WO2004048734A1

WO2004048734A1 - Screen apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2004048734A1
Application number: PCT/AU2003/001554
Authority: WO
Inventors: Andrew Paul Wilkinson
Original assignee: Wilkinson, Tracey, Dione
Priority date: 2002-11-22
Filing date: 2003-11-20
Publication date: 2004-06-10
Also published as: AU2002952822A0

Abstract

A bifold door or window arrangement having a plurality of first panels (10, 12, 14, 16) said first panels (10, 12, 14, 16) being hingedly or pivotally connected to respective adjacent first panels, and a plurality of second panels (40, 42, 44, 46) releasably fixed with respect to the first panels (10, 12, 14, 16), wherein the second panels (40, 42, 44, 46) can be fixed with respect to the first panels (10, 12, 14, 16) such that the second panels (40, 42, 44, 46) move with the first panels (10, 12, 14, 16) when the first panels (10, 12, 14, 16) are opened or closed and the second panels (40, 42, 44, 46) can be released from the first panels (10, 12, 14, 16) such that the second panels (40, 42, 44, 46) do not move with the first panels (10, 12, 14, 16) when the first panels (10, 12, 14, 16) are opened or closed. A split hinge comprising a first part (60) having a leaf (64) and a barrel portion (66) and a second part (62) having a leaf and (68) barrel portion (70) with the barrel portions (66, 70) of the first (60) and second (62) parts adapted to be placed into alignment, and hinge pin means (72, 74), wherein the hinge pin means (72, 74) is moveable between a position in which the hinge pin means (72, 74) extends into both the barrel portions (66, 70) and a position in which the hinge pin means (72, 74) extends into only one of the barrel portions (66/70).

Description

Screen Apparatus

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to screening apparatus for use in conjunction with doors or windows and bifold doors or windows. The invention also extends to hinges, flush bolts and pivots, and other associated hardware used in mounting the screening apparatus.

Background of the invention

Bi-fold doors and windows generally consist of two or more panels, will each panel being hinged to its adjacent panel(s) such that the set of panels can be folded up in a concertina-like fashion against a wall adjacent to the opening. Track and guide bifold doors may be used with advantage in situations where it is desirable that the opened door panels take up as little room as possible, or where relatively large opening of doors or windows is desired. Whist bifold doors are popular they present a particular disadvantage in that it is difficult to fit fly screens, or the like, to the openings having bifold doors and windows. In the past this problem has been solved by replicating the bifold doors with screens opening in the opposite direction to the bifold doors (i.e. if the doors open out, the fly screens open in) and having their own separate track and mounting mechanism. Whilst this solution provides functional screening of the opening it adds additional expense and increases the space requirements for installing the doors and screens.

For convenience, the present invention will be described in connection with fly screens for use with bifold doors. However, it should be noted that the present invention should not be construed as being limited to this application. The present invention is more broadly applicable to situations where two adjacent layers of bifold panels are to be used, for example a set of bifold windows being used in conjunction with a set of bifold shutters. Indeed, the present invention may also extend to affixing screens or panels, such as flyscreens, to other windows or doors besides bi-fold doors. The invention may extend to use with single hinged doors, pairs of hinged doors, single hinged windows and pairs of hinged windows.

Summary of the invention

In a first aspect, the present invention provides a bifold door or window arrangement having a plurality of first panels, said first panels being hingedly or pivotally connected to respective adjacent first panels and a plurality of second panels releasably fixed with respect to the first panels, wherein the second panels can be fixed with respect to the first panels such that the second panels move with the first panels when the first panels are opened or closed and the second panels can be released from the first panels such that the second panels do not move with the first panels when the first panels are opened or closed. For brevity of description, throughout this specification the terms "hinged" and "hingedly" will be used to encompass hinged connections and pivotal coimections, as well as movement about a binge or a pivot.

The bifold door or window arrangement of the present invention preferably uses broad butt hinges to hingedly connect the first panels that, in use in the fixed position, have second panels positioned therebetween when in the open position. In this regard, it will be appreciated that when the second panels are in the fixed position, opening the first panels will bring the first panels into a position of face-to-face orientation. The second panels will occupy the space between some of the first panels. Thus, the space between the first panels will need to be larger in order to accommodate the second panels. This can be achieved by using broad butt hinges, which have longer leaves than standard hinges.

Preferably, the bifold door or window arrangement includes releasable fixing means for releasably fixing the second panels to the first panels. The releasable fixing means may comprise a first part mounted to one of the first or second panels and a second part mounted to the other of the first or second panels, the first part and the second part releasably connecting to each other to thereby releasably fix the second panels to the first panels. Suitably, the first part and the second part releasably interengage to thereby releasably fix the second panels to the first panels.

The plurality of second panels are preferably hingedly connected to respective adjacent second panels. This enables the second panels to easily move with the first panels when the second panels are fixed to the first panels.

In one embodiment, the releasable fixing means may comprise first hinging means for mounting to the first panels and second hinging means for mounting to the second panels, the first and second hinging means being releasably connectable to each other. Preferably, one of said first and second hinging means has receiving means and the other of said first and second hinging means has insertion means for removably inserting into the receiving means whereby in a fixed position said insertion means is inserted into said receiving means to thereby fix said first and second hinging means and in a released position said insertion means is removed from the receiving means. Insertion of the insertion means into the receiving means preferably prevents relative rotation between the first and second hinging means.

In this embodiment, it is preferred that the first hinging means is provided with the receiving means and the second hinging means is provided with the insertion means. The insertion means is suitably moved between an inserted position and a released position by means of an actuator. The actuator may comprise a projecting handle or lever.

