Patent Publication Number: US-8528623-B2

Title: Retractable screen

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application claims the benefit of and priority to Australian application serial number 2009905623, filed Nov. 18, 2009, by Freedom Screens of Australia Pty Ltd, the entire content of which is specifically incorporated herein by reference for all that it discloses and teaches. 
     BACKGROUND 
     A retractable screen comprises a flexible sheet mesh that can be drawn off a roller and across an architectural opening such as a door opening or a window opening. The screen is extendible between an open position in which the sheet mesh is substantially received within the housing and an extended or closed position in which the sheet mesh extends fully across the opening. 
     Retractable screens have found appeal amongst users because the screen rolls up on a compact roller when it is pulled back thereby opening up the full width of the architectural opening. This preserves an open and uninterrupted view through the architectural opening. This enhances the aesthetics of the architectural opening. It also encourages breezes and the like to pass through the architectural opening. 
     The sheet mesh provides a barrier to flying insects when it is in the extended or closed position. When it is retracted to the open position the sheet mesh rolls up on a roller and does not extend across an architectural opening. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Embodiments of this invention may therefore comprise a retractable screen, comprising: a fixed side having a fixed screen post; a displaceable handle post having an upper region and a lower region, that is displaceable away from the fixed side into an open position, and is displaceable towards the fixed side back into an open position; at least one of an upper guide track and a lower guide track which is operatively engaged with the upper or lower region of the handle post and guides movement of the handle post between the open and closed positions; a flexible sheet mesh extending between the fixed side and the displaceable handle post; and a brake arrangement for braking the movable handle post in a desired position intermediate the open and the closed positions, wherein the brake arrangement includes at least one brake assembly that is displaced into engagement with said at least one of the upper and lower guide tracks whereby to apply a braking action to the handle post. 
     Other embodiments may comprise a retractable screen comprising: a fixed screen post; a displaceable handle post that is displaceable towards and away from the fixed screen post between an open and a closed position; a flexible sheet mesh extending between the fixed post and the displaceable handle post, the sheet mesh having a stiffened upper edge region and a stiffened lower edge region; an upper guide track which is operatively engaged with an upper region of the handle post and guides movement of the handle post between the open and closed positions, wherein the upper guide track includes an elongate channel within which the stiffened upper edge region of the sheet mesh is received; a lower guide track which is operatively engaged with a lower region of the handle post and guides movement of the handle post between the open and closed positions, wherein the lower guide track includes an elongate channel within which the stiffened lower edge region of the sheet mesh is received; and a roller onto which the sheet mesh is rolled when the handle post moves from the closed to the open position and from which the sheet mesh is drawn when the handle post moves from the open to the closed position. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the accompanying diagrammatic drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a front view of a retractable screen in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a plan view of the retractable screen of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a three dimensional cut away of part of a fixed post and a housing and a lower guide track of the retractable screen of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of the cut away of the fixed post and the housing of the screen of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a three dimensional view of another part of the retractable screen showing the displaceable handle post and the lower guide track and also a receiver post. 
         FIG. 6  is a top plan view of the part of the screen that is shown in  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 7  is a three dimensional view of another part of the screen of  FIG. 1  showing the handle post and the rotatable handle for disengaging the brake. 
         FIG. 8  is a top plan view of the part of the screen that is shown in  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 9  is a three dimensional cut away view of the fixed post in accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIGS. 10 and 10   a  show a three dimensional view of the assembled and dissembled spring assembly used in the fixed post of  FIG. 9 . 
         FIGS. 11 and 11   a  show a three dimensional cut away view of the spring assembly used in the fixed post of  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 12  shows a three dimensional cut away and partial section view of the fixed post of  FIG. 9 . 
