Patent Publication Number: US-11384598-B2

Title: Screen device

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a U.S. national phase application of International Application No. PCT/JP2017/010558, filed Mar. 16, 2017, designating the United States, which claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2016-060448, filed Mar. 24, 2016. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a screen device that is installed in a building opening for blocking light, insulating against heat, screening from view, protecting against insects, preventing entry of pollen, and so forth. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     A screen device in which a screen for blocking light, insulating against heat, screening from view, protecting against insects, preventing entry of pollen, and so forth is stretched in a screen frame that is installed in a building opening and in which the screen is operated to be opened and closed by using an operating stile capable of moving side to side within the screen frame is commonly known. 
     The screen device includes a screen guide that supports upper and lower ends of a screen stretched in the screen frame. The screen guide prevents the screen from being greatly deflected as a result of an action force generated by, for example, wind acting on the screen and is formed by connecting a plurality of guide pieces to one another in series such that the screen guide is capable of being bent. The screen guide is disposed linearly along an end portion of the screen so as to linearly support the end portion of the screen. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 23 , the screen guide  60  is supported by a rail  62 , which is horizontally disposed on the lower side portion of the screen frame, by fitting the rail  62  into recessed grooves  64 , which are formed in bottom surfaces of the guide pieces  63 , in order to prevent the screen guide  60  from being displaced together with the screen  61  when the screen  61  receives a lateral force. In this case, in order to cause the screen guide  60  to be supported by the rail  62  with higher certainty, it is desired that the rail  62  include a pair of engagement edges  62   a  and  62   a  formed so as to protrude in a widthwise direction of the rail  62 , that a pair of engagement hooks  64   a  and  64   a  be formed on groove walls of each of the recessed grooves of the guide pieces  63 , and that the engagement hooks  64   a  and  64   a  engage the engagement edges  62   a  and  62   a.    
     Regarding the screen guide, there are two types of screen guides including a screen guide (of a first type) that is led out from and is introduced into an operating stile as a screen is operated to be opened and closed and a screen guide (of a second type) that is led out from and is introduced into one of left and right vertical-frame poles (fixed frames) of screen frame. 
     However, the configuration of the rail  62  and the configuration of each of the guide pieces  63  that are illustrated in  FIG. 23  can be applied only to the screen guide of the second type, which is one of the above-mentioned two types of screen guides. This is because the gap between the pair of engagement hooks  64   a  and  64   a  of each of the guide pieces  63  is smaller than the distance between the end portions of the pair of engagement edges  62   a  and  62   a  of the rail, and thus, the pair of engagement hooks  64   a  and  64   a  always need to engage the engagement edges  62   a  and  62   a  from an end portion of the rail  62  in the lengthwise direction of the rail  62  and cannot engage the engagement edges at an intermediate position on the rail. 
     Consequently, it is desired that the configuration of the rail  62  and the configuration of each of the guide pieces  63 , which are illustrated in  FIG. 23 , can also be applied to the screen guide of the first type, that is, the type of screen guide that is drawn into and is drawn out from an operating stile that moves along a rail. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     Technical Problem 
     It is a technical object of the present invention to configure a screen guide that is drawn into an operating stile and is drawn out from the inside of the operating stile as a screen is operated to be opened and closed by the operating stile to be capable of engaging a support rail and detached from the support rail at an intermediate position on the support rail. 
     Solution to Problem 
     To solve the above-described problem, a screen device according to the present invention includes a screen frame that is installed in a building opening; an operating stile that is vertically disposed in the screen frame and is capable of being operated to move side to side; a screen that is stretched between one of left and right vertical-frame poles of the screen frame and the operating stile and that opens and closes the screen frame as a result of the operating stile being operated and moved; a screen guide that is provided at least one of upper and lower ends of the screen and that is drawn out from the inside of the operating stile along an end portion of the screen and is drawn into the inside of the operating stile as a result of the operating stile being operated and moved; and a support rail that linearly supports, along the screen, the screen guide that is drawn out from the inside of the operating stile. The support rail includes a first engagement edge and a second engagement edge that protrude in a widthwise direction of the support rail in such a manner as to face away from each other. The screen guide is formed by connecting a plurality of guide pieces to one another in series such that the screen guide is capable of being bent only in one direction. Each of the guide pieces includes a piece body that engages the end portion of the screen and an engagement member including a first engagement portion and a second engagement portion that engage the first engagement edge and the second engagement edge of the support rail, respectively. The engagement member is coupled to the piece body in such a manner as to be capable of being displaced to a first position at which the first engagement portion and the second engagement portion engage the first engagement edge and the second engagement edge of the support rail, respectively, and to a second position at which the first engagement portion and the second engagement portion are respectively detached from the first engagement edge and the second engagement edge. 
     According to the present invention, it is desirable that each of the engagement members have a recessed support groove into which the support rail is fitted, and it is desirable that the first engagement portion be formed on a first groove wall, which is one of a pair of opposing groove walls of the support groove, and that the second engagement portion be formed on a second groove wall, which is another one of the pair of opposing groove walls. 
