Patent Publication Number: US-2012042601-A1

Title: Patio enclosures and methods for assembling patio enclosures

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority from pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application 61/376,014, filed on Aug. 23, 2010, the disclosure of which is included by reference herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates, generally, enclosure and methods for assembling enclosures for example, outdoor enclosures. In particular, the present invention relates to screened patio or pool enclosures have screen panels releasably mounted by hook-and-loop fasteners. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     The outdoor leisure experience is often hampered by exposure to insects and airborne debris that can often detract from the enjoyment of the experience. It is common in moderate, subtropical, and tropical climates around the world, for example, in the southern United States, to erect screened enclosures to create a permeable barrier to minimize or prevent the entry of insects, most notably, mosquitoes, to the enclosure. This desire is has become more acute due to the perceived increase in the potential for exposure to insect-borne disease, such as, West Nile virus. Though common in southern climates, such structures are typically absent from northern climates, for example, from the Northeastern United States, the Great Lake States, and the New England States, among others. The reason for this absence in northern climates is clear to any homeowner in these more temperate regions: snow and the snow load such structures would be exposed to. 
     In such snow belt areas, typical screened enclosures, especially, those having screened roofs, can be exposed to one or more feet of snow that such structures are not intended to support. Of course, such structures could be fabricated to withstand such loads, but the cost of providing such a snow-load-resistant structure would likely be cost prohibitive. Another potential alternative is to remove the screen panels from the structure before the first snowfall and replace the screens when spring arrives. However, based upon the current design of such structures and procedures for erecting and assembling the screen panels to such enclosures, this timely, costly, and cumbersome procedure again defeats the purpose of providing the enclosure in the first place. 
     In contrast, aspects of the present invention overcome the disadvantages of the prior art and provide a cost-effective alternative to providing screened enclosures to regions having climates prone to receive snow and other inclement weather conditions. 
     SUMMARY OF ASPECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides enclosures and methods of assembling enclosures having removable screen panels affixed to the support structure of the enclosure by hook-and-loop fasteners. Aspects of the present invention facilitate both the assembly and removal of the panels to avoid damage to the panels due to inclement weather. Where prior to the present invention the use of a screened enclosure, such as, a lanai, in colder climates was impractical due, for example, snow loads, the present invention now makes such structures practical. 
     One embodiment of the present invention is patio enclosure comprising or having a support structure comprising a plurality of support members; and a plurality of perforated screen panels, each of the plurality of perforated screen panels having a peripheral border, the peripheral border having a strip of a hook-and-loop fastener (for example, a Velcro brand fastener); wherein each of the plurality of screen panels is releasably mountable to at least some of the plurality of support members by engaging at least some of the strip of hook-and-loop fastener about the peripheral border of each of the screen panels to a complementary strip of hook-and loop fastener mounted to the at least some of the plurality of support members to form the patio enclosure. In one aspect of the invention, the enclosure encompasses a volume having a footprint, and the footprint may a polygon, a circle, or an oval. The patio enclosure may include a plurality of straps adapted to secure at least one of the plurality of perforated screen panels to the support structure when the at least one perforated screen panel is rolled in to a cylindrical roll. 
     Another embodiment of the invention is a method of assembling a patio enclosure, the method comprising or including the steps of: assembling a support structure comprising a plurality of support members; and mounting a plurality of perforated screen panels having a peripheral border with a strip of one of hooks and loops of a hook-and-loop type fastener [that is, Velcro fastener] to the plurality of support members of the support structure. The method may also include rolling at least one of the plurality of perforated screen panels in to a cylindrical roll, and securing the cylindrical roll to the support structure, for example, to an upper cross member using a plurality of Velcro straps. 
     A further embodiment of the invention is an outdoor enclosure comprising or having a support structure comprising a plurality of support members; and a plurality of perforated screen panels, each of the plurality of perforated screen panels having a peripheral border, the peripheral border having a strip of a hook-and-loop fastener; wherein each of the plurality of screen panels is releasably mountable to at least some of the plurality of support members by engaging at least some of the strip of hook-and-loop fastener about the peripheral border of each of the screen panels to a complementary strip of hook-and loop fastener mounted to the at least some of the plurality of support members to form the outdoor enclosure. The outdoor enclosure may be a patio enclosure, a sun room, a court yard enclosure, a recreation area enclosure; a dining area enclosure; a veranda enclosure; a pool enclosure; a spa enclosure; a hot tub enclosure; a garden enclosure; a greenhouse; or a lanai. 
