Screen device

Abstract: A screen (2) is mounted between a pair of screen mounting frames (1,1) at least one of which is slidable. One or more sliding guide frames (3) are disposed near a side of the screen which is not mounted to the screen mounting frames. The sliding guide frame is formed by interconnected rigid units (4), each of which has a pair of sidewalls (5,5) and a bridging portion (6), whereby the sliding guide frame has both rigidity and a bending ability. The sliding guide frame has at least a free end (3a) which is capable of being received in and withdrawn from inside of the screen mounting frame. A stopper mechanism (9-12) in the rigid units preserves straightness of a withdrawn portion of the sliding guide frame.

Description: The present invention relates to a screen device according to the introductory portion of claim 1. Such a device is known from EP 0 753 642 A. More particularly, the present invention relates to a screen device which can be installed under no restrictions when used as light-shielding or light-controlling means such as a curtain or a blind, an insect screen, a fixed partition, a movable partition, or the like and which, in addition, has excellent operability and shape stability as a screen. Various kinds of screen devices are available as light-shielding means, light-controlling means, insect screens, fixed partitions, and movable partitions. However, limitations are imposed on conventional screen devices in installing them because fixed frames located at edges of the screen are indispensable for the screen devices. These limitations become more conspicuous when screen devices are used as fixed or movable partitions. That is, an aesthetic problem occurs. Furthermore, they can hinder movement of persons and installation of furniture. On the other hand, such fixed frames guide the opening and closing movements of a screen so as to smooth the opening and closing movements. Furthermore, they are effective in stabilizing the shape of the screen. Therefore, it is impossible to dispense with the fixed frames in an attempt to solve the problems above-mentioned. According to the present invention, there is provided a screen device comprising: a pair of screen mounting frames disposed opposite to each other, at least one of which is slidable; a screen mounted between said screen mounting frames so as to be capable of being opened and closed; a sliding guide frame disposed near a side of said screen which is not mounted to a said screen mounting frame, at least one end of which frame is a free end which is capable of being received in and withdrawn from inside of one of said screen mounting frames; said guide frame being formed of a plurality of interconnected rigid units each of which has a pair of sidewalls disposed opposite to each other and a bridging portion interconnecting said sidewalls, adjacent rigid units being rotatable relative to each other whereby the sliding guide frame is bendable; and stopper means associated with said rigid units, said stopper means preserving straightness of a withdrawn portion of the sliding guide frame when the sliding guide frame is withdrawn from the screen mounting frame in accordance with sliding movement of the slidable screen mounting frame. 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 side elevation of an embodiment of a screen device; Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of main portions of the screen device shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3A is a front elevation of a rigid unit forming a sliding guide frame of the screen device shown in Figs. 1 and 2; Fig. 3B is a side elevation of the rigid unit shown in Fig. 3A; Fig. 3C is a bottom view of the rigid unit shown in Fig. 3A; Fig. 3D is a cross-sectional view taken on line X-X of Fig. 3A; Fig. 4 is a side elevation of main portions of a sliding guide frame formed by the rigid unit shown in Figs. 3A-3D; Fig. 5 is a schematic view of another embodiment of a screen device; Fig. 6 is a perspective view of main portions of tensioning members, showing a manner in which the tensioning members are fixedly mounted to a sliding guide frame; Fig. 7 is an exploded perspective view of main portions of a screen mounting frame; Fig. 8A is a schematic perspective view of main portions of a rigid unit forming a sliding guide frame and a screen mounting frame; Fig. 8B is a schematic side elevation of the main portions shown in Fig. 8A; Fig. 9 is a vertical cross section of the screen device shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 10 is a conceptual view of another embodiment of a screen device; Fig. 11 is a horizontal cross section of the screen device shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 12 is an exploded plan view of main portions of a sliding guide frame in the screen device shown in Fig. 10; and Fig. 13 is a cross-sectional view of main portions of the screen device shown in Fig. 10, showing locus of a bridging portion of a rigid unit when a sliding guide frame slides. A screen device of the present invention has such a structure as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The screen device has a pair of screen mounting frames 1 located opposite to each other. At least one of the frames 1 can slide. A screen 2 is mounted to the mounting frames 1 so as to be capable of being folded and unfolded between the frames 