Screen device

In a screen device, a pair of vertical rails 24 arranged on the front and back sides of a screen 8 so as to oppose to each other are connected by connecting members 30 and are fixed between a pair of sliding guide frames 10a and 10b with the intermediary of the screen. The connected vertical rails are integrally slidable in the direction parallel to the direction of sliding movement of a screen mounting frame, so that the screen is restrained from being deflected even when it receives a wind pressure in the closed state when the width in the opening and closing direction is large.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a multi-purpose screen device which can be used as a curtain, a blind, a screen window, and a partition.

BACKGROUND ART

As a device which resolves constraints on installation when being used as light blocking and light adjusting means such as a curtain or a blind or as a screen window or a partition and realizes smooth and stable opening and closing operation, the applicant of the present invention provides a screen device (for example, Patent Document 1).

In the screen device disclosed in Patent Document 1, a screen is mounted to one of a pair of screen mounting frames, which are arranged so as to oppose to each other and at least one of which is slidable, so as to allow free contraction and expansion between the both screen mounting frames, and a pair of sliding guide frames are disposed near both end portions of the screen, which are not the end portions mounted to the screen mounting frames. The sliding guide frames each include rigid units each having a pair of opposed sidewalls and a bridging portion mutually connecting the pair of sidewalls. The adjacent two rigid units are connected to each other so as to be rotatable. The sliding guide frame are flexuous, and at least one end thereof is a free end so as to be capable of being stored in and pulled out from the screen mounting frame. Portions of the sliding guide frames pulled out from the screen mounting frames in association with the sliding movement of the screen mounting frames are kept in its straightness. With the provision of the sliding guide frames, resolving of constraints on the installation and smooth and stable opening and closing operation are achieved.

The above described screen device may be manufactured into a desired size according to the size of an opening such as a window or a door frame, for example. However, the following problems are pointed out specifically in the case where the width in the opening and closing direction, that is, the width in the direction of sliding movement of the screen mounting frame is large.

When the screen receives strong wind in a state in which the screen is expanded and hence the screen device is closed, the screen may be deflected significantly by the wind pressure. When the screen is significantly deflected in this manner, a large gap is generated with respect to the sliding guide frame, and hence the functions of the screen device such as the light blocking effect and the insect-proof property are impaired.

In the screen device having the sliding guide frames disposed near both the upper and lower end portions of the screen, the upper sliding guide frame is supported from below by the rigidity of the screen, so that the straightness of the sliding guide frame pulled out from the screen mounting frame can be held stably even when the width of the opening and closing direction is significantly large. However, when the screen is deflected significantly as described above, the support by the screen is insufficient, and hence the upper sliding guide frame is deflected by its own weight, whereby the opening and closing operation of the screen device is impaired.

From the above-described problems, the deflection of the upper sliding guide frame disposed in the vicinity of the upper end portion of the screen due to its own weight can be resolved by a cantilever in the screen device (Patent Document 2) which is proposed by the applicant of the present invention. However, since the cantilever does not have a function to restrain the deflection due to the wind pressure of the screen, other technical means is required in order to solve the above-described problem caused by the deflection of the screen due to the wind pressure drastically.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

In view of such circumstances as described above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a screen device in which a deflection of a screen can be restrained even when the screen receives a wind pressure in a closed state when the width in the opening and closing direction is large.

Means for Solving the Problems

In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention has following characteristics.

According to the first aspect of the invention, there is provided a screen device including: a pair of screen mounting frames which are arranged so as to oppose to each other and at least one of which is slidable; a screen mounted between the both screen mounting frames so as to be capable of contracting and expanding; and a pair of sliding guide frames disposed near both end portions of the screen, which are not the end portions mounted to the screen mounting frames, the sliding guide frames each include rigid units, the adjacent two rigid units being connected to each other so as to be rotatable, the rigid units each having a pair of sidewalls opposed to each other and a bridging portion connecting the both sidewalls, the sliding guide frames each being flexuous and having a free end at least at one end thereof to be capable of being stored in and pulled out from the each screen mounting frame, while portions of the sliding guide frames pulled out from the screen mounting frames when being pulled out in association with the sliding movement of the screen mounting frames keeping its straightness, wherein the pair of vertical rails arranged on the front and back sides of the screen so as to oppose to each other is connected by a connecting member and hence are fixed between the pair of sliding guide frames with the screen sandwiched therebetween and the connected vertical rails are integrally slidable in the direction parallel to the direction of sliding movement of the screen mounting frames.

In the characteristics in the first aspect of the invention, the second aspect of the invention is characterized in that the connecting member includes a spacer, the connecting member connects the pair of vertical rails by bringing the spacer into abutment with one of the front and back sides of the screen, a gap having a thickness corresponding to the thickness of the spacer is formed between one of the vertical rails and the screen in the connected vertical rails, and a tensioning member extended between the pair of screen mounting frames passes through the screen via the gap.

