SCREEN ASSEMBLY FOR A FRAME OPENING |
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申请号 | US11679747 | 申请日 | 2007-02-27 | 公开(公告)号 | US20070199667A1 | 公开(公告)日 | 2007-08-30 |
申请人 | Mike R. Jumbeck; Joseph D. Isaacs; Jeff V. Sawyers; | 发明人 | Mike R. Jumbeck; Joseph D. Isaacs; Jeff V. Sawyers; | ||||
摘要 | A screen assembly is disposed in a frame opening of a building. The screen assembly includes a first rail bounding one side of the frame opening and a second rail spaced from and fixed relative to the first rail bounding an opposite side of the frame opening. A first guide is adjustably coupled to the first rail and a second guide extends from the second rail. The screen assembly includes a screen apparatus having a screen and a slide component coupled to the screen. The slide component slides along the first and second guides for extending the screen across the frame opening. The location of the first guide may be adjusted relative to the first rail to align the first and second guides thereby allowing the slide component to freely slide along the guides. | ||||||
权利要求 | What is claimed is: |
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说明书全文 | The subject patent application claims priority to and all the benefits of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/777,606 which was filed on Feb. 28, 2006, the entire specification of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference. 1. Field of the Invention The invention generally relates to a screen assembly for disposition in a frame opening. 2. Description of the Related Art Screen assemblies are typically disposed in a frame opening of a building such as a residential or commercial building. Generally a window or a door is mounted in the frame opening along with the screen assembly. Screen assemblies include a screen apparatus. The screen apparatus is generally fixed in the frame opening or is slideable relative to the frame opening. When the screen apparatus is slideable, generally the screen assembly is referred to as a slideable screen assembly. The screen apparatus of the slideable screen assembly includes a screen and a slide component coupled to the screen for selectively extending and retracting the screen across the frame opening, i.e., covering and uncovering the frame opening with the screen. The slideable screen assembly typically includes a first rail for bounding one side of the frame opening and a second rail spaced from and fixed relative to the first rail for bounding an opposite side of the frame opening. The slideable screen assembly also includes a first guide fixed to the first rail and a second guide fixed to the second rail. The slide component extends between and slideably interacts with the first guide and the second guide. The frame opening is typically defined by a header and a sill spaced from each other and extending generally horizontally and a pair of jambs spaced from each other extending generally vertically between the header and the sill. Typically, the first rail is coupled to the header and the second rail is coupled to the sill. The header may not be square with the pair of jambs and/or may not have planar surfaces, e.g., may crown or bow. In such a situation, when the first rail is mounted to the header, the first rail crowns, bows, or otherwise deforms to the shape of the header. Accordingly, the first guide also deforms in response to the deformation of the first rail. Additionally, if the sill is not parallel with the header, then the first guide may not be in parallel with the second guide when mounted to the header and the sill, respectively. Typically, smooth sliding of the slide component along the first and second guide requires that the first and second guide be in parallel with each other or otherwise aligned in a predetermined alignment. When the first guide becomes deformed or becomes misaligned relative to the second guide, the slide component racks, i.e., binds, when slid along the first and second guides. In other words, the slide component does not freely slide along the first and second guide. This racking, or binding, disrupts easy and quick covering and uncovering of the frame opening with the screen. Further, such racking, or binding, creates a sense that the screen assembly is of inferior quality. Accordingly, it would be advantageous to develop a screen assembly having a screen apparatus that slides freely and does not rack regardless of any crowning, bowing, or other deformation of the header and regardless of any non-parallel relationship between the header and the sill. The present invention is a screen assembly for disposition in a frame opening. The screen assembly includes a first rail for bounding one side of the frame opening and a second rail spaced from and fixed relative to the first rail for bounding an opposite side of the frame opening. A first guide is adjustably coupled to the first rail for selectively moving the first guide relative to the first rail. A second guide extends from the second rail. A screen apparatus includes a screen and a slide component coupled to the screen. The slide component extends between and slideably interacts with the first guide and the second guide for selectively extending and retracting the screen across the frame opening. The present invention also includes a method of installing the screen assembly into the frame opening. The method includes the steps of installing the first rail in the frame opening and installing the second rail in the frame opening spaced from and fixed relative to the first rail. The method further includes the step of selectively aligning the first guide relative to the second guide by selectively moving the first guide relative to the first rail. Accordingly, because the second guide extends from the second rail and because the first guide is adjustably coupled to the first rail, the first guide may be selectively moved into alignment with the second guide. The adjustability of the first guide relative to the second guide compensates for deformation of the first rail or for non-parallel alignment