Abstract:
A screen enclosure for enclosing patios, lanais, swimming pools, patios, and the like which not only provides for the attachment of screen material to the structural framing but also provides for attaching screening material to at least one screen panel that is releasably secured to the structural framing. Such releasable screen panel can be easily removed from the screen enclosure to minimize wind force damage when the screen enclosure is subjected to abnormal winds.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a screen enclosure system for covering and maintaining patios, lanais, swimming pools, decks and the like in a bug and animal free condition, which includes releasably secured screen panels, uses a clip system for securing the panels in place, and affixes the screen panels to structural members which make up the screen enclosure via the clip system. The screen system includes at least one screen panel which can be removed from the screen enclosure to minimize wind force damage when the screen enclosure is subjected to abnormal winds. 
         [0002]    In areas where bugs and animals are a problem, it is common to enclose patios, lanais, swimming pool decks with screen enclosures to permit airflow but restrict access to bugs and animals. Typical screen enclosure structures include a tensioned continuous fabric screen or fabric screens, cut as panels, held between spaced apart elongated upright and overhead rigid frame members. One large problem associated with screen enclosures is that they are located, geographically, in areas that are repeatedly subjected to tropical storms and hurricanes. These storms, hurricanes, tornadoes, and the like bring with them high wind and rain conditions that can destroy screen enclosures. 
         [0003]    The wind and rain forces of the tropical storms and hurricanes exert great pressure upon the screens, screen frame panels and to the screen panel enclosure framing. This can be very problematic when rain is coming down at such a rate that this screen material becomes, in effect, a solid wall. Under such circumstances, the accompanying high force winds are so great that they can bend, crush, and destroy a screen enclosure which is not able to resist these forces. When the forces of such storms damage or destroy the pool enclosures, they need to be replaced. The absence of such screen enclosures not only presents a problem to maintaining the bug and animal free condition but also places young children&#39;s and other non-swimmers&#39; lives at risk to drowning. 
         [0004]    Further, it is possible to open up the prior art screen enclosures to save the screen enclosure from the wind forces of tropical storms and hurricanes. To save a screen enclosure it is necessary to sacrifice the screen material within one or more of the screen panels by slashing or poking a hole through the screen material. However, sacrificing the screen material to save the screen enclosure is impracticable and dangerous. The amount of screening necessary to sacrifice would be a large percentage of the screen case. To rescreen the screen panels with screen material would cost much in terms of money, material, and labor. Such rescreening event could also happen on a repeated basis. 
         [0005]    Additionally, such sacrificing and waste of screening and rescreening may not even be necessary if the tropical storm or hurricane takes a turn away from the specific screen enclosure location as the direct path of such tropical storms and hurricane are difficult to accurately predict. Furthermore, it may take months or years to rescreen material that had been sacrificed if a large tropical storm or hurricane wrecked havoc upon a large metropolitan area. 
         [0006]    Again, the absence of the protective qualities of such screen enclosures not only presents a problem to maintaining the bug and animal free condition but also places young children&#39;s and other non-swimmers&#39; lives at risk to drowning. 
         [0007]    Generally, the use of spring clips for various applications is known. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 908,143 to Rosine teaches the use of a spring clip as a window lock. U.S. Pat. No. 2,217,653 to Jorgensen teaches the use of an arcuately curved spring clip as an antirattler device for window sashes. Similar devices are taught by U.S. Pat. No. 2,507,097 to Forester et al, U.S. Pat. No. 2,457,317 to Olsen, and U.S. Pat. No. 862,302 to Benedict and each involves the use of an arcuately shaped, spring metal device for preventing rattling of or provide increased security for the window. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    A screen enclosure for enclosing patios, lanais, swimming pools, patios, and the like which not only provides for the attachment of screen material to the structural framing but also provides for attaching screening material to at least one screen panel that is releasably secured to the structural framing. Such releasable screen panel can be easily removed from the screen enclosure to minimize wind force damage when the screen enclosure is subjected to abnormal winds. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    The foregoing and other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the present invention relates upon reading the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the outside of a screen enclosure; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a plan view of one panel element of a removable screen system from  FIG. 1  and of the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is detail view of a portion of the panel element from  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view taken along lines  4 - 4  of structural frame, spring clip, and screen frame shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of a structural frame, spring clip, and screen frame similar to  FIG. 4 , but showing a different spring clip embodiment; 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a detail view of a portion of the screen panel, supplemental clip and structural frame shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is a detail view of a portion of the screen panel, supplemental clip and structural frame similar to that shown in  FIG. 6 , but showing two different supplemental clip embodiments; 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  a cross-sectional view taken along lines  8 - 8  of a structural frame, a supplemental clip, and a screen frame as shown in  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0018]      FIGS. 9 and 10  are cross-sectional views along lines  9 - 9  and  10 - 10 , respectively, and similar to  FIG. 8 , but showing alternative spring clip embodiments; 
