of runways engaging the corresponding margins of said screen and forming passages receiving said slide guides, and an abutment engageable by said sealing member in the extended position of the screen, said slide guides being slideable in said brackets through engagement of said guides with said abutment, whereby the sealing member may closely approach said abutment.

9. In a device of the character described, the combination with a sliding window screen, of a bracket projecting laterally beyond an edge of said screen, forming a slide bearing, a slide guide slideable in said bearing in the direction of sliding of the screen, and terminally formed with heads of a diameter exceeding that of said bearing, said heads limiting sliding of said guide in said bearing, and a runway engaging said screen margin formed with a passage receiving said slide guide.

10. In a device of the character described, the combination with a sliding screen, of a bracket projecting laterally beyond an edge of said screen, a guide carried by said bracket elongated in the direction of sliding of the screen and formed terminally with guide heads, and a runway comprising sheet metal walls extending at opposite sides of the screen margin carrying said bracket, and forming a passage receiving said guide, one of said walls being return bent between said walls and forming an abutment engageable with the heads of said guide to retain the guide in said passage.

In testimony whereof I sign this specification.

HARRY M. COATES.

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