In the characteristics in the first and second aspects of the invention, the third aspect of the invention is characterized in that the respective sliding guide frames include a plurality of sliding guide frame units connected to each other, and the pair of vertical rails are fixed to connecting portions of the sliding guide frame unit positioned so as to oppose to each other in the both sliding guide frames.

Advantage of the Invention

According to the above-described first aspect of the invention, the connected vertical rails slide in association with the sliding movement of the screen mounting frames, and reinforce the surface strength of the screen expanded between the pair of screen mounting frames. Therefore, the screen can be restrained from being deflected significantly by the wind pressure even when it receives a strong wind. Accordingly, the functions of the screen device such as the light blocking effect or the insect-proof property are stably realized. Also, the upper slide guide frame disposed near the upper end portion of the screen is restrained from being deflected due to its own weight, and the opening and closing operation of the screen device is stably realized.

According to the second aspect of the invention, in addition to the effect of the first invention, the tensioning member extended through the screen for enhancing the surface strength of the screen or the like is prevented from interfering with the vertical rails.

According to the third aspect of the invention, in addition to the effect of the first or second invention, assembly of the vertical rails is facilitated, and the stable sliding movement of the vertical rails is realized.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1(a) and (b) are a front view showing an embodiment of a screen device according to the present invention and a cross-sectional view of an upper portion thereof respectively.FIG. 2is an exploded perspective view of principle portions showing a peripheral part of vertical rails of the screen device shown inFIGS. 1(a) and (b).

The screen device shown inFIGS. 1(a) and (b) andFIG. 2includes a pair of screen mounting frames1a,1b.The screen mounting frame la is fixed to the right side of an inner edge of an opening, while the screen mounting frame1bis disposed so as to be slidable in the lateral direction of the opening toward the left side of the inner edge of the opening. The both screen mounting frames1a,1bare opposed to each other. An upper rail2is disposed on the upper side of the inner edge of the opening along the lateral direction of the opening, and upper end portions of the screen mounting frames1a,1bare stored inside the upper rail2. A lower rail3is disposed on the lower side of the inner edge of the opening along the lateral direction of the opening. The screen mounting frame1bon the movable side is provided so as to be capable of sliding in the lateral direction of the opening along the upper rail2and the lower rail3.

A handle4is disposed on the screen mounting frame1bto facilitate the opening and closing operation of the screen device. The handle4is fixed to the screen mounting frame1bby being connected at one end portion thereof to a depression5formed in the screen mounting frame1bso as to extend in the vertical direction. The screen mounting frame1aon the fixed side is also formed with a depression6so as to extend in the vertical direction. Therefore, the screen mounting frames1a,1bhave an appearance of substantially lateral symmetry in the screen device. The depression6is also engageable with a protrusion7protruding from the handle4on the back side thereof. With the engagement with the protrusion7, the screen mounting frame1bis not operated inadvertently when the screen device is opened, so that the opened state can be held.

A screen8formed of a net is mounted between the screen mounting frames1a,1b.The screen8is pleated by pleating process and is contractible and expandable freely between the screen mounting frames1a,1b.In other words, when the screen mounting frame1bslides toward the left of the inner edge of the opening, the screen8is expanded in the opening, and blocks an entry of insects or the like. The screen8contracts when the screen mounting frame1bslides toward the right of the inner edge of the opening, and is folded between the screen mounting frames1a,1band stored therein.

The screen8may be formed of a cloth or a resin sheet in addition to the net, and may be formed of adequate materials according to the applications of the screen device. Alternatively, the contractible and expandable configuration may be achieved by, for example, a honeycomb structure in addition to the pleat formed by the pleating process.

The screen8is provided with tensioning members9extending in the direction of contraction and expansion. Suitable members which generate a tension such as a string or a wire may be employed as the tensioning member9, and a plurality of tensioning members9may be provided at regular intervals corresponding to the width of the screen8in the height direction. The tensioning members9penetrate through the pleated screen8in the direction of contraction and expansion to support the screen8. The screen8is secured in self-standing property and is enhanced in surface strength by the tensioning members9. Disposition of the tensioning members9is arbitrary and may be omitted.

The screen device is provided with a pair of sliding guide frames10a,10bat both end portions, which are not the end portions mounted to the screen mounting frames1a,1bof the screen8, that is, in the vicinity of the both upper and lower end portions. The sliding guide frames10a,10bare each composed of two sliding guide frame units11connected to each other. The sliding guide frame units11are each composed of a plurality of rigid units12, and have a predetermined length.

