Patent Description:
An aforementioned structure in which a window or a door is installed, is a structural part of a building in which this window or this door is provided and will typically be, for example, a load-bearing wall or a frame, etc..

Such a window or such a door may be a separate window or a separate door, but may also be configured as a set of windows. Such a window or such a door is understood to refer to both the window or door profiles and the filling of these window or door profiles in the form of glazing and/or panels.

Such screen casings are typically configured to be installed directly onto said structure. However, increasingly screen devices comprising such a screen casing also have to be installed at a distance in front of such a structure. This is necessary, for example, with sliding windows, or with windows or doors in front of which more than one screen device is installed, such as for example an insect screen and a blackout curtain, or with windows or doors with minimalist profiles, which are designed to be deeper so that these profiles can be made narrower, so that the screen casing has to be installed over the additional depth in front of the structure, etc..

After securing the screen casing to the structure by means of the securing profile, this screen casing may also extend at least partly in front of said window or said door, in which case said space can then extend substantially between this screen casing and this window or this door.

In practice, numerous solutions are employed in order to secure screen casings to said structure at a distance, typically using several available securing profiles and/or beams or slats and securing means. The solutions which are employed are typically relatively laborious and not aesthetically pleasing.

An example of a known solution according to the preamble of claim <NUM> is described and illustrated in <CIT>. In this case, a first securing profile has to be secured to the screen casing and a second securing profile to the structure. Subsequently, both securing profiles have to be positioned relative to each other and have to be fixed relative to each other by means of locking pins. In this case, the screen casing has to be held securely until the securing profiles have been fixed with respect to each other in this way.

Alternatively, wider screen casings are also being developed. In that case, several screen casings have to be developed for the same type of screen device, with suitable depths in accordance with the circumstances in order to install these screen casings.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a solution by means of which screen casings can be secured at a distance from an aforementioned structure in a simpler and more aesthetic way.

This object of the invention is achieved by providing an assembly of.

wherein the first screen casing comprises hook means which are compatible with the casing hook means of the securing profile in order to hook the screen casing directly onto the securing profile and wherein in the installed position, a rear wall of the screen casing under these hook means bears against the front wall of the securing profile.

With said securing profile, it is possible to attach a screen casing to the structure by means of a secure connection, without many additional securing means being required. Due to the incorporated hook means (structure hook means and casing hook means), a large number of additional securing means can be eliminated. The screen casing can be hooked onto and detached from the securing profile in a simple manner.

The bottom wall ensures that the screen casing can be secured in a particularly aesthetic manner, with securing means, including the hook means of this securing profile, being hidden from view as effectively as possible.

By means of said hook means, the screen casing is preferably attachable to the structure without the use of screws. The use of screws may, if desired, provide additional protection. Due to the fact that the screen casing is hooked onto the securing profile by means of the hook means, the screen casing does not require to be held in this case, after which such screws can simply be fastened, without the screen casing having to be held in this case.

Said hook means are preferably configured as hook-shaped upright ribs which extend along the length direction of the securing profile and which can be gripped behind in order, on the one hand, to secure the screen casing thereto and, on the other hand, to secure the structure thereto. Such hook-shaped upright ribs may, for example, be incorporated in a simple manner in a securing profile or in a screen casing by integrally extruding these when forming the securing profile.

The casing hook means preferably extend upwards in the shape of a hook, so that they delimit a fitting cavity which is open towards the top in order to allow the corresponding hook means of the screen casing to be hooked therein. These corresponding hook means of the screen casing preferably extend downwards in a hook shape in a corresponding manner, so that they delimit a fitting cavity which is open towards the bottom in order to allow the corresponding hook means of the securing profile to be hooked therein.

The structure hook means may also extend upwards in the shape of a hook and/or may extend downwards in the shape of a hook in order to delimit one or more corresponding fitting cavities.

Typically, the screen casing extends substantially along a length direction. Then, the securing profile extends preferably along virtually the length of this screen casing. In this case, the length of the securing profile is preferably virtually the length of the screen casing, but may deviate slightly therefrom, for example in order to provide head plates at the ends of the screen casing.

In addition, this securing profile preferably extends virtually from the bottom side to the top side of the screen casing. In this case, the height of the securing profile is preferably virtually the height of the screen casing, but may also be slightly higher, for example in order to make it easier to secure this securing profile to the structure.

In addition, the securing profile preferably extends in such a way that additional securing means with respect to the screen casing, on the one hand, and with respect to the structure, on the other hand, can be eliminated as effectively as possible. In this case, this securing profile extends as far as against the screen casing, in which case it is possible to hook the screen casing directly to the casing hook means.

