Patent Description:
Such an insect netting is known. The known insect netting has a bellow shaped insect netting comprising a front panel that merges into two side panels, wherein the side panels have the shape of a circle section. The insect netting collapses in a stacked manner when the glass panel is swung into its closed position. The bellow sections of the side panels extend in radial direction. In the side panels, the bellow sections extend symmetrically from the front panel towards the middle to merge into each other at the ends about half the height of the side panels.

<CIT> is related to a screen device for insect-repellent covering of a ventilation aperture in a ventilating panel in a town house wall which comprises an insect screen folded accordion fashion. The screen in relation to the opening has innermost and outermost fold edges for decorative purposes. The screen in plan view protects in a U-shape around the ventilation aperture. The screen is provided with a clamp accommodation device for receiving clamps along the accordion edges.

<CIT> is related to a roof which is supported by cross bars and pillars. The ventilation panel is hinged to the uppermost ridge of the roof. The panel is opened and closed by a screw jack mechanism. Between the edges of the ventilation aperture and the edges of the openable panel is a gauze screen. The screen is formed by connected front and side assemblies. The gauze assemblies are made from sections with horizontal joins which form concertina bellows shapes.

<CIT> is related to a screen cloth which is folded twice through <NUM> degrees and pleated over its width. An insect screen is designed to be secured to the edges of this opening and is in the form of a folded harmonica with a U-shape when viewed from above. The screen is made from pleated gauze material and the corners are formed from a single piece of gauze.

At the known insect netting, each of the two side panels and the front panel comprises a number of bellow sections. Each of the bellow sections of a first one of the two side panels merges into a bellow section of the front panel at a first corner of the insect netting, and subsequently each of the bellow sections of the front panel merges into a bellow section of the second one of the two side panels at a second corner of the insect netting. Each bellow section comprises two elongated gauze webs with a first longitudinal side along which the gauze webs are interconnected to each other in order to form the respective bellow section, and a second longitudinal side, opposite to the first longitudinal side, along which the gauze webs are interconnected to gauze webs of adjacent bellow sections.

Each of the gauze webs of the two side panels has a first end facing towards the hinging axis of the glass panel, and a second end, opposite to the first end, facing away from the hinging axis. At the second end, the gauze webs of the two side panels are interconnected to the gauze web of the front panel. In order to connect each of the gauze webs of the side panels to a corresponding one of the gauze webs of the front panel, the second end of the respective gauze web is overlapping with an end of the gauze web of the front panel, such that the second end is positioned at the longitudinal side of the gauze web of the front panel facing away from the hinging axis of the glass panel, also called the outer longitudinal side of the front panel. The gauze web of the side panel and the gauze web of the front panel by stitching along the sides of the overlapping area.

The inventors have found that a disadvantage of the known insect netting is that a glass panel at which the insect netting is provided closes unevenly. In particular, when seen in a direction perpendicular to the front panel, the glass panel or the surrounding framework thereof is warped when closed, wherein the center of the glass panel or the surrounding framework thereof is resting onto a window profile where the outer ends of the glass panel or the surrounding framework thereof are located above the window profile. This may result in broken glass panels, such that the greenhouse owner or the installer of the insect netting has to replace the broken glass panels.

Furthermore, the inventors have found that the glass panel or the surround framework thereof being warped when closed, results in undesired draught occurring at or near the outer ends of the glass panel or the surrounding framework thereof.

It is an object of the present invention to ameliorate or to eliminate one or more disadvantages of the known prior art, to provide an improved insect netting or to at least provide an alternative insect netting.

According to a first aspect, the invention provides an insect netting for a greenhouse, wherein the insect netting is configured to be secured to a ventilation panel that is hingeable around a hinging axis, wherein in an open position of the ventilation panel, the insect netting at least extends between an opening edge extending parallel to the hinging axis of the ventilation panel, and a ventilation panel edge extending parallel to the hinging axis of the ventilation panel,.

The insect netting according to the invention, thus, has a number of bellow sections. Each bellow section has two parallel side bellow portions and a front bellow portions. Each of the side bellow portions has a first side end configured to be facing towards a hinging axis of a ventilation panel, and a second side end configured to be facing away from the hinging axis of the ventilation panel, when the insect netting is installed in a greenhouse. The second side end of the side bellow portions is connected to the longitudinal side of the front bellow portion, in particular the front web gauzes thereof, that is facing towards the hinging axis, when the insect netting is installed in the greenhouse. The front gauze webs may be connected to each other at the longitudinal side thereof that is facing away from the hinging axis of the ventilation panel, for example by stitching. By connecting the second side end of the side gauze webs to the longitudinal side of the front gauze webs facing towards the hinging axis, the amount of overlap between the side gauze webs and the front gauze webs is reduced to a minimum. It, therewith, is prevented that multiple stitchings are placed on top of each other, as is this case in the known insect netting. As a result, the thickness of the insect netting at the mergers from the side bellow portions to the front bellow portions is reduced in comparison with the known insect netting. The inventors have surprisingly found that a reduced thickness at the mergers from the side bellow portions to the front bellow portions results advantageously in a reduced or in the ideal case eliminated warp of the ventilation panel, when the ventilation panel is in the closed position.