In an alternative embodiment of the present invention the releasable fixing means comprises a receiving means fixed to one of the first and second panels and insertion means fixed to the other of the first and second panels, said insertion means being insertable onto the receiving means to fix the first and second panels together and the insertion means being removable from the receiving means to release the second panels from the first panels.

It is especially preferred that operation of the insertion means to move it to the removed position causes the insertion means or a member connected thereto to be inserted into a receptacle in a wall, ceiling, floor or door frame. This assists in more securely positioning the second panels in the closed position when the first panels are in the open position.

The fixing means may include a flush bolt arrangement.

The second panels are preferably aiτanged such that at least one of the second panels can be opened when the second panels are in a closed position and the first panels are in an open position. This provides for entry and egress when the second panels are in the closed position.

The second panels may not be attached to adjacent second panels and at least one of the second panels may be rotatable about the insertion means or a member associated therewith when the insertion means or the member is inserted into the receptacle in the wall, floor, ceiling or door frame.

Alternatively, at least two of the second panels may be hingedly connected by one or more split hinges which can be separated into two separate parts. The edges of the second panels that are joined by the split hrnge(s) may be moved away from each other, for example by rotation about the insertion means or a member associated therewith or by rotation about other hinges used to hingedly the other edge of the second panel to a further second panel, when the split hinge is separated into two parts.

The split hinge may comprise a first part having a leaf and a barrel portion and a second part having a leaf and a barrel portion with the barrel portions of the first and second parts adapted to be placed into alignment, and hinge pin means wherein the hinge pin means is movable between a position in which the hinge pin means extends into both the barrel portions and a position in which the hinge pin means extends into only one of the barrel portions. In the latter position, the hinge may be separated into the first part and the second part. More preferably, the barrel position of the first part comprises at least first and second barrel portions longitudinally spaced from each other and the barrel portion of the second part comprises at least first and second barrel portions longitudinally spaced from each other, whereby the barrel portions of the first and second parts can be interleaved together and the hinge pin means comprises at least first and second hinge pins held in spaced relationship such that the at least first and second hinge pins can be placed in one position such that they enter into the barrel portions of the first and second parts and can be placed in another position such that the at least first and second hinge pins extend into the at least first and second barrel portions of only one of the first or second parts. The at least first and second hinge pins are preferably held in spaced relationship by an external member.

The present invention also encompasses a method for constructing or installing a bifold door or window arrangement in accordance with the first aspect of the present invention. The method may be used to retrofit a plurality of second panels to an existing bifold door or window arrangement or to install a new bifold door or window arrangement. In its broadest form, the method includes the steps of providing the first panels (for a retrofit, these will already be on site), providing the plurality of second panels and providing or mounting suitable releasable fixing means to enable the second panels to be releasably fixed to the first panels.

For a retrofit, the method may further comprise replacing some of the hinges used to connect the first panels together with broad butt hinges.

The method may further comprise providing at least one receptacle in a wall, ceiling, floor or door frame to receive an insertion means or a member associated therewith to assist in more firmly locating the second panels when the second panels are in a closed position and the first panels are in an open position.

Other method steps will be as described with reference to the description of preferred embodiments of the invention under the heading "Detailed description of the invention".

It is envisaged that the bifold door arrangement of the present invention will be installed on-site from a kit of suitable parts, particularly in retrofit application. Thus, in a third aspect, the present invention provides a kit for producing the bifold door or window arrangement of the first aspect of the present invention. The kit of parts will include a plurality of second panels and a plurality of releasable fixing means for releasably fixing the second panels to the first panels. Preferred forms of the parts of the kit may be as described with reference to the first aspect of the invention. The kit may also include a plurality of first panels where the bifold arrangement is a new installation or a replacement installation.

The present invention also extends to the hinges that may be used to releasably fix the second panels to the first panels, and to the split lunges.

In a fourth aspect, the present invention provides releasable fixing means comprising first hinging means for mounting to the first panels and second hinging means for mounting to the second panels, one of said first and second hinging means having receiving means and the other of said first and second hinging means having insertion means for removably inserting into the receiving means whereby in a fixed position said insertion means is inserted into said receiving means to thereby fix said first and second hinging means to prevent relative rotation therebetween and in a released position said insertion means is removed from the receiving means.

In this embodiment, it is preferred that the first hinging means is provided with the receiving means and the second hinging means is provided with the insertion means. The insertion means is suitably moved between an inserted position and a released position by means of an actuator. The actuator may comprise a projecting handle or lever. In one embodiment, the releasable fixing means may comprise first hinging means for mounting to the first panels and second hinging means for mounting to the second panels, one of said first and second hinging means having receiving means and the other of said first and second hinging means having insertion means for removably inserting into the receiving means whereby in a fixed position said insertion means is inserted into said receiving means to thereby fix said first and second hinging means to prevent relative rotation therebetween and in a released position said insertion means is removed from the receiving means.

In a fifth aspect, the present invention provides a split hinge comprising a first part having a leaf and a barrel portion and a second part having a leaf and a barrel portion with the barrel portions of the first and second parts adapted to be placed into alignment, and hinge pin means wherein the hinge pin means is movable between a position in which the hinge pin means extends into both the barrel portions and a position in which the hinge pin means extends into only one of the barrel portions. In the latter position, the hinge may be separated into the first part and the second part. More preferably, the barrel position of the first part comprises at least first and second barrel portions longitudinally spaced from each other and the barrel portion of the second part comprises at least first and second barrel portions longitudinally spaced from each other, whereby the barrel portions of the first and second parts can be interleaved together and the hinge pin means comprises at least first and second hinge pins held in spaced relationship such that the at least first and second hinge pins can be placed in one position such that they enter into the barrel portions of the first and second parts and can be placed in another position such that the at least first and second hinge pins extend into the at least first and second barrel portions of only one of the first or second parts. The at least first and second hinge pins are preferably held in spaced relationship by an external member. The split hinge may further include an actuation member to move the hinge pin between the position where the pin extends into only one barrel portion and the position where the pin extends into both barrel portions.

