Pleated screens

Abstract: A sliding bar (5) slidable in the opening and closing direction of a pleated screen device has a plurality of direction changing means (6a,6b,7a,7b) provided therein. A tension means has at least one secured end and is composed of two cord members (15,16) for example. These two tension members are stretched between a pair of frame members (3,4), pass around said direction changing means in said sliding bar, cross over each other in the sliding bar, and are then inserted in frame members (1,2) extending in said opening and closing direction. A screen member (13) having a plurality of pleats (12) is foldably and spreadably mounted between said sliding bar (5) and a said frame member (3) opposed to the sliding bar. The pleated screen member is supported in the said opening and closing direction by the said tension members.

Description: This invention relates to pleated screens. More particularly, the invention relates to a pleated screen for use for example as a curtain, a blind, a partition or a screen door, which permits opening and closing operations in a smooth and simple manner. Curtains, blinds, movable partitions and screens of various configurations and structures have conventionally been used to close windows and other openings in houses or offices. For such purpose, a pleated screen device is known, which includes a foldable and spreadable screen member formed into a plurality of pleats. In one such pleated screen device a screen member is arranged between a head box and a bottom rail, a lifting cord passes vertically through the screen member, and an end of the lifting cord is fixed to the bottom rail. The pleated screen member is folded and spread by pulling and releasing the lifting cord, whereby an opening, of a window frame for example, is opened and closed. In such a pleated screen device, however, the screen member is only suspended with the lifting cord, and this causes various difficulties in opening and closing, brought about for example by inclination of the screen member, problems over parallel movement, or twisting of the lifting cord. In an effort to solve these problems, another pleated screen device has been proposed in which the lifting cord is not passed through the screen member, but two rod members extending vertically between upper and lower frame members pass through the screen member. In this pleated screen device, such rod members are used as a guide for the movement of the screen member as it rises and descends by operation of the lifting cord. Another pleated screen device has been provided in which two rod members extending between a pair of frame members are passed through a screen member. In this device, a sliding bar having a knob is fixed to an end of the screen member, and the screen member is opened and closed by horizontal movement of this sliding bar. In these latter pleated screen devices, however, while relatively smooth opening and closing operation of the screen member is achieved, there are still some inconveniences in that the rod members interfere with opening and closing of a window, or access by the user when, for example, the device is used in a partition. Also, when opening the screen member the rod members are visible in the opening, thus detracting from the exterior appearance. US-4 762 159 discloses a pleated screen device comprising: at least one sliding bar slidable in the opening and closing direction of said screen device, a pair of frame members being disposed opposite to said sliding bar; at least one foldable and spreadable pleated screen member, at least one end of which is secured to said sliding bar; and at least one tension member stretched in said opening and closing direction of the device, the or each said tension member being arranged to support said pleated screen member by extending in the opening and closing direction thereof. The present invention is characterised in that said pleated screen device further comprises a frame; said sliding bar includes a plurality of direction changing means for tension members, said at least one tension member passing around said direction changing means in said sliding bar, and crossing another such tension member in the sliding bar; and a housing for said pleated screen member is provided in said sliding bar or on the face of the frame member on which an end of the pleated screen member is supported, the housing comprising two side walls extending on either side of the pleated screen member from the sliding bar or frame member on which it is provided towards the other of the sliding bar or the frame member such that the pleated screen member is housed in the housing when in the folded or closed condition and the housing is closed at its open end by the other of the sliding bar or frame member. Various aspects of the present invention are set out in the appended claims. Some embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a partially cutaway front view illustrating a first embodiment of a pleated screen device according to the present invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the embodiment of Fig. 1; Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 are partial