Patent Publication Number: US-7707798-B1

Title: Screening device

Description:
FIELD 
   This invention relates to screening devices and related types of apparatus. It has to do primarily with apparatus for screening the view of large outdoor equipment where it is necessary or desirable to improve its appearance in public places. For example, the invention can provide attractive screening for heating, ventilating, and air conditioning equipment on top of business establishments in areas of a city where all outdoor structures are required to have a pleasing appearance. In particular this invention relates to an improved screen device in which sheets are slidably contained within upper and lower tracks and secured within the tracks by permanently attached end caps. 
   BACKGROUND 
   As set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 5,664,384, screening apparatus for large equipment can be difficult and time consuming to remove when it is necessary to make repairs or adjustments unless the screening apparatus is constructed and arranged so that it can be moved easily from its normal location around the equipment. In that patent, the screening apparatus was designed so that panels could be moved quickly and easily away from, and back to, their normal screening location by a single person without need for equipment to move the screening apparatus. Unfortunately, it has been found that on occasion severe weather conditions would force the panels from their securing tracks. And even more perversely, it has been found that individuals repairing the screened equipment often removed the panels and then failed to replace them after the repairs had been completed. 
   In addition to the problem of “lost” panels, members of the framework supporting the panels and the channels in which they were mounted were typically welded together. This of course required extensive and exact setup prior to and during the welding process. Further, due to the vibration of the underlying equipment to which the screen was mounted, welds were found to be subject to breakage with subsequent deleterious consequences to the screen panels. Further it has been observed that sliding panels, i.e., panels that slide in lower channels are often difficult to move due to dirt and other debris that may accumulate in the lower channels. Also the alignment and fastening of decorative trim panels to the panel retainers can be a time consuming and tedious process and removal can be difficult if fasteners become corroded and difficult to remove. 
   In order to overcome these problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a framework that is easy to assemble. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide a framework that is adjustable with only a minimum of assembler effort. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide a framework that avoids weld breakage. 
   It is yet another object of the present invention to provide covering panels (sheets) that afford easy access to the underlying machinery. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide covering panels that are incapable of being removed from their tracks. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide covering panels capable of accepting user indicia. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide covering panels that are easily moveable within their mounting channels. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide a rapid and easy method of attaching trim panels to the panel retainer. 
   Another object of the present invention is to provide a method of protecting fasteners from rust and corrosion. 
   It is therefore the main purpose of the present invention to provide quick and easy access to the screened unit while preventing loss of the screening sheets and providing an attractive appearance at all other times with an assembly that is easy to assemble and which avoids breakage due to severe machinery vibration. 
   The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following disclosure in which one or more preferred embodiments of the invention are described in detail and illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It is contemplated that variations in procedures, structural features and arrangement of parts may appear to a person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention. 
   SUMMARY 
   These and other objects are met by the present invention of a screening device as shown generally in  FIG. 1  and which comprises two or more panels  40 , an upper, rigid, elongate and substantially channel shaped top panel retaining member  20  that is held in an upper lengthwise horizontal position, a bottom panel retaining member  30  that is parallel to the top panel retaining member  20 , and a corner member  50  ( FIG. 4  and especially  FIG. 14 ) that prevents the panels  40  from being removed from the top and bottom panel retaining members  20  and  30 , respectively. 
   Referring specifically to  FIG. 14 , the screening device comprises 1) at least two panels  40 , each having a pair of parallel opposite edges and 2) a panel assembly that holds panels  40  at a predetermined location. The panel assembly comprises a framework including: 1) an upper rigid elongate substantially channel shaped top panel retaining member  20 ″ held in an upper lengthwise horizontal position with at least two, spaced-apart upper channels  22 ″ and  24 ″ facing substantially downward, and 2) a lower rigid elongate substantially channel shaped bottom panel retaining member  30 ″ held in a lower lengthwise horizontal position with at least two, spaced-apart lower channels  32 ″ and  34 ″being parallel to, and facing substantially upward toward the top panel retaining member  20 ″. 