     It is further desirable that the first engagement portion and the second engagement portion include engagement hooks each projecting inward in a widthwise direction of the support groove so as to engage one of the first engagement edge and the second engagement edge and that at least one of either inner surfaces of the engagement hooks or rear surfaces of the engagement edges and at least one of either outer surfaces of the engagement hooks or front surfaces of the engagement edges be inclined in directions in which thicknesses of the engagement hooks or thicknesses of the engagement edges gradually decrease toward ends of the engagement hooks or ends of the engagement edges. 
     According to a specific configuration aspect of the present invention, the support groove is formed such that, when the screen guide is linearly supported along the support rail, the support groove is oriented in an oblique direction with respect the support rail, and a portion of the first groove wall and a portion of the second groove wall, which oppose each other, are in contact with the first engagement edge and the second engagement edge, respectively, and the first engagement portion is formed on the portion of the first groove wall that is brought into contact with the first engagement edge, and the second engagement portion is formed on the portion of the second groove wall that is brought into contact with the second engagement edge. 
     In this case, it is preferable that each of the guide pieces have a first end and a second end, which is opposite to the first end, in a direction along the support rail, and it is preferable that the first engagement portion be formed on one of the first end side and the second end side and that the second engagement portion be formed on another one of the first end side and the second end side. 
     In an embodiment of the present invention, the engagement member of each of the guide pieces may be configured to be coupled to the corresponding piece body in such a manner as to be rotatable about an axis that is perpendicular to the guide piece and may be configured to be displaced to the first position and to the second position by rotating in forward and reverse directions. 
     In another embodiment of the present invention, the engagement member of each of the guide pieces may include a pair of movable pieces that are capable of being displaced in a direction in which a gap between the pair of movable pieces changes. The first engagement portion may be formed on one of the pair of movable pieces, and the second engagement portion may be formed on another one of the pair of movable pieces. 
     In addition, according to the present invention, a screen-support mechanism supporting an end portion of a screen that is stretched in a screen frame of a screen device in such a manner as to be capable of being freely opened and closed is provided, the screen-support mechanism including a screen guide that supports the end portion of the screen and a support rail that supports the screen guide. The support rail includes a first engagement edge and a second engagement edge that protrude in a widthwise direction of the support rail in such a manner as to face away from each other. The screen guide is formed by connecting a plurality of guide pieces to one another in series such that the screen guide is capable of being bent only in one direction. Each of the guide pieces includes a piece body that engages the end portion of the screen and an engagement member including a first engagement portion and a second engagement portion that engage the first engagement edge and the second engagement edge of the support rail, respectively. The engagement member is coupled to the piece body in such a manner as to be capable of being displaced to a first position at which the first engagement portion and the second engagement portion engage the first engagement edge and the second engagement edge of the support rail, respectively, and to a second position at which the first engagement portion and the second engagement portion are respectively detached from the first engagement edge and the second engagement edge. 
     Advantageous Effects of Invention 
     According to the present invention, guide pieces that are included in a screen guide are each formed of a piece body and an engagement member, and each of the engagement members is capable of being displaced to a first position at which a first engagement portion and a second engagement portion engage a first engagement edge and a second engagement edge of a support rail, respectively, and to a second position at which the first engagement portion and the second engagement portion are respectively detached from the first engagement edge and the second engagement edge. Therefore, the guide pieces, that is, the screen guide can engage the support rail and can be detached from the support rail at an intermediate position on the support rail. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front view illustrating, in a partially cutaway manner, a screen device according to the present invention when viewed from the inside of a room. 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional plan view of the screen device illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of the screen device illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a partial perspective view of the screen device illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a screen guide and a rail separated from the screen device illustrated in  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the screen guide illustrated in  FIG. 5  when viewed from the left-hand side. 
         FIG. 7  is a bottom view of the screen guide illustrated in  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 8  is a front view of one of guide pieces and the rail. 
         FIG. 9( a )  is a bottom view when an engagement member one of the guide pieces is located on a first position, and  FIG. 9( b )  is a bottom view when the engagement member of the guide piece is located on a second position. 
         FIG. 10  is a sectional view of one of the guide pieces. 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a piece body of one of the guide pieces and the engagement member of the guide piece that are separated from each other. 
         FIG. 12( a )  is a front view illustrating a state where one of the guide pieces has engaged the support rail, and  FIG. 12( b )  is a bottom view illustrating the same state. 
         FIG. 13( a )  is a front view illustrating an intermediate state in a process in which one of the guide pieces is detached from the support rail, and  FIG. 13( b )  is a bottom view illustrating the same state. 
         FIG. 14( a )  is a front view illustrating a state where one of the guide pieces is detached from the support rail, and  FIG. 14( b )  is a bottom view illustrating the same state. 
         FIG. 15( a )  is a front view illustrating an initial state in a process in which one of the guide pieces engages the support rail, and  FIG. 15( b )  is a bottom view illustrating the same state. 
         FIG. 16( a )  is a front view illustrating an intermediate state in a process in which one of the guide pieces engages the support rail, and  FIG. 16( b )  is a bottom view illustrating the same state. 
         FIG. 17( a )  is a front view illustrating a state immediately before one of the guide pieces engages the support rail, and  FIG. 17( b )  is a bottom view illustrating the same state. 
         FIG. 18( a )  is a front view illustrating a state where one of the guide pieces has engaged the support rail, and  FIG. 18( b )  is a bottom view illustrating the same state. 