     
    
    
     In  FIGS. 1 to 8  reference numeral  10  refers generally to a retractable screen in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     A retractable screen for extending across an architectural opening to provide the ability to screen off the opening against the passage of flying insects in accordance with the invention may manifest itself in a variety of forms. It will be convenient to hereinafter describe in detail one embodiment of the invention with reference to accompanying drawings. The purpose of providing this detailed description is to instruct persons having an interest in the subject matter of the invention how to carry the invention into practical effect. However it is to be clearly understood that the specific nature of this detailed description does not supersede the generality of the preceding broad description. 
     The screen includes a fixed support post on which the roller is mounted and a displaceable handle post that is moved towards and away from the fixed post when the screen is moved between the open and closed positions. The screen also includes a receiver post that is mounted on the opposite side of the opening to the fixed post. The handle is positioned adjacent to the receiver post when the screen is in the closed position and the handle can be latched to the receiver post in the closed position. 
     The sheet mesh is stored in a roll form on the roller which is received within a compact cylindrical housing. The roller includes a recoil spring that biases the roller to a rolled up position. Thus in the absence of the sheet mesh being held in a position in which it is fully or partly drawn off the roller the sheet mesh will tend to move to the open position in which it is rolled up on the roller and received within the housing under the influence of the recoil spring. A retractable screen is sometimes known as a disappearing screen because the action of the recoil spring causes it to disappear into the housing when it is released. 
     The displaceable handle post runs along upper and lower guide tracks that extend between the fixed post and the receiver post. The handle post draws the sheet mesh off the roller and draws it tautly across the space defined between the handle post and the fixed post, e.g. the housing within which the roll of sheet mesh is received. The sheet mesh typically extends up the full height of the handle post and thereby covers the full height defined between the upper and the lower guide tracks. The recoil spring on the roller applies a tensioning force to the sheet mesh which helps to draw it taut across the surface area defined between the roller and the handle post. 
     With retractable screens, the handle post can be latched to the receiver post when the screen is in the closed position. However with some retractable screens once the handle post is unlatched and released from the receiver post, the recoil spring winds the sheet mesh onto the roller. This pulls the handle post with it and as a result causes the screen to move to the open position. These screens have no intermediate position, between the open and closed positions, in which the screen can be stopped and be held in this position without user intervention. 
     The door is either in a fully open or a fully closed position and the only way that the door can be fixed in an intermediate position, is when it is manually held by a user in the intermediate position with a force that is sufficiently strong to resist the biasing force of the recoil spring. However if and when the user releases the door then it will move immediately to the open position under influence of the recoil spring. Further the handle post will tend to move with greater speed as it approaches the fixed post due to the strength of the recoil spring. 
     It would be beneficial if a user could brake or fix the handle post in an intermediate position in some situations. For example a user might like to open the screen door a small distance for a short time, e.g. to permit people to pass through the opening, without moving the screen to a fully open position. 
     The prior art retractable screens clearly have their drawbacks as discussed above. Accordingly it would clearly be useful if a contrivance could be devised for enabling a retractable screen to be checked in an intermediate position between open and closed positions. It would be further advantageous if such a contrivance was able to brake the screen in a desired position efficaciously and with minimal effort on the part of a user. 
     The retractable screen  10  comprises broadly a fixed screen post  12 , and a displaceable handle post  14  that is displaceable towards and away from the fixed screen post  12  between an open position and a closed position (shown in  FIG. 1 ). 
     The screen  10  includes an upper guide track  16  which is operatively engaged with an upper end of the handle post  14  and guides movement of the handle post  14  between the open and closed positions. The screen  10  also guides a lower guide track  18  which is operatively engaged with a lower end of the handle post  14  and similarly guides the handle post  14 . The screen  10  also includes a receiving post  19  on the opposite side of the screen  10  to the fixed post  12  and against which the handle post  14  abuts in the closed position. 