sectional views illustrating further embodiments of the invention; Fig. 8 is a plan view illustrating another embodiment of a housing portion; Fig. 9 is a partial sectional view illustrating another embodiment of a direction changing means; Fig. 10 is a partially cutaway front view illustrating another embodiment of a screen device; Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic view of another embodiment; Fig. 12 is a partially cutaway from view of a further embodiment; Fig. 13 is a front view of a double screen device according to the invention; Fig. 14 is a view depicting one arrangement of tension members in the embodiment of Fig. 13; Fig. 15 is a view of an alternative arrangement of tension members; Fig. 16 is a view depicting an embodiment of a larger size double sliding type of screen device according to the invention; Fig. 17 is a front view of a vertical opening type of screen device according to the invention; and Fig. 18 is a front view of another embodiment of a vertical opening type of screen device. Figs. 1 and 2 depict a first embodiment of a pleated screen device, which is arranged to be horizontally opened and closed. In this device a frame body comprises a pair of upper and lower frame members 1 and 2 and a pair of right and left frame members 3 and 4. A sliding bar 5 is slidably mounted between the upper frame member 1 and the lower frame member 2, to be movable in the horizontal direction. In this case, the frame members 1 and 2 are used as guides for the sliding movement of the bar 5. It is not always necessary that the sliding bar 5 should be capable of sliding horizontally relative to the frame members 1 and 2. Thus the bar 5 may be slidable at a suitable angle to the frame members 1 and 2, for example at an angle which is appropriate to the shape of the location where the pleated screen device is installed. Two pairs of glider pieces, 6a and 6b and 7a and 7b, are provided in the sliding bar 5 for changing the direction of a tension member. As shown in Fig. 2, a supporting portion 8 and a housing portion 9 for supporting and housing a pleated screen member are provided on the sliding bar 5, and a knob 10 for sliding the screen member by hand is also provided. As shown in Fig. 1, a door roller 11 is rotatably mounted at the lower end of the sliding bar 5, to permit smooth sliding movement of the bar. A foldable and spreadable pleated screen member 13 having a multiplicity of pleats 12 is located between the sliding bar 5 and the left hand frame member 3. As shown in Fig. 2, a supporting member 14 is fitted to each end of the screen member 13, whereby the screen member is firmly supported between the frame member 3 and the supporting portion 8 of the sliding bar 5. There is no particular limitation with regard to the material of the screen member 13. Any kind of cloth, sheet, film or net, for example, which is capable of being formed into pleats, may be used. The pleats 12 may also have any configuration. As shown in Fig. 1, a pair of upper and lower cords 15 and 16, which serve as tension members to support the pleated screen member 13, are stretched in the opening and closing direction of the screen member, i.e. in the horizontal direction. These cords 15 and 16 may for example pass through small holes in the pleats 12 of the screen member, or may be connected to the front or back surface of the screen member by appropriate means. As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, for example, when the screen member is made up of two flexible sheets 103 and 104 having crests 101 and troughs 102, ring members 105 may be secured to the back surface of each sheet 103 and 104 in the troughs 102 and the cords 106 and 107 passed through those ring members. Alternatively, as shown in Fig. 5, the cords 106 and 107 may pass directly through the sheets 103 and 104 without using ring members. In a honeycomb type of screen member, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the cords 106 may pass through connecting pieces 108 which internally interconnect the sheets 103 and 104. Indeed, any appropriate means may be used for connecting a tension member to a screen member, for example in response to the configuration of the pleats of the screen member. Referring again to Fig. 2, the left hand ends of the cords 15 and 16 are secured to the frame member 3 by means of metallic ornaments 17. As shown in Fig. 1, the upper cord 15 horizontally supports the screen member 13, then passes around a glider piece 7a provided in the sliding bar 5, then around another glider piece 6b provided at the lower end of the sliding bar 5, is then inserted into the lower frame member 2 which guides the sliding bar 5, and finally is fixed to the right hand frame member 4. The lower cord 16, which also supports the screen member 13 in the horizontal direction, passes around the glider pieces 7b and 6a provided in the sliding bar 5, crosses over the cord 15, is inserted into the upper frame member 1, and finally is fixed to the frame member 4 by means of a metallic ornament 18. There is no particular limitation as to the material of the cords 15 and 16. Any suitable metal, alloy, resin or fiber may be used. The