of the first and second rails. As such, the first guide may be aligned with the second guide thereby allowing the slide component to freely slide along the first and second guides. In addition, the method is advantageous in that it provides for the alignment of the first and second rails such that the slide component may freely slide along the first and second rails without racking. Because the method includes installing the second rail fixed relative to the first rail and because the second guide extends from the second rail, the step of aligning the first guide with the second guide results in the slide component being freely slideable along the first and second guides. The subject invention is also advantageous to operation of the screen assembly after the screen assembly has been installed into the frame opening. Other advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated, as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein: Referring to the Figures, wherein like numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views, a screen assembly 20 is generally shown. The screen assembly is installed in a building 30, such as a commercial or residential building. The building 30 defines an opening 31 and the opening 31 is framed by a header 24, a sill 26, and a pair of jambs 28. Specifically, as shown in As shown in The first rail 32 may extend horizontally with the second rail 34 vertically spaced below the first rail 32 and extending horizontally. In this arrangement, the first rail 32 is mounted to the header 24 and the second rail 34 is mounted to the sill 26. For example, the first rail 32 and the second rail 34 may be mounted to the header 24 and the sill 26, respectively, with threaded fasteners such as screws, e.g., the first screws 33 in The screen assembly 20 includes a first guide 38 and a second guide 40. The first guide 38 is typically elongated and extends along the first rail 32. The second guide 40 is also typically elongated and extends along the second rail 34. The first and second rails 32, 34 couple the first and second guides 38, 40, respectively, to a substrate, for example, the header 24 and the sill 26, respectively. As shown in As shown in In such a configuration, the canister 50 extends between the one side 35 and the opposite side 36 of the frame opening 22. The canister 50 may, for example, be mounted on one of the pair of jambs 28. In such a configuration, the screen 44 is dispensable from the canister 50 horizontally across the frame opening 22. The screen 44 is flexible and extends between a trailing edge and a leading edge 52. It is to be understood that screen 44 can be wire mesh style, silhouette style, and the like and can be manufactured from a wide array of materials including polymers and metals. The trailing edge is supported by the canister 50, typically on a spring-loaded roller 51 within the canister 50 as discussed below, and the leading edge 52 is attached to the slide component 46. For example, the screen 44 may be splined into the slide component 46. The slide component 46 extends across the frame opening 22 between the one side 35 and the opposite side 36 of the frame opening 22. In the embodiment shown in The canister 50 includes a spring-loaded roller 51 to which the trailing edge of the screen 44 is attached. As the leading edge 52 of the screen 44 is moved toward the canister 50, the spring-loaded roller 51 tensions the screen 44 toward the canister 50, causing the screen 44 to automatically wrap around the roller 51. The tension in the screen 44 is between the trailing edge in the canister 50 and the leading edge 52 of the screen 44 at the slide component 46. As an alternative to the embodiment shown in In such a configuration, for example, the screen frame 56 may include a pair of horizontal members 58 spaced from each other and a pair of vertical members 60 spaced from each other and extending between the horizontal members 58 to define a rectangular opening. The screen 44 is attached to the vertical and horizontal members 60, 58 and extends across the rectangular opening 22. For example, the screen 44 may be splined to the vertical and horizontal members 60, 58. The pair of horizontal members 58 and/or the pair of vertical members 60 may slideably interact with the first and second guides 38, 40. The pair of horizontal members 58 may extend across the frame opening 22 between the one side 35 and the opposite side 36 of the frame opening 22. The screen frame 56 is slid along the first and second guides 38, 40 to cover and uncover the frame opening 22 with the screen 44. It should be appreciated that the screen assembly 20 as described above and as shown in the figures is configured such that the screen apparatus 42 slides horizontally across the frame opening 22. However, one skilled in the art would appreciate that the screen assembly 20 may be configured such that the screen apparatus 42 slides vertically or at any angle between vertical and horizontal. For example, the first rail 32 may be mounted to one of the pair of jambs 28 and the second rail 34 may be mounted to another jamb 28 opposite the first rail 32. In such a configuration, the screen apparatus 42 would slide vertically along the first and second guides 38, 40. For example, in such a configuration, if the screen assembly 20 includes a canister 50, the canister 50 could be mounted to the header 24 and/or to the sill 26. The first guide 38 is adjustably coupled to the first rail 32 for selectively moving the first guide 38 relative to the first rail 32. Specifically, a location of the first guide 38 relative to the first rail 32 may be adjusted to align the first guide 38 with the second guide 40. Maintaining the first guide 38 in alignment with the second guide 40 reduces racking of the slide component 46 as the slide component 46 is slid along the first and second guides 38, 40. Maintaining the first guide 38 in alignment with the second guide 40 in essence creates an even rod and bearing fit, i.e., allows the slide component 46 to freely slide along the first guide 38. For