Patent Publication Number: US-2022220802-A1

Title: Screen device

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO A RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application claims priority to European Patent Application No. 21 151 598.6, filed Jan. 14, 2021, the content of which is incorporated by reference herein. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The invention relates to a screen device for an opening, e.g. a window or a door in a building or vehicle, comprising a first elongated frame part having two ends; a second and a third frame part, respectively, that are oriented at right angles to said first frame part, being connected at each end of said first frame part to a first one of its two ends; a first crossbar and a second crossbar which are arranged in parallel to said first, fixedly arranged frame part and movable independently of each other along said two further frame parts; and a pleated screen element that is arranged between said first crossbar and said second crossbar, the crossbars being guided by guide cords. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Screen devices having a frame and a cord-guided, movable crossbar have been known in the art for some time, e.g. from the reference U.S. Pat. No. 4,473,101. In particular, they serve for visual, glare, or insect protection on openings such as e.g. windows in buildings but also in vehicles like campers. The described guide cords substantially have three functions, namely first to ensure the parallel guidance of the crossbar and to prevent its canting, second to provide a self-locking effect of the crossbar so that it is not displaced by its own weight or by shocks, and third to support a screen element arranged between an upper frame part and the crossbar so that it is not deformed or damaged by lateral forces, e.g. as a result of air draught or incorrect handling or operation, respectively. 
     From the reference US2005101456A1, a screen device having two movable crossbars is known between which a screen element is arranged. In particular, this device offers the advantage that both the upper and the lower end of the screen device are movable and thus a desired vertical area of an opening can be screened. Furthermore, the screen device according to US2005101456A1 offers the advantage that three fixed frame parts are sufficient, i.e. that a closed frame is not required, whereby it can be used in tight spaces, e.g. in a camper. 
     Particularly in the last-mentioned screen devices, at least part of the guide cords are deflected in at least one of the crossbars in two points and guided in parallel to the crossbar between these two points. At least part of these deflection points is formed by holes in the corresponding crossbar. If the crossbars are made in the form of C or hollow profiles, it is very difficult to achieve a clean deburring of the edges of these holes and to round them off, particularly on the inside of the profiles. Sharp edges not only hinder the movement of the crossbars but may also cause damages to the guide cords. Moreover, in the case of a C profile, the guide cords are visible between the flanges of the C profile and may interfere during manual handling of the crossbar. 
     On the background of this prior art, it is an object of the invention to simplify the manufacture of the screen device. Another object is to increase the operation reliability of the screen device and to prevent damages to the guide cords as far as possible. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to the invention, these objects are achieved by a screen device wherein at least one of said crossbars is formed by two profiles that are arranged in parallel to each other and leave a space between them in which a strip provided with holes for respective ones of said guide cords is received. 
     Due to the fact that at least one of the crossbars is formed by two profiles that are arranged in parallel to each other, the guide cords running inside the crossbar are not visible from the outside. The bar can be provided with holes for a respective guide cord prior to the assembly of the screen device. At this point, the bar is still freely accessible from both sides so that deburring and rounding off the edges of the holes is easily possible. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       An exemplary embodiment of the invention will be explained hereinafter with reference to the attached drawings showing: 
         FIG. 1  a perspective view of a screen device; 
         FIG. 2  an exploded view of the screen device of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIGS. 3 and 4  a detail of  FIG. 2  on an enlarged scale relative to  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 5  a schematic illustration of the course of the guide cords, and 
         FIGS. 6 and 7  the course of the guide cords according to  FIG. 5  separately for each side for better clarity. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The screen device illustrated in  FIG. 1  comprises a first frame part  1  whose two ends are connected to a second frame part  2  and a third frame part  3  by means of corner pieces  8 ,  9 . The screen device illustrated here as an example has only three frame parts, which can be advantageous in the case of limited space, e.g. in a caravan or a camper, and particularly also for doors. However, the invention is not limited to such open frames having three frame parts but is also applicable to closed frames having four frame parts. 
     A first crossbar  4  and a second crossbar  5  are arranged between the second and third frame parts  2 ,  3  in parallel to first frame part  1  and movable along the second and third frame parts  2 ,  3  independently of each other. Between first crossbar  4  and second crossbar  5 , a pleated screen element  6  is arranged and connected to both crossbars  4 ,  5 . Screen element  6  can be made of a textile material and may be partly or entirely opaque. By displacing crossbars  4 ,  5  together or against each other it is possible to adapt an area e.g. of a window to the requirements of sight or glare protection in its size and position. Between first frame part  1  and first crossbar  4 , another screen element  7  is arranged and connected to first frame part  1  and first crossbar  4 . This additional screen element  7  may e.g. have a mesh structure and serve as an insect protection screen. The arrangement of guide cords  28 ,  34 ,  48 , and  54  visible in this figure will be explained in more detail below in connection with  FIGS. 5 to 7 . 