         FIG. 19  is a partial perspective view illustrating a first modification the screen guide. 
         FIG. 20  is a partial perspective view illustrating a second modification the screen guide. 
         FIG. 21( a )  is a front view of one of guide pieces included in the screen guide of the second modification, and  FIG. 21( b )  is a bottom view illustrating the same state. 
         FIG. 22  is a bottom view illustrating a state where the guide piece illustrated in  FIG. 20  is detached from the support rail. 
         FIG. 23  is a sectional view illustrating the relationship between a guide piece and a rail in a commonly known screen guide. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     The drawings illustrate an embodiment of a screen device according to the present invention, and the screen device is used by being installed in a building opening, such as a window or an entrance of a building, for the purpose of blocking light, insulating against heat, screening from view, protecting against insects, preventing entry of pollen, and so forth. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 3 , the screen device includes a rectangular screen frame  1  including a first vertical-frame pole  2   a  located on the right-hand side, a second vertical-frame pole  2   b  located on the left-hand side, an upper first horizontal-frame pole  3   a , and a lower second horizontal-frame pole  3   b . An operating stile  4  is vertically disposed in the screen frame  1  so as to be capable of being operated to move side to side in a state where an upper end of the operating stile  4  is supported by the first horizontal-frame pole  3   a  and where a lower end of the operating stile  4  is supported by a support rail  5 , which is disposed on a top surface of the second horizontal-frame pole  3   b.    
     In a winding box  6  that is formed on a front surface of the first vertical-frame pole  2   a , the front surface facing toward the interior of a room, a winding shaft  7  is disposed so as to be rotatable about a vertical axis. A proximal end portion of a screen  8  is wound around the winding shaft  7 , and a leading end portion of the screen  8  is led out from a slit-shaped opening  2   c  formed in an inner side surface of the first vertical-frame pole  2   a  toward the inside of the screen frame  1  and is connected to the operating stile  4 . Accordingly, it can be said that the screen  8  is stretched between the first vertical-frame pole  2   a  and the operating stile  4 . 
     As is clear from  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 4 , the cross section of the operating stile  4  has a rectangular shape that is horizontally long. The operating stile  4  includes a screen-attachment portion  4   b  located on the side on which the first vertical-frame pole  2   a  is disposed and a screen-guide accommodating portion  4   c  located on the side on which the second vertical-frame pole  2   b  is disposed, and the screen-attachment portion  4   b  and the screen-guide accommodating portion  4   c  are partitioned by a partition wall  4   d.    
     A slit-shaped connecting groove  9  is formed so as to vertically extend in an inner side surface of the screen-attachment portion  4   b , the inner side surface facing toward the first vertical-frame pole  2   a . A connecting member  10  that is attached to the leading end portion of the screen  8  is inserted into the connecting groove  9 , and an engagement body  10   a  provided at an end of the connecting member  10  engages the inner edge of the connecting groove  9 , so that the leading end of the screen  8  is connected to the operating stile  4 . 
     The connecting member  10  is formed by fixing the engagement body  10   a  having a plurality of protrusions to an end of a tape-shaped base member  10   b , and the base member  10   b  is joined to the leading end portion of the screen  8  by means of, for example, welding or sewing. 
     The winding shaft  7  winds up the screen  8  by using, as a winding force, an elastic force of a coil spring  7   a  built in the winding shaft  7 . When the operating stile  4  is moved leftward in  FIG. 1  such that the screen  8  is extended from the winding shaft  7 , so that the winding force is accumulated as a result of the coil spring  7   a  being twisted, and when the operating stile  4  is moved rightward in  FIG. 1  such that the screen frame  1  is opened, the screen  8  is wound up by the winding force accumulated in the coil spring  7   a.    
     The member denoted by the reference sign  11  in  FIG. 2  is a handle that is used for operating the operating stile  4  to be in an open position or a closed position. 
     The screen device further includes a screen-support mechanism  14  having a function of preventing the operating stile  4  from being inclined when the operating stile  4  is operated to be in the open position or the closed position and a function of preventing a lower end portion of the screen  8  from being deflected or displaced by the influence of wind or the like. The screen-support mechanism  14  includes a screen guide  15  uprightly supporting the lower end portion of the screen  8  and the support rail  5  supporting the screen guide  15  linearly along the screen  8 . 
     As illustrated in detail in  FIG. 8 , the support rail  5  includes a flange-shaped first engagement edge  5   a  and a flange-shaped second engagement edge  5   b  that protrude in the widthwise direction of the support rail  5  so as to face away from each other. The first engagement edge  5   a  and the second engagement edge  5   b  each have a front surface  16   a  and a rear surface  16   b . The front surface  16   a  of each of the first engagement edge  5   a  and the second engagement edge  5   b  is an inclined surface that is inclined in a direction in which the thickness of the engagement edge gradually decreases toward an end of the engagement edge, and in contrast, each of the rear surfaces  16   b  is a horizontal surface. 