In the direction of the structure, the securing profile is preferably attachable thereto by securing known brackets for securing window profiles, on the one hand, directly to the hook means and, on the other hand, to the structure.

The top wall is preferably provided with first aforementioned structure hook means and/or the rear wall is preferably provided with second aforementioned structure hook means.

In this case, an aforementioned top wall may also be provided in order to close off said space at the top.

An aforementioned rear wall preferably extends along virtually the height of the screen casing. An aforementioned front wall also preferably extends along virtually the height of the screen casing.

The securing profile is furthermore preferably substantially beam-shaped.

However, said walls together do not necessarily have to form a rectangle together in cross section. These may also, for example, be substantially C-shaped in cross section.

Still more preferably, this securing profile is hollow, for the purpose of cost price, material costs, weight, machineability, etc..

The hook means of the screen casing are preferably recessed with respect to the rear wall of this screen casing, for example as a cavity which may be partly delimited by a flange. If the casing hook means of the securing profile are configured like the abovementioned upright ribs, then these may be accommodated in this recess of the screen casing. The screen casing can thus adjoin the securing profile as closely as possible in order to produce a secure connection.

If the screen device of an assembly according to the invention comprises a screen guide in which a receiving opening is provided for holding a lateral side of the first screen in order to guide this screen during the rolling/unrolling movement, then this assembly furthermore preferably also comprises an installation bracket which is attachable to an end of the first securing profile in order to form a securing pin which is directed downwards with respect to the securing profile. The screen guide then preferably comprises a fitting opening in which the securing pin is fittable for installing the screen guide.

By means of such a securing pin, which is fittable in a fitting opening, the screen guide can be installed adjacent to the screen casing in an aesthetic manner, while hiding the securing means from view.

In an assembly comprising an aforementioned screen guide, this screen guide preferably comprises a base body which is provided with said receiving opening and a securing flange which protrudes with respect to this base body and serves to secure the base body to the structure. More specifically, this screen guide is in this case directly attached to a window profile of the window or the door, preferably by means of this securing flange.

In a particular embodiment, the screen device of an assembly according to the present invention furthermore comprises:.

The assembly then preferably comprises a second securing profile:.

The coupled screen guide is then preferably arranged at a second distance from the window or the door, so that a clear space extends between the coupled screen guide and the window or the door.

Said structure will typically be configured so as to be adjoining in the same plane at the location of both the first screen casing and at the location of the second screen casing, so that the distance between the first screen casing and the structure will typically be equal to the distance between the second screen casing and the structure.

By arranging the coupled screen guide at a second distance from the window or the door, a space is left clear in order to allow, for example, a part of a sliding window to move therein or, for example, to place a second screen, such as for example an insect screen, in front of this window or this door.

Due to the application of new techniques, windows are becoming increasingly large. The clear space between the coupled screen guide and such a window prevents a bottom slat which will be deflected to a greater extend due to these larger dimensions from touching the window. By means of such a coupled screen guide, bottom slats are now not only separated, as a result of which bending thereof can be limited, but also kept further from the window due to being positioned at a second distance from the window.

In a specific embodiment, the assembly furthermore comprises a mounting plate, a connecting profile which is upright with respect to the mounting plate, a small mounting plate which is attachable on top of the connecting profile and an installation element which is fittable at the bottom of the coupled screen guide and is attachable to the small mounting plate.

More specifically, the bottom of the installation element may in this case be provided with a fitting opening which is provided with an access opening on a side edge of the installation element and the small mounting plate may be fittable in the fitting opening via this access opening.

By fitting such a small mounting plate in a fitting opening via an access opening, securing means, such as screws, which secure the small mounting plate on top of the connecting profile, can be hidden from view.

In embodiments in which the coupled screen guide is secured at the bottom of the screen casings in a similar way by means of a fitting pin as described above for the screen guide, this coupled screen guide may be configured to be installable at the bottom of these screen casings via a rotating movement in which the small mounting plate is fitted in the fitting opening of the installation element at the end of this rotating movement.

Still more specifically, the assembly may comprise fixing means for fixing the small mounting plate in the fitting opening in the installation element.

These fixing means may be configured, for example, as a small socket screw which is fitted in a corresponding opening in the installation element and engages in a groove in a side wall of the small mounting plate.