In a sixth aspect, the present invention provides a door or window arrangement having at least one first panel and at least one second panel releasably fixed with respect to the first panel, wherein the at least one second panel can be fixed with respect to the at least one first panel such that the at least one second panel moves with the at least one first panel when the at least one first panel is opened or closed and the at least one second panel can be released from the at least one first panel such that the at least one second panel does not move with the at least one first panel when the at least one first panel is opened or closed. The sixth aspect of the invention may use the releasable fixing means as described with reference to the other aspects of the present invention described herein. A flush bolt arrangement is especially preferred for use as the releasable fixing means.

The at least one first panel may comprise a single hinged door, a pair of hinged doors, a single hinged window or a pairs of hinged windows.

The sixth aspect of the invention is similar to the first aspect of the invention, except that it is not limited to use with bifold doors or windows.

Brief description of the drawings

Notwithstanding any other forms which may fall within the scope of the present invention, the present invention will now be described by way of non-limiting examples, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a plan view of a bifold door arrangement (prior art) in a closed position;

Figure 2 shows the prior art bifold door arrangement of figure 1 in an open position;

Figure 3 shows a bifold door arrangement similar to that shown in figure 1 but with modifications to enable it to include fly screens or other second panels, in accordance with the present invention. The bifold door arrangement of figures 3 is in a closed position;

Figure 4 shows the bifold door arrangement of figure 3 in an open position;

Figure 5 and 6 show the bifold door arrangement of figures 3 and 4 with fly screens attached thereto;

Figure 7 shows the apparatus of figures 5 and 6 with the fly screens released and the doors in an open position;

Figure 8 shows the apparatus of figure 7 with the fly screens released and showing opening and closing of the fly screens whilst the doors are in an open position;

Figures 9 to 11 show side views of a split hinge that can be used to connect the fly screens together and allow the fly screens to open and close as shown in figure 8;

Figure 12 shows an end view of a releasable fixing means for use in the present invention, with the fixing means being in a fixed position;

Figure 13 shows the releasable fixing means of figure 12 in a released position;

Figures 14 and 15 show side views of the releasable fixing means of figures 12 and 13, respectively; Figures 16 and 17 show end views of alternative releasable fixing means for use in the present invention, with figure 16 showing the releasable fixing means in a fixed position and figure 17 showing the releasable fixing means in a released position;

Figures 18 and 19 show an end view of figures 16 and 17, respectively;

Figure 20 shows a plan view of the releasable fixing means of figures 16 to 19;

Figure 21 shows a plan view of another prior art bifold door arrangement in a closed position;

Figure 22 shows a plan view of the bifold door arrangement of figure 21 with the doors in a partly open position;

Figures 23 and 24 show similar views to that of Figures 21 and 22 but with the bifold door arrangement modified in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 25 shows a perspective view of a flush bolt mounted to a fly screen panel; and

Figure 26 shoes a side view in cross section, of the flush bolt shown in Figure 25.

Detailed description of the embodiments

For convenience and brevity of description, the preferred embodiments of the present invention shown in the attached drawings will be described with reference to the first panels being doors and the second panels being fly screens (or screens). However, it will be appreciated that the present invention should not be construed to be limited to use on fly screens and doors only. In particular, the first panels may comprise doors or windows. The second panels may comprise fly screens, blinds, shutters, shades, louvres, Venetian blinds, grills, or combinations thereof.

It will also be appreciated that the drawings accompanying this specification show preferred embodiments of the present invention. The present invention should not be construed as being limited solely to the features as shown in the attached drawings.

Figures 1 and 2 show a plan view of a known bifold door arrangement. The bifold door arrangement shown in figure 1 includes doors 10, 12, 14 and 16. Door 10 is hingedly or pivotally connected via hinge or pivot 18 to a first wall or door jamb 20. Similarly, door 16 is hinged or pivoted via hinge or pivot 22 to wall or door jamb 24 (for convenience and brevity of description, the use of hinges or pivots to hingedly or pivotally connect one door or screen to another will be described hereunder by use of the terms "hinge" or "hingedly).

Door 12 is hingedly connected via hinge 26 to door 10. Door 14 is hingedly connected via hinge 28 to door 12. As will be appreciated, the bifold door arrangement shown in figures 1 and 2 has three doors (10, 12, 14) that are hingedly connected together and open in a bifold arrangement. Door 16 is a separate door that swings around hinge 22 in the fashion of a conventional door. Doors 14 and 16 may be provided with a co-operating conventional latching means to enable the bifold door arrangement to be closed and securely latched/locked.

In figures 1 and 2, doors 10, 12 and 14 are hingedly connected in the manner of a bifold door arrangement.

In order to ensure the smooth opening and closing of doors 10, 12 and 14, a guide or roller is positioned at the upper level of doors 12 and 14 essentially above hinge 28. Guide or roller fits into a track mounted to the ceiling or door frame head above the bifold doors. The guide or roller and the track are conventional components used in bifold doors and need not be described further.

Figure 1 shows the bifold doors 10, 12, 14 and door 16 in a closed position. Figure 2 shows the doors in an open position. As can be seen in figure 2, doors 10, 12, 14 lie in respective face-to-face relationships when in the fully opened position. The doors 10, 12, 14 are spaced apart from each other when in the closed position by virtue of the dimensions of respective hinges 26 and 28.