1. The screen 2 can be made of a cloth, a plastic sheet, a meshwork, a plurality of slats coupled, or any combination thereof. The screen 2 is opened and closed in accordance with sliding movement of at least one of the frames 1. Preferably, the screen 2 is pleated. The screen device also has sliding guide frames 3 near at least one end of the screen 2 that is not mounted to the screen mounting frames 1. The sliding guide frames 3 guide sliding movement of the slidable screen mounting frame 1. Rigid units 4 are coupled together to form the sliding guide frames 3. As shown in Figs. 3A-3D, each rigid unit 4 has a pair of sidewalls 5 located opposite to each other and a bridging portion 6 interconnecting the sidewalls 5. For example, a protrusion 7 projecting outward can be formed on one end of each sidewall 5, while a hole 8 in which the protrusion 7 can be engaged can be formed on the other end of the each sidewall 5. As shown in Fig. 4, two adjacent rigid units 4 can be joined together by fitting the protrusions 7 into the holes 8 from the rear sides of the sidewalls 5. For instance, the sliding guide frame 3 formed by the rigid units 4 can be rotated as between two adjacent rigid units 4. Consequently, the sliding guide frame 3 is bendable. As shown in Fig. 2, at least one end of the sliding guide frame 3 is a free end 3a which, with the bendable nature of the sliding guide frame 3, permits the sliding guide frame 3 to be brought into and out of the screen mounting frames 1. The other end of the sliding guide frame 3 can similarly be a free end 3a, while, as mentioned later, it can be otherwise fixedly mounted to one of the screen mounting frames 1. The screen mounting frames 1 are formed into a hollow shape in order that the sliding guide frames 3 can be brought into and out of the screen mounting frames 1. The hollow space in each screen mounting frame 1 may be one single space or plural sub-spaces divided. In the latter case, a pair of sliding guide frames 3 located near both ends of the screen 2 and not mounted to the screen mounting frames 1 can be received into the sub-spaces, respectively. Furthermore, if the sliding guide frames 3 are elongated, it can be smoothly received without any interference between the sliding guide frames 3. These permit the distance between the screen mounting frames 1 to be long. Each sliding guide frame 3 is equipped with a stopper mechanism. When the sliding guide frame 3 is withdrawn from inside of the screen mounting frame 1 in accordance with sliding movement of the slidable screen mounting frame 1, the withdrawn portion of the each sliding guide frame 3 is kept straight by the stopper mechanism so as to preserve a prescribed distance between the screen mounting frames 1. The stopper mechanism can be mounted to the linking portions between the two adjacent rigid units 4. A stepped structure can be provided for the stopper mechanism. The stepped structure can be mounted at either end of the bridging portion 6 of the rigid units 4. As shown in Figs. 3C and 3D, the stepped structure consists of a first step 9 and a second step 10. The first step 9 is formed by cutting a part of the surface at one end of the bridging portion 6. The second step 10 is formed by cutting a part of the rear face at the other end of the bridging portion 6. When the second step 10 overlaps the first step 9 between two adjacent rigid units 4 coupled together, the stepped structure stops rotation of the rigid units 4 and thereby straightness of the sliding guide frames 3 is preserved. An angular pin structure can be also provided for the stopper mechanism. The angular pin structure can be mounted on the sidewalls 5 of each rigid unit 4. The angular pin structure consists of small protrusions 11 extending outward from the sidewalls 5 of the each rigid unit 4 and crescent slots 12 capable of accepting the small protrusions 11. When the small protrusions 11 are inserted into the slots 12 between two adjacent rigid units 4 coupled together and each small protrusion 11 come into contact with one end of a corresponding slot 12, the angular pin structure stops rotation of the rigid units 4 and thereby straightness of the sliding guide frames 3 is preserved. Either or both of the stepped structure and angular pin structure can be adopted for the stopper mechanism. However, the stopper mechanism is not limited to the stepped structure and angular pin structure. Any other structure may be adopted for the stopper mechanism as long as straightness of the portions of the sliding guide frames 3 withdrawn from inside of the screen mounting frames 1 is maintained. Since the sliding guide frames 3 which guide sliding movement of the slidable screen mounting frame 1 are withdrawn from and received into the inside of the screen mounting frame 1, the sliding guide frames 3 are not fixed frames. Consequently, limitations which would normally be placed on installation when a screen device is used as light-shielding means or light-controlling means such as a curtain or a blind, an insect screen, a fixed partition, or a movable partition, are eliminated. Since each sliding guide frame 3 is composed of the rigid units 4, each sliding guide frame 3 has a good combination of rigidity and bending ability and thereby excellent operability and shape stability of the screen are accomplished. In the case that a screen device