   The upper channels  22 ″ and  24 ″ are spaced apart sufficiently from each other and the lower channels  32 ″ and  34 ″ are spaced apart sufficiently from each other to allow for unobstructed passage of panels  40  with respect to each other on lateral movement of panels  40  in the spaced-apart upper and lower channels,  22 ″ and  24 ″ and  32 ″ and  34 ″, respectively. An end cap  50 ′ is positioned over the ends of at least one of the spaced-apart upper channels  22 ″ and  24 ″ and spaced-apart lower channels  32 ″ and  34 ″ to prevent panels  40  from being removed from the upper channels and lower channels by lateral movement of panels  40  in the upper and lower channels. 
   A corner supporting structure  160  comprises: 1) a vertical corner member  64 , 2) two lower horizontal members  82 , each with first and second ends, with the horizontal members attached at right angles to each other at their first end portions to a lower portion of the vertical corner member  64 , 3) two vertical angular support members  86 , each with first and second ends, with the vertical angular support members  86  attached at their lower first end portions to said second end portions of the horizontal members  82  and at their upper end portions to an upper portion of the vertical corner member  64 , and 4) a horizontal corner member  84  attached at its end portions to the second end portions of the two horizontal members  82 . A panel rolling member assembly  310  (see also  FIG. 15 ) allows panels  40  to roll in the upper channels  22 ″ and  24 ″ of top panel retaining member  20 ″ or in the lower channels  32 ″ and  34 ″ of lower panel retaining member  30 ″. 
   The screening device  300  can also comprise two upper horizontal members  182 , each with first and second end portions, with the horizontal members  182  attached at right angles to each other at their first end portions to an upper portion of vertical corner member  64 . The top panel retaining member  20 ″ is attached to one of the two upper horizontal members  182  and the bottom panel retaining member  30 ″ is attached to one of the two lower horizontal members  82 . A horizontal corner member  186  can be attached to the second end portions of the two upper horizontal members  182 . Vertical members  184  are attached to the second end portion of one of the two upper horizontal members  182  and to the second end portion of one of the two lower horizontal members  82 . 
   As seen in the cut-away section  15  of  FIG. 14  and in detail in  FIGS. 15 and 16 , a panel rolling member assembly  310  is attached to panel  40 . As seen in  FIGS. 16-19 , the panel rolling member assembly  310  can be attached to the top panel retaining member  20 ′″ ( FIG. 17 ) or  20 ″ ( FIG. 18 ) or to the bottom panel retaining member  30 ′″ ( FIG. 19 ). The panel rolling member assembly  310  comprises a rolling member that can be selected from the group of rolling members consisting of balls  316  ( FIG. 18 ), rollers  318  ( FIG. 19 ), and wheels  312  ( FIGS. 14-17 ). 
   The screening device can also comprise an elongate trim member  350  ( FIGS. 14 and 16 ) attached to the top panel retaining member  20 ″ or to the bottom panel retaining member in a fashion similar that used with the top panel retaining member  20 ″. Trim member  350  has formed on its back side  354  an upper downward open channel  352  and a lower upward open channel  360  with these channels engaging and sliding along an upward projection  366  and a downward projection  368  on the top panel retaining member  20 ″ or the bottom panel retaining member that engage the upper channel  352  and lower channel  360  of trim member  350 . A recess  370  in a side  372  of top panel retaining member  20 ″ or the bottom panel retaining member is of sufficient size and depth to accept a fastener head  376 . As a result, the fastener head is covered by trim member  350  with reduced exposure to corroding environmental elements. 
   In certain situations, such as when a panel rolling member assembly  310  comprises a roller  318  as shown in  FIG. 19 , the top panel retaining member  20 ″ or  20 ′ ( FIG. 14  or  12 ) and the bottom panel retaining member  30 ′″ are spaced from each other so as to prevent removal of panels  40  by moving the panels upward into the upper channels  22 ″ and  24 ″ ( FIG. 14 ) or  22 ′ and  24 ′ ( FIG. 12 ) and swinging a lower edge of the panels away from the lower channels  32 ′″ and  34 ′″. Typically the panel rolling member assembly  310  inherently does not allow such movement, e.g.,  FIGS. 14-18 . 
   The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following disclosure in which one or more preferred embodiments of the invention are described in detail and illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It is contemplated that variations in procedures, structural features and arrangement of parts may appear to a person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
       FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of the screening device of the present invention illustrating the major components of the system as used with a device such as an air conditioning unit including the upper and lower elongate members (upper and lower panel retaining members), rectangular sheets (panels), corner sheet (panel), and supporting frame structure. 