An aforementioned installation element furthermore preferably comprises a base and a first pin which is upright with respect to this base. In this case, the coupled screen guide is preferably provided with a first fitting opening, wherein the first upright pin of the installation element is fittable in the first fitting opening of the coupled screen guide in order to fit the installation element at the bottom of the coupled screen guide. By means of such a fitting pin, it is possible for the coupled screen guide to closely adjoin the installation element, thus hiding the securing means from view.

Preferably, fixing means are in this case also provided for fixing the coupled screen guide with respect to such a fitting pin.

In this case, the abovementioned fitting opening of the installation element is then preferably provided in the base of this installation element.

In addition, the installation element is preferably provided with a second pin which is upright with respect to the base. In this case, the coupled screen guide is preferably provided with a second fitting opening in which the second upright pin of the installation element is fittable in the second fitting opening of the coupled screen guide in order to fit the installation element at the bottom of the coupled screen guide. For ease of installation, the first upright pin is in this case then preferably higher with respect to the base than the second upright pin.

The present invention will now be explained in more detail by means of the following detailed description of a few preferred embodiments of an assembly according to the present invention. The sole aim of this description is to give illustrative examples and to indicate further advantages and features of the present invention, and can therefore not be interpreted as a limitation of the area of application of the invention or of the patent rights defined in the claims.

In this detailed description, reference numerals are used to refer to the attached drawings, in which:.

The assembly illustrated in the figures comprises a structural wall (<NUM>) as rear structure (<NUM>) in which a sliding window (<NUM>) is installed as window (<NUM>). A screen device of the assembly is secured at a distance to this wall (<NUM>) by means of securing profiles (<NUM>).

The illustrated screen device comprises two screens (<NUM>) next to each other in order to cover the sliding window (<NUM>). These screens (<NUM>) can be rolled up onto and unrolled from respective screen rollers (<NUM>). To this end, the screen rollers (<NUM>) are arranged in respective screen casings (<NUM>) so as to be able to rotate. Only the first screen casing (<NUM>), comprising the first screen roller (<NUM>) and the first screen (<NUM>), is visible in the figures. The second screen casing, second screen roller and second screen are of similar construction.

Lateral screen guides (<NUM>, <NUM>) are arranged on either side of both screens (<NUM>) for guiding the corresponding outer lateral sides of these screens (<NUM>). A coupled screen guide (<NUM>) is provided between both screens (<NUM>) for guiding the adjoining lateral sides of these screens (<NUM>). To this end, the lateral guides (<NUM>, <NUM>) and the coupled screen guide (<NUM>) are provided with receiving openings (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) in a known manner in order to hold these lateral sides of the screens (<NUM>) for guiding these screens (<NUM>) during their rolling/unrolling movement.

At the bottom, each screen (<NUM>) is also provided with a bottom slat (<NUM>) in a known manner which is guided in the lateral screen guides (<NUM>, <NUM>) and the coupled screen guide (<NUM>) during the rolling/unrolling movement.

The first screen casing (<NUM>) is secured to the wall (<NUM>) at a distance (tk) by means of a first securing profile (<NUM>), so that a space is present between the screen casing (<NUM>) and the wall (<NUM>). In the illustrated embodiment, this distance (tk) is the distance between the first screen casing (<NUM>) and the window profile (<NUM>) of the sliding window (<NUM>) which is accommodated in the wall (<NUM>).

Analogously, the second screen casing is secured to the structure (<NUM>) at a distance by means of a second securing profile, so that a second space is present between the second screen casing and the structure (<NUM>). Only the first securing profile (<NUM>) is described further below. The second securing profile may be configured entirely analogously.

As can be seen in <FIG>, the first securing profile (<NUM>) of the illustrated assembly is a hollow profile which is substantially beam-shaped. Alternatively, this securing profile (<NUM>) could, for example, also be designed as a substantially U-shaped profile, or a substantially C-shaped profile, or a substantially I-shaped profile, etc..

The bottom wall (<NUM>) of this securing profile (<NUM>) is configured to adjoin the bottom wall (<NUM>) of the first screen casing (<NUM>) in order thus to close off the space between this screen casing (<NUM>) and the window profile (<NUM>) and thus also the space between the screen casing (<NUM>) and the wall (<NUM>) at the bottom, as can be seen in <FIG>.