     As is clear from  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6 , the screen guide  15  is formed by connecting a plurality of guide pieces  17  each made of a synthetic resin to one another in series such that the screen guide  15  is capable of being bent only in one direction. As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , a first end  15   a  of the screen guide  15  is fixed to a lower end portion of the first vertical-frame pole  2   a , and a second end  15   b  of the screen guide  15  is introduced into the screen-guide accommodating portion  4   c  through an opening  4   a  formed at the lower end of the operating stile  4  and is connected to a first end  18   a  of a mounting wire  18 . A second end  18   b  of the mounting wire  18  is led out from the upper end of the operating stile  4  to the inside of the first horizontal-frame pole  3   a  and fixed to the first horizontal-frame pole  3   a . The screen guide  15  is disposed in this manner, so that the screen guide  15  is drawn out from the inside of the operating stile  4  along the end portion of the screen  8  and is drawn into the inside of the operating stile  4  as the operating stile  4  is operated to move side to side. 
     As is clear from  FIG. 8  to  FIG. 11 , each of the guide pieces  17  is formed by connecting an upper piece body  20  that engages the lower end portion of the screen  8  and a lower engagement member  21  that has a support groove  22 , which is formed in a recessed manner in a bottom surface of the lower engagement member  21  and into which the support rail  5  is fitted, to each other such that the piece body  20  and the engagement member  21  are capable of rotating relative to each other in both forward and reverse directions about a vertical axis L that passes through the center of the guide piece  17 . The shape of each of the guide pieces  17  in plan view is a rectangle that has a diameter Y in a left-right direction (indoor-outdoor direction) and a diameter X in a front-rear direction (connecting direction), the diameter Y being larger than the diameter X. 
     Note that “front and rear” and “left and right” of each of the guide pieces  17  are defined, as illustrated in  FIG. 8 , when an end of the guide piece  17  in the connecting direction is viewed as a front surface. 
     Each of the piece bodies  20  has a pair of wire insertion holes  24  and  24  that are formed at positions in the vicinity of an upper end of the piece body  20  in the height direction of the piece body  20 , the positions being close to the opposite ends of the piece body  20  in the left-right direction, and the wire insertion holes  24  and  24  extend through the piece body  20  in the front-rear direction from a first end E 1  to a second end E 2  that is opposite to the first end E 1 . As illustrated in  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6 , flexible wires  25  are each inserted into one of the wire insertion holes  24  and  24  such that the plurality of guide pieces  17  are connected in series to one another, so that the screen guide  15  is formed. By connecting the plurality of guide pieces  17  to one another in this manner, the screen guide  15  can be bent only in a direction in which the screen guide  1  forms a concave shape on the top surface side thereof. 
     A slit-shaped engagement groove  27  is formed in a center portion of the top surface of each of the piece bodies  20  in the left-right direction so as to extend through the piece body  20  from the first end E 1  to the second end E 2 , and an engagement member  26  (see  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 4 ) formed at the lower end portion of the screen  8  is fitted into and engages each of the slit-shaped engagement grooves  27 . An expanded portion  27   a  is formed at an inner end of each of the engagement grooves  27 , the expanded portion  27   a  having a width larger than that of the engagement groove  27 . 
     As is clear from  FIG. 4 , the engagement member  26  is formed by fixing an engagement body  26   a  having a plurality of protrusions to an end of a tape-shaped base member  26   b , and the base member  26   b  is joined to the lower end portion of the screen  8  by means of, for example, welding or sewing. 
     When the screen guide  15  is drawn out through the opening  4   a , which is formed at the lower end of the operating stile  4 , along the lower end portion of the screen  8 , the engagement member  26  is fitted into the engagement grooves  27  of the piece bodies  20  that are drawn out, and the engagement body  26   a  engages inner edges of the engagement grooves  27  in the expanded portions  27   a , so that the screen  8  sequentially engages the guide pieces  17 . On the other hand, when the screen guide  15  is drawn into the inside of the operating stile  4 , the engagement member  26  is disengaged from the engagement grooves  27  of the piece bodies  20  that are drawn in. 
     In contrast, each of the engagement members  21  is a member whose shape in plan view is substantially the same as the shape of each of the piece bodies  20  in plan view and is substantially the same size as each of the piece bodies  20 . Each of the engagement members  21  is coupled to the bottom surface of a corresponding one of the piece bodies  20  by a coupling mechanism  30  so as to be capable of rotating about the axis L between a first position A ( FIG. 9( a ) ) and a second position B ( FIG. 9( b ) ) and has the support groove  22  formed in the bottom surface thereof. 
     As is clear from  FIG. 8  and  FIG. 9 , each of the support grooves  22  is formed such that when one of the engagement members  21  is not rotating with respect to the corresponding piece body  20 , that is, when the engagement member  21  is located at the first position A, the corresponding support groove  22  is oriented in an oblique direction with respect an imaginary plane S dividing the guide pieces  17  into two portions in the left-right direction and such that when one of the engagement members  21  rotates with respect to the corresponding piece body  20 , that is, when the engagement member  21  is located at the second position B, the corresponding support groove  22  is parallel to the imaginary plane S. In other words, the imaginary plane S and the support rail  5  are parallel to each other, and thus, it can also be said that each of the support grooves  22  is formed so as to be oriented in the oblique direction with respect the support rail  5  at the first position A and so as to be parallel to the support rail  5  at the second position B. 
     Note that the axis L is located within the imaginary plane S. 
