Screen retention track

Abstract

A screen attachment formed from a track having a centrally disposed chamber for receipt of a base member constructed and arranged to receive a beaded edge of a flexible hurricane screen. The base member employs an opening having a shaped entry. The base member is movable between a contracted position to an expanded position, wherein the shaped entry is deformed to cause a pinching of the beaded edge. The base member includes an expansion member to maintain the base member in a contracted position when possible. A clip can be added to support and reinforce a zipper beaded edge which allows an operator to raise a base slat well into an upper housing without the zipper exiting the track.

Claims

1. A screen track attachment comprising: a track having a centrally disposed chamber extending along a longitudinal length of said track; a base member constructed and arranged to receive a beaded edge of a flexible hurricane screen through an opening having a shaped entry, said base member movable between a contracted position and an expanded position in said track chamber; an expansion member having a first tab coupled to said base member and a second tab coupled to said track; wherein said base member is movable from the contracted position to the expanded position by wind pressure applied to the hurricane screen; wherein said expansion member is constructed and arranged to draw said base member towards said contracted position; wherein said shaped entry forces said base member in reaction to wind pressure to pinch said beaded edge and prevent removal of said hurricane screen.

2. The screen track according to claim 1 including a felt strip coupled to a channel in said track and positioned on each side of said screen.

3. The screen track according to claim 1 wherein said base member is substantially square and slidable between a retracted position and a deployed position.

4. The screen track according to claim 1 wherein said base member includes raised edges for slidable engagement with walls of said chamber.

5. The screen track according to claim 1 wherein said base member is plastic.

6. The screen track according to claim 1 wherein said shaped entry is further defined as a lip having a maximum width proximate to said opening, and a minimal width at a distance from said opening, wherein said shaped entry closes said opening when said screen is withdrawn.

7. The screen track according to claim 1 wherein said shaped entry has an inward slant.

8. The screen track according to claim 1 wherein said beaded edge is further defined as a zipper constructed from Delrin.

9. The screen track according to claim 1 wherein said expansion member is an elastomeric material selected from the group consisting of: rubber, silicon, or a PVC flexible material.

10. The screen track according to claim 1 including a clip secured to an edge of said screen, said clip having L-shaped lips to engage tabs within said chamber constructed and arranged to support said screen.

11. The screen track according to claim 1 wherein said screen is constructed and arranged to withstand hurricane force winds.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0015] FIG. 1 is a side view of a base slat under minimum force;

[0016] FIG. 2 is a side view of a base slat under maximum force

[0017] FIG. 3 is a side view of the screen track with a base member under minimum force;

[0018] FIG. 4 is a side view of the screen track with the base member in an expanded position;

[0019] FIG. 5 is a side view of the screen track with the base member under maximum force;

[0020] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a clip;

[0021] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional end view of FIG. 6; and

[0022] FIG. 8 is a side view of FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0023] While the present invention is susceptible of embodiment in various forms, there is shown in the drawings and will hereinafter be described a presently preferred, albeit not limiting, embodiment with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the present invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated.

[0024] Referring now to the Figures in general, illustrated is a screen track assembly 10 having one embodiment for retention of a screen edge and another embodiment for retention of base slat in combination with a screen edge. The track assembly 10 allowing for either embodiment. The track assembly 10 is preferably constructed of aluminum having a centrally disposed chamber 12 extending along a longitudinal length and defined by upper wall projections 14, 16 separated by an opening 18. The chamber 12 has first and second opposing side walls 20, 21 and a bottom wall 24. A cap 32 snaps onto the track assembly 10 to provide a finished look.

A lower receptacle 26 is formed along a lower section 30 for securing an expansion member 70. The expansion member secured to a base member 40 having an upper receptacle 52 forming an expansion member attachment sleeve attachment. The base member 40 is constructed and arranged to receive a beaded edge 22 of a flexible screen 25 through an opening 34 having a shaped entry 42, defined as a lip having a maximum width W1 proximate to the opening 34, and minimal width W2 at a distance from the opening 34, wherein the shaped entry 42 closes the opening 34 when the hurricane screen is withdrawn, essentially pinching the screen 25, preventing the beaded edge 22 from removal. The base member 40 is preferably constructed from plastic, such as PVC or the like plastic, that retains its shape. The base member 40 is defined by a bottom wall 50 with an upper expansion member receptacle 52, a left side wall 54 having a left lower raised edge 56, a first upper wall 58 having a left upper raised edge 60, a second upper wall 62 having a right upper raised edge 64, and a right-side wall 66 having a right lower raised edge 68. The raised edges provide minimal surface contact to allow ease of base member 40 movement from a contracted position to an expanded position. The expansion member 70 has a first tab 72 coupled to the upper receptacle 52 formed in the base member 40, and a second tab 74 coupled to the lower receptacle 26 formed in the track 12. The expansion member 70 is an elastomeric material selected from the group consisting of rubber, silicon, and PVC based flexible material. The base member 40 is movable from the contracted position to the expanded position as wind impacts the screening. The expansion member 70 keeps the screen in a taut position and provides shock absorption when the screen is impacted with debris or the wind becomes stronger. The expansion member 70 is constructed and arranged to draw the base member 40 towards the contracted position.

[0025] In one embodiment, should screen deflection become overly bearing, as shown in FIG. 5, the beaded edge 22 is drawn to the toward the opening 34 where the beaded edge 22 engages the shaped entry 42 which closes the opening 34 by pinching the edges 27, 29 together, preventing the beaded edge 22 from removal. The wall projections 14, 16 operate to prevent the base member 40 from removal from the chamber 12. In a preferred embodiment, the beaded edge 22 is further defined as a Delrin zipper, wherein the beaded edge 22 can be easily moved about a corner, or placed on a roll wherein the screen is used in a retractable format. The shaped entry 42 having an inward slant. As the pressures are applied to the screen, the forces begin to pivot the material around the wall projections 14, 16 and cause the pinching effect.

[0026] In another embodiment a clip 100 is employed for base slat retention. The clip 100 is constructed from two pieces 102, 102 securing an edge of the screen 25 therebetween; the first piece 102 having a length of about 3 inches and defined by a sidewall 106 with an L-shaped lip 108 formed along a proximal end and a L-shaped base 110 formed along a distal end. In a preferred embodiment, the first piece 102 has first and second countersunk apertures 112, 114 and threaded apertures 124, 126. Threaded apertures 124, 126 are for receipt of a fastener 128. Apertures 116, 118 in the L-shaped base 110 employ a fastener 122 for securing to a self-leveling aluminum base slat 120. The second piece 102 forms a mirror image of the first piece 102, allowing a reduction in inventory by making the pieces 102 and 102 interchangeable.

[0027] The L-shaped lips 108, 108 fit within the chamber 12 and cannot be removed once the fasteners 128 are attached. The L-shaped lips 108, 108 engage wall projections 14, 16 when the base member 40 is in an extended position. The felt wipers 94, 94 engage side walls 102, 102 to reduce the opportunity for aluminum marring and inhibit debris from entering the chamber. The clip 100 supports and reinforces the beaded edge, preferably a zipper, all the way down to the bottom of a base slat for better operation and allows an operator to raise the base slat well into an upper housing without the beaded edge exiting the track.

[0028] The opening 90 for passage of the screen 25 to the base member 40 includes a first channel 92 for receipt of a felt wiper 94 on one side of the screen 25, and a second channel 92 for receipt of a felt wiper 94 on an opposite side of the screen 25. When used in combination with a slat base, the felt wiper engages each side of the slat.

[0029] FIGS. 1-2 depict the base slat 120. FIG. 1 depicts a base slat 120 in retention under minimum force, FIG. 2 depicts the base slat 120 in retention under maximum force wherein the expansion member 70 is expanded and the L-shaped lips 108, 108 engage wall projections 14, 16 to limit expansion member 70 extension.

[0030] FIGS. 3-5 depict screen attachment. FIG. 3 is a side view of the screen track 12 with the base member 40 under minimum force, FIG. 4 is a side view of the screen track 12 with the base member 40 an expanded position; and FIG. 5 is a side view of the screen track 12 with the base member 40 under maximum force.

[0031] The term coupled is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly, and not necessarily mechanically. The use of the word a or an when used in conjunction with the term comprising in the claims and/or the specification may mean one, but it is also consistent with the meaning of one or more or at least one. The term about means, in general, the stated value plus or minus 5%. The use of the term or in the claims is used to mean and/or unless explicitly indicated to refer to alternatives only or the alternative are mutually exclusive, although the disclosure supports a definition that refers to only alternatives and and/or.

[0032] The terms comprise (and any form of comprise, such as comprises and comprising), have (and any form of have, such as has and having), include (and any form of include, such as includes and including) and contain (and any form of contain, such as contains and containing) are open-ended linking verbs. As a result, a method or device that comprises, has, includes or contains one or more steps or elements, possesses those one or more steps or elements, but is not limited to possessing only those one or more elements. Likewise, a step of a method or an element of a device that comprises, has, includes or contains one or more features, possesses those one or more features, but is not limited to possessing only those one or more features. Furthermore, a device or structure that is configured in a certain way is configured in at least that way, but may also be configured in ways that are not listed.

[0033] All patents and publications mentioned in this specification are indicative of the levels of those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains. All patents and publications are herein incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.

[0034] It is to be understood that while a certain form of the invention is illustrated, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement herein described and shown. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention and the invention is not to be considered limited to what is shown and described in the specification and any drawings/figures included herein.

[0035] One skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the present invention is well adapted to carry out the objectives and obtain the ends and advantages mentioned, as well as those inherent therein. The embodiments, methods, procedures and techniques described herein are presently representative of the preferred embodiments, are intended to be exemplary, and are not intended as limitations on the scope. Changes therein and other uses will occur to those skilled in the art which are encompassed within the spirit of the invention and are defined by the scope of the appended claims. Although the invention has been described in connection with specific preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the invention as claimed should not be unduly limited to such specific embodiments. Indeed, various modifications of the described modes for carrying out the invention which are obvious to those skilled in the art are intended to be within the scope of the following claims.