     The screen  10  also includes a flexible sheet mesh  24  extending between the fixed post  12  and the displaceable handle post  14 . The screen  10  also includes a roller  26  onto which the sheet mesh  24  is rolled when the handle post  14  moves from the closed to the open position and from which the sheet mesh  24  is drawn when the handle post  14  moves from the open to the closed position. The roller  26  is biased towards a rolled up condition in which the sheet mesh  24  is rolled up onto the roller  26  by a recoil spring (not shown). The roller  26  is received within a compact housing  29  which is mounted on or adjacent the fixed post  12 . 
     Further the screen  10  also includes a brake arrangement that is indicated generally by reference numeral  30  for braking the movable handle post  14  in a desired position intermediate the open and the closed positions. 
     The brake arrangement  30  includes two brake assemblies, namely an upper brake assembly  32  that is arranged to engage the upper track  16 , and a lower brake assembly  34  that is arranged to engage the lower track  18 . Each of the upper and lower brake assemblies  32 ,  34  is mounted so that they are displaceable in a vertical direction into and out of engagement with the upper and lower tracks  16 ,  18 . The brake arrangement  30  also includes a brake control  40  for enabling a user to control actuation of the two brake engagement assemblies  32 ,  34 . 
     Only one of the brake assemblies  32 ,  34  is shown in  FIGS. 1 to 12  namely brake assembly  34 . Given that the brake assemblies  32 ,  34  are substantially identical only the lower brake assembly  34  is shown and described. 
     Each of the components will now be described in more detail below. 
     The upper and lower guide tracks  16 ,  18  include a mesh receiving channel  42  for receiving an edge region  44  of the sheet mesh  24  therein. The mesh receiving channel  42  on the lower guide track  18  is shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . 
     The upper guide track  16  has a similar cross sectional profile to the lower guide track  18  while having some differences that are occasioned by the fact that it is the upper guide channel. In some respects the upper guide track  16  is a lateral inversion of the lower guide track  18 . 
     The upper and lower guide tracks  16 ,  18  also include guide rail formations  46  for guiding the upper and lower ends of the handle post  14  in a line from the fixed post  12  to the receiving post  19 . 
     The sheet mesh  24  has a stiffened upper edge region or rib  44  extending the length thereof that is sized to be received within the mesh receiving channel  42  of the upper guide track  16 . The stiffened region  44  is sized to be received within the channel  42  in a flat orientation with some clearance so as to permit the rib  44  to slide in a longitudinal direction through the channel  42  as the handle post  14  is moved between open and closed positions. 
     The sheet mesh  24  extends away from the rib  44  thereof at a point  45  intermediate the upper and lower edges of the rib  44  (as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 ). The sheet mesh  24  bends laterally in a direction away from the rib  44  and is passed through a longitudinal slot or opening in the mesh receiving channel  42  and from there it extends across the face of the screen  10 . 
     The sheet mesh  24  has a similar lower edge region or rib  44  that is sized to be received within the mesh receiving channel  42  of the lower guide track  18 . This feature is shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4  of the drawings. 
     The upper and lower guide tracks  16  and  18  also each include a passive brake engaging formation  46  for engaging the upper and lower brake assemblies  32 ,  34  respectively. The passive brake engaging formation  46  is laterally spaced away from the mesh receiving channel  42  of the associated track  16  or  18 , being positioned forward thereof. The passive brake engaging formation  46  on the lower guide track  18  is shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . In the illustrated embodiment the passive brake engaging formation  46  has a wedge shaped profile with the wedge being oriented in a vertically extending orientation with the thin end of the wedge facing upwardly. 
     In the illustrated embodiment the upper and lower guide rail formations guiding the handle post  14  are the same as the passive brake engaging formations  46  and the formations  46  serve both purposes. 
     Each brake assembly  32 ,  34  includes a brake support  50  which is mounted on the handle post  14  and a brake engaging member  52  that is mounted on the support  50  and can be displaced relative to the support  50 . The support  50  is in the form of a block that is mounted on the handle post  14  e.g. in a fixed position, and defines a passage  54  therethrough. The brake engaging member  52  in turn comprises a shank  56  and an operative engagement formation  58  towards an end of the shank  56  that is adjacent to the passive brake engaging formation  46 . 
