Patent Description:
Such an insect netting is known from <CIT>. In the unfolded condition the known insect netting comprises a front panel which merges into two side panels. The side panels have a shape of a circle section. The insect netting comprises a plurality of U-shaped bellow sections, wherein each of the bellow sections has two parallel side bellow portions at the respective side panels and a front bellow portion at the front panel. Each of the side bellow portions comprises a first side gauze web and a second side gauze web connected to each other at a longitudinal side thereof and each having a short side. The front bellow portion comprises a first front gauze web and a second front gauze web connected to each other at a longitudinal side thereof. The short sides of the first and second side gauze webs are connected to the longitudinal sides of the first and second front gauze webs, respectively.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved bellow-shaped insect netting.

This object is accomplished with the insect netting according to the invention, wherein the first seam and the second seam have different locations at the corner portion as seen in a direction perpendicular to a plane in which the bellow section lies in the folded condition of the insect netting.

An advantage of the insect netting according to the invention is that the thickness of the bellow section at the corner portion is minimized in the folded condition, since the first seam and the second seam are shifted with respect to each other. This causes a relatively flat package of the insect netting in its folded condition.

The fact that the first and second strips of the first bellow section portion are fixed to each other through the first seam at mutual rims of the first and second strips of the first bellow section portion which face each other at the corner portion, means that an overlap of the first and second strips of the first bellow section portion is minimized. Similarly, the fact that the first and second strips of the second bellow section portion are fixed to each other through the second seam at mutual rims of the first and second strips of the first bellow section portion which face each other at the corner portion, means that an overlap of the first and second strips of the second bellow section portion is minimized. The first seam may be a single seam between the first and second strips of the first bellow section portion and the second seam may be a single seam between the first and second strips of the second bellow section portion.

In an embodiment the first seam and the second seam are angled with respect to each other at the corner portion as seen in a direction perpendicular to the plane in which the bellow section lies in the folded condition of the insect netting.

The first wall and the second wall may be substantially perpendicular to each other. This means that the first and second strips of the first bellow section portion are substantially perpendicular to each other and the first and second strips of the second bellow section portion are substantially perpendicular to each other.

In an embodiment at the corner portion a transverse end of the first strip of the first bellow section portion is fixed to a longitudinal side of the second strip of the first bellow section portion, wherein at the corner portion a transverse end of the second strip of the second bellow section portion is fixed to a longitudinal side of the first strip of the second bellow section portion. The transverse end of the first strip of the first bellow section portion may be perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the first strip of the first bellow section portion and parallel to the longitudinal side of the second strip of the first bellow section portion, whereas the transverse end of the second strip of the second bellow section portion may be perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the second strip of the second bellow section portion and parallel to the longitudinal side of the first strip of the second bellow section portion. The first and second strips of the first and second bellow section portions may be rectangular. The first and second seam may be perpendicular to each other as seen in a direction perpendicular to the plane in which the bellow section lies in the folded condition of the insect netting.

In a particular embodiment the first bellow section portion is a lower bellow section portion and the second bellow section portion is an upper bellow section portion extending above the upper bellow section portion, wherein the first strip of the upper bellow section portion extends above the first strip of the lower bellow section portion and an end portion of the second strip of the lower bellow section portion, whereas the second strip of the lower bellow section portion extends below the second strip of the upper bellow section portion and an end portion of the first strip of the upper bellow section portion. In this embodiment the first and second bellow section portions lie above each other. The first and second panel may extend in upward direction.

The insect netting may be fused, stitched or adhered at the first and second seams.

The first bellow section portion and the second bellow section portion may be fused, stitched or adhered to each other at one of the inner side and the outer side.

The first and second strips of the first and second bellow section portions are elongated pieces, preferably made of a fine mesh gauze.

In a particular embodiment the bellow section has a U-shape such that the insect netting can be used at a tilt window. The U-shape may fit to three free edges of a rectangular tilt window.

The invention is also related to a greenhouse, comprising an inclined roof including an opening and a ventilation window which is rotatable between a closed condition in which it covers the opening and an open condition in which the opening forms a ventilation passage, wherein the greenhouse further comprises an insect netting as described hereinbefore, which insect netting is mounted to the ventilation window and surrounding edges around the opening.

The invention will hereafter be elucidated with reference to very schematic drawings showing embodiments of the invention by way of example.

<FIG> shows a part of an embodiment of a greenhouse <NUM> according to the invention. The greenhouse <NUM> is of the Venlo type and has an inclined roof <NUM>. The roof <NUM> has a ridge <NUM> and a gutter <NUM> which extend parallel to each other. Parallel window profiles <NUM> extend between the gutter <NUM> and the ridge <NUM> and are perpendicular with respect to the gutter <NUM> and the ridge <NUM>. The ridge <NUM>, the gutter <NUM> and the window profiles <NUM> form rectangular rabbets for glass panels <NUM>.