     When one of the engagement members  21  is located at the first position A, the engagement member  21  is oriented in the same direction as that in which the corresponding piece body  20  is oriented, and thus, the engagement member  21  and the piece body  20  are superposed with each other. When the engagement member  21  rotates to the second position B, the engagement member  21  is oriented in a different direction from that in which the corresponding piece body  20  is oriented, and thus, corner portions  21   a  and  21   b  of the engagement member  21  in a diagonal direction respectively project from end surfaces  20   a  and  20   b  of the piece body  20 . 
     In addition, a groove width W 1  of each of the support grooves  22  is slightly larger than a width W 2  (the width in the front-rear direction) of the support rail  5 . Thus, when one of the engagement members  21  is located at the first position A, a portion of a first groove wall  22   a , which is one of a pair of opposing groove walls of the corresponding support groove  22 , is in contact with the first engagement edge  5   a  of the support rail  5 , and a portion of a second groove wall  22   b , which is the other of the pair of opposing groove walls, is in contact with the second engagement edge  5   b  of the support rail  5 . Accordingly, engagement portions  31   a  and  31   b  that engage the engagement edges  5   a  and  5   b , respectively, are formed at the contact portions. In other words, the first engagement portion  31   a  is formed on the portion of each of the first groove walls  22   a  that comes into contact with the corresponding first engagement edge  5   a , and the second engagement portion  31   b  is formed on the portion of each of the second groove walls  22   b  that comes into contact with the corresponding second engagement edge  5   b . In the case illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the first engagement portion  31   a  is formed on the side on which the first end E 1  of each of the guide pieces  17  is present, and the second engagement portion  31   b  is formed on the side on which the second end E 2  of each of the guide pieces  17  is present. 
     As seen from  FIG. 8 , the first engagement portion  31   a  and the second engagement portion  31   b  include engagement hooks  32  projecting inward in the widthwise direction of the support groove  22 . Inner surfaces  32   a  of the engagement hooks  32  that face a groove bottom  22   c  and outer surfaces  32   b  of the engagement hooks  32  that are opposite to the inner surfaces  32   a  are inclined surfaces that are each inclined in a direction in which the thickness of the corresponding engagement hook  32  gradually decreases toward an end of the engagement hook  32 . 
     As is clear from  FIG. 10  and  FIG. 11 , the coupling mechanisms  30  coupling the piece bodies  20  and the corresponding engagement members  21  to each other each have a coupling recess  35  that is formed in a recessed manner in the bottom surface of the piece body  20  and a coupling protrusion  36  that is formed on the top surface of the engagement member  21  and that is fitted into the coupling recess  35 . 
     The coupling recess  35  is formed between a pair of opposing recess side walls  37   a  and  37   b , and a bearing portion  38  is disposed at the center of the coupling recess  35 . 
     The first recess side wall  37   a , which is one of the pair of opposing recess side walls  37   a  and  37   b , has a first inclined portion  39   a  extending linearly from the second end E 2  of the piece body  20  to a position near the first end E 1  while being inclined in a direction in which the first inclined portion  39   a  gradually comes closer to the imaginary plane S, a second inclined portion  39   b  extending from an end portion of the first inclined portion  39   a  to the first end E 1 , and an arc-shaped connecting portion  39   c  connecting the first inclined portion  39   a  and the second inclined portion  39   b  to each other in a curved and smooth manner. The inclination angle of the second inclined portion  39   b  with respect to the imaginary plane S is larger than the inclination angle of the first inclined portion  39   a  with respect to the imaginary plane S. In contrast, the second recess side wall  37   b , which is the other one of the pair of opposing recess side walls  37   a  and  37   b , is formed so as to be line-symmetrical to the first recess side wall  37   a  with respect to the axis L. 
     The bearing portion  38  is formed in a columnar shape and has a bearing hole  40  formed at a position on the axis L that passes through the center of the bearing portion  38  and two positioning protrusions  41  and  41  respectively protruding toward the first end E 1  and the second end E 2  of the piece body  20  from the side surface of the column. 
     In contrast, the coupling protrusion  36  of the engagement member  21  has a first protrusion side wall  42   a  and a second protrusion side wall  42   b  that respectively come into contact with the first recess side wall  37   a  and the second recess side wall  37   b . The first protrusion side wall  42   a  and the second protrusion side wall  42   b  each have a first inclined portion  43   a , a second inclined portion  43   b , and a connecting portion  43   c  that respectively correspond to the first inclined portion  39   a , the second inclined portion  39   b , and the connecting portion  39   c , and the connecting portion  43   c  is formed in an arc shape. 
     A recessed bearing fitting portion  45  into which the bearing portion  38  is fitted is formed in the top surface of the coupling protrusion  36 , and a coupling shaft  46  that is positioned at the center of the bearing fitting portion  45  and that is fitted into the bearing hole  40  is formed on the top surface of the coupling protrusion  36 . In a side wall of the bearing fitting portion  45 , two positioning holes  47  and  47  into which the two positioning protrusions  41  and  41  are rotatably fitted are formed at positions facing each other with the coupling shaft  46  interposed therebetween. 