Conventional bifold door arrangements suffer from the difficulty of providing fly screens to the openings when the doors are in the open position. One solution to this has been to provide a bifold fly screen arrangement. However, this typically requires the addition of a further track to the ceiling or door jamb and this increases the expense of installation.

The present invention is based upon providing a bifold door and screen arrangement in which the screens are releasably fixed to the bifold doors. If it is desired to simply open the bifold doors without requiring the screens to remain in a closed position, the screens are fixed to the bifold doors and the doors opened. This also opens the screens. However, if it is desired to open the doors but to keep the screens in the closed position, the screens are released from the bifold doors and the doors subsequently opened. However, as the screens are no longer fixed to the bifold doors, the screens can remain in a closed position. The screens may be suitably hingedly connected to the other screens and the hinging arrangement is even more preferably such that at least one of the screen doors can open in the manner of a normal screen door to provide for entry and egress when the screens are in place. Alternative arrangements may also be provided to allow at least one of the screens to be opened when the screens are in the closed position and the doors are in the open position.

In the present invention, when the screens are fixed to the doors, the screens effectively "piggy back" on the doors when the doors open and close. When the screens are in the released position, "piggy backing" does not occur and the doors can move independently of the screens.

Figures 3 and 4 show a plan view of a modification to a bifold doors arrangement that may be used in the present invention. Figures 5 and 6 explain the reasons for making this modification. In particular, it will be appreciated that having the screens "piggy back" on the doors when the screens are fixed to the doors may mean that extra space is required between the doors when the doors are in the open position in order to provide space for the screens to fit.

Turning to figure 5, it can be seen that the bifold door arrangement is essentially the same as that shown in figures 1 and 2, with doors 10, 12, 14 and 16 being provided. As in figure 1, door 10 is hingedly mounted to wall 20 by hinge 18 and door 16 is hingedly mounted to wall 24 by hinge 22. Furthermore, door 14 is still hingedly connected to door 12 by hinge 28. However, hinge 26 shown in figure 1 has been replaced by a broad butt hinge 30 in the apparatus shown in figures 3 and 4. Broad butt hinge 30 differs from hinge 26 in that broad butt hinge 30 includes longer leaves. As a result, the hinging pin 32 of broad butt hinge 30 is positioned further away from the doors 10 and 12 than the hinging pin of hinge 26 in figure 1.

The effect of using the broad butt hinge when the doors are in the open position is clearly shown in figure 4. As shown in figure 4, the longer leaves of broad butt hinge 30 increases the space 34 between doors 10 and 12 when the bifold doors 10, 12, 14 are in the open position. This increase in space between doors 10 and 12 can be clearly shown by comparing figure 4 with figure 2. The increased space 34 provides sufficient room for fly screens to fit between doors 10 and 12 when the are in the opened position. It will be appreciated that it may not be necessary to replace hinge 26 if hinge 26 provides sufficient space for the screens to fit between doors 10 and 12 when in the open position.

Figures 5 and 6 show the apparatus of figures 3 and 4 with the fly screens fitted. As can be seen, fly screen 40 is fitted to door 10. Fly screen 42 is fitted to door 12. Fly screen 44 is fitted to door 14 and fly screen 46 is fitted to door 16. The specific mode of fitting fly screens 40, 42 and 44 will be described in more detail hereunder. Broadly, the fly screens 40, 42, 44 are releasably fixed to respective doors 10, 12, 14 by releasable fixing means. When the releasable fixing means are operated such that the flyscreens 40, 42, 44 are fixed to respective doors 10, 12, 14, the fly screens 40, 42, 44 piggy back on doors 10, 12, 14 and move with the doors when the doors are opened and closed. This can be seen from figure 6. In figure 6, doors 10, 12, 14 have been placed in the open position. As the fly screens 40, 42 and 44 have been fixed to respective doors 10, 12, 14, the fly screens move with doors 10, 12, 14 when the doors are opened.

It will be appreciated that door 16 shown in figures 5 and 6 is essentially a conventional swinging door. Accordingly, fly screen 46 may also be a conventional swinging fly screen. However, fly screen 46 may be releasably fixed to door 16 using similar releasable fixing means used to fix fly screens 40, 42 and 44 to their respective doors. In this arrangement, fly screen 46 piggy backs with door 16 when fly screen 46 is fixed to the door. This is shown in figure 6.

Figure 7 shows the apparatus of figure 5 and figure 6 with the doors in the opened position and the fly screens in the released position. When the doors 10, 12, 14 and 16 are in the closed position, the releasable fixing means (to be described hereunder) are operated to release the fly screens from the doors. Opening the doors 10, 12, 14 can then be effected in the normal fashion for opening bifold doors. As screens 40, 42 and 44 are not fixed to the doors, those screens remain in the closed position (as shown by reference numerals 40', 42' and 44' in figure 7). Operation of door 16 and fly screen 46 is similarly effected to leave fly screen 46 in the closed position shown in figure 7.

The releasable fixing means that may be used in Figures 5 to 7 include the piggy back hinge arrangement shown hi Figures 12 to 15 and the arrangement 150 shown in Figures 16 and 17.

It is especially preferred that the fly screens 40, 42 and 44 as shown in figures 5, 6 and 7 are hingedly connected together. It is even more preferred that the fly screens 40, 42 and 44 are hingedly connected together by split hinges that can be separated to enable one or more of the fly screens to swing open and closed. This will then enable at least one of the fly screens to be opened in the manner of a normal fly screen door to provide for entry and egress through the door opening. This is best shown in figure 7, in which fly screen 42 is hingedly connected to fly screen 44 via a split hinge or hinges. When the split hinge is separated, fly screen 42 can swing between the position shown in full outline and indicated by reference numeral 42 to the position shown in dotted outline and indicated by reference numeral 42'. Fly screen 40 may be optionally provided with a similar feature.