The roof <NUM> is provided with a ventilation window <NUM> which comprises a glass panel <NUM>, as well. An upper rim of the ventilation window <NUM> is pivotally mounted to the ridge <NUM> such that the ventilation window <NUM> is rotatable about a pivot axis <NUM> with respect to the ridge <NUM>.

The ventilation window <NUM> is rotatable between a closed condition in which it covers a rectangular opening <NUM> in the roof <NUM> and an open condition in which the opening <NUM> forms a ventilation passage. <FIG> shows the ventilation window <NUM> in its open condition. The opening <NUM> is surrounded by two neighbouring window profiles <NUM>, the ridge <NUM> and an intermediate rod <NUM> between the neighbouring window profiles <NUM>. The gutter <NUM>, the neighbouring window profiles <NUM> and the intermediate rod <NUM> form a rectangular rabbet for a glass panel <NUM>.

The greenhouse <NUM> is provided with a bellow-shaped insect netting <NUM> to prevent insects from entering an inner side of the greenhouse <NUM> when the ventilation window <NUM> is in the open condition. The insect netting <NUM> comprises a fine mesh gauze. It is fixed along free edges of the ventilation window <NUM> and along cooperating edges around the opening <NUM>. The cooperating edges around the opening <NUM> are formed by portions of the neighbouring window profiles <NUM> and the intermediate rod <NUM>. The free edges of the ventilation window <NUM>, i.e. the edges outside the upper rim that is pivotally mounted to the ridge <NUM>, and the cooperating edges around the opening <NUM> have U shapes, respectively. The insect netting <NUM> may be fixed to the free edges of the ventilation window <NUM> and the cooperating edges around the opening <NUM> through flexible elements such as rubber (not shown).

When the ventilation window <NUM> is in the closed condition the insect netting <NUM> is in a folded condition and when the ventilation window <NUM> is in the open condition the insect netting <NUM> is in an unfolded condition. The latter condition is shown in <FIG>. In the folded condition the insect netting <NUM> is collapsed or compacted and sandwiched between the free edges of the ventilation window <NUM> and the cooperating edges around the opening <NUM>. In the unfolded condition the insect netting <NUM> forms a front wall <NUM> and two opposite side walls <NUM>. Each of the side walls <NUM> is angled with respect to the front wall <NUM>. In this case the front wall <NUM> is perpendicular to each of the side walls <NUM>. In the embodiment as shown in <FIG> the front wall <NUM> is curved and the side walls <NUM> form respective circle sections, since the ventilation window <NUM> is a tilt window. This may be different in an alternative shape of the ventilation window <NUM>. The front wall <NUM> meets the side walls <NUM> at respective corner portions <NUM>. The front wall <NUM> and the side walls <NUM> have an inner side of the insect netting <NUM> which is exposed to an inner side of the greenhouse <NUM> and an outer side which is exposed to an outer side of the greenhouse <NUM>.

The insect netting <NUM> comprises a plurality of bellow sections <NUM> which are arranged above each other in order to form the bellow shape. Each bellow section <NUM> has a U-shape including a base and two legs, wherein the legs are part of the respective side panels <NUM> and the base is part of the front panel <NUM>. <FIG> show portions of one bellow section <NUM>. <FIG> show how the bellow sections <NUM> are fixed to each other. Each bellow section <NUM> has a lower bellow section portion <NUM> and an upper bellow section portion <NUM>, which are fixed to each other at the outer side of the insect netting <NUM> so as to form a plie and lie onto each other in the folded condition. Adjacent bellow sections <NUM> are fixed to each other at the inner side of the insect netting <NUM>. The fixations at the inner side and the outer side of the insect netting <NUM> are illustrated by vertical dashdotted lines in <FIG>.

<FIG> shows a cross-section of the bellow sections <NUM> at the front panel <NUM> in the unfolded condition, illustrating that each of the bellow sections <NUM> forms a plie. In this case the upper bellow section portion <NUM> and the lower bellow section portion <NUM> are fixed to each other by means of welding, therewith forming a welding area <NUM> which extends along the bellow section <NUM>. Alternatively, the upper bellow section portion <NUM> and the lower bellow section portion <NUM> may be fixed to each other by means of adhesive, stitching, fusing or the like. The bellow sections <NUM> are fixed to each other at the inner side of the insect netting <NUM> in a similar way.

Referring to <FIG>, the lower bellow section portion <NUM> comprises a rectangular first strip <NUM> along the front wall <NUM> and two parallel rectangular second strips <NUM> along the respective side walls <NUM> which meet each other at the respective corner portions <NUM>. The first strip <NUM> of the lower bellow section portion <NUM> is fixed to each of the second strips <NUM> of the lower bellow section portion through respective lower seams <NUM> at the respective corner portions <NUM>. Similarly, the upper bellow section portion <NUM> comprises a rectangular first strip <NUM> along the front wall <NUM> and two parallel rectangular second strips <NUM> along the respective side walls <NUM>. The first strip <NUM> of the upper bellow section portion <NUM> is fixed to each of the second strips <NUM> of the upper bellow section portion <NUM> through respective upper seams <NUM> at the respective corner portions <NUM>.

