WO1996001936A1

WO1996001936A1 - Fly screen

Info

Publication number: WO1996001936A1
Application number: PCT/GB1995/001563
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jeffrey Stuart Hindle; Stuart Hindle
Original assignee: Apexbell Limited
Priority date: 1994-07-12
Filing date: 1995-07-03
Publication date: 1996-01-25
Also published as: GB2304777A; GB9501549D0; AU2803295A; GB2304777B; GB9700457D0

Abstract

The invention relates to screens and particularly but not exclusively to screens for use as fly doors, windows, shutters, vent covers, partitions and the like. The invention comprises a screen for use as a fly door and/or window and/or shutter and/or partition or the like having a frame member (1) of substantially uniform and essentially square or rectangular cross section wherein a first side of said cross section is provided with a first attachment means (3) to which a fly screen mesh (5) is attachable, and opposite said first side, a second side is provided with means defining a recess (4) and/or hinge receiving means.

Description

FLY SCREEN

The invention relates to screens, particularly but not exclusively, for use in association with fly doors and/or windows and/or shutters and/or ventilation apertures/partitions and the like.

Fly screens, as an integral part of conventional doors, or adapted to fit into and so be used in conjunction with conventional door leaves, are well known. Typically, such doors comprise lightweight metal frames which are used to support metal or plastic meshes which serve as fly screens. The screens are manufactured and sold to fit into conventional doors and in turn metal door leaves are typically manufactured so as to have attachments for holding fly screens.

Conventional fly doors are made from lightweight metal frames or timber and although these frames are attractive they are subject to weathering and therefore they are not sufficiently durable.

Similarly, fly screens, as an integral part of conventional windows, or adapted to sit into and so be used in conjunction with conventional window frames, are also known. Again, such fly screens suffer from the disadvantages described above.

Furthermore, conventional fly doors and/or windows are made from a number of component parts arranged to fit theretogether so as to hold therebetween at least one fly screen. The component parts vary in size and shape, and the size and shape is usually, determined by the particular function that each component part is adapted to perform. It therefore follows that the provision of a conventional fly door and/or window involves a substantial amount of tooling and therefore manufacture is time consuming and costly. The invention of this present patent specification is an improvement to a screen for use as a fly door and/or window, shutter, vent cover, partition or the like which overcomes the aforementioned disadvantages and thus provides for a fly screen such as a fly door and/or window shutter, vent cover, partition or the like which can resist weathering and is therefore durable, but is also structurally sound and strong whilst at the same time sufficiently lightweight for conventional use, attractive in terms of surface decoration moulding; and furthermore a fly screen such as a fly door and/or window etc which is efficient to manufacture, inexpensive to produce, and easy to assemble.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a fly door, window, shutter, ventilation aperture cover or the like which may, in one embodiment, be adapted to fit onto an existing frame such as a door and/or window frame; and a sub-frame member for such a fly door or window which overcomes the aforementioned disadvantages.

According therefore to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a fly screen for use as a fly door and/or window and/or shutter and/or partition and/or ventilation aperture cover or the like comprising a frame member of substantially uniform cross-section, which cross- section is essentially square or rectangular and wherein a first side of said cross-section is provided with a first attachment means to which a fly screen mesh is attached, and opposite said first side, a second side is provided with means defining a recess and/or hinge receiving means.

We have discovered that a frame member in accordance with the invention can be used throughout, for example, the entire door structure thus essentially a single member can be used for the manufacture of, for example, the fly door. Furthermore we have also discovered that a frame member in accordance with the invention can be used in conjunction with essentially any other frame member in accordance with the invention to produce an entire structure such as a fly door even including a subframe and indeed to produce to range of structures for different purposes and having different orientations. This means that only one sort of tooling is required and so efficiency of production and manufacturing costs are optimised. In a further embodiment of the invention, where a fly door or window is to be attached to an existing door or window, the fly door or window is provided with a sub-frame, which sub-frame comprises the frame member in accordance with the invention. In this alternative embodiment the sub-frame and the fly door or window frame member are sealingly engagable theretogether, ideally by use of hinges, so as to prevent the passage of insects therebetween and moreover the sub-frame and the fly door or window frame member are orientated, with respect to each other, so that the axis between the attachment means and the recess or hinge receiving means of the sub-frame and the corresponding axis of the fly door or window frame member are substantially at right angles.