example, the first and second guides 38, 40 are in alignment when the first guide 38 is parallel with the second guide 40. Specifically, in an embodiment where the first rail 32 is mounted to the header 24, the header 24 may be crowned, bowed, or otherwise deformed and the mounting of the first rail 32 to the header 24 causes the first rail 32 to deform to the shape of the header 24. In such a configuration, the location of the first guide 38 is altered by the deformation of the first rail 32. In addition, if the sill 26 is not parallel with the header 24, then the first guide 38 may not be in parallel with the second guide 40 when the first and second rails 32, 34 are mounted to the header 24 and the sill 26, respectively. As such, it is advantageous that the first guide 38 is adjustably coupled to the first rail 32 such that the first guide 38 may be aligned relative to the second guide 40 to compensate for deformation of the first rail 32 and/or for non-parallel alignment of the first and second rails 32, 34. As shown in To facilitate alignment between the first and second rails, 38, 40, the screen assembly 20 includes a fastener 63 extending from the first rail 32, and the first guide 38 defines an aperture 62 sized larger than the fastener 63. The fastener 63 can be fixed relative to the first rail 32 or can be adjustably coupled to the first rail 32. The first guide 38 receives the fastener 63 in the aperture 62. Because the aperture 62 is sized larger than the fastener 63, the fastener 63 moves along the aperture 62 to allow the first guide 38 to move relative to the first rail 32. The fastener 63 may be anything which connects or attaches the first rail 32 to the first guide 38, such as a threaded screw, as shown in For example, as will be discussed below, the first rail 32 is aligned with the second rail 34 by sliding the slide component 46 along the first and second guides 38, 40. Because the second rail 34 is fixed relative to the first rail 32 and the second guide 40 extends from the second rail 34, when the slide component 46 is slid along the second guide 40, the slide component 46 exerts force on the first guide 38 such that the first guide 38 moves and becomes aligned, e.g., parallel, with the second guide 40. As noted above, the fastener 63 may be a screw which extends through the aperture 62 and into the first rail 32. As shown in Referring again to The aperture 62 is sized larger than the threaded shaft 68 along an axis A extending between the first rail 32 and the second rail 34 for allowing movement of the first guide 38 along the axis A when the fastener is in the disengaged position. The axis A typically extends in a general vertical direction. Specifically, the first guide 38 defines the aperture 62 as having a slot-shape extending along the axis A such that the threaded shaft 68 is moveable along the slot-shape. As shown in Referring again to As another alternative, the first rail 32 and the first guide 38 may be configured such that the first guide 38 moves relative to the first rail 32 when subjected to a force exceeding a threshold force. For example, the fastener 63 may be sized such that the fastener 63 has a friction fit in the aperture 62. In other words, the fastener 63 moves along the aperture 62 only when sufficient force is applied to overcome the friction between the fastener 63 and the first guide 38. Alternatively, the fastener 63 includes a pressure washer (not shown) disposed between the first rail 32 and the first guide 38. As known to one skilled in the art, the pressure washer frictionally engages the first guide 32 and the first rail 38. When subjected to sufficient force, the pressure washer relieves the friction between the first guide 32 and the first rail 38 to allow the first guide 32 to move relative to the first rail 38. It should be appreciated that any type of device or configuration may be used to frictionally engage the first rail 32 and the first guide 38. As shown in As shown in The first guide 38 includes an elongated attachment portion 76 and an elongated bead portion 78 extending along the elongated attachment portion 76. The slide component 46, or even a glide block extending therefrom, defines a first channel 80 complimentary in configuration to the elongated bead portion 78 and receives the elongated bead portion 78 such that the slide component 46 is slideable along the first guide 38 on the elongated bead portion 78. The first guide 38 may be coated with polyester paint and the slide component 46 may be made of siliconized acetal or nylon at the first channel 80 such that there is reduced friction and the slide component 46 freely slides along the first rail 32. It should be appreciated that the first rail 32 and the slide component 46 may be formed from or coated with any material that allows for free movement between the first rail 32 and the slide component 46. It should be appreciated that the first guide 38 and the slide component 46 may have any corresponding configuration that allows the slide component 46 to slide along the first guide 38. The second guide 40 typically includes a second bead 82 and the slide component 46 defines a second channel 84 complimentary in configuration to the second bead 82 and receiving the second bead 82 such that the slide component 46 is selectively slideable along the second guide 40 on the second bead 82. The second guide 40 may be coated with polyester paint and the slide component 46 may be made of siliconized acetal or nylon at the second channel 84 such that the slide component 46 freely slides along the second rail 34. It should be appreciated that the second rail 34 and the slide component 46 may be formed from or coated with any materials that allow for free movement between the second rail 34 and the slide component 46. It should be appreciated that the second guide 40 and the slide component 46 may have any corresponding configuration that allows the slide component 46 to slide along the second guide 40. For example, the second guide 40 may define an elongated U-shaped channel and the slide component 