At each of the corner portions <NUM> a transverse end of the first strip <NUM> of the lower bellow section portion <NUM> is fixed to a longitudinal side of the second strip <NUM> of the lower bellow section portion <NUM> which face each other, whereas a transverse end of the second strip <NUM> of the upper bellow section portion <NUM> is fixed to a longitudinal side of the first strip <NUM> of the upper bellow section portion <NUM> which face each other. The first strip <NUM> and the second strip <NUM> of the lower bellow section portion <NUM> may be fixed to each other at the lower seam <NUM> by means of stitching, welding, adhesive, fusing or the like. Similarly, the first strip <NUM> and the second strip <NUM> of the upper bellow section portion <NUM> may be fixed to each other at the upper seam <NUM> by means of stitching, welding, adhesive, fusing or the like.

Referring to <FIG>, the first strip <NUM> of the upper bellow section portion <NUM> extends above the first strip <NUM> of the lower bellow section portion <NUM> and an end portion of the second strip <NUM> of the lower bellow section portion <NUM>, whereas the second strip <NUM> of the lower bellow section portion <NUM> extends below the second strip <NUM> of the upper bellow section portion <NUM> and an end portion of the first strip <NUM> of the upper bellow section portion <NUM>.

<FIG> shows a portion of the insect netting <NUM> at one of the corner portions <NUM> in its unfolded condition. Since the upper and lower seams <NUM>, <NUM> of each of the successive bellow sections <NUM> are not placed onto each other in the folded condition the ventilation window <NUM> can close evenly on the edges around the opening <NUM> of the roof <NUM>. It is noted that in <FIG> neighbouring bellow sections <NUM> are the same at the corner portion <NUM>, i.e. the lower seam <NUM> at the lower bellow section portions <NUM> lie at the same location of each of the bellow sections <NUM> at the corner portion <NUM> and the upper seam <NUM> at the upper bellow section portion <NUM> lie at the same location of each of the bellow sections <NUM> at the corner portion <NUM>. This may be different in an alternative embodiment. This is illustrated in the embodiment as shown in <FIG>, which still has a bellow section <NUM> in which the lower seam <NUM> and the upper seam <NUM> have different locations at the corner portion <NUM> as seen in a direction perpendicular to a plane in which the bellow section <NUM> lies in the folded condition of the insect netting <NUM>.

<FIG> shows another alternative embodiment, which has a bellow section <NUM> in which the lower seam <NUM>' and the upper seam <NUM>' are not perpendicular to each other, but which still have different locations and orientations at the corner portion <NUM> as seen in a direction perpendicular to a plane in which the bellow section <NUM> lies in the folded condition of the insect netting <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A bellow-shaped insect netting (<NUM>) for a ventilation window (<NUM>) of a greenhouse (<NUM>), having a folded condition in which the insect netting (<NUM>) is compacted and an unfolded condition in which the insect netting (<NUM>) forms at least a first wall (<NUM>) and a second wall (<NUM>) which are angled with respect to each other and meet each other at a corner portion (<NUM>), thus forming an inner side and an outer side of the insect netting (<NUM>), wherein the insect netting (<NUM>) comprises a plurality of bellow sections (<NUM>), wherein each bellow section (<NUM>) has a first bellow section portion (<NUM>) and a second bellow section portion (<NUM>), which are fixed to each other at one of the inner side and the outer side so as to form a plie and lie onto each other in the folded condition, wherein the first bellow section portion (<NUM>) comprises a first strip (<NUM>) along the first wall (<NUM>) and a second strip (<NUM>) along the second wall (<NUM>) which are fixed to each other through a first seam (<NUM>, <NUM>') at mutual rims of the first and second strips (<NUM>, <NUM>) of the first bellow section portion (<NUM>) which face each other at the corner portion (<NUM>), and the second bellow section portion (<NUM>) comprises a first strip (<NUM>) along the first wall (<NUM>) and a second strip (<NUM>) along the second wall (<NUM>) which are fixed to each other through a second seam (<NUM>, <NUM>') at mutual rims of the first and second strips (<NUM>, <NUM>) of the second bellow section portion (<NUM>) which face each other at the corner portion (<NUM>), characterized in that the first seam (<NUM>, <NUM>') and the second seam (<NUM>, <NUM>') have different locations at the corner portion (<NUM>) as seen in a direction perpendicular to a plane in which the bellow section (<NUM>) lies in the folded condition of the insect netting (<NUM>).