We have found it remarkable that essentially a single structure having a cross section according to the invention can be used to manufacture an entire fly door or window and/or fly door or window sub-frame. We have also found it remarkable that a structure having a cross-sectional perimeter in accordance with the invention is compatible with any other structure having a cross-sectional perimeter in accordance with the invention to enable the production of an entire fly screen for use as a fly door, window, shutter, partition or vent cover.

In the following description it will become apparent how our invention achieves all the desired results and thus overcomes all the aforementioned disadvantages.

In a first embodiment of the invention where said frame member is provided with said attachment means, and opposite same, a recess, bolts or the like are used to attach said frame member to a door, window, partition or shutter structure or to a frame or region surrounding a ventilation aperture. Preferably said recess is shaped to cooperate with the head of a bolt or the like. Ideally said recess is sized to accommodate the entire head of a bolt or the like.

In a second embodiment of the invention and preferably where opposite said attachment means there is provided a hinge receiving means, said frame member is attached to, for example, a door or window structure using a sliding arrangement which consists of headed bolts which are adapted to fit within said attachment means. In this arrangement said frame member can be, essentially, hung on the heads of said bolts and so attached to the door or window structure. It follows, that in this embodiment, the size and shape of said attachment means and said bolt heads are complementary so that said heads will fit within said attachment means.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention said means defining a recess comprises a shaped recess which functions as a second attachment means to which a second fly screen mesh can be attached.

In a further preferred embodiment, said first attachment means comprises a recess. Preferable said recess of said first attachment means is substantially identical to the recess of said second attachment means.

Advantageously said recess is substantially square or rectangular in cross-section. Preferably said recess comprises an overhanging projection along at least one edge of an opening which gives access to the recess.

In a further preferred embodiment there is provided a frame member for use in a fly screen comprising a member of substantially uniform cross-section which cross-section is substantially square or rectangular and wherein a first side of said cross-section is provided with a recess either for attaching a fly screen mesh thereto or for mounting said frame onto an existing door or window structure.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the frame member is provided with two of said recesses on opposite sides thereof so that a first recess may be used for attaching a fly screen thereto and a second recess may be used for mounting said frame onto an existing door or window structure.

Preferably, the hinge receiving means comprise reinforcement means located on the two corners of the frame member opposite said attachment means. Ideally, said reinforcement means may be solid or part solid, but in either case, comprises sufficient reinforcement material at said corners so that said corners are adapted to fixedly receive hinge means. Preferably said reinforcement means comprises a diagonally mounted cross-strut having regard to said corner. It will be appreciated that this latter embodiment concerns the provision of a hollow frame member.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the provision of two frame members each having an attachment means and opposite same a hinge receiving means, which frame members are arranged so that their second sides comprising the hinge receiving means are attached theretogether, fixedly or hingedly, provides a combined frame member equivalent to the frame member in accordance with the invention having a recess on each of said first and second sides.

In a further preferred embodiment the cross-section of said frame member is divided by a web or support member which extends from a third side of said frame member to an opposite fourth side of said frame member. Advantageously the web or support member divides the cross-section of said frame member into two substantially equal halves.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the fly door and/or sub-frame comprises a solid plastics frame.

Alternatively said frames are hollow and ideally made from extruded plastics.

Alternatively, in a further embodiment of the invention the fly door and/or sub-frame comprise a lightweight metal frame or a timber frame that is coated with a plastics material.

In a further embodiment of the invention the solid plastic frame comprise a plastics foam core which may be joined to an outer plastic frame by an intermediary such as glass microspheres or alternatively by a composition comprising a mixture of glass microspheres and polyester resin.