           [0019]      FIGS. 11  ( a )-( f ) are perspective views of alternative embodiments of the spring clips employed in the present invention; 
           [0020]      FIGS. 12  ( a )-( f ) are side views of alternative embodiments of the spring clips employed in the present invention and shown in  FIGS. 11  ( a )-( f ); 
           [0021]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a supplemental clip in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0022]      FIG. 14  is a cross-sectional view of the supplemental view of the clip shown in  FIG. 13 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 15  is a perspective view of another embodiment of a supplemental clip in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0024]      FIG. 16  is a side view of the supplemental clip shown in  FIG. 15 ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 17  is a plan view of one panel element of a removable screen system similar to  FIG. 2  and which shows an alternative embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0026]      FIG. 18  is a detail view of a portion of the panel element from  FIG. 17 ; 
           [0027]      FIG. 19  is a cross-sectional view of the latch of  FIG. 18 ; 
           [0028]      FIG. 20  is a perspective view of the clip shown in  FIG. 19 ; 
           [0029]      FIG. 21  is a plan view of one panel element of a removable screen system similar to  FIG. 2  and which shows an alternative embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0030]      FIG. 22  is a detail view of a portion of the panel element from  FIG. 21 ; 
           [0031]      FIG. 23  is a cross-sectional view of the latch of  FIG. 22 ; 
           [0032]      FIG. 24  is a top view of a latch and catch which are separated and can be used in the present invention; 
           [0033]      FIG. 25  is a top view of a latch and catch, shown in  FIG. 24 , which are joined; 
           [0034]      FIG. 26  is a partial cross-sectional view of the upper beam of the removable window shown in  FIG. 21 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0035]    The present invention is a screen enclosure system to maintain patios, lanais, swimming pool decks and the like in a bug and animal free condition, which includes releasably secured screen panels, uses a clip system, and affixes screening material to the screen enclosure structural frame as well as to the screen panels that are releasably secured to structural members comprising the screen enclosure. The screen material is attached to a releasable screen panel which in turn is releasably attached to the screen enclosure structural frame. The clip system of the present invention permits the quick and easy removal of one or more screen panels from the screen enclosure framing and to their reinstallation. There is no need to cut or destroy screen panels as a tropical storm approaches. A homeowner can quickly remove one or more screen panels so that the spaces left therein reduce the wind load on the screen enclosure and put it less at risk for becoming damaged by the combination of heavy rains and excessively high winds. 
         [0036]    The screen enclosure system of the present invention utilizes a structural frame to which screen panels are attached using U or V shaped aluminum or stainless steel clips which are attached to the structural frame and which releasably secure the screen frame panels in place. The clips of the present invention provide sufficient pressure to secure the screen panels under most normal conditions so that day-to-day storms and normal pressures will not force the panels out. The screen panel system is made by affixing structural pieces to form a screen panel that in turn secures the screen material. 
         [0037]    As can be seen in the drawings, particularly  FIG. 1 , a screen enclosure  10  is made up of at least one screen panel  11  which is removably attached to structural members such as vertical structural support columns  12  and  13  and horizontal structural support elements  14  and  15 . The structural members are in spaced parallel relationship to one another and joined by cross members to provide a structure that will cover the pool, lanai, deck, patio, or the like or all of them, and to which screen material can be applied. The structural members will create opening into which can be inserted screen panels. Although the orientation is vertical and horizontal and creates regular rectangular openings, the invention is not limited to rectangular shapes. Rectangular shapes have a certain convenience and so are representative rather than limiting. The structural pieces are joined to form regular openings into which the screen panels with screening material are inserted and held in place. The vertical and horizontal pieces can be joined together in ways known in the art and such joining is not critical and would include bolting, screwing, welding, force fitting, and the like. The vertical structural elements can be made from metal or plastic, but aluminum metal is preferred, and will typically be hollow rectangular shaped, box beam, columns. The vertical columns will range in size from 2 inches by 2 inches up to 2 inches by 12 inches. The sizes are dependent upon the size of the screen enclosure. The horizontal structural elements are also hollow, rectangular metal or plastic, preferably aluminum, chair rails and range in size from 2 inches by 2 inches up to 2 inches by 4 inches. The structural pieces will have screw bosses to allow the elements to be joined using screws or other appropriate fasteners. 