     Details of these aspects of the invention, as well as further aspects of the invention, will become more readily apparent upon review of the following drawings and the accompanying claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
       The subject matter that is regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion of the specification. The foregoing and other features and advantages of the invention will be readily understood from the following detailed description of aspects of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an enclosure having screen panels mounted thereon according to one aspect of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view, partially in cross section, of Detail  2  shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view, partially in cross section, of Detail  3  shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a partial front elevation view of the enclosure shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a view of Detail  5  shown in  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  is a view of Detail  6  shown in  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 7  is a partial exploded perspective view of the mounting of a screen panel to a support member according to an aspect of the invention. 
         FIGS. 8 and 9  are partial side elevation views, in partial cross section, illustrating the sequential storage of a screen panel according to one aspect of the invention. 
         FIGS. 10 ,  11 , and  12  are partial side elevation views, in partial cross section, illustrating the sequential storage of a screen panel according to another aspect of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES 
     The details and scope of the aspects of the present invention can best be understood upon review of the attached figures and their following descriptions.  FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an enclosure  10  having a support structure  12  and a plurality of screen panels  14  mounted to support structure  12  according to one aspect of the invention. In  FIG. 1  and others the surfaces of screen panels  14  are represented by screen patterns that are representative only; the actual dimensions of screen fibers and screen openings may vary according to the intended use of enclosure  10 . According to aspects of the present invention, screen panels  14  are removably mounted to support structure  12  by means of hook-and-loop type fasteners, for example, Velcro® brand fabric hook-and-loop type fasteners as provided Velcro USA Inc. of Manchester, N.H., thought other hook-and-loop type fasteners may be used. 
     According to aspects of the invention, the ability to removably mount screen panels  14  to support structure  12  facilitates the removal or re-positioning of screen panels  14  from enclosure  10  as needed, for example, to minimize or prevent damage to enclosure  10  and/or screen panel  14  due to environmental conditions, for example, excessive wind, rain, hail or, especially in northern climates, snow load. 
     According to aspects of the invention, enclosure  10  may be used wherever a screen barrier can be worthwhile, for example, wherever there is a desire to isolate the inside of enclosure  10  from an external environment by means of screen panels  14 . According to one aspect, enclosure  10  may be used out of doors to prevent insects, for example, mosquitoes and/or black flies, from entering enclosure  10  through screen panels  14 , but, for example, allowing the free flow of air and sunlight into enclosure  10  through screen panels  14 . In one preferred application, enclosure  10  may be used to screen an outdoor patio, a sun room, a court yard, a recreation or dining area, a veranda, a pool, or a spa, and like structures, for example, a patio having a pool, a spa, a hot tub, furniture, toys, games, or other structures or leisure activities, though aspects of the invention may be used without the presence of a formal “patio.” Aspects of the invention may also be used to protect gardens, flowers, or other plants, or as a greenhouse. In some areas of the country, such structures are called “lanais,” and aspects of the present invasion can be uniquely adapted for use as a lanai. Thought  FIG. 1  illustrates an enclosure having a generally rectangular footprint, aspects of the invention may be used for any conventional enclosure footprint shape, including, polygonal, such as, square; pentagonal, hexagonal, or octagonal footprints; round; oval; or combinations thereof. 
     Support structure  12  typically includes a plurality of support members, for example, uprights  16 , lower cross members  18  and upper cross members  20 . Support structure  12  may also include diagonal members  22  depending upon the shape of the top or roof  11  of enclosure  10 . Other support members that may be required to ensure the structural integrity of support structure  12  may also be provided as needed, for example, by local building codes. 
