Patent Publication Number: US-2002005261-A1

Title: Corner for screen

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] The present invention relates to windows and more particularly, relates to screening used for windows.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] In modern day windows, a screen is usually provided as a part of the original window. The screen member must be lightweight and easily removable such that access may be had to the glass portion of the window. Traditionally, the screen member is formed by frame members along the top, bottom and sides, the frame members being joined together at the corners by suitable means. The joining at the corners may conveniently accomplished by means of a screen corner member.  
       [0003] A number of different types of corner members are known in the art. While they all perform the same function of attaching the frame members together, they do so in many different fashions.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004] It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel screen corner member which can attach the structural components together and which also includes means for locking the screen in place.  
       [0005] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a corner member suitable for connecting two screening members together, the corner member comprising a corner portion having a front face and a rear face, first and second exterior side walls extending between the front and rear faces, first and second legs extending outwardly from the corner portion, the first and second legs being mutually perpendicular, a lip extending outwardly from the corner portion, and a protrusion extending outwardly from one of said exterior side walls.  
       [0006] The corner member of the present invention, although it can be formed of many different materials, is preferably formed of an injection molded plastic material. As such, it can be fabricated any desired colour.  
       [0007] As aforementioned, the corner member has a corner portion with a front and rear face, and with first and second exterior side walls extending therebetween. A protrusion is mounted on one of the side walls for locking the screen in place. Normally, the protrusion would be placed on the exterior side wall which ends either in the top facing direction or the bottom facing direction or both. In other words, the protrusion will be formed on only one of the side walls extending between the front and rear faces of the corner portion.  
       [0008] Also, the corner member includes a lip which extends outwardly from the corner portion in the form of a flange. The lip or flange may extend as a portion of the rear face or alternatively, it may be offset with respect to the rear face. The particular design will vary depending upon the design of the window unit for receiving the screen.  
       [0009] The protrusion may be of any desired configuration and conventionally, may be formed either in a semi-circular configuration, a rectangular or triangular configuration.  
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0010] Having thus generally described the invention, reference will be made to the accompanying drawings illustrating an embodiment thereof, in which:  
     [0011]FIG. 1 a  is a perspective view of a corner member according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
     [0012]FIG. 1 b  is a perspective view from the opposite side thereof;  
     [0013]FIG. 2 is a side elevational view thereof;  
     [0014]FIG. 3 is a top plan view thereof;  
     [0015]FIG. 4 is a an end elevational view thereof;  
     [0016]FIG. 5 is a side elevational view with the member rotated 90° from that shown in FIG. 2;  
     [0017]FIG. 6 is a end elevational view;  
     [0018]FIG. 7 is a top plan view;  
     [0019]FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along the lines  8 - 8  of FIG. 6;  
     [0020]FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view taken along the lines  9 - 9  of FIG. 6;  
     [0021]FIG. 10 is a cross sectional view of a spring member.  
     [0022]FIG. 11 is a partial cross sectional configuration illustrating an offset lip arrangement; and  
     [0023]FIGS. 12 a  to  12   c  illustrate different configurations of the protrusions. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
     [0024] Referring to the drawings in greater detail and by reference characters thereto, there is illustrated a corner member generally designated by reference numeral  10  and which corner member  10  is suitable for use in connecting a pair of channel members together.  
     [0025] Corner member  10  includes an upper leg  12  and a lower leg  14 . It will be understood that the terms “upper” and “lower” are used merely for purposes of description and that the piece will have many different orientations depending upon the placement thereof.  
     [0026] Upper leg  12  includes an upper leg inner side wall  18  and an upper leg outer side wall  20  having an upper leg back wall extending therebetween. As may be seen in FIG. 1 b  and FIG. 2, a diagonally extending recess  24  is formed in upper leg inside wall  18 . At their distal ends, upper leg inside wall  18 , upper leg outer side wall  20  along with upper leg back wall  22  form an inwardly extending portion generally designated by reference numeral  26 . A reinforcing rib  28  extends from upper leg back wall  22  and between upper leg inner side wall  18  and upper leg outer side wall  20 .  
     [0027] Similarly, lower leg  14  includes a lower leg inner side wall  32 , and a lower leg outer side wall  34  and a lower leg back wall  36  extending therebetween. A recess  38 , which recess  38  extends diagonally, is formed in lower leg inner side wall  32 . As was noted with respect to upper leg  12 , lower leg  14  also includes an inwardly extending portion  40  at the distal ends of walls  32 ,  34  and  36 . A rib  42  is also formed between the walls.  
     [0028] Between upper leg  12  and outer leg  14  and in particular, between inner side wall  18  and inner side wall  22 , there is provided a corner portion having a rear face  44  and a front face  54 . Rear face  44  has an upper abutment surface  46  and a lower abutment surface  48  which are designed to abut against the end walls of a channel containing the screening. It will be noted that there is provided a lip  50  extending from rear face  44 . Similarly, front face  54  has an upper abutment surface  56  and a lower abutment surface  58 .  
     [0029] Extending between rear face  44  and front face  54  is an inner central reinforcing rib generally designated by reference numeral  60  and first and second exterior walls  45  and  55 .  
     [0030] The corner  10  also includes a locking protrusion  64  which extends downwardly from side wall  45  and is designed to lock in the channel of a frame for receiving the screen. There is also provided a spring member  68  which is designed to fit within a recess (not shown) in the back wall and exert a biasing force on the finished screen to retain the same in position and to maintain locking protrusion  64  in the desired position and prevent the screen from falling out of the frame.  
     [0031] As seen in the embodiment of FIG. 11, lip  50 ′ may be offset with respect to rear face  44 ′.  
     [0032] In FIGS. 12 a ,  12   b  and  12   c , various configurations of locking protrusion  64  are shown.  
     [0033] It will be understood that the above described embodiment is for purposes of illustration only and that changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.