         [0038]    A screen enclosure  10  will have ends  16  and  18  and side  17 , be attached to a house or side wall  21 , and have a roof or top  19 . It will enclose a pool or lanai (not shown), and may have an entrance  20 . The enclosure may be made up entirely of removable, screen panels or the removable screen panels can be only part of strategic panels. Since the removal of a few key panels will reduce the effect of a tropical storm, the enclosure need not be all removable panels. 
         [0039]    As is seen in  FIG. 2 , screen panel  11  is removably and/or releasably attached to structural frame members  12 ,  13 ,  14 , and  15 , buy screen spring clips  30 . See also,  FIG. 3 . The screen spring clips can be attached to the structural members, such as support column  12  via a fastener  31 , which can be a screw or the like. The screen panels can be retained by as few as are needed, such as, for example one on each side, but will usually require at least two and may require three on each side. 
         [0040]    One screen panel, such as screen panel  11 , will be described and used as an example, but it is understood that the description can be applied to all the screen panels employed. Each screen panel will consist of four screen panel structural elements formed from a metal or plastic, such as aluminum. The screen panel elements have a substantial U shape. The elements can be made from aluminum, steel, plastic or other appropriate structural material. For a rectangular screen frame panel, four structural elements are joined to create a rectangle to which is attached appropriate screen material. So, four screen structural elements  22 ,  24 , 26 , and  28  are joined to form a rectangle and screen fabric is attached to the four elements using spline material, which is usually rubber or a rubbery polymer or plastic material, which forces the screen fabric into a spline groove which runs the length of the screen structural element, as is known in the art. For that purpose, spline grooves are formed or cut into the structural elements. 
         [0041]    The screen frame panel is then inserted into the appropriate opening in the structural frame. The screen frame panels are affixed to the framing using novel spring clips, which will be described further hereafter. As noted earlier, although only one screen panel and clip are described, a structure will comprise multiple screen panels to fit each area of the framing and multiple clips will be employed. The number is not critical but enough are employed to provide the appropriate functionality so that the panels can be readily installed, will be held in place for normal use, and can be quickly pushed out or removed prior to any tropical storms that would be a threat. 
         [0042]    The screen panel securing clips of the present invention are formed of resilient semirigid material, such as aluminum, stainless steel, or plastic material. Clips made of spring metal or steel are preferred. The spring clips  30 , which are shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12 , are formed from a single strip of spring metal of any desired width, primarily depending upon the type of frame to which the spring clip is applied. The clips will have, as illustrated in  FIGS. 11 and 12 , two essentially straight support legs  34  and  36  and an arcuate center portion  38 , which describes an arc having a normal or balanced curvature which provides a spring effect and hold the screen panels in place. The supporting legs are bent so as to lie in the same plane at least when placed in the installed position. One part of the securing clips can have a further leg  40  which is approximately perpendicular to the support leg to form a right angle flange portion which has a hole  42  in it and allows the spring clip to be fastened to the frame of the system. The curvature can comprise an arc or can be V shaped or some combination of these. This can be seen from the variety of spring clips shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12 . But, the curvature is not eccentric and has equal distance between the peak of the curve to each of the legs which make up the arcuate portion of the clip. 
         [0043]    When the screen panel is moved into place, the U shaped clip will deform because the spring nature is spring metal and will allow the frame of the screen to pass over it. When the screen frame and the structural frame are aligned, the clip will reform and provide resistance to hold the screen panels in place. This can be seen in  FIG. 4  where screen panel frame  26  is removably affixed to support structural element  12  using clip  30 , which is a V shaped clip and is attached to structural element  12  using screw  31 . Screen panel element  26  supports a screen material  50  by using a spline  54  which is pressed into a groove  52  which is cut or formed into screen panel support element  26 . A similar arrangement is show in  FIG. 5  which shows the use of a U shaped spring clip. 
         [0044]    The U shape or V shape of the clip is not critical, other than the bent U shaped portion is centered so that the convex side will protrude toward the screen panel and hold it in place. The shape is not critical but is preferred that the shape be balanced so that the peak of the clip will be equal distance between the sidewalls of the screen frame panel. When in place, the clip will exert sufficient force to hold the screen panels in place, but when necessary, the screen panels are quickly and easily removed by forcing the panels out of their position. Thus, the screen panels can be removed prior to a storm. By removing some of the screen panels, the wind and rain force will flow freely through the holes that remains after removing the screen panels and such removal shall prevent the wind and rain forces from exerting undue pressure on the screen enclosure. Thus, the screen enclosures should remain intact. 