     Structural members  16 ,  18 ,  20 , and  22  may be any type of conventional structural member fabricated from conventional structural materials. Members  16 ,  18 ,  20 , and  22  may comprise extruded tubing, sections, channels, angles, beams, braces, and other conventional members, and the like, and may be made from conventional structural materials, for example, steel, stainless steel, aluminum, and even wood. In one aspect of the invention, structural members  16 ,  18 ,  20  and  20  my typically be extruded aluminum members to minimize the weight of support structure  12  and minimize susceptibility to damage from the environment, for example, from rain and/or chlorinated pool or hot tub water. According to one aspect of the invention, structural members  16 ,  18 ,  20 , and  22  need only be limited to members providing appropriate surfaces for mounting fabric hook-and-loop type fasteners. Structural members  16 ,  18 ,  20 , and  22  may be connected by conventional mechanical fasteners, for example, nuts and bolts, screws, gussets, plates, guy wires, and the like. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view, partially in cross section, of Detail  2  shown in  FIG. 1 . As shown,  FIG. 2  illustrates a typical vertical member  16  and screen panels  14  mounted to vertical member  16  positioned at an intermediate position or at the side of enclosure  10 . Again, screen panels  14  may be mounted to vertical member  16  with hook and loop fasteners (not shown). As is typical, vertical member may comprise a hollow member, for example, a hollow extruded aluminum member. In some aspects, member  16  may have an open cross-section, for example, a channel, or a closed cross section, for example, as indicated by the hollow rectangular member  16  shown in  FIG. 2 . Though  FIG. 2  illustrates screen panels  14  mounted to the internal surface of member  16 , screen panels  14  may be mounted to one or more of any of the surfaces of member  16 , for example, an internal surface  26 , an external surface  28 , or a side or lateral surface  30  in  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view, partially in cross section, of Detail  3  shown in  FIG. 1 . As shown,  FIG. 3  illustrates a typical vertical member  16  and screen panels  14  mounted to vertical member  16  positioned at a corner of enclosure  10 . Again, screen panels  14  may be mounted to vertical member  16  with hook and loop fasteners (not shown). As is typical, vertical member may comprise a hollow member, for example, a hollow extruded aluminum member. In some aspects, member  16  may have an open cross-section, for example, a channel, or a closed cross section, for example, as indicated by the hollow square member  16  shown in  FIG. 3 . Though  FIG. 3  illustrates screen panels  14  mounted to the side surfaces of member  16 , screen panels  14  may be mounted to one or more of any of the surfaces of corner member  16 , for example, an external surface  28 , or a side or lateral surface  30  in  FIG. 3 . 
     Screen panels  14  may comprise any suitable perforated material that can be mounted to support structure  12 , for example, to members  16 ,  18 ,  20 , and  22 . Typically, screen panels  14  comprise sheets of flexible material that facilitate handling and installation of screen panels  14 , for example, rolled fabric-type material. Screen panels  14  may be metallic, for example, steel or aluminum, or may be non-metallic, for example, plastic or cellulose fiber. In one aspect, screen panels  14  may comprise fiberglass. Aspects of the invention may be used with any size screen mesh, for example, screen mesh sizes having opening dimensions ranging from about 0.010 inches to about 0.50 inches. However, the size of the screen perforations or mesh is typically a function of the size of the local insect population, for example, mosquitoes, black flies, and “no see-ums,” among others, and the size of the screen mesh is provided to prevent passage of such insects. 
       FIG. 4  is a partial front elevation view of enclosure  10  shown in  FIG. 1  showing a typical screen panel  14  mounted to uprights  16 , lower cross members  18 , and upper cross members  20 . According to aspects of the invention,  FIG. 4  may represent a view from the inside of enclosure  10  toward the outside, or from the outside of enclosure  10  toward the inside. As noted above, screen panels  14  may be mounted to the outside or inside of members  16 ,  18 ,  20 , and  22 . 