Additionally, the reduced thickness of the insect netting at the mergers from the side bellow portions to the front bellow portions may result in that the framework surrounding the glass panel is resting onto a window profile over its complete width, when seen in a direction perpendicular to the front panel. Advantageously, this may reduce or in the ideal case eliminate draught occurring at or near the outer ends of the glass panel or the surrounding framework thereof.

Furthermore, the reduced thickness of the insect netting at the mergers from the side bellow portions to the front bellow portions may result in a reduced loss of light in comparison to the insect netting according to the prior art.

In the context of the present patent application, a ventilation panel has to be understood to be selected from a group including, but not limited to, a tempered glass panel, a glass panel, an ETF foil, a honeycomb panel, a polycarbonate panel, a sandwich panel, or a combination thereof.

In an embodiment, each of the first and second front gauze webs has a first web end and a second web end, opposite to the first web end in the longitudinal direction thereof, wherein the second short side of the first and second side gauze webs of the side bellow portions is connected to the longitudinal side of the first and second front gauze webs facing towards the hinging axis of the ventilation panel, respectively, at or near the first or second web end thereof.

In an embodiment, the first and second front gauze webs are connected to each other at the first and second web ends thereof. By closing the first and second web ends of the front bellow portions, the insect netting is closed completely such that it prevents insects from entering or leaving a greenhouse via a ventilation opening associated with the ventilation panel.

In an embodiment, the second short side of the first and second side gauze webs of the side bellow portions is fused to the longitudinal side of the first and second front gauze webs facing towards the hinging axis of the ventilation panel, respectively. In an alternative embodiment, the second short side of the first and second side gauze webs of the side bellow portions is welded to the longitudinal side of the first and second front gauze webs facing towards the hinging axis of the ventilation panel, respectively. By welding or fusing the side gauze webs to the front gauze webs, the side gauze webs and the front gauze webs melt together at least partially. This is advantageous, as the thickness of the bellow section is kept to a minimum at the position where the side gauze webs and the front gauze webs meet.

In an embodiment, the second short side of the first and second side gauze webs of the side bellow portions is stitched to the longitudinal side of the first and second front gauze webs facing towards the hinging axis of the ventilation panel, respectively.

In an embodiment, the longitudinal side of the first and second front gauze web facing away from the hinging axis, is spaced apart from the first and second web end of the first and second side gauze web, respectively.

In an embodiment, the longitudinal side of the first and second front gauze webs facing away from the hinging axis is free from the first and second side gauze webs.

In an embodiment, the gauze webs of the web sections are connected to each other at a first longitudinal side thereof, and wherein the web sections are connected to each other at a second longitudinal side, opposite to the first longitudinal side, of the gauze webs.

In an embodiment, the gauze webs comprise a woven textile with warp threads and crossing weft threads that alternatingly go over and under the consecutive warp threads, wherein the warp threads and the weft threads each comprise at least one strand.

In an embodiment, the strand is formed with a plastic resin or fiberglass.

In an embodiment, the plastic resin is a polyolefin.

In an embodiment, the plastic resin is polyethylene, polypropylene or polyester.

In an embodiment, at least one of the side panels has a substantially triangular shape, when the ventilation panel is in the open position. In an embodiment thereof, mating ends of a pair of bellow sections facing away from the front panel are located further away from the front panel than mating ends of a further pair of bellow sections facing away from the front panel, wherein the further pair of bellow sections is located between the pair of bellow sections.

In an embodiment, the side panels comprise an outermost bellow section and multiple intermediate bellow sections that are connected to each other along longitudinal inner edges of their gauze webs, wherein the bellow sections all have their front side merging into the front panel, wherein of each intermediate bellow section the gauze webs are connected to each other at the opposite back end, wherein the opposite back end of the outermost bellow section is configured to be located at or close to the hinging axis, and wherein the back ends of the consecutive intermediate bellow sections are adjacent to and spread along the outermost bellow section.