       FIG. 2  shows the device of  FIG. 1  in an exploded view. Identical parts are designated by the same reference numerals and are not all repeated here. In this figure, the guide cords are only symbolically indicated and not represented on their entire course. It appears that first crossbar  4  is provided with two end pieces  14 ,  15  and second crossbar  5  with two end pieces  16 ,  17 . On one hand, these end pieces  14  to  17  serve for guiding crossbars  4 ,  5  in the respective frame parts  2 ,  3 , and on the other hand, for deflecting guide cords, as will be described further below. At their free ends, frame parts  2 ,  3  are provided with end portions  18  in which guide cords are anchored. It is understood that in a closed frame having four frame parts, end portions  18  will be replaced by corner pieces similar to  8 ,  9 . 
       FIG. 3  shows crossbar  5 , which is composed of two identical profiles  10 , on an enlarged scale. Spacers  11  provide a space between profiles  10  through which sections of the guide cords are running. With a corresponding design of end pieces  16 ,  17 , spacers  11  may be omitted. Profiles  10  are provided with longitudinal grooves  19  that allow a non-represented brush strip to be inserted into crossbar  5  which serves as a seal against the ingress of insects when crossbar  5  is in its lowermost position. Crossbar  4  is similarly designed while profiles  10  are preferably arranged such that longitudinal grooves  19  are at the top and not provided with a brush strip, of course. 
       FIG. 4  shows a strip  12  (see also  FIG. 2 ) having holes  13 , which is received in a space  20  formed by profiles  10 . Through each hole  13 , one of the guide cords is guided and in some cases deflected (cf.  FIGS. 5 to 7 ). This design using a strip  12  substantially simplifies the manufacture of the screen device since prior to the insertion of strip  12  into the mentioned space  20 , holes  13  are easily accessible and can be carefully deburred and rounded off. 
     In a schematic view, on one hand,  FIG. 5  shows the previously described components, i.e. the first frame part  1 , the second and third frame parts  2  resp.  3 , the first crossbars  4  resp.  5 , corner pieces  8  and  9 , and end portions  18 . In the middle of first frame part  1 , a tension spring  21  is arranged to the two ends of which a total of six guide cords are fastened. As indicated in the figures, tension spring  21  may be a spiral coiled spring or an elastomeric element, e.g. a rubber band. On the left side of tension spring  21  in the figure, guide cords  22 ,  28 , and  34  are fastened, and on the right side, guide cords  42 ,  48 , and  54 . As can be seen, the arrangement of the guide cords is symmetrical on both sides of tension spring  21 . 
     For more clarity, the detailed arrangement of the guide cords and their deflection points are shown separately in  FIGS. 6 and 7 .  FIG. 6  shows the guide cords  22 ,  28 , and  34  which connect to tension spring  21  on the left side. In this figure, the associated deflection points are also provided with reference numerals. Correspondingly,  FIG. 7  shows the guide cords  42 ,  48 , and  54  which depart from tension spring on the right side and their associated deflection points. As mentioned, the arrangements according to  FIGS. 6 and 7  are symmetrical while each reference numeral in  FIG. 7  that designates a guide cord or a deflection point corresponds to the one in Figure plus  20 . 
     In  FIG. 6 , leading from tension spring  21  to the left, a first guide cord  22  is represented by a solid line. After a deflection point  23  in corner piece  8 , first guide cord  22  runs downwards in frame part  2  to a deflection point  24  in end piece  14  of first crossbar  4 . From there, first guide cord  22  runs to the right through first crossbar  4  to a deflection point  25  in end piece  15  of first crossbar  4 , from where it runs downwards in frame part  3  to a deflection point  26  in the end piece of second crossbar  5 . From there, first guide cord  22  runs through second crossbar  5  to a deflection point  27  in end piece  16  of second crossbar  5 , from where it runs through frame part  2  to end portion  18 , where it is fastened. 
     A second guide cord  28  is represented by a broken line and also runs from tension spring  21  to the left to a deflection point  29  arranged in first frame part  1  and downwards through openings provided in the folded sections of screen element  7  to a deflection point  30  in end piece  14  of first crossbar  4 . From there, second guide cord  28  is guided through first crossbar  4  and in parallel thereto to a deflection point  31  arranged in end piece  15  of first crossbar  4 , and then runs downwards through openings provided in the folded sections of screen element  6  to a deflection point  32  in end piece  17  of crossbar  5 . A deflection point  33  adjacent to deflection point  32 , also in end piece  17 , finally directs guide cord  28  to end portion  18  in frame part  3 , where it is fastened. 
     A third guide cord  34  is illustrated by a dotted line and is deflected on the left side of tension spring  21  by a deflection point  35  to the right and guided through first frame part  1  in the opposite direction to a deflection point  36 , from where it runs downwards through openings provided in the folded sections of screen element  7  through one of the holes  13  provided in strip  12  in first crossbar  4  without being deflected, and through openings provided in the folded sections of screen element  6  to a deflection point  37  arranged in crossbar  5 . Deflection point  37  is formed by a hole  13  in strip  12  mentioned in connection with  FIGS. 2 to 4 . From there, third guide cord  34  runs through second crossbar  5  and in parallel thereto to a deflection point  38  arranged in end piece  16  and from there in frame part  2  to end portion  18 , where it is fastened. 
     As mentioned, the arrangement of the guide cords and deflection points shown in  FIG. 7  is the mirror image of that of  FIG. 5 . Reference numerals  42  to  58  in  FIG. 7  analogously correspond to reference numerals  22  to  38  in  FIG. 6 . 
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                   
               