Screens 44 and 46 in Figure 7 are releasably fixed to the doors by use of the flush bolt arrangements 150. These are described in more detail in Figures 16 and 17. The flush bolt arrangements 150 lock screens 44 and 46 into place when in the released and closed position. Thus, in Figure 7, screens 44 and 46 are not able to be opened in the position shown in that figure.

The apparatus shown in figure 8 is essentially identical to that shown in figure 7, except that the positioning of the split hinges has changed so that fly screens 42 and 44 can hinge about split hinge 48. Further, fly screen 40 is connected to fly screen 42 via a split hinge so that it can be separated from fly screen 42 and opened and closed by swinging about hinge 50. Also, fly screen 46 is hingedly connected about hinge 52 to the wall or door jamb 24 to enable fly screen 46 to be opened and closed. The apparatus of figure 8 allows for a larger opening when the fly screens are in position.

The particular split hinges that may be used to hingedly connect together adjacent fly screens are shown in figures 9 to 11. For example, hinge 48 may comprise a first half 60 and a second half 62. The first part 60 comprises a hinge leaf 64 and a barrel 66. Second half 62 also comprises a hinge leaf 68 and a barrel 70. Barrels 66 and 70 are designed such that they have respective first and second barrel portions and can be fitted together by interleaving the barrel portions.

Instead of using a single hinge pin that extends along the entire length of the hinge barrel, the hinge 48 shown in figures 9, 10, and 11 comprises a two part hinge pin having first part 72 and a second part 74 connected together by an external member 76. External member 76 maintains hinge pin parts 72, 74 in spaced relationship. It also enables the hinge pin parts 72, 74 to be moved upwardly and downwardly by an operator of the door. In the position shown in figure 9, hinge pin parts 72, 74 are positioned solely within the barrel 70 of second hinge part 62. In this position, the first hinge part 60 can be separated from the second hinge part 62.

In figure 10, the hinge pin parts 72, 74 are positioned such that they lie inside the barrel parts 66, 70 of both the first hinge part 60 and the second hinge part 62. In this position, the hinge parts 60, 62 are pivotally connected to each other and the hinge acts as a normal hinge.

Figure 11 shows the hinge of figure 10 in a position whereby the leaves have been rotated towards each other. As such, only leaf 64 can be shown. Figure 11 clearly shows the external member 76 that hold the hinge pin parts 72, 74 in spaced relationship.

Figures 12 to 15 show one embodiment of a releasable fixing means suitable for use in the present invention. As best shown in figure 14, door 10 is fitted with broad butt hinge 30. Fly screen 40 is shown positioned relative to door 10.

Hinge 30 includes a barrel portion 80. Barrel portion 80 is fitted with a hinging pin 32.

Screen 40 is fitted with a hinge 82. Hinge 82 has a barrel portion 84 and a hinge pin 86. Hinge pin 86 has an actuating projection 88 connected thereto.

Hinge pin 86 is arranged such that it can slide upwardly and downwardly in barrel 84. The movement of hinge pin 86 is shown by arrow 90.

The hinge pin 86 includes a tapered lower end 90. Tapered lower end 90 of hinge pin 86 is adapted to be received inside an upper part of barrel 80 of hinge 30. As best shown in figures 13 and 15, barrel 80 of hinge 30 includes a space 94 positioned above the upper end of hinge pin 32. Space 94 can receive the tapered lower end 92 of hinge pin 86.

In the position shown in figures 12 and 14, the tapered lower end 92 of hinge pin 86 is received in space 94. Therefore, hinge pin 86 is positioned inside both barrel 84 of hinge 82 and barrel 80 of hinge 30. Therefore, the hinge 82 on screen door 40 is effectively connected to fixed or the hinge 30 on door 10. This results in the screen 30 being connected or fixed (in a releasable manner) to the door 10.

In the positions shown in figures 13 and 15, actuating projection 88 is operated to raise the hinge pin 86 such that tapered end 92 is removed from space 94 in barrel 80. This effectively separates the hinge 82 from the hinge 30. Thus, screen 40 is released from door 10.

As best shown in figures 13 and 15, the upper end of hinge pin 86 may be received in a locking receptacle 96. This assists in securing the screen 40 in the closed position. Locking receptacle 96 may be provided in the ceiling or door frame or it may be affixed to the ceiling or door jamb. The screen may pivot or hinge around pin 86 when pin 86 is located in receptacle 96. As best shown in figures 12 and 13, actuating projection 88 extends through a slot 98. Slot 98 controls the extent of upwards and downwards movement of actuating projection 88.

It will also be appreciated that the hinge pin 86 may be biased or spring loaded to its upper position or its downward position. A detente or other suitable holding mechanism may be used to the hinge pin 86 in a position away from the biased position.

Figures 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20 show an alternative releasable fixing means for use in the present invention. In the embodiment shown in figures 12 to 15, the screen is releasably fixed to the door at the hinge position of the bifold doors. The releasable fixing means shown in figures 16 to 20 allows the screens to be fixed to a different part of the door. The releasable fixing means shown in figures 16 to 20 is particularly suitable for use when the screens are connected together by split hinges as shown in figures 9, 10 and 11.

In figure 16, the door 10, carries a barrel 102. Barrel 102 may be fixed to the frame part of the door 10 by any suitable means, such as screws.

Fly screen 40 is fitted with a flush bolt 104. Flush bolt 104 can slide within a cavity 106 that is either formed witliin fly screen frame 40 or is formed within a flush bolt housing that is fixed to the fly screen 40. Flush bolt 104 carries a laterally extending pin 108. Pin 108 has a downwardly extending pin 110 attached thereto or formed therewith.