       FIG. 2  is an end view of the bottom panel retainer mounted to a horizontal extrusion member. 
       FIG. 3  is an end view of the top panel retainer mounted to a vertical corner member along with an upper trim member. 
       FIG. 4  is a top cross-sectional view along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 1  illustrating the positioning of end caps at the ends of the bottom panel retainers and the attachment of the end caps to the angular vertical support member so as to conceal the fasteners used to secure the end caps and the corner sheet to the vertical angular support members. 
       FIG. 5  is a schematic perspective view of the corner framing structure illustrating the location of the angular castings (indicated by numbered circles) used to fasten the various framing members into a corner framing structure. 
       FIG. 6  is an end view of a framing extrusion used in the manufacture of the various frame support members. 
       FIG. 7  is a detailed partial top view of the circled portion  7  of  FIG. 5  illustrating the fastening assembly used to attach the ends of the horizontal extrusion members to the vertical corner member. 
       FIG. 8  is a detailed partial top view of the circled portion  8  of  FIG. 5  illustrating the attachment of the angled horizontal corner extrusion member to the horizontal extrusion member using a first angular casting. 
       FIG. 9  is a detailed partial plan view of the circled portion  9  of  FIG. 5  illustrating the attachment of the angular support extrusion member to the horizontal extrusion member using a second angular casting. 
       FIG. 10  is a partial plan view of the framing extrusion illustrated in  FIG. 5  and used in the manufacture of the various frame support members. 
       FIG. 11  is a detailed partial plan view of the circled portion  11  of  FIG. 5  illustrating the attachment of the vertical angular support extrusion member to the vertical corner member using a third angular casting. 
       FIG. 12  is a partial perspective drawing of a second embodiment of the invention illustrating the use of vertical upper and lower panel retention members with the upper retention member being supported by additional upper horizontal extrusion members in the supporting structure. 
       FIG. 13  is an end view of an alternate embodiment of an upper, double-step, elongate trim member attached to the top panel retainer using attachment brackets. 
       FIG. 14  is a cut-away partial perspective and cross-sectional drawing of a third embodiment of the invention illustrating the use of a panel rolling member that is attached to a panel and that allows the panels to roll in the upper channels of the top panel retaining member as well as a trim member (shown in cross section) that is easily attached to the top panel retaining member by means of mating flanges on the panel retaining member and channels formed in the trim member. 
       FIG. 15  is an enlarged view of cut-away  15  in  FIG. 14  further illustrating the configuration of the panel rolling member. 
       FIG. 16  is an end view of the top panel retaining member and trim member illustrating the use of panel retaining member flanges and channels in the trim member to attach the trim member to the top panel retaining member as well as illustrating further the panel rolling member and its attachment to a panel. 
       FIG. 17  is another embodiment of the panel rolling member that is attached to the top panel retaining member. 
       FIG. 18  is another embodiment of the panel rolling member that utilizes rolling balls or ball bearings on which a panel T-member rolls. 
       FIG. 19  is another embodiment of the panel rolling member that utilizes rollers or roller bearings on which the lower edge of the panel rolls. 
   

   In describing the preferred embodiment of the invention which is illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology is resorted to for the sake of clarity. However, it is not intended that the invention be limited to the specific terms so selected and it is to be understood that each specific term includes all technical equivalents that operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose. 
   Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been herein described, it is understood that various changes and modifications in the illustrated and described structure can be affected without departure from the basic principles that underlie the invention. Changes and modifications of this type are therefore deemed to be circumscribed by the spirit and scope of the invention except as the same may be necessarily modified by the appended claims or reasonable equivalents thereof. 