     When the engagement member  21  rotates about the coupling shaft  46  (the axis L) with respect to the piece body  20 , the positioning protrusions  41  are displaced within the corresponding positioning holes  47 . When each of the positioning protrusions  41  comes into contact with one of left and right hole walls of the corresponding positioning hole  47 , the engagement member  21  occupies the first position A, and when the positioning protrusion  41  comes into contact with the other one of the left and right hole walls, the engagement member  21  occupies the second position B. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an intermediate open state, in the screen device having the above-described configuration, in which the operating stile  4  that is operated is located at an intermediate position between the open position and the closed position. From this state, when the operating stile  4  is moved in the direction toward the right-hand side in  FIG. 1  (in an opening direction), the screen  8  is wound up by the winding shaft  7 , and the screen guide  15  is drawn into the operating stile  4 , so that the screen frame  1  is opened. Conversely, when the operating stile  4  is moved in the direction toward the left-hand side in  FIG. 1  (in a closing direction), the screen  8  is extended from the winding shaft  7 , and the screen guide  15  is drawn out from the inside of the operating stile  4 , so that the screen frame  1  is closed. 
     In this case, in the screen guide  15 , when the operating stile  4  is moved in the direction toward the right-hand side, the guide pieces  17  that have engaged, in a horizontal position, the support rail  5  are sequentially detached from the support rail  5  and drawn into the operating stile  4  while the orientation thereof is gradually changed toward a longitudinal direction (the vertical direction) starting from the guide piece  17  that is located closest to the operating stile  4 . Conversely, when the operating stile  4  is moved in the direction toward the left-hand side, the guide pieces  17  that are drawn out from the inside of the operating stile  4  onto the support rail  5  engages the support rail  5  while the orientation of each of the guide pieces  17  is gradually changed such that the position of the guide piece  17  is changed from a vertical position to a position when the screen guide  15  is bent and then to a horizontal position along the support rail  5 . Operation of each of the guide pieces  17  in this case will be described below. 
       FIG. 12  to  FIG. 14  illustrate the operation of each of the guide pieces  17  when the guide piece  17  is detached from the support rail  5 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 12( a ) and 12( b ) , in a state where the engagement member  21  of the guide piece  17  is located at the first position A and where the first engagement portion  31   a  and the second engagement portion  31   b  have engaged the first engagement edge  5   a  and the second engagement edge  5   b  of the support rail  5 , respectively, when an upward force F acts on the guide piece  17 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 13( a ) and 13( b ) , the inner surface  32   a  of the engagement hook  32  of the first engagement portion  31   a  and the inner surface  32   a  of the engagement hook  32  of the second engagement portion  31   b  respectively come into contact with the rear surface  16   b  of the first engagement edge  5   a  and the rear surface  16   b  of the second engagement edge  5   b . In this case, since the inner surfaces  32   a  are inclined surfaces, a force that causes the engagement hooks  32  to be displaced along their inner surfaces  32   a  toward the ends of the corresponding engagement edges  5   a  and  5   b  is generated between the engagement hooks  32  and the engagement edges  5   a  and  5   b . Then, a moment about the axis L is generated by this force and acts on the engagement member  21 , and the engagement member  21  is caused by the moment to rotate in the direction of arrow M. Consequently, as illustrated in  FIGS. 13( a ) and 13( b ) , the engagement hooks  32  are displaced in a direction in which the engagement hooks  32  are detached from the corresponding engagement edges  5   a  and  5   b.    
     The engagement member  21  keeps rotating, and thus, the engagement hooks  32  are displaced to positions where the engagement hooks  32  are completely detached from the corresponding engagement edges  5   a  and  5   b  as illustrated in  FIGS. 14( a ) and 14( b ) . As a result, the engagement member  21  occupies the second position B, and the support groove  22  is oriented approximately parallel to the support rail  5 . Then, the guide piece  17  is lifted up by the upward force F and is detached from the support rail  5 . 
     In the actual operation, as seen from  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 5  to  FIG. 7 , the upward force F acts on the second end E 2  of each of the guide pieces  17 , and thus, the above-described operation of each of the guide pieces  17  for being detached from the support rail  5  is mainly performed on the side on which the second end E 2  is present. 
     The guide pieces  17  that have been detached from the support rail  5  and drawn into the operating stile  4  gradually change their orientations toward the longitudinal direction from a bent state and are finally brought into a state of being vertically and consecutively aligned. In this case, when one of the guide pieces  17  is still in the bent position, the engagement member  21  of the guide piece  17  occupies the second position B, and the corner portions  21   a  and  21   b  of the engagement member  21  respectively project from the first end E 1  and the second end E 2  of the guide piece  17 . One of these projecting portions comes into contact with and is pushed by the preceding guide piece  17 , and thus, the engagement member  21  returns to the first position A. The guide piece  17  in this state is linearly continuous with the other guide pieces  17 . 
       FIG. 15  to  FIG. 18  illustrate the operation of each of the guide pieces  17  when the guide piece  17  engages the support rail  5 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 15( a ) and 15( b ) , when a downward force F acts on one of the guide pieces  17  in a state where the engagement member  21  of the guide piece  17  is located at the first position A, the outer surface  32   b  of the engagement hook  32  of the first engagement portion  31   a  of the engagement member  21  and the outer surface  32   b  of the engagement hook  32  of the second engagement portion  31   b  of the engagement member  21  respectively come into contact with a front surface  16   a  of the first engagement edge  5   a  of the support rail  5  and a front surface  16   a  of the second engagement edge  5   b  of the support rail  5 . In this case, since the outer surfaces  32   b  are inclined surfaces, as illustrated in  FIGS. 16( a ) and 16( b ) , a force that causes the engagement hooks  32  to be displaced along their outer surfaces  32   b  toward the ends of the corresponding engagement edges  5   a  and  5   b  is generated between the engagement hooks  32  and the engagement edges  5   a  and  5   b . Then, a moment about the axis L is generated by this force and acts on the engagement member  21 , and the engagement member  21  is caused by the moment to rotate in the direction of arrow M. Consequently, the engagement hooks  32  are displaced in a direction in which the engagement hooks  32  are detached from the corresponding engagement edges  5   a  and  5   b.    