According to a second aspect, the invention provides a netting system for a greenhouse, wherein the netting system comprises a framework for securing the netting system to a ventilation panel that is hingeable around a hinging axis, and an insect netting according to the first aspect of the invention.

The netting system according to the invention has at least the same technical advantages as described in relation to the insect netting according to the first aspect of the invention.

In an embodiment, the insect netting is secured to the framework by means of stitching, in particular to a stitching web that is oriented downwards from the framework. The stitching web, for example, may be made of rubber, EPDM, or the like.

In the context of the application, it has to be understood that the insect netting and the netting system each are also suitable to used at sales areas, stables, garden centers, etc..

According to a third aspect, the invention provides a greenhouse, wherein the greenhouse comprises a roof construction having a slanting upper surface with an opening and a rectangular glass panel that covers the opening, wherein at its upper edge the glass panel is hingeably connected with a part of the roof construction to hinge around a hinging axis between a closed position in which the glass panel extends substantially parallel to the upper surface and an open position in which the glass panel is oriented oblique with respect to the upper surface to form a ventilation passage,
wherein the greenhouse further comprises an insect netting according to the first aspect of the invention, or a netting system according to the second aspect of the invention.

The greenhouse according to the invention has at least the same technical advantages as described in relation to the insect netting according to the first aspect of the invention.

According to a fourth aspect, the invention provides a method for manufacturing bellow sections for an insect netting according to the first aspect of the invention, the method comprising the steps of:.

The method according to the invention has at least the same technical advantages as described in relation to the insect netting according to the first aspect of the invention.

In an embodiment, the side gauze webs are connected to the front gauze webs by means of welding, fusing or stitching.

The invention will be elucidated on the basis of an exemplary embodiment shown in the attached drawings, in which:.

A greenhouse <NUM> of the Venlo type is shown in <FIG> and <FIG>. The greenhouse <NUM> comprises multiple rows of vertical columns <NUM> for supporting a roof construction <NUM>. The roof construction <NUM> includes a framework with multiple parallel roof ridge profiles <NUM> and lower rain gutter profiles <NUM>. Adjacent roof ridge profiles <NUM> and rain gutter profiles <NUM> are connected to each other by means of slanting window profiles <NUM>. The roof ridge profiles <NUM>, the rain gutter profiles <NUM> and the window profiles <NUM> are made of a metal, in particular aluminum, and form rectangular rabbets for fixed glass panels <NUM>.

The roof construction <NUM> further includes a number of regularly distributed glass panels <NUM>, such as tempered glass panels <NUM>, also called ventilation panels. Each of the glass panels <NUM> is hingeably connected to the adjacent roof ridge profile <NUM> at the upper side thereof. The glass panels <NUM> are transparent in order to allow light to enter the greenhouse <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the glass panels <NUM> are shorter than the fixed glass panels <NUM>. A horizontal window profile <NUM> is provided between two adjacent slanting window profiles <NUM> in order to form a rabbet for an additional, smaller glass panel <NUM> below the glass panel <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the glass panel <NUM> is configured to hinge around the hinge axis B between the shown open position and a closed position in order to regulate the ventilation of the greenhouse <NUM>. The greenhouse <NUM> is provided with pushing rods <NUM> connected to distributed connections <NUM> within the tempered glass panel <NUM>, which pushing rods <NUM> are coupled to a slide <NUM> that my move along a horizontal rail <NUM> by means of an electromotor, in order to move the tempered glass panel <NUM> into the open or closed position thereof.

Each of the glass panels <NUM> is provided with a netting system <NUM> to prevent passage of insects when the glass panel <NUM> is in the open position. These can be harmful insects that have to be kept outside the greenhouse <NUM> or specific insects that are held inside the greenhouse <NUM>. The netting system <NUM> comprises a framework <NUM> arranged along the free edges of the glass panel <NUM>, and an insect netting <NUM> of fine mesh gauze. When the glass panel <NUM> is in the closed position, the framework <NUM> rests on the horizontal window profile <NUM> and the adjacent slanting window profiles <NUM>. The insect netting is pleated in a bellow configuration in order to stack when it collapses. The insect netting <NUM> is connected with the framework <NUM> at the upper side thereof, for example by stitching the insect netting <NUM> to a non-shown stitching web that is oriented downwards from the framework <NUM>. The stitching web may be manufactured from rubber, EPDM or the like, and at the lower side the insect netting <NUM> is connected to the corresponding horizontal window profile <NUM> and the slanting window profiles <NUM> along the ventilation opening.

