Improvements in Window Screens.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Aug., 1899-Accepted, 28th Oct., 1899
Improvements in Window Screens.
I, CHARLES WESLEY RODECKER, Commercial Buildings, of the City of St. Louis,
State of Missouri, U.S.A., Mechanic, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention relates to improvements in window screens, and it consists in the
novel combination and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter described and
claimed.
In the drawings, Fig. 1, is a front elevation of a window, showing my complete
invention applied thereto, Fig. 2, is a vertical longitudinal section of the same,
taken on the line of Fig. 1, Fig. 3, is a perspective view of one of the lower
sash with parts broken away with screens in position, Fig. 4, is an edge view of
one of the screens, showing the metallic strip in a position to be secured thereto,
Fig. 5, is a vertical longitudinal section of one of the screens, metallic strips
secured thereto, and a portion of a sash showing the parts properly assembled,
and, Fig. 6, is an enlarged section, showing the upper roller and apron co-opera-
ting therewith.
The object of my invention, is to construct a window screen in such a manner,
that the same will be automatically wound and unwound upon suitable spring
actuated rollers by the raising or lowering of either sash, to which the same are
removably attached, whereby when either or both of the said sashes are partially
or completely opened, the space will be completely covered by a screen or netting
for the usual purpose, but when the said sashes are completely closed, and conse-
quently no use desired for the screens, the latter will be moved completely out of
view without any further attention on the part of the operator. With these
objects in view, I have constructed the parts in such a manner, that they may be
easily and conveniently applied to any construction of window frame or sash,
the details of which will now be described.
Referring to the drawings, 1, represents a window frame, 2, the upper sash,
and 3, the lower sash, all of which is of the usual construction, the parts com-
prising my invention, being readily applied thereto, without effecting the opera-
tion of the sashes.
Mounted in the opposite sides of the window frame 1, at a suitable distance
from the upper end of the same, is an ordinary spring actuated roller 4, to
which is secured one end of a screen or netting 5, and upon which the latter is
adapted to be wound and unwound, the opposite end of said screen, being pro-
vided with a metallic strip 6, to the medial portion of which is hinged a
loop 7,
which is hooked over a pin 8, carried by the upper rail of the upper sash 2,
whereby the lower end of said screen is removably secured to said sash.
Secured to the inner surface of the top of the window frame, is a flexible
apron 9, the free edge of which co-operates with the outer surface of the screen
or netting 5, wound upon the roller 4, which operates to automatically close the
space between the wire netting carried by the roller 4, and the upper portion of
the window frame, it being observed, that as the sash 2, is drawn downwardly,
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page_text: the said apron will assume the position as shown in Fig. 2, but when the said
sash is moved upwardly, the said apron on account of its flexibility, will be car-
ried on the reverse side of the roller, as shown in Fig. 6, and consequently, the
free edge of the apron will always be in contact with the roller, and further, the
Bame will always be automatically moved in a proper position by either movement
of the screen to prevent flies or other insects from gaining access into the room.
It will also be noted in this connection, by the automatic co-operation of the
roller and apron, the latter will not be destroyed or injured in the slightest man-
ner during the movement of the roller in either direction, for the reason, that the
same always moves in a direction from the apron, except the momentary action
for reversing the position of the same, when the roller is reversed. It is further
to be noticed, that when said screen is unwound from the roller, the apron 9,
will be located in the position shown in Fig. 2, thereby preventing the wind from
moving the same out of its proper position with the screen, whereby the space
between the roller and the window frame will, under all circumstances, be closed,
notwithstanding the variation in size of the roller, as the same is wound and
unwound.
Mounted in the opposite sides of the window frame 1, and located adjacent to
the sill 10, of the same, is a second spring actuated roller 11, to which is secured
one end of a screen or netting 12, the opposite end being provided with a metallic
strip 13, having a hinged loop 14, which is adapted to be hooked over a pin 15,
carried by the lower rail of the lower sash 3, whereby said screen is removably
attached to said sash.
Secured to the sill 10, of the window frame, is a curved metallic shield 16,
which is adapted to cover the spring actuated roller 11, together with its netting,
and is provided with a hook 17, which is cut or formed from the metal of which
it forms a part, the said hook being adapted to be received by the loop 14, car-
ried by the metallic strip 13, when the screen 12, is detached from the sash 3,
or when the same is not desired to be used.
From the foregoing description, it will be seen, that by attaching the screens
to the sashes as above described, and the employment of the spring actuated
rollers, in connection therewith, the opening formed by the raising or lowering of
either of the sashes, will be automatically covered by the screens, but should there
be no use for the latter, the same can be readily and conveniently detached from
the eashes, and the same will not be exposed to view. It is further to be noted,
that by the employment and arrangement of the screens, as described, the same
are not exposed to the weather when the sashes are in a closed position, and when
the screens are in use, and the sashes partly or completely open, the weather is not
usually of a nature to destroy the same, and consequently, the screens will last
for an indefinite length of time.
In carrying out my invention, I use exclusively, screens or netting composed
of textile fabric, or material which is properly oiled and treated, which renders
it imprevious to water, whereby I not only obtain a screen that is more lasting,
but one that is very flexible, which is absolutely necessary in order that the same
will readily wind and unwind upon the rollers.