Preferably any of the aforementioned doors, shutters, or the like are adapted to be either hingedly mounted or slidably mounted or rotatably mounted to an existing structure.

In a further preferred embodiment, where said first or second attachment means comprises a recess said first or second attachment means further comprises a stop member and ideally resilient beading. Advantageously said beading comprises resilient material and/or a resilient structure. Preferably said beading comprises in cross-section a base having two spaced and aligned wedge portions resiliently mounted thereon, which wedge portions are sized and shaped to cooperate with said recess and said one or more overhanging projections so as to wedge said fly screen mesh in said recess.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying figures wherein.

Figures la, lb, lc and Id represent front elevation views of door frames in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 represents a front elevation view of a sub-frame in accordance with the invention.

Figure 3 represents a sectional view of a frame member in accordance with the invention.

Figure 4 represents an exploded view of an alternative attachment means in accordance with the invention.

Figure 5 represents a sectional view of a part of a fly door and sub-frame, when assembled for use, in accordance with the invention.

Figure 6 represents a sectional view of the assembling of a fly door and sub-frame in accordance with the invention.

Figures 7a, 7b and 7c represent a sectional and close-up sectional views of alternative frame members in accordance with the invention. Figures 8a, 8b and 8c represent sectional views of alternative frame members in accordance with the invention.

Figures 9a and 9b represent sectional views of part of a fly door when assembled for use in accordance with the invention.

Figures 10a and 10b represent sectional views of the assembling of part of a fly door and subframe in accordance with the invention.

Figures 11a and lib represent sectional views of parts of a fly door and/or fly door and subframe for use in accordance with the invention.

Figure 12 represents a close-up sectional view of a frame member including beading in accordance with the invention.

In the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention reference will be made to fly doors only. However, it is intended that the invention has application in the provision of fly screens for windows, apertures and the like and therefore it is not intended that the following description should be limited to the context of a fly door.

Referring to the figures and firstly to figures la, lb, lc and Id there is illustrated four alternative examples of fly doors. The doors comprise a rectangular outer frame member 1 which is typically mounted so that the longest sides are upright. Positioned at various locations along the length of the upright sides there are provided cross members 2. Each cross member 2 comprises either a single frame member or two contiguous and parallel frame members to be described hereinafter.

The number and spacing of cross members 2 may vary according to a user's requirements. However, since the cross members 2 are provided with a view to sectioning the door into a number of parts, then the number of parts required will determine the number of cross members 2 provided. Referring now to figure 3 there is shown in cross-section the structure of frame 1 and cross members 2. It follows that in this particular embodiment frame 1 and each cross member 2 are made from the same component. The component in section is essentially square or rectangular. Moreover, in the embodiment depicted an attachment chamber 3 is provided on one of the shorter sides of the rectangular section, and opposite same a recess 4 is provided. However, it is within the scope of the invention to provide in opposing fashion the attachment chamber 3 and the recess 4, at a predetermined position, on the longest sides of the rectangular section.

Attachment chamber 3 is sized and shaped to accommodate a first end of a fly screen mesh 5. Because of the essentially flexible nature of the fly screen mesh 5, the end of screen mesh 5 contained in chamber 3 is distorted so as to fit therein and a flexible deformable stop member 6 is wedged within chamber 3 so that screen mesh 5 is fixedly retained within chamber 3. In this way, screen mesh 5 is attached to frame member 1 and/or cross member 2.

An example of a stop member 6 in accordance with the invention is shown in Figure 12.

Here stop member 6 comprises resilient elongate beading having a base 6a and spaced and aligned jaws 6b and 6c. Jaws 6b and 6c are resiliently mounted on neck portions 6c for wedging mesh 5 within chamber 3 as shown. Typically beading 6 is made from resilient material such as rubber, uPVC or the like.