is employed as a curtain, a blind as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, an insect screen, a partition, or the like, the screen device can be installed in a window opening, on a wall, in a wall opening, on an article of furniture, on a post, on a ceiling, on a floor, or on both a ceiling and a floor by securing one screen mounting frame 1 with an anchoring member A or the like. In the case that a pair of sliding guide frames 3 are mounted near both ends of the screen 2 that are not mounted to the screen mounting frames 1, as shown in Fig. 5, the free ends 3a of the sliding guide frames 3 can be coupled together with a tensioning member 13 which forms a cross-loop and is mounted in the screen mounting frames 1. In addition, turning points 14 of the tensioning member 13 can be disposed on the opposite side of the sliding guide frames 3 to the side mounted to the screen 2. A cord, a wire, or any other appropriate member can be adopted for the tensioning member 13. Smooth parallel translation of the slidable screen mounting frame 1 is assured by the tensioning member 13 forming a cross-loop and having its turning points 14 disposed at the aforementioned positions. It is because each sliding guide frame 3 moves substantially equal amounts. For example, when one screen mounting frame 1 is operated at a location close to its bottom end to slide in the direction indicated by an arrow in Fig. 5, the upper sliding guide frame 3 receives a tensile force while the lower sliding guide frame 3 undergoes a compressive force. When the slidable screen mounting frame 1 is operated to slide in the opposite direction, the lower sliding guide frame 3 receives a tensile force. Even if the slidable screen mounting frame 1 is operated under conditions which would normally tend to induce rattle, the sliding guide frames 3 are smoothly received into and withdrawn from inside of the screen mounting frame 1 and smooth parallel translation of the slidable screen mounting frames 1 is realized. Consequently, even if, at each curved portion 3b, frictional resistance exists between the sliding guide frames 3 and the screen mounting frame 1, or even if unavoidable curving or elongation exists in the tensioning member 13, the effects caused by these are suppressed. Furthermore, straightness of the portions withdrawn from inside of the sliding mounting frame 1 can be easily maintained. As shown in Fig. 6, the tensioning member 13 can be fixedly secured to the free end 3a of one sliding guide frame 3. With respect to the other sliding guide frame 3, the securing position to the free end 3a can be variable. Adjustment of the securing position can be realized with a screw 15, for example. That is, the tensioning member 13 can be secured at arbitrary position to the free end 3a of the sliding guide frame 3 with a screw 15. This facilitates adjustment of the relative position of the screen mounting frames 1 when a screen device is installed. Therefore, a screen device can be installed easily. Of course, since the tensioning member 13 is secured to the free ends 3a of the sliding guide frames 3 when a screen device is assembled, at this time, the length of the tensioning member 13 can be adjusted. As shown in Fig. 7, in order to facilitate the adjustment of the securing position and the length of the tensioning member 13, an opening 16 can be formed at an end surface 1a of the screen mounting frame 1 which is opposite to the side to which the screen 2 is mounted. In addition, a cover 17 can be detachably mounted to the opening 16 without forming any gap between the opening and the cover. Adjustment of the securing position and the length of the tensioning member 13 when a screen device is installed can be effected through the opening 16. As shown in Fig. 3B, the bridging portion 6 of the rigid unit 4 can be placed at the middle position of the sidewalls 5. This placement is effective not only in maintaining rigidity of the rigid unit 4 but also in making sliding movement of the sliding guide frames 3 smooth. That is, as shown in Figs. 8A and 8B, in the case that a bearing surface 18 which can come into contact with rear surface of the bridging portion 6 of the rigid unit 4 is provided in the screen mounting frames 1, the bearing surface 18 guides the bridging portion 6 from its rear surface and when the sliding guide frames 3 are received in the screen mounting frames 1, the sliding guide frames 3 are smoothly curved at the bend portions 3b. Thus, sliding movement of the sliding guide frames 3 can be smoothed. In addition, the bridging portion 6 comes into contact neither with a floor surface 19 on which a screen device is mounted nor with a lower frame portion or the like mounted in an opening. Therefore, sand, mud, dust, or the like existing on the floor surface 19 and the lower frame or the like does not attach to the rear surface of the bridging portion 6. Frictional resistance between the bearing surface 18 and the bridging portion 6 do not increase, and wear caused by the frictional resistance is avoided. As shown in Fig. 2, rollers B which can come into contact with the surface of the bridging portion 6 of the rigid unit 4 can be provided in the screen mounting frames 1. The rollers B allow the sliding guide frames 3 to be smoothly curved at the bends 3b and thereby sliding movement of the sliding guide frames 3 is