   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION AND BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Sliding Panel Configuration 
   As shown initially if  FIG. 1 , the present invention is a screening device generally designated by the numeral  10  that is used to improve the appearance of large outdoor equipment  6  such as heating, ventilating, and air conditioning equipment. In its basic form, the invention comprises a top elongate panel retaining member  20 , a bottom panel retaining member  30 , sheets  40  with parallel opposite edges, and end caps  50  (shown in  FIG. 4 ) that prevent the sheets  40  from being removed from the panel retaining members  20  and  30 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 1  and in further detail in  FIG. 2 , the bottom panel retainer  30  is comprised of two, spaced-apart, upward directed, U-shaped channels  32  and  34  which receive the lower edges of panels  40 . The U-shaped channels  32 ,  34  are spaced apart sufficiently so that panels  40 , which are typically ribbed for structural strength, may slidably move past each other when the lower edge of separate panels  40  are placed in channels  32 ,  34 . Typically and as shown in  FIG. 2 , the bottom panel retaining member  30  is an extruded member formed with an angled base  39  and orthogonal upward projecting fingers  31 ,  33 ,  35 , and  37 . Finger sets  31 ,  33  and  35 ,  37  along with a portion of angled base  39  form U-shaped channels  32  and  34 . Base  39  is attached to finger  33  which is an upwardly angled portion of horizontal C-section member  29 . Although not essential and other configurations are possible, a rib  23  is used to provide structural rigidity and to support the base  39  of the U-shaped channels  32 ,  34 . The C-section portion of extrusion  30  is formed from contiguous orthogonal members  25 ,  27 , and  29  and is sized to engage the end of horizontal member  82 . After engagement of the C-section portion of bottom panel retainer  30  to horizontal member  82 , it is secured to horizontal member  82  by means of suitable fastener such a machine screws, tapping screws or nuts and bolts. For example, a nut and bolt assembly  38  may be used in a vertical hole formed in C-section portions  25 ,  29  and the end of horizontal member  82 . Typically both end portions of bottom retaining member  30  are engaged to the ends of horizontal members  82 . However, when the length of the bottom retaining member is particularly long, additional horizontal members  82  may be used along the length of bottom panel retainer  30 . Although screw-type fasteners are typically used to secure the bottom retainer panel  30 , a quick release, clevis-type pin may also be used to secure panel retainer  30  to horizontal members  82 . Such quick-release pins enable the quick and easy removal of the bottom panel retainer  30 , when unencumbered access to the underlying machinery  6  is frequently required. 
   As noted, separate panels  40  are mounted in the two U-shaped channels  32  and  34  to allow the panels to slide past each other in channels  32 ,  34 . For ribbed panels  40 , the spacing between channels  32  and  34  is considerable to allow for unobstructed passage of the panels  40  behind or in front of each other. As such, separate fingers  31  and  35  have considerable separation between them. However, it is to be realized that fingers  31  and  35  may be formed as a single central finger when the clearance separation between panels  40  is sufficiently small. 
   Similarly and as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , the top panel retainer  20  is also formed with two, spaced-apart, downward directed, U-shaped channels  22  and  24  which receive the upper edges of panels  40 . As with the bottom panel retainer  30 , the upper U-shaped channels are spaced apart sufficiently to allow panels  40  mounted in channels  22  and  24  to slide past each other. Preferably the top panel retainer  20  is an extrusion formed from a horizontal top section  48  and a vertical section  49  orthogonally joined at their ends. An angled top member  47  is joined to the opposite end of top section  48  and to the vertical section  49 . Fingers  42 ,  43 ,  44 , and  45  project downward orthogonally from top member  47  to form channels  22  and  24  that receive the upper edges of panels  40 . Channels  22  and  24  are spaced sufficiently far apart so as to allow panels  40  to pass in front of or behind each other. Fingers  43  and  44  may be formed as a single finger. An optional tang  51  projects outward from vertical section  49  and then orthogonally downward. The channel formed between tang  51  and vertical section  49  receives the upper edge of corner member  64  and allows for rapid positioning of the top panel retainer with respect to corner member  64 . The top panel retainer  20  is attached at each end to corner member  64  with a suitable fastener such as a nut and bolt assembly  52  ( FIG. 3 ). When top panel retainer  20  is particularly long, additional pieces of flat members may be used along the length of retainer  20  (not shown). 
   The bottom panel retainer  30  and the upper panel retainer  20  are spaced apart from each other so as to securely hold the panels  40  in place. That is, panels  40  cannot be removed from the U-shaped channels  22 ,  24 ,  32 ,  34  by moving the panels upward in channels  22  or  24  and swinging the lower edge of panel  40  from channel  32  or  34 . In effect the spacing between the bottom panel retainer  30  and the upper panel retainer  20  is such that panels  40  can only be loaded and removed from the open ends of channels  22 ,  24 ,  32 , and  34 . 
