US769423A - Flexible screen. - Google Patents

Description

PATENTED SEPT. '6, 1904.

P. H. WILSON.

FLEXIBLE SCREEN.

APPLICATION FILED DB0. 1s. 190s.

NO MODEL.

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Patented September 6, 1904.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PEROY HUNT IVILSON, OF NORFOLK, VIRGINIA.

FLEXIBLE SCREEN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 769,423, dated September 6, 1904,

Application filed December 16, 1903. Serial No. 185,382. (No model.)

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Be it known that I, PERCY HUNT llIiLsoN, a citizen of Great Britain, residing at Norfolk, in the county of Norfolk and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flexible Screens, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of screens, such as are used for rolling shutters and other purposes, where a series of longitudinal strips are jointed together; and my invention consists in so constructing the said strips that the edge of one may be iiexibly connected with the edge of the next strip, so as to form a self-supporting connected structure-that is, so that the connections between the strips shall be secured without the use of chains or other ancillary connecting' means, as fully set forth hereinafter and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in whichn Figure 1 illustrates two connectedstrips of a flexible screen, showing the same in crosssection and in perspective. Fig. Q is a longitudinal section at one end or edge of the structure. Fig. 3 is a detached end view of one of the strips. Fig. 4 is a transverse section illustrating another form in which the structure may be embodied.

The screen consists of a series of connected parallel strips or members A, each provided with a cylindrical rib 1 at one edge and with two inturned separated ribs 2 3 at the opposite edge, the inner contour of the ribs 2 3 corresponding to the external form of the ribs 1, so that the strips may be connected together by introducing' the cylindrical rib of one strip between the inturned ribs of the next strip, as shown in Fig. 1. lVhen thus connected, a series of strips or members will constitute a continuous jointed or flexible structure. Preferably each strip is made of thin metal to thereby reduce weight and facilitate manufacture; but when made of sheet metal there is difliculty in securing a selfsupporting connected structure from the tendency of the ribs 2 3 to yield or spring apart and release the cylindrical rib from its position. To overcome this difliculty, I strengthen each strip by the use of a bent strip 4, which may be of any suitable weight required to insure the desired rigidity at the socketed edge of the strip. lVhere the strip, as shown in the drawings, is made of metal bent to form a hollow structure and with hollow ribs Qand 3, the strengthening-stri p 4 may lit within the hollow ribs, as shown in Fig. 1. In other cases, as shown in Fig. 4, a hollow strip 4 of heavy material may be bent to receive the rib 1 and may be soldered or otherwise secured to the inturned sides 5 6 of the main strip. In either case the strengthening-strip 4 imparts such stiffness to the inturned ribs as will prevent them from springing apart and causing the separation of the diii'erent elements of the structure. In some cases it is desirable to have the faces of the strips at one side as nearly in line with each other as possible, and this may be secured by setting the ribs 1 nearer to one edge of the strip than to the other, as shown in Fig. 1. Additional rigidity may be imparted to the strips by providing each with a suitable tiller. For some purposes, where a lireproof screen is not required, the filler may be made of wood or pulp; but where a tireproof screeneas, for instance, a rolling shutteris desired a iireproof composition, such as lignolith or any other iireproof material, may be used as a filler. In [ireproof structures greater security maybe obtained by protecting the narrow neck T, joining the rib 1 to the body of the strip, by extending' one of the inturned ribs-mas, for instance, the rib 2-`i'arther down or beyond the other, thus covering the said neck. The strips are capped at the ends by means of caps 8, properly secured, and the rib of each strip may be cut away, forming a notch 9, as shown in Fig. 3, to receive the cap of the connected strip to thereby prevent the strips from sliding longitudinally independent of each other, or any other suitable means may be employed for this purpose.

l-Vithout limiting myself to the precise construction and arrangement shown, I claim- 1. The combination in a flexible screen, of strips each hollow and provided with a filler and with a rib 1 at one edge and parallel inturned ribs at the other edge adapted to engage the rib 1 of the next strip and constituting the sole means of connecting the two, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination in a flexible screen, of

strips each hollow and provided with a fillerv and with a rib l at one edge and parallel inturned ribs at the other edge adapted to engage the rib l of the next strip and constituting the sole means of connecting the two, and caps closing the ends of the hollow strips, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination in a iiexible screen, of strips each hollow and provided with a lireproof filler and with a rib l at one edge and parallel inturned ribs at the other edge adapted to engage the rib l of the next strip and constituting' the sole means of connecting the two, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination in a flexible screen, of strips each with a cylindrical rib at one edge and with separated hollow inturned ribs at the opposite edge adapted to engage the cylindrical rib of the next strip, and a bent strip litting said hollow ribs, substantially as set forth.

5. A metallic screen consisting of strips jointed together to form a continuons flexible self-supporting and connecting structure, each strip with a cylindrical rib at one edge and with inturned ribs at the opposite edge engaging the cylindrical rib of the adjacent strip, one inturned rib extending below the edge of the other, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

6. A metallic screen consisting of hollow strips containing lireproof filling jointed together to form a continuous flexible self-supporting and connecting' structure, each strip with a cylindrical rib at one edge and with inturned ribs at the opposite edge engaging the cylindrical rib of the adjacent strip, substantially as set forth.

7 A metallic screen consisting of strips jointed together to form a continuous exible self-supporting and connecting structure, each strip with a cylindrical rib at one edge and near one side, and with intnrned ribs at the opposite edge engaging the cylindrical rib of the adjacent strip, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof l have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

PEECY HUNT wiLsoN.

Witnesses:

CHARLES E. FOSTER, FRED. P. HINKEL.

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