The front wall (<NUM>) of the securing profile (<NUM>) is provided with an upright hook-shaped rib (<NUM>), behind which a corresponding hook element (<NUM>) of the first screen casing (<NUM>) hooks in order to secure the screen casing (<NUM>) to this securing profile (<NUM>). The hook-shaped rib (<NUM>) of the securing profile (<NUM>) extends upwards in the shape of a hook, so that it delimits a fitting cavity (<NUM>) which is open towards the top so that the hook element (<NUM>) of the first screen casing (<NUM>) can engage therein. This hook element (<NUM>) of the screen casing (<NUM>) extends downwards in a corresponding hook shape in order to delimit a fitting cavity (<NUM>) so that the hook-shaped rib (<NUM>) of the securing profile (<NUM>) can engage therein.

The rear wall (<NUM>) of the securing profile (<NUM>) is provided with upright hook-shaped ribs (<NUM>) which are of a similar design to the hook-shaped ribs of window profiles in order to secure such window profiles. In the illustrated embodiment, these ribs (<NUM>) extend upwards in the shape of a hook as well as downwards in the shape of a hook in order to delimit corresponding fitting cavities (<NUM>). It is then possible to allow a securing bracket (<NUM>) to engage with these hook-shaped ribs (<NUM>) in a similar way in order to secure the securing profile (<NUM>) to the wall (<NUM>).

The top wall (<NUM>) of the securing profile (<NUM>) is analogously provided with upright hook-shaped ribs (<NUM>) which extend to the front and to the rear in the shape of a hook and which delimit fitting cavities (<NUM>), so that, depending on the parameters, these may also be engaged with in order to secure the securing profile (<NUM>) to a rear structure (<NUM>), for example by means of a screw anchor which is typically used to secure window profiles.

The illustrated securing profile (<NUM>) extends virtually over the height of the first screen casing (<NUM>). The upright ribs (<NUM>) of the top wall (<NUM>) still protrude with respect to the screen casing (<NUM>) in order to make it easier to engage therewith by means of a securing bracket.

The illustrated securing profile (<NUM>) extends virtually over the length of the first screen casing (<NUM>). In addition, a head plate (<NUM>) is provided on the ends of this first screen casing (<NUM>) and protrudes with respect to the securing profile (<NUM>).

On the end of the first securing profile (<NUM>) which is provided on the outer lateral side of the screen device, an installation bracket (<NUM>) is secured for installing the screen guide (<NUM>). To this end, the securing profile (<NUM>) is provided with the necessary screw channels (<NUM>) in order to secure this installation bracket (<NUM>) by means of screws (<NUM>). As can be seen in <FIG>, the installation bracket (<NUM>) in this case forms a securing pin (<NUM>) which points downwards with respect to the securing profile (<NUM>) and is fitted in a fitting opening (<NUM>) in the corresponding screen guide (<NUM>). Analogously, an installation bracket (<NUM>) is secured to the second securing profile and fitted in a fitting opening (<NUM>) in the corresponding screen guide (<NUM>).

At the ends of the screen casings (<NUM>), which are arranged centrally in the screen device, a securing plate (<NUM>) is analogously installed which forms a securing pin (<NUM>) which points downwards with respect to the screen casing (<NUM>) which is fittable in a fitting opening (<NUM>) in the coupled screen guide (<NUM>) in order to install this coupled screen guide (<NUM>). To this end, the coupled screen guide (<NUM>) may be fitted over this securing pin (<NUM>) by means of a rotary movement in order to attach it at the top, as can be seen in <FIG>.

In order to further secure the screen guides (<NUM>, <NUM>), they are provided with a securing flange (<NUM>) which protrudes with respect to their base body (<NUM>) in order to secure these screen guides (<NUM>, <NUM>) to a window profile (<NUM>) of the sliding window (<NUM>). To this end, screws may be fitted through this securing flange (<NUM>) in the window profile (<NUM>). By means of such a securing flange (<NUM>) these screen guides (<NUM>, <NUM>) can be made slimmer and still be secured to such a window profile (<NUM>) while absorbing the usual forces.

The illustrated screen guides (<NUM>, <NUM>) comprise a base profile (<NUM>) which is provided with said securing flange (<NUM>). This base profile (<NUM>) is provided with a receiving opening (<NUM>) for accommodating an insertion profile (<NUM>). This insertion profile (<NUM>) is provided with said receiving opening (<NUM>) of the respective screen guide (<NUM>, <NUM>) in order to hold the lateral side of the screen (<NUM>).

<FIG> shows an alternative embodiment of the base profile (<NUM>) of the second screen guide (<NUM>). In order to stop water when the base profile (<NUM>) is inclined to come away from the window (<NUM>) on account of forces which act on the screen device, this base profile (<NUM>) is provided with a sealing (<NUM>). This sealing (<NUM>) forms a moisture barrier between the base profile (<NUM>) and the window (<NUM>).