In the position shown in figure 16, flush bolt 104 is in a lower most position. This causes pin 110 to be received within barrel 102. This results in the screen 40 being fixed to door 10.

In the position shown in figure 17, flush bolt 104 is moved to an uppermost position in which pin 110 is raised clear of barrel 102. In this position, screen 40 is released from door 10. Accordingly, door 10 can move independently from screen 40.

In the embodiment shown in figures 16 to 20, flush bolt 104 is actuated by actuating projection 112. The movement of actuating projection 112 is shown by reference to arrow 114.

As best shown in figures 18 and 19, actuating projection 112 moves inside slot 116. Slot 116 controls the extent of upwards and downwards movement of flush bolt 104.

The ceiling or door frame directly above screen 40 may also be provided with a locking receptacle 118. When the flush bolt 104 is in the raised position (as shown in figure 19) flush bolt 104 extends in to the locking receptacle 118 to thereby more securely hold the screens in position. Desirably, if the screens are able to be separated from adjacent screens to which they are hingedly connected by split hinges, locking receptacle 118 and flush bolt 104 provide a hinging point for the screens to swing open in the manner of a normal screen door or window. In an alternative embodiment, the screens may be connected to their respective doors or windows solely by the flush bolt arrangement shown in figures 16-20 without the use of split hinges to connect the adjacent screens to each other.

Figures 21 and 22 show an alternative prior art bifold door arrangement. In figures 21 and 22, four doors 120, 122, 124 and 126 are hingedly connected to respective adjacent doors about hinge points 128, 130 and 132. Hinge point 130 includes a guide or roller that fits into a track mounted to the ceiling or top of the door frame. The upper end of door 126 is also fitted with a guide or roller 134 that also slides along the track. Door 120 is hinged to the wall or door jamb by hinge 136.

Figure 21 shows the bifold doors in a closed position whilst figure 22 shows the doors being moved to an open position.

Figures 23 and 24 show the prior art bifold doors of figures 21 and 22 modified in accordance with the present invention. Where the features of figures 23 and 24 are the same as those shown in figures 21 and 22, the same reference numerals have been used.

In the embodiment shown in figures 23 and 24, broad butt hinges 128' and 132' replace hinges 128 and 132 of figures 21 and 22. These broad butt hinges provide for greater space between the doors when the doors are in the open position. Fly screens 140, 142, 144 and 146 are releasably fixed to respective doors 120, 122, 124 and 126. In this regard, releasable fixing means 150 are provided to releasably fix the fly screens to their respective doors. Preferably, releasable fixing means 150 are as shown in figures 16 to 20.

Adjacent ones of the screens are suitably hingedly connected using split hinges as shown in figures 9, 10 and 11. However, it will be appreciated that the fly screens are not necessarily hinged to each other.

When the fly screens 140, 142, 144 and 146 are fixed to their respective doors 120, 122, 124, 126, and the doors are moved from the closed position shown in figure 1 to an open position, the doors move as shown in figure 24. As the screens are releasably fixed to the respective doors, the screens piggy back upon and move with the doors. If the releasable fixing means 150 are operated to release the screens from the doors, opening and closing the doors 120, 122, 124, 126 can be effected whilst leaving the screens in a closed position. In this manner, the screens can be used to prevent the entry of insects through the door opening whilst still allowing breezes to blow through.

Figures 25 to 26 show an alternative embodiment of a flush bolt arrangement used to connect the flyscreen to a door. In figure 25, the flyscreen panel 300 has flush bolt 302 connected thereto. Flush bolt 302 includes an extendable and retractable pin 304 that is mounted in barrel 306. Flush bolt 302 also includes a second extendable and retractable pin 308. Pin 308 is positioned on an opposite side of panel 300. As best shown in figure 26, the pin 304 is adapted to be inserted into a barrel 310 that is mounted to plate 312. Plate 312 is mounted, for example by screws, to the door panel (not shown) such that when the pin 304 is extended into barrel 310, the flyscreen panel 300 and the door panel are fixed in face to face relationship.

The flush bolt 302 includes actuating knob 314 which is used to extend and retract pin 304. The flush bolt 300 also includes actuating knob 316 which is used to extend and retract second pin 308. The flush bolt 300 also includes locking mechanism 318 that can be used to lock the pins 304 and 308 in either of the extended or retracted positions.

In operation of the arrangement shown in figures 25 to 26, lock mechanism 318 is operated to move to the unlocked position. With the door panel 320 in the closed position, actuating knob 316 is actuated to move the pin 308 into the extended position. In the extended position, pin 308 can extend into a recess formed in the door frame. In this manner, pin 308 acts to fix the flyscreen to the door frame. If desired, a similar flush bolt may be mounted at a lower part of the flyscreen panel and the equivalent pin extended into a recess or opening in a lower part or floor of the door frame to thereby fix the flyscreen at both the lower position and upper position of the flyscreen.

Once pin 308 has been extended to affix the flyscreen to the door frame, actuating knob 314 is operated i order to retract the pin 304 out of barrel 310. As mentioned above, barrel 310 is connected via plate 312 to door panel 320. Therefore, retracting pin 304 from barrel 310 releases the flyscreen panel 300 from the door panel 320. The door panel 320 can then be operated independently of the flyscreen panel. The embodiment shown in figures 25 and 26 allows the flyscreen panel or panels to be fixed to the door frame or window frame prior to releasing the flyscreen panels from the associates door panel or window panel. In this fashion, the flyscreen panel is fixed to the frame before being released from the door panel. This improves operation and minimises the likelihood of the flyscreen panel or panels falling out if the flyscreen panel was inadvertently released from the door panel before being engaged with the door frame or window frame.