     The shank  56  is mounted in the passage  54  of the support  50  and is capable of sliding displacement within the passage  54  whereby to displace the operative engagement formation  58  at the end of the shank  56  into and out of engagement with the passive braking formation  46 . The movement of the brake engaging member  52  is guided by the support  50  which guides the movement of the shank  56  in the passage  54 . 
     Each brake assembly  32 ,  24  also includes a brake assembly biasing arrangement  60  mounted on the associated support  50  for resiliently biasing the brake engaging member  52  into engagement with the associated track. It also permits the brake assembly  32 ,  34  to conform to and adjust to the passive braking formation  46  on the guide track  16 ,  18  by conferring on it the ability to yield resiliently. The brake assembly biasing arrangement  60  comprises a helical coil spring  61  extending between the operative engagement formation  58  and the brake engaging member  52  under compression. 
     The operative engagement formation  58  of each brake engagement assembly  32 ,  34  is of complementary shape to the passive brake engaging formation  46 , whereby to enable it to engage the wedge-shaped passive braking formation  46  with a braking grip. 
     The brake arrangement  30  further includes brake rods  64 ,  66  that operatively connect the brake control  40  to the brake assemblies  32 ,  34 . One brake rod  64  is an upward extending brake rod extending from the brake control  40  to the upper brake assembly  32 . Another brake rod  66  extends downward form the brake control  40  to the lower brake assembly  34 . Each brake rod  64 ,  66  is directly coupled to its associated brake assembly  32 ,  34  such that displacement of the brake rods  64 ,  66  in a vertical direction translates into a corresponding displacement of the associated brake assembly  32 ,  34 . In the illustrated embodiment each brake rod  64 ,  66  has a hook formation  67  at its end for passing on the shank  56  of the brake engaging member  52 . 
     The brake control  40  includes a pivot member  70  that is pivotally mounted to the handle post having one portion  72  on one side of the pivotal mounting  71  and another portion  74  on the other side of the pivotal mounting  71 . 
     The first brake rod  64  extends from one side portion on the pivot member  70  to the upper brake assembly  32  and the second brake rod  66  extends from the other side portion of the pivot member  70  to the lower brake assembly  34 . The brake rods  64 ,  66  are directly coupled to the pivot member  70  and to the brake engagement members  52  so that movement of the pivot member  70  is translated directly to the brake engagement members  52 . 
     The brake control  40  includes a control biasing arrangement  41  for biasing the upper brake rod  64  and the upper brake assembly  32  that is operatively coupled thereto into a braking position in which the operative engagement formation  58  is engaged with the passive brake formation  46  of the upper track  16 . The control biasing arrangement  41  also biases the lower brake rod  66  and the lower brake assembly  34  that is operatively coupled thereto into a braking position in which the operative engagement formation  58  is engaged with the lower track  18 . 
     Conveniently the control biasing arrangement  41  is in the form of a torsion spring  78  acting between the pivot member  70  and the handle post  14  and biasing the pivot member  70  in a certain direction to urge the brake assemblies  32 ,  34   64 ,  66  towards positions in which the brake assemblies  32 ,  34  are engaged with their respective guide tracks  16 ,  18 . 
     The brake control  40  also includes a control handle  80  that is operatively connected to the pivot member  70  so that rotation of the handle  80  by a user causes the pivot member  70  to pivot. This way the handle  80  can be used overcome the bias of the torsion spring  78  and pivot the pivot member  70  in an opposite direction to the torsion spring to withdraw the brake assemblies  32 ,  34  out of braking engagement with the guide tracks  16 ,  18 . In the illustrated embodiment the control handle  80  is directly coupled to the pivot member  70  so that rotation of the control handle  80  is directly transmitted to the pivot member  70  to cause it to pivot, and a certain rotation of the control handle  80  produces a corresponding pivoting movement of the pivot member  70 . 
