Patent ID: 12240086

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description of example embodiments of the invention, reference is made to specific examples by way of drawings and illustrations. These examples are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention and serve to illustrate how the invention may be applied to various purposes or embodiments. Other embodiments of the invention exist and are within the scope of the invention, and logical, mechanical, electrical, and other changes may be made without departing from the subject or scope of the present invention. Features or limitations of various embodiments of the invention described herein, however essential to the example embodiments in which they are incorporated, do not limit the invention as a whole and any reference to the invention, its elements, operation, and application do not limit the invention as a whole but serve only to define these example embodiments. The following detailed description does not, therefore, limit the scope of the invention.

SEG fabric panels typically have four sides, each side of the fabric panel having a silicone edge sewn to the fabric. The silicone edge is typically a rectangular strip roughly ½ inch tall and 0.12 inches thick-running most of each edge of the SEG panel. Including the SEG fabric and stitching, the edge is roughly 0.15 inches thick. As noted above, the tensioned fabric is stretched and installed into the frame by pulling and hand stretching the fabric until the silicone edge can be aligned and slotted into the fabric's frame. Pulling, hand stretching and aligning are often difficult procedures-especially if the fabric is taut.

FIG.1is a perspective view of the top of one design of an installation tool in accordance with the present invention. In the example approach illustrated inFIG.1, the tool100includes a handle102and a head104connected to the handle102. The head104includes a slot106disposed on the top108of the tool, wherein the slot106is sized to fit the dimensions of the silicone edge and fabric of the SEG fabric, wherein the slot106is angled to the main plane of the SEG fabric panel.

FIG.2is a perspective view of the bottom of one design of an installation tool in accordance with the present invention. In the example approach illustrated inFIG.2, the tool100includes a handle102and a head104connected to the handle102. The head104includes a slot106disposed on the top108of the tool, wherein the slot106is sized to fit the dimensions of the silicone edge and fabric of the SEG fabric, wherein the slot106is angled to the main plane of the SEG fabric panel. In one example approach, the angle is approximately 60 degrees. The head104further includes a mechanism for gaining leverage from the SEG frame when attempting to stretch the SEG fabric. In one example approach, as shown inFIG.2, a peg110is disposed on the bottom112of the tool, wherein the mechanism is a peg110is configured to engage the frame to aid in stretching the SEG fabric during installation. In other example approaches, leverage is gained in one or more of the ways discussed below.

FIG.3is a perspective view of the top of another example approach to an installation tool in accordance with the present invention. In the example approach illustrated inFIG.3, the tool100includes a handle102and a head104connected to the handle102. The head104includes a slot106disposed on the top108of the tool, wherein the slot106is sized to fit the dimensions of the silicone edge and fabric of the SEG fabric, wherein the slot106is angled to the main plane of the SEG fabric panel. In the example approach ofFIG.3, the slot104is wavy as illustrated to provide better fabric grip. In one example approach the slot104is angled at 45 degrees instead of the approximately 60 degrees of the approach ofFIGS.1and2.

FIG.4is a perspective view of the bottom of another example approach to an installation tool in accordance with the present invention. In the example approach illustrated inFIG.4, the tool100includes a handle102and a head104connected to the handle102. The head104includes a slot106disposed on the top108of the tool, wherein the slot106is sized to fit the dimensions of the silicone edge and fabric of the SEG fabric, wherein the slot106is angled to the main plane of the SEG fabric panel. The head104further includes a mechanism for gaining leverage from the SEG frame when attempting to stretch the SEG fabric. In other example approaches, leverage is gained in one or more of the ways discussed below.

There are several aspects of the tool described herein that may be employed alone or in combination with other aspects, and the description of these aspects below in any particular combination is not intended to preclude their use in other combinations.

In a first aspect, the tool has a slot sized to fit the dimensions of the silicone edge of the SEG (FIG.1). In one example approach, the SEG edge is configured to fit comfortably into the slot. Too narrow and installation becomes difficult. Too wide, and the SEG edge can too easily pull out of the slot. In one example approach, the slot is at least perpendicular to the plane of the main SEG panel. It is, however, desirable for the slot to be between 90 degrees and 45 degrees to the plane of the main SEG panel (as shown inFIG.2). In the example shown inFIG.2, the angle to the plane of the slot is approximately 60 degrees. In the example shown inFIG.4, the angle to the plane of the slot is approximately 45 degrees.

In a second aspect, the edges of the slot in contact with the SEG fabric must be sufficiently rounded (FIG.1) such that the fabric is not locally strained to the point that the fabric tears. Sharp edges on the tool are not desirable. In some example approaches, tool edges in contact with fabric are designed to have a radius of between 0.1 mm and 10 mm. In the example shown inFIGS.1and2, the radius of the tool edge radius in contact with fabric is approximately 4 mm.

In a third aspect, the width of the slot104(FIGS.1and3) is also important. Too short a slot width could result in local strains in the SEG fabric to the point that the fabric tears. A minimum slot width could be defined by the tool edge radius defined above, but other factors also come into play. The tool may be used to pull the fabric from side to side. Having a wider slot allows for a differential pull and stretch. A lower limit for slot width is set by fabric tear. An upper limit is set by case of differentially pulling the tool from side to side. In some approaches, the tool slot width is selected to be between 1 cm and 25 cm. A tool slot width of approximately 7 cm is shown in the tool shown inFIG.1.

In a fourth aspect, the tool's side opposite the slot (bottom) (FIG.2) is typically resting against a channel in the frame that contains the slot into which the SEG edge is installed. The tool can thus be levered against the frame. To aid in this levering, a peg110(FIG.2) may be added to the bottom of the tool. Other features could be added to achieve a similar purpose. For instance, a raised wall perpendicular to the bottom, ridges, groves, or slots in the bottom, a friction aiding treatment to the surface like a rubber mat, or other method or combination of methods may be used to aid the tool in levering against the structure of the frame. In the example inFIG.2, the method is a peg110—since this also aids in allowing the tool to apply differential pull and stretch. In the example ofFIG.3, the curve in the edges of the slot104provides leverage.

In a fifth aspect, the tool has a handle. In some example approaches, the handle is selected to be long enough to apply leverage, and wide enough for comfort. It may be desirable for alignment for the handle to have a flat bottom.

These aspects, as well as others, will become apparent upon reference to the accompanying drawings and to the detailed description.

A method of installing an SEG fabric will be discussed next. The method includes using a tool such as described above in the context ofFIGS.1-4to place the silicone edge of the SEG fabric into a slot in the tool and to pull the slotted tool with attached SEG fabric until the silicone edge mostly lines up with a slot in the frame. The tool has features to allow the installer to lever the tool against the frame and/or reposition a portion of the silicone edge relative to the slot in the frame. Once the silicone edge is mostly aligned with a portion of the frame near the tool, then push the silicone edge near the tool into the slot in the frame. Once the frame takes up a substantial amount of the tension in the fabric near the tool, move the tool to another section of the SEG panel, and repeat.

Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that any arrangement which is calculated to achieve the same purpose may be substituted for the specific embodiments shown. The invention may be implemented in various modules and in hardware, software, and various combinations thereof, and any combination of the features described in the examples presented herein is explicitly contemplated as an additional example embodiment. This application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the example embodiments of the invention described herein.