The rigid unit12includes a pair of sidewalls13arranged so as to oppose to each other and a bridging portion14connecting the both sidewalls13with respect to each other. The sidewall13is provided with a projection15projecting outwardly at one end portion in the longitudinal direction and a through hole16to allow engagement of the projection15therewith at the other end portion. The sidewall13is also provided with a small projection17at a position adjacent to the projection15so as to project outward in the direction opposite from the through hole16and is formed with a substantially crescent-shaped elongated hole18at a position adjacent to the through hole16on the side of the projection15. Two such the rigid units12adjacent to each other are rotatably connected by fitting and engaging the projection15with the through hole16from inside the sidewall13, and inserting the small projection17into the elongated hole18, thereby forming the sliding guide frame unit11. The sliding guide frame unit11is flexuous because two of the rigid units12adjacent to each other are rotatable, and is capable of maintaining its straightness by the small projection17coming into contact with one end of the elongated hole18in the longitudinal direction, thereby restricting the rotation of the rigid unit12. In order to keep the straightness of the sliding guide frame unit11, the rotation of the rigid unit12may be restricted by providing the rigid unit12with disalignment portions by notching a front surface of the bridging portion14at one edge portion and a back surface at the other edge portion and by overlapping the disalignment portions at a timing when the small projection17comes into contact with the elongated hole18.

The two sliding guide frame units11configured in this manner are connected by a connecting unit19at one end portion of each. The connecting unit19includes a pair of sidewalls20arranged so as to oppose to each other and a bridging portion21connecting the both sidewalls20with respect to each other. The sidewall20is provided with projections22projecting outwardly at both end portions in the longitudinal direction, and the projection22has substantially the same shape and size as the projection15of the rigid unit12, and is engageable with the through hole16of the rigid unit12. The sidewall20is provided with a substantially crescent-shaped projection23at a position adjacent to the projection22on the end edge side thereof. The projection23is engageable with the substantially crescent-shaped elongated hole18of the rigid unit12.

The two sliding guide frame units11are connected via the connecting unit19by fitting and engaging the projection22of the connecting unit19into the through hole16of the rigid unit12positioned at one end of each from inside and fitting and engaging the projection23into the elongated hole18from the inside, whereby the sliding guide frames10a,10bare formed. Therefore, the both sliding guide frames10a,10bare flexuous and are capable of keeping its straightness in the same manner as the sliding guide frame units11.

The sliding guide frames10a,10bhave free ends at both ends in the longitudinal direction, that is, at ends of the sliding guide frame units11which are not connected by the connecting unit19, and are capable of being stored in and pulled out from the screen mounting frames1a,1b.When the screen mounting frame1bis slid in the lateral direction of the opening toward the left side of the inner edge of the opening, the sliding guide frames10a,10bare pulled out from the screen mounting frames1a,1b,and the portions pulled out therefrom, maintain its straightness. In contrast, when the screen mounting frame1bis slid toward the right side of the inner edge of the opening, the sliding guide frames10a,10bare bent at the upper end portion and the lower end portion of the screen mounting frames1a,1b,and are stored in the interior of the screen mounting frames1a,1b. Such storing and pulling out of the sliding guide frames10a,10bare performed along the upper rail2and the lower rail3, and the storing and pulling out of the upper sliding guide frame10aare performed inside the lower end portion of the upper rail2.

The connecting units19positioned at the connecting portion between the two sliding guide frame units11of the sliding guide frames10a,10bare arranged so as to oppose to each other in the vertical direction.

Then, in the screen device, a pair of vertical rails24are disposed on both front and back sides of the screen8at a substantially center portion of the screen8in the direction of contraction and expansion. The vertical rails24each include a body strip25having substantially the same length as the height between the upper and lower sliding guide frames10a,10b,and two connecting strips26projecting from the back side of the body strip25at a center portion in the width direction and extending in the longitudinal direction of the body strip25. Projecting from opposed inner surfaces of the two connecting strips26are a plurality of ribs27, and the respective ribs27are arranged so as to oppose at the two connecting strips26. Formed on the end edge portion of the connecting strips26positioned on the opposite sides from the body strip25are flanges28, and the flanges28are directed outward from the two connecting strips26. A depression29like the depressions5,6formed on the screen mounting frames1a,1bis formed at the widthwise center portion on the front surface portion of the body strip25.