46 may be configured to slide along the elongated U-shaped channel. As shown in As shown in In such an embodiment, the screen assembly 20 may include a second slide component 96 coupled to the screen 44. The slide component 46 and the second slide component 96 may slide toward one another and meet to cover the opening. In such a case, the slide component 46 and the second slide component 96 preferably include complimentary engaging features such that the slide component 46 and the second slide component 96 engage each other when slid toward each other. As shown in The present invention also includes a method of installing the screen assembly 20 into the frame opening 22. The method includes the steps of installing the first rail 32 in the frame opening 22 and installing the second rail 34 in the frame opening 22 spaced from and fixed relative to the first rail 32. Specifically, the step of installing the first rail 32 in the frame opening 22 includes positioning the first rail 32 horizontally along the top side of the frame opening 22. The step of installing the second rail 34 in the frame opening 22 includes positioning the second rail 34 to be vertically spaced below the first rail 32 along the bottom side of the frame opening 22. The first rail 32 may be mounted to the header 24 and the second rail 34 may be mounted to the sill 26. In an embodiment including the canister 50, the canister 50 may be mounted to one of the pair of jambs 28. Likewise, in an embodiment including the second canister 92, the second canister 92 may be mounted to one of the pair of jambs 28 opposite the first canister 50. The method further includes selectively aligning the first guide 38 relative to the second guide 40 by selectively moving the first guide 38 relative to the first rail 32. If the fasteners 63 are not kept in the disengaged position to allow the first guide to actively adjust relative to the first rail 32 as may be desirable even after installation, then the method includes the step of adjusting the fastener 63 to the engaged position to prevent movement of the first guide 38 relative to the first rail 32. Specifically, the step of aligning the first guide 38 may be further defined as aligning the first guide 38 relative to the second guide 40 when the fastener 63 is in the disengaged position. In other words, when the fastener 63 is in the disengaged position, the first guide 38 may be moved relative to the second guide 40. For example, the first guide 38 may be moved such that the first guide 38 is aligned in parallel with the second guide 40. The method further includes selectively adjusting the fastener 63 to the engaged position after aligning the first guide 38 to maintain the first guide 38 in alignment with the second guide 40. As discussed above, if the threaded shaft 68 of the fastener 63 is threaded, the fastener 63 may be rotated to frictionally engage and disengage the head 66 of the fastener 63 with the first guide 38. For example, the step of aligning the first guide 38 may be further defined as selectively sliding the slide component 46 along the first guide 38 and the second guide 40 when the fastener 63 is in the disengaged position. In other words, the slide component 46 is slid along the first guide 38 and because the second rail 34 is fixed relative to the first rail 32 and the second guide 40 extends from the second rail 34, when the slide component 46 is slid along the second guide 40, the slide component 46 exerts force on the first guide 38 such that the first guide 38 becomes aligned, e.g., parallel, with the second guide 40. When the first guide 38 is properly aligned with the second rail 34, the fastener 63 may then be adjusted to the engaged position to prevent movement of the first guide 38 relative to the first rail 32. The step of adjusting the fastener 63 may be further defined as adjusting each of the plurality of fasteners 63 from the disengaged position to the engaged position, typically in a predetermined sequence. In other words, the fasteners 63 are adjusted to the disengaged position such that the threaded shaft 68 of each fastener 63 moves within the apertures 62 defined by the first guide 38. As the first guide 38 is vertically adjusted, the fasteners 63 are adjusted to the engaged position to retain the first guide 38 in alignment with the second guide 40. After the first guide 38 is aligned with the second guide 40, the cover 48 is mounted to the first rail 32. The cover 48 allows for ease of installation of the screen assembly 20 into the frame opening 22. For example, the first guide 38 may be adjusted to be aligned with the second guide 40 and the fastener 63 may be adjusted to the engaged position prior to the installation of the cover 48 thereby allowing free access to the first guide 38 and the fastener 63. In addition, in the embodiment including the first and second canisters 92, when only one installer is installing the screen assembly 20 into the frame opening 22 it may be beneficial to mount the first and second canisters 92 to the pair of jambs 28 before the first rail 32 is mounted to the header 24. As such, the geometry of the first rail 32 without the cover 48 allows the installer to easily slide the first rail 32 without the cover 48 between the first and second canisters 92. It should be appreciated that the fasteners 63 may be left in the disengaged position even after installation such that the first guide 38 continuously “floats” relative to the first rail 32. In other words, the position of the first guide 38 is adjusted relative to the first rail 32 each time the slide component 46 is slid along the first guide 38 and the second guide 40. This benefit is particularly advantageous even after the screen assembly 20 has been installed. The invention has been described in an illustrative manner, and it is to be understood that the terminology which has been used is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation. Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings, and the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described. |