     The handle post  14  includes a handle post magnet  86  for sticking to another magnet when the screen  10  is in a closed condition. The magnet  86  comprises a magnet strip that is received within a magnet channel  88  on the handle post  14  that runs vertically from a lower end of the handle post  14  to an upper end thereof. The magnet channel is on an outer surface of the handle post  14  that abuts the receiving post  19  when the screen is closed. The magnet recess is positioned on the outside of the post  14  as distinct from being received within the post  14 . 
     The receiving post  19  has a complementary receiving post magnet  90  for sticking to said one magnet  86  on the handle post  14 . The receiving post magnet  90  comprises a magnet strip that extends in a vertically extending orientation from a lower end of the receiving post  19  to an upper end thereof. Further the receiving post magnet  90  is open to the handle post  14  so that it can come into magnetic contact with the handle post magnet  86 . The handle post and receiving post magnets  86 ,  90  releasably stick to each other when the handle post  14  is moved to the closed position and helps to fully close the screen  10 . 
     The illustrated screen  10  also includes a locking arrangement for locking the handle post  14  to the receiving post  19 . In a rudimentary form this comprises an active latching formation on the handle post  14  that can be moved by a user between locked and unlocked positions for engaging a passive latching formation on the receiving post  19 . While the locking arrangement has not been illustrated in the drawings it would be well known to persons skilled in the art and therefore will not be described in further detail in this specification. 
     In a further embodiment of the present invention and as shown in  FIGS. 9 to 12 , the fixed post  12  includes a roller assembly  120  onto which the sheet mesh  24  is rolled when the handle post  14  moves from the closed to the open position and from which the sheet mesh  24  is drawn when the handle post  14  moves from the open to the closed position. The fixed post  12  includes one roller assembly  120  located in the lower end of the fixed post  12  within the compact housing  29 . Alternatively the fixed post  12  may include two roller assemblies  120 , one located in the lower end of the fixed post  12  and the other located in the upper end of the fixed post  12 . This is particularly useful when a retractable screen is used in a large opening. 
       FIG. 9  shows the roller assembly  120  with its lower end and projection  101  located within recess  100  of the compact housing  29 . A flange  102  located at the base of the projection  101  abuts against a surface of the compact housing  29  to assist in locating the projection  101  within the recess  100 . The flexible sheet mesh  24  is rolled around the roller assembly  120  and the roller assembly  120  is biased towards a rolled up condition in which the sheet mesh  24  is rolled up onto the roller assembly  120  by a recoil spring  104 . The roller assembly  120  is constructed as a single component which may be easily removed for maintenance or replacement. 
     At one end of the cylindrical body  122  the cap  103  fits up against a bottom side of the flange  102 . The cap  103  has a collar  125  projecting around a bottom edge of the cap  103  which fits into the roller  26  and secures the spring assembly  120  at its lower or bottom end. Dependent upon the amount of tension applied to the spring  104  varies the position of the cap  103 . For example, the end cap may be positioned away from the bottom flange  102  as shown in  FIG. 9 . 
     The roller assembly  120  includes a hollow tubular body  105  extending longitudinally along an axis from one end which includes the projection  101  and the flange  102  and at the other end includes a sleeve  121  over which the spring  104  is mounted. The spring  104  abuts against the wall  124  formed at the junction of the sleeve  121  and the cylindrical body  122 . A cap  103  is slidingly fitted over the cylindrical body  122  and is positioned into a bottom end of the roller  26 . 
     A strengthening rod  110  is fitted inside the spring  104  and within the hollow tubular body  105  to reinforce the roller assembly  120 . To hold the rod  110  and spring  104  in place a fitting  106  is placed over the end of the spring  104 . The fitting  106  includes a sleeve  109  that fits within the spring  104  to secure the rod  110  in place and a raised outer section  126  which keeps the spring  104  tensioned or biased up against the tubular body  105  to enable the flexible sheet mesh  24  to be rolled around the roller assembly  120 . 