It can be seen from figure 25 that barrel 306 is mounted in slot 322. In particular, barrel 306 is mounted via arms 324, 326 that extend through slot 322. Similarly, actuating knob 314 is mounted in a slot 328 formed on the opposed side of the flyscreen panel 300. Actuation of knob 314 causes arm 330 to be moved upwardly. Arm 330 is either fixed to arm 324 or comes into contact with arm 324 to thereby force the barrel and pin 306, 304 to move upwardly to thereby retract pin 304 from barrel 310 that is connected to door panel 320.

It will be appreciated that the arrangement of the present invention is especially suitable for use with bifold doors and bifold windows. However, it may also be used with other door and window arrangements besides bifold doors and bifold windows. It is also prefened that the releasable fixing means for releasably fixing the flyscreens to the door or window panels are operable such that the flyscreen panels are fixed to tlie door frame or window frame prior to or as the flyscreen panels are released from the door or window panels. This is suitably achieved by providing the releasable fixing means with insertion means that are inserted into suitable holes or recesses in the door frame or window frame either prior to releasing tlie flyscreen panel from the door or window panel or at the same time as the flyscreen panel is released from the door or window panel.

The present invention allows existing bifold doors to be retro fitted with fly screens or other second panels. In order to retro fit existing bifold doors, the old hinges are replaced as appropriate with new piggy back hinges as described herein. This allows the gap between the doors to be bigger when the doors are in the open position. The appropriate piggy back hardware is fitted to the screens which allows the screens to piggy back onto tlie doors and open and close with the doors. The piggy back hardware also allows the screens to be released from the doors and fit into the door or window frame. When the screens have been released from the doors, the doors can be opened leaving the screens in place. This allows air flow and keeps out insects. To refit the screens to the doors, the doors should be closed and the piggy back hardware operated hi order to re-fix the screens to the doors.

Piggy back hinges as described with reference to the present invention can have two actions:

(a) one to lock the screen hinge to the door hinge; and

(b) another to release the screen from the door and to fix the screen to the door frame. When the screen is released from the door, the use of split hinges on the screens allows the screens to open and close. Alternatively, the screens may hinge about the pins that extend into the door frame.

The present invention is suitably provided in the form of a kit for retro fitting screens to existing doors. Alternatively, the present invention may be provided as a complete kit including doors and screens for new installations.

The screens may also be provided with brush strips about their edges to improve their efficiency at keeping out insects.

The various hardware used to releasably fix the screens to the doors may be selected and used as required. For example, if it is desired to have no screens able to be opened when they are released from the doors, it is not necessary to use the split hinges. In other embodiments, the split hinges, piggy back hinges and flush bolt arrangements may be used by themselves or in any desired combination. In other embodiments, flush bolts may be used and the screens may hinge around pins that extend into the door frame.

The foregoing describes embodiments of the present invention and modifications, obvious to those skilled in the art can be made thereto, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A bifold door or window arrangement having a plurality of first panels, said first panels being hingedly or pivotally connected to respective adjacent first panels and a plurality of second panels releasably fixed with respect to the first panels, wherein the second panels are fixable with respect to the first panels such that the second panels move with the first panels when the first panels are opened or closed and the second panels are releasable from tlie first panels such that the second panels do not move with the first panels when the first panels are opened or closed.

2. A bifold door or window arrangement as claimed in claim 1 further including releasable fixing means for releasably fixing the second panels to the first panels.

3. A bifold door or window arrangement as claimed in claim 2 wherein the releasable fixing means comprises a first part mounted to one of the first or second panels and a second part mounted to the other of the first or second panels, the first part and the second part releasably connecting to each other to thereby releasably fix the second panels to the first panels.

4. A bifold door or window arrangement as claimed in claim 3 wherein tlie first part and the second part releasably interengage to thereby releasably fix the second panels to the first panels.

5. A bifold door or window arrangement as claimed in claim 2 wherein the releasable fixing means comprise first hinging means for mounting to the first panels and second hinging means for mounting to the second panels, the first and second liinging means being releasably connectable to each other.

6. A bifold door or window arrangement as claimed in claim 5 wherein one of said first and second hinging means has receiving means and the other of said first and second hinging means has insertion means for removably inserting into the receiving means whereby in a fixed position said insertion means is inserted into said receiving means to thereby fix said first and second hinging means and in a released position said insertion means is removed from the receiving means.

7. A bifold door or window arrangement as claimed in claim 6 wherein insertion of the insertion means into the receiving means prevents relative rotation between the first and second hinging means.

8. A bifold door or window arrangement as claimed in claim 6 or claim 7 wherein the insertion means is moved between an inserted position and a released position by means of an actuator.

9. A bifold door or window arrangement as claimed in claim 2 wherein the releasable fixing means comprises a receiving means fixed to one of the first and second panels and insertion means fixed to the other of the first and second panels, said insertion means being insertable onto the receiving means to fix the first and second panels together and the insertion means being removable from the receiving means to release the second panels from the first panels.

10. A bifold door or window arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the second panels are arranged such that at least one of the second panels is openable when the second panels are in a closed position and tlie first panels are in an open position to provide for entry and egress when the second panels are in the closed position.

11. A bifold door or window arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 4 or 9 wherein the releasable fixing means includes a flush bolt.

12. A bifold door or window arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein tlie plurality of second panels are hingedly connected to respective adjacent second panels

13. A bifold door or window arrangement as claimed in claim 12 wherein at least two of the second panels are hingedly connected by one or more split hinges which can be separated into two separate parts.