     The engagement member  21  keeps rotating, and thus, the engagement hooks  32  are displaced to positions where the engagement hooks  32  are completely detached from the corresponding engagement edges  5   a  and  5   b , after which the guide piece  17  is displaced to a position where the support rail  5  is fitted into the support groove  22  as illustrated in  FIGS. 17( a ) and 17( b ) . In this case, the engagement member  21  is located at the second position B, and the support groove  22  is approximately parallel to the support rail  5 . In addition, the corner portions  21   a  and  21   b  of the engagement member  21  project outward from the first end E 1  and the second end E 2  of the guide piece  17 , respectively. 
     Next, the guide piece  17  follows the preceding guide piece  17  such that the guide pieces  17  are consecutively aligned along the support rail  5  (see  FIG. 4  to  FIG. 7 ), and in this case, the corner portion  21   a  projecting from the first end E 1  of the engagement member  21  comes into contact with and is pushed by an end surface on the second end E 2  side of the preceding guide piece  17 , so that the engagement member  21  rotates and returns to the first position A. This brings the guide piece  17  into a state in which the engagement hooks  32  of the first and second engagement portions  31   a  and  31   b  of the engagement member  21  engage the first and second engagement edges  5   a  and  5   b  of the support rail  5  as illustrated in  FIGS. 18( a ) and 18( b ) . 
     In the actual operation, as seen from  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 5  to  FIG. 7 , the downward force F acts on the first end E 1  of each of the guide pieces  17  first, and thus, the above-described operation of each of the guide pieces  17  for engaging the support rail  5  is mainly performed on the side on which the first end E 1  is present. 
     Regarding the guide pieces  17  consecutively aligned along the support rail  5 , adjacent ones of the guide pieces  17  and  17  in the front-rear direction are brought into close contact with each other, so that the locking members  21  are each restrained at the first position A, and thus, even if an upward force acts on the guide pieces  17  via the screen  8 , the engagement members  21  will not be able to rotate toward the second position B. Therefore, the guide pieces  17  will not be detached from the support rail  5 . 
     In the manner described above, each of the guide pieces  17  of the screen guide  15  engages or is detached from the support rail  5  at an intermediate position on the support rail  5 . 
       FIG. 19  illustrates a first modification of the above-described screen guide, and in a screen guide  15 A of the first modification, a plurality of guide pieces  17 A are consecutively connected to one another by pins. 
     In other words, pairs of connecting arms  50  and  50  are formed on end surfaces of the piece bodies  20  of the guide pieces  17 A, the end surfaces being located on the first end E 1  side, such that each pair of the connecting arms  50  and  50  project in the lengthwise direction of the screen guide  15 A from opposing positions on an upper end portion of the end surface in the left-right direction, and each of the connecting arms  50  and  50  is provided with a connecting pin  51 . Pairs of arm receivers  52  and  52  each of which is in the form of a recessed step portion are formed in end surfaces of the piece bodies  20 , the end surfaces being located on the second end E 2  side, such that each pair of the arm receivers  52  and  52  are located at opposing positions on an upper end portion of the end surface in the left-right direction, and a pin hole  53  is formed in each of the arm receivers  52  and  52 . 
     The screen guide  15 A is formed by consecutively and rotatably connecting adjacent ones of the guide pieces  17 A and  17 A to each other with the corresponding connecting pins  51  and the corresponding pin holes  53 . 
     The rest of the configuration of the screen guide  15 A other than the above-described configuration is substantially the same as that of the screen guide  15  according to the basic embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 18 . Thus, the same main elements as in the screen guide  15  according to the basic embodiment are denoted by the same reference signs used in the screen guide  15 , and descriptions thereof will be omitted. 
       FIG. 20  to  FIG. 22  illustrate a second modification of the screen guide, and in guide pieces  17 B that are included in a screen guide  15 B of the second modification, the engagement members  21  each have a configuration different from the configuration of each of the engagement members  21  of the guide pieces  17  in the screen guide  15  according to the basic embodiment. 
     In other words, the engagement members  21  of the guide pieces  17 B each have a pair of sliding pieces  21 A and  21 B that are capable of being displaced in an oblique direction with respect to the support rail  5  and in opposite directions relative to each other. The pair of sliding pieces  21 A and  21 B have shapes resembling two portions into which the rectangular engagement member  21  is divided along a sliding contact surface  56  crossing the imaginary plane S. The pair of sliding pieces  21 A and  21 B are mounted on the bottom surface of the piece body  20  so as to be capable of being displaced to the first position A ( FIG. 21  (b)) and to the second position B ( FIG. 22 ) by inserting sliding pins  58  formed on the top surfaces of the sliding pieces  21 A and  21 B into a pair of elongated sliding holes  57  formed in the bottom surface of the piece body  20  such that the sliding pins  58  are capable of being freely displaced, the pair of elongated sliding holes  57  being parallel to the sliding contact surface  56  and being parallel to each other. In addition, the support groove  22  is formed between the pair of sliding pieces  21 A and  21 B, and the first engagement portion  31   a  and the second engagement portion  31   b  are respectively formed on the first sliding piece  21 A and the second sliding piece  21 B. 