means for fixing the cords 15 and 16 to the frame members 3 and 4 is not limited to the metallic ornaments 17 and 18 shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Any means capable of imparting a prescribed tension, and of supporting and fixing the cords in a stretched state, may be used. It is also possible to associate a tension adjusting member, such as a coil spring, with the cords 15 and 16. Depending upon the configuration of the pleated screen member 13, as shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, a single tension member may be replaced by a plurality of members such as two cords 106 and 107. In this case, the plurality of members perform the same function as a single tension member. Further, the cords 15 and 16 may be connected to each other to constitute a single tension member. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, a top panel 19 for improving the tightness of the assembly contacts the top of the screen member 13 by its own dead weight. The panel 19 is located in the interior of the upper frame member 1. In the embodiments described above, the glider pieces 6a, 6b, 7a and 7b provided in the sliding bar 5 serve the purpose of changing the direction of the cords 15 and 16, causing the cords to cross over each other, and stretching the cords under a prescribed tension between the right and left frame members 3 and 4. Because the cords 15 and 16 can slide smoothly on the glider pieces, the sliding bar 5 can easily travel in the horizontal direction, and this travel of the sliding bar 5 causes a change in the horizontal lengths of the cords 15 and 16 which are disposed respectively in the screen member 13 and in the opening 20. The change in the horizontal lengths of the cords 15 and 16 disposed in the screen member makes it possible to fold or spread the screen member whilst guiding the same. More specifically, by causing the sliding bar 5 to slide towards the frame member 4, the horizontal lengths of the cords 15 and 16 disposed in the screen member 13 are increased, and the pleats 12 which were in a folded state are spread, thus opening the screen member and hence closing the opening 20. By causing the sliding bar 5 to slide towards the frame member 3, the horizontal lengths of the cords 15 and 16 disposed in the screen member 13 are reduced, and the pleats 12 are folded, thus closing the screen member and opening the opening 20. The folded, i.e. closed, screen member 13 is housed in the housing portion 9 provided in the sliding bar 5, shown in Fig. 2. As shown in Fig. 8, on the other hand, the housing portion 9 may be provided as part of the frame member 3. The pleated screen member 13, guided by the upper and lower tension members such as the cords 15 and 16, never inclines during its opening and closing, but is smoothly folded or spread. Because of the uniform operational load acting on the sliding bar 5, it is possible to cause the sliding bar to travel freely and to stably open and close the screen member, irrespective of the point of operation on the sliding bar. This permits simple and easy opening and closing operation and also ensures easy stopping at any intermediate position. The cords 15 and 16 improve the strength of the screen member, whereby swinging of the screen member by the wind is prevented, and this makes it simple and easy to design and manufacture the screen member. Since the parts of the cords 15 and 16 disposed in the opening 20 are inserted in the upper or lower frame members 1 and 2, the cords are never exposed in the opening 20, which makes for a neat appearance. When the screen is provided in the opening of a window frame or in a partition, it never interferes with opening and closing of the window, or access by a user. In the embodiment of Fig. 9, the upper glider pieces 6a and 7a and the lower glider pieces 6b and 7b are integrated into respective units. Thus substantially semi-circular glider pieces 6a and 7a are provided in a glider piece unit 109 with the glider piece 6a disposed above the glider piece 7a. A channel 110 is formed in the glider piece 7a, in the longitudinal direction of the unit 109, for the passage of the cord 16. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 10, an auxiliary cord 21 serving as an intermediate tension member is provided between the upper cord 15 and the lower cord 16, to support the screen member 13 at its center. A midway glider piece 22 for this intermediate cord 21 is provided in the sliding bar 5. One end of the intermediate cord 21 is secured by a metallic ornament 17 to the frame member 3. The intermediate cord 21 passes around the midway glider piece 22 to change the direction thereof. The intermediate cord then passes around the glider piece 6a in the sliding bar 5, is then inserted in the upper frame member 1, and finally is secured to the frame member 4 together with the cord 16 by means of the metallic ornament 18. The intermediate cord 21 helps to prevent bending of the screen member 13 under the effect of wind pressure during spreading, and to reinforce the entire face of the screen member. It also functions to correct any possible deformation of the screen member under the effect of