     A recess  123  within the tubular body  105  is used to locate a complementary recess on the rod  110  and aid in securing the rod  110  within the roller assembly  120 . Any suitable fixing device may be used to secure the rod within the tubular body  105 , for example a locking pin or the like. An end cap  107  has both an internal surface  111  for engaging the external surface of the raised outer section  126  and an external surface  112  which is fitted into one end of the roller  26 . The roller  26  is attached to the roller assembly  120  by end cap  107  at the top end of the roller  26  and cap  103  which is fitted into the bottom end of the roller  26 . 
       FIGS. 11 and 11   a  show a three dimensional cut away view of the spring assembly  120 . The rod  110  is inserted inside the spring  104  and the tubular body  105  to reinforce the spring assembly  120 . The rod  110  may be manufactured from steel or any other material which would support the spring assembly  120 . The spring  104  may be constructed from hardened steel or any other material which has the required combination of rigidity and elasticity. 
     The spring  104  is a torsion spring which unlike other types of springs in which the load is an axial force, the load applied to a torsion spring is a torque or twisting force, and the end of the spring  104  rotates through an angle as the load is applied. A torsion spring  104  is a flexible elastic object that stores mechanical energy when it is twisted. The amount of force or torque it exerts is proportional to the amount it is twisted. 
       FIG. 12  shows a three dimensional cut away and partial section view of the fixed post  12 . As described above a single roller assembly  120  may be used in the fixed post  12 , alternatively more than one roller assembly  120  may be used. In  FIG. 12  only one roller assembly is used which is fitted within the fixed post  12  and located within the compact housing  29  at a lower end of the fixed post  12  and in top housing  109  at the top end of the fixed post  12 . As shown the end cap  107  is fitted into the top housing  109  of the fixed post  12 . 
     In use, the screen  10  can be mounted across a door opening whereby to provide a sheet mesh  24  extending across the door opening to stop flying insects from flying in through the door opening. The fixed post  12  is mounted on one side of the door opening and the receiving post  19  is mounted on the other side of the door opening. The housing  29 , enclosing the roller  26 , is mounted on or adjacent to the fixed post  12 . 
     In a resting or inoperative position the screen  10  is in the open position with the handle post  14  being positioned adjacent to the fixed post  12  and the mesh screen  24  being largely rolled up on the roller  26  and received within the housing  29 . 
     The retractable screen  10  might be moved to a closed position when a solid door or doors extending across the door opening is in an open condition and it is desired to screen the opening to resist entry by flying insects. 
     To do this a user slides the handle post  14  in a direction away from the fixed post  12  towards the receiving post  19 . As the handle post  14  is displaced away from the fixed post  12  and the housing  29 , the sheet mesh  24  is unwound off the roller  26  and drawn across the area defined between the handle post  14  and the fixed post  12  and also between the upper guide track  16  and the lower guide track  18 . The handle post  14  is guided in its sliding displacement away from the fixed post  12  towards the receiving post  19  by the upper and lower guide tracks  16 ,  18 . More specifically the upper end of the handle post  14  engages the guide rail track which is also the upper passive braking formation  46  and guides it precisely across the opening towards the receiving post  19 . The lower end of the handle post  14  similarly engages the lower guide rail that is also the passive braking formation  46  and guides it precisely across the opening towards the receiving post  19 . 
     The ribs  44  on the upper and lower edge regions of the sheet mesh  24  run along the upper and lower guide channels  16 ,  18  within the mesh receiving channels  42  thereof. This helps to physically attach or anchor the upper and lower edge regions to the guide channels  16 ,  18 , as the sheet mesh  24  is drawn along the channels  42 . This gives the sheet mesh a neat and taut appearance extending across the face of the screen  10 . It also resists the upper and lower edges of the sheet mesh being blown out of the mesh receiving channels  42  along its upper or lower edges. 