smoother. As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 9, a lower rail C having a suitable width to be inserted between the sidewalls 5 of the rigid units 4 can be mounted either on the floor surface 19 on which a screen device is installed or on the lower frame mounted in the opening. This lower rail C guides sliding movement of the sliding guide frames 3. In the case -that a screen device is used as a curtain, a blind, an insect screen, a partition, or the like, as shown in Figs. 1 and 9, an upper rail D wider than the sliding guide frames 3 can be mounted on the ceiling surface or on the upper frame in the opening in order to guide sliding movement of the sliding guide frame 3. This upper rail D is also effective in hiding a gap formed between the top end of a screen device and the ceiling surface or the upper frame in the opening. It is noted that the lower rail C and the upper rail D are not fixed frames as previously referred to. They are only supplementary guiding means for the sliding guide frames 3 which can be provided when needed. Accordingly, the lower rail C and the upper rail D by no means restrict installation of a screen device of the present invention. As mentioned previously, the other end, which is not the free end 3a, of the sliding guide frame 3 may be either a fixed end or a free end. In the screen device shown in Fig. 5, the other end of the sliding guide frame 3 is a fixed end 3c and is fixed to the screen mounting frame 1 therein. On the other hand, in the screen device shown in Fig. 10, both ends of the sliding guide frames 3 are free ends 3a. Consequently, the sliding guide frames 3 can be received in and withdrawn from both of the screen mounting frames 1 in accordance with sliding movement of the screen mounting frames 1. As is already shown in Fig. 5, the sliding guide frames 3 can be coupled together at their free ends 3a by tensioning members 13 forming cross-loops which are mounted in the screen frame mounting frames 1, with turning points 14 of the tensioning members 13 can be positioned on the opposite side of the sliding guide frame 3 from the side to which the screen 2 is mounted. Furthermore, the screen 2 is preferably pleated. In this case, tension supporting members 20 (Figs. 1 and 10) such as a cord, wire, or the like, are stretched between a pair of screen mounting frames 1, piercing the screen 2, in order to support the screen upright and increase surface rigidity. No limitations are imposed on the number and the manner of piercing of the tension support members 20 so long as a desired object is achieved. For example, as shown in Figs. 1 and 10, two tension supporting members 20 can be used and turned around in the screen mounting frames 1, to produce desired tension. As shown in Fig. 10, both ends of each tension supporting member 20 can be secured near the free ends 3a of the sliding guide frames 3 and turned around at two points 21 disposed in the screen mounting frames 1. The length of the tension supporting member 20 will be also made adjustable if the opening 16 is formed as shown in Fig. 7. In the case that the screen 2 is pleated, as shown in Fig. 11, the angle of the pleats when the screen is fully unfolded can be set to about 90°. The screen mounting frame 1 can be also provided with receptacle portion 1b in which the screen 2 can be received when folded. Of course, a screen without pleats can be used for the screen 2. In this case, in order to facilitate opening and closing the screen 2, a winding device using a roller can be mounted in the screen mounting frames 1. The screen 2 can be wound on the winding device and stored compactly. When the screen 2 is opened, it can be unwound from the winding device. In the roller-type winding device, a spring mechanism producing a resilient force in the direction to wind the screen 2 by rotating the roller can be also provided, facilitating winding the screen 2. In the case that a screen device is used as a curtain, a blind, an insect screen, a partition, or the like, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 11, mohair E or the like formed by an assembly of long fibers can be attached to the end surfaces of the slidable screen mounting frames 1. This mohair E or the like is effective in hiding any small gap formed between the slidable screen mounting frames 1 and a window opening, a wall, a wall opening, an article of furniture, a post, or the like. In the case that both ends of each sliding guide frame 3 are free ends 3a, as shown in Fig. 10, the sliding guide frame 3 can have such a structure as shown in Fig. 12. As mentioned previously, in this case, the sliding guide frames 3 can be received into and withdrawn from the screen mounting frames 1. On the other hand, as show in Fig. 13, the locus drawn by the bridging portions 6 of the sliding guide frame 3 which is formed by the rigid units 4 shown in Figs. 3A-3D differs according to the direction of sliding movement of the sliding guide frame 3. This is because the bridging portion 6 extends from one edge to almost the middle position of the sidewalls 5 in the rigid unit 4 shown in Figs. 3A-3D and because the rigid unit 4 does not have symmetry in the vertical direction relative to the bridging portion 6. Accordingly, as shown in Fig. 12, in order that the bridging portions 6 draw the same locus in spite of the sliding directions of the sliding guide