       FIG. 5  is a view of Detail  5  shown in  FIG. 4 .  FIG. 6  is a view of Detail  6  shown in  FIG. 4 . As shown, according to aspects of the invention, screen panels  14  may be mounted to members  16 ,  18 ,  20 , and  22  by means of strips of hook-and-loop fasteners  32 , for example, fabric strips of hook-and-loop fasteners. Strips  32  may be positioned around a periphery or border of screen panels  14  and cooperate with complementary strips mounted and positioned on members  16 ,  18 ,  20 , and  22  to position and releasably retain screen panels  14  on support structure  12 . As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , strips  32  may be spaced from the edges  15  of screen panels  14 , or may be positioned substantially along or coincident with the edges  15  of panels  14 . Though in one aspect of the invention, strips  32  may be mounted continuously along screen panels  14  and continuously along members  16 ,  18 ,  20 , and  22 , strips  32  may also be located intermittently along screen panels  14  and/or along members  16 ,  18 ,  20 , and  22 , for example, at evenly spaced intervals. In another aspect, strips  32  may have a width of between about 0.5 and about 6 inches, but typically may have a width of about 1 to about 3 inches, for example, about 1 inch. In one aspect of the invention, the width of strips  32  may vary depending upon the size of the enclosure and/or the size of the screen panels  14  between members on the support structure  12 . In one aspect, 2 or more strips  32  may be mounted along an edge or a border of the screen panels  14  and members  16 ,  18 , and  20  to provide sufficient structural support to screen panels  14 . 
       FIG. 7  is a partial exploded perspective view of the mounting of a screen panel  14  to support members  16  and  20  with hook and loop fastener strip  32  according to an aspect of the invention. As noted previously, hook and loop fastener strip  32  typically comprises a first strip  34  mounted to screen panel  14 , for example, about the periphery of screen panel  14 , and a second strip  36 , complementary to first strip  34 , mounted to, for example, support members  16  and  20 . First strip  34  may comprises hooks or loops and second strip  36  may comprise complementary hooks or loops, depending upon the nature of the first strip  34 . Strip  34  may be mounted to screen panel  14  by conventional means, for example, by sewing or by an adhesive or by means of mechanical fasteners. Similarly, strip  36  may be mounted to members  16  and  20  by conventional means, for example, by an adhesive or mechanical fasteners. 
       FIGS. 8 and 9  are side elevation views illustrating the sequential storage or removal of a screen panel  14  from support structure  12  according to one aspect of the invention, for instance, when there is a desired to remove or reposition screen panels  14 , for example, for winter storage. As shown in  FIG. 8 , screen panel  14  may be rolled into a cylindrical roll  42  by rolling screen panel  14  in the direction of arrow  40 . In one aspect, after rolling screen panel  14  in the direction of arrow  40 , for example, in the direction of upper cross member  20 , or opposite the direction of arrow  40 , for example, in a direction toward lower cross member  18 , the roll  42  of screen panel  14  may be removed from support structure  12  and stored, for example, in a pool house. As shown in  FIG. 9 , according to one aspect, after rolling screen panel  14  into a roll  42  at upper member  20  or lower member  18 , roll  42  may be retained to member  18  or  20 , for example, by means of one or more straps  44 . Strap  44  may also comprise a hook and loop type fabric fastener or may comprise a cord or rope to retain roll  42  on support structure  12 , for example, for winter storage or for short term access to enclosure  12  with screen panel  14  removed. 
       FIGS. 10 ,  11 , and  12  are side elevation views, partially in cross section, illustrating the sequential storage or removal of a screen panel  14  from support structure  12  according to another aspect of the invention, for instance, when there is a desire to remove or reposition screen panels  14 , for example, for seasonal storage or to avoid snow loads. As shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 , screen panel  14  may be rolled into a cylindrical roll  52  by rolling screen panel  14  in the direction of arrow  60  over one or more members  20  and  22 . In one aspect, after rolling screen panel  14  in the direction of arrow  60 , the roll  52  of screen panel  14  may be removed from support structure  12  and stored, for example, in a garage or pool house. As shown in  FIG. 12 , according to one aspect, after rolling screen panel  14  into a roll  52  at upper member  20 , roll  52  may be retained to member  20 , for example, by means of one or more straps  54 . Strap  54  may also comprise a hook and loop type fastener or may comprise a cord or rope to retain roll  52  on support structure  12 , for example, for winter storage or for short term access to enclosure  12  with screen panel  14  removed. 
     Aspects of the present invention provide enclosures, such as, patio or pool enclosures, and methods for assembling enclosures that address the shortcomings and disadvantages of the prior art. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, features, characteristics, and/or advantages of the various aspects described herein, may be applied and/or extended to any embodiment (for example, applied and/or extended to any portion thereof). 
     Although several aspects of the present invention have been depicted and described in detail herein, it will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art that various modifications, additions, substitutions, and the like can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and these are therefore considered to be within the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.