Since the mullion (<NUM>) of the sliding window (<NUM>) is not fixedly arranged, but moves along with the window, the coupled screen guide (<NUM>) cannot be secured to this window profile (<NUM>) and is therefore attached to the bottom.

In order to attach the coupled screen guide (<NUM>) at the bottom, a mounting plate (<NUM>) is provided which can be attached to a surface by means of screws. This mounting plate (<NUM>) is also provided with screw holes (<NUM>) for screwing an upright connecting profile (<NUM>) thereto, which is provided with corresponding screw channels (<NUM>) for this purpose. This upright connecting profile (<NUM>) can be sawn to the desired length. A small mounting plate (<NUM>) is attachable to the top of this connecting profile (<NUM>). To this end, the small mounting plate (<NUM>) is provided with screw holes (<NUM>) in order to screw it onto the top of the connecting profile (<NUM>), in this case also using said screw channels (<NUM>) in this connecting profile (<NUM>).

An installation element (<NUM>) corresponding with the small mounting plate (<NUM>) is attachable at the bottom of the coupled screen guide (<NUM>). This installation element (<NUM>) comprises a base (<NUM>), a first pin (<NUM>) which is upright with respect to this base (<NUM>) and a second pin (<NUM>) which is upright with respect to the base (<NUM>). The coupled screen guide (<NUM>) is provided with a first fitting opening (<NUM>) in which the first upright pin (<NUM>) is fittable, and with a second fitting opening (<NUM>) in which the second upright pin (<NUM>) is fittable in order to install the installation element (<NUM>) at the bottom of the coupled screen guide (<NUM>). For ease of installation, the first upright pin (<NUM>) is higher with respect to the base (<NUM>) than the second upright pin (<NUM>). After the installation element (<NUM>) has been fitted at the bottom of the coupled screen guide (<NUM>), it can be attached thereto by inserting a socket screw in openings (<NUM>) made in the coupled screen guide (<NUM>) and in this installation element (<NUM>) and provided for this purpose.

In the base (<NUM>) of the installation element (<NUM>), a fitting opening (<NUM>) is provided, at the bottom thereof, which is provided with an access opening (<NUM>) on a side edge of the installation element (<NUM>). The small mounting plate (<NUM>) is fittable in the fitting opening (<NUM>) via this access opening (<NUM>). After the small mounting plate (<NUM>) has been fitted in this fitting opening (<NUM>), this small mounting plate (<NUM>) may be fixed therein by inserting socket screws in openings (<NUM>) made in the installation element (<NUM>) and provided for this purpose, in which case these socket screws can engage in slots (<NUM>) made in the side walls of the small mounting plate (<NUM>) and provided for this purpose.

In this way, the coupled screen guide (<NUM>) can be secured at the bottom and at the top, at a distance (tg) from the sliding window (<NUM>).

Claim 1:
Assembly of
- a screen device, comprising:
i. a first screen (<NUM>) which can be rolled up onto and unrolled from a first screen roller (<NUM>) in order to cover a window (<NUM>) or a door;
ii. a first screen casing (<NUM>) in which this first screen roller (<NUM>) is accommodated so as to be rotatable;
- a structure (<NUM>) in which the window (<NUM>) or the door is installed; and
- a first securing profile (<NUM>) for securing the first screen casing (<NUM>) to the structure (<NUM>) at a distance (tk), so that a space is present between the screen casing (<NUM>) and the structure (<NUM>), comprising a bottom wall (<NUM>), a top wall (<NUM>), a rear wall (<NUM>) and a front wall (<NUM>);
wherein:
- the bottom wall (<NUM>) is configured to cover said space adjacent to a bottom wall (<NUM>) of the screen casing (<NUM>);
- the top wall (<NUM>) and/or the rear wall (<NUM>) is provided with structure hook means (<NUM>, <NUM>) for securing the securing profile (<NUM>) to the structure (<NUM>); and
- the front wall (<NUM>) is provided with casing hook means (<NUM>) for securing the screen casing (<NUM>) to the securing profile (<NUM>);
and wherein the first screen casing (<NUM>) comprises hook means (<NUM>) which are compatible with the casing hook means (<NUM>) of the securing profile (<NUM>) in order to hook the screen casing (<NUM>) directly onto the securing profile (<NUM>) characterized in that the hook means (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) are arranged in such a way that, in the installed position, a rear wall of the screen casing (<NUM>) under these hook means (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) bears against the front wall (<NUM>) of the securing profile.