               
                 List of Reference Numerals 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                  1 
                 first frame part 
               
               
                   
                  2 
                 further frame part 
               
               
                   
                  3 
                 further frame part 
               
               
                   
                  4 
                 first crossbar 
               
               
                   
                  5 
                 second crossbar 
               
               
                   
                  6 
                 screen element 
               
               
                   
                  7 
                 further screen element 
               
               
                   
                  8 
                 corner piece 
               
               
                   
                  9 
                 corner piece 
               
               
                   
                 10 
                 profile 
               
               
                   
                 11 
                 spacer 
               
               
                   
                 12 
                 strip 
               
               
                   
                 13 
                 hole 
               
               
                   
                 14 
                 end piece 
               
               
                   
                 15 
                 end piece 
               
               
                   
                 16 
                 end piece 
               
               
                   
                 17 
                 end piece 
               
               
                   
                 18 
                 end portion 
               
               
                   
                 19 
                 longitudinal grooves 
               
               
                   
                 20 
                 space 
               
               
                   
                 21 
                 tension spring 
               
               
                   
                 22 
                 first guide cord 
               
               
                   
                 23 
                 deflection point 22 
               
               
                   
                 24 
                 deflection point 22 
               
               
                   
                 25 
                 deflection point 22 
               
               
                   
                 26 
                 deflection point 22 
               
               
                   
                 27 
                 deflection point 22 
               
               
                   
                 28 
                 second guide cord 
               
               
                   
                 29 
                 deflection point 28 
               
               
                   
                 30 
                 deflection point 28 
               
               
                   
                 31 
                 deflection point 28 
               
               
                   
                 32 
                 deflection point 28 
               
               
                   
                 33 
                 deflection point 28 
               
               
                   
                 34 
                 third guide cord 
               
               
                   
                 35 
                 deflection point 34 
               
               
                   
                 36 
                 deflection point 34 
               
               
                   
                 37 
                 deflection point 34 
               
               
                   
                 38 
                 deflection point 34 
               
               
                   
                 39 
                   
               
               
                   
                 40 
                   
               
               
                   
                 41 
                   
               
               
                   
                 42 
                 fourth guide cord 
               
               
                   
                 43 
                 deflection point 42 
               
               
                   
                 44 
                 deflection point 42 
               
               
                   
                 45 
                 deflection point 42 
               
               
                   
                 46 
                 deflection point 42 
               
               
                   
                 47 
                 deflection point 42 
               
               
                   
                 48 
                 fifth guide cord 
               
               
                   
                 49 
                 deflection point 48 
               
               
                   
                 50 
                 deflection point 48 
               
               
                   
                 51 
                 deflection point 48 
               
               
                   
                 52 
                 deflection point 48 
               
               
                   
                 53 
                 deflection point 48 
               
               
                   
                 54 
                 sixth guide cord 
               
               
                   
                 55 
                 deflection point 54 
               
               
                   
                 56 
                 deflection point 54 
               
               
                   
                 57 
                 deflection point 54 
               
               
                   
                 58 
                 deflection point 54 
               
               
                   
                 59 
                   
               
               
                   
                 60