         [0045]    In some instances, it may be necessary to provide an additional support means for the screen panels when they are installed. When the size of the screen panels is too large, the pull force that the tensioned screen exerts on the screen frame structural members, especially when the screen panel support members are made from aluminum, will cause the support members to bow or be pulled toward the screen and away from the structural support members. To counter the pull force of the tensioned screen material, it may be desirable to employ supplemental clips, such as are shown in  FIGS. 13-16 . 
         [0046]    The supplemental clips are formed from resilient semirigid material, such as aluminum, stainless steel, a plastic material, and will have at least one, but could be two, formed end(s) which mechanically engage and are biasingly held within the spline grooves (or channels) formed in the screen structural element or in channels cut or formed in the structural support elements. The supplemental clips, as shown in  FIGS. 13-16 , describe elongated C designs (see  FIGS. 13-14 ) or J designs (see  FIGS. 15 and 16 ). 
         [0047]    As can be seen in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , a J supplemental clip  32  is affixed to structural element  12  via a screw  37 . The supplemental J clip has a curved end  60  which is shaped to engage a spline groove and a flat or straight end  62 . An opening  64  is provided for a screw to affix the supplemental clip to, for example, support element  12 . The opening is shown as circular or round, but it could be oval or have an extended portion between half circles. When the opening is oval or extended and the fastener or screw is loosened, the supplemental clip can slide and be moved to disengage curved end  60  from groove  52  in the screen structural element.  FIG. 8  shows a supplemental J clip affixed to structural support element  12  with the elongated portion  62  having a screw fixed there through, while the curved portion  60  is engaged in groove  52 .  FIGS. 9 and 10  show a supplemental C clip  33  (in  FIG. 9) and 35  (in  FIG. 10 ), having curved ends  66  and  67  which are designed to engage the grooves or channels  54  in the screen structural elements or the structure support elements via the inner portions  56  and  58 , as seen in  FIG. 16 , of the curved ends  66  and  67 . The supplemental C clip can span from the groove in the screen structural element to the groove (see  FIGS. 7 and 9 ) in the structural support member or from a groove in a screen structural element to another one in another screen structural element (see  FIGS. 7 and 10 ). 
         [0048]    In an alternative embodiment, the screen enclosure system of the present invention utilizes a structural frame to which screen frame panels are attached using S-shaped aluminum or stainless steel clips  80  which are shown in  FIGS. 19 and 20 , are attached to the structural frame, and can secure the screen frame panels in place using a latch and keeper device. The clips  80  are similar to those shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12  and have a body section  82 , a curved section  84  and a tail end  86 . An opening  88  is provided to secure the clip to the support leg. The clip can be secured using a self-tapping screw, a rivet, or other appropriate fastener. Weather stripping  87  can be provided to abut against the tail section  86  and seal off the opening. The clips of the present invention provide sufficient pressure to secure the screen frame panels under most normal conditions so that day-to-day storms and normal pressures will not force the panels out. 
         [0049]    The screen panel system can also be affixed to the structural pieces using a latch and keeper fastening system or a combination of clip and latch and keeper system as is shown in  FIG. 19 . As is further seen in Figs. A latch  90  consisting of a latch body  92  is removably joined to latch keeper  94  using a lever  96  which operates a pivot  98  to rotate a wedge  100  into and out of contact with the latch keeper  94 , as is known in the art. The clip can be attached to the support leg using opening  88  and using a screw, rivet, or the like, and passing it through opening  102  of the latch or the keeper. There is no criticality as far as which is attached to which since the latch can be attached to the screen element and the keeper attached to the structural element or vice versa. 
         [0050]    A further embodiment of the present invention is to have the screens attached by having the top horizontal structural member  15  comprise a U-shaped channel  104  so that as shown in  FIG. 26 , a screen element  11  can be affixed by inserting the top of the screen element  11  into the channel and then having the bottom of the screen element rest against the bottom horizontal structural element  14 , as shown in  FIG. 21 , where the bottom screen structural element  22  is secured to the bottom structural element  14  using a latch and keeper  90  as is described above. The channel is open to receive the screen and its shape and size is not critical, but should be large enough to allow the screen element  11  to be place into the channel  104  and the screen  11  can move vertically so that it can be swung into place inside the frame and secured against the bottom structural element  14 . The sides of the channel will hold the screen in place at the top and the fastener means at the bottom will hold the screen in place at the bottom. In this way, the screen can be removed by handling it from the bottom where the securing means is located. When the screen is a large piece, it is not necessary to get on a ladder to reach the top of the screen. 
         [0051]    From the above description of the invention, those skilled in the art will perceive improvements, changes and modifications. Such improvements, changes and modifications within the skill of the art are intended to be covered by the appended claims.