   When end caps  50  are secured to both ends of bottom panel retainer  30  and upper panel retainer  20 , panels  40  are securely retained within the channels  22 ,  24 ,  32 , and  34  and are incapable of being removed from the channels. Although end cap  50  is typically formed as a single piece that covers the ends of bottom panel retainer  30  and upper panel retainer  20 , it is to be realized that end cap  50  can be comprised of two or more members that block the ends of channels  22 ,  24 ,  32 , and  34  and retain panels  40  within these channels. End caps  50 , shown in  FIG. 4  in cross section, extend along and are fastened to vertical angular support members  86  to close the channel ends of both the upper retainer  20  and lower panel retainer  30 . Although only shown with regard to the channel ends of channels  32 ,  34  of lower panel retainer  30 , it is to be realized that the upper portion of single end cap piece  50  also closes the ends of the channels  22 ,  24  of the upper panel retainer  20 . 
   With reference to  FIGS. 4 ,  5  and  7 , and initially  FIG. 7 , the ends of two horizontal members  82  are attached to vertical corner member  64  using a suitable faster such as a bolt or metal screw  83 . The ends of bottom retainer channel  30  are attached to the opposite second ends of horizontal members  82  by means of suitable fasteners such as the nut and bolt assembly  38  illustrated in  FIG. 2 . As further illustrated in  FIGS. 4 ,  5 , and  8 , a horizontal corner member  84  is also attached near the second ends of horizontal members  82  by means of angular castings  92 . The lower ends of vertical support members  86  are also attached near the second ends of horizontal members  82  and at their top to the upper portion of vertical corner member  64  as shown in  FIG. 1 .  FIGS. 5  and  11  illustrate the use of second angular castings  94  to attach the vertical angular support members  86  to the vertical corner member  64  while  FIGS. 5 and 9  further illustrate the use of third angular casting  96  to attach the lower ends of vertical angular support member  86  to horizontal extrusion member  82 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 4 , the vertical edges of corner sheet  46  are bent at an angle for attachment to vertical angular support members  86  by means of fasteners such as metal screws  62 . Similarly the base edge of corner sheet  46  is bent for attachment to horizontal corner member  84  with screws  62 . After the corner sheet  46  has been secured to the vertical and corner support members  82 ,  84 , the corner cap  50  is placed over the ends of the top and bottom panel retainers  20  and  30 . Only the capping of the channels  32 ,  34  of bottom panel retainer  30  is illustrated in  FIG. 4 , it being realized that a single end cap  50  extends upward along vertical angular support member  86  to also cap the channels  22 ,  24  of top panel retainer  20 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , end cap  50  is bent at right angles around two sides of vertical support member  86  and is attached to vertical support member  86  on the inside of the vertical support member  86 , it being realized that one of the rectangular sheets  40  is slid out of the way in upper and lower channel pairs  24 ,  34  or  22 ,  32  during the attaching process. Such an end capping means has the advantage of concealing all fasteners from view and lessens the possibility of unwanted removal. 
   As shown especially in  FIGS. 1-3 , the upper and lower panel retainers  20  and  30  are formed in such a fashion as to position the panels  40  at an angle to vertical, that is, the panels  40  slope downward away from the device being covered, i.e., a canted configuration.  FIG. 12  is a partial perspective view illustrating upper and lower panel retainers  20 ′ and  30 ′ that allow for vertical mounting of panels  40 . As illustrated, spaced-apart U-shaped channels  22 ′,  24 ′,  32 ′ and  34 ′ are open so as to provide a vertical panel orientation. 