frame 3, the sliding guide frame 3 can be divided into two parts at its center and the parts reversed relative to each other. In addition, two rigid units 4 which are positioned at an end of each part and disposed opposite to each other are connected by a coupler 22. As shown in Fig. 12, for example, the coupler 22 consists of a pair of sidewalls 23 located opposite to each other and a bridging portion 24 interconnecting the sidewalls 23. Each sidewall 23 has two protrusions 25 which project outward from the sidewall 23 and are spaced from each other longitudinally. The two rigid units 4 above-mentioned are connected by forcing the sidewalls 23 to be inserted between the sidewalls 5 of the two rigid units 4 and fitting the protrusions 25 into the hole 8 shown in Figs. 3A and 3D. The sliding guide frame 3 formed in this way is symmetrical about the coupler 22 and therefore, if both ends are free ends 3a, the locus drawn by the bridging portions 6 of the rigid units 4 is the same irrespective of the sliding direction of the sliding guide frame 3. This permits a common bearing surface 18 to be used in a Pair of the screen mounting frames 1. Furthermore, a common rigid unit 4 can be used for the sliding guide frame 3. This contributes to a decreased cost of a screen device.

Claims: A screen device comprising: a pair of screen mounting frames (1,1) disposed opposite to each other, at least one of which is slidable; a screen (2) mounted between said screen mounting frames so as to be capable of being opened and closed; a sliding guide frame (3) disposed near a side of said screen which is not mounted to a said screen mounting frame, at least one end of which frame is a free end (3a) which is capable of being received in and withdrawn from inside of one of said screen mounting frames; characterised in that said guide frame being formed of a plurality of interconnected rigid units (4) each of which has a pair of sidewalls (5,5) disposed opposite to each other and a bridging portion (6) interconnecting said sidewalls, adjacent rigid units being rotatable relative to each other whereby the sliding guide frame is bendable; and stopper means (9-12) associated with said rigid units, said stopper means preserving straightness of a withdrawn portion of the sliding guide frame when the sliding guide frame is withdrawn from the screen mounting frame in accordance with sliding movement of the slidable screen mounting frame. A screen device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said stopper means (9-12) is mounted at a connecting portion of two adjacent rigid units (4). A screen device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said stopper means comprises a stepped structure (9,10) provided at the ends of said bridging portion (6) of the rigid unit (4) and/or an angular pin structure (11,12) provided at the sidewalls (5) of the rigid unit. A screen device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said stepped structure comprises a first step (9) formed by cutting a surface at one end of the bridging portion and a second step (10) formed by cutting a rear surface at the other end. A screen device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said angular structure consists of a protrusion (11) projecting outward from the sidewall (5) and a crescent slot (12) capable of receiving said small protrusion. A screen device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a pair of said sliding guide frames (3) are disposed one near each side of the screen which is not mounted to a said screen mounting frame, said sliding guide frames being connected with each other at their free ends by a tensioning member (13) forming a cross-loop provided in the slidable screen mounting frame, with turning points (14,14) of said tensioning member situated on the side of said guide frames opposite to the screen. A screen device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the said tensioning member (13) is fixedly secured to the free end (3a) of one sliding guide frame (3) and adjustably secured to the free end of the other sliding guide frame so that its securing position is variable. A screen device as claimed in claim 7, wherein an opening (16) is formed in an end surface (1a) of the screen mounting frame which faces away from the screen, and wherein a cover (17) is detachably mounted to said opening without forming any gap between the opening and said cover. A screen device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the said bridging portion (6) is disposed at a middle position of the sidewalls (5) of the said rigid unit (4), and wherein a bearing surface (18) capable of coming into contact with a rear surface of the bridging portion is provided in the screen mounting frame. A screen device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the screen is made of a cloth, a meshwork, a plurality of coupled slats, or a combination thereof. A screen device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the screen is pleated. A screen device as claimed in claim 11, wherein one or more tension supporting members (20) for supporting the screen are stretched between the screen mounting frames.

Inventors: TSUCHIDA OSAMU, TSUCHIDA, OSAMU, Tsuchida, Osamu, c/o Metaco, Inc.,Yokohama Factory
Applicants: METACO INC, METACO INC.
Application year: 1999
Main classification: E06B9
IPC codes: E06B9