Referring again to Figures 1 and 3 although it is not shown, it will be apparent that at the opposite end of screen mesh 5, the opposite outermost edge of screen mesh 5 is similarly retained within an attachment chamber 3 located on the opposite side of the door frame.

In the instance where a cross member 2 is provided, two frame members are aligned in back to back fashion so that screen 5 can be attached to the outermost sides of said aligned members. Figures 9a and 9b show frame members according to the invention arranged in back to back fashion to provide a cross-strut 2 for a fly door. Alternatively, the frame member shown in Figure 8a may be provided, which frame member comprises an essentially rectangular structure having similar recesses provided in opposite short sides. Both of these recesses are adapted to accommodate an outermost edge of a fly screen 5 and so if required this single frame member can be used as an alternative to the provision of two cross members. However, it is of note that it will not provide the added structural strength that is typically provided by the provision of two cross members 2 in back to back fashion. Figure 8b shows an alternative frame member similar to that seen in Figure 8a, but having a cross-wall 12 extending between the two longest sides to import additional strength to the structure.

Figure 4 shows an alternative attachment chamber which is almost triangular in section. It will therefore be apparent that the shape of the attachment chamber is not intended to be limited by those shapes described herein, rather the attachment chamber may assume any shape providing an edge of a fly screen and a stopping member such as member 6 seen in Figure 12 can be wedged therein.

It is also within the scope of the invention to attach to the frame member structures an item other than a fly screen mesh. For example, towards the lower most part of a door, a cross member 2 may be provided and attached to the lower part of the door frame and lower part of cross member 2 there may be provided, what is known in the trade as, a kicker board. This is essentially a durable planar structure which protects the lower part of the door from damage due to impact. Alternatively, opaque and/or decorative screens comprising, for example, fabric can be so attached to provide lightweight partition doors or walls etc such as might be used in Eastern cultures.

Where the door is to be placed in a conventional door frame, hinge members or slide members or rotary members are attached to the frame member in conventional manner so ensuring that the door fits flush within the aperture provided therefor. This ensures that insects can not bypass the fly door.

In the instance where the fly door is to be attached to an existing door a sub-frame 7 is first provided. Referring now to figure 2 there is shown a sub-frame in accordance with the invention which comprises the frame member shown in figure 3, but the frame member is rotated through 90 degrees with respect to the view shown in figures la, lb, lc and Id. Thus one can see bolts 9 in recesses 4, provided periodically along the length of the sub- frame member. The sub-frame is attached to an existing door frame structure by driving bolts 9 through selected parts of recesses 4 so that they penetrate the frame member and an existing door structure located adjacent chamber 3. This arrangement is shown in figure 5 where the door sub-frame 7 is placed sealingly against an existing door frame structure 8 such that the longitudinal axis between chamber 3 and recess 4 is at right angles to the vertical axis of door frame structure 8. Further a bolt 9 is located along the longitudinal axis of the frame member so as to join door frame structure 8 and sub-frame 7 theretogether.

It is of note that the head of bolt 9 sits in recess 4 so that when a door frame member as shown in either figure la, lb, lc or Id is attached to the sub-frame they fit flush together. This arrangement is best illustrated in Figure 6. It can also be seen, in the embodiment depicted, that the outer engaging edges of the sub-frame and door frame structure are hinged theretogether at region A. Moreover it can be seen that the door frame member 1 is orientated at 90 degrees with respect to the orientation of sub-frame 7.

The sub-frame 7 and door frame member 1 are sized and shaped such that when brought theretogether they sealingly engage so as to prevent insects passing therebetween.

It will be understood that the size and shape of the sub-frame and the door frame may vary according to requirements.

Alternatively, in the instance where a fly door is to be attached to an existing door the sub- frame shown in Figures 7a and 8c (full line) may be provided. The frame member is essentially square or rectangular in shape and furthermore it is hollow. The provision of a hollow frame member is favoured because it means that the structure is lightweight and inexpensive. In the following description those features previously described with reference to the foregoing figures will be referred to using the same reference numerals.