14. A bifold door or window arrangement as claimed in claim 13 wherein the one or more split hinges comprise a first part having a leaf and a barrel portion and a second part having a leaf and a barrel portion with the barrel portions of the first and second parts adapted to be placed into alignment, and hinge pin means wherein the hinge pin means is movable between a position in which the hinge pin means extends into both the barrel portions of the first and second parts and a position in which the hinge pin means extends into only one of the barrel portions of the first and second parts.

15. A bifold door or window arrangement as claimed in claim wherein the barrel position of the first part comprises at least first and second barrel portions longitudinally spaced from each other and the barrel portion of the second part comprises at least first and second barrel portions longitudinally spaced from each other, whereby the barrel portions of the first and second parts can be interleaved together and the hinge pin means comprises at least first and second hinge pins held in spaced relationship such that the at least first and second hinge pins can be placed in one position such that they enter into the barrel portions of the first and second parts and can be placed in another position such that the at least first and second hinge pins extend into the at least first and second barrel portions of only one of the first or second parts.

16. A bifold door or window arrangement as claimed in claim 15 wherein the at least first and second hinge pins are held in spaced relationship by an external member.

17. A bifold door or window arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 9 wherein operation of the insertion means to move the insertion means to the removed position causes the insertion means or a member connected thereto to be mserted into a receptacle in a wall, ceiling, floor or door frame.

18. A bifold door or window arrangement as claimed in claim 17 wherein at least one of the second panels may be rotatable about the insertion means or a member associated therewith when the insertion means or the member is inserted into the receptacle in the wall, floor, ceiling or door frame.

19. A bifold door or window arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein broad butt hinges hingedly connect the first panels that, in use in the fixed position, have second panels positioned therebetween when hi the open position.

20. A method for constructing or installing a bifold door or window arrangement in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, the method includes the steps of providing the first panels, providing the plurality of second panels and providing or mounting suitable releasable fixing means to enable the second panels to be releasably fixed to the first panels.

21. A method for constructing or installing a bifold door or window arrangement as claimed in claim 20 further comprising replacing some of the hinges used to connect the first panels together with broad butt hinges.

22. A method for constructing or installing a bifold door or window arrangement as claimed in claim 21 or claim 22 further comprising providing at least one receptacle in a wall, ceiling, floor or door frame to receive an insertion means or a member associated therewith to assist in more firmly locating the second panels when the second panels are in a closed position and the first panels are in an open position.

23. A kit for producing the bifold door or window arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 19, the kit including a plurality of second panels and a plurality of releasable fixing means for releasably fixing the second panels to the first panels

24. Releasable fixing means for releasably fixing a plurality of second panels to a plurality of first panels comprising first hinging means for mounting to the first panels and second hinging means for mounting to the second panels, one of said first and second hinging means having receiving means and the other of said first and second hinging means having insertion means for removably inserting into the receiving means whereby in a fixed position said insertion means is inserted into said receiving means to thereby fix said first and second hinging means to prevent relative rotation therebetween and in a released position said insertion means is removed from the receiving means.

25. Releasable fixing means as claimed in claim 24 wherein the insertion means is moved between an inserted position and a released position by an actuator.

26. A split hinge comprising a first part having a leaf and a barrel portion and a second part having a leaf and a barrel portion with the barrel portions of the first and second parts adapted to be placed into alignment, and hinge pin means, wherein the hinge pin means is movable between a position in which the hinge pin means extends into both tlie barrel portions and a position in which the hinge pin means extends into only one of the barrel portions.

27. A split hinge as claimed in claim 26 wherein the barrel position of the first part comprises at least first and second barrel portions longitudinally spaced from each other and the barrel portion of the second part comprises at least first and second barrel portions longitudinally spaced from each other, whereby the barrel portions of the first and second parts can be interleaved together and the hinge pin means comprises at least first and second hinge pins held hi spaced relationship such that the at least first and second hinge pins can be placed in one position such that they enter into the barrel portions of tlie first and second parts and can be placed in another position such that the at least first and second hinge pins extend into the at least first and second barrel portions of only one of the first or second parts.

28. A split hinge as claimed in claim 27 wherein the at least first and second hinge pins are held in spaced relationship by an external member.

29. A split hinge as claimed in any one of claims 26 to 28 wherein the split hinge further includes an actuation member to move the hinge pin between the position where the pin extends into only one barrel portion and the position where the pin extends into both barrel portions.

30. A door or window arrangement having at least one first panel and at least one second panel releasably fixed with respect to the first panel, wherein the at least one second panel can be fixed with respect to the at least one first panel such that the at least one second panel moves with the at least one first panel when the at least one first panel is opened or closed and the at least one second panel can be released from the at least one first panel such that the at least one second panel does not move with the at least one first panel when the at least one first panel is opened or closed.

31. A door or window arrangement as claimed in claim 30 wherein the releasable fixing means comprises a flush bolt mounted to one of the at least one first panel or the at least one second panel, said flush bolt engaging with a receiving means on the other of tlie at least one first panel or the at least one second panel to thereby releasably fix the at least one first panel to the at least one second panel.

32. A door or window arrangement as claimed in claim 30 or claim 31 wherein the at least one first panel comprises a single hinged door, a pair of hinged doors, a single hinged window or a pair of hinged windows.

33. A kit for producing the door or window arrangement of any one of claims 30 to 32, the kit including at least on second panel and at least on releasable fixing means for releasably fixing the at least one second panel to the at least on first panel

34. A method for constructing or installing a door or window arrangement hi accordance with any one of claims 30 to 32, the method including the steps of providing at least one first panel, providing at least one second panel and mounting the releasable fixing means to enable the at least one second panel to be releasably fixed to the at least on first panel.