   As seen in  FIGS. 1 and 4 , the top and bottom panel retainers  20  and  30 , panels  40 , corner panels  46 , and end caps  50  ( FIG. 4 ), are supported by means of a supporting structure  60  ( FIG. 5 ) comprised of vertical corner member  64 , horizontal extrusion members  82 , horizontal corner extrusion member  84 , and vertical angular support extrusion members  86 . A typical extrusion member  200  is shown in  FIGS. 6 and 10  and comprises a central tube in which is formed center bore  206 . Exterior corner arms  204  form a partially covered groove  202  on each side of the square-shaped extrusion  200 . Angular castings  92 ,  94 , and  96  are shown in  FIGS. 4 ,  5 ,  8 ,  9 , and  11  and are used to join extrusion members  82 ,  84 , and  86  to each other and to vertical corner member  64 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 7  (a top cross-section view of corner assembly  7  in  FIG. 5 ), two horizontal extrusions  82  are attached at right angles to each other by attaching their ends to vertical corner member  64 . The horizontal extrusions  82  are attached by screws  83  that pass through the orthogonal portions of corner member  64  into the center cylindrical bore  206  ( FIG. 6 ) of the horizontal extrusion  82 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 9 , a vertical angular support extrusion member  86  is attached at one end to horizontal extrusion member  82  by means of angular casting  96 . One end of angular casting  96  is attached to the angular support extrusion member  86  by means of a screw  97  driven into the bore  200  ( FIG. 6 ) of extrusion  86 . The other end of angular casting  96  is attached to horizontal extrusion member  82  by means of a nut and bolt assembly  98  passing through a hole drilled into horizontal extrusion member  82 . As shown in  FIG. 11 , the opposite end of angular extrusion  86  is attached to the vertical corner member  64  by means of second angular casting  94 . One end of casting  94  is attached to the vertical corner member  64  by means of nut and bolt assembly  66  while the other end of casting  94  is secured to the upper end of vertical angular extrusion  86  by means of a screw  87  that passes through a hole in casting  94  and then is screwed into the bore  200  ( FIG. 6 ) of angular extrusion  86 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 8 , the horizontal corner extrusion member  84  is fastened to the horizontal extrusion member  82  by means of first angular casting  92 . One end of angular casting  92  is attached to horizontal extrusion member  82  by means of nut and bolt assembly  74  while the other end of casting  92  is attached to corner extrusion member  84  by means of a screw  76  passing through a hole in the end of casting  92  and screwed into the bore  200  ( FIG. 6 ) of extrusion member  84 . The opposite end of extrusion member  84  is similarly attached to a second horizontal member  82  using a second corner casting  92  ( FIG. 5 ). 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 4 , the vertical corner member  64  is attached to the screened device  6  by means of screws or other suitable securing means. Preferably the vertical corner member  64  extends slightly above the screened device  6  to enable easy attachment of top panel retainer  20  ( FIG. 3 ) by means of nut and bolt assembly  52 . An engagement tang  51  allows for quick alignment and positioning of retainer  20  during the attaching process. As seen in  FIG. 2 , the bottom panel retainer  30  is attached to the horizontal extrusion members  82  by means of a C-shaped channel formed by retainer  20  members  25 ,  27 , and  29  that accepts the end of horizontal extrusion member  82  and is secured to the extrusion member  82  by means of nut and bolt assembly  38 . Alternatively and as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,664,384, all of which is incorporated herein as if completely written herein, the screening device  10  may be attached to free standing posts or other alternative anchoring devices. 
   To complete the screening device  10 , a corner panel  46  ( FIGS. 1 and 4 ) is attached to vertical angular corner support extrusion members  86  and horizontal corner extrusion  84 , typically with suitable fasteners such as screws  62 . The corner panel  46  is attached under a side wall of end caps  50  ( FIG. 4 ) to allow removal and replacement of the end caps  50  in the event one or more of the panels  40  require replacement. Although panels  40  are typically made of plastic or light weight metal such as aluminum, fabric may be used, especially fabric onto which aesthetically pleasing company logos and other indicia may be imprinted. 
   The screening device  10  is typically completed by attaching an upper trim panel  56  ( FIG. 3 ) directly to the top panel retainer  20 . Alternatively and as shown in  FIG. 13 , a double-step, upper trim panel  58  may be mounted outward from the top panel retainer  20  by means of attaching members such as attachment brackets  59  which are mounted to the top of retainer  20  with suitable fasteners such as sheet metal screws  57 . 