The metallic strips 6, and 13, are especially constructed for the purpose, and
are similar to one another, and consequently I shall only proceed to describe one
of the same, reference being had particularly to Figs. 4, and 5, of the drawings.
The metallic strip is of a suitable length, and is first bent in the form of a U,
the side 18, being about twice as wide as the side 19, the space between the two
sides. being sufficient to snugly receive the free edge of the screen or netting,
and when the parts have been assembled as stated, the strip is bent on the dotted
line shown in Fig. 4, bringing the side 19, thereof, in contact with the screen,
whereby the latter is securely fastened to the strip without the employment of
fastening devices usually employed for this purpose.
The opposite edges of each of the sashes 2, and 3, on a line where the metallic
strips come in contact, are beveled or cut away as shown at 20, and the opposite

page_text: ends of said strips are bent inwardly, and are received by the cut away por-
tions 20, of the sashes, whereby the outer surfaces of said strips are on a line with
the outer surfaces of the remaining portions of the sashes, in order that the latter,
together with the strips secured to the same, may freely slide between the ordinary
guides 21, the construction of which is best shown in Fig. 3, of the drawings.
Secured to the lower edge of the upper sash 3, is a rubber or flexible strip 22,
the free edge of which is normally in contact with the glass carried by the lower
sash 2, in order to prevent insects from gaining access between the sashes w when
the latter are partially open, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, of the drawings.
In carrying out my invention, and in order to cause the screens to properly
operate in connection with the sashes, and by the latter, the same must be held
in a true sliding position, and for this reason, I secure to each of said sashes and
arranged on one side of the same, a spring plate 23, the medial portion of which
is secured to the sash and having its free yielding ends in contact with the window
frame, between the guides 22, thereof, as clearly shown in Fig. 1, of the drawings.
From the above description, it will be seen, that I have produced attachments
which are simple, strong, durable and inexpensive in construction, and capable of
application to any and all types of windows, without involving any material
structural alteration of the same, and which may be readily applied and removed
as desired, but it will be seen that the construction is of such a nature, that it is
not necessary to remove the screen from the window frame at any time, and that
the said screens are always in a position to be used when necessary.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. A window screen, comprising spring actuated rollers mounted in the upper
and lower portions of the window frame, screens or netting composed wholly of
textile fabric, one end of which is secured to said rollers, metallic strips secured
to the opposite ends of said screens, in combination with suitable vertically mov-
ing sashes, and suitable fastening devices carried by said strips and adapted to
co-operate with said sashes, whereby the screens are wound and unwound from
said rollers by the movement of the sashes in either direction, substantially as
described.
2. In combination with a window frame and upper sash thereof, a spring actu-
ated roller mounted in said frame, adjacent to the upper end of said frame, a
screen or netting, one end of which is secured to said roller and having its opposite
end removably secured to said sash, a flexible apron, one edge of which is secured
to the top of the window frame, and having its free edge in contact with the
screen or netting wound upon the roller, whereby said apron is reversed in posi-
tion by the movement of the roller in either direction," as and for the purpose
described.
3. In combination with a window frame and upper sash thereof, a spring actu-
ated roller mounted in said frame, adjacent to the upper end of said frame, a
screen or netting, one end of which is secured to said roller and having its opposite
end removably secured to said sash, and means carried by the upper portion of
the window frame, and adapted to co-operate with the netting or screen wound
upon the roller for closing the space between the latter, and the window frame,
in all positions of said sash, substantially as described.
4. In combination with a window frame and sash thereof, a spring actuated
roller mounted in said frame, a screen or netting, one end of which is secured to
said roller, a metallic strip secured to the opposite end of said roller, and having
its opposite ends bent inwardly, and adapted to be received by cut away portions
formed on the opposite edges of the sash, whereby the outer surfaces or ends
thereof will be flush with the outer surface of the remaining portion of the sash,
and suitable means for detachably securing the strip to the window sash, as and
for the purpose described.

page_text: 5. In combination with a window screen, a U shaped metallic strip adapted
to receive one edge of said screen, and having a wide and narrow side, the latter
adapted to be bent against the screen, as and for the purpose described.
6. In combination with a window frame and lower sash thereof, a spring actu-
ated roller mounted in the lower portion of said frame, a netting or screen, one
end of which is secured to said roller, a strip secured to the opposite end of said
screen, a loop hinged to said strip, a pin carried by the sash, over which the said
loop is hooked, a curved metallic shield, secured to the lower portion of the window
frame, and adapted to cover said roller, together with its netting, and a hook,
formed from the shield from which it forms a part, and with which the said loop
is also adapted to co-operate, as and for the purpose described.
7. A window screen, comprising spring actuated rollers mounted in the upper
and lower portions of the window frame, vertically moving sashes, screens or
netting carried by said rollers, and attached to the sashes, whereby the said screens
are automatically wound and unwound from the rollers, by the movement of the
sashes, in either direction, and spring plates secured to one edge of said sashes,
the free ends of which are adapted to co-operate with the window frame between
the ordinary guides thereof, as and for the purpose described.
Dated this 28th day of August 1899
BOTTOMLEY & LIDDLE,
154, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Applicant's Patent Agents.