Abstract:
A quick release clip for securing a screen in position in a frame, the clip comprising a main clip body, a first leg extending outwardly from the main clip body and bent relative to a plane of the main body, the first leg for receipt into a groove of the frame. In addition, the quick release clip includes a contact edge, the main clip body opposite the first leg terminating in the contact edge wherein the contact edge is disposed adjacent an edge of the screen applying a force to maintain the screen in position.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/738,783 filed Dec. 18, 2012. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates to clip for use in rapid and easy installation and removal of window screens. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Rapid removal and installation of window and door glass panels and screens can be challenging and cumbersome for many homeowners. Many windows and doors utilize spring-loaded locking members for securing screens and glass panels in position that become stuck or frozen over time and can be extremely difficult for a homeowner to operate. 
         [0004]    The disclosed spring-loaded clips can be readily removed with minimal exertion on the part of the user and require no special screen frame configuration to be fully functional at maintaining a tight seal of the screen against the frame. Preferably, a plurality of clips would be used to functionally secure the screen in position and maintain a tight seal against the window jamb to prevent intrusion of insects or wind blow debris. Removal of the screen can be accomplished by sliding the screen sideways, depressing the clips on one side, and freeing the screen frame on the other side, then swinging the screen inward. 
         [0005]    It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an alternative to the use of the traditional spring loaded horizontally translating screen locks with a clip that is easy to operate. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    This disclosure relates to a plurality of quick release clips that are symmetrically disposed around the periphery of the screen or glass panel. The clips are spring-loaded when a screen or glass panel is present and are secured at one end to the window jamb and at the opposite end extend to both the interior of the frame of the screen or glass panel and to the side of the frame of the screen or glass penal where they apply pressure to the screen frame or frame of the glass panel. The clips act both as a centering device and as a retention device. 
         [0007]    The quick release clips are further preferably positioned so that the force applied to the screen by each clip is opposed by a clip directly opposite the clip whether the clip is disposed horizontally or vertically in the window frame. The quick release clips are preferably constructed of engineered plastic or PVC and are flexible yet sufficiently tough to avoid fatigue failure through repeated application of force to the clips. 
         [0008]    The first end of the quick release clip is configured for receipt into the window&#39;s frame groove typically used for securing the glazing bead. The second end of the quick release clip for securing a screen or glass panel in position is configured for receipt at the lateral edge of the screen or glass panel as well as the front surface of the screen. The nominally forked configuration of the second end of the quick release clip facilitates the centralized positioning of the screen into the window frame and also allows the clip to apply pressure to not only the front of the screen or glass panel forcing the screen or glass panel into contact with the frame elements but also to the side of the screen so that opposing clips are in effect pushing against one another centering the screen or glass panel into position. 
         [0009]    In order to remove the screen or glass panel the user simply applies side pressure to the screen or glass panel. This pressure to the central body counteracts the spring loading of the clip and eliminates the pressure applied to the side of the screen or glass panel as well as the front of the screen. When pressure applied by all of the quick release clips on one side have been removed from the screen or glass panel it can readily be swung inward and replaced or repaired. 
         [0010]    Conveniently, the clips are installed in the same groove that is used for glazing beads which retain the glass in a single hung window. Therefore, no fasteners, extra screen features, or extra frame features are required for the retaining clip to function. 
         [0011]    These and other advantages of the invention will be further understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art by reference to the following written specification, claims, and appended drawings. The contents of this summary section are provided only as a simplified introduction to the disclosure, and are not intended to be used to limit the scope of the appended claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    With reference to the following descriptions, appended claims, and accompanying drawings: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary screen clip in accordance with an exemplary embodiment; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  illustrates an elevation view of a single hung window assembly; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  illustrates a sectional view on the line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2  of the top half of an exemplary single hung window assembly demonstrating how the groove in the frame is used for securing a panel of insulated glass in position using a glazing bead; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is close-up view of  FIG. 3  illustrating more detail on the configuration of the use of a glazing bead in the frame groove; 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a sectional view on the line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 1  of the lower half of a single hung window assembly revealing an exemplary embodiment of a clip securing a screen window in position using the frame groove; 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is a close up view of  FIG. 5  revealing more detail on the configuration of an exemplary embodiment of a clip; 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  is a cross sectional view of a window assembly detailing the start of the process of removing an exemplary embodiment of clips from securing the screen in position; 
           [0020]      FIG. 8  is a cross sectional view of a window assembly detailing the right side release of an exemplary embodiment of a clip and the start of the removal of the screen; 
           [0021]      FIG. 9  is a cross sectional view of a window assembly detailing the commencement of the release of the left side of the screen; 
           [0022]      FIG. 10  is a cross sectional view of a window assembly detailing the total release of the screen from the frame following release of the clips; and 
           [0023]      FIG. 11  is an exemplary embodiment of a frame groove of a window. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0024]    The following description is of various exemplary embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope, applicability or configuration of the present disclosure in any way. Rather, the following description is intended to provide a convenient illustration for implementing various embodiments including the best mode. As will become apparent, various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of the elements described in these embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims. Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to similar or identical parts throughout the several views. 