     FIG. 12  illustrates an alternative embodiment  110  of the present invention in which the top panel retainer  20 ′ and the bottom panel retainer  30 ′ are formed with spaced-apart U-channels  22 ′,  24 ′,  32 ′, and  34 ′ that have a vertical orientation to afford vertically aligned panels rather than the canted alignment of embodiment  10 . The supporting structure  160  is identical to that used with the canted orientation except that it further comprises two upper horizontal extruded members  182  fastened at right angles to each other with one end attached to the vertical corner member  64  in a fashion similar to the attachment of the lower horizontal members  82  as shown in  FIG. 7 . Vertical extrusion members  184  are attached directly to the upper horizontal extrusion members  182  and the lower horizontal extrusion members  82  by means of a screw passing through a hole formed and passing through extrusion members  182  and  82  and through which a screw is threaded into the center bore  200  ( FIG. 5 ) of the vertical extrusion member  184 . The top panel retainer  20 ′ and the lower panel retainer  30 ′ are attached to the ends of the horizontal extrusion members  82  and  182  by means of C-section channels  126  and  136  into which the ends of the horizontal extrusion members  82  and  182  are inserted and secured with suitable fastening devices. 
   Rolling Panel Configuration 
   As discussed above,  FIG. 1 , is a screening device generally designated by the numeral  10  that is used to improve the appearance of large outdoor equipment  6  such as heating, ventilating, and air conditioning equipment. In its basic form, the invention comprises a top elongate panel retaining member  20 , a bottom panel retaining member  30 , panels (sheets)  40  with parallel opposite edges, and end caps  50  (shown in  FIG. 4 ) that prevent the sheets  40  from being removed from the panel retaining members  20  and  30 .  FIG. 12  illustrates the principal components of a vertical panel configuration. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 14  and designated generally by the numeral  300 , similar parts have similar numbers to those previously used with primes being used to designate slightly different component configurations.  FIG. 14  illustrates a vertical panel orientation similar to the structure of  FIG. 12 . 
   As seen in  FIG. 14 , the underlying support structure comprises a corner supporting structure  160  further comprising: 1) a vertical corner member  64 , 2) two lower horizontal members  82 , each with first and second ends, and attached at right angles to each other at their first ends to a lower portion of vertical corner member  64 , 3) two vertical angular support members  86 , each with first and second ends, with the vertical angular support members  86  attached at their lower first ends to the second end portions of the horizontal members  82  and at their upper ends to an upper portion of the vertical corner member  64 , and 4) a horizontal corner member  84  attached at its ends to the second end portions of horizontal members  82 . The overall configuration is shown in  FIG. 5 . Various methods for attaching the various members may be used including welding, brazing or through the use of suitable fasteners such as the angular castings  92 ,  94  and  96  as shown in  FIGS. 8 ,  9  and  11  especially when used in conjunction with the framing extrusions  200  shown in  FIGS. 6 and 10 . 
   When a canted panel assembly is desired such as shown in  FIG. 1 , the upper panel retaining member  20  is attached directed to corner member  64 . When an upright panel assembly is used such as shown in  FIG. 14 , two upper horizontal members  182 , each with first and second ends, are attached at right angles to each other at their first ends to an upper portion of the vertical corner member  64 . For additional strength and stability, vertical members  184  are attached to the second end portions of the upper and lower horizontal members  182  and  82 , respectively. In additional, an upper horizontal corner member may also be used. 
   At least two panels  40 , i.e., sheet material, each having a pair of parallel opposite edges, are held at a predetermined location by a framework comprising: 1) an upper rigid elongate channel containing top panel retaining member  20 ″ held in an upper lengthwise horizontal position with at least two, spaced-apart upper channels facing substantially downward, and 2) a lower rigid elongate substantially channel shaped bottom panel retaining member  30 ″ held in a lower lengthwise horizontal position with at least two, spaced-apart lower channels  32 ″,  34 ″ being parallel to, and facing substantially upward toward top panel retaining member  20 ″. The top panel retaining member  20 ″ and the bottom panel retaining member  30 ″ are spaced from each other so as to prevent removal of panels  40  by moving panels  40  upward toward or into the upper channels  22 ″ or  24 ″ and swinging a lower edge of panels  40  away from lower channels  32 ″ or  34 ″. The upper channels  22 ″ and  24 ″ and the lower channels  32 ″ and  34 ″ are spaced-apart sufficiently from each other to allow for unobstructed passage of panels  40  with respect to each other with lateral movement of the panels  40 . One or more end caps  50  are positioned over the ends of at least one of 1) the spaced-apart upper channels  22 ″ and  24 ″, and 2) the spaced-apart lower channels  32 ″ and  34 ″ to prevent the panels  40  from being removed from the upper channels  22 ″ or  24 ″ and the lower channels  32 ″ or  34 ″ by lateral movement of the panels in the upper and lower channels. 