Frame member 1 comprises a frame la, which may or may not be hollow, defining a hollow core 10. An attachment chamber 3 is provided in one of the shorter sides of the rectangular section, however it is within the scope of the invention to provide attachment chamber 3 in one of the longer sides of the rectangular section.

The size and shape of attachment chamber 3 is further illustrated in the exploded view seen in Figure 7b. In one embodiment the chamber may be semi-circular in section, or in an alternative, and more preferred embodiment, the chamber may be of a square section as also seen in Figure 12. In any event, the chamber is sized and shaped so as to accommodate the head of a bolt member for reasons which will become clear hereinafter. In particular attachment chamber 3 is provided with projections 13 which overhang the opening giving access to chamber 3.

On the side of the frame la opposite attachment chamber 3 corners 11 and 12 are provided with reinforcement means. The exploded view Figure 7c shows the reinforcement means in greater detail. It can be seen that the reinforcement means comprises a brace member 13 provided at a 45° angle to the two sides of the corner. Alternatively, reinforcement means may be provided by way of a block piece of material (not shown). The function of the reinforcement means is to provide substance for receiving a hinge, and more specifically the bolts of the hinge.

In instances where the frame member is not to be used to receive a hinge, reinforcement means can be dispensed with.

In addition, in some instances, it may be advisable to provide a frame member as shown in

Figures 7a and 8c which is essentially square in section. An example of a squatter version of a frame member is shown in Figure 8c (dotted line) . This compact version of the frame member shown in Figure 7a and 8c is ideally suited for use when attaching a fly screen to a window because the spacing between the existing window frame, to which the frame member shown in Figure 7a or 8c is attached, and a fly screen is reduced to an optimum amount. In addition the inherent strength in the frame member is increased without the need for an additional cross wall 12.

In use, where frame 1 is to be attached to an existing door frame, as previously illustrated in Figure 6, two frame members are provided and orientated at right angles with respect to each other. However in the embodiment shown in Figure 7a, a first frame member is attached to an existing door by: firstly, driving bolts having heads 14 (dotted line) adapted to fit within chamber 3 into preselected parts of a door and then hooking said frame 1 (see full line in Figure 7a) onto said bolts via attachment chamber 3. The bolts are typically concealed from view within attachment chamber 3. Once this operation is completed a second frame 1 (see dotted-line in Figure 7a) is orientated at right angles with respect to the first frame member and the two members are attached theretogether using conventional hinge means at region B of Figure 7a.

The operation of hooking frame 1 onto bolts via attachment chamber 3 is facilitated by manufacturing frame 1 from a deformable material so that, in operation, chamber 3 is firstly aligned with a series of bolt heads and then the bolts heads are made to sit within chamber 3 by simply knocking the two together.

It will be appreciated from the above that attachment chamber 3 is dual purpose in that it can be used to provide a means of secret fixing of the frame member to an existing structure using bolts or to mount a fly screen mesh therein using a stop member.

In addition the frame member shown in Figure 7a may be also used in conjunction with the frame member shown in Figure 8a for the purpose of reinforcement. For example, as described above, the member shown in Figure 7a may be hooked onto an existing door structure using attachment chamber 3 and then bolts can be placed in the opposite parallel short side so that the bolt heads extend outwardly therefrom. The frame member shown in Figure 8a can then be hooked on to these outwardly extending bolt heads using a first attachment chamber 3 so as to provide for a double frame membered structure. A conventional fly screen 5 can then be attached to the other attachment chambers 3 as described above.

In yet an alternative embodiment shown in Figure 8a and 8b a frame member 1 may be provided having an attachment chamber 3 on two opposite sides of said square or rectangular frame member. This alternative embodiment is favoured, as described above, when a fly screen has to be attached to either side thereof and only one cross-member 2 is preferred.