     When moving the handle post  14  relative to the fixed post  12  the user will need to release the brake engagement members  52  from their braking engagement with the upper and lower passive braking formations  46 . As described above the brake is biased to an engaged condition by the brake arrangement  60  and this needs to be released to move the handle post  14 . The brake arrangement  50  is released by a user by their manual rotation of the handle  80  of the brake control on the handle post  14  of its resting position. This displaces the brake assemblies  32 ,  34  out of engagement with the upper and lower guide tracks  16 ,  18 . Once this has been done the handle post  14  can be moved easily and smoothly along the guide tracks  16 ,  18  either towards the receiving post  19  or away from the receiving post  19 . 
     If a user releases the control handle  80  at any point the brake engagement assemblies  32 ,  34  will engage the upper and lower guide tracks  16 ,  18  under influence of the torsion spring  78  on the brake control  40  and this will cause the handle post  14  to stop in that chosen or desired position and to stay in that position until it is moved out of that position. Accordingly if a user desires to position the screen with the handle post  14  positioned intermediate the fixed and receiver posts  12 ,  19  they simply release the control handle  80  and the handle post  14  will automatically be braked in that position. In particular it will not automatically return to the fixed post  12  and wind the sheet mesh  24  onto the roller  26  as occurs with some prior art screens. 
     Thereafter if the user wants to move the screen  10  from its intermediate position to a fully closed position to abutting the receiver post  19  they turn the control handle  80  once more out of its resting position to release the brake assemblies  32 ,  34  and then slide the handle post  14  fully towards the receiving post  19 . The handle post  14  can attach to the receiving post  19  and thereby close the screen  10 . 
     An advantage of the retractable screen  10  described above with reference to the drawings is that it provides a brake arrangement that is very efficacious at braking and checking the handle post  14  in any desired position in between the open and closed positions. A user can select any position and the screen  10  can be braked in that position. A further advantage is that the brake is biased towards a position in which the brake is engaged and therefore no manual effort or action is required by a user to cause the handle post  14  to be braked. The brake elements apply a firm and effective gripping action on the upper and lower tracks  16 ,  18  and this holds the handle post  14  in the desired position against the recoil force applied by the recoil spring in the housing. Further the brake can be released by a simple manual rotation of a brake release handle on the handle post  14 . The handle  80  is rotated through about 20 to 40 degrees with a modest manual force that overcomes the bias that biases the brake into engagement with the guide tracks  16 ,  18 . 
     A further advantage of the retractable screen  10  described above with reference to the drawings is that stiffened upper and lower edge regions of the sheet mesh  24  in the form of ribs are received within elongate mesh channels within the upper and lower tracks. The ribs and the mesh receiving channels are designed so that the upper and lower edges of the sheet mesh  24  resist being pulled out of these channels, e.g. by wind force applied against sheet mesh, extending between the fixed  12  and handle posts  14 . 
     A yet further advantage of the retractable screen described above and illustrated in the drawings is that the brake arrangement has a construction that is not unduly complex. 
     Hence, the disclosed embodiments are directed to a retractable screen that is an insect screen for extending across a door opening and it will therefore be convenient to hereinafter describe the invention with reference to this example application. However it is to be clearly understood that the invention is capable of broader application. For example the invention applies equally to retractable screens that are not insect screens. Yet further the invention also extends to screens that extend across other architectural openings such as window openings, sky lights, roof windows, and security screens. 
     It will of course be realised that the above has been given only by way of illustrative example of the invention and that all such modifications and variations thereto, as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art, are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of the invention as is herein defined and described. 
     In the specification the term “comprising” shall be understood to have a broad meaning similar to the term “including” and will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps. This definition also applies to variations on the term “comprising” such as “comprise” and “comprises”. 
     The foregoing description of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed, and other modifications and variations may be possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention in various embodiments and various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the appended claims be construed to include other alternative embodiments of the invention except insofar as limited by the prior art.