The vertical rails24as described above are arranged one each on the front and back sides of the screen8so as to oppose to each other with the connecting strips26abutted against each other and are connected to each other with connecting members30. The connecting members30each include a screw portion32formed with grooves31on an outer peripheral portion thereof and being pointed at both end portions in the longitudinal direction and a disk-shaped spacer33provided at substantially a center portion of the screw portion32in the longitudinal direction. A pair of the vertical rails24are connected by the connecting members30into a unit by arranging one of the vertical rails24close to one of the front or back surface of the screen8, screwing the screw portions32of the connecting members30into through holes34formed on a fold line of the pleat of the screen8between the connecting strips26of the vertical rails24as shown inFIG. 3, engaging the ribs27with the grooves31, arranging the spacer33into abutment with the other surface of the screen8, arranging the other vertical rail24close to the other surface of the screen8, screwing the screw portions32of the connecting members30between the connecting strips26of the vertical rails24, and engaging the rib27with the grooves31. In the connected state, the flange28of the connecting strip26of one of the vertical rails24comes into abutment with the front or back surface of the spacers33, and the screen8is sandwiched between the pair of vertical rails24. However, gaps having a thickness corresponding to the thickness of the spacer33are formed between one of the vertical rails24and the screen8. With the provision of these gaps, an interference between the tensioning members9penetrating through the screen8in the direction of contraction and expansion and the vertical rails24can be prevented, and the tensioning members9are penetrated through the screen8via these gaps.

The vertical rails24are fixed to the connecting units19arranged in the sliding guide frames10a,10bso as to oppose in the vertical direction by screws35. In the connecting unit19, joint portions36are formed at a substantially center portion of the bridging portion21in the longitudinal direction so as to protrude therefrom, and the joint portions36are arranged one each insides the respective sidewalls20. The joint portions36are each formed with a through hole37at a substantially center portion thereof so as to penetrate from the bridging portion21, and the joint portions36are formed with locking strips38at both end portions in the longitudinal direction of the connecting unit19so as to extend upright therefrom. Supporting strips39are formed on both sidewalls20of the connecting unit19at positions corresponding to the joint portions36so as to extend upright therefrom. The width of the supporting strip39substantially matches the width of the depression29formed on the body strip25of the vertical rail24.

As shown inFIG. 4, at upper and lower end portions, the connecting strips26are inserted inside the locking strips38and brings the flanges28into contact with the end surfaces inside the locking strips38to cause the connecting strips26to be locked by the locking strips38, and the supporting strips39are inserted into the depressions29of the body strips23to cause the body strips23to be supported by the supporting strips39, so that the vertical rails24are fixed to the connecting units19by the screw35screwed from the bridging portions21. In this manner, the vertical rails24fixed between the sliding guide frames10a,10bare configured so that the both vertical rails24are integrally slidable in the direction parallel to the direction of sliding movement of the screen mounting frame1bin association with the sliding guide frames10a,10bstored and pulled out with the sliding movement of the screen mounting frame1b.The sliding movement of the vertical rails24is stably realized. With the fixation of the sliding guide frame units11to the connecting units19positioned at the connecting units thereof in the sliding guide frames10a,10b,assembly of the vertical rails24into the screen device is facilitated.

According to the screen device as described above, the pair of vertical rails24arranged on the front and back sides of the screen8so as to oppose to each other are connected by the connecting members30and are fixed between the pair of sliding guide frames10a,10bwith the intermediary of the screen8. The connected vertical rails24are integrally slidable in the direction parallel to the direction of sliding movement of the screen mounting frame1b,so that the connected vertical rails24are slid in association with the sliding movement of the screen mounting frame1bto reinforce the surface strength of the screen8expanded between the pair of screen mounting frames1a,1b.Therefore, in the case of the large screen device having a large width in the opening and closing direction, the screen8can be restrained from being deflected significantly by the wind pressure even when it receives a strong wind in the closed state. Therefore, the functions of the screen device such as the light blocking effect or the insect-proof property are stably realized.

The upper sliding guide frame10ais sufficiently supported by the screen8which is restrained from being significantly deflected and, in addition, is also supported by the vertical rails24. Therefore, the sliding guide frame10ais restrained from being deflected by its own weight and opening and closing operation of the screen device is stably realized.

The vertical rails24may be provided with the handle4in the same manner as the screen mounting frame1b,so that the sliding movement of the vertical rails24may be operated using the handle4. In this case, the handle4can be fixed to the vertical rail24by connecting at one end portion thereof to the depression29. The handle4disposed on the vertical rail24is capable of engaging with the depression6formed on the screen mounting frame1aon the fixed side using the protrusion7protruding on the back side thereof, so that the vertical rails24can be kept in the opened state without being inadvertently operated when the screen device is opened. In order to enable the engagement with the depression6as described above, the handle4disposed on the vertical rail24is needed to be mounted at a height different from the handle4disposed on the screen mounting frame1b.

The position of arrangement of the vertical rails24on the screen8is not limited to the substantially center portion of the screen8in the direction of contraction and expansion, but may be adjusted according to the size of the screen device. For example, the vertical rails24can be arranged corresponding to the position of arrangement of the connecting unit in the sliding guide frame, and a plurality of vertical rails24may be arranged at a regular interval in the direction of contraction and expansion of the screen.

Furthermore, the screen mounting frame1amay be configured to be slidable in the lateral direction of the opening in the same manner as the screen mounting frame1binstead of fixing to the right side of the inner periphery of the opening.

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