         [0025]      FIG. 1  reveals an exemplary embodiment of the quick release clip  10  for securing a screen in position. The quick release clip  10  is comprised of a longitudinally extending body member  12  with a first end  12 A and a second end  12 B, a leg member  14  extending downwardly from the body member  12  and bent at approximately a 90 degree angle relative to a plane of the leg member  14  is an outwardly extending foot member  16 . Extending outwardly from the leg member  14  preferably at an angle in the range of from 30 to 60 degrees is a locking feature  18 . The locking feature  18  comprises a complex geometry with an arcuate main portion  20  extending from a junction  22  of the body member  12  and the leg member  14 . Also formed at the junction  22  is a junction pocket  24  into which a first edge  25  of the frame groove  58  will set when installed. At the distal end of the arcuate main portion  20  is a linear tab  26 . Opposite the linear tab  26  on arcuate main portion  20  and immediately proximate the junction  22  is a hook flange  28 . Due to its pronounced curvature, the hook flange  28  forms a flange pocket  29  for engaging a second edge  27  of the frame groove  58  into which the release clip  10  is positioned as best seen in  FIG. 6 . 
         [0026]    Opposite the leg member  14  and also extending from the body member  12  is an arm member  30  with a base  33  that extends outwardly from the main body member  12  at an angle in the range of from about 45 degrees to 75 degrees and preferably at about 60 degrees relative to the plane of the body member  12 . The arm member  30  has a front face  31  against which is placed the edge of the screen as seen in  6 . At the point where the arm member  30  extends outwardly from the main body member  12  a protrusion  32  and an arm pocket  34 . 
         [0027]    The quick release clip  10  is preferably fabricated from a flexible yet resilient engineered plastic that can withstand temperature extremes and has exceptional resistance to degradation from ultraviolet light. The quick release clip must be capable of withstanding numerous bending cycles and resistance to fatigue fracture. 
         [0028]      FIG. 2  reveals a single hung window  40  with a glass panel  42  in position in the upper portion of the window  40  and glazing beads  44  in position around the glass panel  42  to secure the glass panel in position. The lower portion of the window reveals a screen  46  in position.  FIG. 3  is a cutaway view of the frame  47  taken at section  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2  showing the placement of the left portion of the glass panel  42  being secured in position by glazing beads  50  against the frame  47  back panel flange  54 . Individual glazing beads  50  circumscribe the glass panel  42  keeping the glass in position.  FIG. 4  is an enlarged view of the left portion of  FIG. 3  providing an enlarged view of how the first end  56  of the glazing bead  50  snaps into the frame groove  58  and at the second end  60  contacts the glass panel  42  to secure it in position through contact of the glass panel  42  at the end point  62 . The frame groove  58  utilized by the glazing bead  50  is central to the operation of the disclosed screen clip  10  to be discussed below. 
         [0029]      FIG. 5  is a sectional view of  FIG. 2  taken along lines  5 - 5 . The quick release clip  10  is used to secure a screen  72 , in position in a frame  74  against a frame flange  76 . As best seen in  FIG. 6 , the quick release clip  10  comprises a body member  12  with first and second ends  12 A,  12 B that is bent back to form an arm member  30  with a front face  31  and an arm pocket  34  and a protrusion  32 . The corner edge  78  of the screen  72  is held in position in the arm pocket  34  and the screen is placed under a load due to the compressive effects of front face  31  the clip  10  pushing against the screen  72 . The screen edge cannot traverse past the arm pocket because of the protrusion  32  that is located at the junction of the arm member  30  and the body member  12 . The height of the protrusion is preferably in the range of from 0.025 to 0.050 inches while the arm member  30  itself is nominally about 0.25 inches in length. 
         [0030]    As best seen in  FIG. 6 , the screen clip  10  is secured into the frame groove  58  by first inserting the linear tab  26  followed by the arcuate main portion  20  into the opening  80  in the frame groove. The flange pocket  29  is then positioned against the first edge  25  of the frame groove  58  and the junction pocket  24  is positioned against the second edge  27  of the frame groove thereby flexibly securing the screen clip  10  into position. 
         [0031]      FIGS. 7-10  reveal the steps involved in removing a screen  72  secured in position with the quick release clips  70 . The installation process is simply the reverse of the process that is to be described.  FIG. 7  details the application of finger or thumb pressure ‘P’ to the left clip  10  body member  12  thereby relieving pressure applied by the right side clip and allowing the screen to traverse left and begin departure from the window frame  74  against which pressure was previously being applied by the front face  31  of the arm member  30 . 
         [0032]      FIG. 8  details the right side of the screen being extricated from the clip  10 .  FIG. 9  details how the screen on the left side is no longer under pressure from the clip  10  and can also begin to be extricated from the various points that previously secured it in position. Finally,  FIG. 10  details the screen  70  fully extricated from the clips  24  and the frame assembly  28  which previously secured it in position. 
         [0033]    In the foregoing specification, the invention has been described with reference to various embodiments. However, one of ordinary skill in the art appreciates that various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the specification is to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present disclosure. Likewise, benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have been described above with regard to various embodiments. However, benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element(s) that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as a critical, required, or essential feature or element of any or all the claims. As used herein, the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus.