Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02364699 2001-12-07
CORNER FOR SCREEN
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to windows and more particularly, relates to
frames
such as used for screening for windows.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In modem day windows, a screen is usually provided as a part of the original
window. The screen member must be lightweight and easily removable such that
access
may be had to the glass portion of the window. Traditionally, the screen
member is
formed by frame members along the top, bottom and sides, the frame members
being
joined together at the corners by suitable means. The joining at the corners
may
conveniently accomplished by means of a screen corner member.
A number of different types of corner members are known in the art. While they
all perform the same function of attaching the frame members together, they do
so in
many different fashions.
There are also a number of different means for retaining the members in the
window frame. To this end, many window frames provide a recess of one form or
another designed to receive the window screen. In order to retain the screen
in position,
various types of locking members and/or spring members may be utilized. Since
there
are few standards which exist, each manufacturer generally adapts his own
method for
retaining the screen frames. As a result, independent suppliers of the screens
have to
design and manufacture a number of different styles of screens and frames.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel frame for a screen
using
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a screen corner member for attaching the structural components together and
which also
includes means for securing the screen in place.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide a novel spring member
which is suitable for use in retaining a frame unit within a window frame.
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a dome
shaped
spring member suitable for use in retaining a frame unit within a window
frame, the
spring member comprising an elongated dome portion terminating at first and
second
ends, the elongated dome portion having an outer convex surface and an inner
concave
surface, an upwardly extending portion extending outwardly from the outer
convex
surface, and means located at the first end for securing the spring member to
a substrate.
According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
screen
frame unit comprising a top frame member, a bottom frame member and a pair of
side
frame members, the top, bottom and side frame members being interconnected by
four
corner members, each corner member having a corner portion and first and
second legs
extending outwardly from the corner portion, the first and second legs being
mutually
perpendicular, each of the legs fitting interiorly of a respective frarne
member to thereby
form a rectangular screen frame unit, and a dome shaped spring member having
an
elongated dome portion terminating at first and second ends, the elongated
dome portion
having an outer convex surface and an inner concave surface, an upwardly
extending
portion extending outwardly from the outer convex surface, the spring member
being
secured between a frame member and a leg engaged therewith.
The frame unit for the screen is preferably comprised of four elongated frame
members, four conrner members for securing the frame members together, and at
least one
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spring member designed to function together with at least one of the frame
members and
one of the corner members to exert a biasing force on the frame unit when
inserted into a
channel in a window frame.
The frame members per se are well known in the art and many different types
may
be utilized. It suffices to say that such elongated frame members are readily
available in
the commercial market and one skilled in the art can utilize the frame member
best suited
for the end purpose. The frame members can be made of different materials and
are
usually formed of a plastic or metallic material.
The corner member of the present invention, although it can be formed of many
different materials, is preferably formed of an injection molded plastic
material. As such,
it can be fabricated any desired colour.
The corner member has a corner portion with a front and rear face, and with
first
and second exterior side walls extending therebetween. A protrusion is mounted
on one
of the side walls for locking the screen in place. Normally, the protrusion
would be
placed on the exterior side wall which ends either in the top facing direction
or the
bottom facing direction. In other words, the protrusion may be formed on only
one of the
side walls extending between the front and rear faces of the corner portion.
Also, the corner member includes a lip which extends outwardly from the corner
portion in the form of a flange. The lip or flange may extend as a portion of
the rear face
or alternatively, it may be offset with respect to the rear face. The
particular design will
vary depending upon the design of the window unit for receiving the screen.
The protrusion may be of any desired configuration and conventionally, may be
formed either in a semi-circular configuration, a rectangular or triangular
configuration.
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There is also provided at least one spring member which is designed to retain
the
frame in position. The spring member may be used in conjunction with the
protrusion
mentioned above. As such, the spring member would be designed to fit within a
channel
and bias the frame and protrusion into its desired position. Thus, the screen
frame would
be securely retained in place.
The spring member is a dome shaped spring and may be made of a suitable
plastic
or metallic material.
The spring member is designed to fit within a recess within the frame of the
window designed to receive the screen. Typically, such recesses are formed of
varying
dimensions. With the present invention, one can use a single spring member
which
would be suitable for many different sizes of recesses.
The outwardly extending portion from the dome portion may, in the case of a
metallic material, be formed by cutting a pair of slits in the material and,
using a suitable
tool, forming the outwardly extending portion. Alternatively, in the case of a
plastic
spring, the outwardly extending portion may be molded as a part of the spring.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Having thus generally described the invention, reference will be made to the
accompanying drawings illustrating an embodiment thereof, in which:
Figure la is a perspective view of a corner member according to an embodiment
of the present invention;
Figure lb is a perspective view from the opposite side thereof;
Figure 2 is a side elevational view thereof;
Figure 3 is a top plan view thereof;
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Figure 4 is a an end elevational view thereof;
Figure 5 is a side elevational view with the member rotated 90 from that
shown in
Figure 2;
Figure 6 is a end elevational view;
Figure 7 is a top plan view;
Figure 8 is a sectional view taken along the lines 8-8 of Figure 6;
Figure 9 is a cross sectional view taken along the lines 9-9 of Figure 6;
Figure 10 is a cross sectional view of a spring member.
Figure 11 is a partial cross sectional configuration illustrating an offset
lip
arrangement;
Figures 12a to 12c illustrate different configurations of the protrusions;
Figure 13 is a perspective view of a spring member according to the present
invention utilized in conjunction with a framing member and corner member;
Figure 14 is a top plan view of the spring member;
Figure 15 is a side elevational view thereof;
Figure 16 is an end view thereof;
Figure 17 is a side elevational view showing a portion of a screen frame
member
being placed in a window frame;
Figure 18 is a sectional view thereof;
Figure 19 is a side elevational view showing the placement of the screen frame
within the window frame; and
Figure 20 is a cross sectional view thereof.
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DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to the drawings in greater detail and by reference characters
thereto,
there is illustrated a corner member generally designated by reference numeral
10 and
which corner member 10 is suitable for use in connecting a pair of frame
channel
members together.
Corner member 10 includes an upper leg 12 and a lower leg 14. It will be
understood that the terms "upper" and "lower" are used merely for purposes of
description and that the piece will have many different orientations depending
upon the
placement thereof.
Upper leg 12 includes an upper leg inner side wall 18 and an upper leg outer
side wall 20 having an upper leg back wall extending therebetween. As may be
seen in
Figure lb and Figure 2, a diagonally extending recess 24 is formed in upper
leg inside
wall 18. At their distal ends, upper leg inside wall 18, upper leg outer side
wa1120 along
with upper leg back wall 22 form an inwardly extending portion generally
designated by
reference numeral 26. A recess 25 is formed in back wall 22 and forms a notch
27. A
reinforcing rib 28 extends from upper leg back wall 22 and between upper leg
inner side
wall 18 and upper leg outer side wall 20.
Similarly, lower leg 14 includes a lower leg inner side wal132, and a lower
leg
outer side wall 34 and a lower leg back wall 36 extending therebetween. A
recess 38,
which recess 38 extends diagonally, is formed in lower leg inner side wall 32.
A recess
33 is formed in back wall 32 and also forms a notch 35. As was noted with
respect to
upper leg 12, lower leg 14 also includes an inwardly extending portion 40 at
the distal
ends of walls 32, 34 and 36. A rib 42 is also formed between the walls.
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Between upper leg 12 and outer leg 14 and in particular, between inner side
wall 18 and inner side wall 22, there is provided a corner portion having a
rear face 44
and a front face 54. Rear face 44 has an upper abutment surface 46 and a lower
abutment
surface 48 which are designed to abut against the end walls of a channel
containing the
screening. It will be noted that there is provided a lip 50 extending from
rear face 44.
Similarly, front face 54 has an upper abutment surface 56 and a lower abutment
surface 58.
Extending between rear face 44 and front face 54 is an inner central
reinforcing
rib generally designated by reference numeral 60 and first and second exterior
walls 45
and 55.
The corner 10 also includes a locking protrusion 64 which extends downwardly
from side wall 45 and is designed to lock in the channel of a frame for
receiving the
screen. There is also provided a first type of spring member 68 which is
designed to fit
within recess 25 or 33 in the back wall and exert a biasing force on the
finished screen
frame unit to retain the same in position and to maintain locking protrusion
64 in the
desired position and prevent the screen from falling out of the frame.
As seen in the embodiment of Figure 11, lip 50' may be offset with respect to
rear
face 44'.
In Figures 12a, 12b and 12c, various configurations of locking protrusion 64
are
shown. It will also be understood that locking protrusions 64 may be placed at
different
locations.
Referring to Figure 13, there is illustrated a preferred form of the spring
member
as may be used with the corner member and associated frames. The spring member
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which is generally designated by reference numeral 70, has a dome shaped
portion 72.
Dome shaped portion 72 has a convex outer surface 74 and a concave inner
surface 76.
Reference to the terms "outer" and "inner"again are relative and refers to
their
positioning with respect to the screen frame.
At one end of dome portion 72, there is provided a first end outer portion 78
which is planar and which is connected by means of a fold to a planar first
inner end
portion 80. At the other end of dome portion 72, there is provided a second
end
portion 82.
Formed within dome portion 72 are a pair of slits 84 and 86 which define
therebetween an upwardly extending portion 88. Upwardly extending portion 88
is
formed to extend beyond convex surface 74 for reasons which will become
apparent
hereinbelow.
As may be seen in Figure 13, a corner 10 is used to connect screen frames 90
(only one shown) and spring member 70 is inserted on frame 90 with a wall of
the frame
member being reduced to slide between planar portions 78 and 80. Groove 25
receives
planar end portion 80 and notch 27 receives the end portion thereof.
When the screen frame is placed within a window frame, there is typically a
recess
such as designated by reference numeral 92 into which upwardly extending
portion 88
will fit. The pressure exerted on dome portion 72 will cause upwardly
extending
portion 88 to extend even further outwardly to permit a secure retention of
the screen
frame.
It will be understood that the above described embodiment is for purposes of
illustration only and that changes and modifications may be made thereto
without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
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