temperature, for example. The intermediate cord 21 may possibly be connected to the cords 15 and 16, and one cord may constitute both the upper and lower cords 15 and 16 and the intermediate cord 21. In this embodiment, the intermediate cord 21 is arranged to extend upwardly in the sliding bar 5. This is not however essential, but the cord 21 may extend downwardly instead. There is no particular limitation on the number of intermediate cords. An appropriate number may be selected depending upon the strength and the size of the screen member 13. As shown in Fig. 11, for example, additional cords 23 and 24 may be provided between the cords 15 and 16 and the intermediate cord 21 of Fig. 10. In this case, glider pieces similar to the midway glider piece 22 shown in Fig. 10 may be provided at positions corresponding to the intermediate cords 23 and 24, in the sliding bar 5. Pleated screen devices according to the invention may have appropriate heights and sizes corresponding to, or independently of, the dimensions of the location of their installation. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 12, pulleys 25 are used as direction changing means for the cords 15 and 16 and the intermediate cord 21, instead of glider pieces, to cause the cords to cross one another and tension the cords between the right and left frame members 3 and 4. The pulleys 25 are rotatably mounted in the sliding bar 5. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 13 two pleated screen devices as described above are symmetrically disposed between the right and left frame members 3 and 4. More specifically, a screen member 13a is foldably and spreadably provided between the frame member 3 and a sliding bar 5a in the left-hand pleated screen device 26. Similarly, a screen member 13b is foldably and spreadably provided between the frame member 4 and a sliding bar 5b in the right-hand pleated screen device 27. Two alternative arrangements of tension members in the embodiment of Fig. 13 are illustrated in Figs. 14 and 15. In the embodiment of Fig. 14, a cord 15a which is fixed to the frame member 3 and horizontally supports the upper portion of the screen member 13a of the screen device 26 is turned back in the sliding bar 5a and inserted into a lower frame member (not shown) at the bottom of an opening 20. The lower frame member is similar to the frame member 2 shown in Fig. 1. The cord 15a is then secured to the frame member 4 opposed to the frame member 3. Similarly, a cord 16a which horizontally supports the lower portion of the screen member 13a is turned back in the sliding bar 5a, crosses over the cord 15a, is inserted into an upper frame member (not shown) which corresponds to the frame member 1 of Fig. 1 and forms the top of the other screen device 27, and finally is secured to the frame member 4. Similarly, in the screen device 27, the cords 15b and 16b horizontally support the screen member 13b, are turned back in the sliding bar 5b, cross over each other, and are stretched at a prescribed tension between the frame members 3 and 4. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 15, on the other hand, a cord 15c which is fixed to the frame member 3 and horizontally supports the upper portion of screen member 13a of screen device 26, is turned back in sliding bar 5a and inserted into a lower frame member (not shown) at the bottom of opening 20. The cord 15c is then turned back again in sliding bar 5b of the other screen device 27 to horizontally support the upper portion of screen member 13b, and finally is secured to frame member 4. Similarly, a cord 16c which is fixed to the frame member 3 and supports the lower portion of the screen member 13a, is turned back in the sliding bar 5a, crosses over the cord 15c, and is inserted into an upper frame member located at the top of the opening 20. The cord 16c is then turned back again in the sliding bar 5b of the screen device 27, supports the lower portion of screen member 13b, and finally is secured to the frame member 4. The arrangement of the cords 15c and 16c as described above enables a reduction in the number of cords to be stretched between the frame members 3 and 4, and thus simplifies the structure of the device and lowers its cost. In the case of the embodiment of Fig. 15, the cords 15c and 16c should preferably be supported in the frame members extending in the opening and closing direction of the device (corresponding to the frame member 1 or 2 of Fig. 1) with a view to stabilising the sliding bars 5a and 5b both when stopped and during travel. In the double sliding type of screen device, intermediate cords as shown in Figs. 10, 11 and 12 may be provided between the cords 15a, 16a, 15b, 16b, 15c and 16c and turned back in the sliding bars 5a and 5b as before. Fig. 16 depicts a larger size pleated screen device incorporating a combination of the configurations of cords shown in Figs. 14 and 15. In this embodiment, an intermediate screen device 28 is provided between screen devices 26 and 27 which are respectively connected to left and right frame members 3 and 4, to define two openings 20a and 20b. The intermediate screen device 28 has horizontally slidable sliding bars 