     An angle θ 1  formed by the sliding contact surface  56  and the imaginary plane S is larger than an angle θ 2  formed by the support groove  22  and the imaginary plane S. 
     In addition, an anti-rotation mechanism (not illustrated) is provided in order to prevent the pair of sliding pieces  21 A and  21 B from rotating about the corresponding sliding pins  58 . 
     The rest of the configuration of each of the guide pieces  17 B other than the above-described configuration is substantially the same as that of each of the guide pieces  17  of the screen guide  15  according to the basic embodiment. Thus, the same main elements as in the guide pieces  17  are denoted by the same reference signs used in the guide pieces  17  of the screen guide  15  according to the basic embodiment, and descriptions thereof will be omitted. 
     When one of the guide pieces  17 B having the above-described configuration engage the support rail  5 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 21( a ) and 21( b ) , the corresponding engagement member  21  occupies the first position A, so that the engagement hook  32  of the first engagement portion  31   a  of the first sliding piece  21 A and the engagement hook  32  of the second engagement portion  31   b  of the second sliding piece  21 B respectively engage the first engagement edge  5   a  and the second engagement edge  5   b  of the support rail  5 . 
     In this state, when an upward force acts on the guide piece  17 B, and the guide piece  17 B is detached from the support rail  5 , as in each of the guide pieces  17  according to the basic embodiment that have been described with reference to  FIG. 13 , a force in an N 1  direction (see  FIG. 21( a ) ) acts on the sliding pieces  21 A and  21 B by the interaction between the inner surfaces  32   a  of the engagement hooks  32  and the engagement edges  5   a  and  5   b . This force is changed to a force in an N 2  direction by the corresponding sliding holes  57  and the corresponding sliding pins  58 , and thus, as illustrated in  FIG. 22 , the pair of sliding pieces  21 A and  21 B are displaced in opposite directions along the sliding contact surface  56  and are each moved to the second position B. Consequently, the guide piece  17  is detached from the support rail  5 . 
     When the guide piece  17  is pressed against the top surface of the support rail  5  and engages the support rail  5 , the pair of the sliding pieces  21 A and  21 B of the engagement member  21  located at the first position A are each temporarily displaced to the second position B illustrated in  FIG. 22  by the interaction between the engagement hooks  32  and the engagement edges  5   a  and  5   b  of the support rail  5 . After the support rail  5  has been fitted to the support groove  22 , projecting portions of the sliding pieces  21 A and  21 B are pushed by the other guide pieces  17  that are adjacent to the guide piece  17  in the front-rear direction, so that the sliding members each return to the first position A illustrated in  FIG. 21 , and as a result, the guide piece  17  engages the support rail  5 . 
     Note that the pair of sliding pieces  21 A and  21 B may be configured to be displaced linearly in the force N 1  direction (in the left-right direction) or may be configured to be opened and closed transversely like a clip. In this case, the engagement hooks may be provided not at end portions of the sliding pieces  21 A and  21 B but at center portions of the sliding pieces  21 A and  21 B or may be provided across the entire sliding pieces  21 A and  21 B. 
     In the above-described embodiment, in each of the guide pieces  17 , both the inner surfaces  32   a  and the outer surfaces  32   b  of the engagement hooks  32  of the first and second engagement portions  31   a  and  31   b  are inclined surfaces. In addition, the front surfaces  16   a  of the first and second engagement edges  5   a  and  5   b  of the support rail  5  are inclined surfaces, and the rear surfaces  16   b  of the first and second engagement edges  5   a  and  5   b  of the support rail  5  are horizontal surfaces. However, the present invention is not limited to such a case, and regarding the inner surfaces  32   a  of the engagement hooks  32  and the corresponding rear surfaces  16   b  of the engagement edges  5   a  and  5   b  that engage each other, at least one of either the inner surfaces  32   a  or the rear surfaces  16   b  may be inclined surfaces. Similarly, at least one of either the outer surfaces  32   b  and the front surfaces  16   a  may be inclined surfaces. 
     In addition, in the screen device of the above-described embodiment, although the screen guide  15  is only provided at the lower end side of the screen  8 , the screen guide  15  may be provided at the upper end side of the screen  8  or may be provided at both the lower end side and the upper end side of the screen  8 . 
     The present invention can be applied not only to a winding-type screen device using a planar screen such as that described in the above embodiment but also to, for example, a screen, such as that disclosed in Patent Literature 2, that is capable of expanding and contracting in an accordion fashion or a screen device using a screen or the like that has a honeycomb-shaped sectional structure. In this case, although a screen and guide pieces of a screen guide engage each other while an end portion of the screen is fitted into recessed grooves of the guide pieces, this engagement may sometimes be different from the engagement in which the screen and the guide pieces are connected to each other by means such as the engagement member  26 .