   A panel rolling member assembly  310  allows the panels  40  to roll in either the upper channels  22 ″,  24 ″ or lower channels  32 ″,  34 ″. The panel rolling member assembly can be attached to panel  40  or it can be attached to or contained in the top panel retaining member  20 ′″ ( FIG. 17 ) or  20 ″ ( FIG. 18 ) or said bottom panel retaining member  30 ′″ ( FIG. 19 ). The panel rolling member assembly  310  can have rolling members such as balls  316  ( FIG. 18 ), rollers  318  ( FIG. 19 ) and wheels  312  ( FIGS. 14-17 ). 
     FIGS. 14-16  illustrate the use of a panel rolling member assembly  310  using wheels  312 . A U-shaped carriage  320  travels in channel  24 ″. Two wheels  312  are mounted on an axle  314  passing through the walls  322  of the carriage  320 . One side of a right-angled bracket  326  is fastened to the bottom of the carriage  324  with a suitable fastener such as nut and bolt  328 . The other side of the right-angled bracket  326  is fastened to panel  40  with appropriate fasteners  332 . The wheels roll along on top of inward pointing ledges  334 ,  336  projecting from the outer side  372  and center post  338  of top panel retaining member  20 ″. 
     FIG. 17  illustrates a panel roller member assembly in which wheels are mounted in top panel retaining member  20 ′. Outside wall  380 , ledge  334 , and upward directed side  340  form an upward oriented channel in which wheel  312  is mounted with axle  314  to the outside wall  380  and upward directed side  340 . Similarly, a second upward oriented channel is formed from center post  338 , ledge  336 , and upward directed side  342 . Wheel  312  is mounted with axle  314  to the center post  338  and upward directed side  342 . The lower end portion of T-bar  344  is attached directly to panel  40  or by means of attaching strip  346 . The T portion of T-bar  344  rolls on opposite wheels  312 , it being understood that a number of wheels are positioned along the length of top panel retaining member  20 ′″.  FIG. 18  is similar except that balls  316  are used instead of wheels  312 . Also, the T-bar  344  is formed as an integral part of panel  40 . 
     FIG. 19  shows a panel roller member assembly in which rollers  318  are placed along the length of bottom panel retaining member  30 ′″ and the bottom of panel  40  rolls on rollers  318 . The top of panel  40  is contained in downward directed channels such as channels  22 ′ and  24 ′ formed in top panel retaining member  20 ′ shown in  FIG. 12 . The upper side portion slants upward and inward toward panel  40  in forming channel  34 ″ in order to deflect dirt and debris from rollers  318 . 
     FIGS. 14 and 16  illustrate a method for attaching an elongate trim member  350  to either the top panel retaining member  20 ″ or the bottom panel retaining member. As best seen in  FIG. 16 , trim member  350  has formed on its back side an upper downwardly open channel  352  formed from the upper rear portion  354  of elongate trim member  350 , an outwardly directed portion  356  and downwardly directed portion  358 . Similarly, a lower, upward directed channel  360  is formed from a lower rear portion  354  of elongate trim member  350 , an outwardly directed portion  362  and upwardly directed portion  364 . Downward directed channel  352  and upward directed channel  360  engage and slide along an upward projection  366  and a downward projection  368  on said top panel retaining member  20 ″. A recess formed in the side wall  372  of the top panel retaining member  20 ″ allows the top panel retaining member  20 ″ to be attached to the end of upper horizontal member  182  with a bolt fastener  374  with the bolt fastener head  376  within the confines of recess  370  allowing the rear portion of elongate trim member  350  to contact side wall  372  of the top panel retaining member  20 ″ thereby protecting fastener  374  from weathering and corroding elements. 
   It is possible that changes in configurations to other than those shown could be used but that which is shown is preferred and typical. Without departing from the spirit of this invention, various means of fastening the components together may be used. It is therefore understood that although the present invention has been specifically disclosed with the preferred embodiment and examples, modifications to the design concerning sizing, shape, attachment, structural reinforcement and application of various roller assembly components and trim members to both upper and lower panel retaining members will be apparent to those skilled in the art and such modifications and variations are considered to be equivalent to and within the scope of the disclosed invention and the appended claims.