Referring now to Figures 9a and 9b, two frame members are combined in back to back fashion to provide a cross-strut 2 for use as shown in Figures la, lb, lc and Id. Mesh 5 extends outwardly from each attachment chamber 3 in which it is wedged by a stop member (not shown). Typically the two alternative frame members are bolted, glued or otherwise fixedly joined together (see bolts 17). Alternatively, a hinge 16 can be provided so that different parts of the fly door can be pivoted with respect to one another. This arrangement can be seen in figures 9a, 11a and lib.

It will be apparent from the description above in one of the preceding paragraphs regarding the combination of frame members seen in Figures 7a and 8a and from Figures 9a, 10b and 11a that alternative frame members in accordance with the invention are compatible with one another and can be used as required to produce a fly door/window/partition etc of a desired size, shape and configuration.

An important feature of the invention is that the door frame is made from a plastics material, either a solid plastics material, or a lightweight metal, or metal or timber coated with plastics. This makes the part of the door made from this material, which part may include only the outer frame or a more substantial area of the door, able to resist weathering.

The door frame is sized and shaped and adapted so as to be fitted onto an existing door frame mounting and it will be understood that a door in accordance with the invention may either be a sliding or hinged or even a revolving door.

It will be apparent from the above that it is now possible to provide a single frame member, as depicted in the Figures in an appropriate amount for cutting into a number of predetermined lengths so as to construct a fly door or window in accordance with the invention. In addition, the provision of a suitable amount of fly screen mesh or material and/or an amount of stop member or resilient beading 6 also provides a purchaser with sufficient equipment, in modular form, for the construction in simple fashion of a fly door or window.

Alternatively, or in addition, it is also possible to provide a combination of different frame members having a cross-sectional periphery or perimeter in accordance with the invention as shown in the Figures which can be used in a selective manner for the construction of a fly door assembly. Thus again, a modular kit may be provided for the purpose of constructing a fly door.

Fly screen 5 may be either made of a single layer of metal or plastics material or may be made from a plurality of layers of metal and/or plastics materials such that the mesh construction of each layer is chosen or arranged so that each mesh layer is at a predetermined angle to an adjacent mesh layer. For example, where there is more than one mesh layer positioned one behind the other, mesh orientation of one layer may run at, for example, 45 degrees to the horizontal whilst mesh orientation of another layer may run at 90 degrees to the horizontal and mesh orientation of yet another layer may run at 135 degrees to the horizontal. In other words, the security strength and intrusion resistance of the door is increased, plus one of the layers is effectively angled at 45 degrees to the other of the layers and so the panel occupied by the sheets is filled to optimum effect while still allowing the passage of air from one side of the screen to the other, but not the passage of insects.

In the embodiment illustrated the frame member is shown to comprise an essentially hollow square or rectangular section member. In other embodiments of the invention the member may be solid or alternatively the hollow centre may be filled with a preselected core material depending on a user's requirements.

The invention thus enables a fly screen for use as a fly door, shutter, window, partition or vent cover and so on to be manufactured using essentially a single elongate frame member having the cross-sections described herein or a combination of frame members each having a cross-sectional perimeter as described herein since these frame members according to the invention are compatible for use with one another.

Claims

1. A screen for use as a fly door, window, shutter, partition, vent cover or the like comprising a frame member of substantially uniform cross-section, which cross-section is essentially square or rectangular and wherein a first side of said cross-section is provided with a first attachment means to which a fly screen mesh is attached and opposite said first side, a second side is provided with means defining a recess and/or hinge receiving means.

2. A screen according to Claim 1 wherein, where the screen is to be attached to an existing structure such as door or window frame, the screen is provided with a sub-frame which sub-frame comprises a further frame member in accordance with the invention.

3. A screen according to Claim 2 wherein the frame member and the further frame member of the sub-frame are sealingly engaged theretogether.

4. A screen according to Claim 2 or 3 wherein the frame member and the further frame member of the sub-frame are hingedly engaged theretogether.