5c and 5d at the respective ends thereof and a screen member 13c is provided between the sliding bars 5c and 5d. As in the embodiment of Fig. 15, cords 15c and 16c are turned back in the sliding bars 5a, 5c, 5d and 5b to horizontally support the three screen members 13a, 13b and 13c while crossing over each other, and are secured to the left and right frame members 3 and 4. Those portions of the cords which are not directly associated with screen devices are, as before, inserted into upper and the lower frame members (not shown) corresponding to the frame members 1 and 2 of Fig. 1. On the other hand, further cords indicated at 15a' and 16a' do not directly support the screen devices 26 and 27, but are stretched between the frame members 3 and 4, then turned back in the sliding bar 5c of the intermediate screen device 28, and cross over each other. These cords 15a' and 16a' firmly support the intermediate screen device 28 having the screen member 13c. Those portions of the cords 15a' and 16a' which are not received in the sliding bar 5c are also inserted into the said upper and the lower frame members. Cords 15b' and 16b' are also turned back in the sliding bar 5b, cross over each other, and are secured to the frame members 3 and 4. With such a configuration of cords, it is possible to achieve stable and smooth opening and closing of the screen devices 26 and 27 and the intermediate screen device 28, and also to provide a good exterior appearance, and furthermore to permit access by a user without any problem. There is no limitation regarding the number of intermediate screen devices 28. Any number may be provided. The configuration of cords in such cases may be determined by an appropriate combination of the basic configurations shown in Figs. 14 and 15, taking account of operability and stability. Intermediate cords as shown in Figs. 10, 11 and 12 may be provided, if desired. The present invention may also be applied to a pleated screen device arranged to be opened and closed vertically with a structure similar to the devices shown in Figs. 1, 10 and 12. Embodiments are illustrated in Figs. 17 and 18. In the embodiment shown in Figs. 17 and 18, a pleated screen member 13 may be pulled down from above, or pulled up from below, to spread it and to close the opening 20. In this case, the door roller 11 and the ceiling plate 13 may be unnecessary and may be omitted. Pleated screen devices according to the present invention, as described above, are usable not only as a curtain or a blind for an ordinary window, but also as a curtain or a blind for an inclined window such as a skylight or a window of a vehicle, and furthermore as a partition in a house or an office building. The devices are also usable as a screen or a net door for insect control. Sliding movement of the sliding bar may be accomplished by a conventional operating cord, or by an electrical drive by incorporating an appropriate drive means, or manually by means of a knob 10 as shown in Fig. 2.

Claims: A pleated screen device for mounting to a window or other opening in a house or office, for use as a curtain, a blind, a partition or a screen door, the pleated screen device comprising: a frame; at least one sliding bar (5) slidable in the opening and closing direction of said screen device; at least one foldable and spreadable pleated screen member, at least one end of which is secured to said sliding bar, and the opposite end of which is supported on a face of a member of the frame; and at least one tension member (15,16) stretched in said opening and closing direction of the device, the or each said tension member being arranged to support said pleated screen member by extending in the opening and closing direction thereof; characterised in that said sliding bar includes a plurality of direction changing means for tension members; said at least one tension member passing around said direction changing means in said sliding bar, and crossing another such tension member in the sliding bar; and a housing (9) for said pleated screen member is provided in said sliding bar or on the face of the frame member (3) on which an end of the pleated screen member is supported, the housing comprising two side walls extending on either side of the pleated screen member from the sliding bar or frame member on which it is provided towards the other of the sliding bar or the frame member such that the pleated screen member is housed in the housing when in the folded or closed condition and the housing is closed at its open end by the other of the sliding bar or frame member. A pleated screen device as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one intermediate tension member (21) stretched in said opening and closing direction is provided between two of the first mentioned tension members (15,16) so as further to support said pleated screen member in the opening and closing direction, the or each said intermediate tension members passing around said direction changing means (6a,6b,7a,7b).

Inventors: HOSHIYAMA YASUO, HOSHIYAMA, YASUO, Hoshiyama, Yasuo, c/o Metaco Inc.
Applicants: METACO INC, METACO INC.
Application year: 1992
Main classification: E06B9
IPC codes: E06B9