The insect netting <NUM>, without the framework <NUM>, is shown in <FIG>. The insect netting <NUM> comprises a front panel <NUM> and two parallel side panels <NUM>. The two parallel side panels <NUM> merge into the front panel <NUM> at a straight corner <NUM>. When the insect netting <NUM> is arranged at a glass panel <NUM>, the two parallel side panels <NUM> extend substantially transverse or transverse to the hinging axis B of the respective glass panel <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the two parallel side panels <NUM> and the front panel <NUM> comprise a number of bellow sections <NUM> arranged above each other in order to form the pleated configuration of the insect netting. Each bellow section <NUM> has two parallel side bellow portions <NUM> and a front bellow portion <NUM>. Each of the two parallel side bellow portions <NUM> has a first side gauze web <NUM> with a first longitudinal side <NUM> and a second longitudinal side <NUM>, opposite to the first longitudinal side <NUM>, and a second side gauze web <NUM> also with a first longitudinal side <NUM> and a second longitudinal side <NUM>, opposite to the first longitudinal side <NUM>. The first and second side gauze webs <NUM>, <NUM> are connected to each other along the second longitudinal side <NUM> thereof, for example by means of stitching. Furthermore, each of the first and second side gauze webs <NUM>, <NUM> comprises a first web end <NUM>, also called first short site, facing towards the hinging axis B of the glass panel <NUM>, and a second web end <NUM>, also called second short side, facing away from the hinging axis B of the glass panel <NUM> and towards the front panel <NUM>.

Each of the front bellow portions <NUM> has a first front gauze web <NUM> with a first longitudinal side <NUM> and a second longitudinal side <NUM>, opposite to the first longitudinal side <NUM>, and a second front gauze web <NUM> also with a first longitudinal side <NUM> and a second longitudinal side <NUM>, opposite to the first longitudinal side <NUM>. The first and second front gauze webs <NUM>, <NUM> are connected to each other along the second longitudinal side <NUM> thereof, for example by means of stitching. Furthermore, each of the first and second front gauze webs <NUM>, <NUM> comprises a first web end <NUM>, facing one of the two parallel side panels <NUM>, and a second web end <NUM>, facing towards the other one of the two parallel side panels <NUM>.

The front bellow portions <NUM> and the two side bellow portions <NUM> are connected to each other by connecting the first side gauze web <NUM> of the side bellow portions <NUM> to the first front gauze web <NUM> of the front bellow portions <NUM>, and by connecting the second side gauze web <NUM> of the side bellow portions <NUM> to the second front gauze web <NUM> of the front bellow portions <NUM>, as is elucidated in more detail in relation to <FIG>.

In <FIG>, it is shown how the side gauze webs <NUM>, <NUM> of the side bellow portions <NUM> are connected to the front gauze webs <NUM>, <NUM> of the front bellow portions <NUM> according to the prior art. As shown in <FIG>, the second web end <NUM>, or the second short side, of the side gauze webs <NUM>, <NUM> of the side bellow portions <NUM> is placed on top of the second web end <NUM> of the front gauze webs <NUM>, <NUM>, or the second web end <NUM> of the front gauze webs <NUM>, <NUM> is placed on top of the second web end <NUM> of the side bellow portions <NUM>, therewith realizing an overlapping area <NUM>. As clearly shown, the second web end <NUM>, or the second short side of the side gauze webs <NUM>, <NUM> is located on or at the second longitudinal side <NUM> of the front gauze webs <NUM>, <NUM>, i.e. the longitudinal side of the front gauze webs facing away from the hinging axis B of the glass panel <NUM>. The same is applicable to the first web end <NUM> of the front gauze webs <NUM>, <NUM>. Subsequently, the side gauze webs <NUM>, <NUM> are stitched to the front gauze webs <NUM>, <NUM> by means of stitchings <NUM> along the outer edges of the overlapping area <NUM>.

In <FIG>, it is shown how the side gauze webs <NUM>, <NUM> of the side bellow portions <NUM> are connected to the front gauze webs <NUM>, <NUM> of the front bellow portions <NUM> according to an embodiment of the invention. As is clearly shown in <FIG>, the second web end <NUM>, or the second short side, of the side gauze webs <NUM>, <NUM> of the side bellow portions <NUM> is connected to the first longitudinal side <NUM> of the front gauze webs <NUM>, <NUM>, i.e. the longitudinal side of the front gauze webs <NUM>, <NUM> facing towards the hinging axis B of the glass panel <NUM>, at or near the second web end <NUM> of the front gauze webs <NUM>, <NUM>. In particular, the second web end <NUM> of the side gauze webs <NUM>, <NUM> of the side bellow portions <NUM> is spaced apart from the second longitudinal side <NUM> of the of the front gauze webs <NUM>, <NUM>, i.e. the longitudinal side of the front gauze webs <NUM>, <NUM> facing away from the hinging axis B of the glass panel <NUM>. The side gauze webs <NUM>, <NUM> are interconnected to the front gauze webs <NUM>, <NUM> by means of welding, therewith forming a welding area <NUM>. As clearly shown in <FIG>, the first and second web ends <NUM>, <NUM> of the front gauze webs <NUM>, <NUM> are connected to each other, for example by means of welding, in order to form front bellow section <NUM> with closed ends.