5. A screen according to Claims 2, 3 or 4 wherein the frame member and the further frame member of the sub-frame are orientated with respect to each other so that the axis between the attachment means and the means defining a recess and/or hinge receiving means of the frame member and the corresponding axis between the attachment means and the means defining recess and/or hinge receiving means of the further frame member of the sub-frame are substantially at right angles.

6. A screen according to any preceding Claim wherein opposite said attachment means there is provided a recess; and further wherein bolts or the like are used to attach said frame member to an existing structure such as a door or window frame.

7. A screen according to Claims 1 to 5 wherein said frame member is attached to an existing structure such as a door or window frame using a sliding or snap-fit arrangement which consists of headed bolts which are adapted to fit within said attachment means so that the frame member can be hung on the heads of said bolts and so attached to the door or window structure.

8. A screen according to Claim 7 wherein the size and shape of the attachment means and the bolt heads are complementary so that said heads will fit within said attachment means.

9. A screen according to any preceding Claim wherein said frame member is provided with said attachment means and, opposite same, a means defining a recess wherein said means comprises a recess which functions as a second attachment means to which a second fly screen mesh can be attached.

10. A screen according to any preceding Claim wherein said first attachment means comprises a recess.

11. A screen according to Claim 10 when dependent on Claim 9 wherein said recess of said first attachment means is substantially identical to the recess of said second attachment means.

12. A screen according to any preceding Claim wherein said recess, or when dependent on Claim 11 said recesses, is, or are, substantially square or rectangular in cross-section.

13. A screen according to any preceding Claim wherein at least one of said recesses comprises an overhanging projection along at least one edge of an opening which gives access to the recess.

14. A screen according to any preceding Claim wherein there is provided a frame member of substantially uniformly cross-section which cross-section is substantially square or rectangular and wherein a first side of said cross-section is provided with a recess either for attaching a fly screen mesh thereto or for mounting said frame onto an existing structure such as a door or window.

15. A screen according to Claim 14 wherein the frame member is provided with two of said recesses on opposite sides thereof so that a first recess may be used for attaching a fly screen thereto and a second recess may be used for mounting said frame onto an existing structure such as a door or window.

16. A screen according to any preceding Claim wherein the hinge receiving means comprises reinforcement means located on the two comers of the frame member opposite said attachment means.

17. A screen according to Claim 16 wherein said reinforcement means are adapted to receive a hinge securing means.

18. A screen according to Claim 16 or 17 wherein said reinforcement means comprises a cross-strut which is diagonally mounted having regard to said comers.

19. A screen according to any preceding claim wherein the cross-section of said frame member is divided by a web or support member which extends from a third side of said frame member to an opposite fourth side of said frame member.

20. A screen according to Claim 19 wherein the web or support member divides the cross-section of said frame into two substantially equal halves.

21. A screen according to any preceding Claim wherein the frame member comprises a solid plastic frame.

22. A screen according to Claims 1 to 20 wherein said frame member is hollow.

23. A screen according to any preceding Claim wherein the frame member is made from extruded plastic, a lightweight metal frame coated with plastic or a timber frame coated with plastic.

24. A screen according to Claim 21 wherein the solid plastic frame member comprises a plastics foam core which may be joined to an outer plastic frame by an intermediary such as glass micro-spheres or alternatively by a composition comprising a mixture of glass, micro-spheres and polyester resin.

25. A screen according to any preceding claim wherein said attachment means further comprises a stop member.

26. A screen according to claim 25 wherein said stop member comprises resilient beading.

27. A screen according to claim 25 or 26 wherein said stop member comprises resilient material and/or a resilient structure.

28. A screen according to Claim 26 or 27 wherein said beading comprises in cross-section a base having two spaced and aligned wedge portions resiliently mounted thereon and further wherein said wedge portions are sized and shaped to cooperate with said recess so as to wedge said fly screen mesh in said recess.

29. A screen substantially as described herein with reference to and/or as illustrated in the accompanying figures.

30. A frame member substantially as described herein with reference to and/or as illustrated in the accompanying figures.