Due to the side gauze webs <NUM>, <NUM> and the front gauze webs <NUM>, <NUM> being interconnected by means of welding, the thickness of the bellow sections <NUM> at the merger of the side bellow portions <NUM> into the front bellow portion <NUM> is decreased in comparison with the thickness of the bellow sections <NUM> at the merger of the side bellow portions <NUM> into the front bellow portion <NUM> of the insect netting <NUM> according to the prior art as shown in <FIG>. This is advantageous, as this results in that the glass panel <NUM> is enabled to close evenly, such that the framework <NUM> lies evenly on the horizontal window profile <NUM>.

Additionally, ventilation at the mergers of the side gauze webs <NUM>, <NUM> of the side bellow portions <NUM> to the front gauze webs <NUM>, <NUM> of the front bellow portions <NUM> may be improved due to less overlap of the gauze webs <NUM>, <NUM>; <NUM>, <NUM> at the mergers in comparison to the prior art.

In order to illustrate a result of the insect netting <NUM> according to the invention, a comparison is made between a glass panel <NUM> in closed position with an insect netting according to an embodiment of the invention, <FIG>, and with an insect netting according to the prior art, <FIG>. It is clearly shown in <FIG> that at least the front portion of the framework <NUM> parallel to the front panel <NUM> of the insect netting <NUM> is warped with respect to the underlying horizontal window profile <NUM>. In particular, the centre of the front portion of the framework <NUM> is situated closer to the underlying horizontal window profile <NUM> than the outer ends of the front portion of the framework <NUM>. Warping of the front portion of the framework <NUM> is caused by the insect netting having a greater thickness at the mergers in comparison to the remaining of the insect netting <NUM>. This is disadvantageous as elucidated above. As a result, one or more intermediate slanting window profiles <NUM> located between outer slanting window profiles <NUM> at which the framework <NUM> rests when in closed position, are not under load by the glass panel <NUM>. All load applied by the glass panel <NUM>, via the framework <NUM>, is absorbed by the outer slanting window profiles <NUM> and the underlying horizontal window profile <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the front portion of the framework <NUM> is substantially parallel to the underlying horizontal window profile <NUM>. As a result, all load applied by the glass panel <NUM>, via the framework <NUM>, is absorbed by the outer slanting window profiles <NUM>, the underlying horizontal window profile <NUM> and also the one or more intermediates slanting window profiles. The one or more intermediate slanting window profiles, therefore, are also under a load when the glass panel <NUM> is in its closed position.

Claim 1:
Insect netting (<NUM>) for a greenhouse (<NUM>), wherein the insect netting (<NUM>) is configured to be secured to a ventilation panel that is hingeable around a hinging axis (B), wherein in an open position of the ventilation panel, the insect netting (<NUM>) at least extends between an opening edge extending parallel to the hinging axis (B) of the ventilation panel, and a ventilation panel edge extending parallel to the hinging axis (B) of the ventilation panel,
the insect netting (<NUM>) comprising a front panel (<NUM>) merging into two side panels (<NUM>), wherein the insect netting (<NUM>) is pleated in a bellow configuration to collapse in a stacked manner, wherein the bellow configuration is formed with bellow sections (<NUM>), wherein each of the bellow sections (<NUM>) has two parallel side bellow portions (<NUM>) and a front bellow portion (<NUM>),
wherein each of the side bellow portions (<NUM>) comprises a first side gauze web (<NUM>) and a second side gauze web (<NUM>) connected to each other at a longitudinal side (<NUM>) thereof and each having a first short side configured for facing towards the hinging axis (B), and a second short side, opposite to the first web end (<NUM>), configured for facing away from the hinging axis (B), wherein each of the front bellow portions (<NUM>) comprises a first front gauze web (<NUM>) and a second front gauze web (<NUM>) connected to each other at a longitudinal side (<NUM>) thereof,
characterized in that the second short side of the first and second side gauze webs (<NUM>, <NUM>) of the side bellow portions (<NUM>) is connected to the longitudinal side (<NUM>) of the first and second front gauze webs (<NUM>, <NUM>) facing towards the hinging axis (B) of the ventilation panel, respectively.